Chapter 49: The Cunning Demon Race

Lin Mo plotted to strike both the Monster Race and the Human Race at once, but since their strength was about equal he decided to pick off his enemies one at a time.

After weighing his options Lin Mo chose the relatively weaker Human Race as his starting point, laying the groundwork for a future campaign against the Monster Race.

In Lin Mo’s mind humans were a selfish, self-serving bunch who valued their own lives above all and could be easily manipulated with a few paltry benefits.

So he came up with a century-long plan to swallow up the Human Race.

The Demon Race pretended to be friendly, peaceful neighbors, subtly working to change the memories of those living near the borders. Bit by bit, people began to think of demons as kind-hearted folk.

At first, people were wary of the demons. But as time passed their suspicions faded.

Under a mix of pressure and temptation—and with a touch of brainwashing—humans and demons began trading more and more. People gradually grew used to having demons around.

As the years rolled on, the ties between humans and demons deepened and people grew to trust the demons even more.

But the demons’ influence started turning people greedy. Soon they fought over magical treasures from the Demon Race, sometimes even harming friends and family just for a chance at something rare.

This caught the attention of the Human Race’s leaders, but corrupt officials at the front lines—fat on bribes from the demons—hid the truth, keeping the higher-ups in the dark.

Within just three years of the demons’ century-long scheme, humans had already descended into chaos.

In the following trading frenzies, people grew even more frenzied over the demons’ treasures and tensions in human society only got worse.

It was only when things had spiraled out of control that the leadership finally realized how dire the situation was. But by then it was already too late.

The demons’ plot had worked. Human society was crumbling beyond repair.

The leaders were completely fooled by false reports, believing the conflicts were just petty spats between merchants and commoners over scarce goods, so nothing was done.

Soon almost everyone fell under the spell of pleasure and comfort, while those in power indulged themselves with the women and luxuries the Demon Race provided. No one cared anymore whether the demons’ intentions were genuine.

In the end, the Demon Race pulled off their century-long plan in just ten years.

On his throne, Lin Mo listened to news from his subordinates, barely able to contain his delight. He quickly mobilized his armies for all-out invasion.

And so, eight thousand years ago, the great war began. The entire Demon Race swept onto the battlefield.

While humans basked in illusions of pleasure and drowned themselves in drink and desire, the Demon Race invaded.

Their armies were well-armed, massive in number, and filled with seasoned cultivators. The human forces didn’t stand a chance—they fell apart almost instantly.

The Demon Race crushed every resistance on the human continent. The human leadership scrambled to respond, but it was already too late. One by one, the lands fell.

In desperation, hidden cultivation families and sects emerged to make a stand against the demons.

I am a disciple of the Heavenly Mystery Sect, not yet a century old, cultivation at the Sword King Realm.

Despite my elders and seniors trying to stop me, I chose to fight at their side, come life or death.

We specialized in mysterious formations and divination, entering the battlefield to fight the demons in a desperate struggle.

Our efforts finally put up a roadblock! For the first time, the invincible Demon Race found their advance slowed and a sliver of hope appeared.

But against overwhelming power, all our tricks were useless.

With a single finger the Demon God shattered the heritage and power of the Heavenly Mystery Sect. Most of my senior brothers and elders died in that instant.

All our Sword Saints sacrificed themselves, detonating their own cultivation to charge at the Demon God, just to buy a shred of hope for us to escape.

But it was pointless.

The Demon God’s finger, filled with murderous intent and unstoppable force, swept toward us. We were frozen in place, helpless as death loomed over us.

Just when all hope seemed lost, the Sword God of the Murong Clan appeared.

With ease he shattered the Demon God’s attack and pulled us from the brink. The entire Murong Clan joined the battle, though against those odds it was like pouring a cup of water on a raging wildfire.

Humans simply lacked top level fighters. The Demon Race had hundreds of experts just below their Demon God, turning the battle into an outright massacre.

In that brutal war, I saw both the brightest and darkest sides of humanity, and realized just how small and fragile we really are.

Only by learning to unite and strive together could we hope to survive in this world.

………………

After the dust settled, only a few dozen survived out of the two thousand Murong Clan members who had joined the fight. In the end, fewer than ten thousand humans survived.

The Sword God of the Murong Clan sacrificed himself, giving up his life to save us all.

He forcibly teleported the entire Demon Race back to their homeland, saving what few embers of humankind remained!

Afterward, an earth-shaking barrier appeared between the Human and Demon Races.

It sealed them apart and protected the last hope for humanity’s future.

Impressed by the Sword God’s selfless sacrifice, even the Demon God swore never to break the barrier as long as it stood.

That’s how the Heavenly Mystery Sect managed to survive.

After that battle, the few remaining Murong Clan members seemed to vanish from the world. No one knows where they went.

Over time, people simply forgot the war between humans and demons. What little is remembered is just told as a mealtime joke!