The Vermillion Bird Alliance!

The massive Hammer of the Yellow Springs rested silently, its entire form shimmering with a faint golden light, like a wisp of ethereal, mobile golden mist, slowly revolving, drawing the gaze until one felt helplessly submerged within it.

Feng Qingtian, Xia Ya, and Han Yunzhen stood solemnly before the hall, facing three robust, elderly men.

“Do you know why we went to such lengths to kill the Yellow Springs Cult Master and seize the Hammer of the Yellow Springs?” Feng Yuan Chuan, the patriarch of the Feng family, stated in a deep voice.

“……..” Feng Qingtian, Xia Ya, and Han Yunzhen instinctively exchanged glances. Then, Feng Qingtian said, “The Hammer of the Yellow Springs holds immense power. If wielded correctly, one could indeed become invincible under heaven.”

“Do you truly believe that?” Xia Jie, the patriarch of the Xia family, inquired.

“............” Xia Ya hesitated slightly but finally spoke up, “Actually, we never fully bought into that claim. Although the Hammer of the Yellow Springs emanates profound energy fluctuations, its sheer size makes it incredibly burdensome just to carry. To swing it lightly and use it freely would require the divine strength of the Yellow Springs Cult Master; otherwise, unleashing its power is impossible.”

“I suspect the supposed invincible power of the Hammer of the Yellow Springs conceals a different secret,” Han Yunzhen murmured hesitantly.

“Hahahaha, you are correct,” Han Su, the patriarch of the Han family, looked toward the other two. “It is time to tell them.”

“Indeed,” Feng Yuan Chuan nodded slightly. “In truth, tasking you with killing the Yellow Springs Cult Master and seizing the Hammer was merely a trial—an opportunity to unleash your own limitless potential in the process. If you succeed, you will gain an extremely precious opportunity, and by grasping it, obtaining even greater power will not be impossible.”

“A trial?” Feng Qingtian exclaimed, agitated. “Did we sacrifice Uncle Three, Uncle Seven, and so many brave warriors of the Vermillion Bird Alliance just for this trial?”

“Do not be agitated. I said if you succeed, you will gain an opportunity,” Feng Yuan Chuan sighed. “This was actually a mission secretly issued by the Church. Publicly, the Imperial Family announced that success would earn you the Saint War Set, the Divine Mage Set, or the Heavenly Venerable Set.” Feng Yuan Chuan continued, “While obtaining these would certainly boost your strength significantly, it wouldn't make you invincible. In reality, besides these rewards, the three of you will gain a very precious opportunity: entry into the Church’s Sacred Temple for cultivation. Once you successfully cultivate there, the three of you will separately become the Church’s Heavenly Demon Warrior, Heavenly Venerable Priest, and Heavenly Rainbow Archmage.”

“Heavenly Demon Warrior.”

“Heavenly Rainbow Archmage.”

“Heavenly Venerable Priest.”

The three young people were greatly shocked. If they could truly become Heavenly Demon Warriors, Heavenly Rainbow Archmages, or Heavenly Venerable Priests, they could genuinely be considered invincible in the world of Rangers.

“So, this is what they meant by invincible under heaven,” the three young people realized with sudden clarity.

“Precisely. This is the true secret of the Hammer of the Yellow Springs,” Xia Jie stated. “Deliver the Hammer of the Yellow Springs to the Church with your own hands, and you will earn the qualification to cultivate in the Sacred Temple. Whether you succeed depends on your efforts.” He added, “The Holy Word Church selects suitable talents through various means across centuries to enter the Sacred Temple and become the Church’s Guardian Warriors.”

“Then have any of our three families previously entered the Church’s Sacred Temple for cultivation?” Feng Qingtian asked in surprise.

“That is not for you to ask,” Feng Yuan Chuan said sternly. “Prepare yourselves well. Next year is when the Heavenly Demon Sacred Temple opens again.”

“Yes!” The three young people were overwhelmingly excited!

In a suite at the Jin Hai Inn!

“We’ve found him. Howling Forest sounded excited. “After separating from the Vermillion Bird Alliance, Blue Lightning stayed behind in the Bone Demon Cave to continue cultivating. He has five companions with him.”

“Heh! Wonderful,” Fierce Eagle Madman rejoiced. “If it were just him, we might not have caught him, but having companions makes things easier.”

“Head to the Bone Demon Cave immediately,” Wild Tiger Roar said grimly. “This time, he’s done for.”

Just as they were celebrating, Li Xie walked in, looking utterly dejected.

“What’s wrong?” Flying Swallow of the True Eagle asked with confusion. “We should be happy if we found the kid.”

“This… look for yourselves,” Li Xie said, handing a magical letter to Flying Swallow of the True Eagle.

“This—what is this?” Flying Swallow of the True Eagle could scarcely believe her eyes. “We worked ourselves to the bone getting to Cangyue, only for it to be a wasted trip.”

“What’s going on?” Wild Tiger Roar wondered.

“Uh, look for yourself,” Flying Swallow of the True Eagle casually passed the letter to Wild Tiger Roar.

After reading it, Wild Tiger Roar also wore an expression of utter disbelief. “The world changes too fast these days.”

The general content stated that the Hero Society and the Star Moon Alliance had temporarily reached a truce concerning the treasure, opened the Sand City Treasure, and ordered the likes of Wild Tiger Roar to immediately return to Biqi. If they had found Blue Lightning, they were strictly ordered not to engage him but to escort him back to Biqi. The letter heavily emphasized avoiding conflict with Blue Lightning and ensuring he remained unharmed, as he would play a crucial role in this operation. The signature dated the letter half a month ago, meaning it had arrived in Cangyue a full day earlier than they did.

“...........” The group was completely stunned into silence.

“We can be certain now,” Flying Swallow of the True Eagle lamented with a bitter smile. “That kid named Lan Xing or Xingchen must be favored by the Goddess of Mafa. Whoever opposes him meets misfortune.”

“Perhaps,” Li Xie murmured. “I felt early on that this operation wouldn’t go smoothly, but I never expected this outcome.”

“Are we just going to let it go?” Fierce Eagle Madman almost exploded in frustration. “The six of us sailed for nearly four months, endured hardships, nearly drowned several times, finally arrived at Cangyue, finally located him, and now we just drop it?”

“Ah! Damn it!” Bear Overlord almost spat blood in anger. “I cannot swallow this insult.”

“Obey the orders,” Wild Tiger Roar said with a crestfallen face. “Have to pack up and go home before we’ve even settled in. This is bizarre.”

“........” Dragon Abyss Snow-Flutter was deathly pale. “My heavens, are we going to sail again?” Although they had adapted to life on the ship over the three-plus months, they all carried lingering psychological shadows. To be forced to rush back onto a ship so soon after disembarking, without even catching their breath, felt like deliberately inviting suffering. Dragon Abyss Snow-Flutter was close to fainting outright.

“Accept fate,” Flying Swallow of the True Eagle sighed resignedly.

......................

The days slipped by, and in the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed. My Dou Qi cultivation finally reached the High Stage of Scarlet Moon. Long Xin, Long Qi, and Long Zhan had all reached the peak of the Advanced stage. As for Dongguan Jinhong, his cultivation reached the High Stage of Advanced. Compared to others their age, they could certainly be called geniuses. Even now, they found it hard to believe, as this pace of cultivation far exceeded their previous imaginations.

However, considering the terrifying destructive power of the Sea of Fire Array, this rapid progress wasn't entirely strange.

This was half a year ahead of the original schedule, even accounting for the time wasted in the Yellow Springs World. For me, staying here any longer offered little discernible improvement. Moreover, if the Long Xin group left me, maintaining their current cultivation speed would be impossible. For this reason, we decided to return to Cangyue City first, then proceed to the Demon Dragon Continent for further training.

Bone Demon Town was as bustling as ever, filled with the constant flow of armored and sword-wielding Rangers rushing about. We simply found a tavern and sat down.

Having been cooped up in the cave for half a year, we were thoroughly sick of jerky and hardtack. A sumptuous feast was what mattered most to us now. Besides, the carriage heading to Cangyue wouldn't depart until the afternoon, leaving us ample time to enjoy this rare, grand meal.

Perhaps accustomed to such sights, the waiter merely smiled. “You gentlemen have just emerged from a cave, haven’t you?”

“Indeed,” Dongguan laughed. “Haven’t seen the sun in half a year. We’ve been gnawing on dry rations so long, our teeth are nearly worn flat. We need to treat ourselves properly this time.”

“Did you hear? The Sand City Treasure has been opened,” a mage around forty years old interjected.

“Yes, everyone’s been talking about it recently,” a nearby Warrior commented.

“You two might not know,” one mage stated, “The Sand City Treasure is open, and the Hero Society and the Star Moon Alliance have temporarily set aside their enmity!”

“That’s truly strange. Aren’t those two alliances mortal enemies?” a Priest wondered aloud.

“It can’t be helped,” someone analyzed. “Although the Star Moon Alliance has the Zuma Totem, the Sand City Treasure is located within Sabak City. Think about it: one holds the key, while the other guards the gate. Both sides are evenly matched; if they fought, neither would gain an advantage. It’s better to sit down and negotiate; everyone benefits.”

“That makes sense.”

The Sand City Treasure was finally open. I felt a pang of emotion; I hadn't expected the two major alliance guilds to avoid fighting. Still, this brought me a measure of relief.

However, thinking back to the lore of the Sand City Treasure in my previous life’s Legend, I felt a twinge of worry. I remembered that the Shadow Path of Sand City, levels one through three, were heavily guarded by Zuma creatures. And the fourth level, the so-called Sand City Treasure Vault, was terrifying because it housed many demon-level monsters: the Yellow Springs Cult Master, Zuma Cult Master, Iris Cult Master, Twin-Headed Adamant, Twin-Headed Blood Demon, and more, were all supposed to appear there. Yet, in the three years since arriving in the Mafa World, the only information I had was that the Yellow Springs Cult Master seemed exclusive to the Yellow Springs World, and another Dark Yellow Springs Cult Master appeared in the Hall of Confusion. Apart from these two locations, no other Yellow Springs Cult Masters should exist, and the Zuma Cult Master, Iris Cult Master, and Twin-Headed Adamant all had their own domains and shouldn't be in the Sand City Treasure Vault.

Even so, I felt a sense of unease. If the Sand City Treasure Vault truly contained so many terrifying monsters, wouldn’t Master and Yan Luo be in grave danger?

Thinking of this, I could no longer sit still and quickly pulled out a magical letter sheet. I wrote a letter, cautioning Master and Yan Luo to be careful, implicitly hinting at my worries. Of course, I didn't dare state things too certainly, but I urged them to prepare for the possibility of dealing with several monsters as terrifying as the Yellow Springs Cult Master simultaneously. I trusted that if Yan Luo received my letter, she would be even more cautious.

Though small, Bone Demon Town did have a post office. After sending the letter, it was time for us to board the carriage.

Five hours later, we returned to Cangyue City and met Shen Yin and the others.

“Xingchen.”

“Long Zhan.”

Seeing us return, Shen Yin, Shen Yi, and the others were overjoyed. “What good deeds have you been up to now?”

“The entire Cangyue knows about it now,” Luo Hou chuckled. “Impressive! To kill the Yellow Springs Cult Master! You truly are an elite descendant of my Demon Dragon Royal Family.”

“Ah! It spread so quickly?” I was slightly surprised.

“You don’t know?” Shen Yin asked curiously. “Two months ago, you three already became big names shaking Cangyue.”

“Shaking Cangyue?” I felt somewhat dazed.

“Big names,” Long Qi murmured. “Becoming famous was certain, but shaking Cangyue—isn’t that an exaggeration?”

“Good heavens, don’t tell me after the Battle of Yellow Springs, you all stayed cooped up in the Bone Demon Cave and haven’t emerged?” Shen Yi sounded shocked as she realized something.

“That’s right. We only came out of the cave today,” Dongguan mumbled.

“Heh! That explains it,” Ji Du said, as if it were obvious. “We have a few issues of the Ranger Red List here; look for yourselves.” Ji Du picked up a stack of Red List reports—equivalent to modern newspapers—from the table. “The Princess and Shen Yi have looked through these several times.”

“........” Although puzzled, I was curious to know exactly what had happened.

........................

Ten minutes later!

“Thunder Mage!” Dongguan was stunned.

“The number one on the Sacred Demon List!” Long Xin looked utterly aghast, staring straight at me.

“And number one on the War God List,” Long Zhan muttered. “This is too much.”

“Perhaps not the strongest, but the only irreplaceable one,” Jinhong mused. “That saying is absolutely true.”

“Now, it’ll be hard not to be famous,” Long Qi looked at me excitedly, envious. “How come all the good fortune lands on you?”

“.............” I was somewhat lost, honestly still feeling muddled and unable to grasp the situation. But I was certain of one thing: “The greater the fame, the greater the trouble.”

“Hahahaha, worthy of His Highness Xingchen,” Ji Du laughed. “To have such a peculiar thought! In the world of Rangers, everyone strives for renown. I never expected that after becoming famous, your first thought would be trouble.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” I smiled wryly. “I’ve suffered greatly from it.”

“But now you don’t have to worry,” Shen Yin exclaimed happily. “You have a great reputation in Cangyue! If it weren’t for all these administrative tasks, I’d join you all. To besiege the Yellow Springs Cult Master—what a thrilling, earth-shattering scene! I didn’t even participate.”

“It’s infuriating!” Shen Yi was even more depressed. “If we had joined in, hehe, then the three Xing brothers would be the famous ones!”

“Hahahaha, that’s right, isn’t it,” Shen Yin laughed even more foolishly.

“.............” Ji Du, Luo Hou, and the others looked at us helplessly. “You know, the Princess has been confined to the deep palace since childhood and hasn't seen much of the world.”

“Understood! Understood,” Long Xin nodded slightly.

“..........” We were utterly speechless. Shen Yin and Shen Yi were completely clueless. If they had truly witnessed the horror of the Yellow Springs Cult Master, I was certain those two girls would have fainted from fright on the spot.

........................

After the long separation, there were inevitable sentiments and pleasantries. After Shen Yin and Shen Yi settled down from their excitement, they began arranging the banquet. I temporarily escaped the company of the two chattering little sparrows.

Perhaps because they were all girls, Shen Yin, Shen Yi, Long Xin, and a few maids gathered together, excitedly discussing something after settling in. Meanwhile, Long Zhan stared blankly at Shen Yi. Long Qi looked even more crestfallen watching Shen Yin. Those two were a lost cause.

Dongguan and Jinhong mixed with a crowd of guards, boasting loudly and frequently gesturing excitedly. The entire hall instantly became a live broadcast of the "Red Coats," creating a lively atmosphere. Even Luo Hou couldn't help but crane his neck and listen intently. After all, Dongguan and Jinhong were survivors who had actually experienced the Battle of Yellow Springs. We could occasionally hear gasps of astonishment, and some listeners turned pale as they listened.

I never realized Dongguan had the potential of a storyteller, and Jinhong, beside him, kept adding details, drawing continuous wonder from the crowd.

“His Highness Xingchen, could you step into the side room with me?” Ji Du approached a private room off the main hall.

“General needs me?” I followed him into the room, slightly puzzled.

“What are your plans next?” Ji Du asked.

“I want to go to the Demon Dragon Continent early to cultivate.”

“That’s a good idea,” Ji Du continued, asking, “Besides your Dou Qi cultivation, how are your advancements in other areas?”

“It’s a pity that I’ve made no progress at all in cultivating the Eye of Death Desire during these past six months,” I admitted with regret.

“That can’t be rushed,” Ji Du advised. “It depends on providence.”

“I know it can’t be rushed,” I murmured. “But having witnessed the marvel of the Eye of Death Desire, I’m impatient to master it.”

“Let’s put that aside for now,” Ji Du said. “Honestly, I never expected your cultivation speed to be this fast.” As he spoke, Ji Du took out a token and a scroll. “But this way, the timing is just right, saving me some trouble.”

“General?” I looked at Ji Du, confused.

“This is the Demon Dragon Royal Token,” Ji Du said solemnly. “I’m giving it to you now to facilitate your movements. This will save you considerable hassle on the Demon Dragon Continent.”

“Thank you, General,” I quickly accepted the token. I couldn’t believe that after already possessing the Biqi Royal Token, I now had another Demon Dragon Royal Token. I knew these were priceless items that couldn't be bought with money; I understood the benefits.

“This token is extraordinary; never lose it,” Ji Du stated firmly. “It allows you to conveniently travel between cities on the Demon Dragon Continent using Thunder Eagles. Furthermore, it grants you the authority to mobilize fifty thousand garrison troops from any city in the Demon Dragon Empire unconditionally.”

“Ah!” I was stunned—fifty thousand troops.

“Of course, I hope you won't be too conspicuous,” Ji Du added. “Besides riding the Thunder Eagles, it’s best not to use it for other matters.”

“I understand.”

“I actually know you aren't the type to act recklessly,” Ji Du smiled. “Otherwise, I wouldn't dare entrust the token to you.”

“Thank you, General Ji Du.”

“Don’t thank me; this is the Princess’s wish,” Ji Du replied. “However, the next thing I’m giving you is equally important.”

Ji Du picked up the scroll-like item and stated solemnly, “This scroll is the entry ticket to the Demon Dragon Royal Heavenly Demon Sacred Temple. Originally, I didn't intend to hand this over to you so soon, but since you’ve cultivated to the High Stage of Scarlet Moon so rapidly, I believe you will soon reach the peak of Scarlet Moon. When your Dou Qi reaches the peak of Scarlet Moon, it should be time for you to reach the Demon Dragon Blood Domain. From any location in the Demon Dragon Blood Domain, you can open this scroll, and it will teleport you to the Heavenly Demon Sacred Temple to undergo its assessment. If you succeed, you will become a Heavenly Demon Warrior.”

“Heavenly Demon Warrior?” I was greatly surprised. “General, my identity hasn't even been officially confirmed yet, how can you rashly let me enter the Heavenly Demon Sacred Temple?”

“Rest assured,” Ji Du said. “Although your identity hasn't been definitively confirmed, it is nearly ascertained. Ye Xiaoman—hehe, I never thought the world-famous Blue Lightning had such a lovely name.”

“Ah!” I was stunned. “How did you find out?”

“Hahaha, the power of the Royal Family’s Dove Group is beyond your imagination,” Ji Du replied.

“If you can find out, can’t others?” I was shocked. “Will Mother and the others be in danger?”

“Rest assured. You have a good master and a good friend, and there are people at Dragon Shadow Manor and the Moon Sect secretly protecting your family.” Ji Du sighed with feeling, “It was they who erased many traces for you. Otherwise, with all the trouble you’ve stirred up outside, do you think your family would still be safe?”

“So that’s how it is.” For a moment, I was overcome with emotion. “Master, and Yan Luo, thank you both.”

“After verification, the maternal line of your mother is descended from the Demon Dragon Imperial Family, those who fled under the reign of Bi Qi Ming Huang's younger brother, the King of Qin. Furthermore, we discovered that you carry the bloodline of the Bi Qi Imperial Family in addition to the Demon Dragon lineage. Otherwise, do you think your master, Jian Li Ken, would have handed over the Bi Qi Imperial Token to you so easily?”

“Ah!” I found it hard to believe. Good heavens, this body actually had such a profound origin.

“It can now be confirmed that you are a descendant of the Demon Dragon Imperial Family,” Ji Du stated. “And granting you the admission ticket to the Heavenly Demon Sanctuary was the current Emperor’s decision. We hope you will not disappoint his expectations of you.”

“The Demon Dragon Emperor.” I was completely taken aback.

“Although he hasn’t met you yet, he holds you in very high regard,” Ji Du continued. “Work hard, and after you become a Heavenly Demon Warrior, I believe your wish will be fulfilled.”

“Wish.” I was shocked again. “Do you mean you even found out why I study martial arts?”

“Of course.” Ji Du nodded. “However, as for the first mysterious master who taught you the Fencing Sword Art and the Hundred Battles Saber Technique—Huang Yi—we haven't found a single clue about who he is.”

“……” I was stunned. If you guys could actually track down this Huang Yi, you’d truly be ghosts.