Li Yao stared at Jin Tuyi, with killing intent condensing inside his eyes inch by inch. He sneered, "Senior Jin, the Star Glory Federation rose on the foundation of corpses and blood, too. You think demons are the only ones unafraid of death? Take back your threat of co-destruction and just tell me your aim!"
"Alright. I'll get to the point straightforwardly now," Jin Tuyi said. "I want to surrender!"
"Huh?"
"Isn't it obvious? The Blood Demon Sector's all-in plan of the final battle has been disrupted by the Ultra-Level Federal Hero Li Yao. Right now, the Blood Demon Sector is not able to attack, and our war potential is far from the alliance of the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Flying Star Sector. Besides, Elder Nether Spring is still instigating trouble inside. We have completely lost the war!
"When you take a gamble, you must be prepared for failure. The Red Tide Plan on the surface was a shocking gamble in the first place. Now that we've lost, isn't it only natural that we try to secure a 'conditional surrender' while we still have bargaining chips for the negotiation?
"Vulture Li Yao, you are the only living Ultra-Level Federal Hero since the Star Glory Federation was established. That's why I said so much to you. I want you to bring my words to the leadership of the federal government to initiate the negotiations between the two parties.
"As for the specific conditions of the surrender, everything can be negotiated. Even if the Blood Demon Sector has to be classified as a special administrative area and merged into the Star Glory Federation at a certain time, it doesn't matter. Let's just sit down and talk!
"However, if your side refuses negotiations and is determined to annihilate the Blood Demon Sector, the outcome will be what I described just now. Let's simply maul each other and die together!"
Li Yao was rendered speechless. He did not know whether he should accuse Jin Tuyi of his shamelessness or compliment him on his frankness.
"If you don't believe my sincerity about the surrender, I can surrender to you in secret as the commander-in-chief if you want."
Jin Tuyi coughed and said with a smile, "You are an Ultra-Level Federal Hero. To some extent, you are a representative of the federal government, aren't you? Besides, you've also destroyed the Eye of Blood Demon and stopped the Red Tide Plan!
"Well, well, well. Right when the federation is in peril, the young hero who saved the federation ten years ago appeared again and broke into the enemy's nest on his own, stopping the enemy's insane battle plan and killing fourteen super experts and the best troops. Eventually, he suppressed the enemy's supreme commander with his unparalleled charisma!
"One person has defeated an entire world!
"Vulture Li Yao, with everything you've done, you are definitely the well-deserved greatest hero of the federation. When you return to the federation, nobody will protest even if you campaign for the position of Speaker of Parliament!"
Jin Tuyi did not resort to any of his demonic energy, but Li Yao's resolution was shaking violently in the surging tides.
For a moment, all kinds of delirious thoughts were appearing in his head!
However, the next moment, the delirious thoughts were all swallowed by the mental devil.
"Hey—
"Are you able to do this or not?" the mental devil asked lazily. "Should I take your place?"
Li Yao was dazed. "What did you say?"
The mental devil yawned and said, "Hasn't you discovered it yet? You've been crushed from the beginning to the end. You are now basically meat paste. I do feel sorry for you!
"But it is not your fault. Demagogism is his specialty after all. How can you ever be match for Chief Jin in terms of debating?
"Moreover, the dark side in your soul has mostly been absorbed by me. How can you expect to deal with such an old, cunning fox?"
Li Yao gnashed his teeth. "Will you do any better?"
"At the very least," the mental devil said, "I will not be rendered speechless all the time. If you have to lose, you'd better lose gracefully."
Li Yao was rendered speechless.
"You see? You are rendered speechless again!" the mental devil exclaimed.
"Achiu!" Li Yao sneezed greatly.
He rubbed his left eye hard as if some dust had intruded. It was not until more than ten seconds later that he took a long breath in relief and stared at Jin Tuyi thoughtfully, blinking his left eye.
Jin Tuyi was slightly dazed.
Since the moment he entered the warehouse, he had been in control of the situation.
Even when Li Yao put fatal crystal bombs on him, he had still been manipulating Li Yao easily.
This was the first time that he had been startled during the entire game, but he could not find any reason for his startle at all!
He only vaguely felt that the bloody brilliance inside Li Yao's left eye was slightly different from a moment ago.
"There's no need to surrender to me. I haven't been in the federation for the last ten years. The so-called Ultra-Level Federal Hero is just an honorary title that entails no real power. Chances are that I will be involved in boring political struggles when I am back to the federation," Li Yao said lightheartedly. "Now that Senior Jin is so sincere, I will certainly bring your words for the peace of the two worlds!
"However, you must know that both worlds have suffered heavy casualties after such a long period of warfare. Putting everything before aside, the Red Tide Plan itself must've already killed and injured many citizens of the capital city.
"Right now, the Star Glory Federation must be stirred up. 99% of the citizens will be hawks now, shouting to march into the Blood Demon Sector.
"On the other hand, the Blood Demon Sector has lost fourteen demon emperors and a large batch of elite troops, and Elder Nether Spring is still an internal problem. Also, your reign is not very stable yet, Senior Jin. This is the feeblest time of the Blood Demon Sector.
"Therefore, Senior Jin, if you really want a 'conditional surrender', you'd better offer certain attractive conditions. Otherwise, as an insignificant Cultivator in the Core Formation Stage, I will not be able to decide what the infuriated Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators are going to do."
"Of course." Jin Tuyi frowned and felt that Li Yao was a bit weird.
"Anything else you want to say?" Li Yao was actually taking the initiative to conclude the conversation.
Jin Tuyi narrowed his eyes and observed Li Yao carefully for a long time, but he did not find any trace on Li Yao's face.
He gritted his teeth and threw out his last card.
"Everything I want to say to Li Yao, the Cultivator from the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Ultra-Level Federal Hero, has been said. However, now, I want to talk to Li Yao, the Cultivator from the Flying Star Sector, the owner of the Glorious Sunlight Group, and the best warrior of the six tribes of Iron Plateau!"
Bloody brilliance blinked inside Li Yao's eyes. "Interesting. I seem to know what you are going to say next, but please continue."
"As the commander-in-chief of the coalition army of demons and the leader of the Blood Demon Sector, I am proposing a dialogue with Li Yao of the Flying Star Sector, hoping that the Flying Star Sector will try to facilitate the peace talk between the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Blood Demon Sector," Jin Tuyi said solemnly.
"It is naturally going to be very difficult to stop two ferocious war beasts from attacking each other. On my side, I will try to calm down all the advocates of war in the Blood Demon Sector.
"But if the Heaven's Origin Sector is too stubborn to give up on the war, I want the Blood Demon Sector and the Flying Star Sector to establish a normal bilateral relationship and start an in-depth communication in economics and culture."
Not giving a direct answer, Li Yao replied, "Are you mistaken about something, Commander Jin? The Flying Star Sector and the Heaven's Origin Sector are both civilizations of human beings. We are natural allies. You are asking us to stab our ally right in the back!"
Jin Tuyi smiled. "There are no 'natural allies' in the universe; there is only 'natural interest'!
"Those idiotic Cultivators of the Heaven's Origin Sector, especially the idiotic Li Yao, thought that he had brought reinforcements from the Flying Star Sector. It never occurred to him why the Flying Star Sector should help him without considering returns."
"Exactly." Li Yao nodded. "I do feel the same!"
Jin Tuyi was dazed again and felt that the atmosphere was weird. Pondering for a moment, he continued his speech. "Perhaps, not just 'Li Yao of the Heaven's Origin Sector', the majority in the Blood Demon Sector, the Heaven's Origin Sector, and the Flying Star Sector haven't let go of the stereotype, either!
"For the Heaven's Origin Sector, they have been fighting the demons since their country was founded. Therefore, demons are their sworn enemies. All their history books and textbooks spare no efforts elaborating on the evilness and horror of the demon race. After hundreds of years, their hatred toward the demon race is ingrained in their very being.
"But the Flying Star Sector is different.
"The Flying Star Sector has never been at war with the demon race since the Star Ocean Imperium collapsed ten thousand years ago.
"In the past five thousand years, the Flying Star Sector was attacked by the apocalypse at first and nearly wiped. The survivors were divided into 'spacers' and 'homers' who were at loggerheads with each other.
"Then, in the dark, boundless universe, the two great enemies named 'extraterrestrial devils' and 'space pirates' emerged, too.
"In the past years, threats of the 'Immortal Cultivators' and the Imperium of True Human Beings have been drawing near, too!
"Extraterrestrial devils, space pirates, the Immortal Cultivators, the apocalypse, the Imperium of True Human Beings… They are the greatest trouble for the Flying Star Sector. The demon race, in comparison, is just an old enemy from ten thousand years ago and much lower on the rank!
"Even the deepest hatred will gradually wear off over ten thousand years. For the Flying Star Sector, the demons are just enemies in tales. Their hatred against us can be traced back to the ancestors of their ancestors!
"Although I haven't read the history books of the Flying Star Sector yet, I guarantee that the content regarding the demons' oppression of human beings will be no more than ten pages!
"Hehe. Faced with the imminent threat of the Immortal Cultivators, is the groundless, obsolete hatred worth mentioning at all?
"Therefore, whether or not peace between the Blood Demon Sector and the Heaven's Origin Sector can be reached, peace between the Blood Demon Sector and the Flying Star Sector is very hopeful. What do you think, Fellow Cultivator Li Yao from the Flying Star Sector?"
Li Yao smiled. "That explains a lot. I understand everything now!
"I was wondering why Senior Jin was so certain that peace would come. Did you say last time that you were scared that the coalition army of the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Flying Star Sector would march into the Blood Demon Sector?
"It turns out to be a lie. You were not scared about that at all because you had long discovered the subtle conflict of interest between the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Flying Star Sector. You were planning to hamstring the Heaven's Origin Sector with the Flying Star Sector!
"Not one-sided hamstring, but check and balance."
"Triangle is the steadiest form," Jin Tuyi said. "The Heaven's Origin Sector, the Flying Star Sector, and the Blood Demon Sector will play an equally important role with mutual check and balance. That will be the most reasonable social structure and the strongest iron triangle against the Imperium of True Human Beings!"