Chapter 5: The Northern Abyss Infernal Flame

Desolate Ancient Shaman Land—this was the domain of the Four Great Demons: the monstrous spirits, the phantoms, the fiends, and the wraiths. It was a place of unspeakable terror, a prison for those of utmost evil who could neither reincarnate nor find rest. There, their limbs were severed, their blood drained, their agony never-ending, caught in a cycle of torment where death would never come, and suffering was without end.

Little Huayan followed Firefly into the Desolate Ancient Shaman Land, where mist swirled ceaselessly, obscuring all sense of direction.

“Nine-Purple Leaving Fire Pill—where is it?” she asked.

Firefly offered an enchanting smile, thinking how effortless it had been to enter the lands of desolation, perhaps too easy.

“We’re nearly there. Stay close, or you’ll be lost in the Ancient Forest.”

Just as Firefly was indulging in thoughts of a lucrative venture, the sudden appearance of the Four Great Demons in the forest threw her into panic.

“What rotten luck—running into the Four Great Demons! Clearly, I can’t win. Better to run than to fight.”

So, Firefly abandoned Huayan and turned to flee.

Seeing this, Huayan also began to run for her life after Firefly.

“Stop! Don’t leave me behind!”

On the summit of Ten Thousand Mountains—

Realm of Clouds, Breath of the Sea, the very summit of the heavens, known as the Peak of Ten Thousand Mountains—a sacred place for cultivating spiritual power between heaven and earth.

Bei Ming Yanhuo stood atop the peak. His silver hair was like snow, his eyes devoid of mercy, his gaze cold and ruthless as he looked down upon all creation.

Clad in the Black Lotus Inextinguishable Inferno Demon Robe, he was the very image of a divine demon, eternal through the ages.

His long silver hair fluttered freely in the sacred aura of the mountain peak.

His handsome, devilish features were set off by emotionless eyes, gray and empty, exuding an irresistible demonic aura.

“Reporting to the Demon Lord: in your absence of thirty thousand years, Shui Tian Changmeng has ruthlessly slaughtered the children of my Northern Ming Clan, and the myriad beings of Shan Hai Yiguang have likewise found no reprieve.”

Bei Ming Yanhuo’s half-closed eyes snapped open, his gaze hardening, a sliver of light flashing toward the man who spoke.

“It is time for vengeance.”

“Zhan Feng.”

“Your servant is here. What does the Demon Lord command?” The man named Zhan Feng knelt in deference.

“Summon the Kings of the North and South Ming. There are grave matters to discuss. You will accompany me to the Desolate Ancient Shaman Land in search of the Boneflower. We will resurrect the three hundred thousand demon soldiers of the Northern Ming.”

“Yes, my lord.”

A sleeping dragon stirs—a single roar shakes a thousand mountains.

Zhan Feng transformed into a colossal azure dragon, riding the crimson mist, bearing Bei Ming Yanhuo away from the mountain’s summit.

Zhan Feng was the ancient azure dragon beneath Bei Ming Yanhuo’s command, one of the Four Heavenly Beasts, an ancient sacred creature with wings to soar the heavens, able to vanish among oceans and clouds, his might boundless.

Desolate Ancient Shaman Land.

Little Huayan was running as if her life depended on it. “Firefly, what is this place you’ve brought me to?”

Firefly’s face twisted in embarrassment; she had intended to slip away, but the Four Great Demons had overpowered her.

Not only had she failed to earn any spirit stones, but now she couldn’t even escape—what a disgrace!

“How should I know! Still, the Nine-Purple Leaving Fire Pill is here,” Firefly continued to deceive Huayan.

“We’re doomed. I should have checked the omens before leaving home. Now my life is over,” Huayan lamented, following Firefly in despair as they both fled for their lives.

“How do we get out of this cursed place? Think of something! I can’t run anymore,” Huayan panted desperately as she stumbled along.

Firefly’s mind raced with schemes. “Let’s split up. Maybe one of us can escape.”

With that, Firefly once again abandoned Huayan and ran for her own survival.

“Hey! Don’t go! You still haven’t told me where the Nine-Purple Leaving Fire Pill is!”

Huayan watched as Firefly fled in the opposite direction and sighed helplessly.

She ran for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, her strength ebbing away, her heart pounding in her throat.

At last, she gathered herself to leap lightly into the air, hoping to fly back to Shui Tian Changmeng.

But fate was unkind—she tripped on a dead branch, lost her balance, and with a startled cry, tumbled down like a falling blossom.

At that moment, Bei Ming Yanhuo was searching the ancient forest for the Boneflower when something fell from the sky and hurtled toward him.

He dodged to the side, making space for the unexpected visitor.

“Ah!” came a cry.

Huayan crashed to the ground, limbs splayed in all directions, quickly scrambling to sit up and scoot away.

Cursed by fate, she thought, this must be the end—death was inevitable.

As a demon lunged at her face, Huayan squeezed her eyes shut and screamed, “Help!”

A sharp crack rang out. Huayan thought her throat had been snapped, yet after a long moment, she realized she was still alive.

Curiosity pried her fingers apart—and the sight before her chilled her to the bone.

A demon’s head had been twisted off by a man in black, right before her eyes.

Moonlight lit the man’s pale neck, revealing alluring markings; his silver hair was like snow, coldness lingering in his gaze, unaware of the past.

Huayan stared in awe. Which god had heard her cry and come to her rescue?

She staggered to her feet, swaying, and met the black-robed man’s eyes. But when her gaze fell upon the gruesome scene, she retched uncontrollably.

Though his methods were cruel, he had saved her life. She wondered which celestial being had descended to aid her.

“Thank you, Immortal Lord, for saving my life,” she said, dizzy from her fall but still polite.

Bei Ming Yanhuo’s expression darkened. He flung the dead demon aside without a glance at Huayan, his demeanor cold and aloof as he turned to leave.

“Immortal Lord, how rude! I graciously thank you for saving me, and you ignore me?” Huayan blocked his way.

Her once neat pink clothes were now disheveled, her delicate pale face smudged with dirt.

“Move, or I’ll kill you,” Bei Ming Yanhuo replied, his voice icy and merciless.

Huayan stamped her foot in frustration, still refusing to let him pass.

“I only wished to thank you for saving me, yet you threaten to kill me.”

Bei Ming Yanhuo’s anger flared—he had found no sign of the Boneflower, and now this nuisance had dropped from the sky to interrupt him. Annoyed, he raised his hand, intending to swat the bothersome girl away.

But before he could strike, another demon arrived, prompting him to stay his hand.

The demon, seeing his fallen brother, glared with murderous intent.

“You killed my brother. You think you can just walk away?”

Bei Ming Yanhuo’s eyes flashed coldly, devoid of emotion, and the demon felt a flicker of fear.

Huayan, too, shrank back, unable to meet their gaze.