Not long after Su Luo returned, he received a summons from the Left Envoy. Not just him, but everyone in the Heavenly Demon Sect had been notified.
Two days later, most of the Heavenly Demon Sect had gathered.
The Left Envoy had called for this gathering without consulting the Demon Lord, even using the Demon Lord's name without permission.
"Everyone, our era has arrived," the Left Envoy began, speaking with a powerful and resounding tone.
"The north is in chaos. The sudden rise of the beast army presents us with a great opportunity."
"As we all know, our demonic path has always been overshadowed by the righteous path, largely due to the existence of the Emperor Heaven Sect, the top sect in the cultivation world."
"We have been looking for opportunities to weaken the Emperor Heaven Sect, but we have never succeeded."
"Now, the chance is here. If things go smoothly, not only can we weaken the Emperor Heaven Sect, but we might even destroy them."
At this point, the Left Envoy paused, and most of the Heavenly Demon Sect members erupted in cheers. They were all eager for action.
After a long while, the Left Envoy continued, rambling on and on.
In short, the plan was to head north and challenge the Emperor Heaven Sect, with the possibility of destroying them.
Combining the situation in the north, he laid out several plans, stirring up excitement among the crowd.
The title of "number one" had long been a thorn in their side, and what could be more satisfying than destroying the top sect?
The entire Heavenly Demon Sect was riled up by the Left Envoy's words.
"Good. In three days, the entire Heavenly Demon Sect will march north. This is also the Demon Lord's will," the Left Envoy finally mentioned the Demon Lord, though one might have mistaken him for the Demon Lord himself.
In truth, it wasn't far from the truth, as the Demon Lord rarely made appearances.
"Understood!" the Heavenly Demon Sect members responded in unison.
Their voices were deafening.
After hearing all this, it would have been a shame not to feel some excitement.
The Left Envoy looked at the scene with satisfaction and then left.
Just a few words, and he had an army ready to charge into battle for him. The feeling was incredible.
He really wanted to be the Demon Lord.
No, not yet. It wasn't the right time.
The Left Envoy forcibly suppressed this thought, wiped the smug smile off his face, and went to see the Demon Lord.
However, on the way, a question occurred to him.
Recently, there had been too many deaths in the Heavenly Demon Sect, across all ranks.
The lower ranks didn't matter much; they were expendable. The Seven Heavenly Demons weren't crucial to the overall strategy, so their deaths weren't a great loss.
But even titled Heavenly Demons were dying in large numbers. That was absurd. Couldn't they escape?
Originally, there had been a 60% chance of destroying the Emperor Heaven Sect, but now it was down to about 50%, and that depended on whether the beast army performed well.
What a bunch of useless old fools, unable to even save their own lives.
The more the Left Envoy thought about it, the angrier he became. Fewer capable people to command was naturally frustrating, especially when it came to the strong. Commanding the strong was where the real sense of achievement lay.
Finally, he arrived at the Demon Lord's residence to report on the plan to march north.
He had acted first and sought approval later, confident that the Demon Lord wouldn't oppose him, as she lacked the strength to do anything significant.
Moreover, the Left Envoy had a bombshell piece of information.
There was a mysterious ancient legacy in the north that could restore the cultivation of those who had lost their power.
The Left Envoy had heard this by chance and didn't fully believe it. It was just a small, unreliable rumor, possibly a lie.
But it was enough to convince the Demon Lord to agree to the northern expedition.
Of course, he wouldn't say it outright. He would just hint at it subtly, not wanting the Demon Lord to realize that he knew she had lost her cultivation.
He was confident that the Demon Lord would take the bait.
After hearing him out, Jiang Ningshu said she would consider it and then dismissed the Left Envoy.
The Left Envoy was puzzled. Why hadn't the Demon Lord agreed immediately? Had he been too vague, and she hadn't picked up on it?
But it wasn't a big deal. If necessary, he could bring it up again later.
Satisfied, the Left Envoy left. Before he did, he glanced at the Demon Lord's throne out of the corner of his eye.
That was no ordinary seat. He really wanted to sit on it soon.
Not long after the Left Envoy left, Jiang Ningshu began to ponder whether to head north.
Now that she had a method to restore her strength, even though she was still in the second stage, it was enough.
Once she completed this stage, her strength would likely reach the peak of the Void Refinement realm.
For someone who had once lost her cultivation, this was already satisfying.
Then, Su Luo arrived.
"You came to see me on your own. What's the matter?"
"Smart. Let's go north."
"Do you think I'll refuse?"
"There's a possibility. You've regained your strength, so you have no reason to go north."
"Not necessarily. If you say we should go, I can go."
"That's why I'm here."
"Alright, I'll go."
Wasn't that agreement a bit too quick? Shouldn't she have made some demands?
Before coming, Su Luo had been wondering how the Demon Lord would respond.
"Why did you agree so readily?"
"Right now, I'm not interested in anything. Whatever."
"Seems like my coming was unnecessary."
Hearing this, Jiang Ningshu thought for a moment and said, "No, if you hadn't come, I would have refused. I'm in a bad mood and don't feel like going out."
"Your logic doesn't add up. The Left Envoy asks you to go, and you're in a bad mood and refuse. I ask you to go, and suddenly you're in the mood?"
"Yes, seeing you makes me want to go out for a change of scenery."
"Ah, I see. Well, as long as you're going, that's what matters." Su Luo didn't press further. His goal had been achieved.
"You'll accompany me, right?"
"Huh? What did you say?"
Jiang Ningshu repeated, "When we reach the north, you'll accompany me to relax, won't you?"
"Why me?"
"Because right now, you're the only one I can trust."
This was quite subtle. Su Luo observed the Demon Lord. Had she noticed something? Did she know the Left Envoy was plotting to seize power? Did she know the other four Heavenly Demons had their own agendas?
And why did she trust him? Because of the restoration method?
But now that she had recovered to the peak of the Nascent Soul realm, she should have realized that the method he gave her had major flaws. She should have thought that her recovery was due to her own efforts, not his.
And regarding Luo Xinlan, he hadn't done anything particularly useful. He had just been a bystander.
So now, he was the one she trusted?
It didn't make sense.
"Are you not going to agree?" Jiang Ningshu asked as Su Luo was lost in thought.
"Sure, it would be my honor to accompany the Demon Lord."
As long as she went, that was what mattered.
Honestly, Su Luo wouldn't be surprised by anything the Demon Lord did now. He was a bit afraid she might do something reckless.
She had regained her strength, even if it was only at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm. If discovered, she wouldn't be completely powerless.
It would be bad if things escalated to a life-or-death struggle.
Seeing Su Luo agree, Jiang Ningshu had nothing more to say.
Recently, she had been engrossed in the second stage of her recovery. Although her mood had improved slightly, she still felt sorrowful during the late hours of the night.