Chapter 1395: The Bitter Flesh Scheme

As the true face of the culprit became clear—Long Tian—the Demon Lord's eyes widened in shock.

The entire hall erupted into chaos!

"Is it really Long Tian!?"

"Long Tian is one of the most outstanding talents among our younger generation. How could he possibly commit such a heinous act against his own kind?"

"But the Annihilation Pearl can rewind time. The images it shows are undeniable facts. There's no mistake. Long Tian is the one who slaughtered Yuan Star!"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"We all saw it with our own eyes. He personally killed many of our own. Unless the Long Tian in the image was an imposter, there's no way he can escape responsibility!"

"An imposter...?"

As the argument continued, the demons were filled with shock and fury.

The Bull-Headed Giant Demon was seething with rage, almost ready to take action and capture Long Tian. It wasn't until someone raised doubts that the demons calmed down slightly. All eyes turned toward the throne.

The Bull-Headed Giant Demon could no longer contain himself. He clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and spoke up.

"My Lord..."

"Is this person truly Long Tian?"

His voice was restrained, but the killing intent was still palpable. Hundreds of demon leaders stood silently on either side, their expressions grave.

Despite this, the Demon Lord never shifted his gaze.

He stared at the images projected by the Annihilation Pearl for a long time, the confusion in his blood-red eyes growing deeper. Slowly, he sat back down, his expression becoming more solemn.

After glancing at the Bull-Headed Giant Demon in the hall, he finally spoke in a deep voice.

"He is indeed Long Tian."

Whoosh!

As soon as these words were spoken, the silent demons widened their eyes in shock.

At the front, the Bull-Headed Giant Demon trembled with rage, his clenched fists shaking. He couldn't help but step forward and speak again.

"My Lord!"

"Why would Long Tian slaughter my Bull Demon clan?"

"As a direct descendant of our race, how could he commit such a traitorous act? If he is not imprisoned in the depths of the Divine Tower and tortured for tens of thousands of years, the anger of the masses will never be quelled!"

"I boldly request to lead the charge and capture this traitor!"

His furious shout was echoed by many other demon leaders, who also stepped forward and bowed.

"We implore you, my Lord, to order the capture of this traitor!"

In an instant, the killing intent in the hall began to boil. The bloodthirsty and cruel nature of the demons was fully ignited by what they had witnessed today, unleashing an unprecedented wave of fury.

Long Tian, who had once enjoyed great fame and the envy of countless resources, had turned out to be a traitor. No one could tolerate such betrayal!

With the overwhelming killing intent and the collective anger directed at Long Tian, even the Demon Lord on his throne felt a rare sense of pressure.

After a few moments of contemplation, he found the situation increasingly bizarre. No matter how he thought about it, it didn't make sense. It wasn't until he noticed the flicker of jealousy in the eyes of several demon leaders that he suddenly realized something.

Sweeping his gaze across the hall, he released a powerful aura to suppress the chaos and spoke in a commanding voice.

"Calm yourselves."

"In my opinion, this matter is not as simple as it appears!"

His deep voice resonated like a tolling bell, and his terrifying aura swept through the hall like a storm, completely suppressing the killing intent of the demons. Many demon leaders were startled and took a step back, their heads lowered. The chaotic scene finally calmed down.

Even so, the Bull-Headed Giant Demon was still unwilling to let it go. Despite the surging blood in his body, he forced himself to bow under the pressure.

"My Lord!"

"Forgive my boldness, but even if Long Tian comes from a prestigious background, the fact remains that he slaughtered his own kind. You should not be so protective of him..."

Before he could finish, the Demon Lord's blood-red eyes turned to him.

In an instant!

An overwhelming pressure descended, forcing the Bull-Headed Giant Demon to his knees. He couldn't even lift his head.

With just a single glance, the Demon Lord had subdued the leader of the Bull Demon clan.

Such was the terrifying might of the Demon Lord!

However, today's events could not be resolved solely through intimidation. Even though the demons dared not speak out, they all harbored the impression that the Demon Lord was biased in favor of Long Tian. The reverence they once held for him had noticeably dimmed.

The Demon Lord, with his keen perception, noticed this immediately.

His blood-red eyes gazed down at the Bull-Headed Giant Demon in the hall, and he spoke in a calm, emotionless voice.

"Bull Shadi, do you think I am protecting Long Tian?"

His question caused the entire hall to bow their heads once more, and even the Bull-Headed Giant Demon dared not respond.

In the next moment, an even deeper voice echoed, plunging the hall into dead silence.

"Foolish!"

"Long Tian is a prodigy of our race, bearing the Black Flood Dragon bloodline. His ancestors have shed countless drops of blood and sweat for our clan. I personally trained him since he was a child, entrusting him with the great mission of restoring our race. How could he become a traitor?"

"Are you questioning the loyalty of the Black Flood Dragon clan, or are you doubting my judgment?"

His scolding caused the demons to tremble, their bodies lowering even further.

The series of questions startled many of the demon leaders, who began to realize the strangeness of the situation.

Even the enraged Bull-Headed Giant Demon, after kowtowing and begging for forgiveness, showed a flicker of doubt on his face.

"I dare not..."

The hall grew eerily quiet. The demon leaders standing on either side with bowed heads dared not make a sound, and the Bull-Headed Giant Demon kneeling in the center didn't even dare to lift his head.

In the silence, a great confusion weighed heavily on the hearts of the demons.

Why would Long Tian do such a thing?

In this tense atmosphere, no one dared to act rashly. Only the Grand Priest, leaning on his ebony cane and holding a high status, dared to step forward and speak cautiously.

"My Lord."

"I also believe that Long Tian would never betray our race. However, my wisdom is limited, and I cannot fathom the reason behind this..."

The Grand Priest, a pillar of the demon race, was indeed skilled in diplomacy and experience. His words not only aligned with the Demon Lord's thoughts but were also carefully chosen, preserving the dignity of the demon race while humbly giving the Demon Lord an out.

With just a few words, he displayed the finesse of a seasoned veteran, and anyone who heard him would feel at ease.

Sure enough, the Demon Lord nodded slowly, his tone softening.

"Grand Priest, you are too modest."

"You must also understand that unless absolutely necessary, Long Tian would never resort to such actions. What could possibly force him to slaughter his own kind near the small Yuan Star?"

"This is impossible!"

"In my opinion, there is only one explanation: this was Long Tian's own choice! He is using this opportunity to gain the complete trust of the humans."

"This is a bitter flesh scheme."

Hearing this, the Grand Priest was stunned, and the demons suddenly looked up in realization.

So this was the truth?

The Bull-Headed Giant Demon also trembled, his eyes wide with shock.

"A bitter flesh scheme?!"

"My Lord, are you saying that Long Tian is sacrificing our own kind to gain the complete trust of the human cultivators, so that in the future, he can gather more intelligence on the humans and pave the way for our conquest of the entire galaxy?"

The Demon Lord nodded, his eyes gleaming with a profound light.

"Exactly."

"Although our race has suffered significant losses, if we can use this opportunity to infiltrate the human leadership, we may be able to conquer the entire galaxy without further bloodshed. You should understand the weight of this decision."

"To achieve the great cause of our demon race, sometimes small sacrifices are necessary!"

His deep voice reverberated through the hall, shocking everyone.

Using the entire galaxy as a chessboard, gaining the trust of the humans, enduring the pressure of slaughtering his own kind, and withstanding countless trials—this required extraordinary intelligence, acting skills, and ruthless determination.

The demands on both intellect and mental fortitude were extremely high!

Such a difficult task was not something just anyone could undertake.

Long Tian, who was carrying out this plan, was truly terrifying. He was indeed the most outstanding prodigy the demon race had seen in tens of thousands of years. And the Demon Lord, who could easily see through this scheme, was even more unfathomable.

Finally realizing the truth, all the demon leaders in the hall were filled with awe.

The Grand Priest, in particular, was overcome with excitement and quickly bowed in respect.

"My Lord, you are truly wise!"

"With you leading our race, it is truly destined for greatness. And with talents like Long Tian among our younger generation, the day of our restoration is near!"

The other demons also came to their senses and joined in with respectful bows.

A wave of reverence, stronger than ever before, swept through the hall.

At this moment, amidst the thunderous chorus of respect, the Bull-Headed Giant Demon also had an epiphany. He felt deep shame for his earlier impulsiveness and shortsightedness.

"My Lord, forgive me!"

"I was foolish and only now realize that Young Master Long Tian is playing a grand game of chess!"

"At this moment, Young Master Long Tian must be in a precarious situation, facing constant danger. I almost ruined this great plan with my impulsiveness and nearly became a traitor to our race for all eternity. I am truly ashamed!"

His roars echoed through the hall, and the Bull-Headed Giant Demon kowtowed so forcefully that many of the demon leaders felt the ground tremble. His sincere remorse moved many of the demons.

After just a few words, the Demon Lord's prestige had grown even greater.

In this moment of universal respect, he remained composed, nodding calmly and displaying magnanimity, further winning the hearts of the demons.

"There is no need to worry."

"Your intentions were for the good of our race, and your loyalty is unquestionable. It's no wonder you didn't see through this bitter flesh scheme—it is indeed quite ingenious. Long Tian has grown a lot, and it brings me great joy."

"Long Tian's ability to carry out this plan shows his cleverness, but it also relies on the sacrifices of your Bull Demon clan. Our entire race will remember this."

"From this day forward, the Bull Demon clan will be granted an additional opportunity to undergo the Black Spring Baptism!"

"I hope all of you will follow the example of the Bull Demon clan, fulfill your duties, and remember our destiny. In the future, we will ensure that the glory of our race spreads throughout the universe, ruling over all realms for eternity!"

After this hearty dose of demonic inspiration, the demons were all fired up, their eyes filled with boundless anticipation. The Bull-Headed Giant Demon, in particular, was both humbled and grateful, his face glowing with pride as he stepped forward to lead the respectful bow.

"We will follow your command, my Lord, and ensure that our race rules over all realms for eternity!"

The thunderous cheers echoed through the darkness, and the entire demon race was filled with fervor!