403 The Duke Thief
Azmodeus stopped strangling the fat bastard for a brief moment. Taking this as a good sign, the Duke cleared his throat and began to speak. "You made a good choice—" but before he could commence a whole drawn-out young master dialogue session, Azmodeus interrupted him with the sharp end of his blade, saying:
"I wish I cared whether or not you could do anything for me... but I just don't."
"N-No, pleazz—"
SHING!
SPURT!
As Azmodeus let go of the baffling idiot, a sword was momentarily unsheathed, and a flash of light careened around the Duke. His head was cut clean off as his wide eyes were still as wide as ever. More than any other emotion, disbelief was the one most prominent on his face. Even in the afterlife, he couldn't understand why his name and status held no sway in the face of the demon-masked man.
[Ding! You have killed a Grade 5 Immortal Emperor. The reward is 700,000,000 Immortal Evolution Essence!]
[Ding! You have...]
[Ding! Your cultivation has advanced to the 'Grade 6 Immortal King Realm (Early)!]
[Ding! Your Battle Power has moderately improved!]
Then again, it wasn't like he would be caught using normal methods. The fruitless efforts of Immortal General Razkar were proof enough of that unlikely eventuality. Yet, as with all things, there was always a way if one had enough power, money, or influence. Luckily for the late Duke Ashford, he was deeply intagled into the business of very powerful people. His partners and compatriots were so powerful that the Eternal Jade Heavens practically revolved around them.
Now, who were they, one might ask...?
"Say, senior brother," said a refined man wearing a golden robe embroidered with dragons. "Have you heard about the most recent death of Duke Ashford? You know, the one who handles most of our business in the Azureflask Empire?"
This man walked behind a slightly taller man wearing a similar outfit. However, contrary to the wild black hair of the first man, this man had his hair tied into a bun using a Phoenix pin. He lightly scoffed in annoyance, trying his best to make it seem like he cared about their Sect's business and not his own business. "I truly hate whoever committed such a heinous act on one of our own, Fang Ju," the man said with a tone oozing disdain.
Fang Ju nodded his head. "I totally agree, senior brother Ling Chao," he said. "Still, I wonder who will be put in as Duke Ashford's replacement. With the Emperor already the puppet of another, the viable choices are rendered abysmal..."
Outwardly, Ling Chao sighed along with his junior brother. However, on the inside, he was completely enraged. 'I swear on the Evil Gods that when I find out who killed one of my major moles, I'll skin them alive and fillet them on a spike!' His thoughts nearly leaked through his facial expression, yet with thousands of years of pretending to be something he was not, he grew accustomed to covering his true feelings and intent with a facade.
As he and his junior brother journeyed throughout the picturesque Fairyland scenery, he fervently agreed with everything that his junior brother said. It was best to do just that if he wished to keep his head down until it was time...
'With the Nine Evil Yin Immortal Realm preparing to make their move, I just need to be patient,' Ling Chao thought sinisterly. 'As long as no more mishaps occur and I keep things steady, then the ammassment of Evil Energy will have reached a tipping point. It is only after accomplishing such a thing that the Evil Sovereign will be able to pass over with his main body and the entirety of his Evil Legions.'
....
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Astral_Pandemonium