"Bring me the one named Li."

The War Demon clenched his jaw but dared not defy the command.

The Healing Demon, meanwhile, fixed his gaze on Li An, tilting his head in curiosity. The young girl, while undoubtedly talented, did not seem extraordinary enough to warrant the cult leader's personal interest.

He turned to the soldiers with his signature smile. "Alright, little insects, scurry away. There is nothing more to see here."

The soldiers hesitated, but the authority of a superior was absolute, especially when it came from someone as illustrious as the Healing Demon, the cult leader's left hand.

Li An's eyes widened as she watched the Healing Demon and the War Demon inscribe runes of demonic energy on the ground behind the stage. The small purple symbols absorbed the surrounding pure spiritual energy, condensing a pink mist around Li An and the two highest-ranking officers in the southern front.

"Wait, where are the lieutenants and the colonels?" Li An's body stiffened as she realized everyone had vanished, leaving only the three of them. She hadn't even seen them move.

The Healing Demon placed his hands on his waist and stared at her. "Surprised, are we? Mhmm... what was your name again? Li Dan?"

"Li An."

He clicked his tongue. "Yeah, that was it! As I was saying, you've likely never seen a formation like this. Most people show a bit more emotion, so I must admit I'm slightly disappointed. Makes me want to open you up to see what fascinates the boss so much."

"A formation?" Li An walked to the edge of the mist and reached out with her hand. To her surprise, her hand passed through without disturbing the fog. "Is this even real?"

"It is and it isn't. Our cult leader is known as the Faceless Demon because of his mastery over illusion qi," the Healing Demon explained. "There are rumors that he obtained an inheritance belonging to an expert from the Mainland, so he could spread the knowledge of formations and communication jades among the cultivators of the Black Lotus Cult."

"An inheritance from the Mainland?" Li An couldn't say she was not interested. Even the Healing Demon seemed enraptured by the mention of it. "I will have to see whether it is possible to acquire it in the future."

"Oh, we are here. That was fast."

The green-haired man's playful voice jolted Li An from her thoughts.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Look below you."

Li An obeyed and her pupils dilated upon seeing a pristine white marble floor beneath her feet. A shiver of fear gripped her heart. "This illusion qi is terrifying."

The mist gradually dissipated, revealing the immaculate walls of a mansion adorned with paintings of demonic cultivators in acts of carnage and torches held by silver hooks. They were clearly no longer in the same location.

"The teleportation formation is remarkable, isn't it?" The Healing Demon smirked at her. "It's a pity it can't transport more than five people at once, or this war would have been over."

"Tch, hypocrite. I'm sure you love this war, with so many dead people to boost your life qi," the War Demon grumbled for the first time since they activated the formation.

The Healing Demon stared at him with a silly face and a huge grin. "C'mon, little War Demon, why are you so sour? Should I turn you into a beautiful corpse?"

"Try me."

Their Nascent Soul auras erupted, and the marble floor seemed to bend under the immense pressure. Even Li An found it difficult to circulate her spiritual energy. The Healing Demon was clearly one or two stages above the War Demon, evidenced by the way he suppressed the other to his knees with disdain etched in his eyes.

"I am waiting."

The malevolent voice resonated again through the trio's minds. Instantly, the Healing Demon and the War Demon ceased their hostilities and bowed their heads, resembling obedient puppies.

"Let's go, girl. The boss wishes to see you. I advise you to comport yourself with decorum if you value that pretty head of yours," the Healing Demon warned solemnly.

They walked through the empty corridors. They walked for more than one hour, yet it felt as if they remained in the same place. Li An had never felt so vulnerable. Her senses were unreliable, and her intuition might be entirely fabricated in this realm of illusions.

The Healing Demon and War Demon's expressions were calm, but Li An was aware that perhaps even their expressions were an illusion of her mind. Trust was a luxury she could not afford here—not in others, and not in herself.

Her heart grew cold. She realized she had grown too arrogant recently. It was a sobering reminder of her relatively low cultivation in this world and the constant presence of those stronger than her. True dominance came from utterly defeating someone and extracting their value when they were completely under her control, much like Elder Jiang, Ning Bing, and Private Xia.

Unbeknownst to her, a door had materialized before them. It was an ancient, splintered wooden door, incongruous with the opulent surroundings of the mansion.

Li An frowned as she looked at the wall surrounding the door. She could perceive it, yet its image refused to surface in her thoughts, rendering her unable to describe or remember it no matter how hard she tried.

She hadn't even glimpsed the cult leader, and her palms were already sweaty. "I must play the part of the obedient and friendly subordinate."

The Healing Demon knocked lightly three times on the door, his fingers trembling slightly. "The Healing Demon humbly greets the cult leader. May we enter?"

"Come forth."

Li An stepped through the door, following the two Nascent Soul cultivators, and was immediately swallowed by the inky darkness beyond.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself alone in a silent, shadowy throne hall.

Humble braziers at the bottoms of each of the fourteen obsidian columns lit up most of the room and bathed the hall in a dancing glow of orange. The thousands of gems on the rounded ceiling danced in the flickering light while statuettes looked down upon the slate floor.

A saffron rug ran down from the throne and split to encircle the entire hall while winged banners with burnished fringes decorated the walls. Between each banner hanged a small luster, almost all of them had been lit and in turn illuminated the artistic depictions of war heroes below them.

And then, there was the focal point of the room.

A grand throne of burning hot obsidian sat in front of a giant painting of the Black Lotus Cult territory. The throne was covered in crimson emblems and fixed on each of the thick legs was a carved, bloodstained dagger.

Seated upon that throne was a figure. Whether it was a man or a woman was indiscernible, for it had neither face nor name. Yet, everyone in the Black Lotus Cult knew it as the Faceless Demon, the very being that kept the three peak Nascent Soul cultivators of the Skyshadow Sect from waging an all-out war against the Black Lotus Cult.

Li An could see the figure, but much like the walls she had seen earlier, her mind refused to form a clear picture of it.

"Why did I stop thinking about the absence of the War Demon and the Healing Demon? That’s not like me," Li An thought, her face turning ashen as a wave of nausea washed over her. Though she tried to maintain her composure, she doubted even her own thoughts now.

"Do not overthink, Li An." Its voice, eerily identical to hers, sounded amused. "I did not summon you to kill you."

"Yes, milord." She bowed low, her forehead nearly touching the floor.

The Faceless Demon chuckled, its voice warping into a deep male tone with some raspiness in the long words. "There's no need to pretend before me. Be yourself."

"I don't dare," Li An shouted fearfully, letting her knees buckle as she fell to the ground.

Her head bowed, she could not see its featureless white face, but she felt in her bones that it was frowning.

"I will say it again. Be yourself."

"Like hell I will," Li An was right about to deny faking her behavior when she noticed a strange emptiness on her right.

"What?" She turned slightly, her lips twitching as she saw the empty space where her right arm should have been.

She could not control her body’s regeneration, and soon her flesh began to knit itself together and the bone grew visibly, forming a new limb within minutes. The Faceless Demon watched the entire process in silence. Without a face or gaze to read, and sitting utterly motionless, it offered no clues to its thoughts or emotions.

"You appear to be born with an extraordinary physique," it remarked casually. "If I am not mistaken, it is known as the Immortal Body, the second finest daoist physique for combat."

Li An detected no greed in its tone, but she knew it could easily mask its true feelings if it wished. She was also aware that she had not been born with any special physique, and what she possessed was not this so-called Immortal Body. "Admitting to that would be even more dangerous; it might torture me for the method to gain this body."

There was a possibility it wasn’t interested in crippling its meridians and starting anew with her cultivation method, but Li An was not willing to take that risk.

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"I—"

"Before you speak, remember that I do not appreciate scheming and acting in front of me," it interrupted her with a voice like that of a friendly little girl.

Li An stiffened and her face turned cold. "I don't know what a daoist physique is, but I was indeed born this way. I assume you have not called me just for that."

It tilted its head slightly. "No, I have not. I wish to determine what to do with you. I have received reports that you used water qi, ice qi, and a peculiar technique that repelled the blows of several cultivators at a higher realm than yours. Your talent is a bit too extraordinary for some of the other elders."

"Water qi, ice qi? I only created water and ice using science, then reinforced them with spiritual energy. Could there be a connection between this method and the origin of elemental qi?" Li An’s heart began to beat a bit faster at the thought. If there was such a connection, it would open numerous possibilities for the future.

The Faceless Demon saw her without any intent to answer and its tilted head leaned even more to the left.

"I want you."

Li An froze.

If the being had spoken those words with greed, she would have understood. With compassion, she would have been creeped out. Even if it had been with disgust, Li An would have been able to accept it.

But there was nothing.

A monotone with no highs or lows, as if reading from a dictionary in a monk’s quiet chamber. The statement was presented as a mere fact.

Before she could say anything, the Faceless Demon continued, "What do you think of this war, Li An?"

This time, its voice took on the cadence of a patient schoolteacher, so Li An responded with due respect.

"It is a crucial conflict for both the sect and the cult, as it holds the inheritance that could enable one of you to ascend beyond the Nascent Soul realm. At present, the cult is at a disadvantage, which is concerning," she summarized as simply as she could.

It giggled like a mischievous child. "Wrong answer!"

"Do I look troubled by our losses?" it asked, amusement lacing its tone.

"No."

A chill crept down Li An’s spine. Perhaps her understanding of this war was more superficial than she realized. The Faceless Demon seemed to view the entire situation as a game.

"Look, little girl. If I wished, I could march to the inheritance site, kill everyone, and claim victory immediately. Even the three peak Nascent Soul cultivators of the Skyshadow sect are no match for me. We exist on different planes," it chuckled, though it had no mouth. "They require the inheritance to hope for advancement. I am already on the path to ascension. We are fundamentally different."

That's when Li An grasped the truth about the Faceless Demon. It wasn't trying to win the war. It was trying to cultivate powerful warriors to succeed him after he left Mu Island, most likely to gather and send him resources when necessary.

As for the inheritance that could lead to higher realms, Li An was certain the process would be prolonged and arduous, as they would need to conquer the site and the journey to surpass the Nascent Soul realm would undoubtedly be challenging.

"You shall be the new Young Demon of the Black Lotus Cult and my personal disciple. The War Demon has already relinquished his claim to your apprenticeship; I ensured that," it proclaimed with a deep, authoritative male voice. "I care not for your secrets, your methods, or your past. Prove your excellence, and I shall bestow upon you the position of cult leader."

Li An's smile broadened, a glimmer of excitement dancing in her eyes. "As you wish, cult leader."

This time, her excitement was genuine, for she knew that any deception would be discerned by the Faceless Demon. However, the true reason for her excitement lay not in her promotion, but in making the cult leader believe she trusted its words. "As if I would believe anything it says."

They were both seasoned manipulators. Their experience had taught them the game of life. It made them understand what all those grave-faced men in the armies had failed to grasp.

One can only win a game by recognizing it as such.

May a man play chess telling himself every pawn is a friend. May he think that the two bishops are sacred. May he remember joyful days under the shadows of his towers. May the man love his queen.

And watch as he loses them all.

It is a game. So she would play her pieces, just as the Faceless Demon would play its own.

"Grant me an independent unit and resources of pure spiritual energy, and I shall secure the minor inheritance in the south," Li An vowed, her expression cold and resolute.

The faceless head of the cult leader seemed to focus intently on her.

Li An could feel the pressure of its gaze and shivered.

The Faceless Demon approached, its feet dragging slightly, bending forward to place its right palm on the back of her head.

She remained silent. Speaking would not help her in this situation, and she did not believe that displaying ambition would intimidate the Faceless Demon.

"You are a clever girl, Li An."

For some reason, it felt more like a warning than a compliment.

It released its grip on her head. "I will grant you an independent unit of one thousand soldiers of your choice, and one hundred treasures and pills infused with pure spiritual energy."

Li An's eyes shone. She knew nothing was gained without a price. "And what must I give you in return, teacher?"

The Faceless Demon eased into a more relaxed posture, signaling to Li An that an understanding had been reached.

The vacant, faceless gaze returned to her as he resumed his place on the throne.

"Bring me the first triumph of this war. Conquer the Blackthorn Fort."

It didn't mention the number of enemies or the difficulty of the mission, and Li An didn't ask.

Why bother? There were rules to the game, and both of them felt no need to break them.

For now... that is.

Li An's lips curled into a subtle smile.

"Then the Blackthorn Fort it shall be."

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

Li An could not recall how she exited the room; it all seemed like a complex, surreal dream. Yet, she distinctly remembered emerging from a dense mist and finding herself back on the wooden stage beside a sullen Healing Demon.

"Why would boss appoint you as the Young Demon?" He stared at her with pleading eyes. "Please die quickly so that I can go back to the central front."

Ignoring him, she surveyed her surroundings. The night had deepened, and no one was in sight. Li An would not believe anything the Healing Demon said, knowing the Faceless Demon would not separate them for no reason. He was most likely her greatest foe at the moment.

As for the War Demon, he had vanished. Li An suspected he had been eliminated as a demonstration of support for her. Even the mightiest general was merely a bishop on the chessboard, expendable if a pawn like Li An had the potential to become a queen.

"Hello? Girl, are you listening to me? I am now the General of the southern front, so show me some respect," the Healing Demon declared, puffing out his chest, though it did little to enhance his stature or presence.

Li An regarded him with a blank stare. "Tell me the details of the Blackthorn Fort."

His brow furrowed. "Didn't you hear what I just said? Treat me with res—"

"Shut it."

Li An seized his neck with a firm grip and glared at him. "I am the Young Demon, and you will comply with my commands. Or did teacher neglect to inform you?"

The Healing Demon stared at her with wide, incredulous eyes, unable to fathom the audacity of the seemingly submissive girl, especially knowing he could crush her like an insect.

"Do you know who I am, girl?" His voice was low, and there was a bloodthirsty light in his gaze.

Li An frowned and gave him a few light slaps on the cheek, further shocking him.

"You are a servant, so address me correctly as the Young Demon or use my title of Death Maiden. Disrespect me again, and I might have to publicly humiliate you to set an example."

For a few moments, there was only silence.

The Healing Demon smiled faintly. "As you wish, Young Demon. I apologize for my disrespect."

"No worries," Li An replied with a slight nod. "Now, provide me with the details of the Blackthorn Fort."

"Here," the man said, taking out a white scroll and handing it to her. "Five thousand trained soldiers hold the fort in swampy terrain. There are a lot of dangerous beasts in the Dark Wood Swamp, so it is a hard location to attack and easy to defend. The strongest officer in the fort is a Colonel at the peak Core Formation realm, and the estimated amount of casualties necessary to conquer it is nine thousand men. You can find the other details in the official report."

She grinned. "Thank you, green bastard."

She noticed his knuckles whitening, though his smile remained fixed. "The Faceless Demon might be scheming, but this guy is quite amusing."

It was not a compliment. Li An suspected the cult leader had ulterior motives concerning her, so she provoked the Healing Demon just enough that, under different circumstances, he would have at least struck her.

"But he restrained himself without retaliation. This could mean he is my supervisor, and the Faceless Demon has deeper plans than it revealed. It could be my physique," Li An mused, recalling the leader's particular interest in her body.

Regardless, she had time, and during that time, the Healing Demon was her slightly disloyal dog.

"Teacher mentioned I would be granted an independent unit of one thousand men. Therefore, give me the weakest soldiers available, preferably at the first stage Foundation realm," Li An said thoughtfully, rubbing her chin. "And do so promptly. I expect a full company assembled before afternoon."

The Healing Demon's lips twitched. "Gathering soldiers is not that simple, Young Demon. We cannot send you with so many weak soldiers to such a perilous location. Do not request me to do something so imprudent—"

"I am not requesting," Li An interrupted coldly. "I am commanding it, green bastard."

"I know you don't want to do things this quickly. It is hard to plant spies with no time and the chances of survival are low if they are too weak," she sneered inwardly.

However, she had no intention of conforming to their plans. The Healing Demon was not a dominant figure; it was easy to get the better of him.

She gave him an ultimatum. "Get me those soldiers by afternoon, or I will randomly conscript one thousand men from the encampment myself."

His teeth clenched in silent frustration. "It shall be done, Young Demon."

He had little choice in the matter. Should Li An choose her soldiers randomly, his ability to infiltrate her unit with spies would be severely compromised.

"Excellent." She left with a small smile in her lips. "I might as well extract every ounce of worth from that puppet."

Traversing the silent plains, she carefully entered her tent, making sure not to disturb anyone's rest.

"I have a lot to do before besieging the fort," Li An thought about her plans. "I must quickly reach the ninth stage of Spirit realm."

However, she recognized the danger of progressing too rapidly, which might provoke the Faceless Demon's suspicions. "Maybe halting at the seventh stage for now, and then covertly breaking through the remaining stages en route to the fort."

The spiritual treasures and pills would serve as a convenient pretext for her sudden advancement.

"As for the Blackthorn Fort..."

She opened the scroll and read it.

Fort Blackthorn

Total Soldiers: 5000

Training Level: Highly trained, experienced soldiers.

Commanding Officer: Colonel Hao, Peak Core Formation Realm.

Defense Structure: The fort is surrounded by high, thick walls of deep iron ore. Watchtowers are positioned at each corner, equipped with ballistae and archer platforms.

Location: Dark Wood Swamp.

Terrain: The surrounding swamp is treacherous, with muddy, uneven ground that hampers movement. There are also numerous dangerous beasts inhabiting the swamp, including Venomous Bloodsuckers, Insect Titans and Iron Skin Crocodiles.

Projected Losses: To capture Fort Blackthorn, it is estimated that approximately 10,000 men would be necessary due to the combined challenges of enemy defenses, difficult terrain, and natural hazards. Around 9,000 should become casualties in order to win.

Potential Weaknesses:

1. Targeting the supply paths could hinder the enemy's ability to resupply and reinforce the fort.

2. If a way could be found to control or redirect the swamp beasts, they could be used to attack the walls of the fort.

3. Neutralizing the Colonel, either through assassination or capturing, could significantly lower enemy morale and coordination.

Report Compiled By: Wu Lei

Rank: Major

Distribution: This report is to be circulated among senior military officers and strategic planning committees for further analysis and action planning.

"Hmm..." Li An pondered. She knew that the conventional strategy for conquering Fort Blackthorn would be to sever its supply lines and starve the defenders over time. "However, the main army will surely dispatch reinforcements once they discover the supply thefts. The mission will fail by then."

Her lips curled into a smile as cold and sharp as an icy blade. She understood this wasn't a mere skirmish of 1,000 against 5,000; it was a battle of one against 6,000. This was the Faceless Demon's subtle way of telling her that the title of Young Demon must be earned.

Li An was certain that the cult leader's decision to appoint her as the Young Demon had irked countless members of the Black Lotus Cult.

She seated herself and began her cultivation, aiming for the seventh stage. "However, even the Faceless Demon underestimates my capabilities," she mused.

Because until now, Li An had been depending mainly on her body cultivation and her ability to never tire due to her muscle regeneration.

No one had yet witnessed the true horror of her spiritual cultivation when fully unleashed.

Fort Blackthorn would be the first to experience the full extent of her abilities.

For Li An, the mission could not be clearer.

Everyone who was not her must die.