A conspiracy.
"However..."
The Crimson Demon’s tone shifted as he stood up and continued, "My Crimson Demon Palace will not participate in this matter."
The various demon gods showed a range of expressions: some were surprised, some displeased, but most were simply confused.
Everyone knew that in recent years, the Crimson Demon and the High Priest had been at odds over the matter of the Nether Gate, their conflict growing quite intense.
The relationship between the two sides had long since reached a state of daggers drawn, as incompatible as fire and water.
In fact, the source of this entire situation stemmed from that very conflict.
Setting aside the Crimson Demon and the High Priest, even those gathered here—and indeed the entire upper echelon of the Demon Abyss—had split into two opposing factions because of this issue.
They had engaged in many covert and overt maneuvers, and every family had lost many people in the process.
The struggle for power had already entered a white-hot phase.
Previously, most of those present supported opening the Nether Gate, while a small number were consistently indecisive, feeling that opening it or keeping it closed were both acceptable options.
Chi Ming had been isolated and without support.
Logically, since everyone had gathered today—including the families that had previously supported opening the Nether Gate, like the Qing, Lan, Zi, and Huang families—to discuss how to deal with the High Priest, Chi Ming should have been the one to take the lead. Instead, he chose not to participate at all.
This was beyond their understanding.
What was he thinking? Could it really be that he was afraid because his daughter had been kidnapped and he felt betrayed by his closest comrades?
Was he scared?
This was not the Chi Ming they knew.
One of them asked, "Brother Ming, what exactly do you mean by that?"
Chi Ming explained, "Don't misunderstand, everyone. You all know that the youth named Bai Mang saved my daughter's life. He has done a favor for my Crimson Demon Palace. Throughout my life, I have always acted with integrity. While I may not be able to ensure his safety, I will certainly not kick him while he is down or repay his kindness with enmity."
The demon gods fell silent, and their gazes drifted away.
When put that way, it was true. Given Chi Ming's character, the fact that he wasn't interfering was already a significant concession.
If they forced him to act, it would indeed be a betrayal of his benefactor.
This was very much Chi Ming's way of doing things.
However...
The implications of this matter were far from a single person's gain or loss; it concerned the interests of the entire demon race and all heavenly demon race members.
By choosing minor personal virtue over the greater cause, Chi Ming inevitably lost a bit of respect in their eyes. They thought to themselves that he was someone who couldn't achieve great things.
They realized this was likely why Chi Ming, despite being the most senior demon god in the Demon Abyss and having strength clearly superior to the ten of them—being the only one in the entire Demon Abyss who could stand toe-to-toe with the High Priest without losing—was not one of the priests. The High and Low Priests were Jin Qing and Jin Yu, not him.
This was the fundamental reason.
The Wind Demon said in a low voice, "Since Brother Chi has put it that way, fine. We will not force you. However, we hope you remember your identity. For the sake of our shared heavenly demon race heritage, do not interfere or try to stop us."
With those words, he gave him a graceful exit while also blocking any path for him to backtrack later.
Chi Ming neither refused nor agreed. He simply excused himself, saying, "Everyone, please continue. Chi will take his leave now."
The demon gods watched him go. It was only after he had completely left the hall and the doors were closed again that sparse whispers began to circulate.
"What do you think that old fellow is thinking? Is he really not going to get involved?"
"By not acting himself, he's already given plenty of face to the High Priest and that kid. Do you really expect him to help them?"
"Exactly. If that kid really gains control of the nether fire, then Chi Ming will have to open the Nether Gate whether he wants to or not. Do you think he's stupid?"
"That makes some sense..."
After the Crimson Demon left, the oldest among them, the Yellow Demon, slowly scanned the remaining eight people. "Is there anyone else who wants to leave, like the Crimson Demon?"
The crowd fell silent. No one answered, and no one stood up.
Their attitude was clear.
At this moment, their interests were aligned.
"Good. Since no one is leaving, let everyone share their views. Should we do this? How should we do it? And when?"
The demon gods looked at one another, their eyes filled with evasion as they harbored their own thoughts.
"Azure Demon, why don't you go first?"
The Azure Demon sat upright and did not dodge the question. He said in a heavy voice, "Although I have always supported the High Priest and her goal to open the Nether Gate, one thing is separate from the other. This third-class mortal demon, Bai Mang, dared to secretly learn primordial demon art. That is a capital offense. I don't care who gave it to him, nor do I care if he can actually learn it. Rules are rules. The demon records are solemn and sacred; they must not be desecrated."
The Blue Demon lightly clapped her hands. "Clap, clap, clap!" Her eyes were full of praise as she smiled and said, "'Solemn and sacred, must not be desecrated.' Well said!"
The Azure Demon gave her a cold look, clearly showing his disdain for her exaggerated praise.
Though she had been met with a cold response, it wasn't the first time.
The Blue Demon didn't mind. She continued on her own, "I'll state my position as well. It's not that I want to betray the High Priest, but... as everyone knows, the High Priest is getting older. Sometimes she gets confused. As her subordinates and elders of the Nether Hall, we cannot simply watch her make mistake after mistake and do nothing."
Both of them had been the High Priest's most loyal supporters, but now they were defecting one after another. Furthermore, their words were framed so beautifully that one couldn't find a single flaw in them.
It was clearly a matter of self-interest, yet they spoke as if they were taking a high moral ground, giving off a distinct sense of hypocrisy.
Among the other eight, some found it acceptable and looked on with satisfaction; some watched the drama with gloating expressions; and of course, some were utterly disgusted and looked upon them with contempt.
Naturally, it wasn't that they thought the position was wrong, but they simply couldn't stand that style of behavior.
"Heh... I'm not like you lot. I'm not that noble. I just want to deal with that kid. He must die. If he really manages to learn the Nether Fire Secret Art, what then? When that time comes, forget about any catastrophe—the very heavens of the Demon Abyss will truly change."
"Exactly. Everyone knows what the High Priest has done in the past. To protect a mortal demon, she slaughtered her own kin. Not a single person from the hundred-plus members of the Jin family was spared. Who knows if this time she'll slaughter us for the sake of this mortal demon?"
Although their words were harsh, the logic held.
Most people in the Demon Abyss didn't know about the High Priest's past, and a few had only heard rumors, but these individuals knew the details very well.
The reason they were so sensitive now was because there was a precedent.
If she could do such a thing back then, there was no guarantee she wouldn't do it again.
Especially since they all knew that Jin Qing was desperate to inherit the will of the former demon sovereign and revitalize the demon race.
If that kid failed to learn the nether fire, it wouldn't be a problem—they could just kill him.
But if he actually mastered it, given her character, she would definitely protect him to the death.
She would even install him in that position. At that point, they wouldn't be discussing whether to kill him or not, but whether they even could.
If things truly reached that stage, it would be too late for everything.
"Fine. Since no one has any objections, the matter is settled."
"I have no objections."
"Neither do I."
The nine demon gods were in unanimous agreement. Following that, they discussed how to execute the plan and when to do it, with everyone offering their own suggestions and opinions.
They unanimously decided to let their subordinates act first. This would serve to test the High Priest's attitude and reaction; furthermore, if things truly escalated, they could keep their own hands clean.
Even if they were dissatisfied with the High and Low Priests, they still had to be wary of them.
The Yellow Demon made the final call:
"The big picture is what matters most. Let the Demon Court enforcement squad handle this. On the grounds of... stealing primordial demon art, sentence Bai Mang to death. His remains are to be thrown into the Demon Void."
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