Li Yao was dazed for a long time before he said, "If you insist on putting it that way, there won't be a problem."
Li Linghai smiled and said, "In the first five hundred years of the Imperium, when the emperor was still in power, the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils, as His Majesty's sharpest saber, did boast the absolute power to decide who to kill first and report later. At that time, a minor 'devil huntress' of the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils was already enough to make the ministers and leaders in the court shudder in fear when they walked on the street. If the 'devil huntresses' knocked on the door at midnight, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they would be scared to death.
"However, as the royal power declined, the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils became more and more dilapidated. What I said just now was just a 'theoretical' possibility.
"Theoretically speaking, it is true that the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils can accuse anybody of being a Demonic Cultivator and capture them back to their nest for interrogation. But in reality, if they really want to capture somebody, it still depends on their capability.
"Before they receive the full support of the reformists, the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils is far from capable of capturing anybody everywhere, especially the cases that involve the four Kurfürst families. If you dare to capture somebody at their door, they will certainly beat you to death, burn you into ashes, and spray you into space. What can you do?
"To put it bluntly, even if somebody from the four Kurfürst families really cooperates with the extraterrestrial devils and turns into an out-and-out Demonic Cultivator, the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils can only turn a blind eye to it, not to mention that they are wronged and tortured into confessions."
Li Yao was greatly alarmed. "Are there really people who … cooperate with the extraterrestrial devils?"
"You and I, the Immortal Cultivators and the Cultivators, can cooperate. As long as there are enough benefits, why can't we cooperate with the extraterrestrial devils?"
Li Linghai said casually, "The extraterrestrial devils are an intelligent life, too. Intelligent life means the possibility of negotiation, compromise, trade, and peace. All in all, what I'm trying to say is that, even with the full support of the reformists, the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils is far from its heyday right now. It only has the theoretical power to decide who to kill and what not to do. It is not as arrogant and domineering as you imagine.
"But another organization is different, namely the Association of Demon Hunters."
Li Yao thought for a moment. "Understood. The Empire's official organization that deals with demons and monsters."
"Yes. Ever since the Star Ocean Imperium was collapsed by the demons and the extraterrestrial devils together ten thousand years ago, the demons and the extraterrestrial devils have always been the two greatest threats to the civilization of mankind. Later, all the regimes at the center of the cosmos would establish institutions and even armies to deal with the two greatest threats. In the Imperium of True Human Beings, they were the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils and the Association of Demon Hunters.
Li Linghai introduced, "After ten thousand years, the extraterrestrial devils have been hiding most of the time. The demons have completely lost their organized and systematic civilization and have been driven to the edge of the cosmos by us. They are probably on the verge of extinction, aren't they?
"After the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils and the Association of Demon Hunters lost their usefulness, they evolved into the two greatest secret organizations of the Imperium. The sharp weapons that dealt with the demons and the extraterrestrial devils in the past are quite suitable for human beings right now.
"The first five hundred years of the Imperium was the age of the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils. With the support of His Majesty, they suppressed the Association of Demon Hunters all the time. As a result, the Association of Demon Hunters joined the four Kurfürst families early on and made great contributions to their secret war to suppress the royal power. When they were rewarded for their contributions, they received corresponding rewards, too. Their scale and level both soared. In the next five hundred years, they became a terrifying existence that all the Immortal Cultivators of the Imperium would be scared of!"
Thinking quickly, Li Yao nodded and said, "Understood. Can the members of the 'Association of Demon Hunters' swagger on the street, claim that whoever they don't like is a demon, drag them back for interrogation, and behead them?" "Yes.
If the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils is His Majesty's sharpest saber, the Association of Demon Hunters is the most loyal hound of the four Kurfürst families. Those who are bold enough to disobey the orders of the four families and violate their interests will inevitably be labeled as' spies of demons' or 'hybrids of human beings and demons'. Their reputation will be ruined, and they will be at the mercy of other people. "
Li Linghai said, "In the past hundred years, the Dongfang family's capability has greatly expanded, and they have extended their hands to various critical fields of the Imperium. Naturally, the Association of Demon Hunters is one of their key targets of infiltration. The president who has just been appointed is from the Dongfang family. To be more exact, he is Dongfang Wang's trusted subordinate.
"Right now, everybody's fleets are restrained by each other. Also, nobody is bold enough to start a civil war against the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils and the Association of Demon Hunters. The black battlefield where the two old enemies have been fighting for a thousand years is about to be reignited."
Li Linghai drew a rune array softly. Shadows flashed behind him, and the map of the underground street just now was replaced by the image of a young woman.
The woman …
Her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall all the way to her waist. Although her facial features were small and exquisite, her overall appearance was a little plain, like a few faint ink dots on a gray rice paper. She didn't leave too deep an impression.
Despite Li Yao's great memory and recognition, he could not tell what other features the woman had other than her beautiful hair after seeing the 3D picture.
The long hair, on the other hand, was obviously a disguise. It could be cut, dyed, and changed at any moment. It was absolutely meaningless to focus his attention on the hair.
Ever since Li Yao advanced into the Divinity Transformation Stage, he had never felt so "unpredictable" about a person. It was truly uncanny!
"This woman is named 'Dongfang Mingyue'. She is the president of the Association of Demon Hunters who was appointed last month."
Li Linghai introduced, "I believe that she is the head of Dongfang Wang's special agents, which equals to Yue Wushuang's role on our side. She will also be the most dangerous enemy in our battle in the next phase!
"You have been in the limelight in space and the Emperor's Mausoleum recently. Dongfang Wang must've noticed you a long time ago. It is very likely that you will have to deal with this woman. You must be careful!"
Staring at Dongfang Mingyue's picture with great interest, Li Yao mumbled, "She looks really young. What's her level and background? Do you have any detailed files?"
Li Linghai shook his head slowly and said, "No."
Li Yao was slightly dazed. "For such an important person, you should've collected all the files about whether or not her ancestors had hemorrhoids, shouldn't you? What do you mean by 'no'?"
With a bitter smile, Li Linghai said, "Do you remember how I introduced you to other people before? I said that you were a secret warrior that the reformists raised in the darkness and that you were the most unpredictable, mysterious, and elusive kind.
"Many major forces raise such dark warriors who are responsible for the most clandestine, filthy, and bloody businesses. They are known as' ghost warriors'.
"Of course, you are a fake, but this Dongfang Mingyue is the real deal. She is a dark warrior and a ghost warrior that Dongfang Wang raised. There is barely any information about her before she was elected as the president of the Association of Demon Hunters. But there is reason to believe that dozens of shocking cases were related to her. She is an expert of stealth and assassination!"
"So tough?"
Li Yao found it hard to believe. "Is it true that you don't have any files about her at all?"
"No. She is like a shadow that pops up from the depths of the dark swamp. Nobody knows what level she is exactly."
Li Linghai suddenly changed the topic. "However, I met her once in the royal palace a year and a half ago. At that time, she was still a minor maid."
Li Yao widened his eyes. "What?"
"The four Kurfürst families all have spies in the royal palace. I was one of the spies that the Li family sent to the royal palace in the beginning. So, it was not surprising that she carried out a certain mission in the royal palace as a maid under Dongfang Wang's order."
Li Linghai slightly frowned and mumbled, "However, at that time, I vaguely felt wary when I glanced at her casually. It was quite odd."
"Your Grace was wary of Dongfang Mingyue?"
Li Yao was greatly surprised.
He knew better than anyone else how terrifying Li Linghai's combat ability was. Even if he was not the "best expert of the Imperium of True Human Beings", it was definitely not a problem for him to be among the top ten or even the top five.
Such an unparalleled expert who practiced the techniques of the Supreme Emperor and was protected by the aura of the True Dragons of Purple Fire was wary of Dongfang Mingyue?
In other words, even if Dongfang Mingyue was not as strong as Li Linghai, it was still possible that she could pose a threat to Li Linghai!
Li Yao pondered for a moment and asked, "Your Grace, tell me the truth. Have you ever been 'wary' of me?"
Li Linghai thought for a moment and said, "I don't think so."
Li Yao found it hard to believe. "Seriously? Not even once? Not even for one second?"
Li Linghai shook his head and said, "No. You shouldn't be a threat to me, except for the fact that you are a burden to me as a pig-like teammate."
Li Yao sighed. "Fine. So to speak, we are both 'ghost warriors in darkness', but this Dongfang Mingyue should be slightly stronger than me, right?"
"Yes, but you don't need to be frustrated."
Li Linghai explained, "After careful consideration, even if Dongfang Mingyue is really stronger than you, she might not be able to kill you. Should the two of you really fight each other, it is very likely that you can escape like a lizard that loses its tail."
Li Yao: "… Okay."
"All in all, the Tribunal of Extraterrestrial Devils will be at war with the Association of Demon Hunters, which will consume a lot of magical equipment. I'll have to trouble you and Master Jin Tianzong."
Li Linghai said, "As for this Dongfang Mingyue's files, more of them will be collected in the dark war. It will be even better if you can test her strength in person.
"Getting to the bottom of it, the enormous dark war is just a feint and a disguise. When the time is right, and most of the enemy's forces have been lured away, we will take down Dongfang Renxin's secret research institute as fast as we can and find the critical evidence. Of course, we will have to capture him in person. Then, the avalanche of the entire Dongfang family will be unstoppable. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Yes."
Li Yao raised his hand. "May I ask why Your Grace calls me a pig-like teammate? When have I ever been a burden to you? Also, have I really — really posed no threat to you at all? "
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