At this moment, a jet-black, two-headed wyvern flew into one of these majestic stone palaces. Its appearance was fierce and fearsome, and it had decent combat capabilities, with one head capable of spewing ice shards and the other launching lightning bolts. However, now it behaved like a domestic cat, landing gently on the outstretched arm of its master.
The Mistress of the living fire pit, Shazena, known as "Lady Serpenthair," stared at it, slowly uttering a sentence, "So, that fool is dead now."
As the saying goes, a living demon is a good demon, and a dead human is a good human. Since Wendelthorpe had died, he was no longer a good demon and held no value for even discussion. Moreover, all demons considered others to be idiots, and if someone died, they deserved it. They often agonized over the loss of combat power but didn't lament the loss of the individual itself.
Shazena had a striking resemblance to a six-armed serpent demon - the Mariliths, but she was far more powerful. Countless venomous snakes with darting tongues cascaded down from her elegantly shaped head, covering her gracefully curving body. Her four arms were in front of her, while the other two were concealed behind the torso. She was the offspring of a sexual union between demon and astral creature, combining the strengths of both parents. Through lengthy and brutal struggles, she had become the Mistress of the living fire pit.
Two high-ranking demons still stood within the stone palace, both her direct subordinates. However, she didn't engage in conversation with them, only staring thoughtfully at the two-headed wyvern. Then, she raised her hand, allowing it to fly away.
Shazena didn't care about the life or death of any demon, but Wendelthorpe had died too quickly, which was beyond her expectations and made her uncomfortable. As she contemplated, she strolled around the stone palace. Her body's scales rustled as she moved, sounding like the roar of a storm. Where her snake-like tail brushed, it left a trail of toxic slime that quickly evaporated into deadly fumes.
A demon with the appearance of a man-eagle spoke indifferently, "Your Lady, you seem quite restless. Even if he hadn't died, you would have killed him eventually. Isn't that right?"
Shazena replied, "Indeed, but I cannot allow outsiders to run amok here. I was preoccupied with other matters, and although I dispatched an observer, I didn't expect him to be so useless... Well, let them decide on a new leader themselves; it won't take long."
The eagle-headed demon laughed hoarsely and asked, "I'm curious about something. Who do you have in mind as the next Lord? Also, while Wendelthorpe's thoughts were indeed treacherous and unforgivable, he was quite powerful. Do you know what drew him to secretly accept outsiders, and take furtive actions under your rule?"
As he spoke, he suddenly felt uneasy because Lady Serpenthair had paused and was now gazing at him with her renowned Fire Eyes. Yet, her demeanor was unexpectedly mild. "If you're curious, why don't you investigate?"
Lady Serpenthair holds a revered position, and she disdains direct interactions with lower-ranking demons. Even if she has important orders, she delegates them to her subordinates to communicate throughout the Living Fire Pit.
Under her command, there are numerous formidable beings, among whom eight stand out, known as the Eight Demon Generals of the Living Fire Pit. They directly lead elite legions, holding a higher status than the demon lords and often representing Lady Serpenthair in various matters.
Among the two individuals who have come to pay respects to Lady Serpenthair, the avian-demon is one of the Eight Demon Generals, and the other is a subordinate of his, one rank below. They have arrived for other matters but have just learned of the death of Wendelthorpe and are curious about the circumstances of his demise.
Certainly, the thing that piqued Wendelthorpe's interest was a treasure, a most extraordinary one, which naturally everyone desires. However, Lady Serpenthair does not appreciate subordinates prying into secrets. The avian demon, driven by his insatiable greed, ventured to ask that question, which did not sit well with her.
Yet she understands that nothing can deter their avarice, as it is one of the inherent traits of demons. Her wisdom and authority are equally remarkable, and she doesn't lose her temper over such matters. She quickly adds, "No need to panic, Nerok. I'm not blaming you. But you should be cautious; the same thing that killed Wendelthorpe might do the same to you."
Nerok comprehends her warning and promptly expresses his obedience and gratitude.
Lady Serpenthair doesn't concern herself with Nerok's emotions. She flicks her tail and returns to her flaming throne. She calmly says, "I have more important matters to attend to. You may leave now. But before you go, I'll issue this warning once more: Do not be foolish enough to meddle in the competition for the new lordship. Assisting a fool loyal to yourself in rising to power brings no benefit but only punishment."
With her words, she effectively imposes a final ban, which will be known throughout the other major demons. They will weigh their own strengths and, regrettably, realize that they are not yet qualified to challenge Lady Serpenthair and will obediently follow her orders.
The third-ranked domain has also completely cast off its restraints and plunged into the chaos that demons yearn for. After the chaos, a new lord will emerge. In fact, the lord's death couldn't possibly stay hidden for long. The anticipation of battle, the fear of death, and the desire for spoils constantly agitate the demons' savage minds. The great battle has yet to begin, but small-scale conflicts frequently erupt.
Upon colliding with the rock, Su Mei lost consciousness. It wasn't due to severe injuries but rather her entry into a deep slumber. Similar to a caterpillar in a cocoon, she utilized this time to adjust her bodily mechanisms in preparation for accepting the Eye of Chaos. During this period, her life signal was completely covered by it, rendering her existence akin to an inanimate object. Even if Lady Serpenthair herself were to search, it would be difficult to detect anyone here.
However, Lady Serpenthair's lack of detection doesn't mean that other demons can't, as she wouldn't lower her status to search through the garbage heap like trash pickers.