Having the genes of a demon king, I never intended to be a kept man.

Eastern border, Houcheng.

A series of shouts and roars from the training troops echoed like a tidal wave, full of momentum.

Duke Xiahoudun of the East stood atop the magnificent, towering city walls.

He was dressed in the attire of a nobleman, wearing a blue steel armor jacket enhanced with runes, and a black satin cloak hanging elegantly over his shoulders, tied with several medals symbolizing honor. His brown hair fluttered in the wind, and his jet-black eyes gazed down at the large group of superhuman warriors who were training and practicing.

Standing beside Xiahou Dun, Chen Ping, an officer with a relaxed and cheerful smile, said, "His Majesty the Emperor is finally determined to eradicate the Ye family, this great threat. Five million superhumans in the army, His Majesty is really giving these demonized mutants a lot of face."

Xiahou Dun did not respond, a lingering worry in his eyes.

The soldiers below the city were full of vigor; just hearing their voices gave one a sense of security.

A month ago, Xiahoud would have thought that an army of that size would easily conquer the southern border.

But just a few days ago, after attending the Dark City press conference...

Xiahoudun is now worried not only about the system possessed by the Ye family, but also about the Odin M3 magic machine gun! Although Dark City limits each faction to purchasing 100 of these machines, it's hard to say whether the Ye family, as a partner of Dark City, will receive more preferential treatment.

"Sir, what's wrong with you?"

Chen Ping asked curiously.

He didn't quite understand. After the Southern Territory was pacified and the Ye family was destroyed, the Ye family's legacy would most likely be divided among the three dukes, including Xiahoudun. So why did the duke still look so sullen?

“The Ye family is not easy to deal with.” Xiahou Dun shook his head: “Don’t forget the Southern Border War eight years ago. At that time, many noble forces in the Southern Border were all manipulated by them. And the Ye family’s army has a terrifying fighting power. Don’t forget that they are a demonized family and a war family!”

After listening, Chen Ping laughed and said, "Hehe, Your Grace, you are being far too cautious. Even if the Ye family is skilled in warfare, can they withstand the combined attack of the five great generals of the royal family and the three dukes? Can they withstand an army of five million? The Ye family ultimately only has two Heavenly Enlightenment Realm experts, Ye Quan and Ye Xiao, and besides, Ye Xiao hasn't even returned yet..."

Xiahou Dun was thinking of two?

Just at the Dark City press conference, Ye Ge was accompanied by six experts at the Heavenly Revelation Realm!

Who these six Heavenly Enlightenment Realm experts are, and what their identities are, remains unknown to this day!

And this is only what's on the surface! He has absolutely no idea how much strength the Ye family is still hiding...

Xiahoudun had a feeling of unease.

This feeling lingered in his heart for a long time.

"I'm a little tired, I'm going back to my room to rest." Xiahou Dun sighed.

"Yes, sir." Chen Ping bowed slightly, giving the Duke a strange look, wondering what was wrong with Xiahou Dun.

Xiahoudun returned to his room alone, plopped down behind his desk, and pinched the bridge of his nose hard with his fingers.

War...

Another war...

Xiahou Dun knew very well that a war between the royal family and the Ye family was inevitable sooner or later. After Ye Ge took power, the Ye family's influence had expanded too much. No emperor could tolerate his ministers having prestige that surpassed that of the court.

But he didn't expect this day to come so soon.

There shouldn't be any problems, right?

With an army of five million extraordinary beings, eight leaders at the Apocalypse Realm, and over eighty Asura Realm experts, even if the Ye family had ten thousand Odin M3 magic machine guns, they would probably have a hard time resisting them.

Moreover, His Majesty the Emperor is accompanied by the High Priestess Ji Lian, the Protector of the Nation and High Priest An Lingyue, and that powerful Saint Realm expert who has not appeared for many years...

No matter how you look at it, the odds of winning should be on their side.

Xiahou Dun comforted himself with this thought and slowly exhaled.

"call......"

A gust of wind blew by, and the curtains in the room rippled like waves.

A fountain pen on the desk rolled slowly across the surface with a soft "gurgling" sound, propelled by a gentle breeze.

Finally, it fell to the ground with a "thud".

A figure shrouded in a black robe and wearing a black mask emerged silently from the dark corner of the room.

Xiahou Dun's heart skipped a beat, and his pupils dilated sharply: "You..."

"Duke of the Eastern Frontier, how have you been?"

The voice of the masked man was filled with eerie, demonic sounds and echoes, muffled and low, making it impossible to tell whether he was male or female.

"!!?"

Xiahou Dun stared in astonishment at the masked man in black. He had no idea that this was his eastern territory, and his main city-state, Houcheng, which was guarded by experts everywhere. How could this guy have appeared here so silently?!

"You...how did you..."

Xiahou Dun's voice trembled slightly as he subconsciously reached for the longsword he had placed on the table.

However, his sword had only been drawn two inches from its sheath when several clanging sounds rang out simultaneously!

"Om-!"

"Zheng——!"

"Shh-!"

Xiahou Dun's body stiffened instantly, and he dared not make any further moves.

He felt a bone-chilling coldness coming from his neck.

A short sword, held in reverse, was pressed against his throat.

Another man in black robes wearing a red mask appeared behind him, wielding a short sword.

At the same time, to his side and in front, a black-robed man wearing a white mask pointed a longsword at his chest, near his heart.

A man in black robes wearing a yellow mask held a giant broadsword more than two meters long in both hands, the wide blade of which was already hanging above his head.

There were also two other people, one in a blue mask and the other in a purple mask, on the left and right sides of the desk, respectively, each holding a long, serrated chain sword. The two chain swords were wrapped around Xiahou Dun's two arms.

The masked man remained standing in front of him, staring at him without moving. His expression was completely hidden beneath the black mask.

"Gudong..."

Xiahou Dun subconsciously swallowed.

Although he was also a Heavenly Enlightenment Realm expert, he couldn't sense when these people had approached!

Moreover, under the combined attack of these six people, he had absolutely no chance to fight back and was subdued by them...

It's easy to imagine that if these people truly wanted him dead, he would die instantly without any chance of fighting back, just like the three Heavenly Realm werewolf warriors at the press conference...