Bai Qi was not surprised by Kromitz's answer at all. After all, a place like Xandar had little value worth occupying. Even if their technology surpassed Earth's, it was only on the surface. In Bai Qi's eyes, they were no different from primitives.
Therefore, Bai Qi never intended to truly conquer Xandar from the beginning. His mention of executing the Omega Plan if the Xandarians could not be ruled due to resistance was merely to appear more benevolent.
Kromitz understood Bai Qi's true intentions behind his words. Almost immediately after Bai Qi left, Kromitz made several attempts to persuade them to surrender. When the Xandarians refused, he initiated the Omega Plan without hesitation.
When the Omega Plan had progressed to seventy percent completion, Kromitz received an order from Bai Qi to gather all available forces and return to Earth. Even though the Omega Plan still had some concluding tasks to be done, Kromitz obeyed Bai Qi's command without question. He left a few warships to finish the job and led his fleet back to Earth at full speed.
Seeing that all his fleets were assembled, Bai Qi checked the time and realized it was time to meet with Zhou Lan as agreed.
Bai Qi deployed a large fleet of warships around the moon. He then took a few trusted confidants and, carrying the box containing the Panku Treasure Box, proceeded to the dark side of the moon.
As the box was opened, the Panku Treasure Box inside, enveloped in a green light, slowly ascended. It emitted a beam of green light, opening a keyhole on the ground. The Panku Treasure Box in the air then spun and ejected a hexagram that matched the keyhole, swiftly inserting itself into the void. Finally, a beam of green light shot out from the rear of the Panku Treasure Box, forming a hellgate in the sky.
Amidst surging black energy, Zhou Lan, the Moon Demon, slowly emerged from the hellgate.
It was evident that Zhou Lan had been waiting behind the gate for a long time, allowing him to emerge the moment the hellgate opened.
Upon emerging, Zhou Lan took a breath of the non-existent air and looked at Bai Qi before him with a seemingly benevolent expression, saying, "Holy Lord, thank you for releasing me."
As he spoke, Zhou Lan's expression turned to one of anger. "Humans, they will surely pay the price for their actions. I, Zhou Lan, the Moon Demon, will bring destruction to humanity and the entire Earth."
Bai Qi could well understand Zhou Lan's anger. What had Zhou Lan ever done to provoke them? Unlike the other seven demons whose territories were on Earth, Zhou Lan's territory was on the moon. At that time, human technology was incapable of reaching the moon. Zhou Lan usually stayed in his palace, built from stones, and only visited Earth when he went to visit other demons, perhaps two or three times a year.
Yet, these immortal gods, driven by some madness, had, under the guise of protecting humanity, thrown him, a demon residing on the moon, into hell along with the others.
Now he was back. Although the immortal gods were gone, the humans they had sacrificed themselves to protect were still here. As for Earth, his territory wasn't even on it, so what if it was destroyed? At least he could vent his rage.
Zhou Lan's plan was meticulously crafted, but would Bai Qi really let him have his way?
Of course not.
It was a joke. Previously, Bai Qi had only coveted Zhou Lan's power. Now, it seemed, keeping such an extremist and dangerous demon was an absolute threat.
Do not underestimate Zhou Lan's power. Even though he had just returned from hell and his strength had not yet recovered, and he might not be able to destroy Earth, he was more than capable of destroying humanity on Earth.
"Zhou Lan, I will not allow you to do this."
Faced with Bai Qi's objection, Zhou Lan's horse-like face showed no hint of joy or sorrow.
Zhou Lan, with a grim expression, looked at Bai Qi and asked, "So you wish to stop me? Holy Lord, do not think that just because you released me, you can speak so brazenly before me. You had better rephrase your words. If you do not give me a satisfactory answer, I will become angry."
"My words are simple. If you intend to destroy humanity and Earth, I will stop you here and now."
"Hahahaha........."
Zhou Lan burst into laughter as if he had heard an incredible joke. Looking at Bai Qi, he said mockingly, "Just you? Holy Lord, do not forget, we are both primordial demons, and we both possess the immortality granted by this world. I cannot kill you, and you cannot kill me. And as long as I live, I will relentlessly destroy humanity, unless you throw me back into hell. But I do not believe you, a demon, have the ability to wield righteous magic."
With that, Zhou Lan ignored Bai Qi, spread his arms high above his head, and began chanting an incantation. The moon's gravity began to fluctuate as Zhou Lan continued his incantation.
Currently, Zhou Lan did not possess the power to directly control the moon to crash into Earth. However, by altering the moon's magnetic field, he could indirectly cause a series of effects on Earth. At that time, humanity living on Earth would bear the brunt of the natural disasters caused by the moon's altered magnetic field.
*Bang!*
At that moment, a fireball collided directly with Zhou Lan, forcibly interrupting his incantation.
The interrupted Zhou Lan grew increasingly enraged. Following the direction from which the fireball came, he saw that the attacker was none other than Bai Qi.
"Holy Lord, you are courting death!"
Enraged, Zhou Lan waved his hands, and two massive rocks floated up, hurling towards Bai Qi.
"Zhou Lan, you should know very well that with your current strength, you are no match for me. Surrender obediently, or do not blame me for being ruthless."
The battle between the two demons truly began when Bai Qi shattered the rocks Zhou Lan threw. Despite his boastful words, Bai Qi's hands were never idle.
Lasers, dragon's breath, telekinesis, lightning, and even mental pressure on a spiritual level – Bai Qi's attacks came wave after wave.
Facing Bai Qi's relentless onslaught, Zhou Lan could only parry weakly, giving him no opportunity to counterattack.
*Bang!*
After successfully unleashing a major attack, Zhou Lan finally managed to seize a sliver of breathing room.
"Holy Lord, we can..."
Before Zhou Lan could finish speaking, Bai Qi's attack struck again.
Bai Qi knew very well that with the immortality of primordial demons, physical attacks alone would not be enough to kill him. To kill him, it would require the consent of the Black Qi Mother or some special means.
The reason Bai Qi attacked with such intensity, knowing he couldn't kill Zhou Lan, was simple. Firstly, such an attack would silence Zhou Lan. Even if he changed his mind and no longer wished to destroy Earth and humanity, Bai Qi wouldn't know unless he said so. Secondly, continuous attacks could weaken Zhou Lan's power, making it easier for Bai Qi to absorb him later.