Chapter 345

Chapter 345: The Leader and the Mastermind

The Higher-ups of the sect headquarters were all Heart-Seizing Demons, and the Leader naturally belonged to their ranks.

What set this Leader apart from ordinary Heart-Seizing Demons and even the four great temple heads was the six tentacles sprouting from his octopus head instead of the usual four.

Though appearing as a mere numerical difference, this distinction held deeper significance than variations in human height or celestial ear lengths among People of the Heavens.

A Heart-Seizing Demon’s mind strength directly correlated with its number of tentacles. Possessing six tentacles granted this Leader innate superiority in controlling mind-related abilities and commanding wider skill fields compared to ordinary demons.

Such beings were commonly called "Super Heart-Seizing Demons."

In the Shaded Realm homeland of their species, centuries might pass without witnessing one. Yet within the Star Ocean’s mere fifty-year Heart-Seizing Demon history, this formidable entity had emerged.

His meteoric rise took only eight years, propelling him to the sect’s pinnacle before he unhesitatingly seized leadership. The four temple heads had personally endured his overwhelming psychic pressure, leaving them no choice but to listen obediently now.

Loz kept his octopus head bowed, not daring voice or thought of objection. He reluctantly acknowledged his predicament.

Deserting battle meant little – these elite demons considered their lives infinitely more valuable than common followers. Losing hundreds or even thousands meant nothing. Warships like the Fury heavy cruiser, though expensive, could be rebuilt in resource-rich Star Ocean given time.

The real problem was the lost All-Seeing Demon – Star Ocean’s true rarity.

This entity originated from the Guardian serving the supreme expert. Existing before the Mind Crystal Pool’s creation, this mysterious figure had arrived alongside the supreme expert with unfathomable heritage. Though lacking mind-related abilities himself, no demon – not even the six-tentacled Leader – dared probe his thoughts. Those attempting it became corpses recycled into the Mind Crystal Pool as psychic nutrients.

"Next time," the Guardian always warned while disposing bodies, "avoid creating defective products with excessive curiosity." To him, fearsome Heart-Seizing Demons were mere manufactured goods.

With the supreme expert secluded in the Central Temple while the Guardian frequented sect headquarters, demons revered the Guardian more intensely. Half-month prior, the Guardian had grimly opened a Demon Realm portal through tremendous magic expenditure, extracting two All-Seeing Demons for sect use.

These Insight-bestowing demons let headquarters monitor Star Ocean’s expanse thoroughly:

Cloud Sea infiltrators exposed.

Blood Purification agents rooted out after years of incubation.

Enemies fell effortlessly to the Guardian’s terrible summons.

Yet now Loz – Third Temple head – hadn’t just suffered defeat. He’d lost the Guardian’s All-Seeing Demon. The Guardian’s own summoned demon, gone!

Without a doubt, this wasn’t just trouble – it was catastrophic.

"Loz, you fled back in disgrace, abandoning the entire expedition fleet. How will you explain this to the Guardian?" The Leader’s six tentacles quivered, pale eyes glaring at his former capable general.

"My deepest apologies." Loz wiped cold sweat from his brow with a tentacle. "Leader, grant me another opportunity!"

"Your plan?" the Leader demanded coldly.

"Reinforcements! We retain seventy percent combat strength from the original fleet. Combined with fresh forces, we’ll dominate the Star Ocean!" Loz blurted urgently. "Blood Hell Island’s location is confirmed – they can’t relocate quickly. With speed, we’ll crush the Blood Purification!"

"Fool!" A metallic voice clanged through the air.

Five Heart-Seizing Demons staggered as physical soundwaves assaulted them – a heresy in their telepathy-dependent society. None dared protest.

Only one being in the great temple couldn’t use mind-related abilities. All turned toward the cloaked figure radiating icy authority – the Guardian.

His gaze swept the assembly before settling on Loz. "The All-Seeing Demon now serves Midi. Our every move lies exposed. Attack now and fail utterly."

"Then your proposal, Guardian?" The Leader interjected, though facing those depthless eyes chilled even his Super Heart-Seizing Demon soul.

"We observe." The Guardian’s tone brooked no argument. "I’ll summon another All-Seeing Demon to regain surveillance parity. No actions until the enemy reveals theirs."

The four temple heads and Leader bowed acceptance.

"Now, consequences." The Guardian raised his hand.

Black Flames erupted from Loz’s pores. No heat, no sound – just soul-devouring agony. The temple head collapsed shrieking, rolling across the floor until the Guardian recalled the living flames to his palm.

"Collect your new All-Seeing Demon tomorrow. Monitor Midi constantly." The Guardian departed without awaiting acknowledgment.

By dawn, magical energies tore open dimensional passageways. Another All-Seeing Demon joined the sect’s arsenal. Now Midi’s forces and the sect each possessed these living surveillance systems – two against one.

The Star Ocean’s secrets unraveled. Hidden bases, warship caches, secret Shipping Routes – all laid bare. Mineral veins became transparent through bedrock. Every floating island’s resources mapped precisely.

This was no longer war.

It became chess – the Star Ocean their board, forces exposed like pieces, strategies naked beneath three all-seeing gazes.