Chapter 1400: Was I The One Who Fell Into The Trap

Cloud Star.

The bustling Luo Sea City was packed with people, and a massive temple stood at the city's center, drawing the gazes of countless cultivators. Streams of light converged from all directions, as if a grand event was about to begin.

At the foot of the temple's steps.

Ancient Sage Luo Hongfei stood quietly at the head of tens of thousands of cultivators, his eyes filled with reverence and longing.

After a long wait.

Finally, ripples appeared in the void, and two figures stepped out, capturing the attention of everyone present like true deities descending to the mortal world!

A smiling monk with compassionate eyes, and Star Lord Long Tian, drenched in blood, created a stark contrast that shocked everyone. In an instant, the tens of thousands of cultivators present knelt down, their voices rising like a tidal wave!

"Welcome, Star Lord!"

"Welcome, Star Lord!"

"Welcome, Star Lord!"

...

Listening to the fervent cheers and seeing the countless cultivators bowing before him, Long Tian was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond.

This was the kind of scene he had once dreamed of.

But after the cataclysmic changes, the demon race could no longer tolerate him. Even if he managed to rally the people of Cloud Star, it would all be meaningless now.

Standing there in a daze for a few moments, Long Tian was utterly bewildered.

The torment of having slaughtered his own kind grew stronger in the face of this grand spectacle, relentlessly assaulting his mind. This once self-proclaimed genius of the demon race now felt a mix of emotions swirling in his heart.

Seeing Long Tian standing there so solemnly, the human cultivators grew even more fervent.

The Star Lord had fought valiantly against the demons, achieving a monumental feat for humanity, yet he showed no sign of arrogance or self-importance. He didn't even boast about his achievements...

This was true virtue and greatness!

This was true selflessness for the sake of the world!

With the Star Lord presiding over Cloud Star, the planet was sure to regain its former glory.

Ancient Sage Luo Hongfei looked up, his face overflowing with reverence. Overcome with emotion, he quickly led the crowd up the steps to offer their congratulations and pay their respects.

"Star Lord, witnessing the might of your recent battle has truly broadened our horizons. The fact that Cloud Star has been blessed with your awakening is a great fortune for all living beings!"

"The Star Lord is like a bright moon in the sky. Even with the demons before us, they cannot obscure even a fraction of your radiant light!"

"Well said! The Star Lord's cultivation is peerless, and his righteous heart that protects all living beings is truly a model for us all. From now on, we will follow you to the death!"

"With the Star Lord's power to annihilate the demons, how dare those petty demons cause trouble? The so-called invincible demon race is nothing more than this!"

"Brother Feng speaks the truth! With the Star Lord guarding Cloud Star, who dares to claim invincibility? Who dares to speak of being undefeated?"

"To have the honor of seeing the Star Lord in person, I can die without regrets!"

...

In just a few moments, Long Tian was surrounded by cultivators.

Praise erupted from all sides. Regardless of their cultivation level or age, the cultivators all turned into fervent admirers, their eyes filled with passion.

The intensity of their enthusiasm was unprecedented, and Long Tian was almost overwhelmed.

He had once imagined that after completing his mission on Cloud Star, he would return to the demon race and receive praise from the great figures of the various clans. Perhaps he would even earn some recognition from the Demon Lord himself, solidifying his position as a core member of the demon race.

Never in his wildest dreams did he expect...

That things would take such a drastic turn.

Now, he was being wildly praised by humans, effectively cementing his position as the Star Lord of humanity. All his careful planning seemed to be turning into reality!

After all this, it felt like he was the one who had fallen into the trap.

Somehow, he had truly become a traitor to the demon race and was now expected to lead humanity as their Star Lord?

Where was the justice in this?

I'm not a traitor, damn it! I'm not a traitor!

This is a disaster!

The praise around him sounded pleasant, but Long Tian was on the verge of tears. With Chen Kunpeng by his side, he had no choice but to force a smile, though it looked somewhat strained.

"Heh, heh..."

A smile on his face, but tears in his heart.

Long Tian couldn't voice his grievances. Hearing all the disparaging remarks about the demon race felt like needles piercing his heart. His smile grew more bitter, and he repeatedly clasped his hands in a tactical gesture to hide his discomfort.

Just as Long Tian was about to lose his composure, Chen Kunpeng continued to pour on the encouragement with a smile.

"Benefactor."

"Since you have already slain the demons and achieved such a feat, there's no need to be modest. As the Buddha said: Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tiered pagoda. Those demons were steeped in sin, and by delivering them, you have saved countless lives. This is a great act of merit."

"From now on, you must continue to strive and deliver more demons."

"Blessings, blessings..."

What had clearly been a life-and-death battle was now being described by the monk as an act of deliverance, even a meritorious deed. This was already absurd enough, but the monk was also urging him to keep going...

Did this mean he had to exterminate them all?

What kind of person says things like that?

And he calls it blessings? What the hell!

This monk is way too ruthless!

Looking at the monk's harmless and kind smile, Long Tian's mouth twitched.

But given the circumstances, he didn't dare show any sign of disagreement.

Long Tian forced a smile for a few moments, then obediently nodded, continuing to play the role of the Star Lord.

"Heh..."

"The master speaks wisely. From now on, I will strive to deliver more demons."

As soon as these words left his mouth, the cultivators around him seemed to be injected with adrenaline!

Led by Ancient Sage Luo Hongfei, they raised their arms and shouted in unison, inexplicably bursting with fighting spirit!

"Strive to deliver more demons!"

"Strive to deliver more demons!"

"Strive to deliver more demons!"

...

The deafening cheers rose to the heavens!

Standing at the center of it all, Long Tian's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no...

Had his casual agreement just ignited humanity's fighting spirit?

If this continued...

He would truly become the demon race's mortal enemy, and there would be no way to clear his name. What was he supposed to do now?

Would he really have to lead humanity in a counterattack against the demon race?

Yikes...

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. Long Tian couldn't help but inwardly gasp in shock!

Just as he was caught in this dilemma.

Suddenly, a man pushed his way to the front and walked straight toward him, bowing respectfully.

"Star Lord, greetings!"

Hearing this, Long Tian jumped in surprise.

Turning his attention to the newcomer, he saw a portly man with sparse stubble and a greasy, peculiar smile. His attire was ordinary, like that of a commoner from the streets.

In the past, Long Tian wouldn't have paid any attention to such a person.

But after witnessing the terrifying power of Yi Feng and Chen Kunpeng, he had grown increasingly wary of the humans on Cloud Star. Seeing this man step out from the crowd, he was on high alert.

Even in the demon race's Black Tower, Long Tian had never been this cautious.

He spoke carefully, his words measured to the extreme.

"Greetings, sir. May I ask where you come from and what advice you have to offer?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the man responded with a smile.

"Star Lord."

"I am but a nameless figure, not worth mentioning."

"However, my family has served the Star Lords throughout the ages. Unfortunately, our lineage was severed 100,000 years ago, and we were unable to serve you. Today, upon hearing of your awakening and your deeds in slaying demons, I have come to present you with the badge of the previous Star Lord—the Drifting Cloud Diagram."

"Congratulations on your great achievements, Star Lord. May you lead Cloud Star to vanquish the demons and restore our ancient glory!"

With that, the man took out an ancient artifact from his robes.

The artifact resembled a chess piece, with an exquisitely carved cloud pattern on its surface. It radiated a sacred aura, as if countless starlight were gathered within it, causing those around to gasp in awe.

Immediately after, the cultivators erupted into even more fervent cheers, pushing the atmosphere to its peak!

"Destroy the demons, restore our glory!"

Faced with this sudden gift, Long Tian was completely dumbfounded.

"This..."

He had never intended to truly become the Star Lord of Cloud Star. All he wanted was a way to survive.

How did things end up like this? Why would someone present him with a badge of inheritance?

If he accepted this, wouldn't he truly become the Star Lord of Cloud Star? Would he really have to lead humanity in a war against the demon race? A genius of the demon race, forced to become the Star Lord of humanity?

What the hell!

While Long Tian was still hesitating, Pork Rong had already shoved the badge into his hands.

In the next moment.

Four figures stepped out from the crowd, bowing in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth!

"Welcome, Star Lord!"

"We are the Star God Guards, tasked with protecting the Star Lord throughout the ages. From this day forward, we vow to follow you in vanquishing the demons, protecting you with our very lives!"

Their thunderous shouts and the terrifying aura they exuded caused the surrounding cultivators to step back in awe. Even Long Tian was stunned.

When he took a closer look, he felt his scalp tingle.

Holy crap...

Where did these four incredibly powerful humans come from? He couldn't even gauge their cultivation levels!

Such formidable beings were now offering to protect him, a fake Star Lord?

What was he supposed to do?!

The scene suddenly fell silent, and a sacred, solemn atmosphere quietly spread.

Tens of thousands of eyes focused on him, and Long Tian felt an unprecedented pressure.

If he didn't accept these people, his identity might be exposed, and he could be killed on the spot. But if he accepted, he would be forced to walk down this path to the end, truly becoming a traitor to the demon race.

If he had to choose, it was better to keep up the act. Maybe there was still a slim chance of survival.

After a few moments of internal struggle.

Long Tian had weighed the pros and cons, but the words felt like they weighed a thousand pounds. His throat moved a few times before he finally managed to speak, his voice halting as he played along with the atmosphere.

"Uh..."

"Then... from now on, let us work together to vanquish the demons."

As soon as these words left his mouth.

The tens of thousands of cultivators erupted into cheers like a tidal wave, and humanity's long-suppressed fighting spirit was fully unleashed!

Amidst the deafening cheers.

Long Tian, holding the badge, was utterly disoriented. He vaguely felt like he had lifted a stone only to drop it on his own foot. It was as if some force was pushing him forward, like a rootless duckweed drifting with the current.

When he thought about the future, and the wrath of the entire demon race, not to mention the terrifying methods of the Demon Lord, tears welled up in Long Tian's eyes. Among the crowd of excited, tearful cultivators, his expression oddly matched theirs, as if he had already become one of them.

Alas.

The joys and sorrows of different races are not shared.

The more excited and enthusiastic the crowd became, the more desolate Long Tian felt inside.

It's over.

I'm done for...

When the two races go to war.

As soon as the higher-ups in the demon race discover his existence, he'll be the first to be crushed to ashes!

Long Tian had only wanted to act his way to survival, but somehow, he had ended up fully committing to the role, even solidifying his status as a traitor.

What's more, humanity's fighting spirit had been ignited, cutting off his path to survival.

This time, he was truly doomed.

As he thought about his bleak future, Long Tian looked up at the sky with a bitter expression, his eyes unfocused. A single tear traced a perfect 45-degree arc down his face, filled with helplessness and despair.

Watching all of this from a distance.

Pork Rong smiled faintly, then retreated into the crowd, his mission accomplished.