This kind of iron will, this kind of bloody resolve—these were truly what made the demon race so terrifying. They were fierce, fearless of death itself. Any race that possessed such unyielding spirit would be extraordinarily difficult to deal with.
Fortunately,
"Evil Shadow Ancestor, You Lan of the Yin Demon lineage, Ancestor Rock Fiend…"
These names surfaced one by one in Jiang Chen's mind—fragments that had drifted through the Gale Demon God's sea of consciousness.
Before Jiang Chen had a chance to connect these clues into a coherent thread, the Gale Demon God had sensed the intrusion and self-destructed on the spot, leaving him no opportunity to piece things together.
It seemed he would have to make his move through the Jade-Faced Demon God instead.
When the Jade-Faced Demon God saw Jiang Chen, suspicion flickered across his expression. He studied the young man, clearly struggling to reconcile his defeat at the hands of someone so young. Even now, he could not make sense of it.
"What are you looking at?" Jiang Chen gave him a cold glance.
"They're all dead, aren't they?" The Jade-Faced Demon God sighed, his face written over with remorse and self-reproach.
"Just as you wished—you led them all to their graves," Jiang Chen mocked.
The Jade-Faced Demon God's eyes flared with agitation as he glared hatefully at Jiang Chen. "You must be very pleased with yourself."
"And why shouldn't I be? You threw yourselves into the trap, let me kill to my heart's content, and even handed me useful information. Give me one reason not to be happy."
The Jade-Faced Demon God's expression shifted between light and dark as he stared at Jiang Chen. Then, abruptly, he let out a rasping, eerie laugh. "You're trying to bluff me? Useful information? You think we demons are pushovers who'll just spill our secrets? Keep dreaming, Jiang Chen! If you're hoping to crack me open for intelligence, I'd advise you not to waste your time."
Jiang Chen chuckled, completely unbothered. "So what you're saying is you'd prefer I just put a blade through you and give you a quick death?"
"Now you understand." The Jade-Faced Demon God did not deny it.
"Wishful thinking. But why would I be so generous? I still need to bring you before the Evil Shadow Ancestor so I can tell him, in person, that it was you—the Jade-Faced Demon God—who colluded with me from the inside to lure and destroy those fools like the Gale Demon God. I want the Evil Shadow Ancestor to see just how incompetent his so-called subordinates really are."
Jiang Chen's tone was leisurely, but every word struck the Jade-Faced Demon God like a thunderbolt. His face drained of color.
He stared at Jiang Chen with open suspicion, shock surging through his heart. How did this man know about the Evil Shadow Ancestor? Could it be that Gale and the others had truly broken under pressure and confessed?
At that thought, the Jade-Faced Demon God's expression shifted once more. If that were the case, the Evil Shadow Ancestor was in grave danger.
If the Ancestor managed to break free from the seal, these human cultivators and spirit beings would be powerless against him. But while still trapped within the seal, if these human cultivators and spirit beings threw everything they had into the attack, it would be extremely perilous for the Ancestor.
Jiang Chen let out a contemptuous smile and cast a glance at the Jade-Faced Demon God. "Don't bother thinking about finding some way to end your own suffering. Before you die, the least you can do is say your farewells to the Evil Shadow Ancestor. Hahaha."
With that, Jiang Chen turned and strode away, leaving no room for further discussion.
The Jade-Faced Demon God's mind was in complete chaos. In this moment, he was truly consumed with regret. If he had not misjudged the situation, none of this reckless attack would have happened.
Without this failed plan, the Gale Demon God and the others would not have died. They would not have been exposed.
If they had never been exposed, the Evil Shadow Ancestor would have been safe.
Following that chain of logic, the Jade-Faced Demon God himself was the number one culprit in the Ancestor's downfall.
Jiang Chen stepped out of the cell and barked, "Every one of you—stay sharp and keep a close watch. The demon race is insidious and will seize any opening. Under no circumstances are you to speak with him, and especially not to fall for his manipulations. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
After leaving the cell, Jiang Chen returned to his tent, only to find