The superior kings were ancient existences that had ruled their respective worlds for millennia, and they were seasoned foes in the grand game of politics.
As Zhang Lie explained what the kings' intentions were, Li Zongming's face grew darker and darker.
"To sum it up, these fellows don't know if they can beat us, so they'll send us against their strongest opponent instead. At the same time, they'll drain us of our world's energy, reducing the rate at which it can grow.
"Unlike what they've claimed, although the Zongming world will have more time to develop in the future, that doesn't mean the inhabitants of the world can grow stronger. If we were to lose a huge quantity of the world's energy, our growth rate would drop precipitously."
And if they hadn't grown stronger by the next rotation, they would have to continue borrowing troops from the other superior worlds, enmeshing them in a vicious circle.
Zhang Lie nodded. "In other words, they're intending to treat our world like an endless source of energy. It's a good plan, I'll grant them that, and it probably works better than destroying every newly evolved superior world they come across."
Li Zongming asked, "If you know what they're trying to pull off, why would you accept?"
Zhang Lie countered, "What else do you think we can do? Survive against eight superior worlds' combined assault?"
Li Zongming fell silent.
Zhang Lie continued, "Don't worry, I don't intend to bring the Zongming world down. We'll see just who's begging whom by the end, won't we?"
Li Zongming's eyes grew wide. "Do you have more information I don't?"
As far as Zhang Lie knew, the death spirits would enact their plan to take over the realm imminently—and if they couldn't defeat this invasion, they wouldn't be alive for a hundred years regardless.
"I've spoken about this a little to Qianlin. The superior worlds haven't managed to confine the death spirits completely. The death spirits have long since evaded confinement by means of a subsidiary race, the black spirits."
Zhang Lie explained what was going on to Li Zongming.
"The death spirits will soon summon the black spirits, currently scattered all about the third realm, back to the death spirits' homeworld."
The black spirits had collected large quantities of world's energy from all over the realm, and once they were recalled and their collected energy given to the death spirits' king, the death spirits would break free of the encirclement.
In Zhang Lie's past life, the black spirits' plan had succeeded completely.
If the superior worlds hadn't dispatched an envoy offering to loan troops to Li Zongming, Zhang Lie had considered the possibility of informing them about the impending threat. After all, the death spirits' plan would imperil all three thousand worlds.
After his experience with the domineering envoy, however, Zhang Lie changed his mind. He very much wanted to watch those superior worlds squirm and panic.
Zhang Lie reminded him, "When we negotiate with the envoy again, you need to clarify that you're only willing to borrow these troops when it comes time for your turn in the defense rotation. Once the death spirits make their move, these superior worlds will have to fend off the death spirits with every power at their disposal, and they won't be able to look down on our help at that point."
The conflict between the Zongming world and the other superior worlds was finally resolved after a few days. Li Zongming entertained the envoy for a few more days, attempting to secure what benefits he could out of the negotiations, but it was largely a farce.
Li Zongming knew that the death spirits were about to launch an invasion, and the terms of the agreement would be nullified without ever being activated.
After the negotiations were concluded, Zhang Lie bade Li Zongming farewell. "I've stayed long enough here. There's a huge pile of work on my plate, and I have to get back to it."
Li Zongming suggested, "Son-in-law, why don't you move the humans over here? We're a superior world now, and the resources in this world are likely better than what you have access to at the moment." contemporary romance
Zhang Lie shook his head. "The Zongming world is too replete with resources at the moment, and a superior world isn't conducive to my plans. We humans need to grow in battle."
Superior worlds didn't tend to participate in inter-world conflict—any weaker foes would immediately surrender or flee at the thought of facing a superior world in battle.
"Furthermore, those other superior worlds won't want to see the Zongming world grow even larger. If that happens, they'll make the Zongming world their next target."
Li Zongming smiled in embarrassment. "Without your presence here, I won't feel at ease. After all, if the death spirits really are going to be approaching shortly—"
"When that day comes, I will stand by the Zongming world."
Li Zongming was still worried. "I'm afraid that an incident might occur here. The two worlds are far apart, so if something were to happen while you were traveling..."
"It won't be an issue for superior kings to hold the death spirits off for a few days. By then, I'll have made it over to the Zongming world."
Li Zongming sighed. "Better for Qianlin to go with you, I think. She would be safer there than anywhere else."
.
Li Zongming was exasperated: despite being her father, he wasn't confident that he would be able to protect his own daughter.
Zhang Lie patted his chest. "Please, rest assured that I'll take good care of her. As long as I'm still alive, she won't lose even a single strand of hair on her head."
After two days' rest, Zhang Lie and Li Qianlin headed back toward the draconian world. To Zhang Lie's surprise, Dong Mingxing cae along with them.
"What're you doing? Do you intend to behave like Li Qianlin's personal maid, going so far as to accompany her throughout her marriage?"
Dong Mingxing frowned. "I simply can't bear to see Qianlin hurt—and I need to supervise your interactions with her to make sure that you don't do anything untoward!"
Zhang Lie snorted. "Absurd! Have you even asked Qianlin whether or not she wants me to make these untoward advances?"
Li Qianlin blushed. She lowered her head and didn't answer.
Dong Mingxing sighed. "What a pity, what a pity! A radish that I've grown for twenty years—and now it's going to be uprooted and pawed away by a pig!"
"What do you mean, that you've grown? Could it be that you're interested in Li Zongming? Dong Mingxing, how could you! Qianlin treats you like a friend, but you plan on becoming her mother?!"
"What?!" Dong Mingxing was stupefied by Zhang Lie's assertion.
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