Danila was a Saint-tier guardian stationed at the Vadana Forest branch of the Dark Demon Cult. Just today, however, he had suddenly seen a streak of golden light illuminate the distant sky—a light that sent a shudder through his heart.
The aura contained within it made him certain: it was the holy light of the Holy See!
Has the Holy See tracked us down all the way here?!
Although the golden light had flared over a thousand li away, Danila had to fulfill his guard duties, so he decided to head out and investigate.
Little did he expect that as soon as he flew to the outer perimeter of the forest, he would run right into Zhang Ye and Hainowei.
He subconsciously ignored Zhang Ye, but Hainowei's presence filled him with wild excitement.
A Water Spirit?!
How could he be so sure at a single glance?
Because Hainowei, the Water Spirit, was one of the Dark Demon Cult's high-priority targets!
Orders had come from higher-ups: if any clone of Hainowei was found, she was to be captured alive immediately and brought back along with her origin!
Therefore, he flew toward the two without a moment's hesitation.
In his eyes, neither of them had even reached the Saint-tier. This was practically a windfall dropped straight from the heavens—there was no way he could let this opportunity pass!
Looking at Danila standing before him, Zhang Ye secretly thought to himself that things were looking grim.
A Four-star Saint-tier Dark Demon Cultist... was probably even stronger than that knight from the Holy See!
According to records, the dark mages of the Dark Demon Cult cultivated evil power. Although that power eroded their lifespans and vitality, it also caused their strength to skyrocket.
As a result, dark mages often possessed combat capabilities far exceeding those of normal mages!
Without using 【Divine Manifestation】, that golden-armored knight wouldn't be a match for this dark mage at all!
Zhang Ye felt a pounding headache coming on.
Out of the wolf's den and straight into the tiger's lair?
Give me a break!
What was worse, his life-saving assets had already been largely exhausted. On top of that, the man before him was a rare space-attribute dark mage. In terms of danger level, he far outstripped the golden-armored knight!
Am I going to die again?
If only I were a bit stronger...
“Huh?” However, just at that moment, Danila wiped the cruel smile from his face, replaced by an expression of sheer confusion and shock.
“The demon presence on you... and you don't possess the aura of this world either. You... You are of the Demon Race?!” After carefully sensing the aura emanating from Zhang Ye, Danila's face flushed with astonishment, accompanied by a touch of reverence.
Zhang Ye: “???”
Can't I just be a regular human?
Demon Race?
Why does every single one of you think I'm a demon?
Where would I even get a demon presence from... Wait, I actually have one!
Zhang Ye quietly checked his own body, only to discover that there was indeed a faint demon presence lingering on him.
However, this aura had been heavily dispersed by that golden beam earlier, and having just been brought back to life, his mind hadn't fully settled, so he hadn't noticed it at the time.
As for where this demon presence came from, Zhang Ye realized the moment he thought about it.
【Demonized · Vine King’s Great Arrow】!
It was because he had unleashed that three-thousand-times multiplied demonized giant arrow that Zhang Ye had been tainted with a dense demon presence. Furthermore, due to the Perfect Mastery effect, that demon presence was extremely firmly attached—so much so that even that terrifying golden light couldn't completely erase it.
Combined with the fact that Zhang Ye hadn't reached the Saint-tier yet and couldn't conceal his otherworlder aura, Danila was completely misled into believing Zhang Ye was a member of the Demon Race.
And judging by the expression on Danila's face, he seemed to revere the Demon Race quite a bit.
That made sense. Through literature, Zhang Ye had learned a few things about the Dark Demon Cult. For instance, the Dark Demon Cult did not worship gods, but rather demons. Thus, in their eyes, the Demon Race was supreme.
Seeing this, a plan suddenly formed in Zhang Ye's mind.
He was currently dancing on the edge of a blade. A single wrong step would send him falling into an abyss of eternal damnation, but he had no choice but to gamble.
Thus, a dark, sinister smile played across his face as he converted all his mana into the dark attribute. Pitch-black mana swirled around him, his dark hair fluttering, giving him an increasingly strange and demonic demeanor.
Zhang · Little Gold Person · Ye was now online!
“Since you have discovered my true identity, I cannot leave you alive!” Saying that, he raised his hand, and a massive arrow several hundred meters long, surging with terrifying black energy, instantly condensed into existence.
Three-thousand-times multiplier—【Demonized · Vine King’s Great Arrow】!
Of course, Zhang Ye didn't actually dare to strike. The real purpose of this giant arrow was deterrence!
Sure enough, upon seeing the giant black arrow radiating demon presence and the terrifying mana fluctuations surging within it, Danila immediately panicked.
It wasn't because he was afraid of the giant black arrow itself.
Although this giant black arrow was formidable, its destructive power at most rivaled a Three-star Saint-tier attack, which was no great threat to him.
What truly panicked him was that this giant black arrow made him virtually certain that Zhang Ye was a genuine member of the Demon Race!
Because only the Demon Race could instant-cast a spell so thoroughly brimmed with demon presence!
He had actually offended a member of the Demon Race!
“My Lord, appease your anger, appease your anger!”
“I am Danila, the guardian apostle of the Dark Demon Cult's Vadana Forest branch!” Danila babbled in haste, all his pride as a Four-star Saint-tier instantly evaporating.
For he knew that every single member of the Demon Race was an incomprehensibly terrifying being—just like the one before him.
To casually unleash a spell with the power of a Three-star Saint-tier at merely Tier Nine—if they really fought, he might not even be a match!
Besides, what if these Tier Nine mana fluctuations were merely a disguise?
Furthermore, the Demon Race could communicate with the Upper Demon Realm, wielding power on an entirely different level from dark cultists like them. Wouldn't destroying him be a matter of minutes?
What he didn't know was that condensing this three-thousand-times multiplied black arrow had nearly drained every drop of Zhang Ye's mana, almost causing him to faint on the spot. Only sheer force of will kept him upright, ensuring he didn't expose a single flaw.
Hearing this, Zhang Ye raised an eyebrow. “A Dark Demon Cultist?”
“Yes! Yes!” Danila nodded frantically, lowering his floating body slightly so that he did not dare hover above Zhang Ye's shoulder height.
Zhang Ye thought to himself: Oho, is the Demon Race identity card really this useful?
Hehehe!
Laughing villainously in his mind, Zhang Ye maintained a cold, indifferent expression on his face. With a wave of his hand, the giant black arrow shot into the distance at extraordinary speed, striking a distant mountain peak and instantly leveling the entire area.
The terrifying force made Danila swallow hard.
A casual blow from the Demon Race possesses such might... As expected of a demon!
Well... a full-power "casual blow."
In any case, Zhang Ye scored a perfect ten for this flex, maximizing his intimidation to the limit.
Zhang Ye spoke slowly, “Since that is the case, I shall spare your life.”
“Thank you, My Lord!” Danila wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, flashing a sycophantic smile. “My Lord, what brings you to this place...”
Before he could finish, Zhang Ye raised his brows and said in a chilling voice, “Must I report my actions to the likes of you?”
As he spoke, an aura that looked down upon all creation radiated outward, making Danila's heart leap into his throat.
So arrogant, so domineering!
A Tier Nine daring to speak to a Four-star Saint-tier like this—he's definitely from the Demon Race, without a doubt!
“I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! This humble one merely thought that since My Lord has traveled from afar, you must be exhausted. Why not come rest at our Vadana Forest branch? We will serve My Lord with the utmost devotion.”
“Furthermore, My Lord, you have no idea how many of our cultists long to behold the heroic presence of a true demon with their own eyes!”
Those were no empty words.
In all his years, this was the first time Danila had ever seen a "demon." Everything he knew about the Demon Race came from the texts of the Dark Demon Cult.
In the hearts of Dark Demon Cultists, the Demon Race was a supreme and powerful existence—their faith itself. If they could catch a glimpse of one, it would be something to brag about for the rest of their lives!
If this Lord True Demon comes to my stronghold, even for just a moment's rest, the honor of it would be grand indeed!
Thinking this, Danila's face beamed with reverence and excitement.
Seeing him like this, Zhang Ye shook his head secretly.
As expected, the members of the Dark Demon Cult are completely brainwashed. They worship the Demon Race this much?
Go visit a Dark Demon Cult branch as a guest?
Isn't that stepping straight into a wolf's den?!
If I'm exposed, won't I be eaten until not even my bones are left?
Zhang Ye shuddered inwardly, though he maintained an air of nonchalance on the surface. “Forget it. I still have important matters to attend to.”
As he spoke, he even feigned severity and glanced at Hainowei.
At this moment, Hainowei was looking at Zhang Ye's performance with an adorable, clueless expression.
Seeing this, Danila hurriedly said, “My Lord, are you escorting the Water Spirit clone back to headquarters?”
Zhang Ye glanced sideways at Danila and nodded. “Mm.”
“That is wonderful! As it happens, our branch is constructing a super-long-distance teleportation circle. It will only take five more days to complete, and then My Lord will be able to teleport directly to headquarters through it!”
Zhang Ye: Ah...
Can it really be this convenient?
How am I supposed to find an excuse to slip away now?
Zhang Ye could only bite the bullet and say, “Unnecessary. I can fly back myself.”
“However, headquarters is extremely far from here. If My Lord relies solely on flight, it will take at least several months to reach...” Danila said cautiously.
Zhang Ye swallowed hard.
The Dark Demon Cult's reach is absurdly long. Even flying at several times the speed of sound non-stop would take months. Is this cult trying to spread its branches into every corner of the continent?
With a scale like this, no wonder they can rival the Light Holy See.
Hearing Danila's words, Zhang Ye put on a look of fury. “You doubt me? Do you seek death?”
He was playing a demon now—the more arrogant he was, the better!
“I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare...” Danila hurriedly lowered his head. “This humble one merely wished to ease My Lord's burden...”
“Heh...” Zhang Ye sneered, intentionally falling silent as he stared down coldly at Danila.
Even though Zhang Ye didn't release any pressure, Danila felt a crushing weight bearing down upon him.
It was psychological pressure.
The longer Zhang Ye remained silent, the more panicked Danila became. And the more panicked he grew, the less likely he was to harbor any doubts about Zhang Ye's identity.
Finally, Zhang Ye spoke. “Lead the way.”
Danila was instantly overjoyed, quickly pointing in a direction. “This way, My Lord!”
...
...
Rate on N.U.
