Chapter 178 - 163 Demon Master

"It’s you!" a voice tinged with caution suddenly rang out.

An ancient-faced monster abruptly appeared on the ground, with not a trace of mana fluctuation emanating from its body, as if it were an ordinary elder from the Mortal World.

However, it was the appearance of such an old man, who seemed on the brink of death, that made the Black Robed Mysterious Person extremely tense. He hastily said, "Demon Master, I have new information."

The elder, addressed as the Demon Master, furrowed his brow and did not respond to the Mysterious Person’s report; instead, he looked around to see if anyone had followed him in.

It took a long while for the old man to finally let go of his caution and ask, "What’s so important that you came all the way here? Don’t you know we are at a critical moment in our plan?"

The old man cast an annoyed glance at the person in the black robe, his tone carrying a hint of severity as he spoke.

The Black Robed person didn’t dare to delay and quickly whispered the recent events into the elder’s ear.

"How is that possible?" Upon hearing his words, the old man too issued a cry of astonishment.

The Treasure Ship from the Heavenly Court was, naturally, a coveted item; they had schemed in the shadows countless times to no avail, leading the elder—a figure of high status in the Demon Court—to believe it was just a pipe dream.

Yet now, someone had managed to seize control of the Treasure Ship in such a short time, which sounded utterly unbelievable.

"Have you confirmed the identity of the person?" the old man asked anxiously.

The Black Robed person shook his head and said, "No way to confirm. The person acted very secretly, and was so fast that before we could react, the Treasure Ship had already vanished."

"Vanishing into thin air... only Zhen Yuanzi’s Sleeve Universe or a Cave Heaven Treasure could hide something as big as the Treasure Ship. Who could be so extravagant to use a Cave Heaven Treasure like that?" The Demon Master muttered to himself, his mind formulating a suspicion.

Yet he did not voice it out loud; instead, he turned to ask the Black Robed person, "What do you think?"

The Black Robed person clamped his mouth shut, slightly gestured toward the West with his hand, and then asked, "Demon Master, could it be from over there?"

The West referred to the land of Mount Ling, naturally pointing to the Buddhist Sect.

The Demon Master nodded and said, "Most likely!"

"Who would have thought, before we could make a move, the Buddhist Sect has taken action. It seems, Sir, your plan to ’let the tiger fight the wolf’ is very likely to succeed," the Black Robed exclaimed somewhat excitedly.

The pressure from the Heavenly Court was indeed too much. Although they, this group of people, had been striving to restore the Demon Court and many had sacrificed their precious lives, the reality had driven him to despair.

The Heavenly Court was strong, overwhelmingly so, and the deeper one understood it, the more despair one felt toward its strength.

Sometimes when he was alone, the man in the Black Robe would also question himself: Was everything he was doing really meaningful? What was the point of resurrecting the Demon Court, which had at its peak failed to defeat the Heavenly Court?

It was not until the Demon Master proposed the plan of pitting the Buddhist Sect against the Heavenly Court that they all regained confidence.

The Heavenly Court was powerful, but so was the Buddhist Sect. If the two were to go to war, they would undoubtedly both suffer, thus giving them a chance to rise again.

This recent event had given him a glimmer of hope, causing his spirits to lift.

"Maitreya has always regarded the position of Buddha as something within the palm of his hand, and in order to pressure the inhabitants of Mount Ling, he will definitely expand the Buddhist Sect. But now, Xiniu Continent has long been unable to satisfy the ever-expanding Buddhist Sect. Therefore, the only choice is to snatch from the hands of the Heavenly Court," the Demon Master chuckled softly.

"It’s just the peaceful coexistence between them that I fear."

"Hmph, you still don’t understand, the essence of this struggle is a contest of faiths. The Buddhist Sect needs the offerings of all living beings, and the Buddha Kingdom needs countless devotees. The deities of the Heavenly Court also rely on Incense Willpower to sustain their own existence. These two are naturally opposed to each other."

"Thus, their conflict is inevitable. Right now, they are like two heaps of dry wood next to a fierce fire. Just a little spark thrown by us would set off a raging inferno capable of overturning the Three Realms."

The words of the Demon Master were filled with fervor, as if he could already see the Heavenly Court enveloped in towering flames.

"How is the arrangement in Xiniu Continent coming along?"

The Black Robe hurriedly responded, "Master, rest assured, the pieces are already in place. As soon as the time is ripe, we can strike at any moment."

However, the Demon Master suddenly smiled and said, "I heard Little Jiu has gone there?"

"Indeed, the Ninth Prince has wed the daughter of the Dragon King from Bibo Pond and even stole a magical treasure from the Buddhist Sect. I’m afraid the Buddhist Sect won’t let him off easily," the Black Robe said with a hint of worry.

"No need to worry. I have plans in place there. When the time comes, someone will naturally save him. Besides, it’s good to temper his edge. Otherwise, relying on his Demon Emperor bloodline, he’s going to cause trouble everywhere," the Demon Master said indifferently.

Then he beckoned with a light wave of his hand, signaling the Black Robe to follow him onward.

As they walked, ruins and remnants were everywhere, seemingly etched with mysterious patterns and designs that must have once told a story of past grandeur.

But time’s fickle storms have eroded what once was glorious, leaving only ruins.

The Black Robe had seen these sights not for the first time, yet each viewing brought a mournful chill to his heart.

This was the site of the ancient Demon Court, where countless monsters once revered their sacred capital, showcasing the prestige and power of the Demon Clan.

Now it lay in disrepair, a fact that could only bring desolation to an onlooker’s heart.

And the chief culprits behind it all towered aloft in the Heavenly Court—it was their forces that had shattered the Demon Court, destroying the once magnificent capital of the Demon Clan, and with it, the backbone of the entire Clan.

"Alas!" A sigh reached his ears, and turning his head, he saw the stooped figure of the Demon Master, staring blankly at the ruins, his face etched with a lonely and desolate expression.

This elderly man had personally lived through those glorious years, when myriad powerful Demon Kings gathered here, all submitting to the rule of the Demon Emperor.

That was the most splendid moment for the Demon Clan, above and below the heavens. The name of the Demon Court alone struck fear into the hearts of many, so much so that even after so many years, there are those who equate the Demon Court of that time with the present Heavenly Court.

He had once believed that the Demon Clan would ascend to the highest throne of the Three Realms, commanding countless beings and toppling the arrogant Heavenly Court. Yet in the end, they fell short of success.

Countless old comrades had died in the prolonged wars, and he himself was left with irreparable injuries, forcing him to lurk in the shadows, barely clinging to life.

But if the heavens allowed him to live, then he must carry the hopes of those who had passed, the kingdom they had longed to see, he would build it up with his own hands, bit by bit.

This journey might be paved with blood and death, and equally with endless loneliness and solitude. But he harbored no regrets, for perhaps this was the meaning of his life.