Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 679: Chapter 679. A Solution

Everyone looked at the man in the wheelchair. Though his demeanor radiated confidence and intimidation, his body didn’t support that. Other than his left arm, his other limbs were not complete.

’This is the famous General Amon?’ Those who met him for the first time thought. As for others who had known him, they wondered what kind of incident had befallen him to cause him the loss of those limbs. While everyone was curious about Amon’s condition, only one person uttered a comment.

”Fancy seeing you like this, General Amon,” Sima Fang laughed. ”What could have forced you into such a pitiful state? But I imagine whatever or whoever that caused it should be in a worse state than you.”

Amon ignored the ridicule. He told the others, ”Let’s start the meeting.”

”Don’t be ridiculous,” Gu Wen said. ”You sit at the table reserved for Kazhan’s delegation. Kazhan’s Grand Chief is the one who has the right to make such a statement. You are not qualified for it.”

”I represent both Kazhan and Khode. I speak for both of them,” Amon announced.

This took everyone aback. They looked at Xan Chi and Zue Du. The two didn’t say anything to challenge Amon’s statement. Xan Chi, the official guest of this meeting, even shrugged and said, ”I agree with whatever General Amon proposes.”

Dim Loog and Hou Huang glanced at Huang San. Amon was supposed to be Huang San’s follower. Yet, since Amon entered the room, the two never exchanged words or glances. The two acted like they were strangers.

Huang San hadn’t said anything because he was unsure of Amon’s attitude. If Amon defied him in front of these country leaders, he would lose face. Hence, he opted to be silent. Unfortunately, Hou Huang didn’t let him off that easily.

”King Huang San, what’s the deal with this general of yours?” Hou Huang asked. ”Did you vassalize Khazan and Khode without us knowing?”

”Don’t be ridiculous, Khazan bowed to no one,” Xan Chi stated before Huang San could answer. ”I respect General Amon. He is both a good friend of mine and Kazhan’s benefactor. That’s all.”

”Khode has the same thought,” Zue Du said.

Hou Huang didn’t respond to Xan Chi or Zue Du. Her gaze remained on Huang San. Huang San could see that this empress wasn’t going to drop the issue if he didn’t say something, so he said, ”Empress Huang Hou, I gave General Amon the autonomy to act on his own after Khode invaded Echos. His mission was to learn the reason for the invasion and act accordingly to neutralize any chance of further invasion, which he succeeded in doing. His campaign in Kazhan was also in response to his learning the secret reason. I have utmost belief in him that he will do everything he can to keep Echos safe.”

Amon didn’t say anything, but he secretly commended Huang San’s wit at making it look like he was still under Echos’ control.

Huang San added, ”In relation to this reason, I must say that we could have prevented much bloodshed if you had come clean with us about the calamity.”

”The problem is, would you have believed it, King Huang San?” Dim Loog asked. ”We can’t show our cards and let you anticipate our move. We all agree that you won’t be easily persuaded to join our cause.”

”All that is water under the bridge,” Amon interrupted. ”We are all important people who have important things to do than bicker about pointless things, so let’s get to the point. We all have one goal, which is to defeat the Temple of Divinity and thus prevent the calamity. We have two main obstacles to reach that goal.”

”Oh? Pray tell,” Sima Fang uttered.

”The first is the temple’s devout followers, which include the entire population of Saint’s Rest,” Amon said. ”Despite our combined troops, we are still outnumbered by them. Furthermore, Oredolia was well-known for having the highest average cultivation level among its citizens. Even as citizens, their cultivation doesn’t lose to our soldiers. Our soldiers might have better training and equipment, but they have fanatical faith. They will fight to their last breath to defend the temple. In a direct clash, we won’t have the upper hand. I believe Gyleth Marx can testify on that.”

Hou Huang took a deep breath upon the statement. She didn’t deny Amon’s claim.

”What is our second obstacle?” Sima Fang asked.

”It should be obvious to everyone,” Amon replied. ”Their two Peak Lord Stage cultivator, especially the Holy Mother. She could defeat an Intermediate Lord Stage cultivator in a short time. That showed that she was exceptional even among the Peak Lord Stage.”

”Thanks for stating the obvious,” Dim Loog said. ”As you said, we all know that already. What’s the use of pointing it out? What we need now is a solution.”

”I have a solution,” Amon said with a smile. ”One solution to deal with both our obstacles.”

Everyone raised their eyebrows. They gathered here to discuss the problem and hopefully find a solution after sharing each other’s ideas, and here was Amon saying he already had a solution. They all had the thought that Amon was just saying things to draw attention to himself.

”General Amon, this is not the place to show off,” Gu Wen chided. ”You are in the presence of this world’s strongest and most important figures. Worthless boasting will be met with punishment.”

”How do you know I am boasting when you haven’t heard what I offer?” Amon asked.

”Very well then, General Amon. Let’s hear your solution,” Hou Bang said. He turned to Gu Wen and said, ”We are all here to share ideas for a solution, so we should encourage everyone to give it, no matter how ridiculous it is.”

”My solution is information,” Amon said. ”Information that can turn everyone against the Holy Mother, even her own followers.”

Everyone frowned upon hearing that. Hou Bang said, ”Well, I did say, however ridiculous, but I didn’t mean that...”

”The Holy Mother is a demon,” Amon announced before Hou Bang could complete his sentence.

The announcement was followed by dead silence. No one uttered a sound until the silence was shattered by loud laughter.

”Hahaha!” Dim Loog laughed boisterously. His advisor, Gu Wen, did the same. Hou Huang snickered with a ridiculing expression. Hou Bang also laughed, though he tried to be as polite as possible. Huang Ti shook his head in disapproval. Huang San and Huang Er looked at Amon with a frown. Even Sima Fang giggled slightly.

The only ones who showed no response were Amon’s comrade and Hou Huang’s other aide. This other aide had been silent throughout the meeting, and no one could see his face. This was because the aide was wearing a full mask that covered his entire head.

”General Amon,” Sima Fang said. ”If that is true, it will solve most of our problems. Unfortunately, it is not possible.”

”Do you know how much energy someone can unleash when one enters the Lord Stage?” Dim Loog asked. His face no longer showed amusement. ”It was even more so when two Lord Stage cultivators face one another. No matter how good a concealment art, it will not shroud someone’s demonic energy. If the Holy Mother is truly a demon, Empress Hou Huang would have noticed it during the battle.”

”That’s right,” Hou Huang said. ”Though the Holy Mother was fighting my cousin. Their battle was not too far away. I will sense it if there is even a slight trace of demonic energy in the Holy Mother’s attacks.”

”I know. I have experienced her attacks firsthand. I also could not detect her demonic energy if I didn’t happen to possess a particular tool,” Amon said.

”Wait, what did you say?” Hou Bang asked. ”You have faced the Holy Mother?”

”General Amon!” Gu Wen slapped the table and stood. ”I have had it with your pointless boasting. We can’t waste time hearing your delusion. If you don’t stop talking, I must remove you from this place!”

Amon lifted his left arm. As he did, the tattoo on that arm started moving. The tattoo left the arm and became a living smoke with the shape of a strange beast. This smoke beast uttered a strange laugh and greeted everyone, ”Hello.”

Almost everyone stood. ”What kind of hellish being is that?” Gu Wen demanded.

”This is called Hell Beast,” Amon informed, before following up with a lie. ”I encountered it during an excavation in an ancient ruin. Due to some circumstances, it was bound to my left arm.”

”Hell Beast...?” Sima Fang uttered. ”I have read about this spirit beast before. It is a beast that is said to exist only in the Lower World.”

”That is correct,” Bo Wu confirmed. He proceeded to tell a fake story Amon had fabricated for him. ”I was trapped in an artifact, and when a demon from the Lower World came to the surface world a millennium ago, he brought the artifact along. Long story short, he was killed by divine cultivators after his identity was discovered, and the artifact that trapped me was forgotten until General Amon freed me.”

”The reason I show this hell beast to you is that, as a denizen of the Lower World, it is very sensitive to demonic energy,” Amon said. ”No matter how good a concealment is, it can detect a demon as long as it has contact with said demon.”

”Are you truly telling us that you have had contact with the Holy Mother?” Huang Er asked.

”Who do you think was responsible for my current state?” Amon asked back.