I Am Unaware That I Am the Peerless Martial God Chapter 1423: All Are Award-Winning Actors

Following Long Tian's bewildered and questioning outburst, Master Lu offered no immediate response."

He ambled along, hands clasped behind his back, until he was walking level with Long Tian. Concurrently, individuals from Shadow Island began emerging from the assembled masses, positioning themselves at the forefront, each adorned with subtle, knowing smiles.

Dozens of pairs of eyes fixed upon him, their smiles imbued with layers of unspoken meaning. Their demeanor had shifted entirely from their previous outward respect; instead, a playful, almost mocking scrutiny now permeated the air.

In that instant, Long Tian felt akin to a specimen under observation, a growing sense of humiliation and dread churning within him, his already displeased expression darkening further.

"You scoundrels!"

His words were cut short by Master Lu's composed interjection.

"Merely remain here until summoned. You are not required to concern yourself with any further matters."

Though delivered in a quiet tone, the words carried an undeniable weight of authority, causing Long Tian's features to contort into a dark scowl as he angrily clenched his fists.

"Insolent wretches!"

Long Tian's indignant cries resounded with an imposing force, his superior bearing manifesting with increasing naturalness.

Regrettably, the Shadow Island operatives now dominating the front ranks had discreetly activated a spatial confinement array. His voice was entirely trapped, failing to project outwards. Instead of intimidating them, this only elicited chuckles and knowing glances between Lu Qingshan and his companions.

"The Lord of Cloud Planet, you say?"

"Heh, truly committed to his role, isn't he."

"Honestly, if I encountered such a convincing performance out of the blue, I might even be swayed for a moment. This fellow is a genuine prodigy of deception, having managed to fool even himself with his act."

As the lighthearted laughter echoed, Long Tian stood frozen, his eyes widening in sheer disbelief.

A chilling premonition intensified, compelling him to frantically scan the subtlest shifts in the crowd's expressions. Within mere heartbeats, his panic escalated. The imposing aura he projected began to falter and recede, his gaze darting about with mounting uncertainty.

An act? A prodigy of deception?

What could these remarks possibly signify!

Could it be that his fabricated persona as the Planet Lord had been exposed?!

Before he could formulate another question, Master Lu spoke again, his voice resonating with gravity.

"Boy, simply bide your time here. If you possess any sense, you might find yourself eligible for the position of Demon Venerable in due course. Otherwise, prepare to be dismembered into a thousand pieces, your very soul annihilated."

"You show a glimmer of intelligence; surely you understand the prudent course of action, yes?"

The moment these words were uttered, Long Tian's eyes bulged in sheer terror.

The position of Demon Venerable?

For this individual to speak of such matters, he undeniably perceived Long Tian's true nature!

How was this conceivable!

He questioned himself, certain his performance had been impeccable; how could the other party possibly see through it!

Even more astonishing was the absolute confidence in the speaker's tone, as if conquering the Demon Race were as effortless as lifting a hand, and the esteemed position of Demon Venerable was merely a triviality to be casually bestowed.

How could such a scenario be possible!

Long Tian's mind reeled from the shock, his pupils a blur of frantic motion.

Simultaneously.

With a casual flick of his wrist, Master Lu unleashed several threads of shimmering light from his sleeve.

In the ensuing moment.

These threads of light enveloped Long Tian, rendering him completely immobile, utterly incapable of uttering even a sound. Within his wide, bulging eyes, the shock and terror intensified relentlessly.

A mere finger gesture had stripped him of all agency, leaving him in a state of suspended animation.

This!

What unfathomable power was this!

The sheer might displayed by this person now far surpassed anything he had witnessed during their time at the Planet Lord's Estate!

Possessing such formidable strength, it was plausible that his earlier pronouncements were not mere empty boasts, but rather the result of meticulous, long-term preparation.

Could it be...

That these individuals had been feigning their roles all along?

Damn it all!

I've been utterly deceived?!

In an instant.

Long Tian was jolted awake from his deluded fantasy of being the Planet Lord. A cascade of recent events flooded his consciousness, his breathing growing ragged and shallow.

The fact that the opposing party could so easily subdue him, and even discerned his true identity, yet chose not to reveal it, allowing him to ostentatiously lead their forces towards the Demon Capital—this profound enigma defied logical explanation.

Unless...

These individuals had orchestrated the entire affair from its inception.

Assessing his own cultivation base and standing, Long Tian found himself lacking in any conceivable value to them. Yet, these humans had patiently indulged his charade. The most probable reason was to utilize him as a conduit, enabling their passage through the Demon Race's formidable defenses and void restrictions, thereby granting them unimpeded access directly to the Demon Capital!?

Therefore, he, Long Tian, was merely a pawn all along?

What he perceived as a flawless plan was merely a display of clumsiness in their view. When it came to true theatrics, these humans were the masters, and their cultivation levels were astonishingly high.

The mortal realm was fraught with deceit.

Life truly is a grand performance, and everyone involved are accomplished actors!

In mere moments.

A deep sense of dread washed over Long Tian, his eyes widening in terror!

Despite finally grasping the truth, he struggled to process it all. He found it difficult to comprehend the immense power and cunning of humans, and even harder to accept the harsh reality of his sudden fall from the position of Planet Lord!

This jarring descent from grace to ruin was overwhelming, the abrupt shift shattering Long Tian's composure.

After only a few moments of reflection, Long Tian felt a bitter taste rise in his throat.

"Pfft..."

A spray of blood erupted, his demon heart suffering a grievous wound!

No matter how esteemed he was previously, the humiliation now felt a hundredfold worse. The severe shock combined with the physical blows left Long Tian utterly bewildered, his gaze unfocused...

Observing his dazed state, Master Lu lost patience.

With a subtle glance, two individuals positioned themselves by Long Tian. Coupled with the pre-established wards, escape was impossible, and any external observation would reveal nothing amiss.

He then personally led the forces of Shadow Island forward. Lu Qingshan, alongside the father and son duo Xiong Fen, Jiang Yuan, and others, followed solemnly, their voices rising in defiance towards the colossal hundred-zhang walls of the Demon Capital looming before them.

"Cowardly rats of the Demon Race, your end is nigh!"

"The debts and conflicts accumulated over generations will be settled in this confrontation!"

As these powerful pronouncements echoed, dark clouds began to gather above the Demon Capital!

The tranquility of the surroundings was abruptly shattered by a fierce wind. The massive hundred-zhang black gates creaked open, and ripples of void energy surged through the sky. Imposing figures, vast enough to obscure the heavens, materialized instantly!

From the depths of the oppressive darkness.

A pair of crimson eyes slowly opened, and a chilling laughter, like a phantom's whisper from the abyss, reverberated.

"Jie jie jie..."

"Foolish mortals, you are already trapped like beasts in a pen. Your doom is imminent, yet you remain blissfully unaware. How utterly comical and pathetic."

Myriad demonic voices filled the atmosphere, and several colossal shadows manifested.

There was the towering Bull Demon leader, Niu Shadi, several zhang in height, the ancient Tree Demon leader who had endured countless ages, and the Blood Ant leader, radiating an aura of the underworld...

In the blink of an eye.

Ten formidable titans of the Demon Race appeared in unison, spanning the sky and sealing off the region around the Demon Capital. The sheer oppressive aura they exuded transformed the vast expanse for tens of millions of miles into an icy domain, causing numerous cultivators to tremble and cautiously retreat.

The Demon Race giants stood with arms crossed, their gazes filled with scornful amusement. Even the ceaseless tide of demons pouring from the Demon Capital exuded an air of unwavering confidence and pride, as if the approaching human army was nothing more than a herd of sheep awaiting slaughter.

The opposing forces remained separated by a thousand zhang, facing each other in silence for a few moments.

Tension mounted among the Cloud Planet cultivators. Witnessing the sheer might of the Demon Race titans firsthand, and finding themselves encircled by an endless horde of demons, a wave of apprehension began to spread.

"This!"

"The Demon Race was prepared. Have we walked into a meticulously laid trap?"

"This battle seems destined for a grim outcome. My life is of little consequence, but it is a tragedy that our great mission to eradicate the demons remains unfulfilled, and we cannot eliminate these savage alien beings!"

"Even so, even if we fight to our last breath, I fear we cannot break through. The Cloud Planet is destined for a future massacre!"

"What shall we do? Lord Planet Lord, please offer guidance!"

In their despair, the cultivators unaware of the underlying truth could only turn their hopeful gazes towards Long Tian's figure.

Alas, Long Tian's demonic heart had already shattered. He stood rigidly, like an automaton, utterly unresponsive, incapable of even feigning reassurance to bolster the crowd's fading spirits.

Fortunately, Master Lu intervened promptly, succeeding in stabilizing the morale of the army.

"Everyone, there is no need for panic. The Star Lord foresaw this outcome."

"In today's confrontation, though the Demon Race possesses immense strength, our Cloud Star indeed has a venerable elder lending aid. The ultimate victor remains uncertain. To be frank, this Elder Jiang is an ancient figure who has traversed countless epochs. With Elder Jiang's assistance, why should we harbor any fear of the demons!"

Upon hearing these pronouncements, countless cultivators turned their gazes upward in astonishment. Following the direction indicated by Master Lu's hand, they beheld Jiang Yuan standing serenely, an aura of transcendent immortality enveloping him. A glimmer of hope began to ignite within their eyes!

"An existence that has traversed epochs!"

"So, we have such a powerful senior supporting us. Our Human Race still has a chance in this battle!"

"To be able to partake in this pivotal conflict in this lifetime, I could depart this world without any regrets!"

Finding himself the focal point of thousands of gazes, Jiang Yuan, in a display of humility, repeatedly waved his hands, refraining from any proud gestures.

Within mere moments.

The morale of the Cloud Star cultivators soared. In this dire predicament, their unyielding Dao hearts were revealed, their battle intent converging once more, forcefully repelling the formidable oppressive might emanating from the Demon Race behemoths.

Yet, this sudden shift was of little consequence in the eyes of the Demon Race giants. Niu Shadi and his fellow demons observed from above, arms crossed, their faces adorned with confident smiles as if this outcome was entirely anticipated.

It was only when their gazes alighted upon Jiang Yuan that a flicker of genuine interest appeared, prompting them to offer their commentary.

"Hmph."

"Just as the Great Lord foresaw, the humans possess a few hidden assets."

"This individual's aura appears to rival our own. Could he also be in the nascent stages of the Desolate Realm? Such power is merely adequate, but regrettably, relying solely on him cannot alter the predetermined conclusion."

"Hehe, it is already astonishing for mere humans to exhibit such combat prowess. It is understandable that they possess such limited foresight."

"That is indeed the case. If an ant were aware of its own insignificance, it would not dare attempt to topple a mighty tree."

"Hehehe..."

The Demon Race giants conversed with self-assured amusement. With a casual sweep of their hands, they commanded the assorted demonic legions below to advance, their surging numbers resembling a relentless tide against the Cloud Star cultivators.

The grand confrontation was on the precipice of igniting!

A terrifying aura of killing intent instantly permeated the very fabric of existence, threatening to obliterate everything in its path.

Despite the overwhelming intensity of the impending battle, the Demon Race giants remained solely focused on Jiang Yuan; the other combatants were deemed unworthy of their attention.

In their estimation, the moment the two armies met, it should have been a one-sided rout, akin to a devastating deluge sweeping all before it.

However.

At the precise instant the human and demon armies clashed, the vanguard of the Demon Race inexplicably disintegrated.

In a single, decisive engagement, an opening was violently carved through their ranks!

This abrupt and unforeseen turn of events left the giants momentarily bewildered. Even Niu Shadi's expression betrayed a fleeting hint of surprise.

"How is this possible?"

After exchanging incredulous glances, the demons instinctively peered downwards. Within mere moments of closer observation, their eyes widened considerably, and their confusion deepened.

Within their field of vision.

At the forefront of the engagement between the two races, a contingent of several dozen human cultivators surged forward, forcefully penetrating the demon ranks. Wherever they advanced, no demon could withstand even a single blow; their assault was as effortless as slicing through vegetables!

"Great Brick-Moving Palm!"

"Ninefold Cart-Pushing Hand!"

Particularly notable were two individuals at the forefront, clad in peculiar white helmets. They annihilated demons with relentless ferocity, their combat stances a testament to countless trials and refinements. An almost insane battle intent blazed in their eyes, lending them an air of savage bloodlust and unbridled eagerness!

Even the demon army's vanguard, the Bull Demon Tribe, renowned for their formidable combat prowess, struggled to stem this relentless onslaught.

Witnessing this display, Niu Shadi's eyes visibly quivered.

Something is amiss...

These few dozen human cultivators spearheading the charge appear to be fundamentally different!

Even if they were merely low-tier combatants, incapable of dictating the war's outcome, these humans were demonstrably superior to the average demon soldier, exhibiting an astonishing level of brutality!

Could these still be the same weak human cultivators they had previously dismissed?

If this relentless assault persisted, the Bull Demon Tribe's established might risked utter annihilation.

Damn it, from whence did this group of formidable individuals emerge!"

Merely dozens of breaths had passed, and the two figures had already guided their forces into the heart of the demon ranks, compelling a steady retreat among the monstrous horde. The enemy's formation teetered on the brink of collapse.

Even more astonishing was their apparent lack of weariness; they continued their assault, their muttered words suggesting increasing valor with every passing moment!

"One hundred and sixty-three!"

"One hundred and sixty-four!"

"Son! Your father is nearing one hundred and seventy. You're still too young; watch and learn!"

"Dad, don't get ahead of yourself. Once I don my battle attire shortly, I'll surpass you in no time!"

...

Witnessing the relentless fall of Bull Demon corpses piled upon the ground, Niu Shadi's heart throbbed with anguish, his fury simmering to the point of vocal outburst!

After a brief moment of contemplation.

He could no longer restrain himself and turned back, bowing his head towards the Demon Venerable concealed within the shadowy expanse of the clouds.

"My Lord!"

"This situation appears unfavorable. Should it persist, our tribe faces the likelihood of immense casualties. I humbly request your leave to enter the fray!"

Upon uttering these words, the remaining Demon Race titans respectfully shifted their gazes towards the profound depths.