A Demon's Journey

While he was dying and had constructed his totem, Azaroth planned to use it to eventually revive in the future. This totem would preserve his drop of essence blood, Demonic Energy, and soul.

When he revived in Edwin's body, Azaroth first planned on increasing his cultivation base as much as he could. He could have reached the Demon King Level with that much Demonic Energy.

However, the presence of the Celestial Blood within Edwin's body was out of his expectation. And he used his remaining Demonic Energy to create the Triquetra Ardor by fusing Celestial, Demonic, and Humanely Ardor.

Since Azaroth had barely reached the Elite Demon Rank, he didn't dare to pull out his Essence Blood and fuse with it.

Edwin's physique was too weak to fuse with Azaroth's Blood essence. It would have exploded.

And Azaroth couldn't pull out his Blood Essence because he couldn't preserve its energy outside the totem.

Carrying the totem was impossible for him as well. Thus, the only remaining option he had at that time was to leave behind his drop of Blood Essence in it.

Now, Azaroth had returned to retrieve this drop of Blood Essence and fuse it with his clone.

This would allow him to easily form his original physique. He would be able to use his Demonic Blood Avatar with his bloodline and his attacks would get even stronger.

Both his bodies would possess Triquetra Ardor with a mixture of three bloodlines but only his main body would possess this drop of Blood Essence from his time as a Demon God.

He raised his arm and pointed at the totem.

A black drop of blood was soon released from his totem.

Azaroth fused it with the fetus of his clone and prepared to leave.

"Maybe I should also do this." Azaroth then focused on this totem and changed the runic language on it.

The runic language on the totem would normally display the identity of the demon whose totem it was. Typically, it was necessary to write their true rank and name, or else the totem wouldn't function according to their master's will.

Since he had changed the runic language, it meant that the totem wasn't going to function any longer.

In reality, Azaroth had no further use for this totem. Thus, he was leaving it behind to confuse Jonas and that Inquisitor Fox.

With that, Azaroth immediately began his return journey. He couldn't stay in this place for too long. He had accomplished his objective.

~~

Azaroth didn't know but while he was gone, all his remaining retainers had cleared their trials.

The first one among the three to clear the trial was Yrellea. She was quite delighted as she realized that she would finally be assigned tasks by Azaroth. She was quite sad that Azaroth wasn't here and hadn't informed them where he was going.

She was even slightly worried that he was in danger.

The reason she managed to pass her trial was all because of Noah's assistance. Noah didn't think he did something out of ordinary. He just told her what he said to Tiana, but a little differently, and Yrellea immediately began to feel her improvements.

The next one to clear the trial was Ralph and then Laura.

By the time Azaroth was going to return, all of his retainers would be completely ready.

Currently, two of his retainers had just reached the Prento Village. They left behind their horses and walked on foot.

Sargan couldn't use the trick he had used with Noah to enter the village. It was because the villagers were most likely looking for Tiana. She couldn't show her face here.

Just to be sure, Azaroth had already given Tiana a mask. She only had to remove her face when she meets her parents.

Sargan had already informed Tiana what she needed to do and say to her parents. She must not give them any hint regarding their true location.

Tiana gravely nodded and agreed with all his demands.

Her father was a merchant while her mother was a housewife. Thus, there was a low chance they would leave the village.

And it appeared that they lived near the center of the village. It was considered one of the best locations to live in the Prento Village.

They waited outside the village until it was midnight.

Sargan used his Evil Eyes. Using them, he could see well as though it were daytime.

And if he concentrated strongly, he could even see a faint aura of the people.

"Follow me," Sargan told Tiana as the two began to walk towards the village.

The village was surrounded by some fortifications but Tiana silently created an Ice Stairs and the two passed it rather easily.

Tiana dispersed her Ice Stairs. The ground had turned wetter but the water would evaporate in the daytime so no one in this village would notice this abnormality.

The two slowly entered the village and walked towards Tiana's house. Tiana knew this village like the back of her hand. But still, it was Sargan who was leading the way.

Sargan's task was to lead Tiana to her house and let her meet her parents without anyone detecting them.

Soon enough, they were right ahead of her house. Sargan spoke to her with a soft tone, "Go and meet your parents. I will wait outside. Remember to say what I told you."

Tiana spoke, slightly emotional at the prospect of meeting her parents today, "Alright…"

She entered her house while Sargan waited outside. As she entered, she moved towards her parents' bedroom.

It was on the ground floor.

Tiana placed her hand on the door and gently opened it. She noticed that her parents were fast asleep.

She was quite fortunate that her parents were asleep. If they were involved in some nightly activities, it would have been quite awkward for her.

She gently closed the door but the door suddenly creaked, letting out a loud sharp noise.

Tiana saw her mother jolted awake due to that sharp noise. Even her father opened his eyes.

"Who are you?!" Tiana's mother immediately shouted as she saw an unknown person in the room.

The room was quite dark and it was impossible to see Tiana's face as it was covered with a mask.

Tiana slowly removed her mask and stepped forward. It took some time for her mother's eyes to get used to the darkness. She finally spoke out, "Tiana?!"

Once Tiana's father heard his wife call out her name, he stared at Tiana with a focused look.

The man spoke out with a shocked look, "Tiana? You have returned?!"

Tiana nodded her head slowly, "Yes, father, mother. I have been well."

Her parents sat up and stared at their daughter. It was her father who asked, "Where were you all this time? We heard that you vanished from the Rhodes Mansion."

"After marrying into the Rhodes Family, I encountered a deadly disease that even troubled me every day. Even Lord Jonas was helpless. But by some trick of fate, my master sensed my physique and entered my room. She is incomparably powerful and easily suppressed whatever disease I had and brought me away. She told me this is the last time I can meet you and then, I need to leave this country." Tiana gave a brief summary of what Sargan had told her to speak.

Her parents looked dissatisfied with her words.

Her father spoke with an authoritative voice, "Return to Lord Jonas's side. You don't need to follow that master of yours."

Her mother also spoke, "Yes, Tiana. Lord Marquis was very worried about you. He is searching for you everywhere. It's not nice of you to run away from him."

"Father, Mother, please, don't stop me. I have always obeyed your words. But I am really not happy in Rhodes Mansion." Tiana pleaded with them.

Her father hardened his face as he saw that Tiana was actually refusing his command.

"You have grown quite big. To think you are going to disobey your parents now. Is this what we taught you?!" Tiana's father shouted.

Tiana's expression paled as she listened to her father.

She didn't think he would be so adamant in asking her to return. She had thought that he would bless her to live her life ahead. Not ask her to return to that hell where all the women in the mansion were planning to deal with her.

"Whatever. Since you are here, then you are going to return to Lord Jonas' side even if you don't want to." Tiana noticed her father standing up and picking up a stone.

Tiana immediately raised her hand and used an icicle to hit that stone. The stone flew in the air and soon landed in Tiana's hands.

Tiana noticed that her father was getting angry.

"Everyone, come! Grab my daughter!" He shouted with all his might.

His voice was so loud that it naturally couldn't be blocked by the walls of his house. Tiana's expression turned pale. She didn't think her father would do this.

He was actually going to be so forceful about this.

"If you leave now, I will kill myself." The man spoke with great determination.

Even his wife stared at him with surprise and grief in her eyes, but she said nothing. She simply looked at Tiana and pleaded with her to remain.

Tiana was caught in a hard spot. She didn't know what she should do. If she left now, her father will commit suicide. But if she didn't leave, her father would send her to the Rhodes mansion.

Tiana paused for a few minutes, unable to make a decision.

Her father was slightly confused. According to his expectations, the people should have entered his house. So how come they were still not here? He didn't even hear the sound of someone approaching his house.

Around this time, they heard a dark chuckle from outside the room, "The ones you are waiting for won't arrive. They are already dead."

"What?!" Tiana's parents asked with shocked expressions.

"Who are you?" Tiana's father instinctively asked.

"My identity is not important. Just know that I am merely Tiana's companion." Sargan answered coldly.

"Let's focus on the more important matter." He spoke with a serious tone, "Tiana, your father is quite a scoundrel. He has actually already decided to sell your information to Marquis Rhodes." Sargan spoke from behind the door.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Tiana asked with a shocked expression.

"I found a whole chest of Spirit Coins and even a contract within the room on the first floor. You won't imagine the contents of the contract. I have this contract with me. Check it out." Sargan slid the contract from the other side of the door.

Tiana read the contract and soon her expression changed.. There was a trace of anger on her face.