Chapter 1054: The Cunning Demon Leader

Shadow Island was bustling with activity, and Yunxing had returned to its former tranquility.

However, deep within the starry expanse, countless demonic shadows were now stirring. The void's fissures had opened wide, and a host of demons stood in reverent silence, like devout servants.

Until a terrifying shadow materialized, causing a thousand demons to step back and bow their heads!

The Demon Leader of Yunxing trembled and fell to his knees!

"Forgive me, Demon General!"

The shadow emitted no aura of power, yet it chilled the very stars, causing the surrounding space to sway like willow branches, as if struggling to bear the presence of that figure!

Eyes in the darkness gazed down with indifference, unmoved by the throng of demons or the prostrate Yunxing Demon Leader. That coldness remained unaltered.

No one knew how long the kneeling lasted, as no response ever came.

The Yunxing Demon Leader was drenched in cold sweat, trembling like a lowly minion.

"Why did you fail?"

The question, devoid of any discernible emotion, sent a shiver through the gathered demons!

The Demon Leader gulped and quickly responded with a bow.

"Reporting to the General!"

"I was tasked with guarding the Star Gate. Everything was going smoothly until tens of thousands of cultivators suddenly invaded the Dark Domain. Our clan suffered heavy casualties, but I dared not tarnish the reputation of our demon race. I fought alone for hundreds of rounds!"

"Unfortunately, they were too numerous. I exhausted everything and could only achieve a stalemate, forcing me to retreat to the Star Gate."

"At the critical moment of my recovery, a bald-headed man appeared out of nowhere, shamelessly taking advantage of the chaos! A hundred of our elite warriors fought to protect the Star Gate, refusing to retreat even in the face of death!"

"Finally, those hundred elites bought enough time with their lives, allowing me to emerge in time and repel the invaders!"

The Demon Leader wept bitterly, his words filled with fervor.

In reality, he had been thoroughly beaten, but with a few well-chosen words, he spun a tale where he was the hero of the demon race.

His story sparked murmurs among the demons.

After a tense pause, the shadow in the darkness spoke coldly.

"Continue."

The Demon Leader didn't hesitate and went on with his premeditated script.

"General, please understand!"

"After several bloody battles, I thought we had finally overcome the crisis. But then, a fleet of ships arrived from beyond the stars, led by four powerful individuals who effortlessly annihilated a thousand of our demon warriors!"

"Facing their onslaught, we fought desperately, but we were outnumbered, and the Star Gate was lost."

"Originally, we intended to fight to the death alongside the Star Gate, but we hesitated, thinking that the General might not yet know of the situation on Yunxing. We made the difficult decision to abandon the Star Gate."

"After all, our lives are insignificant, but if the General remained unaware of the changes on Yunxing, it could jeopardize our demon race's greater plans. That would be an irreparable loss."

"Thus, we fought and retreated, fought and retreated, until only three thousand of my comrades remained. Countless others were slaughtered by the enemy!"

As he spoke, the Demon Leader glanced at the towering shadow and discreetly bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood!

"Cough, cough!"

"Now that the message has been delivered, I am willing to accept punishment for the loss of the Star Gate. I beg the General to execute me!"

With that, the Demon Leader knelt, his face a mask of grief and pain, awaiting his fate.

But no one knew that the so-called "three thousand comrades" were merely the result of other demons scattering during their chaotic retreat.

The vivid blood caught the attention of many demons, who began whispering among themselves.

Seeing this, the Demon General in the darkness fell silent.

After a few moments, a cold voice finally spoke.

"Enough."

"The opening of the Ancient Corridor has made it inevitable that reinforcements from other planets would arrive."

"Rise. The loss of a single Star Gate is no great matter. We can rebuild it in the future. However, it is surprising that a small place like Yunxing could inflict such losses on our demon race."

Only then did the Demon Leader dare to rise, trembling.

While bowing in gratitude, he seized the opportunity to show his loyalty.

"Thank you, General."

"But with the Star Gate destroyed and my inability to repel the enemy, what should we do next? If there is any way I can serve our demon race, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

His words immediately earned him the admiration of the surrounding demons, many of whom nodded in approval.

Though the Yunxing Demon Leader was weak and had suffered a humiliating defeat, his willingness to redeem himself and his determination to fight to the death made him worthy of the demon race's name.

Amidst the approving gazes, the Demon General in the darkness spoke again, his tone slightly softer.

"I have urgent matters to attend to and cannot spare attention for a small place like Yunxing."

"Given your loyalty, I will entrust this matter to you."

"Shortly, you will return to Yunxing. I will send elite warriors to assist you. Once you join forces with them, you may command them as you see fit."

"Your task is to infiltrate the humans and sow chaos before my arrival."

The Demon Leader's eyes lit up, and he was overjoyed.

He never expected that a few well-crafted lies would not only save his life but also grant him a group of elite subordinates. Returning to Yunxing with such forces would be a sure victory!

In the future, with even a small amount of merit, he could redeem himself!

Perhaps he might even earn the Demon General's favor!

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, and he was about to kowtow in gratitude.

But suddenly, images of several human figures flashed through his mind.

That bald-headed man was terrifying enough.

The man with the massive blade was even more fearsome!

And then there was the woman wielding divine weapons...

These were no ordinary foes.

Hesitating, the Demon Leader bowed again.

"I obey your command."

"But... may I boldly ask, which elites will the General send to assist me?"

Realizing his question might seem inappropriate, he quickly added with a more serious tone.

"Of course! My life is insignificant, and dying for our demon race is the highest honor. But if I am inadequate and end up jeopardizing our race's plans, I would be guilty of a crime beyond redemption!"

Hearing this, the Demon General pondered for a moment.

"Hmm, there is some truth to that."

"Very well, I will first send the Illusion Demons to assist you, followed by the Barbarian Tribe. As for other elites, we will decide based on the situation later."

The Demon Leader's eyes widened in shock, and he looked up with newfound confidence.

This was truly a massive stroke of luck.

The Illusion Demons were one of the strongest branches of the demon race, masters of mind-bending illusions that could kill without a trace. The Barbarian Tribe was even more fearsome, renowned for their combat prowess. Though they were simple-minded, they were perfect as killing machines.

With these two powerful clans at his side, what was a small place like Yunxing to him?

The Demon Leader's face lit up with joy, and he knelt in devout worship, loudly declaring his mission.

"I will fulfill my duty and live up to the General's trust!!!"

After his declaration, the Demon General in the darkness nodded indifferently and slowly extended a finger.

Instantly, a spatial rift opened on the outskirts of Yunxing, subtle and nearly imperceptible, yet shimmering with the dark light favored by demons.

From a distance, it resembled a miniature Star Gate.

Witnessing such divine power, the Demon Leader's confidence soared.

"Remember, your primary task is to dismantle the humans from within. All actions must be carried out in secret. Do not expose yourself. Once you return to Yunxing, find a remote area and wait for reinforcements to arrive," the Demon General solemnly instructed.

"Understood!"

"I will head to Yunxing and await their arrival!"

With a deep bow, the Demon Leader swiftly departed for Yunxing.

As he raced through the stars, his excitement grew.

It was clear that once the demon elites arrived, it would be his moment to shine. This was truly a heaven-sent opportunity!

Who would have thought?

What should have been an inescapable death sentence had been overturned with a few clever words. Not only had he saved his life, but he had also gained powerful subordinates, setting him on a path to greatness!

With mere brute force, such an opportunity would have taken ages to achieve.

This was the power of insight and emotional intelligence.

Without these skills, how could he have survived until today?

Raw strength was overrated. A sharp mind was the mark of a true powerhouse!

The more he thought about it, the more pleased he became.

The Demon Leader was brimming with confidence, marveling at his own cunning and resourcefulness.

But he didn't forget the Demon General's instructions: find a remote area to wait for reinforcements and avoid drawing attention.

As far as he knew, Yunxing was surrounded by numerous small, low-level realms.

These low-level realms rarely saw powerful figures and were unlikely to attract notice. Such a place would be perfect for their rendezvous.

Once gathered, they could establish a base of operations, then disperse from there to infiltrate Yunxing and wreak havoc.

"Heh, it's a flawless plan."

With a sinister chuckle, the Demon Leader tore open a spatial rift and entered a small realm at random.

There, he found a secluded spot by a lake and settled in to wait.