Chapter 1453: Waiting For A Long Time

As everyone spontaneously formed a guard brigade, not even a bird could enter the Shadow Island, and the surroundings became increasingly silent, so quiet that it made people feel uneasy.

Outside the island, in a mound by the lake.

A hidden figure looked puzzled and muttered mysteriously.

"Over the past few months, the surroundings have become quieter and quieter. Something feels off."

This person was none other than the Demon Leader who once led his forces to try to conquer Cloud Star.

After a moment of surprise, a glimmer of intelligence flashed in his eyes.

"Hmph..."

"The sudden silence around this island must be someone playing tricks. But with my profound cultivation, I've remained hidden for so long without being discovered. How could I possibly reveal any flaws now?"

"Such petty tricks are not worth mentioning!"

"As long as I wait patiently, when the Demon General arrives with his forces, I can achieve great deeds and become a hero of our race!"

Thinking this, the Demon Leader's eyes filled with anticipation, and he became even more determined to wait.

But he had no idea that his so-called clever concealment and patience were far from impressive. Far away, outside the Heaven and Earth Gate, there was someone even more cunning hidden in the grass.

As a senior in the art of waiting, the patience of the World-Destroying Lord was unmatched.

However, after waiting for several years, moss had grown on the World-Destroying Lord's head, turning it a dark green. Yet, the determined light in his eyes remained undimmed, and he even felt a bit proud.

"Not being discovered for years, I truly am a genius at hiding!"

"No matter how terrifying the aura inside the island becomes, they still can't find me. Once the lords appear, we can coordinate from within and without, and I will surely achieve great merit for our master!"

With this thought, the World-Destroying Lord's resolve grew even firmer.

For the grand plan, what is a mere few years of waiting?

Without such patience, how could one achieve great things!

The more he thought about it, the more determined he became. The World-Destroying Lord hid even deeper, and even though weeds grew around his mouth, occasionally bringing a bitter taste, it did not affect his conviction in the slightest.

Thus, the two masters of concealment deepened their understanding of the art of hiding.

Although these two had never met, their unwavering determination was in perfect harmony. Each displayed their unique skills, lurking in the shadows, biding their time for the grand plan.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

Under the leadership of Long Tian, the demon race reformed and no longer dared to cause trouble. The low-level demons on Cloud Star gradually disappeared completely, and the entire planet entered an unprecedented era of peace.

The world was thriving, and joyful sounds could be heard everywhere.

Listening to the distant laughter, the Demon Leader in the mound was dumbfounded.

At this moment.

He felt that humans were so noisy, and that the joys and sorrows of different races truly could not be shared!

Finally.

He could no longer endure and secretly sent a message to the Demon General, but there was no response. Not a trace of demonic aura could be sensed in the world.

Instantly, the Demon Leader was stunned, lying in the mound and questioning his life.

"What's going on?"

"Have I been abandoned by the Demon General?"

"Why can't I sense any of my fellow demons? What happened to the grand plan of ruling the universe?!"

A gentle breeze blew, stirring up dust. Covered in dirt, the Demon Leader finally saw the long-awaited dawn, but his gaze was blank and disoriented.

Looking at the long-unseen sky and white clouds, he felt as if they were unfamiliar.

Suddenly, it seemed as if he no longer recognized this world. He stared blankly at the sky, unable to believe what he was seeing.

Only when a sound came from the sky did the Demon Leader snap out of it.

He quickly hid back in the mound, finally able to take a deep breath. It seemed only the darkness of the earth could bring him peace, and he dared not show his face again.

The inconspicuous mound had never attracted anyone's attention.

In the sky, cultivators flew by, chatting and laughing as they passed through the clouds.

"Brother Xu, where are you headed?"

"Of course, to Pingjiang City!"

"What's so special about that small city that you're gathering friends to go there?"

"Recently, a branch of the Linglong Pavilion opened in Pingjiang City. It's said that the Linglong Pavilion has countless rare treasures and a game called 'Simulated Life,' where you can experience a hundred lifetimes. It's extremely interesting. Brother Lu, haven't you heard of it?"

"Simulated Life? Such a miracle exists in the world? In that case, let's go and see it!"

Several cultivators with extraordinary auras sped up and soon arrived at Pingjiang City.

Outside the renowned Linglong Pavilion, it was already packed with people, all curious cultivators who had come to see what the fuss was about.

However, the doors of the Linglong Pavilion remained tightly shut.

After waiting for a long time, the shopkeeper finally came out, apologizing with a bow.

"Everyone."

"Starting today, the Linglong Pavilion will be temporarily closed. We hope for your understanding!"

This announcement shocked everyone.

Before the cultivators could voice their complaints, the doors of the Linglong Pavilion closed again!

"Bang!"

A dull thud echoed, leaving everyone stunned!

"How can they just close like that!"

"Such arrogance!"

"Damn it!"

The cultivators were all notable figures, and their demeanor was not ordinary. Even though they were suddenly denied entry and felt frustrated, most of them were old acquaintances, so they refrained from making a scene to avoid losing face and becoming the subject of ridicule.

Soon, the crowd dispersed, and even the stubborn few who wanted to wait and see couldn't hold out for long in the face of such a frustrating situation.

By midday, the Linglong Pavilion's entrance was empty, devoid of its previous bustling atmosphere.

As dusk fell and the place became deserted, a figure in a white dress quietly entered. The shopkeeper and the staff all bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with reverence.

"My lord, you've finally arrived."

"We have been waiting for you for a long time."

As the figure nodded slightly and entered the upper-floor private room, the streets around the Linglong Pavilion were suddenly filled with hidden guards, and the interior became a hive of activity, with strange fragrances wafting through the air.

...

Peaceful days are always short, and several years passed in the blink of an eye.

After years of peace on Cloud Star, cultivators rarely had the chance to slay demons and monsters. Many began to consider seclusion and rigorous cultivation. The once sparsely populated hidden mountain villages gradually saw more and more people.

At noon.

Elders returning to the village greeted each other, discussing the day's harvest.

"Brother, how was your harvest today?"

"Ah, don't mention it! With so many newcomers, the competition is fiercer than ever. After a busy morning, I only managed to collect two pieces of Flame Gold Crystal Beast dung!"

"Hahaha, brother, you're not doing well! I, your humble junior, was lucky enough to collect three pieces!"

"Damn it!"

Seeing Wei Donghai flaunt his haul, Zui Wuyue's mouth twitched, unable to hide the envy in his eyes.

The newcomers were also shocked, gasping in awe as they saw the fresh dung in Wei Donghai's basket, their eyes filled with admiration.

"Sss..."

"Three pieces?!"

"Brother Wei, you're truly exceptional!"

"Except for Elder Luo, no one can match Brother Wei's harvest!"

Hearing the praises, Wei Donghai wore a smug expression, modestly waving his hand.

"Hahaha..."

"Not at all, you flatter me. I dare not compare to Elder Luo."

His smug demeanor naturally made some people jealous, and they couldn't help but voice their doubts.

"Three pieces are just three pieces, nothing special."

"In my opinion, collecting beast dung to comprehend the Dao doesn't seem very reliable. Over the years, despite our hard work, no one has truly comprehended the Dao."

"Is there really such a thing as the Dao of Dung? This matter is still up for debate!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd fell silent, and many began to look skeptical, the atmosphere turning awkward.

Wei Donghai chuckled, eyeing the newcomer.

"Haha."

"Such talk is nothing but the ignorant ramblings of a frog in a well."

"Back in the day, when we ventured into the starry sea to battle the demons, there was a supreme expert who used the Dao of Dung to defeat several demon lords. The scene of his divine power is still fresh in our memories. Many fellow cultivators witnessed it. How could it be false?"

"Where were you during that great battle? You were just a selfish coward, and now you dare to question the supreme Dao?"

The elder's face turned red, and he quickly defended himself.

"I... I was nearing the end of my lifespan and had no choice but to enter seclusion. That's why I didn't participate in the battle. Fortunately, I later broke through the bottleneck and emerged again."

"This is not selfishness, but fate!"

"How dare you slander me!"

Hearing this, the crowd's doubts began to fade, and they turned to the other elders in the village for confirmation.

"So that's how it was..."

"Was the Dao of Dung truly that terrifying?"

As the topic of the Dao of Dung came up, Zui Wuyue and the others' memories were rekindled, their eyes filled with awe as they nodded in agreement.

"The Dao of Dung is terrifying, something rarely seen in a lifetime!"

"Indeed, that senior alone could fight several demon lords. The power of the Dao of Dung is beyond question!"

"If we could comprehend even a tenth of the Dao of Dung, we could traverse the starry sea with ease!"

The感慨之声回荡，听得一众老翁倒吸凉气。

"Sss..."

The previous disappointment and skepticism vanished at this moment, replaced by fervor and longing. Everyone wished they could immediately start searching for beast dung.

Just then, the sky suddenly turned extremely dark.

In just a few moments, everyone found it hard to see their surroundings, as if night had fallen. They looked at each other in shock.

"What's going on?"

"I was just about to comprehend the Dao of Dung. Why did the sky suddenly turn dark?"