After Ling returned to the Flame Demon Tribe with the looted supplies, the entire tribe erupted with excitement.
Hundreds of ox carts and horse carts rolled into the settlement, piled high with grain, iron ingots, cloth, clothing and countless other supplies.
They had truly struck an enormous fortune.
Now they had enough iron to forge the tribe’s gates, and enough metal to manufacture armour.
Their food stores, which had nearly run out, had suddenly increased by several million jin through this single raid.
As for meat, it had become one of the least valuable spoils.
The most valuable prize, without question, was the warhorses.
They had captured more than a thousand of them.
As a result, the Flame Demon Tribe now possessed over three thousand warhorses, more than enough to train two thousand elite cavalry.
This great raid had yielded rewards beyond imagination.
Meanwhile, during the days Ling had been away, refugees had continued arriving without end.
Even more astonishing was that, in only two or three days, the enormous city wall had extended by nearly one hundred metres.
Although it was still only an earthen wall, it was already an incredible achievement.
To celebrate this tremendous harvest, and to reward everyone’s hard work over the past month, Ling ordered a bonfire festival that evening.
Everyone would sing, dance and celebrate the tribe’s growing strength.
That night, the entire Flame Demon Tribe became a sea of joy.
Ling, however, did not join the celebrations.
Instead, he summoned Gang Duo and Duo Long to his house.
Previously, Ling had promised that after this great raid, he would decide who would command the cavalry.
The good news was that both men could become commanders of a thousand cavalry each, since the tribe now had enough horses for two thousand elite cavalrymen.
Even so, the cavalry still needed both a commander and a deputy commander.
Without question, Ling favoured Gang Duo.
In every respect, he possessed the qualities of an outstanding general.
He was brave, fearless, cautious, responsible and perceptive.
Whenever there was a choice between remaining behind or charging into battle, Duo Long always chose to attack, while Gang Duo always volunteered to stay behind and secure the rear.
Smiling, Ling asked,
“Duo Long, tell me. Who do you think should command the cavalry?”
Duo Long’s face immediately reddened.
“Chief, please don’t tease me. I know my own abilities. I’m not suited to command. I’m suited to leading the charge. I’ll happily serve as Brother Gang Duo’s deputy.”
Ling smiled.
Duo Long appeared straightforward and simple, yet he was remarkably clear-headed.
More importantly, he was broad-minded.
That alone made him exceptional.
Ling patted his shoulder.
“Very well. From now on, you’ll lead every charge, while Gang Duo supports you from behind. That’s the best combination.”
Duo Long grinned broadly.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
…
The Silver Alliance conference had already lasted for more than half a month, yet no decision had been reached.
In truth, reaching one would have been extremely difficult.
Ling had not actually threatened the interests of any other tribe.
Furthermore, the Ghost Domain was filled with strange traps and mysterious dangers.
Constantine’s disastrous experience had been witnessed by everyone.
Why should they send troops simply for Constantine and Alfonso?
Of course, the Silver Alliance would never reject the proposal outright.
According to the Alliance’s rules, any resolution failed if one-third of the chiefs opposed it.
Each time, Constantine and Alfonso proposed the same plan.
Gather one hundred thousand troops.
Attack the Flame Demon Tribe.
Surround it.
Blockade it.
Every time, the Alliance Leader passionately declared his support.
Yet every time, four chiefs voted against it.
Each had perfectly reasonable excuses.
One claimed his tribe was suffering from plague.
Another said floods had devastated his lands.
To make matters worse, the ten chiefs took turns voting against the proposal.
Every one of Constantine’s military proposals was rejected.
Today’s result was no different.
Once again, the motion to send troops failed.
What angered Constantine most was not the rejection itself.
One chief had voted against the campaign because he had had a dream.
In the dream, they attacked the Flame Demon Tribe and the entire army was annihilated.
He considered it an unlucky omen and therefore voted against the proposal.
Constantine was so furious that his eyes nearly burst from their sockets.
“Damn you all! If you’re going to invent excuses, at least make them believable! Today it’s because of a nightmare. The day after tomorrow, will it be because your wife couldn’t take a shit, so it’s an unlucky day to march?”
At first, the Alliance chiefs had at least tried to invent respectable-sounding reasons.
Now they barely bothered.
They simply made up whatever came to mind.
They no longer gave Constantine the slightest respect.
They were grinding his dignity into the dirt.
“Bastards! Every one of you is a short-sighted fool!”
Inside his tent, Constantine smashed everything within reach.
He shattered every object he could lay his hands on.
Yet even that failed to calm his rage.
Just then, Yang Gu, commander of the Chimera cavalry, rushed into the tent.
His face was pale with terror.
Constantine barked,
“What is it?”
Yang Gu trembled.
“Chief… something terrible has happened. Ling led his cavalry and looted our mines…”
“What?”
Constantine’s heart tightened.
“Our stockpile of iron and steel… were they discovered? Were they taken?”
Yang Gu nodded.
“Everything was taken. Worse still, Du Yan and Gou E betrayed us. They tricked the Young Chief into leading troops to rescue the mines. He took one thousand cavalry and one thousand infantry there, but Ling had prepared an ambush. The entire force was wiped out. The Young Chief has become Ling’s prisoner.”
Everything went black before Constantine’s eyes.
His body swayed.
Not a trace of colour remained on his face.
Seeing the Chief in that condition, Yang Gu almost dared not continue.
“After the Young Chief’s two thousand troops were annihilated, the tribe was left defenceless. Ling led his army back to the Chimera Tribe. Using the Young Chief, he tricked the guards into opening the gates. Then he ordered all the tribespeople to gather in the mountaintop castle square for a tribal assembly. After that, he blocked the castle entrance with one thousand cavalry…”
“Pfft!”
Constantine spat out a mouthful of blood.
Although Yang Gu had not yet finished, Constantine already knew the outcome.
He opened his mouth to speak.
Instead, another mouthful of blood sprayed out.
“How many died?” he finally asked.
“How much was taken?”
Yang Gu’s voice shook.
“The troops left behind… every single one of them died. Several thousand tribespeople were killed or wounded. The entire tribe was looted. Even the clothes on the people were stripped away. Before leaving, Ling set fire to the whole tribe.”
Constantine said nothing.
He merely stared blankly into the distance.
The blow had completely exceeded everything he could endure.
“Hahahaha…”
After standing motionless for three full minutes, he suddenly burst into shrill laughter.
It sounded almost like a woman’s hysterical laugh.
Yang Gu felt his scalp go numb.
“It’s all over… all over… I have nothing left! Hahaha…”
He laughed madly as he danced about.
Seeing this, Yang Gu panicked.
He hurried forward to support him.
“Chief! Chief! What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m perfectly fine! Perfectly fine!”
Constantine shrieked.
“I’ve lost everything! I have nothing at all! Wonderful! Wonderful! Hahahaha…”
Still laughing wildly, he staggered in circles around the tent.
Yang Gu’s limbs trembled.
His Chief…
Had gone mad.
The brilliant, ruthless Constantine had been driven insane by Ling’s relentless blows.
Dishevelled, he continued spinning through the tent, laughing hysterically.
Then…
Thud!
He suddenly collapsed to the ground.
His eyes rolled back.
No one knew whether he was alive or dead.
…
The story returned to two years earlier.
Fang Qingshu stared at Zhi Ning and her son with a vicious grin.
“Now then… how should I begin taking revenge on Suo Lun?”
It was not his sinister gaze that frightened Zhi Ning.
It was what he had just said.
“Suo Lun… what… what happened to him?” she asked in a trembling voice.
Fang Qingshu laughed.
“Suo Lun? He’s incredible. He’s the World-Destroying Demon Emperor. The Dragon Temple has already sent Sky Paladins, Sky Judges, Ji Xiuning, Huai Bingyi, Ji Mengbai, and ten thousand aerial troops to kill him. What do you think happened? By now, his corpse has probably already turned to ashes! Hahaha!”
His shrill laughter resembled the cry of a night owl.
Then he looked at little Yu in Zhi Ning’s arms.
“That’s your son. Your own flesh and blood.”
“As a proper villain seeking revenge, shouldn’t I threaten you with his life?”
“If I’m going to be evil, I might as well be completely evil.”
“Zhi Ning, get onto that table, stick your backside up, and let me have you. Otherwise, your son’s head will be separated from his body. Hahahaha!”
Fang Qingzhuo immediately drew her sword.
“You beast!” she shouted. “Are you really going to sink this low?”
Fang Qingshu sneered.
“You two, deal with this traitor from Hidden Continent.”
“As for me, I’ll enjoy Suo Lun’s woman. A woman who’s already given birth is at her most mature and beautiful.”
High Priest Ge Li and Grand Inquisitor Luo Ge both looked uncomfortable, but still stepped forward and trapped Fang Qingzhuo between them.
“You beast! You never should have been born!”
Fang Qingzhuo attacked with all her strength.
Yet…
After only one exchange, she was sent flying backwards, coughing blood.
Her martial skills were impressive, but they were nowhere near Luo Ge’s level.
“Mother!”
Her two daughters burst into tears and rushed to her unconscious body.
“Auntie…”
Little Yu cried as well.
Fang Qingshu casually removed his own clothes and laughed coldly.
“Suo Lun, if your spirit can still see this, what comfort it must bring you to know I’m taking your woman.”
“Even after your death, your woman won’t be left lonely. Someone else will continue enjoying her beautiful body for you.”
At that very moment…
The air suddenly turned icy.
A Shi Li Ren slowly walked into the room.
Seeing the scene before her, her beautiful eyes trembled.
“Fang Qingshu… did you say Suo Lun is dead?”
“He is,” Fang Qingshu replied. “He was chopped into countless pieces.”
“Heaven truly favours me. It has delivered another of Suo Lun’s women right into my hands. And such a peerless beauty.”
He turned towards Ge Li and Luo Ge.
“This beauty is yours first.”
Immediately, the two supreme experts of the Zhidu Temple engaged A Shi Li Ren in battle.
One-on-one, she would have held the advantage.
Against both of them together, however, she was clearly outmatched.
After all, they were the High Priest and the Grand Inquisitor, among the strongest experts in the Dragon Temple.
Ge Li’s eyes greedily wandered over A Shi Li Ren’s breathtaking face and exquisite figure.
As High Priest of the Zhidu Temple, he had already indulged in every pleasure imaginable.
Even those he should never have touched.
Whenever he visited the Demon Continent, the Demon Sect had offered both women and male favourites to entertain honoured guests like him.
He had even slept with A Shi Luo.
Naturally, he had worn a mask at the time.
As leader of the Zhidu Dragon Temple, appearances had to be maintained.
Previously, he had always cultivated an image of dignity, never showing any interest in women.
Now, however, with nothing left to lose, all such pretence had vanished.
His greedy gaze remained fixed upon A Shi Li Ren.
Having enjoyed A Shi Luo, what greater pleasure could there be than claiming his elder sister?
Her beauty and figure were unmatched beneath the heavens.
Only Ji Xiuning and Princess Zhi Yan could rival her.
To possess such a woman would make a lifetime worthwhile.
Together, Ge Li and Luo Ge steadily forced A Shi Li Ren backwards.
Danger surrounded her from every direction.
The icy energy within her body also began surging uncontrollably, threatening to consume her once again.
She was reaching her limit.
The two men exchanged glances.
Ge Li smiled.
“I’ll go first.”
Luo Ge nodded.
“Fine. You first. Though I wouldn’t mind if we shared.”
“I mind,” Ge Li replied. “I’d rather take her home and turn her into a beautiful puppet to enjoy every day.”
“That could be arranged,” Luo Ge answered. “I doubt Jiang Shang would dare fall out with the Dragon Temple over a mere female disciple, especially after everything involving the World-Destroying Demon Emperor.”
Meanwhile, Fang Qingshu had completely stripped himself and slowly advanced towards Zhi Ning.
His expression resembled that of a hungry beast.
The revelation that Suo Lun was the World-Destroying Demon Emperor had plunged the Dragon Temple into celebration.
Many people had finally torn off their masks and revealed their true, monstrous faces.
A Shi Li Ren looked at Zhi Ning.
“There’s no hope left. Let’s die together.”
Zhi Ning nodded.
“Yes… let’s die together. Little Yu… I’m sorry. Mummy couldn’t protect you…”
She tried several times to kill her son first but simply could not bring herself to do it.
Finally, gritting her teeth, she raised her palm and struck towards her own forehead.
At that very instant…
Her body suddenly froze in place.
She could no longer move.
Fang Qingshu was stunned.
Naturally, he intended to stop her from committing suicide.
With his strength, it should have been impossible for her to succeed.
But why had she suddenly become completely immobilised?
Then…
The light around them was swallowed by darkness.
Layer upon layer of black energy spread through the room.
The temperature dropped instantly.
Every potted plant inside withered and died.
Two figures slowly walked in.
One had no head.
The other had no skin.
His charred flesh and exposed bones were plainly visible.
Each held a decayed sword.
They were none other than the Hell Knight, Zhi Li, and his guide, the Headless Knight.