Spreading the News
The leader of the Demonic Alliance sat contemplating within his immortal lair. Naturally, he was now at the sixth rank, intermediate stage, having taken the path of shadow.
"I possess a good set of abilities, along with three excellent lethal moves," he thought.
He was planning for the future, having set a goal 29 years ago to kill his brother, the one responsible for their mother's death.
"I spiritually instructed my three deputies to head to the city centers, not to fall at the borders like the second deputy did," he mused.
"I want to see your reaction after hearing this news, which will spread very quickly."
He rose from his chair, adorned with the skulls of his enemies, and opened his deep blue eyes.
He went for a walk to check on the condition of his soldiers.
"Long live the leader! Long live the leader! Long live the leader!"
A large number of soldiers shouted, bowing toward him.
He made his way to the healer's office.
"How are his wounds, Gu Lingshi?"
Gu Lingshi turned his gaze toward the leader.
"Well, given the depth of his injuries, he'll return to the battlefield in 15 days."
"This is all because of your lack of focus in battle," the leader said angrily, glaring at him.
Gu Lingshi stood from his chair and approached the leader.
"We haven't had a drink in a long time, Mo Tiang," he said, patting his shoulder.
"I have a lot of things to do, Gu Lingshi."
"I know, ever since you broke through to the sixth rank, you've stopped coming to the office for drinks."
"Tonight, I'll come. Prepare a delicious drink."
Mo Tiang smiled, then turned and left the office.
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29 years ago…
Back when Mo Tiang was in the Kingdom of Dragonis, he was the brother of the current king of Dragonis. Their mother was the queen, and the one destined to inherit the throne after her was his older brother. Mo Tiang was friends with Gu Lingshi. Later, the queen was killed by her eldest son, driven by greed to drink her blood and steal one of her abilities to break through to the fifth rank—an act considered one of the forbidden methods.
Mo Tiang was deeply shocked after witnessing his mother's death at the hands of his older brother.
"Don't worry, heh heh heh, her blood is delicious," his brother taunted.
Mo Tiang looked at him with eyes full of rage and hatred.
He ran to embrace his mother, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Mother, Mother, I'm sorry for anything I've done."
The sound of his crying echoed through the corridors, and by chance, her deputy happened to be passing by.
The deputy opened the palace door and saw the older brother about to stab his younger sibling from behind. With one swift move, he grabbed the elder's hand.
"What have you done?"
He glanced at the younger brother, who was crying while holding his mother.
The deputy struck the younger brother's neck, causing him to collapse. He was about to punch the older brother in the face when a group of people suddenly appeared.
"Who are you filthy scum?"
He spoke in a stern voice, drawing his sword.
"Shut your mouth if you don't want to die."
"Who do you think—"
One of them grabbed the deputy's face and began crushing it.
The group's leader ordered them not to kill him, instructing them instead to take the older brother and bury the mother in her grave.
"Spread the news throughout the kingdom that the queen died at the hands of her deputy," the leader commanded.
"Also, place the younger brother in his bedroom."
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The sun rose, and it was a clear day at the execution site. The deputy was to be beheaded.
Gu Lingshi ran through the area until he reached the queen's palace and arrived at Mo Tiang's room.
He burst through the door and rushed to wake him. After a few seconds, Mo Tiang rose from his sleep.
"Mother…"
He turned his gaze to Gu Lingshi.
"We need to escape."
"What do you mean, Mo Tiang?"
Gu Lingshi quickly recounted the story, and they hurriedly decided to flee.
They gathered their belongings swiftly and ran out of the kingdom.
"Are you sure about this decision, Mo Tiang?"
"Yes."
"Then I swear to you, I'll help you until the last drop of my blood."
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From that moment on, Mo Tiang became like a beast that kept growing, while Gu Lingshi was like an unbreakable shield.
They killed and killed and killed without mercy.
When Mo Tiang reached the peak of the fifth rank, he decided to establish his own Demonic Alliance against the entire kingdom and vowed to slaughter his brother with his own hands.
A few days after the queen's deputy was executed, the older brother became king. No one knew about his murder of their mother except his younger brother, the now-deceased deputy, and the group that had fueled the elder's greed.
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Now, in the Kingdom of Dragonis…
The room was filled with attendees this time, due to the presence of the Grandmaster Lan Tian.
The three great ones, the king's deputy, the kingdom's renowned healer, and the king himself were all present.
Their eyes were filled with worry, confusion, and fear of loss.
"Will he regain consciousness?"
The king spoke, turning his gaze to the healer.
"I don't know yet. Everything depends on his perseverance. We've tended to his wounds and used a healing ability to restore his hand as it was before."
"Unfortunately, we couldn't restore his eye, as it's an organ, not like a hand or a leg."
"I understand… Do your utmost, doctor."
"At your command, Your Majesty."
The three great ones prayed for his recovery and restoration, then vanished immediately.
"Yan Yue, come here," the king called after leaving the treatment room.
"Your Majesty?"
As they walked through the corridor, the king asked Yan Yue,
"Have you heard about the spreading news?"
"No, I haven't."
"The news claims that anyone who has suffered because of the kingdom and is of the fifth rank or higher should join the Demonic Alliance…"
"Haha, but there's no one of the fifth rank in the kingdom."
"No, there are, and some have tried to destroy it before."
"Then what are your orders, Your Majesty?"
"Leave it be."
Yan Yue was stunned by the king's words.
"But—"
"Silence," the king said in a firm tone.
"You may go."
Yan Yue disappeared, and the king stood on a rooftop somewhere in the kingdom.
"Brother, if you're still alive…"
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Now, in a crimson-colored room…
Farkan sat squatting, pulling out two blood samples belonging to Lu Bei and Chi Wa.
"Have you prepared everything, Syl Fu?"
Farkan and Syl Fu had gathered the ingredients for the mixture after 24 hours. It consisted of the Crimson Killer Flower, a rare plant from the Northern Continent; Shadow Demon Marrow, a substance taken from black demonic creatures; and the bones of a Crimson Wolf, which they had killed—a task that delayed them due to the wolf's battle strength at the peak of the fifth rank.
"Yes, I cooked all the ingredients for a full nine hours."
"Well done."
"Now, extract the final liquid from the Blood Purification Elixir mixture and turn it into a dark red elixir."
Syl Fu carried out all the instructions.
"Give it to me. This will purify the blood in ten seconds."
Farkan poured the two samples into the dark red elixir.
After ten seconds, Farkan held the container in his hands and began drinking.
Once he finished, he opened his eyes and looked at Syl Fu.
"Your eyes are red—are you okay?"
Blood streamed from his eyes.
"Farkan!!"
"It's fine, this is part of the process. Don't worry."
The second step: Flaying
Farkan brought a sharp knife and placed the inscriptions before him to carve them onto his body.
The inscriptions were in an incomprehensible language, consisting of 15 words.
Slash, slash.
He began carving the first word, then the second, then the third, and so on.
Three hours passed during the flaying, and he inscribed all the words onto his body.
They vanished instantly, like magic, leaving behind scars.
The final step: Farkan's will against theirs (Lu Bei and Chi Wa)
A great struggle of wills began. Chi Wa's will was fragile, and Farkan devoured it.
But now, he faced Lu Bei's will from the path of strength, which exhausted him greatly.
"Do you really think you can overcome me? My will is like steel."
The struggle lasted about five hours.
Farkan succeeded after long exhaustion and immense effort.
The aura surrounding him indicated he had broken through to the fifth rank, initial stage.
"I did it," he said, smiling broadly and laughing.
"The pain will eventually fade, but success may not come again."
"I'm exhau—"
He collapsed immediately, a smile still on his face.
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The End