"As for why we chose Prince Qinghe’s Mansion, for one, our abilities are the most complementary... The Prince’s Mansion has vast Spirit Fields, and my Deer Demon clan excels at cultivating flora."

After him, Caiyan peeked out from behind Lu Ce and added in a crisp voice, "My Hundred Spirits Bird Race can identify all kinds of insects and drive away every pest from the fields!"

Wuya also reined in her earlier allure and nodded slightly. "The Black Snake Race commands the waterways. We can Call the Wind and Summon the Rain to nourish the Spirit Fields."

Lu Ce’s group made a certain amount of sense, but as they finished speaking, Luo Zhiwei shook her head. "It’s not enough," she said calmly. "To face the coming calamity, your first priority isn’t development, but survival."

"Therefore, your best choice is the White Tiger Royal Court. Your second-best choices are the Celestial Sea King and the Silver Moon King. At best, Prince Qinghe’s Mansion is only your third choice."

Lu Ce did not refute this. He gave a bitter, awkward smile. "Master Zhiwei is perceptive. If it were possible, the White Tiger Royal Court would indeed be our best refuge."

At this, his expression turned bleak. "However, our strength is meager. Within the Royal Court, small clans like ours are a dime a dozen. If we went there, we would just become cannon fodder in the coming war."

"Our reason for not choosing the Celestial Sea King or the Silver Moon King is similar—they are deeply established, with powerful experts as numerous as clouds. Our joining them would be a mere superfluous addition, and we would struggle to be valued."

As he finished, he looked at Ji Qingyue and Zhong Ming, his expression a bit awkward. "But Prince Qinghe’s Mansion is currently expanding its influence and recruiting talent. We surmised that for us, this is where the greatest opportunity lies."

This explanation had some merit, but as Zhong Ming, Ji Qingyue, and Luo Zhiwei’s eyes flickered, they weren’t entirely convinced.

After only a moment’s thought, the three of them reached a consensus and decided not to refuse the offer of allegiance.

After all, unless they were raised from childhood, people who were one hundred percent loyal to Zhong Ming and his faction simply didn’t exist.

And in Zhong Ming’s view, as long as he was powerful enough, he had no reason to fear his followers harboring ulterior motives.

As it happened, Zhong Ming had absolute conviction in his own strength and future.

Moreover, even if only to display the magnanimity of Prince Qinghe’s Mansion, there was no reason to turn away those who offered their allegiance.

More importantly, Zhong Ming had already seen an opportunity for a breakthrough in this allegiance from the Demon Race.

...

After accepting the allegiance of Lu Ce and the other demons and arranging a residence for them, Zhong Ming waited until their figures were distant before saying directly to Luo Zhiwei and Ji Qingyue, "Wuya is from the Snake Demon clan. Her Roots are that of a scaled creature. If I reveal my true form, I can completely subjugate her."

Snake Demons, like the Merfolk, are the most common handmaidens and guards of the Dragon Race. Zhong Ming was fully confident he could make her submit.

However, Luo Zhiwei rejected this proposal.

"Not for now. The fewer people who know your identity, the safer you’ll be. Wuya... she can’t be trusted."

"...I understand."

Her words made sense and were for his own good, so Zhong Ming nodded and suppressed the thought.

And so, Zhong Ming and the others made their decision: they would accept Lu Ce’s group but not give them any important roles for now. They would merely serve as a front, to wave their flags and beat their drums for them.

Meanwhile, Lu Ce, Wuya, and the others had long anticipated the attitude of Zhong Ming and Ji Qingyue’s group.

And they weren’t the least bit anxious.

After returning to the residence Zhong Ming had assigned them, they scattered, using their Demonic Power to inspect the inside and outside of the courtyard. Once they confirmed there were no traces of any Restrictions or Investigation Arrays, Caiyan immediately condensed a screen of fluorescent white light—it was a unique communication Talent of the Hundred Spirits Bird Race, capable of contacting Su Mei, the leader of the Demon Race delegation, over a long distance.

SWISH!

As the screen of light unfolded, the figure of a woman in white quickly materialized. It was Su Mei.

Upon seeing her, Lu Ce immediately bowed respectfully and said:

"Commander, we have joined Prince Qinghe’s forces, but Zhong Ming and the others do not yet fully trust us."

Hearing this, Su Mei’s expression remained calm. "Don’t be anxious. When Zhong Ming and Prince Qinghe’s faction grows weak, or when they are on the verge of defeat, they will naturally see your value."

"You just need to remember one thing." Here, Su Mei’s expression grew much more serious. "Don’t show too much strength, but don’t appear too weak, either. It’s best to ensure that Prince Qinghe’s faction and the Silver Moon King’s faction are locked in a stalemate, where neither can overcome the other."

"Rest assured, Commander. We will do everything in our power to prevent Zhong Ming and his people from being defeated."

Lu Ce and the others truly had come to support Zhong Ming’s side.

Of course, their motives were anything but simple.

These people were executing an offshore balancing strategy.

That is, to ensure that neither Prince Qinghe’s Mansion nor the Silver Moon Royal Mansion could get the upper hand.

The benefit of doing so was that when the two sides were deadlocked, external forces would become crucial.

To gain an advantage, the two opposing sides would have no qualms about inviting other races to join them and making concessions.

Such things had been a common sight in the dynasties of Zhong Ming’s past life.

Right now, Su Mei and the Demon Race faction she represented were that external force.

Su Mei gazed at the light screen, thinking to herself, ’The more intense the humans’ internal strife, the greater the opportunities for my Demon Race, and the more resources and benefits we can seize. Zhong Ming, Princess Qingyue, you absolutely must hold on.’

In her eyes, Zhong Ming’s faction was the weaker party. At this moment, she even found herself faintly praying for them.

After her prayer, Su Mei seemed to remember something. Her gaze fell upon Caiyan and Wuya, and her brow furrowed slightly. Though her tone remained serious, it couldn’t hide an imperceptible trace of eagerness. "Right, you’ve all met Zhong Ming now, haven’t you? Is he really as the rumors say, with a handsomeness that could captivate anyone at first sight?"