Chapter 186: Diyu Realm Rulers
[Master, I started scanning this realm as soon as we arrived here, and the scanning will end in two hours.] Zhang Fei was glad to hear that, especially since Mei always acted quickly, and he didn't need to order her around. [However, I didn't expect that you would get other quests besides the daily quest, and the system also automatically started upgrading.
However, I don't know anything about the upgrade, especially since I only have the authority to supervise it, so it's out of my control.]
Zhang Fei nodded in understanding. 'I didn't expect to get other quests in this realm either, and I started to doubt my savior's identity, especially since she seemed to want me to prefer my demon side, so I thought that she might also be a demon.'
[Well, that possibility is open, but we don't have a definite answer to her identity, as we don't have any information about her. However, you might be able to meet her again in the future, so you can ask her directly if that happens.]
Zhang Fei released a heavy sigh after he remembered the young girl who killed him, brought him back to life, and changed his life. 'Sigh, I really want to know her identity and her reason for turning me into this, so I hope we will meet again one day in the future.'
"Why do you keep sighing to yourself? Don't you like coming to this realm? After all, you're a demon yourself, so I thought you wouldn't have any trouble adapting to this realm." Janette suddenly asked him.
"Nothing; I was just thinking about something." Zhang Fei then looked at the surrounding area, but the Diyu Realm was far beyond his expectations. "Even though I've never been to the Netherworld Realm directly, I can see from the gate that it's too dark, and this realm is completely the opposite from there, especially since this place is almost no different from Earth.
However, I didn't get the feeling I had in that realm, so I didn't feel anything special in this realm."
Janette didn't comment, especially since she didn't know about the Netherworld Realm. She then turned her head away, raised both hands, and shouted as loudly as she could. "Diyu Realm! I'm back! I hope the rest of you are doing well."
Zhang Fei smiled when he saw her act like that, but he used his divine senses to check that realm, especially since he couldn't access his map because the system was still in the process of upgrading, so he had to check it manually. After examining various directions, he was surprised to discover that the realm resembled an island state, with a single, vast island stretching out in all directions.
Despite this, an endless ocean surrounded the island's outskirts. "So where do we go first, Janette?"
"Can we go to the Dryad Forest first?" Zhang Fei agreed directly with Janette, especially since that was his main reason for coming here. "Our forest is in that direction, and it will take us about five hours to get there."
"I don't think it will take us that long to get there." Zhang Fei surprised Janette by pulling out the Pandora Odyssey. He immediately escorted her aboard and activated its stealth mode, ensuring the other demons wouldn't notice their presence. "Can you explain to me about this realm?"
"This place is similar to Earth, but there is only one large island here, as you can see. However, there are no humans here, and you are the first human to set foot here." Janette then pointed to the sky, and Zhang Fei immediately followed the direction she pointed, but he was surprised to see a huge floating ancient black castle. "Did you see that?
That was the castle of the supreme ruler of the Diyu Realm, but currently it has no owner because the old demon lord disappeared without a trace. Due to his wisdom and fair treatment of all demon races, this realm was once safe and peaceful, but his disappearance plunged it into great chaos.
Since then, twelve of his subordinates have scrambled to replace him as supreme ruler of this realm, causing it to endure perpetual warfare. We demons who didn't want to side with anyone became victims of their greed and ambition."
"So there are now twelve rulers trying to fight for the position of supreme ruler?"
"Yes." Janette nodded to Zhang Fei. "They are the twelve zodiacs."
"Eh?" Zhang Fei turned to her, surprised. "Do you mean they are like the twelve zodiac knights in the comics?"
"I don't know what you mean by those zodiac knights." When he heard that, Zhang Fei laughed wryly, and Janette then pointed at the twelve floating stone platforms. "There is a portal above those stone platforms that connects to their sub-realms. Each ruler has their own city, which is huge and majestic, and they live in their palace, located right in the middle of their cities.
However, not all demons, especially those of us who are not willing to support them, can live in their realms, and only the demons who pledge their loyalty can. Moreover, this realm divides the demons into five classes: lower, intermediate, advanced, elite, and ruler.
"Hmm?" Zhang Fei raised his eyebrows after hearing that, because he originally thought their classes would be divided according to their demon ranks.
"Haha." Janette laughed before looking down, then pointed at the crowd of demon beasts below them. "Those demon beasts belong to the lower class, and those who can transform into their semi-humanoid form belong to the intermediate class.
However, we dryads belong to the advanced class even though we were born in our semi-humanoid form, especially since we have unique abilities that common demons don't have. Apart from us, there are still several other demons that belong to the advanced class, such as druids and many more."
"What about the elite demons?"
"Elite demons are those who have a form similar to humans, but they still have special characteristics as demon races, and you humans call them demi-humans. They are powerful, even though they are not as powerful as the rulers, and most of them chose to side with the rulers."
"Demi-humans, huh?" Zhang Fei muttered to himself with a faint smile on his face. "Who are the identities of the twelve rulers?"
"Aries represents Aries; he has the power to control flames. Taurus, represented by Tauri, can control the earth and possesses the highest endurance and absolute strength. Twin girls, one white and the other black, like the Yin-Yang symbol, represent Gemini, possessing the ability to manipulate air and illusions."
"Illusion, huh?" Zhang Fei wasn't curious about the two women, but he was more curious about their abilities. "What about the others?"
"Kinos represents Cancer, and his ability to manipulate water makes him one of the best fighters in the water. Leon represents Leo; he is a true predator who can fully adapt to his environment. Besides, he has amazing instincts, senses, reflexes, and speed."
Zhang Fei nodded in understanding. "A lion stands at the top of the food chain, and a crab is an aquatic animal, so it's not surprising that they can be like that."
"Hey, Fei, I thought you might be interested in Virgil's representation of Virgo." Zhang Fei immediately turned to Janette. "There are only four women among the rulers, and she is the most beautiful. Furthermore, she has the most unique abilities among them, particularly since she has the power of light, even though she is a demon."
"Oh?" Zhang Fei was really surprised by that. "How can she have the power of light?"
"I don't know for sure about that." Janette responded by shaking her head. "Virgil really has the power of light, and she is even able to purify other demons, so the other rulers hardly dare to offend her. Zygoz, the oldest of the rulers, represents Libra, demonstrating his wisdom.
His ambition to become the supreme ruler was the smallest compared to the others, and it was his subordinates who stopped the troops of other rulers who attacked my race at that time, so I could escape to Earth."
"Not bad; there is still a demon ruler who has feelings in this realm."
"Haha." Janette laughed softly before continuing. "Scorpius represents the scorpion, and his poison is too lethal, causing our bodies to dissolve in a matter of seconds, so you have to be careful when you meet him. Avros, the ultimate hunter, represents Sagittarius, and his ability to hunt his enemies is beyond question.
Lycus represents Capricorn, but his abilities remain uncertain, particularly given his laziness and lack of ambition."
Zhang Fei massaged his forehead, especially since the number of rulers in the Diyu Realm was simply too many, and there were still two more left. "What about Aquarius and Pisces?"
"Aqua is Aquarius, and his water manipulation abilities are top-notch; even Kinos can't match him, so you have to be careful if you fight him in the water area." Zhang Fei nodded understandingly at Janette. "Pisces also has excellent water control, and she can also manipulate all aquatic demons to attack her enemies.
Angela is the second-most beautiful woman, but her beauty is not inferior to that of Virgil. Besides, she is the kindest among the rulers, and she never bullied other demons from the classes below her."
"Angela, huh? Have you met her before?"
"No." Janette shook her head before pointing north toward the sea. "If you are curious about Angela, you can go there, and you might be able to meet her there, especially since she often goes there to enjoy her own time. However, you have to be careful with her telekinesis ability, and she might be able to catch you because she can also use teleportation like you.
Besides, not many demons know that she can use electricity too, and I heard about it from my mother who has met her several times, so her attacks are really deadly if she combines electricity and water together."
Unlike Virgil and Virgo, Janette's explanation about Angela completely piqued Zhang Fei's interest, making him eager to meet her, especially since she was the only demon ruler with teleportation abilities like him.
After that, Janette explained to Zhang Fei about each area in the realm, and she also told him the identity of the demon races living in each area, which made him impatient to explore the areas in the realm.
After they flew for two hours, they finally arrived above a very dense forest area. There was a large city in the heart of the forest, but half of it looked destroyed, and some black smoke was also rising from inside the city.
"This place is where I was born and raised, Fei, the Dryad Forest." Janette expressed her longing gaze upon the Dryad Forest, particularly considering her absence from home for the past two years.
Seeing Janette clench her fists tightly and her expression in pain, Zhang Fei took her hand directly. "I understand how you're feeling, but it's crucial to manage your emotions and prevent vengeance from blinding your eyes and heart, as it could lead to irrational actions."
"En." Janette just nodded at Zhang Fei. "Let's go down."
Zhang Fei nodded and hugged Janette's waist. He carried her down from his flying artifact before storing it in his inventory. They then walked into the forest, but most of the area they passed looked charred, and there were a lot of fallen trees around.
Janette looked very sad to see the forest where she was born and raised badly destroyed. She, as a Dryad, is a tree humanoid, so she can hear and feel the sadness of the trees. "It's been two years, but they're still hunting my kin."
After they had walked for quite a while, the city was right in their eyes. However, just as they were about to go further, many tree roots suddenly attacked them. Janette quickly stood in front of Zhang Fei and used her Tree Control to restrain them, then returned to her Dryad form while shouting. "Stop it, guys! It's me! I'm home!"
- To Be Continued -
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My other novels
1. Cultivator With Modern AI
2. Primordial 'Dual Cultivator' Dragon With System
3. Otherworldly-Cultivator
4. Tang Xiao: The Birth Of The Multiverse
If you guys haven't read all four, maybe you can take a peek at them, who knows you might like them.
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