Chapter 265: Become I, Chen’s Chess Piece, and Fight Against Heaven!
Chapter 265: Become I, Chen’s Chess Piece, and Fight Against Heaven!
Chen Changsheng’s sword was only half an inch away from the tiger demon.
‘Why!?’
“Why aren’t you saving me!”
Tu Hu’s eyes widened, the intention to kill poured out immediately. In that moment, his eyes held astonishment, as if shocked that nothing happened at all.
And just as he felt he was about to die under Chen Changsheng’s sword…
The sword suddenly stopped.
The Taiqing Sword pressed against the tiger demon’s neck, but didn’t move an inch closer.
Tu Hu slightly opened his eyes. He panted heavily, staring blankly at the sword-wielding Chen Changsheng before him.
But Chen Changsheng’s gaze wasn’t on him. Instead, he looked up towards the sky above.
The killing aura and red light all returned to the Taiqing Sword. Chen Changsheng’s eyes gradually cleared, yet the sky above remained a pale, clear blue, without the slightest ripple.
Tu Hu felt a wave of fear, but he dared not move back. He didn’t even dare to swallow.
“Sigh.”
With a light sigh,
Chen Changsheng shifted his gaze from the heavens above to Tu Hu.
“Turns out you’re just a disposable pawn.”
He sheathed his sword, feeling deeply disappointed.
Tu Hu saw the sword leave his throat, but his mind lingered on Chen Changsheng’s words.
After dazedly staring for a long moment, he finally asked, “What… do you mean?”
Chen Changsheng said, “Aren’t you well aware of what I mean?”
Tu Hu’s mouth opened. Suddenly, he lowered his head. His gaze shifted from initial blankness to shock, then to a bitter irony.
He started laughing, but each laugh felt hollow and filled with pain.
With each dry chuckle, Tu Hu’s body trembled. He collapsed onto the ground, his whole expression clouded by desolation, tinged with misery.
“Mountain Lord!!”
Suddenly, shouts rang out. The other dozen or so Demon Kings had finally arrived.
Anger flashed in Tu Hu’s eyes.
“GET LOST!!!”
With his thundering roar, a demonic wind surged, sweeping all the dozens of Demon Kings off the mountain.
Tu Hu’s figure looked utterly lonely. His eyes stared at the vast sky above, muttering, “Turns out I’m just disposable…”
The Taiqing Sword hidden by his side, Chen Changsheng walked over and stood in front of Tu Hu.
Chen Changsheng’s shadow fell over the light before Tu Hu.
Tu Hu paused, then raised his head to look at Chen Changsheng.
Suddenly, he spoke, “Kill me.”
“You absolutely deserve death!”
Chen Changsheng said, “But what difference will killing you make? Once you die, another demon will take your place. Things will remain the same.”
Tu Hu fell silent. By now, his heart felt as cold as ashes.
He once believed he was the one true demon in the world, blessed by Heaven and Earth, worshipped by ten thousand demons. But in the end, it was all just a lie.
He was just a disposable pawn, replaceable at any moment.
Tu Hu spoke, “What do you want me to do?”
Chen Changsheng’s eyes were calm. “Become my pawn!”
Tu Hu let out a bitter laugh, “A pawn is still a pawn. What difference does it make?”
Chen Changsheng said, “You are a discarded pawn now. What’s more, you are a discarded piece that poses a threat. Even if I spare you, the Azure Heaven won’t let you live.”
Tu Hu laughed bitterly again. To think a Demon King like him would fall so low, forced to choose a life lived in shadows.
To him, this was the greatest shame.
He glared viciously at Chen Changsheng, “I’d rather die! Than be a pawn again!”
Tu Hu was full of righteous anger, but after hearing Chen Changsheng’s next words, he wavered.
Chen Changsheng suddenly declared, “I hold the pieces. I intend to fight Heaven, to remake Heaven and Earth.”
Tu Hu’s mind reeled. Every hair on his body stood on end.
His gaze locked onto this scholarly Cultivator before him. Had anyone else said such a thing, Tu Hu would have merely laughed. But hearing it from Chen Changsheng, it suddenly didn’t seem impossible.
Tu Hu lowered his head, deep in thought, struggling to decide.
He asked, “What are the odds of success?”
Chen Changsheng replied, “I had fifty percent confidence when I came. After that strike just now, I have eighty percent.”
The structure of the Demon Realm had been set long ago. Tu Hu was the Heavenly Dao’s pawn to control the Demon Realm. Disposable? True. But reshuffling the deck would take considerable time.
Yet, during that sword thrust, Heaven and Earth offered no aid. How could a realm fail to block a single strike from an External Incarnation?
Perhaps this realm held some trepidation towards Chen Changsheng himself.
Hearing this, Tu Hu slowly stood up. After a moment of silence, he gave Chen Changsheng his answer.
“I will help you.”
Anger and hatred burned in Tu Hu’s eyes, mixed with a deep, fixed determination.
Chen Changsheng shook his head. “Commit fully, or stay out. My time is limited. Finding another candidate isn’t impossible.”
Tu Hu bowed his head again, hesitating.
Chen Changsheng continued, “Think about it. Why, after all these years of conflict between the two sides, has there never been a resolution?”
Tu Hu froze. “You mean…”
He asked further, “But… why would you do this?”
Chen Changsheng looked at him. “That is not for you to worry about.”
After moments of intense hesitation,
Tu Hu made his decision.
“When it’s done, you must give me my freedom! And in my time of trouble, you must save my life!”
Chen Changsheng smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry. I am not heartless like this piece of Heaven and Earth.”
On this point, Tu Hu didn’t doubt him.
He then asked immediately, “What do you need me to do now?”
Chen Changsheng said, “First, tell me about the current state of the Demon Realm. It seems the Thirty-Six Caves are not as harmonious as one might imagine.”
Tu Hu frowned. He snorted coldly, “Without me holding them down, the Thirty-Six Caves would have fallen into chaos long ago. These Demon Kings are each scheming on their own; none can stomach the others.”
“When I fought you, not one came to assist. Only after seeing I wasn’t dead did they come up the mountain to ask. Pretending to be concerned! Every single one wishes I were dead so they can take over Great Demon Peak.”
Chen Changsheng chuckled, “No wonder the Divine Domain has lasted so many years.”
Tu Hu paused, then added, “Sixty years ago, Jiang Shouyi shattered their courage. That’s why, these recent years, some have started slacking off, holding back their full strength. If that weren’t so, the Divine Domain would have fallen long ago.”
Tu Hu wasn’t wrong about this.
The overall gap in strength between the Demon Realm and the Divine Domain was enormous. If the Demon Realm truly unleashed its full might, the Divine Domain’s forces would be utterly unable to stop it.
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and asked, “So… some Demon Kings actually feel indifferent toward the affairs of the Mortal World, correct?”
Tu Hu nodded. “That’s true. But with past grudges in place…”
Chen Changsheng gave a slight nod. “I understand.”