Everyone in the Demon Territory carried an innate sense of condescension.

Cold gazes. Guarded expressions. A hostility that wasn't openly displayed, but silently weighed every word and movement.

Compared to them, the rat demon in front of Ethan was already considered approachable.

"What should I call you boss?" the rat demon asked with a smile, his whiskers twitching slightly.

"Noah."

Ethan answered simply.

The way demons addressed people made him feel strangely familiar.

In his previous life, he had heard the word boss more than any other form of respect.

In human territory, powerful figures were called seniors.

In the Demon Realm, boss was the most common address.

It carried no pretense, no courtesy—only a recognition of strength.

For a fleeting moment, Ethan felt dazed, as if he had returned to another life, standing at the bottom of society where power alone dictated everything.

"Then I'll call you Mr. Noah," the rat demon said respectfully, cupping his hands.

"Is Mr. Noah from the Demon Territory?"

"No. I came from Skyreach Territory," Ethan replied calmly.

"I heard there's a training trial in the northwest of the Demon Territory. I wanted to join in the fun, but I don't know the specific content or location."

"So it's a demon from Skyreach Territory…" the rat demon muttered inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged.

Not all demon clans lived in the Demon Territory. Like humans, demons were scattered across the continent.

The Demon Territory was simply a place where demon clans and demon forces gathered in overwhelming numbers. Humans were rare here. Monsters were even rarer.

Seeing this, Ethan casually took out a spiritual crystal and placed it on the table.

The rat demon's eyes immediately lit up.

He swiftly swept the crystal into his sleeve, his attitude changing noticeably.

The roe deer spirit in front of him—no, this Mr. Noah—was clearly a big boss. At the very least, a sixth-level powerhouse or above.

"Thank you, Mr. Noah. I'll tell you everything I know," the rat demon said flatteringly.

He waved his hand, calling another waiter over.

"Good brother, I'm going to take a break. Help me watch the counter."

The young cat demon with a tail pouted, clearly displeased.

"I'll take you to the brothel tonight," the rat demon whispered.

"I heard a new batch of snake ladies arrived. What do you say?"

The cat demon's vertical pupils trembled, joy flashing across his face.

"Alright, brother. You go rest. I'll handle things here."

Ethan overheard the exchange and couldn't help but smile faintly.

"This Demon Territory has been deeply influenced by human culture," he thought. "Even brothels have become a common pastime."

Images of enchanting snake girls and beast-eared women flashed through his mind.

"Tsk."

"Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form."

His heart instantly returned to calm.

"Mr. Noah, you're laughing. Please follow me outside to talk," the rat demon said politely.

He led Ethan out of the inn and stopped at the corner of a narrow alley.

Chatting during work was dangerous. If the boss caught them, wages would be docked, and scolding would be inevitable.

"Tell me everything you know," Ethan said, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.

"Especially the specific situation of the training trial."

"You've asked the right demon," the rat demon said proudly.

"Netherfall Pass is on the border of the Demon Territory. There are many travelers here. Plenty of people have heard about the training trial—but most only know fragments."

"Oh?" Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"You understand it well?"

"That's natural," the rat demon replied, lowering his voice.

"My hometown is in the northwest of the Demon Territory, close to Blue-Wave City—one of the six major cities."

"Your home is in Blue-Wave City?" Ethan asked.

The rat demon shook his head. "No. We can't enter Blue-Wave City at all. Our tribe lives in the mountains nearby."

"Can't enter?" Ethan frowned slightly.

"The boss came from Skyreach Territory, so you naturally don't know," the rat demon explained.

"There are six major cities in the Demon Territory. All of them are built on Central Spirit Land, with massive formations gathering heaven and earth's spiritual energy. Cultivating there gives twice the result with half the effort."

"That's the dream of everyone in the Demon Territory."

"But those cities are controlled by large demon clans. Aside from them, only powerful independent cultivators or major chambers of commerce are allowed inside."

"I see," Ethan said thoughtfully.

"So strength is the entry token."

"Exactly," the rat demon nodded. "Without strength, you don't even qualify to stand at the gate."

Ethan touched his chin.

The Demon Territory was even more straightforward than the human world.

No disguises. No hypocrisy.

Only strength mattered.

"What about the training trial?" Ethan asked again.

"Where is its specific location?"

"There's no fixed location," the rat demon replied.

"The trial opens once every hundred years, in the Heavenly Water Mountains west of our tribe."

"The entrance changes every time. But before it appears, there are obvious abnormalities in the mountains. Large clans nearby and powerful figures in Blue-Wave City sense it first, then announce the trial."

"But this time is different," he lowered his voice. "In the eighty eighth year, the entrance already showed signs. At the earliest, it'll open within three months."

"That's why more and more people have been gathering in the Demon Territory."

Ethan nodded.

"I heard there are fifty spots for the trial. True or false?"

"It's true—but not fixed," the rat demon replied.

"If powerful figures want to force their juniors in, the clans managing the trial usually agree."

Ethan chuckled inwardly.

An Emperor's inheritance could never truly be limited.

Those quotas were nothing more than rules set by powerful demon clans—to reduce competition and improve their juniors' odds.

In the end, everything still came down to one thing.

Strength.

Fortunately, Ethan now had enough strength.

There shouldn't be much trouble getting a spot.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 1 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 2 Extra Chapters

Dragon - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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