Demon Cult, outer court.
In the deep night, a man in a black robe eyed the youth kneeling before him.
"I asked you to test whether the Demon Lord has fallen into demonic confusion and suffered heavy injuries, why haven't you gone yet?"
The hoarse voice, thick with intense killing intent,
turned the man's eyes blood-red.
He seemed to be growing impatient.
The youth shuddered, speaking cautiously.
"These past few nights, the Demon Lord hasn't been in the Demon Lord's Pavilion, making it difficult for me to sneak in."
"Then go during the day."
"But... there are too many people guarding in the daytime, it's too dangerous,"
"If it weren't dangerous, why would I choose you? Don't forget, the reward I offered you is substantial. Cultivation techniques are extremely rare in the world of cultivation, especially our Demon Cult's foundational technique. Many people would crack their heads open for a chance to snatch it. Being given this opportunity is your honor. If you don't want it, I will find someone else."
The man in the black robe spoke with an icy voice,
turning the youth's face ashen, his whole body trembling.
"I will go and investigate tomorrow, please give me another chance,"
"You've always had your chance, I hope you can successfully seize it. Don't disappoint me."
Soon, the man in the black robe left.
The tranquility returned to the menial workers' quarters of the Demon Cult's outer court.
The youth slowly got up from the ground, the servility gradually leaving his face.
Replaced by boundless ferocity.
Choose?
How could he choose? Did he even have a choice?
To probe the Demon Lord.
If word of this task were to leak, it would certainly stir up a bloodbath within the Demon Cult.
It could be said bluntly,
that the moment the other party revealed this task to him, he lost any illusion of choice—he either had to obediently carry out the task,
or he had to die.
And for an outer disciple like him, the Demon Cult had far too many; even if he truly died, no one would care.
"So, I have no other choice."
The night wind was chilly, and the distant calling of a crow could be heard. The youth murmured to himself, his expression gradually firming up.
With a leap, he headed toward the Demon Lord's Pavilion.
...
Inside the Demon Lord's Pavilion.
Fang Yang slowly exhaled a turbid breath.
The breath moved like a dragon,
traveling a meter away.
And his deep eyes were bursting with brilliance,
emitting bursts of intense killing intent.
With a casual wave of his hand.
Boom! Boom!
Boom! Boom!
Thunder rolled around him,
with purple lightning flashing.
Crane danced and the way resonated,
as if he had already touched the origin of the Way, mysterious and marvelous.
It was even more terrifying than the embodiment realm, more profound and unfathomable.
Until...
his palm struck the ground.
Crack!
The hard rock only showed a crack.
All else was unscathed.
Meanwhile, outside, the voices of cult disciples discussing could be heard.
"What was that just now? Why such a commotion? It felt like the heavens were collapsing?"
"That was the Demon Lord practicing his cultivation technique. The Demon Lord must have broken through the embodiment realm; otherwise, there wouldn't have been such a stir."
"Makes sense. I even felt my soul trembling! Truly befitting our Demon Lord—I bet there are very few people in the world who could withstand his palm strike."
"Nonsense, it's not just about withstanding it. Once the Demon Lord reveals his embodiment, he could probably split an entire mountain peak with one palm."
"..."
The crowd went wild with their praises, full of awe and pride for their Sect Hierarch.
It was as if they could already see the Sect Hierarch sweeping across the lands, a tiger that devoured thousands of miles.
Meanwhile, outside the Demon Lord's Pavilion,
the outer disciple of the Demon Cult had just arrived, stunned by the sight of the thunderous vision in the sky,
His very soul trembling.
"Is this the Demon Lord? The one that makes the entire Tang Kingdom tremble with fear, that countless sects dread?"
Muttering to himself, he bit his lip, the determination in his eyes growing even stronger as though his decision was now irrevocable.
He walked with large strides towards the Demon Lord's Pavilion.
...
Within the Demon Lord's pavilion.
Fang Yang retracted his palm and stared thoughtfully at the fine crack that had appeared on the stone.
It truly was the Profound Heaven Strategy!
An existence hailed as a heavenly Cultivation Technique.
Although his current strength was not that great, this intimidating ability was definitely second to none.
A single slap could induce a resonance between Heaven and Earth.
Looking around the world, there were probably very few who could manage to do so.
"It's just a pity that the demonic gathering is a real fight, where bluffing won't get you through,"
Fang Yang sighed.
"Let it be, after struggling for so many days, I've accumulated a total of fifteen affinity points, it's time to try my luck at the draw. Maybe there will be a reward."
Lotteries are quite addictive, and besides, his lottery was closely linked to his very life.
It became even more addictive.
He had suppressed his desire to draw for so long, saving up affinity points until now, just to experience a thrilling draw.
With everything ready, just as he was about to draw, his body paused as if he remembered something.
He had his subordinates bring bathing water, then bathed and changed his clothes.
Afterward, he even took statues of the Azure Dragon and the White Tiger from the Demon Lord's treasure vault, placing the Azure Dragon to the left and the White Tiger to the right.
While he sat in the middle.
Only after all these rituals were busily completed,
did he finally breathe a long sigh of relief, feeling spirited and much more confident in himself.
"Today, I will surely draw a big prize."
His eyes were filled with determination as he confidently made his draw.
[Ding]
[Treasure chest opened, one affinity value consumed. Your treasure has been stolen by a rat. Consolation Point +1, current affinity value 1. (At 10 Consolation Points, the next draw will result in a 100% chance of getting a treasure chest.)]
"It's an accident, this must be an accident!"
"Drawing lots requires accumulating good karma, and this draw was merely a cushion."
Fang Yang smiled, feeling not the slightest bit panicked, even exuding a sense of stability like an old dog.
He tried another draw.
[Ding]
[Treasure chest opened, one affinity value consumed. Your treasure has been stolen by a rat. Consolation Point +1, current affinity value 2. (At 10 Consolation Points, the next draw will result in a 100% chance of getting a treasure chest.)]
"..."
Fang Yang's smile twitched, becoming forced.
Who ever wins a big prize right off the bat in a lottery? It's all perfectly normal, nothing to fret about.
Keep drawing!
[Ding!]
[Treasure chest opened, one affinity value consumed. Your treasure has been stolen by a rat. Consolation Point +1, current affinity point 3. (At 10 Consolation Points, the next draw will result in a 100% chance of getting a treasure chest.)]
"..."
Three consecutive tries, not a single win.
He was teeming with frustration, silent, and continued to draw.
[Ding!]
Miss!
[Ding!]
Miss!
[Ding!]
Miss!
"..."
The system's voice continued ceaselessly, Fang Yang was still able to stay calm at first.
Even comforting himself over and over again.
Which child cries every day? Which gambler loses every day?
How could there be such unlucky people in this world?
There would always be a time to win a big prize.
But as one item after another was stolen by the rat, his eyes turned red, filled with bloodshot veins.
What started as grand promises, turned into incoherent babbling, and ended in silent despair.
Ten consecutive nothings.
Fang Yang had become somewhat numb, dispirited, his mind a blank.
He couldn't figure out what was going on at all.
It defied science, could his karma really be this terrible?
He gritted his teeth, on the verge of breaking down.
Finally, looking at the ten consolation points, he chose to continue drawing.
According to the system, this draw would certainly win a big prize!
It was a guaranteed prize,
[Ding!]
The system's voice rang out, and a burst of golden light twinkled.
Fang Yang's eyes lit up.
Something appeared!