【While undergoing her tribulation, Luo Xinlan managed to damage the Demon Lord's auxiliary artifact slightly. This was a rare opportunity she had been waiting for, as the Demon Lord trusted her and didn’t suspect a thing.】
【Currently, she’s still behaving playfully with the Demon Lord, but that’s only because Gao Yu is in closed-door cultivation. As soon as Gao Yu emerges, she plans to publicly declare, especially before him, that the Demon Lord is incapable of demonstrating her true strength, humiliating her in the process.】
【The Demon Lord never expected that the person she trusted the most harbored the deepest hatred for her.】
No, that can’t be true.
But thinking back, Luo Xinlan did once ask to see the artifact she used to assist with the tribulation.
No, I need to clarify this.
However, just as she was about to step out the door, Jiang Ningshu paused.
If it’s true, and Luo Xinlan genuinely hates me, exposing myself like this would be incredibly dangerous.
Right now, I’m no match for Luo Xinlan.
After the heavenly tribulation, the Demon Lord is no longer the mighty ruler she once was.
Suddenly, she finds herself fearing death, something she never feared even when her cultivation was lower.
How pathetic, getting weaker as time goes on.
Jiang Ningshu began mocking herself, hoping it would give her the courage to face Luo Xinlan.
But the more she mocked herself, the harder it became to take that first step.
In the end, Jiang Ningshu lacked the courage to confront Luo Xinlan.
In her heart, she consoled herself, telling herself that it wasn’t fear holding her back—it was just that she didn’t want to lose Luo Xinlan.
【Is this considered tragic? No, no, the Demon Lord doesn’t yet realize how much worse it can get. She has no loyal confidants.】
【The Left Guardian? He’s plotting to overthrow the Demon Lord but lacks the strength to do so. He fears that even if he were to become the Demon Lord, others wouldn’t accept him and would drive him out, so he’s biding his time.】
【The Right Guardian, however, is even more dangerous. He’s a mole from the Earthly Fiend Sect. In fact, the Earthly Fiend Sect is also gathering strength, preparing to make a major move.】
【The East Extreme Demon Lord? He’s negligible. He’s the type who takes resources but barely puts in any effort. Every task he completes is half-assed, yet he demands ten times the reward.】
【The West Extreme Demon Lord is connected to the top-tier assassination organization, Shadow. He joined the Heavenly Demon Sect simply to have an easier time assassinating high-profile targets, shifting the blame to the sect. He avoids using the Shadow’s name because it would draw too much trouble, and if that trouble falls on the Heavenly Demon Sect, all the better—the sect can handle it.】
【The South End Demon Lord is essentially a spirit stone hunter. He uses the Heavenly Demon Sect’s name to hunt others for profit and occasionally, if the mood strikes him, he’ll even target members of the sect itself, trading their lives for spirit stones. Of course, he only goes after significant figures.】
【The North End Demon Lord is a mole from the Emperor Heaven Sect, but he’s long forgotten his duty as a spy. Being one of the Four Great Heavenly Demons is far more rewarding than spying, so he’s been playing both sides, constantly switching loyalties depending on who offers the most benefits.】
【In summary, the top brass of the Heavenly Demon Sect all have their own hidden agendas. Superficially, they follow the Demon Lord’s orders, but in practice, they often go against her wishes.】
Jiang Ningshu: ...
At this point, she doesn’t even know how to face the reality of her situation.
So, nobody in the Heavenly Demon Sect is truly loyal to the sect, huh? Can this sect even survive?
Looking at it this way, Jiang Ningshu feels that she’s failed as the Demon Lord. She couldn’t even discern these schemes brewing under her nose.
【Each of them has hidden their true intentions well, and no one knows the other’s secrets, which is why they appear outwardly harmonious, as though everyone is working hard for the Heavenly Demon Sect.】
【While they’re unaware of each other’s true motives, there’s one thing they all know.】
【That the Demon Lord cannot fully utilize her strength. The Demon Lord thinks she’s been acting perfectly, but in reality, they’ve all seen through her act. The only reason they haven’t exposed her is because this delicate balance suits them all. If a new Demon Lord were to emerge right now, no one would accept them, so they continue the charade.】
They all know? No, that can’t be true. I’ve been acting so well.
But...considering the information above, Jiang Ningshu is already about 80% convinced by the diary.
The thought that they know the truth and are silently mocking her performance makes her feel utterly ridiculous.
【Moreover, they find it beneficial to keep the Demon Lord around. She can take the blame for all the sect’s misdeeds, after all, who else but the Demon Lord would be held accountable?】
【Later on, they use her to achieve their own ends.】
【Being a Demon Lord like this, she’s truly failed.】
The more she read, the angrier Jiang Ningshu became. Not only did they not respect her as the Demon Lord, but they were using her? How brazen.
【In the end, when the Demon Lord discovers the full truth and recovers her strength, she’ll immediately switch sides and join Lin Xuan’s camp, leading the charge against the Heavenly Demon Sect.】
【The members of the Heavenly Demon Sect, caught off guard, will be baffled.】
【Why has the Demon Lord rebelled?】
【Betrayed by their own leader, the Heavenly Demon Sect will crumble.】
Is this my ending? So, my strength will return, and I’ll get my revenge.
But how long will that take?
【While the Demon Lord has become a laughingstock, I haven’t fared much better.】
【I, too, became a fool in the narrative. Upon meeting the Demon Lord, I was captivated by her aura and was willing to do anything for her.】
【A mere successor to Gao Yu, you could say.】
【But there’s a difference. Gao Yu often engaged in self-deception, but I truly followed the Demon Lord’s orders with all my might, dedicating myself completely to her commands.】
【A loyal follower, yet the reward I received was the Demon Lord defecting to Lin Xuan’s side. Of all people, why Lin Xuan? He’s my sworn enemy!】
【The rest is predictable. I channeled my grief and fury into power.】
【Restoring the glory of the Heavenly Demon Sect is my duty!】
【And so, I climbed to the peak of life, becoming the new Demon Lord.】
Seeing the Heavenly Demon Sect’s fate laid out like this, Jiang Ningshu finds it difficult to accept.
No, I can’t just sit back and do nothing.
I need to find Su Luo and have him tell me how to recover.
This was something Jiang Ningshu had been thinking about for a while. She believes that since Su Luo knows so much, he must know a way to restore her strength.
But just as she’s about to leave, she hesitates. She’s aware of her current predicament.
Both the Left and Right Guardians, as well as the Four Great Heavenly Demons, are undoubtedly keeping a close eye on her every move. If I go looking for Su Luo and fail to find a solution, what then?
What if my actions draw their attention and endanger Su Luo’s life, extinguishing my last hope?
Jiang Ningshu is torn.
If I still had my strength, I wouldn’t be so tormented. If anyone dared oppose me, I’d just beat them into submission.
But now, I’m powerless.
And following the diary’s predictions might be the safest path. My strength will return eventually, and I’ll have my vengeance without any risk.
Isn’t that the better option?
But is this what I want? Even if they discover my small actions, so what?
After all, they already know I can’t fully demonstrate my strength.
At worst, I’ll just expose everything and face the consequences.
But what would those consequences be?
There would certainly be no favorable outcome...
After much deliberation, Jiang Ningshu still lacks the courage to take that first step out the door.
It turns out that losing my strength wasn’t just about losing power—it was about losing my confidence.
Jiang Ningshu let out a bitter laugh.