The second trial was a test of strategy, a battle of wits played out on a massive jade board. Azmodeus faced a representative from the Silver Moon Alliance, a sharp-eyed woman whose every move was calculated to trap him. But Azmodeus's mind was a weapon as sharp as any blade, and he outmaneuvered her with ease, his victory decisive.
By the time the third trial began—a test of endurance involving a labyrinth filled with traps and illusions—Azmodeus was the center of attention. His every move was watched, analyzed, and whispered about. But he remained focused, his thoughts on the greater game at play.
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The Hidden Threat
As the trials continued, Azmodeus couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. It wasn't the crowd—he was used to their scrutiny. No, this was something deeper, darker. His senses tingled as he scanned the pavilion, his gaze landing on the hooded figure he had noticed earlier.
The man hadn't participated in any of the trials, instead remaining in the shadows, his presence a quiet enigma. Azmodeus's eyes narrowed as he sensed a faint pulse of demonic energy emanating from him.
"Anna," he murmured, his voice low. "Keep an eye on the man in the dark robes. He's not who he seems."
Anna followed his gaze, her expression hardening. "You think he's one of them?"
"I'm sure of it," Azmodeus replied. "And he's not alone. They're planning something."
As the final trial approached—a grand melee involving all the remaining competitors—Azmodeus prepared himself for what was to come. The Nine Evil Yin Immortal Realm wouldn't waste an opportunity like this. And if they made their move, he would be ready.
Because Azmodeus didn't just play the game.
He rewrote it.
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The Celestial Jade Pavilion trembled beneath the onslaught of clashing forces, the serenity of the Eternal Jade Sect shattered by chaos. Azmodeus moved with purpose, his blade a blur of motion as he cut through the swarm of Nine Evil Yin cultivators that surged toward him. The dark energy they emanated was suffocating, but Azmodeus's absurdly powerful Immortal Emperor Realm aura flared in defiance, creating a barrier of calm in the storm of corruption.
Around him, the battlefield was a cacophony of roars, explosions, and the cries of the wounded. Ming Chao and the Half-Step Immortal Transcendent figures had engaged the leader of the invaders, their clash sending shockwaves that rattled the very fabric of the pavilion. Yet despite the overwhelming display of power, Azmodeus knew this was no ordinary skirmish—it was a meticulously planned invasion—one that had likely been in the works for eons
Anna, Zara, and Nova fought nearby, their coordination impeccable as they held the line against the enemy's relentless assault. Anna's fiery sword danced like a phoenix, cutting through waves of lesser cultivators, while Zara's frost-laden arrows struck true, freezing entire groups in place. Nova, her movements fluid and precise, dispatched her foes with a grace that bordered on artistry.
Even though they could not fight anything beyond the Immortal King Realm, they still did well to bolster the wills of the lower-ranking guests, subsequently urging everyone to join in the fray and defend the Pavilion. They believed that, even if they couldn't defeat the so-called cultivators from the Nine Evil Yin faction, they could still hold out until Ming Chao's older brother or the other Immortal Transcendents could arrive. Thinking this far made Azmodeus wonder why nobody higher up had made a move yet; were they caught up in something?
He instinctively looked toward the Eternal Jade Palace, where he felt unnaturally destructive auras spread out. Yet, before he could glean further into the truth, a voice called out from beside him, bringing his attention elsewhere.
"Azmodeus!" Anna called, her voice cutting through the chaos. "They're targeting the Jade Heart Array! If they destroy it, the entire pavilion will collapse!"
Azmodeus's gaze snapped toward the heart of the pavilion, where a group of Nine Evil Yin cultivators surrounded the array. The intricate formation of glowing jade runes flickered, struggling to maintain its stability under their assault.
...