Rise of The Demon General

After agreeing on the territory split, Amon and Krassazh proceeded to hash out the details of their cooperation moving forward.

Yao Ai was bewildered by Amon’s decision. When she heard that Amon was violating the terms of his original deal with Krassazh, she thought for sure that Amon had the same thought as hers, which was to turn the Hyanids into a common enemy that would unite the entire lower world’s humans under his banner. However, after hearing Amon discussing all the details with Krassazh, she no longer believed so. Amon seemed genuinely planning to cooperate with the Hyanids for the long run.

They spent almost the entire day in discussion. They discussed a broad range of topics. Managing the migration of human populations from the Devotion Domain to the other two domains, rebuilding the Devotion Domain, fortifying the borders to prevent humans or hyanids from coming into conflict, and possibly setting up trade roads or trade agreements between the three domains to improve relations between humans and Hyanids.

Amon invited Yao Ai to join the discussion, which surprised her. This proved that Amon was serious about letting her resume control over the Mercy Faction.

During the discussion, Amon demanded the spoils of war from the recently ended battle. He told Krassazh that the Hyanids could keep all the human prisoners, but demanded that the higher-ups of the Devotion Faction be handed to him.

Krassazh refused. He reasoned that according to the treaty they were discussing, the Hyanids were no longer allowed to abduct humans unless they trespassed into the Devotion Domain. This meant the Hyanids would lose the main source of their Altered Hyanid army. The captured humans here might be the last ones they could alter, and the higher-ups of the Devotion Faction provided the best materials due to their higher cultivation levels.

After an arduous negotiation, Krassazh agreed to hand over four individuals whom Amon selected among the higher-ups. These four were Amon’s actual targets. His first request to ask for the entire group of higher-ups was a cover-up to ease the negotiation process.

Amon took the four captives and left Venal Virtuous City.

Once they were out of the city, Yao Ai couldn’t keep her bewilderment any longer. She asked Amon, ”Are you serious about cooperating with those Hyanids? This is your golden opportunity to rally every human in the lower world to defeat those Hyanids and make you the sole ruler of the world. Don’t tell me you are not ambitious enough for that.”

Amon chuckled. ”On the contrary, my ambition is much grander than that. You think of only the lower world. I have my eyes set on the larger picture.”

”Do you mean... the surface world as well?”

”The whole Aetheria. The surface world, the lower world, and the upper world! I want them all...!!”

Yao Ai slightly held her breath when she heard Amon’s declaration. If it were before, she would have considered his statement the ranting of a lunatic. Now, not so much. Having control over her and the Abyssal Dragon, adding the puppet and altered beast armies that he showed earlier, Amon had proven to possess the means to conquer the entire lower world. He could, too, if he had chosen to make the Hyanids an enemy. Hence, his claim of targeting the surface world and even the upper world didn’t sound so far-fetched anymore.

She didn’t wish to acknowledge it, but there was a desire within her that wished to see how far this man could reach. She tossed the thought away before it grew further, and asked, ”I don’t see how befriending the Hyanids can help you do that.”

Amon smiled. ”A nation is not built by an individual, even in a world such as this, where an individual can be a literal God. No, to achieve my ambition and conquer the whole Aetheria, I need followers and allies. The Hyanids are a good ally. Their control over the Cryanids provides a vast number of expendable troops. Combined with my puppet and alter beast armies, we have no problem with quantity. As for quality, we will gain that from our human armies.

”All three factions of this lower world have lost much manpower, especially the Devotion Faction, but that also means the remaining ones are veterans with real war experience. We will pick the most promising ones and focus our resources on their growth.

”This way, we can improve the overall battle power of the lower world. This is better compared to picking a fight with the Hyanids. There is no guarantee we can wholly eradicate the Hyanids. Failing to do so will create an enemy that hides inside the misty border and will always threaten us from the rear. We can’t mount a campaign against the upper world if we have such an enemy. Befriend them instead, and we have an ally to be used when needed. We can always stab them in the back once we defeat the upper world.”

”Yeah, like how you stabbed me in the back, huh?” Yao Ai said.

”Hehe. Don’t pretend like you never intended the same thing for me. I am simply better than you at this game.”

”Tch! Don’t get cocky, boy.”

”This boy controls your life and death. Remember that,” Amon said.

”... So, are you truly letting me rule the Mercy Domain?” Yao Ai asked.

”Of course! I need a vassal whom I can delegate. I can’t be bothered to deal with everything. Since I have gotten you under control, surely I must make the most out of you.”

”Tch! You truly know how to enrage me.”

”Just tone down on your pride, and we will be fine. You were fine serving Mo Wang, weren’t you? Just treat it like I am him.”

”Mo Wang is an Infernal Devil Stage cultivator. Who are you?” Yao Ai’s tone was full of derision.

Amon didn’t mind her mocking tone. He replied, ”I will catch up to him and surpass him in no time. Do you believe me?”

Yao Ai wanted to say no, but the word somehow stuck in her throat. Throughout her long years, she had never witnessed someone with a cultivation speed like Amon’s. The most absurd point was that Amon always proved to achieve all the things he said he would, no matter how implausible it seemed at first.

Her desire to see how far Amon would go returned, but that desire was soon doused by Amon’s next words.

”By the way, before you try anything stupid, I must warn you. That device in your head is also equipped with a detection tool. Even if I have no one watching you, I will know if you cut your head open and try to remove it. If I detect that happening, I will immediately blow your head off. I can always find another person to replace you. It will just be a pity to lose someone as powerful as you, but never misunderstand that you are not expendable.”

”Tch! Bastard,” Yao Ai cursed.

With their captives in tow, Amon and Yao Ai travelled in the Southwestern direction until they met up with the Mercy Faction army that was still looking for her.

Diu Cay was over the moon when he saw Yao Ai was alive and well, but his mood soon soured again when he saw Amon.

”Arrest him!” Diu Cay ordered. ”I have witnesses seeing you entering Her Ladyship’s tent when she was abducted. You will pay for your crime!”

To Diu Cay’s surprise, Yao Ai stopped the soldiers who came forward. ”Belay that order,” she said. ”Amon is our honored guest. He will be the domain lord of the Commitment Faction.”

Diu Cay and the Mercy Faction members had wide eyes upon hearing her words. Diu Cay asked, ”My Lady. I don’t understand. What does Your Ladyship mean by he will be the domain lord of the Commitment Faction?”

”It is as I said. Don’t question me again,” Yao Ai replied. ”Take us to the camp. We have much to discuss.”

Diu Cay took them into the main field tent. There, they talked for a whole day. Yao Ai acted as the main speaker, but all the issues being discussed were matters Amon had talked with her about beforehand.

Diu Cay frowned throughout the meeting. Many of the plans favored Amon, and he didn’t understand why Yao Ai did that. They were to help this man become the Commitment Faction’s new domain lord. Even thinking about it made him want to puke. Yet, he didn’t dare to oppose Yao Ai’s will, so all he could do was nod to the plan, even when his heart was unwilling.

Then, he remembered something. Even if he couldn’t stop Yao Ai from helping Amon become a domain lord, he could at least stall it. He said, ”Before we send anyone to help him control the Commitment Domain, we must do something with those undead plagues on the South.”

Contrary to his expectation, Amon grinned at his statement.

”Don’t worry about those plagues,” Amon said. ”I’m working on a solution. Just keep them at bay for several more days. Once I succeed, I guarantee you the plague problem will be solved.”