Let them offer their loyalty!-Chapter 1637 - 679: Zhao Ji Ascends the Throne!

Hearing the butler's words, Qiu Tu, sitting upright on the bed, showed little expression on his face.

Clearly, this somewhat surprising news was actually well within his expectations.

Having come from the Political Department, his sensitivity to intelligence had always far surpassed others. As early as two days ago, when the Northern Divine King threatened Doris, demanding all Three Divine Kings assemble, Qiu Tu realized: the era had changed.

The time when the Four Divine Kings watched each other warily and minded their own business had passed.

With new Heavenly Gods about to emerge, including even a powerful being like Zhao Ji who could stand alone against many, the vested interests—the Four Divine Kings—most likely had already, in silence, formed an alliance to maintain their rule.

If a newborn faction wanted a seat at the world's table, it had to break through the old powers' blockade.

So, although it was the East God King who threatened Doris and Qiu Tu, it was reasonable for the Northern Divine King to come in her stead to take custody of Qiu Tu.

After all... this was the "Northern Kingdom," where the Northern Divine King had easier access. If danger arose, support would arrive much quicker.

But... even if he'd anticipated this outcome, it didn't mean Qiu Tu wished for it.

After all, as just mentioned, the Northern Divine King was too close to the "Crimson Territory." The support she could garner was simply too great.

If it were the East God King who had to travel a thousand miles to the "Crimson Territory," and Qiu Tu and Doris managed to take down one of her clones, it would take a long time for her next clone to arrive again.

That would effectively buy them time.

But... the Northern Divine King was different. Her domain, her region, bordered right on the "Crimson Territory."

Theoretically, as long as her resources were sufficient and she had prepared multiple clones in advance, she could deploy them seamlessly to the outskirts of the "Crimson Territory."

After all... not to mention the Divine Kings, even a Seventh Rank Evil God could move freely and teleport "objects" within their own territory.

This meant that, even if Qiu Tu and Doris joined forces to kill a clone of the Northern Divine King, it wouldn't buy them much time at all.

Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but quietly sigh in his heart.

Sure enough... Murphy's Law held true no matter which world you were in. The one possibility he hated most had come into being.

Still, this was Qiu Tu's second life—he'd faced countless plights before. Adversity would never defeat him; it only made him stronger. Thinking this, Qiu Tu gathered his composure, then said in a deep voice toward the door, "Alright. I understand."

The butler outside replied with a slight bow, then bowed lower still, before finally leaving Qiu Tu's room.

Listening to those slowly fading footsteps, Qiu Tu's thoughts gradually gathered inwards.

Now that the worst possibility had come to pass, it was time to look ahead.

All that mattered now was how long he and Doris could hold out...

The first thing he had to do was confirm whether he could deliver the bold promise he made to Doris: to kill a Heavenly God! 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

With this thought, Qiu Tu activated his spiritual power. In the next second, the upper half of his clothes flew off, a red rope beside the bed soared over and coiled tightly around his body.

In mere moments, he resembled the figure in that photograph—tied to the bed, eyes wide and bloodshot, Doris's underwear gagging his mouth.

Clearly, he was fully prepared for any inspection...

Meanwhile—

The Crimson Territory, Lord Castle.

Doris was also meeting with the Northern Divine King.

The clone of the Northern Divine King appeared as a delicate, handsome youth, looking about fifteen or sixteen.

He seemed to understand human culture to some degree, dressed head-to-toe in a fitted white Hanfu with flying birds embroidered on it, giving an air of elegance and refined nobility.

However, Doris obviously felt no fondness for him. So even with such a refined appearance, and even though he represented the Three Divine Kings, Doris still sniped at him with sly sarcasm,

"Beize, you still like pretty little boys, I see."

"Every time you choose a clone, it's always some teenager."

"But... for one to serve as a Divine King's clone, which of them isn't an Eighth Rank Deity? Who knows how many centuries they've lived?"

"A young man's face, an ancient soul inside—aren't you just fooling yourself?"

At her words, the Northern Divine King snapped open his folding fan, looking elegant as he fanned himself, replying nonchalantly,

"An appearance is just a skin—pretty or ugly, it hardly matters. I like what I like. After all... your appearance is to please yourself, so your own comfort is what counts."

"Conversely, the more one obsesses over my skin, the more it reveals their attachments—to everything, perhaps to obsession itself... too deep a fixation."

Here, he added meaningfully, "Just like you."

After so many years sparring, the two had clearly traded barbs many times, so Doris simply treated his words as hot air and didn't rise to his subtle jabs.

She steered the topic back to the clone's appearance, saying, "I'm attached? If anyone's attached, it's you. If you weren't, why always pick the appearance of a teenager?"

The Northern Divine King looked at her deeply, then replied, "It's just habit."

"I could pick a girl, or a middle-aged man. Makes no difference."

"But I never deliberately avoid my preferences or habits, because that would be another form of attachment."

One had to admit, for the Northern Divine King to become a Heavenly God and survive the 'Heavenly God Cataclysm,' he had a knack for introspection and sharp thinking.

So, after a few more words, Doris found she could not outdo him, so she simply fell silent and ordered someone to serve tea.