Chapter 528: Infinite Future

The speaker was an entirely black Qilin. It had a magnificent and majestic appearance, yet its voice was as clear as a child's.

Di Yi, positioned above the Myriad Demons, let out a series of muffled laughs after hearing the black Qilin's query.

"So-called experience is truly a double-edged sword. It gives us the confidence to face crises, yet imperceptibly pushes us toward the abyss."

The dark, fleshy mass began to churn, seemingly expressing its inner dissatisfaction.

"This current calamity is unlike any we have ever experienced in history."

"Its origin stems from..."

As it spoke, numerous grotesque demonic beast faces suddenly emerged from Di Yi's fleshy mass.

"Shut up, you!"

"Why bother talking to these wastes! Swallow all the disobedient ones!"

"What Myriad Demon races? In this world, just having me, Di Yi, is enough!"

This bizarre scene immediately silenced the Myriad Demons attending the meeting. However, it was clear that this was not the first time they had witnessed such an anomaly. Their eyes showed only fear, not surprise.

The fleshy cloud churned again, re-engulfing the heads that had been spewing harsh words and clamoring.

Di Yi continued as if nothing had happened: "Therefore, this calamity exceeds the Xuanhuang Realm's own capacity to resolve it."

"Without additional variables, everything in this world will ultimately perish."

Di Yi spoke with utmost solemnity, and the demons all grew serious.

"However, since I said I would lead you away, I have naturally already devised a method for escape." Di Yi's voice, echoing like a myriad of resonating forms, reverberated through the space.

"Among human cultivators, there is a sect called the Tianjian Sect. To seek a glimmer of hope amidst this great calamity, they wish to forge a divine weapon capable of shattering space and time, thereby escaping from this Xuanhuang Realm."

"Putting aside the feasibility of their endeavor, their actions have certainly inspired me."

"The mountain beneath our feet happens to be a natural divine world-breaking weapon. With a slight modification, it can lead us out of here," Di Yi stated confidently.

"Southern Abyss Mountain is the edge of the sky, the corner of the sea, the very boundary of the world. Therefore, it has gathered much of the energy that spills forth from the world itself..." Di Yi began to elaborate on the underlying principles to the gathered demonic beasts.

The Myriad Demons dared not be negligent; regardless of their inner thoughts, they all feigned extreme attentiveness.

Meanwhile, in the transparent room above, Xu Ke was openly yawning.

"How boring. Why do the most powerful demonic beasts love to ramble so much? Not intimidating at all," Xu Ke mumbled softly. He turned to the child next to him, who was even smaller, and asked, "Why did you bring us here? This is an internal demonic beast meeting; isn't it wrong for us to eavesdrop?"

"It's fine, it won't mind," the child said calmly, looking down at the eloquent Di Yi.

Though Xu Ke was inherently naive, it didn't mean he was a fool. He glanced left and right, then lowered his voice and cautiously asked, "From your tone, you seem quite familiar with Lord Di Yi."

"You're not... its illegitimate child, are you?"

"If you insist on thinking that, then you're not wrong." To Xu Ke's surprise, the other party admitted it readily. This startled Xu Ke speechless.

"Or rather, Di Yi is me. But I am not Di Yi," the child added.

Xu Ke's eyes instantly widened, filled with disbelief.

At this moment, Li Fan's attention also shifted from Di Yi's fleshy mass below to the rosy-cheeked child in front of him. Although he had suspected it earlier, he was still somewhat shocked that the esteemed master of demonic beasts had actually manifested a human body.

Observing the astonished expressions of Xu Ke and Li Fan, one human and one bird, Di Yi revealed an enigmatic smile that completely contradicted its childlike appearance.

"What, are you surprised?"

Xu Ke nodded repeatedly.

"There's no need to be. All living beings in the world, at their very essence, can be traced back to a single origin."

"Whether demonic beasts or humans, there is no fundamental difference."

Di Yi's expression was placid, yet it spoke astonishing words. Li Fan believed that if anyone other than the Demonic Beast Master had uttered these words in this sacred land of the demon race, they would have long since been devoured alive by the enraged Myriad Demons.

"It's funny to say, but it took me a long time, only recently, to truly understand this principle."

"And that's why I came into being." The child-like Di Yi, with hands clasped behind its back, looked down at the demonic beasts below and spoke with an air of profound wisdom beyond its years.

"Back then, Lu Ya once told me that demonic beasts are so powerful because their strength is inherited from their innate bloodline. But with each passing generation, their bloodline gradually thins. While there's a possibility of atavistic mutation, the overall strength of the demonic race is undeniably weakening."

Hearing the mention of Senior Brother Lu Ya, Xu Ke's eyes immediately lit up, and he listened attentively to the child-like Di Yi's words.

"Conversely, the demonic race's opponents, humans, grow stronger with each generation through learning and accumulation. Cultivation techniques, talismans, artifacts, formations, pills, medicine—the sources of human power can be passed down from one generation to the next."

"As the gap widens, what future awaits the demonic beasts?"

"I pondered this question for three days and three nights, yet ultimately, I couldn't fully comprehend it."

"Force those brainless fellows to learn alchemy or artifact forging?"

"Even I would likely find that impossible. They lie around every day, eating, drinking, and sleeping when tired. If that's how they get stronger, then why would they bother to put in effort?"

"This is the dilemma of the demonic race. Even with some exceptional individuals, it cannot change the overall ecology of the entire race." It seemed to be addressing Xu Ke and Li Fan, yet also seemed to be talking to itself.

"So, you want to turn demonic beasts into humans? Just like you are now?" As if something dawned on him, Xu Ke said, utterly shocked and appalled.

Li Fan's feathers also bristled slightly, feeling a sense of dread.

"Yes."

"And no." Di Yi shook its head, then nodded.

"As the master of all demonic beasts, I must consider and decide matters from the perspective of the entire demonic beast race, not based on personal preferences."

The child-like Di Yi pointed to the Myriad Demon Assembly being held below. "That me down there has decided to lead the demonic beasts to escape the Xuanhuang Realm."

"Even though I have absolute confidence, I cannot deny that this plan has a possibility of failure."

"Even if there's only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, I must account for it."

"To prevent the demonic beast races from heading towards ruin because of a single decision of mine, I need to have another plan," Di Yi said slowly.

"I understand! This is what the Senior Brothers always say: always have a backup plan!" Xu Ke exclaimed, somewhat excitedly.

"No, you don't understand," Di Yi retorted mercilessly. "A backup plan? For a vast demonic beast race, that's no different from seeking your own demise."

"As for those demonic beasts unwilling to leave and who choose to remain in the Xuanhuang Realm, how many of them would accept transforming into humans? Without deep thought, one can know that only a very small portion would accept this plan of mine."

"Coercion would only harm an already divided race, which is why I need to execute this plan in secret."

Xu Ke scratched his head, his small face full of confusion. "What exactly are you trying to say? I'm getting so confused, I can't understand anything anymore."

Di Yi gently waved a hand, and instantly, a lush, leafy tree appeared before them. At the end of one of its branches, Xu Ke distinctly saw his own figure.

"This is..." he asked, puzzled.

"This is the future," Di Yi answered solemnly. "A future of possibilities."

"One potential destiny for the demonic race is closely intertwined with you," Di Yi said, looking at the tiny Xu Ke, its eyes filled with an ancient weariness.

Xu Ke, meanwhile, gazed at the ever-expanding and multiplying tree shadows, falling into a daze. The scenes of the demonic race displayed on each branch were sometimes remarkably similar, and sometimes entirely different. Some showed a blood-soaked extinction of the entire demonic race, while others depicted a peak of prosperity, replicating the most glorious period of ancient demons. Still others showed humans and demons coexisting harmoniously, together building magnificent civilizations. And some were utterly blurred, filled with an aura of desolation and decay.

"Infinite futures hold infinite possibilities."

"This also means that no matter how small the possibility, under the premise of infinity, everything is bound to happen."

"Therefore, as the leader of the race, I must reasonably consider the future destiny of the demonic race under every possible scenario." At this moment, the words spoken by Di Yi, despite its childlike body, carried the weight of a mountain.

"This is my answer to Lu Ya's question from back then."

"Humans, while full of potential and possessing infinite possibilities for the future, each operate independently. You fail to coordinate the most powerful forces within your race, instead depleting yourselves through constant internal strife."

"Once a calamity strikes, you will undoubtedly suffer severe losses."

"Perhaps you can survive numerous disasters through sheer luck, but stretch the timeline, and the more calamities you experience, the greater the probability of human extinction becomes."

"But we demonic beasts are different. As long as I exist, I will consider everything for my kin."

"Although they have their own thoughts, on the crucial matter of life and death, they must follow our will and execute the corresponding commands."

"As long as I exist for a day, the demonic race will not truly perish."

"Since we cannot compete with humans, we only need to live long enough for humanity to perish on its own," Di Yi said calmly, its tone carrying a hint of subtle mockery.

Xu Ke, however, had a face full of indignation and wanted to retort. But for a moment, he couldn't think of any suitable words. After much deliberation, he could only manage, "Then how can you guarantee that you won't die before the demonic race perishes?"

Di Yi gazed profoundly at Xu Ke but said nothing.