Traveling through the second dimension, the joy system encourages me to laugh heartily!

They abandoned their previous arrogant and domineering attitude, as if they had vanished from the world overnight, completely disappearing from the sight of human society. There were no signs of any large-scale actions, and even small-scale disturbances almost disappeared, as if they had never existed.

However, after a year of silence and waiting, perhaps they thought that the potentially fatal "storm" had passed; or perhaps their plan to resurrect the demon king could no longer be delayed.

These lurking monsters, unable to restrain themselves any longer, have surfaced again and become active once more.

After all, resurrecting the Demon King is the ultimate mission imprinted deep within the souls of all demons, a mission they must complete. Chen Ming, with his eternal life and immense power, can calmly wear them down, but the demons clearly don't have that much time to waste waiting.

As Crimson reported, the images on the main screen were automatically and quickly switched to play in real time high-definition surveillance footage captured by the Tianyan satellite, which was located tens of thousands of meters above the incident site.

The image is extremely clear; you can even distinguish the colors of the clothing worn by pedestrians on the street. The location shown in the image is a bustling city called Shambren, situated in the northwest of the Kingdom of Alban.

This city is considered one of the larger and more economically developed cities in the kingdom, boasting sturdy walls and a considerable population.

This location choice makes sense.

To gather the massive amount of human souls needed to resurrect the Demon King, the demons must choose a large city with a sufficiently dense population to obtain enough "fuel" in one go.

Chambreun's population size seems to meet their requirements.

However, according to the rough census and estimate conducted by [Crimson] using satellite data, the total population of Shangbulen City, even if the demons were to sacrifice the souls of all living beings in the city in a frenzy, still seems to be slightly insufficient to meet the number of souls required for the [Fruit of Life] to fully mature.

This shows that the demons involved in this operation were more cautious and cunning than their fallen predecessors.

It dared not act as recklessly as the previous three demons, directly attacking the most populous core metropolises. Instead, it chose a slightly smaller city, but one that could still provide a large number of souls, as its primary target.

As for the resulting shortage of souls, it can be easily made up by simply slaughtering a few more remote villages with weak defenses. This will greatly reduce the risk of the operation and avoid attracting the attention of the hero too early.

After pinpointing the exact location of the demons, Chen Ming immediately decided to set off to completely eliminate this hidden danger that dared to resurface.

However, unlike the previous method of teleporting directly, this time he chose to travel to his destination aboard the "Kun" transport aircraft, which was fully automated by [Crimson].

The reason is that he did not go alone this time. Accompanying him were not only the three little ones, Tia, Taldo, and Maho, who had always been by his side and had now grown into beautiful young women, but also a special guest.

Time flies, and those three innocent little girls have grown up quite a bit and are now at an age where they are full of curiosity about everything in the world.

When they heard that Chen Ming was about to set off again to eliminate the demons that were threatening humanity, they immediately surrounded him, clinging to his arms and begging him to come along so they could "see for themselves" how their uncle (Brother Ming, their mentor) represented justice in eliminating evil.

Chen Ming considered that he had already successfully eliminated the demon race several times, accumulated rich experience, and his strength was no longer what it used to be, so there was indeed no real risk in this trip. Looking at the three little ones' bright eyes full of expectation and admiration, his heart softened, and he agreed to their request, which could be considered as taking them on a "battlefield tour".

At this moment, inside the spacious and futuristic cabin of the "Kun" transport plane, the three little ones were huddled together, intently reading the detailed information and analysis report about the target demon race displayed on the screen in front of them.

This information was naturally compiled by Chen Ming based on his understanding of this world and the descriptions of the demon race in the original work. It is detailed and includes possible attack methods, weakness speculations, and behavioral pattern analysis.

The other passenger sat alone on the other side of the cabin.

She possessed waist-length hair as smooth and lustrous as a violet waterfall, skin as white as snow, and features so exquisite they seemed like the most perfect masterpiece of a goddess. Her noble bearing carried a hint of aloofness, making her a truly peerless beauty. Her identity was also extraordinary; she was the daughter of Duke Lomarin—Niemann Lomarin.

Since the verbal engagement was made with Princess Farina in the Yarban Garden, Niman, Farina's twin sister, also received a cell phone from Chen Ming, just like the princess.

Niman and Farina frequently used it to maintain close contact with the elusive Chen Ming. They would share anecdotes from the capital, confide their innermost thoughts, or discuss trivial magical theories, aiming to subtly cultivate their relationship and bridge the gap between them.

This time, after learning about the new signs of demonic activity in Shangbulen City through mobile phone communication, Niman, who has always been curious about mysterious things and powerful forces, could not suppress her curiosity and the urge to get to know this "angel" more closely. She took the initiative to apply to Chen Ming, hoping to go with him.

Sitting in the ergonomic and highly supportive high-end seat of the Kun transport aircraft, Niman, the well-traveled duke's daughter, also revealed a rare hint of excitement for someone her age.

She touched the smooth material of the seat here, and brushed against the subtly glowing control panel beside her, savoring the tranquility that was completely different from any carriage or magical vehicle. Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, she turned her head and struck up a conversation with Chen Ming, who was sitting not far away:

"This iron bird called 'Airplane' really intrigues me! Its flight principle seems to be completely different from wind magic or tamed flying magical beasts. It is so huge, yet so stable and swift, and the interior is so comfortable... It even has a magical item that we in the Lomarin family have never heard of in any ancient books or rumors. As expected of the angel! He always brings unexpected surprises."

The girl cleverly attributed this technology, which was ahead of its time, to the power of angels, her words filled with flattery and probing...

Chapter 272: What We Call High Efficiency

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming raised the corners of his mouth slightly and asked, "Oh? Aren't you going to ask where I got this creation from?"

Niman seemed to have prepared an answer long ago. She smiled and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, her eyes sparkling with longing for the divine realm:

"Is there even a question? It must be a wondrous creation brought down from the realm of the gods, right? It's a gift from the goddess to you! How could such an exquisite creation, so different from the magical system, possibly exist in the mortal realm?"

"You could say that."

Chen Ming nodded, acknowledging this statement.

After all, this "Kun" transport aircraft was indeed created out of thin air by him using [Realistic Manifestation], and this skill was bestowed upon him by the goddess. Therefore, Niman's statement was barely correct, and he was happy to use this reason to explain these unconventional existences.

Just as Chen Ming was talking with Niman, a small commotion arose from the three little ones who were gathered together studying information about the demon race.

Taldur held her head in her hands, her little face scrunched up, staring at the text and simulated images on the screen as if she had encountered an insurmountable problem. She made whimpering noises, so exaggerated that it seemed as if smoke was about to rise from her head.

"Waaaaah... This demon is way too strong! It's practically cheating!"

She pointed to the description of the Beast King Leor's power in the information and complained angrily.

Taldur's overall appearance has now reached 95 points, so even her slightly clumsy and exaggerated actions appear exceptionally charming and adorable, making people feel affection for her.

Seeing this, Chen Ming smiled indulgently, naturally reaching out to gently stroke Taerduo's soft hair, as if comforting a frustrated little animal, while responding:

"Indeed, the next demon is Leokoul, known as the 'Beast King.' As its name suggests, it resembles a lion and possesses extraordinary combat abilities and fighting instincts."

Seeing that Taldo had received a head pat as a reward, Maho, not to be outdone, immediately nuzzled her little head over, blinking her big eyes, trying to attract Chen Ming's attention, and interjected:

"Mentor, what abilities does this giant lion possess?"

Her thoughts were practically written all over her face.

Chen Ming knew exactly what she meant, so he readily extended his other hand and gave her a gentle pat on the head, before saying, following her words:

"The characteristics of felines are very evident in it. Their muscles are usually soft and resilient, their explosive power is extremely amazing, and they have extraordinary reflexes, enabling them to exert the excellent focus of a carnivore in battle, lock onto their prey, and kill it with one blow... That being said," he changed the subject, with a calm and insightful attitude, "this last characteristic, the so-called excellent focus, may actually be a better breakthrough for us."

Taldur, who was enjoying a head pat, raised her little face, her eyes full of confusion, and asked in bewilderment, "Why? It clearly has superb concentration, shouldn't it be more difficult to deal with?"

Chen Ming patiently explained, "A hunter's focus exists to lock onto and capture its prey in an instant. This focus is often narrow and extremely short-lived. It concentrates all its attention on the 'prey' it has identified, inevitably ignoring changes in other directions."

After listening to Chen Ming's clear and concise explanation, Taerduo's eyes lit up, as if she had suddenly understood, and she eagerly said:

"Ah! I understand! What you mean is, when it focuses all its attention on the target it's attacking, its blind spots increase significantly. When faced with attacks from its blind spots or unexpected attacks, its reaction becomes slower, right?"

"That's right! That's exactly the point."

Chen Ming nodded approvingly, his movements becoming even gentler. "Even the best hunter is most focused and most vulnerable at the moment it thinks it's about to catch its prey. Taldo is really smart, she understands immediately!"

Upon receiving Chen Ming's praise, Taldo immediately squinted her beautiful big eyes with joy, like a kitten that had been stroked and petted comfortably, and let out a silly "hehe" laugh, completely immersed in the joy of being praised.

At this moment, Tia, who had been sitting quietly to the side, carefully studying the detailed information on the screen, slightly furrowed her delicate brows and raised a crucial objection:

“Uncle, although the Beast King Leokor has a weakness in concentration when fighting alone, he does not fight alone. He has a group similar to a 'harem' to assist him, which is very much in line with the true habits of a pride of lions.”

A lion pride is usually centered around a strong male lion, forming a group of several lionesses and their cubs, who live, hunt, and defend together.

While the Beast King Leor doesn't belong to the demon race capable of self-generating and creating monsters, he is indeed constantly accompanied by a group of powerful female retainers, forming a social structure similar to a lion pride.

Sitting next to Tia, Taldo, upon hearing the somewhat unfamiliar term "harem," immediately wore an innocent and bewildered expression. She tilted her head, looked curiously at Chen Ming, and asked, "Brother, what is a 'harem'? It sounds really impressive!"

Before Chen Ming could even begin to explain, Maho, as if she had finally found an opportunity to showcase her "erudition," immediately puffed out her little chest and eagerly answered, "I'll answer this question! Hmm~~ if I had to say," she mimicked an adult's thoughtful manner, tapping her chin with her finger, "like the mentor and everyone at the Half-Mountain Manor, that kind of intimate and special relationship can be called a 'harem'!" She used a simple and blunt analogy, yet it seemed to subtly touch upon part of the truth.

This explanation caught the eye of Neman Lomarin, who was sitting a little further away. She immediately raised a hand gracefully, as if speaking in class, with a charming smile on her face, and volunteered to speak up for herself: "Wait a minute! If we follow this definition, could you include me too? I think I fit the criteria perfectly!"

Her words were bold and direct, carrying the confidence unique to a noble lady and a hint of probing, her gaze fixed intently on Chen Ming.

Seeing the topic being steered further and further off course by these girls, sliding from a serious tactical discussion into a strange direction, Chen Ming couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He quickly coughed twice and spoke up to bring everyone's attention back on track:

"Ahem! Alright, alright, we've gone way off topic. Let's get back to the point," he tapped the light screen, refocusing everyone's attention on the intelligence regarding Beast King Leokor. "As Tia pointed out, this demon race is not a lone wolf, but a well-led and tightly structured group. What's even more noteworthy is that the female individuals within this group are not much different in strength from the male Beast King at the core; they are not simply vassals or puppets."

He emphasized the key points: "These female bodyguards possess a very clear will, are quick-witted, and act decisively and efficiently. They can coordinate their tactics in an orderly manner. This excellent teamwork not only greatly enhances the overall combat effectiveness of the group, but also effectively compensates for any individual weaknesses, such as the 'over-focus' I mentioned earlier. A well-coordinated team can often amplify the strength of an individual several times over..."

After listening to Chen Ming's more in-depth and serious analysis, a trace of worry appeared on Tia's face. She looked at Chen Ming with her azure eyes and asked in a confirming tone:

"Uncle, hearing you say that makes me a little uneasy. So please allow me to ask one more crucial question—those powerful female attendants you mentioned, they all belong to the category of 'demons,' right? Unlike true 'demons,' they shouldn't possess that near-immortal, infinite resurrection ability, right?"

She grasped the core of the problem, distinguishing the essential difference between "monsters" and "demons".

"Yes, they are monsters in essence, not true demons."

Chen Ming affirmed Tia's judgment, but then changed the subject and threw out a more troublesome piece of information, "However, according to the intelligence I know, these female demons have a very troublesome characteristic - when they are touched by the core male demon, namely the Beast King Leokor, they will temporarily possess the same immortality as true demons for a certain period of time!"

He looked at Tia and Taldor, whose expressions had changed slightly, and clearly explained the worst-case scenario: "So, unless a hero with special abilities kills them with his own hands, as long as the Beast King Leokor is alive and has the opportunity to touch them again, these female monsters will be resurrected even if they are killed. They are essentially a mobile, reusable 'resurrection spring'."

Upon hearing this, Tia and Taldo fell silent, their small faces filled with solemnity. An enemy that was already extremely powerful, possessed high intelligence and perfect teamwork, and whose core members had the troublesome characteristic of near-immortality… they seemed to truly understand just how troublesome and terrifying the demons they were about to face were. The atmosphere in the cabin became somewhat oppressive for a moment.

However, Maho had almost blind faith in Chen Ming. Unlike the other two, she did not fall into worry. Instead, she blinked her bright eyes and looked at Chen Ming expectantly, asking, "Teacher, since the enemy is so powerful, what method do you plan to use to eliminate them?"

Looking at Maho's trusting eyes, Chen Ming couldn't help but smile faintly: "It's simple, I'll just become a hero, won't I?"

“Exactly!” Niman immediately nodded in agreement, “With such great power, the angel could easily use the power of the rules to directly kill the core of the demon race, just like a hero, depriving those demons of their source of resurrection. What are you worried about?”

Then, the meticulous duke's daughter suddenly changed the subject, her beautiful eyebrows slightly raised, revealing a hint of puzzlement and inquiry:

"However, on another note... there are clearly simpler, more efficient, and more worthy of your great status methods available, yet Your Excellency does not seem to have prioritized them, which I find... a bit unbelievable."

Sure enough, given Neman's intelligence and the intelligence network controlled by the Lomarin family behind her, she would inevitably notice something amiss.

Chen Ming understood that if he were allowed to "cross the line" slightly at a certain point or not be so concerned about the consequences, there were indeed methods that were much easier and safer than the current "transformation into a hero and all-out combat".

Upon hearing this, Maho's curiosity was piqued, and she immediately asked, "Eh? What method?"

Neman didn't keep them in suspense and directly stated her speculations and suggestions, her tone carrying a hint of awe and longing for that destructive power:

"Based on the intelligence gathered by our Lomarin family, the demon that was completely wiped out deep in the Cross Star Forest, leaving not even a trace, was probably also the work of you, my lord?"

She looked at Chen Ming, and after receiving an ambiguous look from him, she continued:

"Since that's the case, why not use that move this time too? That magnificent divine punishment magic, like the sun descending upon the world to purify all filth! Lock onto their positions directly from the heavens above, and then—" She made an elegant yet powerful downward chopping gesture,

"—Boom!! Blast them, along with that defiled land, until not even the finest dust remains! One strike is enough to end the battle completely! It's efficient and fully demonstrates divine power, isn't that better?"

Chen Ming immediately understood that what Niman was referring to was the ultimate method he had used to completely eliminate the demons entrenched deep in the Cross Star Forest—a hydrogen bomb, a technological weapon launched from a space fortress suspended in Earth's orbit.

At that time, he had not yet received the [Sword Saint's Blessing], and his absolute strength and survival ability were still lacking compared to now. Therefore, based on the principle of prudence, he chose to use this long-range, destructive attack method, and the effect was indeed outstanding, directly wiping the forest occupied by monsters and the monsters in it completely off the map, cleanly and efficiently.

Tia, Taldo, and Maho, reminded by Niman, immediately recalled the shocking scene that resembled divine punishment—although they were still very young at the time, they had witnessed the scene of destruction through the villa in the hillside manor.

Then, the three little girls all showed a look of sudden realization. They looked at Niman with admiration, for she was able to discover the truth through deduction.

However, Chen Ming did not show a relaxed expression. Instead, he rubbed his temples with some difficulty and explained, "I have naturally considered this method. However, the current situation is different from that in the desolate Cross Star Forest."

His gaze fell upon the live feed of the city of Chambrun displayed on the main screen. The city's outline was clearly visible, and he could even see the guards on the city walls and the wisps of smoke rising from the city walls...

PS: I fell asleep yesterday, so this chapter counts as yesterday's. There will be one more chapter today!

Chapter 273: Firestorm

"According to the latest satellite imagery, the demons have arrived outside the city of Chambrun. If I were to use that 'divine punishment' now, a devastating explosion and shockwave would inevitably... destroy the entire city of Chambrun along with its tens of thousands of residents."

After listening to Chen Ming's words, Niman's delicate face revealed a detached smile that seemed incongruous with her age. She calmly stated her views:

"So what? What we are fighting is a noble battle to save the entire world from the threat of the Demon King's resurgence. I do not believe that the lives of the tens of thousands of residents of Chambrun are so important that you, who must continue to protect this world and shoulder an even greater mission, should take unnecessary risks."

Her logic was clear and cold, full of aristocratic, big-picture-oriented considerations: "Sacrificing a city to ensure your absolute safety and safety is a more 'cost-effective' choice for the whole world."

Chen Ming looked at Niman and shook his head, replying in a calm tone:

“You’re wrong, Neman. If the enemy is really strong and I’m forced to make a choice, I’m equally prepared to sacrifice a small number of people to save the majority.”

He then shifted his tone, displaying a confidence based on absolute strength: "However, the strength of this enemy—the Beast King Leor and his harem—is far from enough to warrant me resorting to such a final measure and bearing the cost of destroying a city. They are not worth it."

Chen Ming had no intention of completely rejecting Niman's rationally calculated suggestion, nor did he intend to make the vague claim that "every human life is precious"—such a slogan seemed too pale in the face of the grand narrative of saving the world.

Although it may seem cold-blooded, Niman's judgment was indeed very rational and correct—if Chen Ming were to perish in this battle to save the people of a city, causing the world to be destroyed as a result, the casualties would be in the hundreds of millions, far more devastating than the loss of a city like Chambreen.

"Since Your Excellency is already fully aware of this, then there is no need to worry."

Seeing that Chen Ming's choice was not based on "saintly compassion" but on a precise assessment of the relative strengths of the enemy and himself, Niman stopped insisting. She turned her gaze to the three children and asked with a smile, "So, what do you three think?"

Tia spoke almost without hesitation, her tone firm: "I support my uncle's decision. He never says he can't do something, and if he says he can solve it, then he definitely can!"

Maho waved her little fist, her eyes shining with admiration: "That's right! Our mentor is invincible! He could definitely handle that giant lion with ease!"

Taldo nodded vigorously in agreement: "Yes! I also believe in Brother Chen Ming!"

Seeing the three little ones' unwavering trust, Niman's face revealed a smile of envy, different from her usual composure.

Then, as if she had figured something out, her face suddenly brightened, and she even clapped her hands lightly with a hint of self-deprecation.

"I really asked such a stupid question."

She looked at Chen Ming, her eyes shining even brighter. "After all, Your Excellency, you have long tolerated the necessary sacrifices. This battle plan itself is based on the premise that 'there may be some casualties, but they must be kept within a certain range.' A being as great as you, looking down on all living beings, would never make the naive move of sacrificing yourself to save lives."

Her laughter grew even more manic, filled with the joy of discovering a treasure: "Hehehe... I seem to have become even more fascinated by you. This calm, rational yet not cold-blooded decision-making is truly perfect... Please, let me become your brother and serve you."

This is not only a statement of opinion, but also a deeper level of recognition and surrender.