Rise of The Demon General-Chapter 682. Materials for the Demon Revealing Talisman
Zhang Daofeng turned to Sima Fang. She proceeded to inform him regarding Amon’s claim that the Holy Mother was secretly a demon. Like the others, Zhang Daofeng found it hard to believe, but he remained silent until Sima Fang finished her account.
"Hell Beast?" Zhang Daofeng looked at Amon’s left arm.
Bo Wu came out then. "Hehe. It’s an honor to meet one of the strongest people in the surface world. An honor, hehehe."
"You don’t sound that way," Zhang Daofeng responded. He then told everyone, "I have read about Hell Beasts from the records inside the temple’s library. If this is that spirit beast, it is indeed sensitive to the energy of infernal cultivation. Assuming what you told me is true..."
"It is true," Amon stated.
"Assuming it is true," Zhang Daofeng repeated. "This is indeed the best chance we have to defeat Mu Qin. As I said, the original plan I conceived didn’t produce a strong enough force to corner Oredolia."
"Well, if someone didn’t ruin our plan too much, we would have fared better," Sima Fang said. She was looking at Amon when she spoke.
"Fang, I never taught you to make excuses," Zhang Daofeng admonished.
"I am sorry, great-great-grandfather. That was unbecoming of me," Sima Fang said with a bow.
"Anyway, we still need to find a way to expose Mu Qin’s secret."
Sima Fang nodded. "That is another reason why I proposed this meeting. The temple should possess the Demon Revealing Talisman?"
"Ah, the tools of the inquisitors," Zhang Daofeng remarked. "Sadly, all those talismans had been used up during the era of the Inquisition. None remained. We, however, possess the recipe to make one. The talisman requires rare and specific materials. I should have a copy of the recipe here."
Zhang Daofeng produced a thick book from his space ring. He opened the book and flipped through it. When he stopped, he said, "Here, it is."
He proceeded to spell all the materials in the recipe. "The temple has three out of the seven required materials."
After some discussion, Hou Huang, Dim Loog, and Huang San informed that they possessed another three that the temple didn’t.
"That left one material," Zhang Daofeng said with a frown. "It is also the hardest to acquire."
"Fresh blood of a Soul Flayer...," Sima Fang read.
"That is a Higher Mythical Beast," Amon said.
"While it is categorized as a Higher Mythical Beast, it is thankfully among the weakest in the grade. Its power is equivalent to a Beginning Lord Stage," Zhang Daofeng explained. "This spirit beast is rare, but our library has information about its suspected location. The problem is that the location is quite far and secluded. I don’t think any of you three can leave the battlefield under the current situation."
Zhang Daofeng was referring to Hou Huang, Dim Loog, and Huang Ti. "I myself cannot leave because it will draw suspicion. Without us, Lord Stage cultivators, taking on the task, it is unlikely that anyone can successfully capture this Soul Flayer."
"I will go," Amon said.
Everyone turned to him. Zhang Daofeng never truly paid attention to Amon. He did receive reports about Amon from the Sima Clan, up until before the clash with Shou Zou’s army. So, he never truly put Amon at the level of Lord Stage cultivators. With Amon’s current appearance, where he was missing one hand and two feet, Zhang Daofeng was even unconvinced that Amon was up to the task.
Amon could see Zhang Daofeng’s thoughts from his expression, so he brought out his Alpha and Beta Puppets.
"Those are high-tier runic puppets," Sima Fang informed.
Zhang Daofeng was not a skilled puppet maker, but he trusted Sima Fang’s appraisal.
"These two puppets were among the tools General Amon used to defeat King Shou Zou," Huang Er informed.
"So, you are that Lord Slayer. Hm... In that case, we will leave this task to you," Zhang Daofeng said.
"Considering the location, I will accompany General Amon," Xan Chi said.
"I will go as well," Huang Er announced.
Amon sneered at the offer. The woman wasn’t aware what she had signed up for. He had been thinking of roping her in by asking for more Peak Spirit Stage cultivators from the group present here to join the hunt. He didn’t expect her to volunteer herself.
"In that case, allow me to join too," Sima Fang said.
"Fang, are you sure?" Zhang Daofeng asked. "You are only at the Peak Mystic Stage. This hunt will be too dangerous for you."
"That’s right," Gu Wen added. "Considering the location is deep within the wilderness, you should go with a small team to avoid unnecessary spirit beast encounters. You should leave the spot to a Spirit Stage cultivator."
Sima Fang smiled in response. She said, "I may only be a Peak Mystic Stage cultivator, but my talisman skills allow me to contest with a Spirit Stage cultivator. Also, I have this to protect me."
A battle puppet materialized beside her. "Mine is a mid-tier runic puppet. An advanced one to boot. It can compete even against a Peak Spirit Stage."
"Very well, the four of us will depart at once," Amon said.
"Hold," Hou Huang uttered. "From the way I see it, each delegation sends a representative to accompany General Amon. Princess Huang Er represents Echos, Xan Chi is from Kazhan, and Sima Fang came with Farghous’ representatives. If I don’t send anyone, it will be like Gyleth Marx doesn’t have any part in this."
Hou Huang turned to her silent, masked companion. "Sura, you join them as their fifth member."
The masked person stepped forward. His aura informed everyone that he was a Peak Spirit Stage cultivator.
"General Sura Yao?" Amon had heard the name. "You are the famous Gyleth Marx General that everyone calls the Reaper."
The person in the mask spoke for the first time, "It is just an empty title." His voice was that of a man, but hoarse and mechanical, like when someone used a voice changer. Amon suspected what they heard was not his natural voice."
"Then the matter of the hunting team is settled. I pray for your success in the task," Zhang Daofeng said. "Know that the fate of the entire world rests on the five of you. You cannot fail! The rest of us will try to buy time. I will work from the inside to keep Mu Qin from deciding on an offensive move. The rest of you should also restrain your forces from doing anything provocative until these five return."
"Before you leave, I must ask something," Dim Loog stated. "The divine punishments, are you involved in giving the order?"
"I am not," Zhang Daofeng answered. "They are delivered under Mu Qin’s order. I have no power to prevent it. You have my condolences for the lives lost in your two cities."
"How are they delivered?" Amon asked. "Are they triggered using a talisman?"
"No. They are produced using ancient devices. I myself don’t know how Mu Qin came by those devices. They were stored inside the part of the vault that I can’t access. The device is large and requires some sort of ceremony to activate. This ceremony requires several hours, and the device cannot be moved throughout the ceremony."
"I see. That’s why she never used them against the enemy’s army during the war. Their troublesome activation procedure will not succeed," Amon remarked
"What about the divine punishment at Golden Stone City?" Huang Ti asked. "Do you also have no hand in it?"
Zhang Daofeng frowned. "What divine punishment at Golden Stone City? I am not aware that Golden Stone City has been obliterated as well."
"The city is not obliterated," Huang San said. "What we mean is the attack at our palace, where the agents of your temple caused the deaths of my brothers and sisters by means of poison." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
"Poison...? Don’t be ridiculous. The members of our temple never use poison. It is a wicked tool. We don’t associate with it."
"Are you telling us that you know nothing about this attack?" Huang Er asked.
"This is the first I have heard of such an incident," Zhang Daofeng answered. "What makes you accuse us of it?"
"The perpetrators wear your temple’s robes, and they mentioned the divine punishment before they die."
"If it is truly the divine punishment, there will be nothing left of your city anymore," Zhang Daofeng said. "But then again, I didn’t know that Mu Qin is a demon. Perhaps this is a secret order from her. Whatever the case, I am not involved in the incident."
"This means everyone’s personal vendetta is with the Holy Mother," Amon stated. "The faster we make the Demon Revealing Talisman, the earlier everyone can get their revenge. I suggest we don’t spend more time here than we should. This place is secluded, but there is still a chance a patrol from the temple might pass here and spot us."
"I have checked and ensured no patrols were scheduled anywhere near here in the next five hours," Zhang Daofeng said. "But yes, we shouldn’t dally longer than necessary. If no one has further questions, I bid everyone farewell."
Zhang Daofeng returned the hood of his cloak, which concealed his head. Before leaving, he said, "I pray that the Divine watches over you."
