strictlysupreme Chapter 10: Conquering the Demon Palace and Deploying Enemies, Showcasing the Villain's Wisdom
Chapter 10: Conquering the Demon Palace and Deploying Enemies, Showcasing the Villain's Wisdom
The shadowy figure's voice was deep and urgent: "Palace Master, our scouts report that the righteous allied forces have approached within a hundred miles of the Demon Palace and are expected to arrive by noon tomorrow!"
These words made the atmosphere in the council hall even more tense. The faces of the elders grew paler, and some even began to tremble.
“Bai Li… Bai Li…” an elder murmured to himself, his voice filled with despair, “My Demon Palace’s defenses are in ruins, how can we withstand the attack of the righteous alliance?”
Another elder chimed in, "Yes, Palace Master, why don't we...why don't we seek peace with the righteous path?"
"Sue for peace?" Dai Yao sneered, a cold glint in her eyes. "Sue for peace with those hypocrites? Do you think they'll let us go? It will only put us in an even more passive position!"
"But...but what's our situation now..." The elder wanted to say something more, but Dai Yao interrupted him.
"No buts!" Dai Yao slammed her hand on the table, stood up, and her eyes blazed. "My Demon Palace has stood for a thousand years. How can we bow down to those petty villains? Even if we fight to the last man, we will make them pay a terrible price!"
She looked around, her voice firm: "Everyone, I know the situation is terrible, but we can't give up hope! We still have the Blood Demon Sword, and we still have me! As long as we work together, we will definitely overcome this crisis!"
Dai Yao's words ignited the fighting spirit of some elders, but some elders still harbored doubts.
“Palace Master, it’s not that we’re afraid of death, it’s just… the Demon Palace is really short of resources, and many of our defensive facilities can’t be repaired. How can we withstand the attack of the righteous alliance?” an elder asked cautiously.
Dai Yao took a deep breath, suppressing the anxiety in her heart.
She knew that the elders' concerns were not unfounded.
The Demon Palace is indeed lacking in resources; this is an indisputable fact.
“I know,” Dai Yao said in a deep voice, “but we cannot give up the fight because of this. I will find a way to solve the resource problem.”
"What brilliant plan does the Palace Master have?" Elder Mo Yu asked, his tone tinged with doubt.
He was always strict and suspicious, and did not fully trust Dai Yao, the palace master who had suddenly appeared.
Dai Yao smiled slightly, a sly glint in her eyes.
"Elder, do you still remember, in the Demon Palace's treasury..." She paused deliberately, looking at Elder Mo Yu with a meaningful gaze, "...there were also some sealed magical treasures?"
Dai Yao smiled mysteriously. "Elder, have you forgotten that the Blood Demon Sword chose me as its master? Since it has chosen me, it will naturally not let me surrender. I sense that there are still rare treasures in the treasure vault."
Elder Moyu raised a thick eyebrow, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes.
“Rare treasures? We’ve already turned the treasure vault upside down. What could possibly escape our notice?” He stroked his white beard, his tone tinged with disdain.
“Elder, you are unaware,” Dai Yao shook her head, feigning profundity, “The concept of destiny is elusive and intangible; how can mortals perceive it? The magical treasures I sensed were sealed by powerful restrictions and connected to the destiny of the Demon Palace. They cannot be detected by ordinary means.” She paused, then continued, “If the Blood Demon Sword were not connected to my mind, I would not have been able to sense this hidden power.”
As Dai Yao spoke, she led Elder Mo Yu to the depths of the Demon Palace's treasure vault.
She closed her eyes, her slender fingers tracing lines in the air as if sensing something.
A moment later, she suddenly opened her eyes and pointed to an inconspicuous stone wall in the corner of the treasure vault, "It's right there!"
Elder Moyu stepped forward with some skepticism and carefully examined the stone wall.
He reached out to touch it, but felt a powerful force blocking him, preventing him from getting closer.
Seeing this, Dai Yao chuckled and took out a blood-red jade pendant from her storage bag, which was the sword spirit of the Blood Demon Sword.
She placed the jade pendant on the stone wall, and a flash of red light appeared on the wall, revealing a hidden stone door that slowly opened.
Behind the stone gate was a secret chamber containing dozens of treasure chests, each radiating powerful spiritual energy.
Elder Moyu was speechless with shock at the sight before him.
He never expected that such a powerful batch of magical treasures would be hidden in the Demon Palace's treasury!
His gaze toward Dai Yao changed from initial suspicion to admiration.
"The Palace Master is indeed a genius!" Elder Moyu exclaimed sincerely.
With these magical treasures, the Demon Palace's defenses will be greatly enhanced, and they might actually be able to withstand the attack of the righteous alliance!
Dai Yao smiled calmly, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She knew this was only the first step. She had even bolder plans.
Back in the council chamber, Dai Yao laid out her entire plan.
She planned to use the complex terrain of the Demon Palace to set traps, lure the righteous alliance into an ambush, and then annihilate them in one fell swoop!
This plan is bold and risky, but if it succeeds, it will reverse the Demon Palace's disadvantage and may even turn defeat into victory!
Some elders agreed with Dai Yao's plan, believing it to be the best option at present.
However, some elders expressed concern, believing the plan was too risky and that failure would lead to even greater losses for the Demon Palace…
"Palace Master, I think this matter..." Elder Bai Mei was interrupted by Dai Yao before he could finish speaking. "Elder, do you still remember how the Demon Palace was forced into such a predicament by the righteous path back then? Blindly retreating will only embolden the enemy!" Her voice was deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.
She looked around, her gaze sharp. "Now that we have these powerful weapons and the opportunity to fight back, why should we still be timid and hesitant?"
“But Palace Master, the righteous path is coming with great force this time, we…” another elder said worriedly.
"The righteous path is coming on strong?" Dai Yao sneered. "They're just relying on their numbers! In terms of individual combat ability, how can they compare to the disciples of my Demon Palace?" She walked to the center of the council hall, stood with her hands behind her back, and a powerful aura emanated from her. "Elders, have you forgotten the glory of my Demon Palace? How glorious we once were! Now, are we willing to be trampled under their feet?"
Dai Yao's impassioned speech ignited the fighting spirit of many elders. They all expressed their support for Dai Yao's plan and their willingness to fight alongside her against the righteous alliance.
However, some conservative members of the Demon Palace were worried that the plan was too risky. They whispered among themselves and exchanged uneasy glances.
An elder with gray hair and a hunched back stepped forward shakily. "Palace Master, it is not that I am afraid of death, but... I am just worried that if this plan fails, we will suffer heavy losses instead!"
Dai Yao did not immediately refute, but instead took out a stack of letters from her storage bag and threw them onto the council table.
"Elders, look! This is the true face of the so-called 'righteous path'!"
The letters were scattered, revealing evidence of collusion between the righteous faction and traitors within the Demon Palace, and even detailed plans on how to work together from the inside to dismantle the Demon Palace.
The council chamber erupted in uproar, and the elders who had previously harbored doubts turned ashen-faced.
They never imagined that the righteous path could be so despicable and shameless!
"This...how is this possible!" The hunched elder trembled as he picked up a letter. His old eyes were cloudy, but he could not hide his shock and anger.
"The facts are clear, what's impossible?" Dai Yao sneered. "They have no intention of negotiating peace with us; they only want to wipe us out!" Her tone was firm. "Therefore, we only have one path to take, and that is to fight! Only by fighting can we win a chance to survive!"
The council chamber fell silent; everyone was shocked by the sudden truth.
They finally understood that Dai Yao's plan was not reckless, but the only choice after careful consideration.
Dai Yao's plan has received initial approval.
The corners of her mouth rose slightly, revealing a confident smile.
She turned to look out the window, her gaze deep. "Now, it's up to us to put on a good show..." She paused, then said softly, "Elder Mo Yu, could you come here for a moment..."
Elder Mo Yu, tall and stern-faced, approached Dai Yao and clasped his hands in greeting, "What are your orders, Palace Master?" Dai Yao unfolded a map, pointing to several strategic locations around the Demon Palace, her voice low, "We need to set up ambushes here, here, and here, catching them off guard." She paused, a sly glint in her eyes, "Remember, it must be completely concealed. The righteous sects mustn't detect a single clue." Elder Mo Yu frowned, studying the map. "Palace Master's plan is brilliant, but… our resources are currently scarce; I'm afraid we can't afford to set up such a large-scale trap." Dai Yao smiled confidently, "I have a way." She took out several stones shimmering with strange light from her storage bag. "These are Illusionary Spirit Stones; they can be used to create illusions and confuse the enemy." Elder Mo Yu's eyes flashed with surprise, then he nodded, "Palace Master is wise."
Over the next few days, Dai Yao led the members of the Demon Palace to set up traps in the mountains and forests surrounding the Demon Palace. The illusion created by the Illusionary Spirit Stones, combined with the Demon Palace disciples' exquisite formations, turned this mountain forest into a labyrinth full of dangers.
However, just as the trap was about to be completed, Dai Yao keenly sensed something unusual—a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy was hidden in the dense forest.
Her heart sank. Could it be...? "Be careful, there's a spy!" Dai Yao shouted in a low voice, and her figure flashed and disappeared from the spot.
Elder Moyu's expression changed, and he immediately ordered his disciples to be on guard.
Deep in the woods, a dark figure flashed by, leaving behind a sentence that drifted in the wind: "Their plan... seems more meticulous than we imagined..." Dai Yao stood atop a tall tree, her gaze sharp as she watched the direction the figure had disappeared, a cold smile playing on her lips: "Heh, interesting..." She leaped, her figure disappearing into the night. "It seems this game is getting more and more exciting." She stopped before a cave, looking at the faint light flickering at the entrance, and slowly spoke: "Come out, I know you're here."