The Ancestor of the Wing Demon lineage was called Ancestor Azure Falcon, one of the more renowned Divine Dao Ancestors among the Wing Demon race. As for the Metal Demon lineage's Ancestor, he was called Ancestor Silver Edge — quite a remarkable Divine Dao Ancestor in his own right.
The last to arrive was Ancestor Shadowless, one of the top three Ancestors of the Shadow Demon lineage. His standing was roughly on par with the Evil Shadow Ancestor that Jiang Chen and his allies had slain.
The sight of these three Ancestors gathered together in the Huichun Island Domain was exceedingly strange. By all logic, the Huichun Island Domain was far too insignificant a place — at the very least, it did not warrant the simultaneous appearance of all three Ancestors. To destroy the Huichun Island Domain, a single Demon Ancestor would be more than sufficient.
Their reason for congregating here was obviously based on calculations of their own.
Once Ancestor Shadowless had taken his seat, Ancestor Azure Falcon chuckled and said, "Fellow Daoist Shadowless, now that you've arrived, I take it the situation at the Ten Great Sacred Grounds is progressing rather smoothly?"
Ancestor Shadowless let out a cold, eerie laugh. "Unexpectedly, the Ten Great Sacred Grounds proved somewhat easier to handle than we'd anticipated. Sending so many of us Demon Ancestors to Myriad Abyss Island feels almost like overkill."
Ancestor Azure Falcon chuckled again. "That's because we learned our lesson from that ancient war! If the ten Demon lineages had maintained closer ties and cooperated more during the ancient battle, we never would have ended up in such a wretched state. The humans have a saying — a fall in the pit, a gain in the wit. We can't keep failing to improve."
"Heh heh, that's easy enough to say. But the reason the ten Demon lineages are cooperating so wholeheartedly this time isn't because of any 'gain in the wit.' It's because of Ancestor Heavenly Demon's Celestial Demon Decree, isn't it? Once the Celestial Demon Decree is issued, no matter how much we might dislike each other, we have no choice but to fall in line and cooperate."
Ancestor Shadowless's manner of speaking was as ethereal as the way he had appeared.
Ancestor Silver Edge let out a cold snort. "I think Ancestor Heavenly Demon is being excessively cautious. If the Demon race truly committed to an all-out assault, we would absolutely sweep across the Divine Abyss Continent. There's really no need for such roundabout, complicated schemes."
"Ha ha, Fellow Daoist Silver Edge, if you truly think that way, you're gravely mistaken. It seems you haven't suffered enough from the lessons of antiquity." Ancestor Shadowless laughed sinisterly.
"Spare me that nonsense." Ancestor Silver Edge clearly wasn't buying what Ancestor Shadowless was selling. "Take this operation for instance — my way would have been simple. We crush the Huichun Island Domain, charge straight for Dongyan Island, and smash through with brute force. If there really is some kind of teleportation formation there, we seize it and launch our assault on the human domain just the same. Why make it so complicated? Don't tell me the Demon race has been scared into timidity by the human domain."
Ancestor Silver Edge, much like the late Ancestor Stone Fiend, held humans in complete contempt. His tone dripped with undisguised disdain.
It was clear that he preferred a head-on assault — sweeping through like a tempest — as the more exhilarating approach, one far better suited to the Demon race's style.
Scheming, plotting, roundabout tactics — he had no patience for any of it. And he especially failed to appreciate the Shadow Demon Ancestor's approach.
Ancestor Shadowless let out an eerie laugh. "Fellow Daoist Silver Edge, it seems that despite suffering once already, you still look down on the human domain? The reason our demon seals in the wastelands were broken and yet we still cannot invade the human domain — surely you know the reason well enough?"
"Hmph, haven't the humans merely activated that so-called Myriad Heavens and Ten Thousand Spirits Divine Lock Formation? That's the extent of their capability — hiding behind a formation like frightened turtles. If anything, that only proves they fear the Demon race. Isn't that right?"
What he said actually carried a measure of truth.
"Hmph, it's true that the humans fear the Demon race. But fear doesn't mean they lack ways to deal with us. Have you not heard what happened to Ancestor Light Ferry of the Demon Beast lineage? A ruthless character has emerged among the humans — and this one will not be easy to handle."
"Bullshit. Just some human brat? If you let the Metal Demon lineage take the vanguard in this fight, I guarantee I'll bring back his head within a month." Ancestor Silver Edge spoke with vicious conviction.
Ancestor Azure Falcon chuckled softly. "Fellow Daoist Silver Edge, calm yourself. The Celestial Demon Lord has given his orders — for this battle, we are to follow commands and take our lead from Fellow Daoist Shadowless. We merely need to coordinate with him."
It appeared that Ancestor Azure Falcon was elevating Ancestor Shadowless's leadership position, but upon closer reflection, there was a subtle hint of stirring up discord in his words.
Ancestor Silver Edge let out another cold snort but refrained from saying anything too outrageous, instead grumbling, "Let's hope this battle goes smoothly. Otherwise, the time we waste here could have been enough for us to conquer the Ten Great Sacred Grounds."
Ancestor Shadowless laughed. "Once the task here is completed, missions at the Ten Great Sacred Grounds will naturally be assigned. Are you afraid there won't be opportunities to earn merit?"
Ancestor Azure Falcon sighed. "My worry is that the Wood Demon lineage might be too ruthless and kill off everyone at the Ten Great Sacred Grounds. By the time it's our turn, there may not be much left for us."
"The Celestial Demon Lord has his own comprehensive plans. No matter how cunning the Wood Demon lineage might be, he won't let them monopolize the glory. The Celestial Demon Lord certainly doesn't want any other branch to outshine the Heavenly Demon lineage in merit or steal its thunder." Ancestor Shadowless smiled leisurely. "You really are worrying over nothing. The reason the Celestial Demon Lord is being so cautious and orchestrating everything this time is because he's learned from the ancient war. You have to eat one bite at a time. Last time, we overextended — spread the battlefield too thin — and our various lineages were cut apart and devoured piecemeal."
This was the plain truth. In the ancient era, if the ten Demon lineages had remained united, acted in concert, and followed orders in all things, they would never have suffered such a result.
In that battle, the Demon race was defeated by arrogance and self-conceit.
In terms of sheer strength, the Demon race's fighting power was more than sufficient to conquer the Divine Abyss Continent.
"I have to say, the Celestial Demon Lord's decision this time was truly wise. Conquering Myriad Abyss Island means the Demon race finally has a secure base of operations. We can advance to attack and retreat to defend. Most importantly, the warriors of Myriad Abyss Island lack backbone for the most part. Aside from the Ten Great Sacred Grounds, which are rather tough to crack, the ordinary forces simply don't have the resolve or the courage to fight the Demon race to the bitter end." Ancestor Azure Falcon chuckled. "Our advance here has been like a hot knife through butter."
Ancestor Shadowless waved his hand dismissively. "These are all insignificant shrimp, not worth mentioning. The most critical task now is to breach Dongyan Island and enter the human domain. That is the key to this entire demon campaign. If we cannot enter the human domain, the Celestial Demon Lord's conquest plan cannot proceed."
Ancestor Silver Edge sneered, "You've spouted all this nonsense, but can it actually be done or not? Don't tell me you're still in the planning stage."
"What's the rush? I already have a complete plan. Moreover, the moment to test your fighting prowess, Fellow Daoist, is fast approaching. When that time comes, don't let it happen that Jiang Chen appears before you and you can't handle him." Ancestor Shadowless was employing a goading tactic.
Ancestor Silver Edge laughed coldly. "Are you talking in your sleep? What hard battle has the Metal Demon lineage not seen before?"