Free Web NovelChapter 148: Chapter 148: Doing Something Big
In fact, in Dinghai State, almost all of the Major Sects with Golden Core Cultivators had already received news about the Demon Venerable from the Profound Origin Sect and the Purple Flower Palace.
The reason the Profound Origin Sect and Purple Flower Palace shared this valuable information was that they feared other sects might act foolishly and provoke Yan Demon Venerable, so they made a special point of notifying them.
As a result, every Golden Core Cultivator heard the shocking news.
It stated that during the recent expedition to the Secret Realm, a Demon named Su Duo, an Array Master, had schemed to shatter the seal within the realm. This allowed a Nascent Soul Demon Cultivator to break free from the Array.
This news alone threw every Golden Core Cultivator who heard it into a state of utter shock. Some were so terrified their legs trembled, and they were on the verge of fleeing Dinghai State.
But the news that followed was even more explosive than the last!
This Demon Venerable... surprisingly, didn’t engage in wanton slaughter!
...
"I’ve said it a thousand times! A Demon Venerable! A genuine, bona fide Nascent Soul Realm Demon Venerable has appeared in Dinghai State!"
Veins bulged on Su Duo’s face as he roared in fury at the few illusory figures before him. The very air around them seemed to freeze solid under his oppressive aura.
"My, what’s the rush?" a peerless beauty with a hazy face and an exceptionally voluptuous, scantily-clad figure drawled.
"Exactly, Array Elder Demon. You think something is real just because you say it is? If it were true, Dinghai State would already be a sea of blood, but I haven’t heard a peep!" sneered another illusory figure. He was a ferocious being, covered in scales with explosively bulging muscles, and stood over twenty feet tall.
「On this day.」
Su Duo had specially gathered the leaders of nearly all the prominent Demonic Dao Sects in Canglang State for a meeting to discuss an attack on Dinghai State.
However, things did not go as Su Duo had expected.
Just as he was passionately describing a glorious future, all the Demon Sect Leaders met him with sneers and ridicule, paying no mind whatsoever to anything he said.
Let alone believing in some so-called Demon Venerable.
"You people have grown soft from living in comfort for too long! Have you all forgotten the hatred of our ancestors?!" Su Duo rebuked furiously.
"Oh, get over yourself! You really think you’re something special? Is the glory of our ancestors more important than the lives of our disciples today? It’s easy for you to talk about war—it won’t be your disciples doing the dying!" shrieked another illusory figure, this one in the form of a five- or six-year-old girl.
"Hah! You shortsighted fools! Do you have any idea how fast the Righteous Dao in Dinghai State is growing? What’s more, they have now occupied a Secret Realm, one rich with resources. They are guaranteed to produce a new wave of powerful experts in no time!"
Su Duo barked:
"And what about us in Canglang State? We’ve been stagnant for ages! Ever since we signed that treaty with the local factions of Canglang State, we’ve lost all ambition, grown complacent, and achieved nothing! Look around! Are there any new Golden Cores among us who have advanced in recent years? I say you’re all like frogs being slowly boiled alive, destined to be devoured by the ever-strengthening Righteous Dao! I see it all happening, and I’m sick with worry!"
Su Duo’s heartfelt words made the expressions of the Demon Sect leaders, who had been looking at him with contempt, turn grave. All traces of disdain vanished.
Even though they disliked this zealot who was constantly spouting on about the glory of the Demon Dao and crushing the Righteous Dao, they had to admit that Su Duo was someone truly willing to dedicate his entire being to their cause.
After a long silence, someone finally spoke.
He had a slender build, and his tone was calm and detached.
"We cannot verify the truth of your information. If any of us were to enter Dinghai State, it would be seen as an act of provocation. A full-scale war would break out, and there would be no turning back.
We have no way of investigating for ourselves, so we can’t simply take your word for it. After all, we all bear immense responsibilities and cannot afford to be careless.
You claim a Demon Venerable has emerged. The emergence of a Demon Venerable would invariably stir up a storm of blood and slaughter, yet we’ve heard no reports of cities being massacred or sects being annihilated in Dinghai State. This clearly contradicts your claims."
Hearing this, Su Duo grew even more frustrated.
’Who knew Yan Demon Venerable would have such a bizarre temperament? He comes out and doesn’t even kill anyone to limber up. I have no idea what he’s been doing all this time.’
"Let me explain."
"Enough, stop talking. Who’s going to believe you?! I’ll say it again: unless you cause some major incident, don’t even think about fooling us. You’re not willing to do anything yourself, yet you expect us to stick our necks out?"
After one of the Demon Sect leaders finished speaking impatiently, his illusory figure vanished.
Seeing this, the others all shrugged helplessly. Ignoring Su Duo’s protests, their illusory figures vanished one by one.
Only Su Duo was left, so angry he was practically jumping up and down.
After fuming for a while, Su Duo realized being angry was pointless. He calmed himself and began to ponder how to move forward with his plan.
In Su Duo’s grand plan to revive the Demon Dao, a declaration of war from Canglang State against Dinghai State was a crucial step.
Although Golden Core Realm Cultivators were powerful, they were insignificant when compared to the vastness of a State Domain and couldn’t have a major impact on their own.
Only another State Domain had the power to fundamentally change the landscape of another.
But no one was a fool. They all knew that whoever made the first move would become a common target, a highly dangerous position to be in. Everyone was waiting for someone else to act first so they could gauge the reaction of the sects in Dinghai State.
The Demon Sects of Canglang State were willing and able to wait, but Su Duo could not.
Because Su Duo knew perfectly well that Yan Demon Venerable truly had no intention of getting involved in the conflict between the Righteous Dao and the Demon Dao, just as he had stated from the beginning.
If he waited any longer, and Yan Demon Venerable ended up leaving Dinghai State, his entire plan would be ruined.
A vicious resolve hardened in Su Duo’s heart!
’Fine! Since you’re forcing my hand, I’ll be the one to make the first move! Didn’t you say a major incident had to happen? Alright, I’ll make a big one!’
Su Duo took a map of Dinghai State from his Storage Bag and began searching for a target.
’The target has to be easy to hit, highly important, and the attack must have a massive impact.’
He first ruled out attacking any of the sects. With his power, even he couldn’t take on an entire sect single-handedly.
Therefore, Su Duo decided to target a city instead.
After much comparison, Su Duo finally chose the Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace.
First, it was famous and important enough. After all, it was a hub for the Three Sects and had existed for a very long time.
Second, it was close to the Endless Forest, where the Secret Realm was located. An attack on this place would imply a connection to Yan Demon Venerable, who had broken free from the seal within that very realm.
Third, because of their conflict within the Secret Realm, he held no goodwill toward the Profound Origin Sect or Purple Flower Palace. This would be the perfect way to vent his pent-up frustration.
