‘Hmm. This demonic faction is harboring expansionist ideology.’
Aksai sighed as he used his movement-type Sprit Spell to approach Jian’s location. He had learned a lot of things from the demon lady’s memories. It enabled him to look at things with a fresh perspective.
The unrest in the Wild Devil Lands had multiple uses for the three major demonic sects. First of all, they wanted to probe Haan Di Lord’s situation. Secondly, they could use the unrest as a backdrop to create a puppet among Haan Di Lord’s direct disciples. In fact, they were already in contact with more than three direct disciples. Whoever gave them a more affirmative and pleasing response would be able to quell the unrest in the Wild Devil Lands and then ascend to become the next Haan Di Lord.
Although all of Haan Di Lord’s disciples were still in the Foundation Building realm, the talented ones among them were all 9th stage Foundation Building Experts. They were only a few steps away from becoming Core Formation Lords.
There were particularly two direct disciples who were half-step Core Formation Lords. These two could officially take over Haan Di Lord’s mantle after his death because of their seniority and cultivation base.
However, both of these half-step Core Formation Lords were quite old. They had already exhausted their potential and there was no hope for them to officially enter the Core Formation Realm. Plus, they were not easy to strike deals with and were stubborn.
As such, the demonic faction didn’t want to strike deals with these half-step Core Formation Lords. If possible, the demonic faction wanted to make young blood among Haan Di’s disciples as their puppet. Doing so would allow them to control that person better. At the same time, the arrangement between the two parties could stay intact for decades on end.
Of course, the demonic faction didn’t particularly care if civil strife were to break out among Haan Di’s disciples if and when someone less capable became a new Haan Di Lord. But doing so would tip off the Big Five Sects, which would then use this opportunity to support other direct disciples as well in the hopes of getting their own puppets.
The Big Five Sects and the Core Formation Lords were no saints even though they technically belonged to the righteous sects. Haan Di’s territory and its resources were more than abundant for them to have greedy gazes. Who would not dare to eat this meat pie if there was no Core Formation Lord to protect it?
The demonic faction didn’t want to give the Big Five Sects the opportunity to take control over Haan Di. That’s why it had kept Haan Di Lord’s severe injury a closely guarded secret. Only the higher-ups of the three major demonic sects were aware of the details. If it wasn’t for the demo lady’s extra special relationship with the sect elder, Aksai wouldn’t have been able to decipher the secret.
There was also a secret about how the Haan Di Lord got injured in the first place. It was also a tightly guarded secret of the demonic faction. If the Big Five Sects were to learn about it, they would certainly take action against Haan Di as well as the demonic faction.
Unfortunately, not even an ordinary sect elder was qualified to know this secret. Naturally, the demon lady wouldn’t be able to know what her lover was in the dark. As such, Aksai was also kept in the dark.
But the Haan Di Lord’s injury or the reason for its existence didn’t matter much to Aksai. He was already aware of the gist of things. And that was enough for him to decide his future course. At least he wasn’t in the complete dark like before. This was already fortunate enough.
‘I wonder if this ideology has anything to do with Haitin or was it always there? Maybe it was always there but a talented demonic scion like Haitin made use of this existent need of the demonic faction to increase his own influence.’
Aksai thought to himself and sighed. Only now did Aksai understand what kind of talent Haitin was. He really was a capable young master of the demonic faction.
Initially, the unrest in the Wild Devil Lands was one-dimensional in nature. That was to say that it had only one objective– to probe Haan Di Lord’s situation. It was Haitin and his allies who made it multi-faceted.
First, they used the unrest as a negotiation tactic to lure the capable Haan Di Lord’s disciples. Secondly, they used the unrest as a well to squash the unruly small organizations within the Wild Devil Lands.
Before the unrest, the Wild Devil Lands was never one homogenous entity. Apart from the three major demonic sects, there were loads of demonic sects, merchant associations, and cultivation clans ruling certain regions.
However, Haitin used this unrest as a means to unify the scattered forces of the demonic faction. At the same time, he did not become greedy. He allowed the two major demonic sects besides his own to expand as well. The three major demonic sects launched preemptive strikes at the unruly organizations, robbing them of their authority to govern their respective regions.
The unrest in the Wild Devil Lands became the reason to unify all the power the demonic faction had. At this time, the demonic faction was more powerful as an entity than the righteous faction.
Haitian was really a dark star of the demonic faction. He used the desires of the upper echelons of the demonic faction to shape this situation. At the same time, he paved the way for the demonic faction to eventually gain control of Haan Di’s territories as well.
This was a masterstroke. Haitin had really outshined all the other demonic scions in his generation when he took control of the situation. He also made the righteous faction scion look as if they were in kindergarten, still struggling with their identities and cultivation bases.
***
Three days later.
Aksai stood on the ridge, looking out over Jaishin Lake. The deep, mist-covered waters stretched out below, reflecting the faint light of the overcast sky.
His steps slowed as he took in the scene below—a group of figures gathered by the shore, a few tents set up, and the unmistakable aura of Foundation Building cultivators radiating outwards.
“Well, looks like this is it,” Aksai muttered, glancing at Jian beside him. “More than twenty Foundation Building experts, no small fries… this guy Haitin sure knows how to make a statement.”
Jian remained silent, but Aksai could tell from his rigid posture that he was on edge. They had expected Haitin to bring a powerful force, but this? More than twenty Foundation Building experts with no sign of lesser cultivators or Spirit Refining subordinates? It felt like Haitin had come prepared for something much bigger than just a simple meeting.
“Stay sharp,” Aksai said, giving Jian a pat on the back before they made their way down the ridge.
As they approached, Aksai’s eyes immediately went to the familiar faces of his former teammates—Lini, Rong, and the others, all standing to the side, bound by the strange rune lines that sealed their cultivation and silenced them.
Their pale faces showed the strain they had been under for the past three days, but at least they were alive.
Aksai sighed. “Guess they didn’t fare too well after all,” he said quietly to Jian.
The demonic forces around them were perfectly still, watching every movement with cold, calculating eyes. They stood in formation, their expressions giving away nothing, but Aksai could feel the tension in the air.
Even though his deal with Haitin should have ensured his safety, he knew better than to trust anything at face value in a place like the Wild Devil Lands.
And then, there he was—Haitin. Tall, composed, and with that ever-present unsettling smile, Haitin stepped forward from the group, his eyes immediately locking onto Aksai.
The demonic dark star was every bit as intimidating as Aksai remembered, but this time, there was something more. A deeper edge to his gaze, like he knew something that Aksai didn’t.
“We meet again, friend,” Haitin said with a tone that was both casual and menacing, his smile widening.
Aksai didn’t miss the way Haitin’s eyes briefly flicked to his captured teammates before settling back on him.
“It is good to see you, young master Haitin,” Aksai replied with a slight bow, keeping his tone as neutral as possible.
Haitin chuckled softly. “Come now, no need for formalities. After all, we’re old acquaintances by now, aren’t we?” His eyes twinkled with amusement.
Aksai straightened up, studying Haitin carefully. The guy had been hard to read, but this time there was an intensity about him that made Aksai’s instincts flare up.
And then, of course, there were the twenty-odd Foundation Building experts standing behind him like a silent wall.
Why bring so many? Aksai didn’t buy that it was just to intimidate him.
“Your companions look well,” Haitin continued, his gaze drifting over to Lini and the others, bound and helpless. “Though they’ve been a bit… quiet these last few days.”
Aksai forced a calm smile. “I’m sure they’ve been well taken care of.”