Chapter 2480: Flipping Faces

Novel Related

"Demon Lord, please don't be so agitated. I mean no harm." Just then, a figure slowly entered through the large hole in the wall.

Steward Pi and the War Priest couldn't help but narrow their eyes. They knew that the Demon Lord's desperate strike, had it been aimed at them, would have been difficult to handle. Yet, this person had neutralized it so effortlessly? This person's cultivation seemed unfathomable.

"Hmm, his attire looks like that of someone from the military camp. Whose subordinate is he? Why are we unaware of someone with such power?"

They scrutinized the newcomer, noticing his physique was rather frail compared to a demon's. He wore a mask, obscuring his true appearance, and neither his aura nor his cultivation technique revealed his origins.

The newcomer was, of course, Zu An. He was secretly surprised to see several familiar faces in the room. Steward Pi was one thing, but he hadn't expected the War Priest to also be a subordinate of the Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord's sharp gaze locked onto him. "I find it very hard to believe that someone hiding their true identity means no harm!"

The Demon Lord was equally surprised. Though his recent strike hadn't used his full power, there were many who could withstand it across the land. However, he couldn't think of anyone who could dissolve it so silently and completely. In that instant, he felt as if the energy he had unleashed had been utterly annihilated. His move inherently contained destructive power. How had his opponent managed to silently annihilate even destruction itself?

"Outward appearance is merely fleeting. I had no intention of deceiving you; I merely hope for your understanding. I came here to discuss something crucial concerning your future." Zu An wore the mask because he recalled that the Demon Lord in later generations didn't seem to recognize him at first. Therefore, he naturally couldn't meet him with his true face in this era.

"Our Lord is incredibly powerful! He doesn't need anyone to discuss his future! Guards! Seize this masked rogue!" Steward Pi roared.

Demon guards, having heard the commotion, had already arrived and, upon hearing his command, quickly surrounded Zu An.

"You, stand down!" The Demon Lord's voice suddenly rang out.

The guards paused, then immediately bowed and withdrew.

Steward Pi showed no embarrassment; instead, he humbly chuckled, "As expected, Your Lordship's foresight is profound." Then, glaring at Zu An, he added, "His Lordship has given you a chance to speak. Don't waste it!"

The War Priest, standing nearby, rolled his eyes. *What a sycophant.*

The Demon Lord, however, seemed quite pleased with Steward Pi's attentiveness. He then turned to Zu An, "Speak. What exactly did you mean by what you just said?"

Zu An didn't rush to answer. Instead, he scanned the people in the room. "What I'm about to say might be rather treasonous. I wonder if it's appropriate to say it in front of them?"

The Demon Lord's heart stirred, vaguely guessing his intent. "Speak freely." He wasn't a particularly patient person, but the opponent's demonstrated strength had earned him the opportunity to speak.

Only then did Zu An slowly begin, "Now that King Molten is completely annihilated, and the Lord of Slaughter's most loyal subordinate is gone, Your Excellency can completely seize this opportunity to take his place."

Hearing his words, both the War Priest and Steward Pi looked at the Lord of Slaughter in utter dismay. With just one glance from him, they were ready to collectively attack and kill this fellow on the spot.

The Lord of Slaughter, however, made no move. Instead, he said coldly, "To employ such a crude and low-level scheme of discord—you have considerable audacity."

Zu An smiled faintly; the fact that the other party hadn't immediately attacked already revealed a lot. "Your Excellency misunderstands. Whether this is a scheme of discord is not important. What matters most is whether it aligns with your best interests."

"I've likely guessed your origins," the Demon Lord sneered. "We were just discussing an attack on the demon race's resistance forces and capturing their Saintess. And you immediately appear with this proposal. Clearly, you're allied with the demon race. But since when has the demon race produced someone as powerful as you?"

Zu An didn't deny it. "Indeed, I do have some connection with the Demon Saintess. To show my sincerity, I can also tell you that King Molten Mogard's army was annihilated by my hand."

Hearing this, not only the War Priest and Steward Pi, but even the Demon Lord sat up in shock. "It was you!"

"Precisely. Therefore, we share a common enemy," Zu An explained. "King Molten was a confidant of the Lord of Slaughter. If the Lord of Slaughter learns of this, he certainly won't spare me. That's why I wish to ally with Your Excellency."

The Demon Lord let out two cold, dry laughs. "I am, of course, absolutely loyal to my Lord. How could I have a common enemy with you? Guards..."

Seeing him about to call for guards, Zu An sighed. "For years, the Lord of Slaughter has been secluded in the Imperial Mausoleum, trying to decipher its secrets, ignoring worldly affairs. He's unaware that you now control the entire demon realm. But if the news of King Molten's defeat reaches his ears, he will surely investigate the current situation. When he discovers that his trusted confidants have all disappeared, and that the army is now entirely under your command, what do you think he'll conclude?"

The Demon Lord's expression changed. "My Lord is wise and mighty; he'll naturally discern that these are merely normal personnel reassignments, and everything I've done is for the public good. I will capture you now and avenge King Molten!"

No sooner had he spoken than his aura surged dramatically, enveloping the entire room in a terrifying pressure. The War Priest and Steward Pi, having already received a subtle hint, quickly positioned themselves to block Zu An's escape routes.

The Demon Lord moved swiftly, lunging directly at Zu An's location and pressing a palm towards his head. The opponent's entire form shattered like an illusion in an instant.

"A teleportation array?" The War Priest's expression changed.

The Demon Lord's face darkened. "Not just any teleportation array. This one seems to have some connection to the technology of our world."

"Could he also be from the Demon Realm?" The War Priest pondered for a long time but couldn't think of anyone who fit those characteristics.

Steward Pi volunteered, "Your Lordship, I'll immediately take my men to capture him."

The Demon Lord shook his head. "No need. With his cultivation and mastery of such teleportation arrays, if he intends to escape, he'll be impossible to catch."

"So we just let him leave?" Steward Pi asked, a hint of indignation in his voice.

The Demon Lord remained silent. At this point, the War Priest curiously asked, "The opponent's proposal was quite tempting. Why not agree to it first?"

The Demon Lord sneered, "This person's origins are unknown, and he's extraordinarily mysterious. He might have been sent by the Lord of Slaughter to test us. How could we reveal our stance so easily? However, this incident has served as a reminder. It seems we need to accelerate the implementation of our plans!"