Nael's fists clenched. He didn't speak. He just waited.
Yaksha Lord looked at the heart in his hand, then at the still-glowing remnants of the shattered formation.
"You see… I've co to realize sothing. Escaping this cursed land through normal ans is impossible for us.
No matter how strong our attacks, no matter how perfect our formations—this place has been built by entities far beyond our leagues. Our status as Core Formation Lords isn't worth much here."
He looked up again, locking eyes with Nael.
"We also don't have the Heretic Dao inheritance like that Haan Di bastard. We don't have so heaven-defying artifacts that can help all three of us return to Dadangar in our lifetis."
Then, his lips curved into a sad smile.
"But… I do have sothing else."
Nael's eyes narrowed. He already didn't like where this was going.
"I found an ancient, forbidden Spirit spell from the deepest part of the Yaksha Tombs," Yaksha Lord continued, his voice growing steadier. "A demonic Spirit spell that can tear open the laws of this dinsion and create a temporary exit."
Nael's voice was like ice. "What's the price?"
Since the Spirit spell had demonic origins, it couldn't be that simple to execute.
Yaksha Lord smiled. "Sacrifice," he said at last. "I need the fresh hearts of Core Formation Lords."
He held up Hayaat's heart, still glowing with Spirit essence.
"One heart is enough to activate the spell… but two?" he calculated inside his mind. "With two, the effect would be stronger. More stable. I would have more ti to escape."
Nael didn't flinch. His gaze remained locked onto Yaksha Lord's face.
Yaksha Lord continued, his voice soft but full of resolve.
"My two friends, I didn't want it to co to this, truly. But I've waited too long. We've suffered in this place for years. I deserve freedom. You both deserve peace… and I can give that to you."
He even sounded sincere. But Nael Netherfrost knew better. This wasn't just about survival.
He could see it in Yaksha's eyes—that madness hiding behind the calm mask. That hunger for power. His desire to rule over the Wild Devil Lands had not diminished after coming here. In fact, it had intensified.
Although it would be difficult for him to govern the entirety of the Wild Devil Lands by himself, he could improvise many things in the future. As the sole demonic Core Formation Lord, he would also be able to command the remaining two demonic sects of his "friends."
Of course, Yaksha Lord wouldn't have resorted to this thod if the Holy Land Torel hadn't made it so difficult for him to leave. Even he knew that he needed the help of the remaining two demonic Lords to put up a strong front against the five Lords from the righteous faction.
However, ideal solutions didn't always translate well into reality. Since that was the case, Yaksha Lord decided to go with the flow and planned to take over the remaining two sects.
He aid to bring all of the demonic sects under one umbrella—under his control. This demonic unification might not allow him to dominate the Dadangar Subcontinent, but it would at least ensure that the righteous faction or Haan Di didn't encroach upon the resources of the Wild Devil Lands.
One could say that Yaksha Lord was an old fox. He knew when to take a few steps back and when to advance.
He had earlier asked the two Lords to use a forbidden Spirit spell to enhance the effects of the battle formation. And by doing so, he had weakened the remaining two Lords enough to launch a successful sneak attack.
What Yaksha Lord had given the remaining two Lords was indeed a forbidden Spirit ant to boost the effects of the battle formation. However, what he didn't tell them was the fact that he knew the boost it provided wouldn't be enough to reach the treasury hall.
Yaksha Lord had planned things well. Perhaps he had decided to lay this trap for Blackblood Lord and Frostbound Lord years ago. It was only now that he had revealed his accumulated poison in one go.
"You've been waiting for this mont," Nael said coldly. "Haven't you?"
Yaksha Lord didn't deny it. His thin smile only grew a little wider.
"I did what I had to. Lord Hayaat… he was too full of himself. He never saw it coming. You know what killed him first? It's because he kept on talking about how talented two children were.
All that talk about how Haitin will one day take over all of the Wild Devil Lands just pissed off one too many tis. You know what? After getting out, I'll kill his two children before I take over his sect just to avoid future troubles.
I can then plan a next big expedition in the Holy Land Torel once again. This ti, I will willingly cooperate with the five lords from the righteous faction. I can then approach Haan Di Lord and bring him to my side to balance the gap between the righteous and demonic faction.
All of this can be done as long as I get out of this damn place."
He took a step forward, heart still in hand.
"But you, Lord Nael… You're calm. Careful. You know, I hate the smugness with which you carry yourself. Do you think everyone else is beneath you?"
Nael didn't move. A thin layer of frost spread across the floor under his feet, and his cold mist thickened in the air.
"Try ," the Frostbound Lord said, his tone deathly calm.
Yaksha Lord chuckled softly, wiping blood from his cheek with the back of his hand.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Yaksha Lord raised his hand, dark death-elent Spirit essence swirling around it like a deadly storm. His eyes were fixed on Frostbound Lord, who was still kneeling from the effects of the earlier betrayal and siphoning of life essence.
"This is the end for you, my friend," Yaksha whispered, a twisted smile forming on his face. "Once you're gone, no one will stand in my way."
He was about to launch his Spirit spell when suddenly…
Boom!
The atmosphere shifted.
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