Demon Prince…
Chu Hao had a vague memory of this title.
However, more than the title itself, "Demon Prince" seemed more like a rumor circulating within the Endless Abyss.
Some scholars claimed that Demon Princes were a self-proclaimed title for certain powerful demons.
Such a title was like the powerful demons occupying parts of the abyss declaring themselves dukes, marquises, counts, or various levels of lords.
But in the Endless Abyss, any title held no real significance; at most, it served as a basis for hierarchy among demons.
A demon duke or demon lord was genuine only if the bearer possessed sufficient power. Without it, the title was meaningless.
So if Demon Prince were just a title, it would be entirely meaningless.
Yet some scholars argued that Demon Princes truly existed.
These so-called Demon Princes were among the strongest demons in the Endless Abyss, closest to its core.
Each of these powerful demons held multiple abyssal planes as their territory.
They could effortlessly ignite waves of terrifying extinction wars in any region of the Abyss inhabited by demons.
Chu Hao tended to believe this view.
In the abyss, powerful demons were never scarce. Take Yum, for example—if it wished, it could unify several abyssal planes at any time.
Apart from these two explanations, scholars also had a third hypothesis regarding the existence of Demon Princes.
This third hypothesis, however, was difficult even for Chu Hao to accept.
It was the Puppet Theory.
This theory also hinted at the fundamental reason why the Endless Abyss created demons.
In simple terms, the Endless Abyss, for the sake of expansion, created the demon species.
Demons, as a species, fit the requirements of the Abyss.
They were brutal, violent, tyrannical, resistant to order, and devoid of honor—a pure embodiment of evil and corruption.
Their greatest joy was to spread despair and destruction across other worlds.
However, due to the chaotic nature of the Abyss itself, even the most loyal demons could not perfectly follow its will.
Whether the Abyss had its own reason or intelligence was a matter of debate.
But hypothetically, if the Abyss had unique rationality and goals, and demons executed its intentions, chaos could still ensue.
Demons might attack from the right when the Abyss intended a left-side assault.
The uncontrollable nature of demons formed the basis of the Puppet Theory.
Scholars believed that to truly control demons, the Abyss had artificially created the class of Demon Princes.
Demons entering this class were chosen by the Abyss, manipulated into becoming its puppets.
Rather than representing the highest honor, Demon Princes were a trap set by the Abyss—a trap to encourage conflict, competition, and ultimately select the strongest demons to control.
Though they appeared to possess authority from the Abyss, they had lost their true selves, every action secretly guided by the Abyss to fulfill its evil plans.
Chu Hao had previously doubted this theory.
But now, after establishing his own Endless Abyss, he began to believe it.
"You say… you are willing to give up everything, become the soil beneath my feet, my hound, a puppet of the Endless Abyss?"
Chu Hao stood before the demon Fa Buti, smiling kindly.
"Ah…"
Fa Buti suddenly felt a twinge of regret, thinking to itself:
"I was just boasting a little."
But it dared not speak the word "regret," for in front of it stood the master of the entire Endless Abyss.
So it gritted its teeth and spoke with utmost determination:
"Great Master, Lord of the Abyss, that is indeed what I desire!"
"Good."
Chu Hao stood up, speaking coldly.
He had a new idea.
The only thing missing was a "test subject," and Fa Buti was perfect—loyal and qualified.
In an instant, countless black mists surged from all directions toward Chu Hao's location.
In less than a breath, Chu Hao's figure was swallowed by the endless darkness.
"Though I do not know what this operation will turn you into, Fa Buti…"
Within the dark mists, a pair of eyes with black-red whirlpools appeared.
"This will be the greatest opportunity of your life!"
"Perhaps from now on, all your wishes will be fulfilled!"
With that, the black mist engulfed the legendary demon Fa Buti in midair.
"Master… what is this?"
Fa Buti panicked.
"It's just a little pain caused during the transformation. Endure it…"
---
The next moment, Fa Buti screamed in agony.
Its cries echoed throughout the sub-dimension.
The black mists gradually tore its body apart.
Its flesh and soul were dissolved, its body melting like a rapidly burning candle.
As it vanished, the mists rapidly reshaped it.
Countless flesh buds reformed its body.
Deep black mists reconstructed its soul, leaving their imprint.
This new body was completely different from all other demons.
Every muscle, every drop of blood contained the essence of the Endless Abyss and a portion of its authority.
A being truly above all demons, yet loyal only to the Abyss, was about to be born.
A demon prince.
Truly, a Child of the Abyss.