Zu An’s heart sank. It was apparent that Pimosh had known that he was here all along. But he was more concerned about Tushan Yu now. He initially thought that someone else had impersonated her, but he didn’t find anything amiss when examining her with the Eye of Truth.

Indeed, a black aura rose from Tushan Yu’s body, and Tushan Yu collapsed to the ground. The body was hers, but someone else was controlling her. And clearly, the person controlling her was a devil. The two black auras converged to form a black devil silhouette.

“What a dashing gentleman you are. You look much better than these asuras.” The devil silhouette laughed coyly. It was a feminine voice.

Pimosh was speechless. Yes, asura men are ugly, but can you not say that in front of me? But in view of her identity, he didn’t refute her.

The devil silhouette clenched her fist, crushing Lozento’s heart. Blood essence flowed through the cracks of her fingers and dribbled to the ground. Lozento pointed his fingers at the devil silhouette and Pimosh while flapping his lips, but he failed to utter a word before dropping to the ground. His body disintegrated as if something invisible was eroding it.

Bizarre beams of blood-red lights shone from the dark ground toward the distant mountain, where they converged to form a sinister formation. Only then did Zu An realize that that wasn’t a mountain. It was likely the Asura Progenitor Demon God’s body.

“Are you the Heavenly Devil Empress?” Zu An asked.

“You’re a smart one,” the devil silhouette replied cheerily.

“But I wasn’t smart enough, or else I wouldn’t have fallen for your trick,” Zu An replied with a sigh. Tushan Yu was the subordinate of the Heavenly Devil Empress, who was skilled at hiding in the hearts of others. He should have guessed as much.

“That’s because I’m smarter,” the devil silhouette replied gleefully.

Pimosh didn’t like how chummy their interaction was, so he interjected, “How are we going to get the Blood Sea Army into the Abyss of Eternal Night now that Lozento and Tologa are dead?”

The devil silhouette replied, “That isn’t a problem. There are other commanders in the Blood Sea Army, and those asuras have desires, too. I have already taken control of them, and they are already waiting outside now.”

Pimosh’s complexion darkened. He was an asura, too. He was carrying an artifact that prevented anyone from infiltrating his heart, but he was still fearful of what the devils were capable of.

He waved his hand, and a projection appeared in midair. Indeed, the Blood Sea Army was waiting at the square outside the Abyss of Eternal Night. A smile finally formed on his lips. “We’re almost there. Let’s begin right away. This fellow is decently strong as well. Why don’t we offer him as tribute, too? I’m sure the Progenitor Demon God will be pleased with that.”

“That won’t do. I like this lad. I want to keep him as a toy,” the devil silhouette replied with a crystal-like laugh that resembled the tinkling of bells. It was a pity her words were unnerving.

Black streaks formed on Pimosh’s face. Why do women like these moochlords? They should learn to appreciate the valiance of asura men as well! But there were more important things at hand than to fuss over such trivialities.

Pimosh rose into the sky, opened his nine arms wide, and grew larger until he was as towering as a mountain. Then, he took out a book and began mumbling a sutra. The ritual had begun.

Another figure rose from the distance, bound to a flagpole. He had nine arms as well. Sensing his life force being siphoned away, the asura awakened from his slumber, examined his surroundings, and immediately understood what was going on. He roared in anger, “Pimosh, are you planning to lead the entire Asura World to its doom?”

Pimosh coldly scoffed, “Under your leadership, the Asuras have suffered consecutive losses to the Celestials. We’re only becoming weaker with time. You even plan to lower your head and become subservient to them. Is that not destruction as well?”

The bound nine-armed asura was Princess Liuli’s father, the Asura King.

The Asura King roared in anger, “I only planned to have a temporary ceasefire for the Asura World to recover. How can that be called subservience?”

“You might be able to fool other asuras with those words, but you can’t fool us. Why else do you think we joined hands to overthrow you?” Pimosh sneered.

The Asura King glanced at Tologa’s corpse and Lozento’s famous armor lying on the ground before sneering, “We? Where is Lozento now?”

Pimosh snorted, “There’s no point arguing with you right now. Once I sacrifice you and the others, I’ll be able to revive the Asura Progenitor Demon God and defeat the Celestials. Time will prove that I am right. I shall become the hero of the asuras.”

“You’re out of your mind!”

Pimosh ignored the Asura King and continued the ritual. Soon, the Asura King’s life force began to be siphoned into the formation.

From the projection, Zu An could see that the Blood Sea Army outside was starting to get restless. They stared confusedly at the blood vortex that had suddenly appeared above them. They didn’t know what was happening, but they knew it didn’t bode well.

Zu An turned to the devil silhouette and asked, “What’s your name?”

Now that everything was on track, the devil silhouette was feeling more relaxed than ever. “Don’t you already know that I’m the Heavenly Devil Empress?”

“That’s your title, not your name.”

The devil silhouette remarked in surprise, “Is that what you’re bothered by now?”

Zu An smiled. “The Heavenly Devil Empress is renowned across the Three Realms. It’d be my greatest regret to die in your hands and yet not know your name.”

The devil silhouette replied with a laugh, “No wonder you were able to seduce my loyal subordinate into betraying me. You have a dashing face and a glib tongue. However, I’ll have to disappoint you. I don’t have a name, or rather, I am just known as the Heavenly Devil Empress. That has been my name ever since I came to be.”

“I see.” Zu An was surprised. “I have heard that the Heavenly Devil Empress is the most beautiful woman in the world. Isn’t there a saying that men who die under the peony flower become carefree ghosts? I’ll have no regrets if I can see you in person once before I die.”

“What a glib tongue. Why should I fulfill your request?” The devil silhouette reined in her smile.

Zu An sighed. “I guess the rumors are untrue. You aren’t as beautiful as the world makes you out to be, which is why you dare not reveal your true face.”

The devil silhouette harrumphed. “Are you taunting me now?”

You have successfully trolled the Heavenly Devil Empress for +444... +444... +444...

“It isn’t a taunt. I’m merely stating the truth. I have never met a beautiful woman who goes to great lengths to conceal her appearance. Rather, it’s those who aren’t that beautiful who put on a veil of secrecy to build their reputation as a beauty.”

It wasn't that Zu An wanted to see the other party’s appearance, but that the Heavenly Devil Empress was simply too elusive a target for him at the moment. There was very little he could do about her until she revealed herself.