Chapter 384: Chapter 45: Giant Demon Empire’s Developments, Star God Celebration Invitation

This Giant Demon Demigod was clearly the most focused on the Star Empire’s development, so he was able to lay out the entire situation in one go.

He clearly wasn’t enthusiastic about Ascension to Divinity; his attention was far more focused on the state of the Star Empire.

"See? That’s the quality you get from a Deity of an Ancient Species!"

"Why doesn’t our Tobien Empire have one? It’s enough to make you green with envy."

"What do you mean we don’t?"

A Giant Demon retorted.

"The Empire Research Institute has two fossils of an Ancient Species, you know."

"Fossils? Don’t be ridiculous. If they’re fossils, they’ve been dead for who knows how many tens of thousands of years, maybe even hundreds of millions."

"Forget about any lingering mystical essence—they’d probably crumble to dust if you so much as poked them too hard."

Another Giant Demon said irritably.

However, the mention of the fossils of the two Ancient Deities made these Giant Demon Demigods recall the research data on the Ancient Era that the Tobien Empire had made public.

Research conducted by the Tobien Empire’s Research Institute long ago had shown something.

The homeworld of the Tobien Empire must have experienced a terrifying mass extinction event during the Ancient Era.

This was because in addition to the fossils of ancient giant creatures that the Tobien Empire had excavated from deep underground...

...the Tobien Empire had, in fact, also discovered a large number of giant race fossils over the years.

Each of these giants stood no less than five meters tall, a full half-height taller than the average Giant Demon.

Furthermore, research by the Tobien Empire suggested that the Giant Demon race was very likely the Bloodline descendant of this race of giants!

After all, in terms of physical characteristics, these giants were almost ninety-five percent similar to Giant Demons.

But as for how exactly they went extinct...

...or how their gods—those two potential Ancient Deities—died, no one knew. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Perhaps it was due to infighting, or perhaps they were besieged and overwhelmed by many weaker Races.

The most likely possibility, however, was that the Giant Demon’s homeworld had experienced a brutal war between civilizations during the Ancient Era.

This, in turn, led to a fracture in the planet’s entire civilizational history.

Regardless, the Giant Demon Tobien Empire’s foundation was still impressive.

To have achieved its current strength after such a civilizational fracture already put it ahead of many other civilizations.

Just as these Giant Demon Demigods were chattering away, discussing the Star Empire and the news of their own Emperor’s breakthrough to the Star God Tier...

Suddenly, the expression of the lead Giant Demon, the ’Diplomatic Envoy,’ froze.

He hastily raised a hand, and a mysterious scroll instantly materialized in his grasp.

Seeing the Giant Demon envoy suddenly produce the scroll, the surrounding Giant Demon Demigods all fell silent.

Only after the Giant Demon envoy appeared to read the message and his expression turned grave...

...did one of the Giant Demon Demigods finally ask aloud, his voice laced with confusion.

"Your Excellency Valentine, has more news arrived from the Empire?"

The Giant Demon envoy’s gaze swept over all the other Giant Demons watching him. He nodded, his expression grim, and said:

"His Majesty has successfully broken through to the Star God Tier. As such, the Empire is preparing to hold a grand celebration."

"To that end, the Empire Divine Council Hall has sent word. They are already selecting the members of a diplomatic delegation to come here and intend to formally invite the Star Empire to the festivities."

A grand celebration?

"Isn’t that a good thing? It’s a chance to deepen the friendship between our two civilizations. So why the long face?" one of the Giant Demons asked, confused.

"A good thing?"

"Of course it’s a good thing. The problem is, the big shots in the Divine Council Hall want me to sound out the Star Empire!"

"Specifically, if possible, the Empire wants to invite their Dragon God to attend the celebration."

"As for the deeper reason... it’s not that the Empire plans to violate the five-thousand-year treaty. Rather, it seems His Majesty intends to join forces with the Star Empire to launch a war against a newly discovered civilization!"

???

What the hell?

The Giant Demon Demigods were all stunned.

’His Majesty the Emperor just broke through and he’s already looking to start something?’

’How long has it been since the Tobien Empire conquered that world with its bizarrely strong mortal Power?’

’Weren’t we supposed to be recuperating for at least two hundred years?’

’How long has it actually been?’

’Barely over a hundred years! Half the agreed time? And he’s already planning another war between civilizations?’

’Was he provoked by the Star Empire’s momentum?’

’Or is this a joint military operation concocted to deepen our alliance, just because His Majesty had a breakthrough?’

’But would the Star Empire even agree?’

’Whether the Dragon God goes or not is one thing.’

’But hasn’t it been less than twenty years since the Star Empire conquered that Adventurer Civilization?’

’It’s only been a dozen or so years. The Star Empire is currently focused on developing that civilization’s home planet. Would they really be interested in a joint operation right now?’

The Giant Demon Demigods all had their doubts.

"You’ve probably figured it out. I’m already getting a headache trying to figure out how to approach the Star Empire before the delegation arrives."

"This order says to ’sound them out,’ heh... but you all know what that means... If I don’t handle this well..."

None of the Giant Demon Demigods were fools; they all understood the unspoken threat.

"Those old geezers in the Divine Council Hall really know how to throw their weight around!"

"They reap the rewards, but make us nobodies take all the risks!"

"Members of the diplomatic delegation? I bet they’re all just the children of those old geezers, coming here to pad their resumes!"

one Giant Demon Demigod said sarcastically.

"Venting won’t do any good now," Valentine said. "This is partly my fault. It’s been almost three hundred years, and I still haven’t performed the ritual for Ascension to Divinity. The old men in the Divine Council Hall clearly have their eyes on my spot."

"Of course, that might apply to some of you here, as well."

The moment the Giant Demon envoy said this, several of the grizzled old-timers in the group flew into a rage.

"Ascension to Divinity? You think it’s that easy?!"

"To attempt it without being fully prepared? Are they trying to send us to our deaths?"

"Our talent isn’t exactly top-tier to begin with. How can we afford not to be cautious?"

"Have you all forgotten how many people have come here over the past three hundred years to attempt Ascension to Divinity, only to die in the process?"

"If it’s not two hundred, it’s at least one hundred and eighty!"

"And how many succeeded? Fewer than twenty!"

"Those old geezers in the Divine Council Hall really don’t leave any path for those of us with poorer family backgrounds and lesser talent!"

"And then you look at the Star Empire! When their Demigods attempt Ascension to Divinity, they have the full attention and protection of the Pantheon the entire time!"

"Even if they fail, they’ll be heavily injured at worst, not dead! But what about us?"

"The difference in quality is obvious!"

The faces of several Giant Demon Demigods were flushed with anger.

They all criticized the archaic system of the Tobien Empire’s Divine Council Hall.

"Alright, everyone. There’s no use saying all this now."

"As for this matter, there’s not much we can do, really. It all comes down to luck."

"Here’s the plan: first, I’ll send the Empire’s invitation to the Star Empire’s Pantheon. We’ll see how they reply."

"In addition, as a precaution, I’ll take some gifts and pay a visit to the Elders on the Cloud Court Dragon Clan’s Dragon Island. That way, we might get a more direct response from the Dragon God."

The Giant Demon envoy said, laying out his two-pronged approach.

Hearing this, the other Giant Demon Demigods could only nod in agreement.

"Lord Valentine, your two-pronged approach is necessary. I’ll go with you!"

"Oh, and if any of you have some treasures you’ve been hoarding for years, now might be a good time to bring them out."

"We can’t look too shabby when we visit the Dragon Race, can we?"

"Even if the outcome isn’t what we hope for, simply getting on good terms with the Dragon Race won’t be a bad thing for our future."

"..."

And so, after a brief discussion... ...five Demigods ultimately decided to accompany the Giant Demon envoy on his visit to the Dragon Race’s Dragon Island.

Of course, before they left, the Giant Demon envoy, following the Star Empire’s administrative protocols, had already dispatched a Demigod to their Divine Council Hall to deliver the invitation.

While the Giant Demon Demigods were busy with the invitation...

...in the Square World, the Giant Serpent God Kukudar was miserably trailing the Seven Gods, who had used Elementalization to assume human forms and were now traveling the mortal realm.

The purpose of the Seven Gods’ journey with him was simple.

They were there to help the Giant Serpent God Kukudar build a new worldview and a proper understanding of society.

As for whether the Seven Gods could handle Kukudar... ...there was no need to worry. The task had been personally assigned by Lince.

Kukudar might not care about the opinions of weaker beings, but he took the instructions from Lince, his newly-acknowledged friend and ’big brother,’ quite seriously.

Thus, the Seven Gods had indirectly become the mentors for Kukudar’s new "serpentine life," tasked with reshaping his entire perception of the world.

Currently, the Seven Gods had purchased an estate in the Square World and were running a winery together, just like mortals.

Kukudar, meanwhile, was experiencing growth just like a mortal, transforming from the image of a small boy into that of a young man.

And today, of all days, Kukudar had successfully passed the entrance exam to a ’university’ that the Empire had helped establish in this world!