Chapter 2350: Mysterious Object

Heavy footsteps echoed like a funeral drum, each thud reverberating in their chests, leaving everyone feeling suffocated and oppressed.

The elders of the True Demon clan blanched, realizing that everything had spiraled beyond their control. They had no idea what the young master was up to.

The women tightly clasped each other's hands, their trembling bodies betraying their shared fear of the unknown.

Among them, perhaps only Pei Mianman remained the calmest. After all, she and Zu An had already navigated several secret realms and witnessed countless unbelievable events.

Salome, however, looked excited and instinctively wanted to step forward.

Mogad quickly restrained her. "Young Mistress, let's assess the situation first."

A moment later, as the dust slowly settled, a colossal, indistinct figure gradually emerged.

Once the figure became clear, Salome could no longer contain her excitement. "Father!" she exclaimed.

She excitedly tore free from Mogad's grasp and rushed directly into the figure's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

After countless years of preparation and intricate planning, she had finally succeeded in rescuing her father.

All the accumulated grievances of those long years erupted at this moment, and her tears flowed unstoppably.

"Greetings, Master!" Mogad led the way, and the countless demons eagerly knelt, their faces alight with emotion.

For years, following Salome, they had lived perilously, their wives, children, clansmen, and friends dying one by one because of their cause. Now, finally, their perseverance had paid off.

The True Demon elders exchanged glances before also kneeling in homage. The situation demanded compliance; to defy him now would be suicidal.

Pei Mianman stared at the colossal figure, utterly shocked. Hadn't Zu An said the Lord of Slaughter was dead?

How was this possible?

Yet, the Lord of Slaughter stood before her, undeniably alive. And judging by Salome and the other demons' reactions, there was no mistaking his identity.

What had gone wrong?

She instinctively glanced at Zu An, who stood at the very front, observing his calm and unreadable demeanor. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Suddenly, a thought struck her, a possibility forming in her mind. Could it be...

"My dear daughter, our reunion is a joyful occasion. Why the tears?" The Lord of Slaughter gently patted his daughter's shoulder, his face etched with tenderness.

"I'm just happy," Salome choked out, somewhat abashed as she wiped away her tears. But no matter how hard she tried, the tears seemed endless.

"You've truly endured so much these past years," the Lord of Slaughter said with a sigh, his massive finger gently caressing her cheek.

At that moment, Mogad suddenly barked, "Why are you not kneeling before our Master?"

All eyes turned to Pei Mianman and the other women.

The women's expressions soured. As the world's most prominent figures, they were inherently proud. How could they kneel casually to anyone, let alone a demon who had invaded their world?

They would rather die than compromise their integrity.

At that moment, Zu An spoke. "They are my people, and I haven't knelt either. Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?"

"Donar," Mogad said coldly, "you remain standing. Does this mean you refuse to pledge allegiance to our Master?"

Upon hearing this, all eyes turned to Zu An. Even the True Demon clan elder subtly gestured to him, warning him that a wise man avoids unnecessary trouble.

The title "Lord of Slaughter" was no mere coincidence; he was inherently brutal and detested any insubordination from his followers.

As expected, the Lord of Slaughter's eyes narrowed, and everyone immediately felt a palpable surge of murderous intent.

At that moment, Salome quickly interjected, "Father, we owe Donar a great deal for your successful rescue. Not only did he construct the world's teleportation array, but he also deciphered the seals that imprisoned you here."

Mogad's expression shifted, surprised that Salome would speak on Donar's behalf.

The Lord of Slaughter then burst into laughter. "So you're quite capable, indeed a young hero!"

Zu An bowed with humble confidence. "You flatter me."

"All of you who aided in my rescue today are great benefactors," the Lord of Slaughter declared, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone as if engraving their faces into his memory. "I will never forget your kindness and will surely reward you handsomely in the future."

Mogad and the others excitedly returned his greetings, creating a scene of apparent harmony.

"Master, what are your next plans?" Zu An suddenly inquired.

"Once I've rested for a while and fully recovered my peak strength," the Lord of Slaughter sneered, "I'll return to the Demon Realm and take the Demon Lord's life to sate my vengeance."

Salome quickly interjected, "Father, over the years, the Demon Lord's power has grown immensely; he's no longer at his previous level."

Hearing the concern in her voice, the Lord of Slaughter's expression darkened. "What? Are you saying your father is no match for him?"

"Of course not," Salome clarified, "but the Demon Lord has had several millennia of additional cultivation time and access to countless resources. His current strength is likely comparable to yours, Father. Moreover, he commands many formidable experts. If we clash head-on, our chances of victory are slim."

The Lord of Slaughter fell silent, his expression fluctuating, clearly suppressing a torrent of emotions.

At this point, Mogad also added, "Master, the Young Mistress is correct. Furthermore, the Demon World is now on the brink of collapse. Returning to fight the Demon Lord at this moment would be unwise."

The Lord of Slaughter was startled. "What do you mean the Demon World is on the brink of collapse?"

Salome then quickly explained how the Doomsday Beast had suddenly appeared millennia ago, almost obliterating the entire world with its terrifying hurricanes, forcing them to retreat and cling to survival deep underground.

The Lord of Slaughter was utterly taken aback by such drastic developments. "That Demon Lord is truly incompetent!" he cursed. "He wielded the entire world's might yet couldn't stand against that Doomsday Beast, losing so disastrously!"

Salome concurred, "The Demon Lord is indeed incompetent, but that might also be because he lacks a certain item. He doesn't truly command the entire world as you do, Father."

The Lord of Slaughter chuckled. "Indeed, a fake will always be a fake."

Pei Mianman and the other women exchanged glances. Did the Lord of Slaughter possess something that the Demon Lord did not?

Could it be the authority over the Demon World itself?

They had previously learned from Zu An about the concepts of Law Beacons and World Authority; possessing them could mean a vast difference in accessible power.

Not just Pei Mianman and the other women, but even the True Demon clan elder was incredibly curious: what exactly did the Lord of Slaughter possess?

Salome continued, "Father, in my humble opinion, it would be best if we first retrieve that item, then conquer this world. We can use its resources to train formidable experts, bolster our forces, and only then settle scores with the Demon Lord."

The Lord of Slaughter snorted derisively. "With my strength, conquering this world shouldn't be so complicated. Anyone who resists can simply be eliminated."

Salome quickly explained, "This world has a Regent King named Zu An, who is currently the most powerful being. The Demon Lord previously sent many top experts to conquer this world, but they all perished at his hands. Now, he appears to have grasped this world's authority, making him even more formidable to deal with."

The Lord of Slaughter's expression hardened slightly. "He's mastered the world's authority? That certainly makes him difficult to handle."

"That's why," Salome continued, "you, Father, still need to retrieve that item to ensure absolute certainty."

"Indeed," the Lord of Slaughter stated coldly, "having been sealed here for millennia, I've come to realize many things. Overconfidence is not always beneficial. From now on, I will only act when I am ninety-eight percent certain of success. I have no desire to experience being imprisoned for thousands of years again."

"Father (Master) is wise!" Salome and her companions bowed in unison.

A moment later, Mogad inquired, "Master, is that item not here?"

The Lord of Slaughter scoffed. "Why would I carry something so crucial on me? It's fortunate I didn't, or it likely wouldn't have survived the events of that time."

Salome's face brightened with a smile. "Father, I've brought the token you instructed me to safeguard all those years ago. What else do we need?"