Chapter 164: The Arrival

Beneath the tranquil wilderness lay a crude encampment, shadows flickering within its bounds. As if sensing the presence of Adeis and his group, one by one, demonic figures emerged from inside. Their faces were twisted and fierce; their eyes glowed with a crimson fire as they gazed upon Adeis and his companions, mixed with both rage and a hint of puzzlement.

They had never encountered such a group before—not only because they dared to approach the demon’s camp proactively but also due to their distinct nature. After months of rigorous training under Adeis’s guidance, dozens of selected tribesmen stood in neat formation behind him. Even upon the appearance of these demons, they remained silent and composed, merely watching with calm eyes.

Yet, the demons gave little thought to this. A savage fury surged through their minds; their blood-red eyes blazed as they charged forward, thirsty for blood.

“A pitiful bunch infected by demonic energy,” Adeis said with pity. These half-demons, once human, seemed to have gained formidable bodies and strength, but in reality, they were merely corrupted by demonic influence, unable even to retain their own consciousness.

With a wave of his hand, several centurions stepped forward behind him, shouting, “Charge!”

The dozens of well-ordered tribesmen met the dozen or so twisted demons head-on.

“Are you courting death?” one demon sneered, his body armored with scales and bone spikes, lunging forward.

However, the anticipated scene of carnage never unfolded. The tribesman evaded swiftly.

“Impossible!” the demon cried out in shock, only to feel sharp pain as multiple spears pierced him, their tremendous force breaking through his tough defenses and sinking into flesh and blood.

From a distance, watching the battle below, Adeis sneered coldly.

These tribesmen were personally selected and trained by him using special methods. Each had mastered the bloodline secrets he had painstakingly refined. Though their enhanced combat power was still subtle due to the limited time, under their coordinated assault, dispatching these demons was effortless.

After all, these demons were merely ordinary humans infected by demonic power. Although superior to common folk, a single knight-level warrior could easily sweep them away.

The battle on the ground gradually reached a stalemate. Whenever someone was injured, Adeis lightly waved his hand, and a faint divine power manifested as a healing spell, restoring the wounded.

This technique not only made the opposing demons curse unfairly but also greatly bolstered the morale of Adeis’s forces.

Yet, as the fight stalemated, several four-armed demons, previously hidden within, emerged.

“No six-armed demons?” Adeis’s thoughts echoed inwardly.

But this was normal. Six-armed demons, royal bloodline descendants of the four-armed kind, were often direct kin of the demon overlords. Encountering one last time had been a stroke of luck; it was impossible to face them every time.

Looking down, Adeis saw several weaker demons had already fallen, leaving only a few sturdy ones still holding the line.

He had no intention of prolonging the battle. Blood surged within him, transforming into a battle technique—a vast crimson cross of blood streaked forward.

In an instant, the four-armed demons showed terror as they were torn to shreds by this overwhelming force, unable to resist.

Witnessing this, Adeis shook his head.

Once the skirmish below ended, he swiftly liberated the enslaved prisoners held there and escorted them back to the tribe.

Months passed in this manner.

A scarlet light tore across the sky, brimming with dreadful demonic power.

A young man, appearing no different from an ordinary human, frowned as he surveyed the scene.

It was evidently a former battlefield, strewn with the corpses of demons—ordinary ones and even genuine four-armed demons—faces frozen in terror, unable to believe they had been slain.

Gazing at the corpses, the youth lowered his head. Patches of flesh grew along his cyan-hued arm, transforming into tendrils that engulfed a nearby corpse.

“Hmm, long dead, and yet…” He slowly closed his eyes. In his mind, fragments of memory surfaced, revealing the victim’s final moments.

It was a handsome youth, barely fifteen or sixteen, yet immensely powerful, his blood surging fiercely as he swiftly extinguished every demon on the spot.

His expression shifted. “This power… and the deep bloodline energy—are they kin?”

“No, the bloodline energy feels different—not like us demons. It resembles that of someone who has mastered the bloodline secret arts to an extraordinary degree.”

“Then, this must be an ordinary human bearing a potent bloodline. Whether it’s a bloodline reversion or some other cause remains unclear.”

He pondered silently, his confusion easing.

In this world, the bloodline secret arts originated from the four-armed demons and demanded an exceptionally strong lineage. Unless one possessed another formidable bloodline, mastery was impossible.

“Yet, to reach such a level at this age, the talent and bloodline must be extraordinary.” His thoughts turned cautious. “Judging by the memories, his power isn’t overwhelming yet. No need to alert His Majesty Aura.”

“Moreover, if I could consume such a powerful bloodline, my strength would surely advance further.”

With this thought, a fang slowly revealed at the corner of his mouth.

In the next moment, tremendous demonic power erupted, engulfing the area. The youth soared into the air, heading swiftly toward another destination.

...

“Hm?” Elsewhere, Adeis looked up with a trace of puzzlement during their journey.

“Chieftain, is something wrong?” a guard respectfully inquired.

“Nothing…” Adeis shook his head, though a shadow flickered in his eyes.

“It has finally come,” several thoughts flashed through his mind.

“By the reckoning, the time is about right. Yet, given our tribe’s remote location, it will still take the enemy quite a while to find me.”

“In the meantime, we cannot venture out. We must seize every moment to strengthen ourselves.”

A faint sense of crisis arose within him. He ordered firmly, “Send word to hasten the pace.”

With the command given, the troop’s march quickened once more. The next day, Adeis returned to the tribe.

From afar, after all this time of growth, the ancient tree seemed to have thrived, its branches and leaves fluttering proudly in the wind, majestic and grand.

Powerful divine energy permeated the tree’s trunk, a faint natural divine domain enveloping the surroundings, bringing vibrant life to the landscape.

Upon entering this sacred realm, Adeis felt a lightness throughout his body. The lingering sense of danger that had surrounded him dissipated somewhat, replaced by ease.

This was the blessing of the ancient tree, granting Adeis a natural home-field advantage.

He strode forward, reaching out to gently caress the tree’s trunk.

Upon contact, the ancient tree glowed softly, and vast divine power began to surge forth.