Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 731: Chapter 731. Secret Disclosed

Amon was surprised to see these individuals here, but he hid his feelings behind a mask of indifference. He watched as the extraordinary group approached. This group comprised the most influential people in Aetheria at this time.

While he was surprised to see this group, the issue that occupied his mind was how these people entered the capital without his knowledge. The Golden Stone City was sealed with a barrier. Everyone entering and exiting underwent screening at the gates. If any of these important individuals passed the checkpoints, he should have been notified.

Not to mention, he had just finished a speech about attacking Gyleth Marx. Here were two people who represented that empire. No emperor or empress had been appointed to replace Hou Huang yet, but discussion had been had about her successor. Hou Bang was among the favorite contenders. In other words, the future ruler of the country he was about to invade was here listening to his rallying speech.

This fact deepened his frown. He glanced at the Echos officials present in the courtyard. Someone must have smuggled this group in. Who and why? He intended to get to the bottom of this once he dealt with this group.

He addressed the group. ”I wasn’t informed of your visit. I admit your presence surprised me. You should have notified me beforehand so I could prepare a proper welcoming banquet.”

”Hahaha! General Amon, we go way back. You shouldn’t trouble yourself for my visit,” Xan Chi exclaimed with a laugh.

”You should call him regent now,” Dim Loog stated.

”Right. Forgive me. Regent Amon, please accept my congratulations on your appointment,” Xan Chi said with a salute.

”Please accept mine as well,” Zee Min added.

”I would love to do the same, but not after what he said just now about invading our empire,” Hou Bang said. ”Regent Amon, if you want Lin Xiaolong. All you need to do is ask.”

”We did ask,” Amon replied.

Hou Bang shook his head. ”We are willing to cooperate so long as the request is reasonable. However, from what I heard, your messenger demanded we hand over Lin Xiaolong within a week. Our empire is still in turmoil due to the war and the loss of our empress. Furthermore, looking for one person in a country as large as ours is no small feat. Rather than a request, your demand sounds more like an excuse to lay blame.”

Xei Nuli didn’t stay silent. She interjected, ”I don’t care about your intention with Gyleth Marx, but Regent Amon, you promised me the Longevity Pills if I helped with the fight against the Holy Mother. I have fulfilled my end of the bargain. Hand over the pills!”

”... First, tell me the purpose you, lot, have come here for,” Amon said.

”Tch!” Xei Nuli uttered. She preferred to get her pills before that.

Dim Loog came forward. ”Regent Amon. We all come here for one reason. It is to verify something. If it turns out to be the truth, then we will help to serve justice for every party involved.”

”... Stop beating around the bush. Spill it out,” Amon said.

”Hmph, I will let my associate say her piece,” Dim Loog gestured at the two white-robed people beside him. One of these two came forward.

A female voice was heard from the person, ”Regent Amon, I’m glad we meet again.”

’This voice...,’ Amon thought in alarm.

The woman lifted her hand and removed her mask. The face behind the mask was Sima Fang’s.

Amon frowned deeply, but he didn’t utter a thing.

Sima Fang chuckled. ”I can imagine your surprise. After all, you have beheaded me. How can I still be alive?”

”I have no idea what you are saying,” Amon said. ”When I found you during my search for the Soul Flayer, your head was no longer attached to your body.”

Sima Fang shook his head lightly with a smile. ”I know you were the shadow demon that attacked Princess Huang Er and me, Regent Amon. There is no need to deny it.”

A murmur was heard. Sima Fang spoke loudly with a voice enhanced by aether. Everyone in the courtyard could hear her.

Amon smirked. ”Ridiculous. You are making a grave accusation against a regent in his own kingdom. Do not expect to leave this place alive.”

Dim Loog moved to Sima Fang’s side. ”She is under my protection. Make a move, and I won’t hold back.”

Hearing that, Xin Wuming, Lao Zen, and the others came to Amon’s side.

”You overestimate yourself, King Dim Loog. Don’t forget you are in my territory. My army is around me. Do you think you can fight them all by yourself?”

Sima Fang gestured for everyone to calm down. ”Everyone, please don’t get too worked up. Let’s talk first before we do anything rash.”

”You want to talk? Very well. Tell me then, how are you alive after you lose your head? And why do you only show up now?” Amon asked. ”Maybe you are an imposter who tries to use Sima Fang’s face and identity to besmirch me.”

Sima Fang smiled. ”I am truly her, Regent Amon. Very well. Unlike you, I’m not afraid of disclosing my secret. I will answer your second question first. The reason I only disclose myself now is that I don’t want to let you know I am still alive. After I return to Oredolia. I stay in hiding and wait for my chance to contact my great-great-grandfather. Imagine my surprise when I learned his true intentions.”

Sima Fang paused and observed Amon’s expression. When he didn’t show any, she chuckled. ”You might think that I am Zhang Daofeng’s accomplice. His Majesty Dim Loog also suspected that way when I showed myself again, but I’m not. I’m as surprised as any of you when he moved in to finish the Holy Mother by stealing her cultivation power. I am, like everyone else, used by him. Hence, I refrained from contacting him. God knows what he would do if I did. He is a completely different person from what I know after he became a Demigod. Hence, I remained in hiding, while working in secret to collect allies.”

Amon looked at Xan Chi and Zee Min. ”These are the allies you have gathered?”

Xan Chi shrugged at Amon’s accusatory stare. ”Sorry, mate. I like you, really, but I must see with my own eyes if their accusation is true.”

Zee Min remained silent. She showed no response.

Sima Fang continued, ”About your first question, the reason I am still alive is that I have a special constitution.”

Amon’s eyes narrowed. Did Sima Fang possess an undying body like Xin Wuming? But even Xin Wuming should die if his head were cut. Of course, this was only in theory. They never put it to the test to find out.

As if reading his mind, Sima Fang said, ”No, Regent Amon. My special constitution is not like the one possessed by your beloved follower, Xin Wuming. My body doesn’t have rapid healing or regenerative ability. Why I survived a fatal wound is due to a special talisman.”

”A talisman...?” Amon asked.

”The Temple of Divinity possessed a short supply of resurrection talismans. Four, in fact. This talisman is a high-tier ancient-grade talisman that can bring someone back to life as long as they have one body part remaining. The talisman’s shortcoming is that the target cannot have died for more than ten minutes.”

’Same effect as the Divine Immortal Growth Pill,’ Amon thought.

”Didn’t you mention that you survive because of your special constitution?” Xin Wuming asked. ”What’s that have to do with the resurrection talisman?”

”Also, why did the Temple of Divinity give such valuable talismans to you?” Amon asked. ”As you said, they have only four such treasures. You are not even officially a member of the temple.”

”They didn’t give me. It was my great-great-grandfather who gave me,” Sima Fang answered.

”Zhang Daofeng?” Amon asked.

Sima Fang nodded. ”Despite the talisman’s high grade, the Holy Mother never considered the talisman valuable. She probably never thought she needed it, so she gave it to Zhang Daofeng to do as he pleased. I was originally also confused as to why he bestowed me such a valuable gift. I only understood after witnessing his true self after he slew the Holy Mother.”

”Why?” Amon asked.

”Because he was a selfish prick,” Sima Fang answered. ”A selfish man like him will never entrust his survival to someone else. Even if he gives it to his trusted follower, he doesn’t believe that in the moment when he is dying, that follower will use that talisman to save him. Most likely, the follower will pocket that talisman for himself and run away. A selfish man will never believe in the altruistic nature of others. The talismans are useless to him. Hence, he gave them to me.”

”Why you?” Amon asked.

”As I said, my special constitution,” Sima Fang answered. ”I have a special constitution that resonates with talismans without me needing to do it consciously. I can surgically implant talismans inside my body and have them activated automatically when certain conditions are fulfilled. In the case of the resurrection talismans, it is activated when I die.”

”Mm... I see. You used one of these talismans during the ancient ascension trial. Da Niu did kill you then. Including your death at Xejin Tundra, you have two resurrection talismans left.”

”I always know you are a smart man, Regent Amon,” Sima Fang praised. ”Too bad you are a selfish son-of-a-bitch. You know, we might have been able to learn more about the calamity and maybe even prevent it if not for selfish men like you and Zhang Daofeng. Because of you two, our chance of learning about it has dropped significantly, and so have the world’s survival chances. For that, you must be brought to justice!”