In the Central Plains, the encounter with the Nether Demon Kuang reaches new heights. As Daoist's Concealment method was seen through, she is left with no other choice than to confront the demonic cultivator head-on.
As the Sect Elder Nether Demon Kuang stood in front of her, giving her a few moments to answer his question, Daoist Doffwy seems unfazed.
Instead, she lets out a cold chuckle and laughs at him.
This leaves the Nether Demon Kuang suspcious of her movements.
"You dare laugh in such a moment, do you even know who stands before you?
Or maybe, after witnessing my monstrous strength, you already lost your mind?"
[Daoist, avoid offending this demonic cultivator, otherwise you risk having to enter combat!]
However, Daoist already had different plans on how to handle this matter.
"Who... a mere forgotten disciple who clings to the shadows of the Star Constellation Immortal Venerable of the Heavenly Court dares to oppose my greatness and interrupt my missions?!
Small fry, I will spare your life if you bow on your knees this instant and beg for forgiveness!"
[System Alert - Unprecedented Audacity!]
[Daoist, what is your intention of provoking this Demon?]
"Alter Ego, worry not, it is all part of my grand scheme to fool this elderly demon."
Upon hearing this insult, the Nether Demon starts laughing and instantly unleashes part of his nether aura, a spiritual force that would make most cultivators fall to their knees.
However, since Daoist has a similar cultivation realm to the Demon, she stays unaffected by this technique and holds her ground.
"You... You really dare doubt my name and force me to beg for forgiveness?
Normally, someone doing this would be courting death.
Seeing that you can withstand my nether aura and also have a concealment technique most cultivators wouldn't even notice, I will allow you to continue speaking...
Which demonic faction do you belong to, and what is your title, state it now!", Nether Demon Kuang was furious and was close to losing his temper.
[Alter Ego is registering - Demon Kuang's anger levels are rising!]
"A weakling like you asking for the title of the strongest, most powerful entity in all of the central continent?
Filled with ignorance, it seems you know nothing about worldly affairs or the true ranks in this world,
Simillar to a frog in a well, how can you even claim to be a Sect Elder?
Have you not noticed by now?
I am none other than Daoist Heavenly True Spectral Star Constellation Demon Venerable, strongest below heavens, unrivaled in competence, intelligence and power, with my achievements reaching far beyond this lowly dimension!"
Seeing how confident Daoist seemed, even Demon Kuang hesitated for a moment.
Kuang was absolutely shocked seeing how fearless she was.
[Daoist showcased psychological dominance; very effective!]
[Demon Kuang's suspicion levels continue to rise, side effects include rising confusion!]
"Ahem...", Demon Kuang was visibly caught off guard hearing the person in front of him claim to be the strongest under the Heavens.
He couldn't believe to have encountered such a big shot, but he remembered fatal flaws in her statements.
"This is... you are merely bluffing, otherwise, how come a Sect Elder of the demonic sect never have heard of such person and also the fact that you are somehow affiliated with the Star Constellation Immortal Venerable?
Besides... don't forget that your concealment method was not strong to hide from this Nether Demon, meaning that your cultivation skills lack in comparison to me, how could you ever claim to be the strongest, yet alone someone stronger than me?"
[Daoist! Demon Kuang has seen through the weakspots of your bluff!]
[Recommending escaping immediately to avoid combat!]
However, Daoist Doffwy still showed no signs of fear.
"Hahaha... a lowly Sect Elder such as you, do you, in all seriousness, believe that you could see my presence because of an error in my perfect concealment technique?
It would be foolish for me to even get close to this terrain of the shadow poison faction without knowing the limits of my concealment, have you even thought about that?
Yet, you believe that you detected my presence because of superior cultivation skills?
Coming across someone as ignorant as you, it is even rarer than encountering one of the Heavenly Court members.
Besides, someone like you wouldn't even know of the recent events that occured at the Heavenly Court."
[Daoist has successfully made a high ranking demonic cultivator doubt his own words!]
[Recalibrating Daoist's Aura output.. confirming upscale...]
[Passive Skill "Aura of the Spectral Venerable" has been unlocked: Kuang's suspicion levels are dropping rapidly.]
Nether Demon Kuang hesitated for another moment, he could feel the spiritual pressure the Daoist was radiating.
"This... this is the pressure of the spectral soul demon...!!", he realized.
Kuang hesitated for another moment, before regaining his temper short after.
"Oho? You claim to know about recent developments at the Heavenly Court?
How so, the demonic sect relies entirely on spies of the Beggar's sect to gather information and rumous of this matter?
It is said that the recent meetings there have been canceled, though even I know not much more about the specific details.
What would someone like you know about such complex matters?"
Upon hearing how the Nether Demon fell completely in her trap, Daoist let out a laugh.
"You call yourself a Sect Elder, yet you don't even know of the disappearance of multiple members of the Heavenly Court?
Think, even if your cognitive state is severely impaired seeing how you have been stuck with the illusion of being powerful, why would the meeting at the Heavenly Court be canceled?
Take the Antarctic Longevity Emperor for example.
The Beggar's sect and the whole world claims he is going through ascension tribulations, but in reality, he vanished without a trace.
Who do you think was behind all of that, make an educated guess with the low mental capacity you hold..."
Nether Demon Kuang froze in shock. He was in utter disbelief, hearing such information about the Antarctic Longevity Emperor.
[Daoist, the psychological defense of Kuang has reached 0 as it has completely collapsed.]
[Calculating cognitive state of Kuang... utter terror and as a result of the placebo-effect severe cognitive impairment.]
[Heavenly Upscale registered.. Passive Skill: "Aura of the Spectral Venerable" has been upgraded to the maximum level.]
"H-How is this possible... you made the highest ranking members of Heavenly Court vanish without a trace?
N-No... your grand title suggests an affiliation with the Star Constellation Immortal Venerable, you must be a disciple or someone below the Immortal Venerable then, so how could you make the Antarctic Longevity Emperor simply disappear?!"
Seeing how defenseless Kuang was, Daoist chose to eradicate this last bit of doubt in the Nether Demon.
By now, her passive skill Aura of the Spectral Venerable had reached such high spiritual pressure that even the surroundings began to change their shape...
"However much I despise admitting it, that person is someone I had once helped.
A fortunate encounter for that person, they decided to honor me by using my name in their Venerable's title.
It is nothing more and nothing less than an attempt to reach a copy of my greatness."
Hearing these words, Nether Demon Kuang was in absolute terror.
Even without understanding everything, the mere spiritual pressure was enough to make him realize he was no longer an opponent for Daoist Doffwy.
"Ah.. Ah.... You won't spare me, right?! Is this the end for this old demonic cultivator...?"
The Daoist had other plans, though.
"This Shadow Poison Faction is nothing more than a tool for me to reach greater heights.
I won't eradicate your existence just yet.
That is if you can prove your abilities to me.
In fact, this Daoist Heavenly True Spectral Star Constellation Demon Venerable allowed you to detect the concealment technique because I was in search of a suitable guide who could open the inner gates to the Demonic Sect's headquarters realm.
Tell me now, are you willing to cooperate and show your abilities to do that, or will you simply perish like an ant, insignificant to this world?"
Inside the mind of Nether Demon Kuang, while in utter terror, all sorts of theories shot through his head. He was thinking, although in panic, how to survive this encounter.
"This.. it all adds up now.
The reason nobody ever encountered the Demonic Sect Leader...
Why the information was only given via the magic talisman channels...
This cultivator right in front of me is the Mastermind of the demonic sect!!!
Not only that, this person is testing my loyalty to the sect...
Should it be shown that my willpower is not strong enough, I'm sure I would be eradicated in a single moment..."
Nether Demon Kuang drops to his knees, showing that he had completely resigned.
"Great Daoist Heavenly True Spectral Star Constellation Demon Venerable...
this lowly demon was blind!
Forgive my previous ignorance!
If your grand faction intends to restructure the shadow posion faction and the headquarters to prepare for the upcoming cosmic warfare, this Nether Demon would be more than willing to accompany you!"
With a completely cold and detached expression, Daoist chuckled as she ordered the old demon to get up.
Inside, she was surprised by how easy it was for her to fool this old demonic cultivator.
"Simply lead the way."
"R-Right away, Honorable One!", Kuang nodded, as he waved his skeletal hand, a dark portal emerged out of nowhere with red Qi surging from the inside.
[Daoist, Mission has been completed!]
[You have successfully infiltrated the core of the demonic sect!]
[Overwriting the Previous Records of the Age of Right Dharma Dimension...]
[Identity of Daoist True Heavenly Spectral Star Constellation Demon Venerable has been permanently anchored in the karmic records.]
[Daoist, using immaculate intellect and rhetorical skills unmatched in this world, you managed to deceive the key figures of the demonic sect.]
[Granting Reward: +300,000 Merit]
Seeing how Nether Demon Kuang had surrendered and the Alter Ego System not only grant her a maxed out passive spiritual pressure ability, but also 300,000 Merit, Daoist finally felt satisfied.
"Although I'm still not exactly sure what this Karmic merit does, since there is no System shop or anything along the lines of that.. it's similar to when I received 50,000 Merit points from an unknown source during my encounter with the great Sovereign... what could this be about?
It's probably not that important for now...
Seeing how even a Sect Elder bows to me, I should now be at the top of the hierarchy within the Demonic Sect.
Still, the main mission hasn't been completed yet, and once I enter the demonic sect headquarters, I will be able to obtain all sorts of treasures they possess!", Daoist thought for a while before finally entering the portal Kuang had opened.
The moment she stepped through the portal, a massive shockwave rippled through the central continent.
Then, a sudden golden global system message appeared right in front of her eyes, a notification that did not belong to the Alter Ego System.
[SYSTEM WARNING - an unauthorized entity is attempting to enter a forbidden dimension.]
[Source of origin - Central Plains]
[Target Identity Confirmed: Daoist Heavenly True Spectral Star Constellation Demon Venerable]
[Daoist has triggered a global system warning to all righteous system users!]
[Calculating intentions behind the global system...]
[Result: The forbidden dimension has been sealed to all righteous system users by USER "Sovereign"]
[Explanation: The Demonic Sect's Headquarters is inaccessible to all non-demonic sect members. Override this Sequence, Daoist?]
Daoist Doffwy hesitated for a moment, but out of curiosity, chose to enter the sealed forbidden dimension and agreed.
[Alter Ego: Initiating Progress, you may now enter the portal...]
[Tread with utmost caution; WARNING: Protection spells will be disabled in the forbidden dimension]
"Protection spells? Why would there be a warning about such a thing..."
...
Meanwhile, the Sovereign, who had been meditating deeply in the highest Cultivation Halls at the Heavenly Court noticed something change in the dimension.
"The seal on that dimension has been broken... I must investigate this further", Sovereign thought to himself as he opened his eyes...
...
At the same time, Venerable Light, who had almost reached the Capital of the Northern Plains Kingdoms, also received the global system warning as a "Righteous System User".
"Again? Who is behind all of this... wait, another system notification on top of that?"