Chapter 130: Refusing to Perish as a Docile Starveling, Emulating the Mantis That Brandished Its Arms

"What do you mean, Elder Mu..."

"I mean exactly what I said." Elder Mu replied, his mood somber.

"Compared to the Demon race, the human race is far too weak. If we wish to overcome the strong while we are weak, how could it possibly be like a fairy tale, devoid of any sacrifice?"

"We, who once received the grace of Emperor Li Er, how could we not understand this truth?"

Deep within Tang Chengfeng’s body lay the concentrated essence of several rule-level monsters, personally implanted by Emperor Li Er himself. This essence was the key to his survival, continuously nourishing his flesh and sustaining his life. Yet, at the same time, this concentrated essence was a bomb of terrifying proportions. Once detonated, it would become an extreme act of self-destruction capable of shaking even the fundamental laws of existence. Therefore, if he could only get close to the center of the Demon portal, it would be enough to reduce years of the enemy's efforts to ashes, delaying the arrival of the Demon main legion into this world by at least several years.

Among the entire human race, only two people had the capability to destroy the Demon portal. One was Elder Mu. However, if he were to defect, the Demons would never fully trust him; they would not even reveal the location of the portal to him, for they knew the extent of his power. Thus, the only candidate was Tang Chengfeng. More importantly, Tang Chengfeng's history provided him with a motive that could be described as impeccable.

"But his emotions just now didn't seem feigned, and his motive was very logical."

"If it weren't sincere, if it didn't seem logical... how could he make them believe him?" Elder Mu shook his head. "And do not think he is merely acting. At this moment, at least... he is truly a traitor to the human race."

Tang Chengfeng was one of the original city-lord-level powerhouses of humanity. His innate talent was heaven-defying, and his potential was astonishingly high. Yet, he was also proud to an extreme. He was high-spirited, daring to battle the heavens and the earth. He always charged to the front when facing the Demon armies. He once considered himself one of the three great guardian gods of humanity, believing it was his duty to clear away every obstacle for the race. Aside from Emperor Li Er, he maintained boundless confidence and sharpness even when facing Elder Mu. He was never willing to fall behind.

During that battle a hundred years ago, his life force was drained, and he was nearly dead. After being awakened, he neither lamented his misfortune nor requested resources from the human race. Instead, upon learning that his potential was exhausted, he immediately refused to consume any further heavenly treasures. He preferred to endure his broken body, the heart-wrenching pain, and the torture of soul-wrenching agony, relying on time to recover bit by bit, rather than wasting even a shred of human resources.

"He was depressed for a very, very long time. Those words he spoke may not necessarily have been false. But when I found him, he accepted this mission without the slightest hesitation."

Perhaps... Elder Mu's eyes could not mask his sorrow. "Perhaps he has been looking for death ever since a hundred years ago... looking for a death that holds value."

"The Demons may never understand. Why, despite our noble status and great power—despite the fact that we could surely survive if we only surrendered—must we fight to the death for a group of ant-like existences? Why, when the gap in strength is so unimaginably vast, do we not accept our fate as fodder, but instead act like mantises trying to stop a carriage?"

"But I know... it is because the path of resistance for the human race over the past century has always been paved with blood and sacrifice. And now... it is my turn."

He whispered the last sentence, audible only to himself. After a pause, he turned to look at City Lord Fu. "Furthermore... I must thank you, City Lord Fu. It was you who unearthed Song Qi, this human genius, and allowed me to see the hope of victory. But precisely because of that, we must squeeze out every possible moment for Song Qi. Even if we must use our lives as kindling, we must drag things out until the moment he grows up! Moths fly into the flame, purely for the sake of preserving a flicker of light."

Once he finished speaking, City Lord Fu was shocked beyond measure. Then, he lowered his head, his expression infinitely complex. So, it was like this? It was actually like this! He realized that he had far too severely underestimated the awareness and spirit of the first generation of human pioneers. At the same time, a boulder seemed to press down on his heart, leaving him breathless.

"Elder Mu... I understand."

"It is good that you understand. You are the one who recognized Song Qi's talent; you have the right to know this. Also, regarding Tang Chengfeng's family, please take them in under the guise of supervision. It is not convenient for me to do so."

"No problem." City Lord Fu nodded, then said with unwillingness, "Elder Mu, I still want to ask: is there really no way to save City Lord Tang? Perhaps there is a way to have the best of both worlds? A method to achieve the goal without sacrificing him?"

Having learned the truth, he truly could not bear to watch things proceed toward an irreversible end. Elder Mu shook his head. "A way to have the best of both worlds? Of course there is. I can maintain my prime state for three more years. If you can catch up to me within three years, we can join forces and charge into the Demon army together; then all problems would naturally be solved. But the question is... can you do it?"

Hearing this, City Lord Fu lowered his head, filled with shame. Not to mention three years—even in thirty, he might not be able to catch up. This was a condition that was nearly impossible to meet.

Elder Mu paid no heed to his disappointment and turned to the place where Song Qi and the portal had disappeared. He closed his eyes to inspect the area for a while, then said with disappointment, "It can no longer be tracked. The attacks from those three completely shattered the portal, triggering spatial turbulence. It likely transported that child, Song Qi, to the Third Continent. Fortunately, I had already set a safeguard on him; if he encounters a life-or-death crisis, I will be able to sense it. That Demon has already pursued him. I believe there will be a reaction before long. We shall simply wait here."

Hearing this, City Lord Fu nodded and sat down in mid-air. The two of them waited like this... Six hours passed... They waited from daylight into the dark of night, but gained nothing.

"Strange, what is happening?" Even the usually composed Elder Mu could no longer sit still. He was incredibly anxious, his heart filled with trepidation! One must know that Song Qi was the child upon whom half of humanity's hopes were pinned! He carried even more hope than Li Zong!

"Could I have misjudged him?! Does that Demon actually possess the strength to instantly shatter the jade stone and kill Song Qi?!"

"No! If he truly possessed that kind of strength, how could he have been forced by me to use the sacrificial statue?"

"Or perhaps... Song Qi defeated him?!"

At this thought, Elder Mu shook his head repeatedly. "No, no! Defeating him is still too much of an exaggeration. But escaping is possible."

His eyes were filled with worry. "Although there are no Demons on the Third Continent, it is a paradise for monsters, and there are monsters that have mastered the rules. Even with the jade stone I gave him, if he steps into the territories of those entities, I fear I will be unable to protect him!"

"I hope... he does not go to any overly dangerous regions."