The man named Qin Yuanfeng

The man named Qin Yuanfeng...

Perched upon the mountain's peak, the great roc stood tall and imposing, its gaze piercing the heavens, radiating an aura that compelled others to bow before it.

Many demonic beasts frequented this sacred spot to pay homage to the demon emperor, the mighty great roc. From this lofty vantage point, the great roc, at the pinnacle of power, felt a profound sense of solitude.

Supreme and unrivaled, it looked down upon the masses, yearning to break through the confines of the sky and explore the realms beyond.

The sky sovereign roc had met its demise due to relentless attempts to breach the celestial ceiling. If the great roc could pierce that barrier, what a glorious achievement it would be.

Today, a fierce wind carried with it an overwhelming demonic presence. Yet, the great roc paid no heed, its focus on the heavens undisturbed. In its eyes, only the sky held significance, while other primordial demons had no place in its sight.

A thunderous roar shattered the stillness, as an immense figure, rivaling the great roc in size, emerged before the mountain.

With scarlet wings, a sinister visage, a horn gleaming with menace, and eyes that exuded brutality and coldness, this was the demon emperor of another realm – the Scarlet-Winged Earth Dragon.

As a descendant of the ancient demonic divinities, this was the first time it had ever laid eyes on a primordial great roc.

"Do you believe yourself powerful enough to declare yourself the Emperor of this territory?" It sneered, its massive body resembling a small mountain of unknown weight.

Only then did the great roc turn its gaze toward the Earth Dragon, its eyes flashing with an icy resolve that sent shivers through the other demonic beasts. Even the Earth Dragon's followers bowed in submission, overwhelmed by the aura emanating from the great roc.

"Did you, in your journey here, harm any of my loyal subjects?" Qin Wentian inquired sternly.

"He didn't," replied one of Qin Wentian's subordinates. Upon hearing this, the Earth Dragon let out a defiant roar. "This emperor doesn't concern himself with trifles."

The great roc's eyes bore down upon the Earth Dragon, its voice soft but resolute. "Submit, or face your demise."

The Scarlet-Winged Earth Dragon seethed with anger. In an instant, the pressure intensified, culminating in a thunderous roar that sent shockwaves through the earth. The very ground trembled violently, including the mountain peak where Qin Wentian stood, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Astral Warbeasts were distinct from humans; they possessed innate abilities associated with particular domains. This Earth Dragon, for instance, had a unique talent for controlling both fire and earth, and it could effortlessly absorb astral energy from constellations aligned with these attributes in the nine heavenly layers. This was a gift exclusive to Astral Warbeasts.

Moreover, the Earth Dragon boasted incredible speed and strength, particularly in the latter. Its strength exceeded that of demonic beasts of equivalent rank.

For more powerful Astral Warbeasts, as they grew stronger, they could tap into the ancestral memories of their bloodline, unlocking exclusive techniques available only to their lineage.

Demonic beasts relied heavily on bloodlines, far more so than humans. Powerful demonic beasts, especially those descended from ancient demonic divinities, had the potential to cultivate beyond certain thresholds. Weaker demonic beasts, on the other hand, were bound to remain at a specific level unless they encountered extraordinary opportunities to change their fate.

The great roc fixed its gaze on the Earth Dragon, exuding an unwavering aura of absolute authority—an emperor's presence. The great roc's bloodline blazed with power, radiating a palpable halo. It was the force of its royal blood.

The Earth Dragon's pupils contracted as its face contorted in dismay. How could this great roc possess such a potent bloodline, even overpowering its own? Could its ancestor be one of the demonic divinities, perhaps the Sky Sovereign Roc?

The great roc's aura continued to rise unchecked, stabilizing at the pinnacle of Heavenly Dipper. Unfurling its wings, it took to the air, locking eyes with the Scarlet-Winged Earth Dragon as an overwhelming pressure emanated from it.

That forcefield resembled the oppressive presence lower-tier demons felt when confronted by their higher-tier counterparts—an absolute suppression. The Earth Dragon convulsed violently under the weight of that aura. Not only did the great roc's strength surpass its own, but the instincts of the Earth Dragon's demonic senses also warned it that the great roc's bloodline was superior—a higher-tiered being, a natural-born king.

"I will reiterate. Submit, or face your demise."

The great roc's words, cold as ice, echoed like tyrannical thunder in the Earth Dragon's mind. Despite their equal cultivation bases, the overwhelming pressure from the great roc, coupled with its superior bloodline, was suffocating.

As the Earth Dragon gazed into the great roc's eyes, it sensed the shadow of the legendary Sky Sovereign Roc within. Slowly, the Earth Dragon's head lowered in submission, unwilling to meet the great roc's gaze.

Upon seeing their emperor surrender, shock rippled through the other demons' hearts.

"I am willing to serve under you," the Earth Dragon rumbled. As it spoke, the shimmer of its emperor's aura receded.

The other demonic beasts looked on in disbelief but quickly replaced their astonishment with reverence as they beheld the great roc hovering in the sky. Its eyes bore a sharpness no other demonic beast dared to challenge.

As for those who had initially submitted to the great roc, they felt deeply moved. This was their emperor, a genuine emperor. Even before any battle, the Earth Dragon had conceded. How awe-inspiring was that?

"Since you are an emperor of a region, and considering the fact that you spared the lives of my subjects upon entering my territory, I shall appoint you as a demon general. The nine demon leaders will serve under you, and in my absence, you will govern the territory in my stead. However, you must adhere to my rules. Henceforth, the demonic beasts of both regions shall unite under one banner. None shall raise arms against one another. Those who break this rule will face death. Do you accept?"

The great roc's voice remained detached. The Scarlet-Winged Dragon knelt on one knee as it declared, "I, the Demon General, accept my Emperor's command."

"My ambitions extend beyond this. Eventually, the ownership of these regions will belong to all of you. Now, leave me," the great roc declared emotionlessly. The other demonic beasts exchanged glances before departing from the area. They understood that the great roc harbored even greater aspirations—so lofty that they might not even qualify to follow, even if they were willing.

His aim transcended this swath of the sky.

The Earth Dragon returned to its former territory, delivering news of the new world order. Meanwhile, the great roc returned to the ancient peak, standing there, gazing upwards as if it had existed since time immemorial.

The demonic beasts below observed impassively, unable to comprehend the loneliness of their emperor, of one who stood at the zenith.

He, once a human, had now become an emperor in the world of demons.

Time flowed onward. The forest leaves transformed into vibrant hues of red and gold. Deep within the mountains, falling leaves danced amidst the snowflakes, casting a sense of desolation across the landscape. The demonic beasts of the two great regions hailed the great roc as their Emperor.

Their emperor appeared to be eternally stationed there. Every night, they could witness the resplendent astral light cascading from above as the great roc absorbed astral energy. This radiant display further emphasized the profound solitude of the great roc, standing alone on that mountain peak in the dead of night.

Fairy Qingmei had yet to reappear, and Qing`er's whereabouts remained unknown. Qin Wentian's singular focus was now on becoming stronger, relentless in his pursuit of power.

In the outside world, news about Qin Wentian had largely faded away. The majority believed that he had met his demise. However, the Pill Emperor Hall refrained from making any public statements, leaving his friends with a glimmer of hope that he might still be alive.

In the Mystic Moon Sect of the Spirit Continent, a coquettish figure donned a black robe that clung to her enticing form. Bai Qing had just returned from her external training, and the first piece of news that reached her ears was the fall of Qin Wentian during his battle at the Pill Emperor Hall. Strangely, she didn't cry; not a single tear escaped her eyes. She stood motionless like a statue, staring into the distance, utterly stunned by the revelation.

"Little Qing..." Autumn Snow's eyes welled with tears as she called out to Bai Qing. But Bai Qing remained immobile, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

A breeze swept by, causing the robes of both maidens to flutter.

Black clouds gathered on the horizon, and Bai Qing's lips quivered. Finally, a solitary tear trickled down her cheek.

"Wentian gege, if you've truly departed... What purpose did it serve to delve into the devil arts?" Bai Qing's heart ached intensely. It was a pain akin to her heartstrings snapping, one by one. Why had she chosen to tread the perilous path of the devil, heedless of the potential consequences?

"If you've truly left this world, what difference does it make even if the entire Pill Emperor Hall crumbles alongside you?" Bai Qing muttered, her gaze lifting to the heavens. Her appearance morphed, her once-beautiful countenance now a manifestation of darkness. Her eyes turned cold and pitch-black, resembling the eyes of a true devil.

Terrifying waves of devilish energy enveloped her. Autumn Snow, standing nearby, felt a chilling sensation wash over her, her body involuntarily trembling. She retreated hastily, unable to remain close to Bai Qing.

The devilish intent took hold, coursing through Bai Qing. Her figure flickered, and she ascended into the sky, flying off in a specific direction.

"Qing`er!" Autumn Snow called out, but she heard a voice from behind. "Let her go. Since she's chosen the path of the devil, we can no longer control her fate. Now that her devilish intent is surging, whether this turns out to be a blessing or a curse will ultimately depend on her own destiny."

...

Outside the Demon Mountain City, in a place perpetually shrouded in mist, a group of figures emerged and made their way out.

Today, Qing`er, the old man, and the other white-robed maiden left that mysterious misty area.

Inside the misty realm, all was tranquil. Yet, nobody could have known about the tumultuous storm raging in a land where experts were as numerous as the clouds, far, far away from this place.

The Great Nirvana Immortal Art had been stolen! An intense war erupted, tens of thousands of experts perished, and factions far more powerful than Grand Xia's transcendent powers vanished from the world because of this conflict.

The origin of this tempest remained unknown. No one could have guessed that the true instigator hailed from a distant land known as Grand Xia, orchestrating this war on behalf of another.

Qing`er led the way, and the old man stopped, addressing her, "Princess."

Qing`er came to a slow halt.

"Princess, please do not forget your promise to us. This old servant will lead our people away." The elderly figure bowed deeply as Qing`er lightly nodded. Then she continued on her path, her demeanor as cold as ever, ignoring the presence of others.

Shortly after, Qing`er's silhouette vanished completely, while a white-robed maiden appeared beside the old man.

"How did the investigation go?" the old man inquired.

"The reason the princess sought the Great Nirvana Immortal Art was because of a young man named Qin Wentian. Qin Wentian should have perished in the Pill Emperor Hall, but a mysterious figure intervened, allowing him to be rescued by Princess Qing`er," the white-robed maiden explained. Her words caused the old man to furrow his brow, and for a moment, a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. "Qin surname... Could he be related to that man, Qin Yuanfeng? There shouldn't be any connection between them, right?"