41 The Hand

A few days later, the Earth Nation processional came to meet me within the Air Palace.

Five slim, round towers surround the palace.

Ornate windows are scattered thinly across the walls in an asymmetric pattern, along with overhanging crenelations for ranged fighters.

A moderate gate with heavy wooden doors and the vehement defense was at the center.

This palace had stood the test of time, giving great defense to the Air Nation. That is until I came along. Cracks showed here and there.

It was only a temporary residence, but I could get used to this luxury.

I sat on the throne. Beside me were the changelings in their 'dark elf' form. Air sphinx slaves kneeled obediently at the side. A young noble could get used to this life. Desires sprung up in my heart of having an ordinate castle within the Xertzul Abyss.

Sadly, there were no beauties beside me. I found the sphinx race unattractive. The animal-like heads made my mind unable to separate them from beasts.

This young noble could not lie with a beast! The day will come when this young noble conquers a realm of beauties, with human heads. Maybe I could even do human heads and fishtails. But animal heads and human bodies, that's just gross.

~~~

Wanfang looked upon the person sitting on the throne room seat. He looked like a devil from European lore.

Devils are real? No wonder they slaughtered the Air Nation. We are dealing with a fucking fantasy world devil.

In web novels devil cultivators slaughter and commit many atrocities. They were only a cheap knockoff of the actual thing. Here before me stood an actual devil. I can tell his attendants are powerful.

As soon as I entered, all my movements were under their grasp. If I did anything strange, my head would roll. These invaders are much stronger than the elementalists I've met. They are not hiding their powerful auras at all.

"I am Wanfang, leader of the Earth Nation," I said.

I walked up and bowed to the throned devil. Showing my due respect.

"It's good you understand you should bow to the young lord." said the dark elf closest to him.

He seemed to be the most dangerous.

"What World do you come from?"

"Why have you invaded the Tutan World?"

~~~

"Asking the important questions. You are smarter than the leaders of the Air Nation. They growled and barked until I turned them into dogs."

"I will inform you of my noble name. I am Devil Knight James, Hudson clan first lineage, a noble devil of the Rez'gal Empire. The Rez'gal Empire is an Empire of the Xertzul Abyss."

"I came here to conquer this pocket world."

"Why did you kill all the citizens of the Air Nation?" said Wanfang.

"I wanted to study Slaughter Dao, a trivial nation in a pocket world is incomparable to the completion of my Dao," said James.

Wanfang remembered in web novels, wuxia characters would always pursue the Dao. The Tutan World did not have Dao.

"I dare not bluster and boast that I know 'What is Dao?'. I can, however, make it clear to you. Dao is how all races advance in power." said James.

"From my understanding this realm has 4 distinct types of Dao in Air, Earth, Water, and Fire that people practice. Though they seem to only master one at a time. People in this world are not very talented in Dao."

"I can practice all four elements," said Wanfang.

Wanfang summoned a ball of each element. They swirled around him, creating a beautiful scene. The four elements of this plane all in balance.

[Meow, he's talented in the 4 Daos. Quickly make him a Sou's Chef.]

[Listen! 4 Daos in a meager pocket world! He could be your right hand.]

I took the Aspects words to heart.

"You are talented for a resident of this desolate pocket world. I offer you the chance to follow my side. These night elves you see around you are this devil's loyal followers."

"I treat my followers well. I will offer you my full support in the Xertzul Abyss, covering your cultivation resources, cultivation arts, and protection."

"Know this, I did not offer the leaders of the Air Nation a choice. I forced them into chattel slavery, with the rest of them being slaughtered by their very own leaders."

"Quickly make your choice, this devil doesn't have all day. Your Earth Nation was smart to come here and discuss terms with me."

Wanfang thought it over. This offer was amazing to him. He would enter an unfamiliar world, with resources, backing, and the ability to grow beyond the confines of this world.

Wanfang felt no attachment to the Tutan World. He longed to find his way back to Earth.

Fighting to live or die in this cage was not his plan. Wanfang still had morals. As the leader of the Earth Nation, he had to get something for his people.

"I will be your follower as long as you spare the citizens of the Earth Nation from the slaughter you committed in the Air Nation."

"Hoping to discuss terms for your people. I value your valiant efforts. However, their lives are not yours to bargain," said James.

"The lives of everyone in this pocket world were forfeit to me the moment I entered. Your own life was forfeit when you came to this capital."

"Right now your choice is rather I take your life, take your liberty, or bless you with the grace of being this devil lord's follower allowing you to pursue happiness. You have a minute."

"Make your choice well. This devil lord has entertained you for far too long."

I felt my young noble facade had considerably improved while sitting on the throne seat. Having so many strong followers by my side let my arrogance grow by leaps and bounds. With Azon near me, who would I dare not offend?

The devil's speech dumbfounded Wanfang. This devil was arrogant and unreasonable. According to the devil his choice was rather he left this place dead, a slave, or a follower.

Seeing the former Air Nation elites docile beside him, he had a foreboding feeling. He knew about slavery from reading web novels. It was something almost impossible to get free from.

"The Earth Nation will be your most stalwart followers!" said Wanfang.

"I only desire you, Wanfang. The rest are barely fit to be slaves. They can not follow this young devil lord," said James.

"Spinx slaves and dark elf followers prove your loyalty and capture these insects of the Earth Nation," said James.

Wanfang made his choice.

"I will do whatever you ask," said Wanfang as he stepped away from the Earth Nation elites and prepared to battle.

"I apologize, but you are standing in the way of my new young lord's progress," said Wanfang.

Wanfang attacked the elites of the Earth Nation!

"Traitor! How could you betray our entire world?"

"Earth spike!"

"Avalance!"

"Tremor!"

"Taste the power of all four elements!"

"Fire Tornado!"

"Mudslide!"

Wanfang attacked with mixed elemental attacks. They were more powerful than the single element attacks of the Tutan World residents.

The Earth Nation elites fought valiantly. Some even met a quick death as they attempted to attack me sitting on my throne. They soon learned how foolish that was, Azon killed whoever came near me instantly.

The Earth Nation elites soon all died or surrendered.

My ranks suffered several casualties. The changelings stayed by my side, ensuring my safety. Conquering a realm, casualties are expected. Without the changelings fighting for me, battles were hard-earned victories.

The dark elves, Mhoryga, Eldrin, and Aymar fell in the battle. I will remember their noble sacrifice.

[13 members of Libra deceased]

[1 sphinx follower and 23 sphinx slaves added to Libra]

[Libra now has 35 sphinx Knight slaves]

"I'm sorry for your loss, Kyle. You know it isn't peaceful being a follower to a devil. Your tribe of dark elves will rise through their sacrifices," said James.

"Soon you will have your very own pocket world to call your own for your valiant efforts."

"Yes, young lord. I will take my comrades back to our home village to memorialize," said Kyle.

"Your choice was wise, Wanfang. The Dao is strong with you. A powerful follower you will become," said James.

"My group is Libra. Henceforth you will be known as Libra's Hand. Every single citizen of the Earth Nation is now an enemy of Libra."

"You must hurry, if they are not all destroyed it will be a war without end. Catch them off balance. Do not hesitate, show no mercy, only then will I see that your loyalty is genuine."

"Carry out my will and slaughter the residents of the Earth Nation. My sphinx slaves will assist you."

"Yes, young lord. I will do whatever you ask."

After seeing the brutal actions of the devil's protectors, Wanfang had no thoughts of rebellion. All that attacked the devil turned into cold-lifeless corpses.

The six protectors were his most powerful aids. Wanfang doubted he could defeat even one of them.

"Azon get me a carriage. I must observe this slaughter to strengthen my Dao."

"Yes, young lord," said Azon.

~~~

Within a week they razed the Earth Nation to the ground. The Water Nation and Fire Nation quickly made an alliance grouping their strongest elites together. They had to defend from the madness. The leaders of the Earth and Air Nation had slaughtered their very own people!

This mass chaos had never occurred in the Tutan World. It was grim times for the sphinx race.

~~~

My Slaughter Dao has grown from the blood of this nation. When I am done with this domain, my understanding of slaughter should break through to the third level. What's my status.

[Host: James Hudson

Race: Devil

Job: Chef

Age: 16

Cultivation: mid-Knight

Cultivation Arts: Flint \u0026 Tinder Art (Tier-2)

Battle Skills: Hollow Aura

Minor Daos: Soul (27%), Devil(24%), Fire(16%), Slaughter (22%)

Inborn Ability: Soul Eyes (Suppressed)

Auxiliary Arts: Blacksmithing (Tier-1), Soul Reading (Tier-2), Contracts (Tier-3)]

Slaughter is so difficult to raise my proficiency in. I killed two entire nations with thousands of residents just for me to reach the Knight level in it. It's fast, but the resources required are unsustainable. It will be a gigantic task to raise my Slaughter Dao beyond Tier 3.

[Meow, Slaughter Dao is relative to the ones being slaughtered.]

[Hey! Slaughtering a bunch of mortals is less effective than slaughtering Esquires.]

The souls that the book has collected are so many. How will I ever purge all this resentment with the [Flint \u0026 Tender Art]? It took me an entire week to do one Esquire soul before.

[Meow, you need to take time to study the Soul Refining Scripture]

Right, I must properly digest that scripture when I have the chance. Once I delve into it, I will find a proper usage for all these souls I have collected.

My plans are going great. There shouldn't be many snags to taking over this realm since we have conquered 2 nations.

I must scour this realm for resources!