Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 373: Chapter 373. Boons and Cost

Everyone eyed the portal. It still only showed a blank screen of dark red. Yet, they knew the being who spoke into their minds was behind that ominous portal.

Kui Mang was the first to speak, ”My... My Lord. Are you the great Dark God of the–Ugh...!”

Kui Mang was shoved into the ground. He lay flat on the ground, unable to get up.

”Did I give you permission to speak, worm?” The chilling voice sounded in his mind.

”I’m... I’m sorry, my Lord... I...”

”You are not very bright, are you?” The voice in his mind this time was accompanied by the feeling of a million needles pricking his head.

”Argghhh...!!!” He screamed in pain. He only stopped after screaming for a while.

Silence returned. No one else dared to make a sound. Even the sounds of fighting from the surroundings had stopped. The spirit beasts fled once they sensed the presence behind the portal.

Kui Mang was hyperventilating but otherwise no longer dared to speak. He remained on the ground. His eyes stared at the dark red portal with fear and uncertainty. His mind wondered if they had made a mistake by performing the ceremony.

Finally, the voice spoke again. ”So, you called me the Dark God? That is an apt name. Very well, I will speak to you as the Dark God. It is some time since I laid eyes on the main world. I suppose I should compliment you on this achievement. Tell me, who is responsible for this feat?”

Kui Mang didn’t speak. He raised his hand to answer the Dark God’s question.

A chuckle was heard. The pressure pressing Kui Mang to the ground was gone. He was uncertain at first but decided to rise to his feet.

”You may speak now,” the Dark God instructed. ”Tell me. What exactly do you think you can gain by establishing contact with me?”

”I... I wish...”

”Speak up, worm! You are testing my patience with your pathetic stutter.”

”Fo–Forgive me! I wish to gain the wealth and power for my clan’s prosperity,” Kui Mang said.

”Wealth and power? Those are such vague requests. How much wealth? How much power? How much do you believe your pathetic clan needs to prosper?”

”I... I don’t...”

”That’s right. You don’t know. Nobody knows. Perhaps no amount of wealth or power is enough for your clan to prosper because you are simply not competent enough for the task. How about this? I will bestow you a powerful cultivation art, but there is a catch. It’s a cultivation art using infernal energy, which means you must be willing to turn into a demon to learn it.”

”This...,” Kui Mang didn’t know how to answer. Turning into a demon meant forgoing his right to exist in this world. It doesn’t matter how powerful the cultivation art was. It was not worth it.

”Hm... Do you underestimate my offer?” The Dark God asked with a threatening tone.

”I... I don’t dare! I’m happy with your gift. I’m honored to receive it!” Kui Mang exclaimed. Even if he received the infernal cultivation art, he didn’t have to learn it. He should just accept it to avoid angering the Dark God.

”Who says anything about a gift? You will have to give something in return,” the Dark God said.

”Some... Something in return...?” Kui Mang asked.

”Of course. Do you expect me to just give you things simply because you let me see your world? Sparing your worthless life is already reward enough for that. No, if you want more, you must entertain me more.”

”How... How do I do that...?”

”Hehe. Before that, let me entice you more. I will also give you ten million aer stones, an unparalleled weapon matching your cultivation level, and a loyal bodyguard.”

”That... I am extremely grateful for your generosity,” Kui Mang said with a bow. He was enticed enough with just the ten million aer stones. Such a sum was not exactly the wealth beyond compare he yearned for, but it was enough to help him expand his clan and compete against the bigger clans from other cities.

”Generosity? Like I said, you are not too bright. Did you not hear that I require something in return?” The Dark God asked. A hint of annoyance could be heard in his tone.

”What do you require of me, my Lord?” Kui Mang asked.

”I haven’t finished. I have enticed you with my offer. I will also tell you the penalty if you reject my offer. The cost for your rejection is your life.”

”My life...?” Kui Mang was dumbfounded. An offer of great rewards at the cost of his life if he rejected them? Of course, he would take the rewards. No matter what the Dark God asked in return, he would give it!

”Hehe, are you ready to listen to what I ask of you in return for my boons?” The Dark God asked.

”I am ready, My Lord. Whatever you ask of me. I will do my best to fulfill it for you!” Kui Mang declared.

”It is quite simple, actually. You can even complete it right this moment,” the Dark God replied. ”I sense from you a strong emotional attachment to someone here. That man over there.”

Kui Chong was lifted off the ground by an invisible force. He panicked. ”What...? What is happening?! He–Help...! Father! Help...!!!”

”My... My Lord! He is my son! Please, have mercy...!” Kui Mang pleaded.

”I know he is your son,” the Dark God laughed.

Kui Chong was helpless. The invisible force carried him to the portal, where Kui Mang was standing. He was placed before his father. He couldn’t move. The invisible force that carried him also kept him paralyzed. He could only talk and move his head.

”Now, this is what I require of you,” the Dark God’s voice reverberated. ”In exchange for my boons and your life, I want you to slay the person most valuable to you. I want you to take your son’s life.”

Both Kui Mang and Kui Chong were stunned by the words. They stared at the portal with shock before they stared at one another.

Kui Mang finally said, ”My... My Lord... Please... He is my only son. Have mercy... I beg you...”

”I see. So, you choose to reject my offer and forfeit your life?” the Dark God asked.

”I... I...” Kui Mang was lost for words.

”Make up your choice. If you wish for my boons, pick up that dagger you used to summon me and plunge it into your son’s heart.”

Kui Mang reluctantly picked up the ceremonial dagger. His hand was shaking.

”Fa... Father...? You... You are not seriously giving in to his demand, are you...?” Kui Chong asked. The fear was clear in his voice.

Kui Mang kept looking back and forth between his son and the dagger in his hand. His hand never stopped shaking.

”Take your time. I can wait,” the Dark God said with a chuckle. ”I also don’t want good entertainment to end too quickly.”

All the cloaked people in the mob were speechless. Demanding someone to take the life of his own child was entertainment? This was the being they worked so hard to conjure? This was the being they pinned their hopes on to turn their fate? Suddenly, they felt like the most foolish people in existence.

The scene lasted for a long time. Kui Mang just stood there, uncertain of what to do. After around ten minutes, the Dark God said, ”I did say I can wait, but it doesn’t mean indefinitely. Make your decision, will you?”

Kui Mang’s hand holding the dagger slowly advanced. The dagger drew near to Kui Chong’s chest. The invisible force holding Kui Chong ripped his cloth, revealing his bare chest.

”No! No...! Father...! Please! You can’t do this to me! I am your son...!” Kui Chong screamed.

When the dagger touched Kui Chong’s skin and drew a drop of blood, Kui Mang faltered. He took a step back.

”What have I done...,” he uttered. He released the ceremonial dagger in his hand, and it dropped to the ground.

”Such a pity,” the Dark God uttered.

When his voice ended, Kui Mang’s head exploded.

Kui Chong, who was standing right before his father, was showered by his father’s blood. He stared at his father’s headless body in horror. When the headless body dropped to the ground under his feet, he started screaming. The Dark God was no longer holding him so he could move. He turned around and ran away.

The others in the crowd could still not move. The Dark God’s pressure was still upon them. The only one allowed to leave was Kui Chong. He was spared because his life had been paid for by his father’s sacrifice.

”Hahaha,” the Dark God’s laughter echoed in the minds of everyone there. After the laugh, he said, ”Well, you have all conjured my presence here, so I will give you all the same chance to entertain me. Let’s start with you, the one who shares the same infernal energy as me.”

The Dark God was referring to Amon.