However, the White Bone Demon Lord was not so easily persuaded.
His expression turned grim as he remained silent for a long time. He held the supreme demon artifact in his hand, examining it repeatedly. Finally, with great difficulty, he made up his mind, returned the supreme demon artifact to his disciple, and said:
"Since this item was given to you by someone else, you can keep it for now. As for the matter of continuing to probe the Blood Fiend Territory, you don't need to take the risk for now. This Lord will personally investigate, but this matter must absolutely not be spread.
Do you understand?
You may leave now. This Lord wishes to be alone!"
Although Jin Gu Jian was a little disappointed, he was content to get his supreme demon artifact back. Thus, he quickly reached out and took the artifact, then withdrew with a composed expression.
After he left, the White Bone Demon Lord remained conflicted for the entire night. Only then did he finally decide to personally visit the Blood Fiend Territory the next day and gather information.
Ding Yun was relatively lenient in his management of his territories.
As long as no wanton slaughter occurred, inquiring about information was of no consequence. Therefore, it was incredibly easy for the White Bone Demon Lord to gather information upon arriving in Ding Yun's territory.
He could even visit places like the Scripture Pavilion and the Contribution Hall by obtaining temporary identification.
In short, Ding Yun laid bare his foundations without any concealment, making it clear and understandable for anyone who paid a little attention to quickly ascertain.
Then, they would be amazed and tempted.
The White Bone Demon Lord was no exception. Especially after examining some of the missions in the Contribution Hall and their rewards, he was greatly moved and entered the Blood Fiend Demon Palace's office, revealing his identity and expressing his willingness to pledge allegiance.
He was willing to pledge allegiance with his entire territory.
As previously stated, Ding Yun's actions were akin to "buying a thousand-li horse with a thousand pieces of gold." The White Bone Demon Lord was precisely the first target of some value that Ding Yun attracted, and naturally, he would not be treated poorly.
Therefore, upon receiving the news.
Ding Yun personally met with the White Bone Demon Lord.
He then fulfilled his promise on the spot. First, he demoted him and appointed him as the City Lord of Nether City, a position one rank below Ding Yun. Immediately after, he bestowed upon him a set of acquired spiritual treasures and a cultivation technique called the "Myriad Transformation Undying White Bone Observation Scripture," which could lead directly to the Demon Emperor realm.
In addition, he gave him a box of pills that, theoretically, should allow him to break through to the peak perfection of the Demon Lord realm.
Furthermore, his territory was designated as a contribution to expanding his dominion and influence, and he was awarded contribution points.
It had to be said that when the White Bone Demon Lord truly received these items from Ding Yun, his mind was somewhat in a daze, feeling a sense of unreality. He truly did not expect Ding Yun to be so straightforward with his generosity, offering everything without any compromise. Judging purely by the value of what was given, the combined offerings from his biological parents and his master did not even compare to any single item among the gifts from Ding Yun.
How to describe it?
It was like when a woman pursued a man, or a man pursued a woman, and the gifts were valuable enough to stun the recipient and instantly make them feel a surge of affection. The White Bone Demon Lord was probably feeling something similar at that moment.
At the very least, his emotions towards Ding Yun at this moment definitely surpassed his feelings for anyone before. He was instantly captivated and absolutely loyal, likely willing to die for Ding Yun.
However, the emotions and thoughts of living beings are complex.
This was how he felt now, but the future remained uncertain.
Regardless, Ding Yun had indeed gained a loyal subordinate at the Grand Unity Demon Lord level, and he had also absorbed the assets the subordinate had accumulated over the years. His territory had suddenly expanded by more than two-thirds. If she had not expanded her original territory outward a bit in the past month, it might have doubled, as the original Blood Fiend Demon Lord and the White Bone Demon Lord had comparable strength and similar territorial scopes.
After receiving the benefits, the White Bone Demon Lord quickly returned to his territory, handed over some of his authority, and brought all his subordinates and disciples to Ding Yun's side to process their registration and pledge allegiance.
There was a significant difference between genuine allegiance and reluctant allegiance. The biggest difference was that the process of Ding Yun's people taking over the White Bone Territory was incredibly smooth, with everyone from top to bottom being very obedient.
There was no overt or covert obstruction.
With such a living example, it was difficult for the nearby Demon Lords to remain ignorant of what had happened. Then, some who knew the White Bone Demon Lord's character, understanding that he was not one to act without benefit, thought about it briefly upon hearing the news and also chose to join. They believed that only if the rumored benefits and treatment were true would the White Bone Demon Lord join so willingly. When else should they join if not now?
It would be too late when they were attacked.
They would not receive those benefits then.
Voluntarily surrendering and being captured were not the same thing. Those Demon Lords who had a clear understanding of their own strength and Ding Yun's inevitable expansion also saw joining as a natural course of action.
However, not all Demon Lords were discerning.
Some harbored侥幸 (jiao xing - a slim chance of success), believing Ding Yun would not attack. Some were rigid and stuck in their ways, thinking the rumors were false. Many were confident in their own strength and their patrons, unafraid of Ding Yun, this Demon Emperor whose true strength was uncertain.
However, most of those unwilling to pledge allegiance did not immediately provoke an attack. They were waiting, waiting for some foolish individual to make the first move, allowing them to witness it firsthand.
Ideally, they wanted to ascertain Ding Yun's true strength.
Then, they would make their formal decision.
After all, regardless of anything else, Ding Yun's current combat record was merely the elimination of the Blood Fiend Demon Lord. Other claims of having Demon Emperor strength were merely rumors, and she had not been seen fighting any Demon Emperor.
Many in the Demon Realm did not believe rumors; they trusted what they saw and verifiable combat achievements more.
Therefore, it was normal for many Demon Lords to remain observant.
One could say that Ding Yun was only one significant battle away from the substantial expansion of her forces, a battle that would fully prove her Demon Emperor strength. After waiting for more than half a year, this battle finally arrived, and it was Ding Yun who initiated the provocation.
She deliberately dispatched her forces.
To attack the territory of the Nine Nether Demon Lord, whose master was a Demon Emperor.
There was no alternative. More than half a year had passed, and none of the surrounding Demon Lords had been foolish enough to provoke her. Ding Yun could not simply wait indefinitely; that would take an eternity. Therefore, she had to strike first.
She took the initiative to attack.
By this time, Ding Yun already had over a dozen Taiyi Demon Lords under her command, each equipped with a set of acquired spiritual treasures, supplemented by elixirs and pills to enhance their cultivation and stabilize their realms.
While they might not be invincible against opponents of the same level, they could each defeat two to three opponents of the same level.
Thus, within a few days, the Nine Nether Demon Lord was utterly defeated and fled his territory, escaping to his master to lodge a complaint. This was even with Ding Yun specifically hinting to her subordinates to hold back, to allow him to return and report, thereby luring someone over.
Otherwise, facing over a dozen Taiyi Demon Lords, each equipped with a set of acquired spiritual treasures, he would have long been reduced to dust. Although killing him would also draw out his master, was it not faster for him to report it himself? He was not favored, and if his master were in seclusion, who knew how long they would have to wait?
A Demon Emperor's seclusion could easily last for hundreds or thousands of years, even tens of thousands.
Therefore, allowing him to return and complain was naturally the fastest method. At the very least, he could summon some senior or junior brothers and sisters, and then she could take them all down.
With the death or severe injury of more than half of her disciples, Ding Yun did not believe that the Nine Nether Demon Lord's master, the Myriad Laws Demon Emperor, would not emerge from seclusion.