Rise of The Demon General

”Why would he do that?” Di Yu asked.

”Because he was at the end of his lifespan,” Ling Dau answered. ”You will be surprised by what a human is willing to do to avoid death, even if that means no longer becoming himself.”

”If your soul fused with that human’s, then you are also no longer yourself,” Thien Huo said.

Ling Dau shrugged. ”Perhaps. To be honest, I don’t feel much different. Perhaps my soul element allows my soul to be the dominant part. Hence, I remain myself. Or, perhaps I did change and didn’t remember it. Perhaps what I am now is no longer the old Ling Dau banished by you, the noble dragons. Nevertheless, I don’t mind, because of one thing he said to me before he fused with me.”

”What is that?” Di Yu asked.

”Aside from telling me the secret of obtaining the power of cultivation laws, he also told me that if I managed to collect all the elemental powers, which are the six divine elements and five infernal elements, I would become the strongest being that is. I will become a Higher Deity Beast, one that will surpass even our elder! For that goal, I don’t mind losing a bit of myself. I’m willing to become anything so long as I can take you noble dragons down and let you taste the fruits of banishing me.”

The first time Ling Dau mentioned taking down the noble dragons and their elder, Di Yu and Thien Huo considered it empty talk from a deluded dragon. Now, they no longer viewed it with the same mindset. If what Ling Dau told them was true, he did have the potential to make good on that threat.

”I see. So, your final objective is to become a twelve-headed hydra, and we have prevented you from gaining Hai Di’s Law of Pressure.”

Ling Dau looked back. It was that human with the big mouth again, and what did that human call him? A Hydra? He didn’t understand what that was. Didn’t he already tell everyone that he was a soul dragon? He decided that he wouldn’t tolerate it this time. He opened the mouth of his new head and discharged a blast breath. A beam filled with the darkness element rushed toward Amon.

Amon had expected it. He flew away, grabbing Surressh on his way. Krassazh and Yao Ai were the ones taken aback. Thankfully, they had good reflexes, and their distance from Ling Dau allowed them the time to react. They all moved away before the black beam arrived.

”Must you antagonize him?” Yao Ai protested.

Amon ignored her. He told Surressh, ”Your job is done. Hai Di is gone. Return to my black space ring.”

Surressh was glad he no longer had to help with the battle. He vanished inside the ring’s dimension.

Krassazh was different. While his original target was Hai Di, he must still establish complete control over this area. His force was still in battle with the humans in and near Venal Virtuous City. The soul dragon was an element he needed to be rid of. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to establish control over the area and make this a Hyanid territory.

”Can’t we just ask it to go away?” Krassazh asked Amon. He was referring to Ling Dau. ”He fought us to protect Hai Di. Now that Hai Di is gone. He had no reason to stay.”

Krassazh’s thinking was rational, but Amon preferred to eliminate Ling Dau here for multiple reasons.

The first reason was that he would waste his call for aid if he called off this battle. He made the call for aid based on the wrong assumption that Ling Dau would protect Hai Di to the death. He didn’t expect Ling Dau to resort to taking Hai Di’s life himself.

The second reason was that even if he wanted to, he could no longer call off this battle. Ling Dau seemed to have a deep enmity with the rest of the noble dragons. Ling Dau wouldn’t stop the fight just because he offered a truce.

The last reason was that Ling Dau was unlike other spirit beasts. He was a direct threat to human cultivators, especially those with high cultivation levels. Amon planned to rule the lower world, replacing the domain lords. That means the most powerful cultivators of the realm would be working for him. These cultivators were Ling Dau’s potential targets. He preferred to be rid of this threat to his future assets.

All three reasons were factors that didn’t involve the Hyanids. Hence, he couldn’t tell Krassazh the truth. Instead, he replied, ”That Soul Dragon has made this area his territory. I doubt he will leave peacefully. Even if he is willing, there is no guarantee he won’t come back. The safest bet is to get rid of him now.”

Krassazh didn’t like Amon’s reply. Getting rid of a Mid Deity Beast was easier said than done.

Amon could guess Krassazh’s thoughts. He told the Hyanid, ”Don’t worry. That soul dragon is tough, but his current power won’t win against those two noble dragons.”

A voice that seemed to come from a distance commented on his statement. ”What if I make it a one-on-one?”

Everyone turned to where the voice came from.

”This voice...,” Di Yu uttered with a growl.

In the direction they turned, they saw a green fog that moved along the ground. The green fog was so large that it covered a wide area. It also moved against the wind toward the battlefield where humans and Cryanids were still battling outside the city. Soon, the battlefield was covered by the green fog.

Where the fog passed, nothing moved anymore, neither the Cyranids nor the humans.

”Poison...,” Amon uttered.

The poisonous fog spread, passing almost the entire battlefield outside the city. The battling armies that were touched by the fog stopped fighting. Only the strongest Cryanids still lived, but they wriggled on the ground as if in pain.

The green fog grew thinner after blowing past the battlefield. A human was seen floating out of it.

”Mo Wang...,” Di Yu growled.

Mo Wang flew toward them and stopped beside Ling Dau, who eyed him suspiciously. He addressed the dragon, ”Venerable Soul Dragon, I have heard your story. I, too, have a bone to pick with these noble dragons. How about I lend you a hand?”

”Hehe. I know you,” Ling Dau responded. ”You are the ruler of the humans.”

”I see you are familiar with the human world,” Mo Wang said.

”Of course, humans are my prey after all,” Ling Dau replied with a grin. ”I am amazed you could hear our conversation from so far away.”

Mo Wang smiled. ”I have my way. So, do you agree to partner up?”

”It will be a waste if I refuse an offer from the strongest human in this lower world. I have a better offer. How about we form a mental link and I be your tamed beast?”

”Hahaha!” Mo Wang laughed. ”Did I not say I have heard your conversation? From my observation throughout the battle, you have not yet possessed the lightning element. Do you wish to target me as well?”

”If you did hear, then you know that you won’t truly be gone after our souls fuse. We will exist together and become the strongest being in existence!”

”No, thank you,” Mo Wang replied. ”I will become the strongest being with my own effort. I don’t need to sell my soul away.”

”Very well. We will leave this discussion for later. We have more pressing issues to deal with.”

”We do, and I have a proposition. May I approach?”

Ling Dau nodded. Mo Wang floated to one of his heads and whispered something. Ling Dau nodded again during the process. After some time, Mo Wang moved away. He turned to Amon and Krassazh, who had approached.

”What was that green fog just now?” Amon asked.

”It is called the Calamity Fog Poison,” Mo Wang answered. Everyone could hear the pride in his voice when he said it. ”One of my masterpieces. It can wipe out a large mob with ease. Anyone below the Devil Realm can be affected by the poison.”

”Very effective,” Amon praised. ”Any organic army will be useless against you.”

”You also killed your human followers with that poison,” Krassazh pointed out. Hai Di’s soldiers were still fighting the Cryanids when the Calamity Fog Poison descended on them. Those spared were the ones fighting inside the city. Everyone outside had been poisoned to death or was in a near-death condition.

”They were losing, anyway,” Mo Wang said. ”Plus, they were expendable, much like your Cryanids. So, you are the Hyanid I have heard about. I didn’t expect you to team up with the General. I should have known.”

”General?” Krassazh asked.

”The man beside you,” Mo Wang pointed at Amon. ”He is one merciless demon general to ally himself with the enemy of the human race.”

”Didn’t you also ally yourself with that hydra?” Amon fired back.

”What is this hydra that you keep calling me, human? Is it an insult?” Ling Dau asked.

”I assure you. He is not.” It was Mo Wang who answered. He then talked to Amon again, ”Are you going to stand in my way, General?”

”Don’t worry. You and that hydra are out of our league. We will only be spectators.”

Mo Wang grinned. ”Somehow, I find it hard to trust your words.”