Chapter 2079: Chapter 2076: Laying Bare
Ling Feng’s lips twitched. Though he wasn’t sure of the Demon God’s power, this mysterious confidence was indeed quite reassuring.
"However..." the Demon God said, "you can’t rely too much on my power. I currently can’t help you with anything, at most give you some guidance. Expecting me to save you in times of crisis is unrealistic!"
Ling Feng smiled, "No worries, that’s more than enough."
"One more thing, Demon King Kai might already suspect you, so he’s bound to try everything to test you. You mustn’t reveal any flaws. If he discovers you’ve accepted my power, what awaits you might be endless torture," the Demon God said calmly. "Alright, my current power doesn’t allow me to appear too often. Don’t call me unless it’s important to avoid being discovered."
As soon as the words fell, the Demon God’s voice disappeared from Ling Feng’s mind. Ling Feng tried to call him, but there was no response; it seemed he wouldn’t come out unless it was crucial.
However, the Demon God’s words raised alarms in Ling Feng’s heart. Had Respectable Kai really noticed something unusual? If he probed him, what should he do?
As Ling Feng pondered, Respectable Kai’s figure appeared before him, "Ling Feng, my young friend, there are some things about the Demon God Palace I want to ask you!"
"Lord Demon King!" Ling Feng hurriedly put on a respectful expression.
Respectable Kai waved his hand and said, "No need for that. Your outsiders’ strength is no less than ours; it’s just that the War God’s Path binds you, preventing your full potential. Therefore, we can speak as equals!"
Ling Feng showed a hint of surprise, "Demon King Kai knows I’m an outsider?"
Demon King Kai smiled, "It’s not a top-secret matter. I even know the purpose of you outsiders coming to the Phantom Demon Continent. Otherwise, wouldn’t we demon kings be too incompetent?"
Ling Feng felt caught off guard; he hadn’t expected Demon King Kai to lay everything bare, leaving him unsure of how to respond.
"Since Demon King Kai already knows my identity, what do you plan to do with me?" Ling Feng knew there was no use denying it now, so he admitted.
Demon King Kai smiled, "No need to worry, actually I have no malice towards you outsiders. In fact... all of us Eight Great Demon Kings are eagerly anticipating new outsiders!"
"Oh?" Ling Feng was a bit puzzled.
Demon King Kai stated calmly, "The Phantom Demon Continent is fine, but it’s a place of shackles. Only you outsiders can bring hope to it. Moreover... one of the Eight Great Demon Kings is an outsider. We hold no animosity towards you."
Ling Feng was surprised; among the Eight Great Demon Kings, there was an outsider. This meant an outsider had completed the first trial of the War God’s Path. Why were they still here? Why hadn’t they moved to the second trial?
"So, Ling Feng, you must trust me. Our goals are the same; we all seek to leave here!" Demon King Kai said earnestly.
Ling Feng was touched, "So that’s how it is. I must have misjudged noble intentions as villainous. Please forgive me, Demon King Kai. But I still don’t quite understand; what do you mean by..."
Respectable Kai spoke in a serious tone, "I mean... I want young friend Ling Feng to become the ninth demon king of the Phantom Demon Continent, or even the Demon God!"
"What?" Ling Feng’s eyes widened, "This... you must be joking?"
"Of course not!" Demon King Kai said, "We want to leave here. Only by you becoming a demon king is there a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, we’d be forever trapped, existing like puppets!"
Ling Feng was silent, squinting slightly, seemingly deep in thought.
"You need not doubt my words. This benefits you, me, and the entire Phantom Demon Continent!" said Demon King Kai lightly. "In fact... the Eight Great Demon Kings already have a consensus on this matter, which is to cultivate an outsider to take us out of the Phantom Demon Continent!"
"Before you, we groomed many, but sadly, they couldn’t even get past the Demon God Palace before perishing!" Respectable Kai sighed, "Since you passed the Demon God Palace, it shows that Lord Demon God has faith in you, and so do we!"
"But didn’t you say the Demon God Palace was fake?" Ling Feng asked, puzzled.
Demon King Kai took out the Demon God Bead and said, "Even though this Demon God Bead has no power, I can tell from its material it’s authentic! Which means, the Demon God Palace you entered is the real one!"
Ling Feng felt shocked; so Demon King Kai knew all along, but why did he say otherwise earlier? Was it to guard against two others? What was their relationship, and why the need for such caution?
"Ling Feng, tell me again about what happened inside the Demon God Palace. I know you left some things unsaid!" said Demon King Kai with a slight smile.
Ling Feng’s heart pounded, but Demon King Kai’s expression was very calm, making it difficult for Ling Feng to tell if he really knew or was just testing him.
"Demon King Kai, I’ve already told you everything I know!" Ling Feng ultimately chose not to reveal the truth, "After passing the trial, the Demon God statue inside the palace started to crack. I didn’t pay much attention and went directly for the Demon God Bead. When I found it, it was already like that."
"Is that so?" Respectable Kai stared at Ling Feng, "Ling Feng, I genuinely want to help you, but if you hide things from me, then you know the consequences!"
Ling Feng chuckled wryly, "I’m just as puzzled; didn’t you check my body earlier? I couldn’t hide anything even if I wanted to! Moreover, I suspect... someone went in before us and took something."
Respectable Kai looked deeply at Ling Feng, "Ling Feng, I’m very disappointed! I’ve disclosed so much to you, yet you neither trust me nor tell me the truth! Do you really think that besides you, we can’t find other outsiders?"
Ling Feng was shocked, "Deceive you? How so?"
"Do you need me to spell it out?" Respectable Kai stated grimly, "If the Demon God’s energy in the bead had disappeared long ago, the Demon God Palace would have collapsed already! So before you took the Demon God Bead, it definitely contained the Power of the Demon God!"
