"The new god is us!" Tang Mo said.

Her tone was both forceful and indifferent, as if it was no big deal.

"Heh..." Lanling chuckled softly and said, "In our old sayings, your actions are called ’forgetting one’s roots.’

Tang Mo laughed and said, "I have learned about your Chinese people. There’s a deeply rooted flaw, which is to glorify and worship ancestors. Don’t you know this is also a form of self-deprecation, self-castration, and ossification?"

Lanling said, "You’re wrong. We worship our ancestors to not forget our roots, to anchor our hearts. Just like a kite, always with a string holding it, so no matter where it flies, it won’t lose its way or its path home."

Tang Mo said, "So you are like a weak kite, unable to fly high or far because you always have a string. The planes in your world don’t need strings, so they fly higher and faster."

"Wrong!" Lanling said, "Planes also have strings, which is Earth’s gravity. Even spaceships breaking free from gravity have strings, which are radio waves. Abandoning the creator’s race entirely will lead to destruction, no matter how strong you are."

"Now I finally understand what it means when words fail." Assistant Tang Mo, an eighth-level citizen and alternate member of the council, sneered, "Now I also understand the saying ’never argue with fools’ because their vision is just too narrow."

Lanling shut his mouth, realizing there’s no point in arguing with those who arrogantly believe themselves to be gods.

Tang Mo said, "Let’s get straight to the point. You sacrifice yourself, enter the Void Abyss, and let countless Void Creatures devour you to suppress their expansion and devouring desires. In exchange, we can bring your family to the Lunar Holy Palace to become third-level citizens. When ninth-level energy civilization is achieved, the entire moon will leap out of this Dark Star Region. Your family can escape and carry on your legacy."

Lanling said, "What if I refuse?"

Tang Mo said, "If you refuse, we will resort to force, using the star power to destroy one of your giant cities with one strike."

Instantly, Lanling’s face twitched violently.

Tang Mo said, "Suppose your Flame Demon Empire and Flame Dragon Empire combined have thirty giant cities. We have prepared thirty shots of star power to destroy one of your cities every three days, killing millions. Our attacks will be completely random, so you can only pray that your wife and children have better luck and don’t stay in the city we hit; otherwise, they’ll be annihilated."

Then Tang Mo wrote down the final ultimatum: "Seeing that the Flame Demon Empire and the Flame Dragon Empire are conducting illegal energy civilization research, the Moon’s super energy civilization will enforce the harshest punishment. The Moon Sanctum Supreme Council orders the highest authority of the Dragon Demon Planet to immediately cease this illegal research and start saving the Dragon Demon Planet. We will give a one-month observation period. If there’s no action a month later, we will use star power for random destructive attacks on the Flame Demon Empire and the Flame Dragon Empire. No limits to range, time, or casualties."

Then Tang Mo handed over this final ultimatum: "Take it; otherwise, the claim won’t be justified, and the speech won’t be smooth."

Lanling received the highest ultimatum from the Holy Temple Supreme Council, the face of hegemony playing out vividly.

Suddenly, Lancome stepped forward and said, "I’ll go. I was once the master of Yao Xing. I’ll suppress these Void Creatures. Let my brother and his family come to the Lunar Holy Palace. I’ll go!"

Before Lancome finished speaking, Lanling covered her mouth, immediately sealing it with his own.

"Don’t be stupid..." Lanling said.

"I have two questions for you," Lanling said to Tang Mo.

"Speak," Tang Mo said.

Lanling said, "The first question, where did the Ancient Dragon and Ancient Gods and Demons fight the Void Master?"

"I don’t know," Tang Mo said, "Oh, it’s not that I don’t know, but I can’t disclose it. It’s eighth-level confidential, and your status isn’t qualified to know."

"Alright," Lanling laughed and said, "Who’s the first leader of your Holy Temple Supreme Council?"

"Void Yan!" Tang Mo said.

"A man?" Lanling said, "Then who is your second leader? Or who among your supreme council’s female members are under forty-five in appearance and physique?"

"The third leader, Qingxuan!" Tang Mo said.

Lanling said, "Please inform Void Yan; one day, I’ll storm the Lunar Holy Palace, strip you naked in the streets, and hang you, just like Shi Tian."

Tang Mo stared at Lanling for a while and said, "I heard you; I’ll pass it on."

Then Tang Mo grinned deceitfully and said, "An ant with its teeth bared, so amusing!"

Then she left directly.

"Remember, you have a month to pretend to be in pain and weigh your options, and then submit obediently. This way, you can tell yourself you’ve resisted. In a month, the star power arrives on time!"

With that, Tang Mo left.

...

Are the people of the Lunar Holy Palace idiots?

Yes, and no!

Without a doubt, they are not hypocritical. There’s not a hint of cajoling. They don’t deceive Lanling nor try to appease him—just straightforward with the ultimatum.

Their intention is crystal clear: we need you to die, so die!

Moreover, there is no intent to offer any benefit or comfort. Straightforwardly, they want you dead; otherwise, they’ll kill your entire family.

This is probably the most direct form of hegemony!

It’s because they’re truly accustomed to it, having been powerful for so long, that they appear so "genuinely dominant."

Just like the president of a certain hegemonic country, at a global conference, openly pushed aside another small country’s president to stand in for a photo.

I’m already so powerful, why should I act for you? It’s ridiculous! Not to mention pushing you, I could privately screw you too.

After Tang Mo left, Lancome leaned in Lanling’s arms, silent for a long time.

After a while, Lancome finally spoke: "You’re right, such a civilization should die, all should perish, none are innocent."

"Agreed!" Lanling said.

"Can I leave with you?" Lancome asked, "I don’t want to stay here for another moment, some things make me nauseous."

"No!" Shi Yiyue’s voice came from behind: "You are a citizen of the Moon’s super-energy civilization, and our property. You can’t just come and go as you please."

Then, Shi Yiyue said: "All discussions are over, and we’ve delivered the final ultimatum. Lord Lanling, you may leave. We’re going to expel you!"

Lanling gently embraced Lancome, kissed her cheek, then left the room, and boarded a spaceship with Shi Yiyue.

The spaceship began to rise, and Lancome became smaller in view.

Lanling waved and blew a kiss in the air.

"Hold on tight, sit steady!" Shi Yiyue said.

Lanling was in the air, overlooking the entire super-energy civilization of the moon, this unbelievably sci-fi, incredibly developed, exceedingly powerful world.

Then, he raised two middle fingers toward the entire lunar world, pronouncing word by word: "Remember this, one day I will return to attack. All men of the Supreme Council will be beheaded. All women of the Supreme Council will be raped and then hanged!"

As Lanling declared war, the Moon Sanctum Supreme Council was holding a meeting discussing how to reduce the population and increase intelligent energy life.

Suddenly, on the gigantic screen, images of Lanling raising his middle finger and declaring war and rape appeared.

At once, the Supreme Council paused for a brief moment.

"Wow, this monkey’s pose is so unique!" said a substitute female councilor in a frivolous tone.

Everyone glanced at her, and then looked away, continuing to argue, continuing to knock on tables; Lanling’s so-called declaration of war only distracted them for a second.

After all, this world isn’t Planet of the Apes; monkeys can never defeat civilization.

...

After a journey, everything in front disappeared, even the brain and consciousness halted.

Not knowing how long it lasted, yet seemingly just a moment.

Lanling reappeared on the surface of the moon.

"Go back to where you came from. Next time if you appear on the moon without consent, it will be shoot to kill," Shi Yiyue said. "Go!"

Lanling said, "Shi Yiyue, in just a day or two on the moon, I found that I have already deeply fallen in love with you."

The intelligent life form Shi Yiyue’s eyes turned cold, "Your phony demeanor truly resembles the face of a lowly life form."

"Come with me, we’ll soar together on the Dragon Demon Planet!" Lanling said.

"Disgusting monkey." Shi Yiyue boarded the spaceship, ready to leave.

Lanling said, "Really, I mean it."

Lanling stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her waist.

Then...

He blatantly twisted her head off and drew his sword to grind Shi Yiyue’s body to dust, dead beyond return. Hoping her head has some use.

"Come, return with me to the Dragon Demon Planet, let’s get close..." Lanling said.

Then, Lanling transformed into a beam of light, leaving the moon, flying back to the Dragon Demon Planet!

...

Note: First update delivered, begging for support, begging for monthly tickets, thank you all.