Rise of The Demon General

”I don’t think so,” Mo Wang said. ”I still think my reasoning makes more sense than yours.”

”That’s why we will make our move during the purge,” Amon said. ”He won’t be able to ignore us after that. If, after the purge, he still doesn’t come to this lower world, that will prove I am right.”

”I’m not going to bet all that just to test a theory.”

”What do you have to lose? Even if your theory is true, he will still come after the purge. My method simply made it a certainty. If you are afraid, just keep hiding in this hole. I will also do the same if the Divine comes, but I don’t believe it will come to that.”

”You are confident about it?” Mo Wang asked.

”My hunch is rarely wrong,” Amon replied.

”Rarely. That means it is wrong some of the time.”

Amon shrugged. ”If I can be right about everything, I will be more powerful than a True God already.”

”Mm... Tell me your plan. I will see if I want any part in it.”

*

Half a year later, a month before the supposed Purge, Amon made his last preparation. He had prepared for the purge ever since he took control. He had whipped the disordered army of the lower world into a disciplined one. His force was ready at a moment’s notice.

He sent a message to Yao Ai and Krassazh, telling them to mobilize their sides. He then met with Du Ji and Li Hong, who submitted a report on the surface world. It was common for the three domains to send agents to the surface world to monitor the situation. This activity usually increased as the time for the purge approached. Amon kept this practice.

”My Lord, are you sure you want to go ahead first?” Li Hong asked after Amon finished reading the report.

”For my plan to work, I must prepare the surface world as well,” Amon explained. ”You already know what to do once the purging starts. I will leave the execution to you two. Do not disappoint me.”

”We won’t,” Du Ji said. ”We will carry out your instructions to the letter.”

Amon nodded approvingly. ”Once it’s time, gather with Yao Ai’s force and head to the surface world together.”

”What about the Hyanid’s force?” Du Ji asked.

”Are we sure they will show up?” Li Hong added.

”Don’t worry. They will,” Amon answered.

Amon left. He went by himself. He arrived at the rock monument, where the gate to the surface world was located.

Unlike the time when he first arrived in this lower world, there was now a military camp surrounding the monument. After he came into power, he built this camp to provide proper security to this gateway between worlds. Everyone who went or came had to go through rigorous checks and scans. They were also properly recorded.

The soldiers who guarded the monument saw his approach and saluted.

”I will use the gate,” Amon told them.

They bowed respectfully and moved aside to let Amon pass. He walked to the center of the monument. He looked up. The gate was directly above him. It was invisible, but he could feel it resonating with his black energy core.

It had been thirty-four years since he travelled through this gate and came to this lower world. He knew he would one day return. His thought at the time was that he would return to finish what he started, completing his conquest and making the entire surface world bow to him. It turned out that fate had a different plan for him. His return would not be marked with conquest. It would instead be filled with death and destruction. Nevertheless, he believed the option he would offer to those surface dwellers would be more benevolent than if he let the purge proceed naturally.

His feet left the ground. He slowly levitated to the invisible gate. When he touched the gate, a crimson portal appeared. It sucked him in. He went into the same tunnel as when he came to the lower world. He had the same feeling as last time, when he lost control over his movements. He could not control where he went.

The difference from last time was that he no longer felt pain. He still felt an invisible force applying pressure on his divine energy core, but it was much gentler than before. He attributed this to his infernal cultivation being stronger than his divine cultivation. It was the other way around last time.

He had a better sense of time this time. He estimated he was in the tunnel for around five minutes. He knew he was out when he felt the rush of water all around him. He had come out into the bottom of the river. The same river he dove into when he was searching for the gate to the lower world.

He came out of the river. The woods around appeared the same. This was a secluded no-man’s-land region with scarce natural resources. There was no reason for anyone to build anything here.

Despite the unchanged scenery before him, he knew that the surface world had undergone a drastic transformation. When he left this world, it was divided into six countries. Based on Du Ji’s report, four countries now acted as the ruling powers: Farghous, Kazhan, Khode, and a new country named Xei Dynasty.

This new country was founded by the Xei Clan, with Xei Nuli as its queen. After the fall of the Lord Stage cultivators of the other countries, the power balance between the countries had tipped. As one of the few remaining Lord Stage cultivators, Xei Nuli used the opportunity to rally supporters and found a kingdom. She expanded outward, claiming a part of the territory previously owned by Gyleth Marx and Echos.

Gyleth Marx collapsed after losing its queen and most of its military power. It was invaded not only by the newly founded Xei Dynasty, but also by Farghous and Kazhan. The result was the dismantling of its empire. Its territory was divided between the three invading countries.

Echos still existed, but it was no longer considered a country. It surrendered when Farghous invaded it. It was now a vassal state of Farghous. The Huang Clan remained the figurative ruler, but the true ruler was the regent appointed by Farghous.

Khode didn’t lose or gain new territory, but it was no longer a sealed-off country as before. It had opened its borders and enjoyed trade with Kazhan and Echos.

Kazhan had returned to its old customs, filled with warfare. It occasionally carried out raids on its neighboring countries, except for Khode, with which it had a good trade relationship.

Oredolia had become a ruin. The Temple of Divinity was completely dismantled. Its members were hunted by most countries, especially Farghous, which had the most vendetta because the temple’s Divine Judgment had destroyed its two cities. This aggressiveness also drove Farghous to assume control over its territory.

Farghous had become the most powerful country in the surface world. After subjugating Echos and absorbing Oredolia and a part of Gyleth Marx, it had the largest territory. The fact that its ruler possessed the highest cultivation level in the surface world did contribute to its rise to power.

Dim Loog was now a Peak Lord Stage cultivator. With the surface world’s inferior aether condition, to increase his cultivation to this stage in a mere thirty-four years could be considered phenomenal.

Aside from Dim Loog, there were only three other Lord Stage cultivators. All were located in different countries. Xei Nuli was the other one. She had reached the cultivation level of the Intermediate Lord Stage. As for the other two, they were Xan Chi, the Grand Chief of Kazhan, and Zee Min, one of the high councilors of Khode. Both were at the Beginning Lord Stage.

Dim Loog originally wanted to conquer the entire surface world after subjugating Echos, but Xan Chi and Zee Min managed to break through into the Lord Stage at the time. Additionally, both countries sensed Farghous’ ambition. Hence, they banded together. The Xei Dynasty later joined the alliance to prevent an invasion by Farghous.

This situation put the four countries in a power balance that lasted for years.

For his plan, Amon would need the cooperation of these four countries. With his current power, he should have no problem intimidating all of them into submission. The closest country was Khode. Hence, this was his first destination.

He took to the sky and summoned Lin Li. Riding atop her, he shot toward the East.

With Lin Li’s speed, they took less than one day to arrive at Khode’s capital, Dabao City.

Amon looked at the city from the sky. It was larger than the last time he was here. The slum district didn’t look like a slum anymore. It still couldn’t match the high-rise structures of the center district, but its buildings were now properly built and organized. From the looks of it, Khode must have prospered to allow such a development.

A dome barrier protected the city from unwanted intruders. To enter the city, one must enter from the designated checkpoints.

Amon wondered if the five members of Khode’s High Council were present in this city. He would find out soon.