Upon hearing this, Jue Chen Demon Emperor paused for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.
He picked up his wine cup and leisurely drained the strong liquor inside in one gulp.
Only then did he speak, unhurriedly.
"You all don't know the full story... We are accustomed to eating raw meat and drinking blood in the mountains and forests, and spending our days fighting and killing is inevitably dull. Although the Human Race is weak, these convoluted customs of the Mortal World are, when experienced occasionally, quite unique in their own way."
A mocking curve appeared on the corners of Jue Chen Demon Emperor's mouth.
"I'm just treating it as a way to pass the time, treating myself to a show."
"Don't tell me you actually think... that I, this Emperor, value any of the Ma Family's foundations."
Upon hearing this, the group of demons burst into boisterous laughter.
"The Demon Emperor is right."
"The Human Race loves these pretentious formalities the most; watching them act like that is truly amusing."
"Come, another toast to the Demon Emperor."
On the surface, they toasted each other, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor also raised his cup to reciprocate.
But deep within his narrow, vertical pupils, there was a chilling coldness.
As expected.
His actions this time had already aroused the suspicions of these Demon Emperors.
But it was indeed as they said... If it weren't for that item, he would consider even stepping through the gates of the Ma Residence to be dirtying his feet.
A top-grade heart material...
What a world-shaking, extraordinary treasure that was.
Even if it were placed within the high and mighty Twenty-Five Lineages, it would be a supreme treasure capable of inciting a battle.
He, Jue Chen, had long been stuck at the Perfection of Ascending the Tower, and for lack of an excellent foundation to support him, he had long hesitated to attempt condensing the central palace.
If he could refine this top-grade heart material into his body.
He would have a few more guarantees when entering the Chess Player realm in the future...
As for taking it by force, the variables were too great.
It was, at most, just a so-called status.
Letting this group of humans, who would discard their Face just to survive, willingly present the item as a dowry and respectfully deliver it into his hands.
That was the only foolproof way.
And this group of Demon Emperors who called each other brothers on the surface... If they were to find out the whereabouts of the top-grade heart material.
Whatever brotherhood, whatever the Yao Race's shared destiny.
They would likely bare their fangs immediately.
The rules of the Yu Mountain Great Range had always been like this.
Thinking of this.
The smile on Jue Chen Demon Emperor's Face grew even more intense.
He casually picked up an unknown spirit fruit from the table and tossed it into his mouth.
His sharp white teeth closed, crushing the fruit flesh along with the pit inside. He pulled at the corner of his mouth, smiling without warmth, and said, "Brothers, please continue drinking... I, this Emperor, am going to the backyard to check on that Human Race concubine and see if she is truly as tender and lovely as this Old Man brags."
The group of Demon Emperors saw that they couldn't get any information out of him, and they all secretly sighed in regret.
Naturally, they wouldn't show a hint of it on their Faces.
"Go ahead, Demon Emperor; a moment of a spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold."
"For such a delicate Human Race woman, the Demon Emperor must be gentle; don't break her apart in one night."
"Hahaha, tonight we won't stop until we're drunk; enjoy yourself, Demon Emperor."
The group of demons laughed and jeered unreservedly.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor nodded slightly and turned to walk down from the main seat.
The smile on his Face instantly vanished, his expression becoming gloomy.
He coldly glanced at Ma Dewang, who was waiting in the distance.
Ma Dewang had been watching this side the whole time.
Seeing the other party walk over, he trembled all over.
He immediately bowed his body and went up to meet him.
"Lord Demon Emperor."
Ma Dewang put on a flattering smile, "Is the front courtyard too noisy..."
"Shut up."
Jue Chen Demon Emperor indifferently spat out the two words.
Directly cutting off Ma Dewang's incessant chatter.
Unconcealed coldness shone from his narrow, vertical pupils.
"Take me to get that item."
Hearing this.
Ma Dewang's old Face stiffened.
Bitterness immediately welled up in his heart.
No.
Originally, he had only mentioned that extraordinary treasure and hadn't mentioned anything about marrying off his granddaughter.
It was the other party who needed time to prepare to refine that item and was afraid of news leaking out during that period, attracting the covetousness of other Demon Emperors.
That was why he came up with the pretense of a grand wedding.
But now.
You don't even want to go through the motions of lifting the bridal veil in the bridal chamber.
How can you be so impatient?
Ma Dewang opened his mouth, wanting to argue a few words.
But meeting those cold and cruel vertical pupils, all his words were blocked in his throat.
"This Old Man understands... I will lead the way immediately."
Passing through layers of arched gates.
The noisy sounds of festive music were gradually cut off by high walls.
Two Deer Demon guards, with their hands on their sword hilts, followed closely behind.
Walking to the gate of the inner courtyard.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor stopped and waved his hand casually.
"You wait outside; I will go in myself."
The two Deer Demon guards immediately stopped, clasped their fists in acknowledgment, and stood guard on both sides of the door.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor withdrew his gaze.
He took a large step over the threshold and walked straight into the deep and quiet inner residence.
...
Passing through the deep and winding corridor of the inner residence.
Ma Dewang stopped in front of a courtyard.
He turned around, his hunched body appearing even more humble.
Facing Jue Chen Demon Emperor's unconcealed, chilling gaze.
The Old Man's lips trembled, and he finally summoned the courage to speak in a shaky voice.
"Lord Demon Emperor... I have already prepared that item, but... after you retrieve it, could you please move to the main hall, sit for a moment on the high seat, even if it's just to drink a cup of tea, to go through the motions..."
"This Old Man only begs the Demon Emperor to leave the Ma Family with a shred of dignity."
Jue Chen Demon Emperor looked down from above, his eyes filled with mockery: "You old dog, even now you are still trying to negotiate conditions with me?"
"I told you to take the item out; why is there so much nonsense?"
Hearing this.
Ma Dewang no longer dared to say more.
He only sighed in his heart.
As long as the Ma Family's plaque didn't fall, and as long as the hundreds of people here were still breathing.
What did mere Face matter?
The Old Man sighed and walked forward with a faltering gait.
He pushed open the heavy door.
Inside the room, red candles flickered.
Everywhere one looked, there were red wooden chests of various sizes.
Some of the chest lids were half-open, revealing mountains of spirit ores and silk inside.
There were also many Magical Artifacts and Medicinal Pills of extraordinary quality, dazzling to the eyes.
To please Jue Chen Demon Emperor, the Ma Family had practically emptied out the family fortune accumulated over thousands of years.
But as Jue Chen Demon Emperor crossed the threshold, he didn't even glance at these treasures that would make ordinary Cultivators turn red with envy and go crazy.
He strode to the pile of chests.
He swung his large sleeve violently.
A fierce wind rose suddenly.
A dozen or so heavy red wooden chests were instantly overturned on the ground.
Gold, silver, jade, spirit ores, and Magical Artifacts were scattered all over the floor.
But there was not a trace of the heart material's aura to be found.
"You dare to play me..."
Jue Chen Demon Emperor slowly turned around, staring fixedly at Ma Dewang at the door.
A chilling killing intent instantly enveloped the entire room.
"You dare to play me!!!"
Ma Dewang was instantly crushed by this terrifying pressure and fell to his knees with a thud.
He explained rapidly, "This Old Man dares not, this Old Man absolutely dares not!"
"This item is too precious; I was afraid of attracting attention if I put it in these dowry chests, causing complications..."
"How would I dare to place it so casually!"
"Demon Emperor, please wait, this Old Man will go get it immediately, I will go get it right now!"