Chapter 184: Preparations for Heading to Lei Ming City

Outside the Demon King's Palace, Priest Ma Te sat on a stone bench waiting, and soon saw an acolyte wearing a robe walking toward him.

"Please follow me, Mr. Ma Te." A hoarse voice drifted from under the shadow of the hood, like a whisper in Hell.

That sneaky tone would make it hard for anyone to not feel a shudder, but listening to it in Ma Te's ears was a completely different feeling, as if he had returned home.

After all, he was not a human, but a corpse ghost.

It was only for the great cause of the Demon King that he had to lurk in the human world, and he had already been there for almost half a year.

"Yes."

Ma Te nodded slightly and followed behind the acolyte, following his footsteps through the long corridor, and came to a huge archway.

That huge archway stood in the depths of the cave, with complex and magnificent patterns embedded on the obsidian-carved door frame, just like an entrance to the abyss, or like the mouth of an abyss beast opened wide.

Passing through the archway, he entered the hall, and everything in front of him suddenly opened up.

Spacious, majestic, as well as gloomy and terrifying!

And that familiar undead aura—

This was his first feeling!

The entire hall was based on coarse granite, and the walls didn't have a single gap, as if it had been carved out of the entire rock layer.

Countless granite steps crowded the huge throne, standing in front of the audience hall, and eighteen huge obsidian pillars crowded on both sides of the stone road, just like totem pillars overlooking the visitors, making people unable to help but lower their heads, not daring to meet the gaze of the demons dancing on the totems.

Huge fire basins were embedded on the surrounding granite walls, with purple flames jumping in the fire basins, lighting up the entire solemn and solemn space with eerie light. Stone statue guards holding long halberds stood under those fire basins, their pitch-black armor emitting a chilling cold light, depriving that last trace of warmth.

Not a trace of the vitality of a living person could be seen on them, and this was exactly the most terrifying thing about these stone statues.

As if as long as the Demon King was willing, they could wake up from their slumber at any time and turn into loyal guards to protect the safety of the Demon King's Palace!

Priest Ma Te's face was full of piety, kneeling on one knee on the ground, until that majestic voice drifted from the front and shrouded his head.

"Get up."

"Thank you, Demon King Majesty."

Ma Te stood up slowly, respectfully standing with his head lowered at the foot of the steps, like a loyal servant, waiting for his lord to allow him to speak.

Luo Yan stared at that pious and respectful face.

After these past few months, this corpse ghost he personally awakened was becoming more and more like a human.

If it weren't for someone with keen insight, they would almost not be able to detect his identity as a living dead... and this was exactly the point Luo Yan was most satisfied with.

This showed that his soul had adapted to the new body and identity, and had completely integrated into the role he was now playing.

Pausing for a moment, Luo Yan continued to speak in a majestic voice.

"I have already read Charles's letter. I have heard about what happened in the Principality of Campbell recently. You can reply to a letter for me, saying that I understand their current situation. The agreement between us is still valid. As long as they don't break the tacit understanding between us first, we won't take the initiative to change the status quo."

"As you command." Ma Te replied respectfully.

Luo Yan looked at him and continued.

"If it were just for this matter, I don't think it would be necessary for you to make a special trip here. Do you have anything else to report to me?"

"Exactly, my lord," Ma Te nodded, and continued in a respectful voice.

"I mainly have two things to report to you."

Pausing, he continued.

"The first thing is about the matter of helping the refugees outside Lei Ming City in the name of the Flame King. Because we set up porridge stalls in the suburbs of Lei Ming City, which unexpectedly received the support of Ailin Campbell, the legend of the Flame King is spreading at a speed we didn't expect, and there is even a trend of spreading outside Lei Ming County."

"Forgive my presumption, but many believers of Saint Xisi even foolishly regard you as an envoy sent by Saint Xisi to the mortal world, so much so that traces of pilgrims have appeared in the church of Yinsong Town. Some of them come from other direct counties and earldoms of the Principality of Campbell, and the farthest ones even come from the duchies and direct provinces in the southeast of the Kingdom of Lei En."

Tapping his finger on the armrest of the throne, Luo Yan pondered for a long time and said.

"This is a good thing, you have done a good job."

"I am very happy that you think so."

Ma Te nodded slightly to show agreement, and then continued.

"But this has also created variables for our next step. The recognition from the Campbell family makes the sacred halo on the 'Flame King' too dazzling, so much so that it has eroded the gray area we deliberately created between black and white... I want to ask if you still want to execute the original plan, gradually guiding public opinion to merge the identity of the Flame King with your other identity—the necromancer of Beifeng Mountain."

Gradually merging the two vests in Lei Ming County and continuing to spread the legend of the Flame King outside Lei Ming County was a plan Luo Yan had set a long time ago.

On one hand, this could allow him to absorb more faith power, and on the other hand, it could gradually eliminate the residents of Lei Ming County's guard against the Demon King.

But doing this now, I'm afraid it won't be that easy.

Under the influence of the Campbell family, people have spontaneously believed that he is an envoy of Saint Xisi. Even if someone deliberately guides them to lean the identity of the Flame King toward his other vest, I'm afraid not many people will believe this "stupid talk."

Even if this is the truth.

Unless he tears off the vest in a more brutal way, but this also has other risks, which is to make what he did before go to waste.

Whether to continue to gain greater influence at the risk of the legend completely deviating from the original intention, or to quit while ahead at the risk of going to waste, he needed to make a choice between the two options.

Luo Yan pondered for a moment, but finally chose the former.

"The matter of merging the two identities can be put aside for now, you just need to be responsible for spreading the legend of the Flame King for now."

"Yes."

Ma Te nodded slightly, paused for a moment, and then continued.

"In addition, there is one more thing. Just a few days ago, Ailin Campbell sent an envoy to the church in Yinsong Town. That envoy proposed in the name of the Principality's royal family, hoping to meet the Flame King."

Luo Yan frowned slightly.

"Who wants to meet me?"

"Princess Ailin Campbell."

"..."

A quasi-hero wanting to meet the Demon King is fine.

What is this trying to do?

Speedrunning?

Luo Yan was speechless for a while after hearing this, stunned for a long time, but understood it after a moment.

Standing from Ailin Campbell's perspective, the choice she made was normal.

If it were him seeing a saint suddenly appear in his territory, he would probably also be curious and want to see what kind of monster it was.

On one hand, it could show her approachable side and win over the lower-class people of Lei Ming County. On the other hand, she might be able to win over a powerful magician, and even if she didn't succeed, it wouldn't be a loss for her.

Of course.

This was just from the perspective of interests.

It didn't exclude another possibility, that she didn't actually consider so much, but was just out of curiosity or wanted to do something with her own power.

"This is too dangerous!" Seeing the Demon King who seemed to have some ideas, Sarah couldn't help but blurt out this sentence.

Seeing Luo Yan cast his gaze at her, she stepped forward to his front, knelt on one knee, and advised.

"Demon King Majesty, please don't forget that Ailin Campbell is the holder of the 'Light of Eulogy'! The previous Demon King died at the hands of this artifact!"

"I've heard of it," Luo Yan nodded slightly and continued, "So what is your suggestion?"

"My suggestion is to nip the danger in the cradle!" Sarah's eyes flashed with a cold light, and she said in a low voice, "I heard that Ailin Campbell just received the inheritance of the Light of Eulogy from the previous Grand Duke, and her own strength is only Bronze for the time being, and her combat experience can't be considered rich!"

"Such a small fry doesn't need you to take action personally, I can sneak into Lei Ming City and bring her or her head to your labyrinth!"

The cold voice echoed in the empty hall, and the sharp eyes flashed with the light of a hunter.

Sarah had no good feelings about the Campbell family.

After all, under their rule, the demons and mixed-blood demons living on the surface were basically in a state of racial segregation or even extinction.

This was completely opposite to the treatment of humans in the Demon Capital.

Now that people from the Campbell family had set foot on Lei Ming County again with the "Light of Eulogy," the killing intent in her heart was unprecedented.

This was not just for the Demon King, but also to defend everything she now possessed.

Although the two were actually the same thing.

Luo Yan had no doubt about Sarah's determination, but he didn't encourage her to do so.

Perhaps because of the training on the planet Kao, she was more or less contaminated with some killing corruption.

After all, the action of force is mutual. People who face Chaos directly will also be affected by Chaos, just with different degrees of severity.

"That is the worst choice," looking at Sarah with sharp eyes, Luo Yan said in a gentle tone, "I just instructed Mr. Ma Te to reply to the knight commander of the Principality of Campbell that the tacit understanding between us is still valid. If we take the initiative at this time, we will follow the old path of Lei Ji Delagong."

"But..."

Perhaps seeing that the Demon King didn't take the threat seriously at all, Sarah's eyes were a bit anxious, and she still tried to say something.

Luo Yan looked at her and continued.

"No matter how strong the Light of Eulogy is, it's just a weapon. The person who can truly threaten us must be the person using the weapon, not the weapon itself. Regarding whether Ailin Campbell poses a threat to us, I prefer to use my own eyes to confirm this point. Changing the owner of the Light of Eulogy rashly might not be a good thing, perhaps the next holder will be more troublesome."

Luo Yan wouldn't naively think that grabbing this sword would solve everything.

If it were that simple, what would the other Demon Kings be doing?

That artifact shouldn't just be as simple as binding the holder.

What it represents should be a kind of protection attached to the bloodline, just like the "Dragon God's Blessing" and "Dragon Blood" he holds.

If Ailin Campbell dies, the biggest possibility is not that equipment will explode on the spot, but that a new oracle will be issued according to the ancient contract, such as taking back the Light of Eulogy and refreshing it in Campbell Castle or the ancestral land of the Campbell family, sticking it in some stone waiting for the next person to pull it out.

At least Ailin Campbell is a candidate.

The next one might not be, perhaps it will be like Aaron Campbell, a Chosen One who is perfect to the point of being almost impeccable.

"I understand..." Seemingly persuaded, Sarah, who realized she had been rash, obediently lowered her head.

Although the training on the planet Kao had changed her temperament, the point of listening to advice seemed to remain the same as always.

This was also the point where she was least like a cat.

"Get up. In addition, just report your ideas in the future, no need to perform the audience ceremony."

Luo Yan nodded at Sarah, signaling her to return to her position, and then looked at Priest Ma Te standing at the foot of the steps and ordered.

"Reply to Ailin Campbell's envoy for me, saying that the Flame King agrees to meet her, but not now, but at the beginning of next month... You can make up a story for me for the specific reason, such as I am practicing in a distant place or went on a pilgrimage to the Holy City, etc."

He believed that the story Priest Ma Te made up would be more self-consistent than his own.

After all, this guy had been doing this during this period of time, and various rumors about the Flame King were spread from him.

Ma Te nodded and accepted the order.

"Yes."

Seeing that he had nothing else to report, Luo Yan waved his hand and said.

"If there's nothing else, you may withdraw."

This throne was too hard, and there was no cushion, so it was still a bit hard on the butt after sitting for a long time. If it weren't for maintaining the Demon King's majesty, and the monsters of Hell and the players who were keen on performance art liked this, he would actually prefer to communicate with his subordinates in a more approachable form.

After obtaining the Demon King's permission, Priest Ma Te respectfully nodded and saluted, and then withdrew from this majestic hall.

Watching the hunched back disappear into the shadow of the archway of the audience hall, Sarah still looked at the Demon King sitting on the throne with some worry.

"Demon King Majesty, do you really intend to go and meet that Ailin Campbell?"

Luo Yan replied in a relaxed tone.

"Why not?"

Sarah said with a hesitant tone.

"But if she sees through your identity, wouldn't your situation be very dangerous... The surface is human territory after all, and there are adventurers nearby."

Although she was clear that the Demon King had Silver-tier strength, a sufficient number of adventurers could still pose a threat to him.

The gap in strength is not absolute.

Even a Diamond-tier demon could fall under the siege of a group of mortals without extraordinary power.

Luo Yan knew what she was worried about.

However, the point she was worried about was exactly what he was least worried about.

After all, if a conflict really occurred, it was hard to say which side the locals would stand on.

Even the demons of the Demon Capital knew that the citizens of Lei Ming City were a group of soft-footed shrimps, not to mention that the place had been corrupted by his direct or indirect interests by now.

Since he came, even the income of adventurers had risen quite a bit, and the originally deadly labyrinth had become money-oriented rather than life-oriented.

This was something that happened after the reopening of Mist Town.

Since the Necropolis took over the local adventurer guild, that institution, which was originally established to crusade against the Demon King, had added a new business.

As long as a sum of Nether coins is pre-deposited in the adventurer guild's account, those captured by monsters in the labyrinth can be automatically deducted for ransom and released to the safe zone.

This was one of the bad ideas from the players.

The ransom is clearly marked, fair and honest, and active surrender can even be halved, which not only effectively reduced the resistance of the adventurers but also increased the efficiency of the players' gold farming.

Luo Yan thought it was interesting, so he took it and used it directly, unexpectedly turning the adventurer guild in Mist Town into a banking business.

There were only a few who wanted money rather than life.

Anyway, the income of adventurers is high, and if they lose a ransom, they can earn it back, which is better than living in the Demon King's dungeon.

"The word 'Demon King' isn't written on my face, I've even met her father, why would I be afraid of her? Not to mention that very few people have seen my true face, and there are our eyes and ears everywhere in Lei Ming City. Even if she sees through something, there is no possibility of threatening me."

Looking at Sarah, who was worried, Luo Yan smiled and continued in a comforting tone.

"Moreover, as you said, she just received the Light of Eulogy, and her strength is only Bronze. At least for the time being, she doesn't pose a threat to us, but instead may become a pawn for us to get our hands on the Principality of Campbell."

When he said this, he paused, and then continued to state his plan.

"I plan to go to Lei Ming City in a few days to see this holder of the Light of Eulogy with my own eyes, and handle some things by the way."

Sarah looked at the Demon King in surprise.

"You plan to go to Lei Ming City personally?"

She thought the meeting place was Yinsong Town, she didn't expect it to be Lei Ming City!?

"That's right."

Looking at the surprised Sarah, Luo Yan said in a relaxed tone.

"I was too hurried when I passed by there last time, and I haven't carefully looked at the situation there. Taking this opportunity, we can just investigate there."

He had this idea a long time ago, but it was dragged until now because he didn't have the ability to protect himself at that time.

As for now, Sarah's strength was enough to serve as his guard and handle trouble for him when he was inconvenient to take action personally.

Although the Demon Human bloodline was a trouble, her characteristics were not obvious, just wear a cloak to cover her cat ears.

If you don't look at the ears, you can't tell the difference between her and others.

Sarah asked puzzledly.

"But... didn't you make an appointment with her for the beginning of next month?"

"That's just a cover, I didn't intend to meet her at the time of the appointment at all."

Luo Yan smiled faintly and continued.

"I have my own rhythm. If necessary, I will chat with her face-to-face in the identity of the Flame King at that time."