Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 715: Chapter 715. Celebrating Zhang Daofeng’s Ascension

Zhang Daofeng landed next to the remains. He didn’t spare the broken equipment any attention. The ones that drew his attention were the severed arm and the black ring.

He wondered why the arm survived his blast. He then remembered. Amon once showed him that a hell beast dwelt in that arm. He studied the arm. Though it was still in one piece, it was not unscathed. It was full of burn marks and bloody lesions, like something that was caused by strong friction. There was still a trace of the tattoo on several tiny parts of undamaged skin, but it was very dim. He didn’t feel the life force of the hell beast. It had either died or was dying. Nevertheless, he didn’t see it escaping its cage. He decided to let it rot with the arm.

He turned his attention to the other thing that survived his blast, the black ring. He stretched his arm, and the ring flew into his hand. He studied the ring. It was not a space ring. He couldn’t sense any pocket space inside it.

”Mm...” Genuine curiosity crossed his mind. While this ring looked normal, it was anything but. Both the space rings Hou Huang and Amon wore on their fingers were destroyed by his attacks, along with their contents. Yet, this seemingly normal ring survived.

He decided to keep it and took his time to study its secret.

He took to the sky again and bellowed, ”As I said, I will hold a party in the temple to celebrate my ascension. Everyone is invited, and representatives from each organization are mandatory. The party starts three hours from now. The nobles and representatives must arrive before sunset. Otherwise, I will visit their organizations tomorrow. For the rest of the world, spread my word! They have one month to arrive!”

Finished with his decree, he zoomed toward the temple.

Everyone remained still for one full minute before they slowly trickled away. They returned to their respective army camps to recuperate before preparing themselves to attend Zhang Daofeng’s party.

Hou Bang landed beside Hou Huang’s broken armor and whip. He was weeping. Their empire had lost its empress. There were not even her remains left behind. All he could do was take her broken armor and whip to be used for the burial ceremony. He left.

He didn’t notice that when he left, there were movements to the nearby severed arm. The arm’s burnt and wounded skin started to regenerate. The stump at its upper part had flesh growing out of it.

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Zhang Daofeng spent the next three hours doing two things.

The first was ordering everyone to prepare for the party he had promised. All the priests and deacons busied themselves with the tasks. They were experienced in preparing masses but not parties. They were at a loss, but Zhang Daofeng’s order was not only for the temple members but for the entire city. So, everyone in Saint’s Rest who had the experience and resources to hold parties came to help. Their participation was not out of willingness, though. It was out of fear.

The second thing he did was purge the temple’s inner circle. Like any organization with two heads, some members were more inclined to obey him, while the rest listened only to the Holy Mother. The target of his purge was the latter group. He didn’t even grant them a chance to show a change of heart. He simply executed them when he found them.

After completing the purge, he sat in the main congregation hall. All the rows of benches in the hall for believers to sit on during the masses had been cleared. In their places were tables to place food and drinks. The altar where the bishops and cardinals performed sermons had also been cleared. It was now a stage for performers during the party.

The party extended to the other rooms and even the massive temple’s courtyard. Zhang Daofeng ordered to extend the venue even into the city. This was to prepare for the delegations that will come from all over the world. He forbade any cutback on the party. This celebration was to commemorate his ascension. He wouldn’t spare any expense. Of course, it was the world that paid for the expenses. It was only right. He was their God now, and they should give him everything he desired.

The priests announced that the first guests had arrived. These guests were the representatives of the foreign armies that surrounded Oredolia. Huang San came with Zhu Yao, representing Echos. Xan Chi and Fen Nu represented Kazhan. Zue Du and Hou Bang came alone, representing their respective countries, Khode and Gyleth Marx. Dim Loog also came. He had bandages all over and had difficulty moving. Gu Wen was by his side. They represented Farghous.

Xei Nuli also arrived with these country representatives. Although her Xandar Region wasn’t considered a country, it was a prominent clan, so she was obligated to come. She was sad, though, because she had lost the source of her payment. Amon had died. She only got one Longevity Pill for all her trouble.

None of these representatives displayed a joyous expression. Zhang Daofeng didn’t find it surprising, but it didn’t mean he would tolerate it.

He said, ”Everyone, I didn’t invite you to a funeral. You can mourn the people you lost earlier in your own time. While here, your job is to celebrate me. Those are not the faces of people who celebrate. Must I do something to encourage everyone to smile and be merry?”

Gu Wen was the first to change his expression. He smiled widely and knelt. ”Your Exalted One, please accept our respect and worship. We are yours to command.”

”Hm... This one knows how to act. I like him,” Zhang Daofeng said. ”The rest of you, please take a page out of his book, please. If you don’t know how to pretend, then simply copy what he does. I’m not delusional. I know it is impossible to change what you feel toward me just like that. Pretense is good enough for me. Pretend to respect me, and we will get along. But don’t let me hear you say bad things about me out there, okay? I will be forced to make an example out of you. I don’t think anyone here wants that, do you?”

One by one, they dropped to their knees. They tried their best to smile. Dim Loog was the last one to kneel. Ever since becoming a king and a Lord Stage cultivator, he never imagined he would have to kneel again.

”There you go. It isn’t that hard to do now, is it?” Zhang Daofeng asked playfully. ”Come! Sit at the big tables, right next to me. You are all country leaders, after all, except for you. Who are you?”

Zhang Daofeng was looking at Zue Du.

”I represent Khode, Your Exalted One,” Zue Du answered.

”What’s your position in Khode?”

”My rank in the military is Lieutenant General.”

”You are not the top dog,” Zhang Daofeng stated.

”I am the highest-ranked officer among Khode Soldiers who joined this campaign,” Zue Du explained. ”Khode doesn’t have enough force to send after they lost to General Amon’s army.”

”Hm... Okay, you will have to do for now, but send a message back to your leaders. They must come within one month to pay their respects. Otherwise, I will go there and restructure your government.”

”I understand. I will relay your will,” Zue Du replied.

”Very good. Now, everyone. Loosen up. Enjoy the party. Deacons, bring out the wines!”

Zhang Daofeng chatted with them like they were all good friends. No one dared to act otherwise, even if their hearts were bitter. Huang San and Hou Bang suffered the most. They were not allowed to grieve for their losses but were instead forced to pretend to be joyful. They wished to leave, but they didn’t dare to ask. From what they know, Zhang Daofeng planned to host this party for an entire month. They couldn’t imagine staying for that period.

Other guests started trickling in. They were the nobles and the leaders of Saint’s Rest. Although Saint’s Rest was a religious city governed by the Temple of Divinity, it never truly functioned like a true government. As long as citizens didn’t break the temple’s rules and they showed pious routines, the temple didn’t trouble them. Hence, nobles from other countries who moved to Saint’s Rest were allowed to retain their nobility. They built businesses and cooperated with the temple, earning them enough influence to have noble privileges in Saint’s Rest as well.

Many of these influential leaders were, of course, no strangers to Zhang Daofeng. They, however, felt like this was the first time they met the man. The Zhang Daofeng before them was completely different from the one they knew. None of the virtuous restraints of a temple leader with high morals were evident in him.

These leaders had all witnessed the earlier battle from afar. Though they didn’t fully understand what was going on, they had seen the power Zhang Daofeng now wielded. None of them dared to do or say things that defied him. They acted like docile herds. Nod to whatever he said, no matter how ridiculous, and laughed at his jokes, no matter how unfunny they were.”

After several hours, Zhang Daofeng rose from his seat. He stretched and said, ”I felt slightly tired. I’m going to rest in my chambers. You people stay and enjoy the party. Don’t leave without telling me, okay? I will be angry if when I come out, someone is gone.”

They were all glad. Even if they still couldn’t leave. At least with the Hierophant gone, they didn’t feel as stifled.

However, they were confused when Zhang Daofeng began walking among them instead of exiting the hall. He kept looking at the guests as if he were looking for something. After a while, he stopped beside a noble couple. He stared at the noble’s wife, looking her up and down.

”Can... Can I help you, Your Exalted One?” The noble asked.

”That’s okay, I will help myself. You will do,” He grabbed the noble’s wife by her arm and made her stand up. He then pulled her away.

Both the husband and the wife dared not do or say anything in protest. They just stared at one another as the wife was led away. Zhang Daofeng continued his round while still holding the wife. He stopped again beside another couple and did the same there.

With two nobles’ wives in his arms, he walked out of the hall.