Chapter 1124: Threat

Proofreader: Papatonks

Some were doubtful, others looked grave or hesitant, but they all were thoughtful.

Baili Jingwei could easily guess their surface thoughts, “Sword Kings, it would seem that you all have fought this mystery power inside your area but are unclear what it is. Allow me to explain to you all.” 

“Devil Palace first appeared in the lands at the beginning of the war five years ago, in a most befuddling fashion…” 

Baili Jingwei continued, “Do you recall the uprising in our nation’? I’ve conducted investigations, sent spies and finally confirmed that the very first to rise against us was the Devil Palace. Following it, fires broke out everywhere as other minor groups rose up as well, leading to a century of turmoil. Just as we began culling these dangerous elements, Devil Palace vanished into thin air before we could understand them or cause any real damage to them.

“However, they did not stop. While we were busy with other minorities going against us, they went after the rabbles to recruit them and gain power. So while the Sword Kings have been hard at work destroying these traitors, they were far from removed, turning into morsels for this one large faction, growing so much it can threaten our very nation.”

Bam!

Shangguan Feiyun slammed the table, “Curses, have we done nothing but do the work for them this past century? Just when we thought we removed the pockets of resistance, they just went over to the enemy’s side?” 

“Yes, by using our unrest, they only have to gain from it. Devil Palace is in a whole other league than those erratic rabbles.” Zither Sword King squinted and rapped the table. He had one peculiar smile though. 

The others nodded, wary. Baili Jingwei sighed, “Devil Palace is exercising extreme caution, yet it used the five lands’ war in its favor as well. It then chose to bide its time over the coming century as it grew and grew. A radical idea came to me while thinking of it. The Devil Palace might be a real branch of Devil Mountain, having the same twisted mind as the dead Zhuo Fan.” 

Everyone flinched, looking shocked to the core.

“You’re saying Devil Palace is something he built, that he’s still alive?” 

“No, no, no, he should be dead, ending up swallowed by the sea demon, but the beginning of these factions bears his signature.” Baili Yuyun cried in disbelief, with Baili Yuyun shooting her down, “This isn’t happening only in the central area, but in every other land as well. All know perfectly well who directed the five lands’ war. Having lost this mastermind, how could the Devil Palace infiltrate the lands so quickly amidst the war? Now it grew into the largest dark faction throughout the lands, hiding in shadows. I refuse to believe anyone that claims he didn’t have a hand in this!” 

The others felt their hearts sink. Shangguan Feiyun clenched his fists, “The devil spread his poison, giving us such grief even from beyond the grave. God damn him!” 

“Not damn him, but fear him. At least with him dead there won’t be some ingenious master plan with so many pawns at his disposal. It would’ve been disastrous.” 

Baili Jingwei felt a shiver down his spine and sighed. The defeat was a century ago, yet time did not help in easing the dread he felt at the mere mention of Zhuo Fan’s name. 

“Regardless, the mastermind may be gone, but Devil Palace is becoming a serious thorn in our side. I believe this goes the same for the other four lands. No one would ever tolerate anyone encroaching into their domain, especially one so dangerous.”

Baili Jingwei’s hand held a map, revealing it to everyone, with all kinds of lines, “This is the map of the five lands. And these lines represent the paths Devil Palace’s people had taken over the last years. I just can’t get a grasp of their intentions. They may be seen in one spot for a while, only to never come there again.” 

“Maybe they finished their job?” Shangguan Feiyun asked.

Baili Jingwei nodded, turning dead serious, “Yes, I thought so as well, but this only makes it worse. The typical dark faction would spread its influence while hiding its base. They’re doing so, but to what end? Being in the dark about the other is the most terrible thing.” 

The others were in full agreement.

“Also…”

Baili Jingwei took another paper, with an image that showed clear connections, “This is something I deduced from a few confessions from the Devil Palace disciples we captured. According to them, Devil Palace has clear ranks, with the superiors and lower ranks in direct contact. The only unknown in this is the head, with none ever seeing him, only hearing of his title.

“Devil Palace Lord is a mystery person known only as the Dark Demon Lord. There’s no witnesses, only rumors about his strength being beyond anything. He has Beast, Sparrow, Power, Fire and Ice as his Dharma Kings and they are at the level of our Nine Sword Kings, if not stronger. Under them are the Sun, Moon and Star devil emissaries, in control of the scattered disciples’ tasks. Next are the small leaders, vile and vicious men with some repute in every land. They may be trouble for others, but not for Sword Kings, mere fodder…” 

They all looked on with worry and shock.

[Devil Palace has grown so big? That means no land can stand up to them but us.]

Baili Yulei slapped the table, “Prime Minister, is that map reliable? We all know those lands’ leaders. How could they let so many savages run amok? It has to be an overblown rumor to drive fear into those idiots and attract more people. With the five Dharma Kings as strong as us, what will that make of the Palace Lord, on equal ground with Patriarch? There’s no way!” 

“There might be though.”

Shangguan Feiyun looked on with a piercing gaze, “A month ago I found a sneaky bunch in my area. I was about to get rid of them when this young man met me blow for blow for three hundred rounds. I overheard the others calling him Beast King.” 

Sss~

Everyone gasped and stared at him in disbelief, hoping to be some poor joke. Anything was better than the truth.

A pity there was not a sign of humor on his feature.

[Those Dharma Kings are as strong as us?]

Shangguan Feiyun shook his head, “I didn’t know then where he came from, but now I am certain he’s from Devil Palace.”

“Moreover…”

Baili Jingwei continued, “There’s a rhyme going around the lands: In radiant splendor, stars do gleam,/Their light bathes all in a cosmic beam./But as darkness descends, consuming all sight,/ The stars’ brilliance wanes, fading from height,/Yet fear not, for the dawn draws near,/ A quiet arrival, bringing hope clear.

The men’s faces twitched, the implication obvious.

“You’re saying the Dark Demon Lord will crush the empire’s unification plan?” 

“The dark consumes the plight, bringing great change to the lands!”

Baili Jingwei was a mask of rage, “The rhyme is most definitely fake, coming from Devil Palace to worm into the populace’s hearts. Sword Star Empire is not about to fall so easily. But rumors are scary and people hear what they wish. We need to squash Devil Palace, before the rhyme spreads further and becomes reality. The situation is dire, everyone!”

Baili Jingwei was dead serious as he finished.

The others nodded, aware now of the crisis. The might of their nation was unquestioned all due to the Nine Sword Kings.

But with the rise of the Dark Demon Lord, they felt the threat.

Shangguan Feiyun said, “Prime Minister, there’s been something that’s been bothering me for many years that I would like your input on. The Invincible Sword hasn’t been seen for a hundred years. What happened? The matter with Devil Palace is grave, yes, but once the Invincible Sword shows himself, none can stop him, right?”

The other nine turned to him, curious.

Baili Jingwei shook and winced, “Patriarch has been in seclusion for the past century to break through to a new stage that no human has achieved before. When Patriarch comes out, I believe you will see the birth of true unstoppable might.”