Chapter 53: Blinded by a Single Leaf

Ye Fa and the others were heroes who rose to prominence among the human race of this world during its most dire hour. Not only were their cultivation levels extraordinary, but their breadth of mind and strategic acumen were also second to none. Yet, limited by their own perspectives and cultivation, their grand strategy to deal with the demon race—aiming for mutual destruction—remained the same old pattern: mobilizing forces, constructing warships, and preparing for a direct confrontation.

Chen Yang found the discussion somewhat tedious. These people were far too upright, or perhaps, their thinking simply could not turn in a new direction.

“Gentlemen, by the time you have all these preparations in place, the opportunity will have long slipped away. Besides, the demon race already intends to use these low-level beasts as a blood sacrifice. The more you kill, are you not simply playing into their hands?”

Seeing them stray further down a misguided path, Chen Yang could not help but interrupt.

His words did not incite any displeasure among them; after a brief silence, they all found sense in what he said. Ye Fa, the eldest and most accomplished among them—the one who personally established the Celestial Palace and acted as their nominal leader—immediately rose and bowed, saying, “We humbly ask for your guidance.”

Chen Yang, for all his pettiness—never forgetting a slight, always seeking repayment, yet equally repaying kindness a hundredfold—felt compelled to return the courtesy upon seeing Ye Fa’s attitude.

“In truth, our real enemies are not those mindless beasts. Once the demon rulers fall, those creatures will scatter like loose sand, easily cleared away in time. Our true adversaries are the demons who have gained intelligence, those who vie with humanity for survival.”

These were all men of talent, merely constrained by habitual thinking. For ages, they had regarded demon and beast as one and the same. Thus, whether in numbers or in elite power, the enemy’s advantage over humanity had become absolute, and as time passed, their position grew ever more overwhelming. Even with their steadfast resolve, faced with endless monsters and a foe whose strength grew daily after seizing the Northern Continent, they had each, at one time or another, felt despair.

But now, with a single insight from Chen Yang, the fog ahead seemed suddenly parted, and a ray of hope appeared.

“Indeed! The beasts are mindless; only under the command of the intelligent demon lords have they become a unified threat. Without those leaders, the beasts are nothing but scattered prey, fit only for slaughter.”

Everyone felt a surge of renewed vigor, but soon their faces clouded with bitter smiles. Even without the endless horde of lesser beasts, the demons’ strength still outmatched that of the Eastern Continent.

Moreover, how could one possibly separate the demons from their beastly legions? Yet, though the road ahead remained arduous, Chen Yang’s words had at least rekindled a glimmer of hope—however slim, hope was better than none.

By now, Chen Yang’s mastery of the demonic path had reached its peak. The rise and fall of thoughts among the group did not escape his notice. Though he could not read their minds in detail, he could easily surmise their general mood.

“I have a residence in the Eastern Sea once inhabited by an ancient true dragon. I also possess a treasure capable of transforming into a demonic dragon—employing certain means, we could easily deceive the demons.”

The residence he spoke of was, of course, the Crystal Palace at the sea’s heart, and the treasure was none other than his nominal disciple, Yang the Invincible. He had released the boy long ago, intending that he forge himself into a supreme demonic vessel. Though the process was incomplete, now that there was use for him, Chen Yang saw no reason to hesitate—there were always new talents to cultivate in the world of cultivation. Besides, his two true disciples still lacked proper protective treasures, especially the younger one, who after switching to the Celestial River Dharma, had devoted himself wholly to its study, neglecting the forging of magical artifacts. As a master, Chen Yang felt obliged to consider his disciple’s welfare.

“You mean to lure the serpent from its den?” someone asked.

Chen Yang nodded. “Precisely. I ask that you spread word among the demons that a true dragon’s remains have been found in the Dragon Palace. Given the choice between such a relic and the shadow of some unknown spirit, I believe the demons will know which to pursue.”

As soon as he finished, the Emperor of Li Tang volunteered, “Let this task fall to me. I will ensure the demons are utterly convinced.”

“Excellent,” Chen Yang approved, then turned to Ye Fa and the other four. “Leave the demons at the Dragon Palace to me. The rest of you should remain stationed on the Eastern Continent, but in secret; I suspect there are wily minds among the demons who will seize the chance to strike while our defenses appear thin.”

“Whether it’s the Dragon Palace or the Eastern Continent, if the demons seize either, they will gain the upper hand—and may not even need to resort to mutual destruction through blood sacrifice. We must exploit their opportunism, wait at our ease for the exhausted enemy, and secure a decisive victory.”

All present were convinced by Chen Yang’s strategy, except—

“Your plan is thorough, and we are impressed. But for you to face the entire demon host alone...”

Chen Yang merely smiled. “They are but beasts. I have my own methods.”

...

A formless sword-light shot skyward, slipping silently past the countless demon spies and barriers, leaving the Eastern Continent behind.

Meanwhile, Zhong Shenxiu lingered above the Eastern Sea’s heart, deep in thought. His sword-light shifted through myriad forms—sometimes splitting the sea for leagues, sometimes flowing like a fish with the current.

Having learned the location of the sea’s heart, he had journeyed here at once. But lacking both the cultivation and the artifact to withstand the sea’s surging power and to still the boundless undercurrents, he could only glimpse the Crystal Palace from afar, unable to approach.

Stubborn to a fault, Zhong Shenxiu had, ever since receiving the Five Peaks Swordsmanship from Chen Yang, relied solely on his own sword, the Hundred-Spirit Immortal Slayer. Even when hunted by the Taiyi Sect and its lackeys—fleeing for his life, narrowly escaping death—he never considered relying on magical treasures.

With but a single flying sword, he had faced every peril, and both his mastery of the Five Peaks Swordsmanship and his own innate talent had not failed him. In a mere twenty years, he had slain countless formidable foes, pinning even great cultivators—favored by heaven and earth—dead at the gates of their own sects.

Now, confronted by the forces of heaven and earth themselves, Zhong Shenxiu’s stubbornness remained. Rather than seek external aid, he strove instead to create a sword technique able to cleave open the very heart of the Eastern Sea.

Though he had yet to succeed, his efforts unknowingly aligned with the Daoist principle of following nature. In just a short time, his swordsmanship had advanced by leaps and bounds—already far surpassing the level he’d reached when he slew the master of Taiyi.