“...The mage, seeing his spell and the black dog's blood were useless, quickly burned seven spirit talismans in one breath, summoning a fierce thunder that truly changed the face of heaven and earth, obscuring the sun and moon. Lightning struck all around him, yet the demon showed no fear, leaping forward to engage the mage, who held a peach-wood sword, in brutal close combat. After several hundred fierce rounds, it finally sank its teeth into the mage’s neck...”

“And then? What happened next!” Huo'er's single claw gripped the back of the sofa, wings spread, leaning forward, eyes wide with eager questioning.

On the sofa opposite Huo'er, Liu Di was crammed into a corner of the three-seater, squeezing his body inward as much as possible, and loudly declared, “Then I ate that mage for lunch... Hey, don't lean over here, keep your distance, I really don't want to sit next to you.”

“What’s the big deal,” Huo'er complained, disappointed, flapping its wings. “Every story ends with, ‘Then I ate that powerful opponent.’ It’s clearly just bragging!”

“What would a little bird that hasn't even lived three hundred years know! How many types of demons have you even seen!”

“I’ve seen plenty! When we lived deep in the mountains, there were monsters all around us. You city dwellers have no idea what the world is like! Isn't that right, Ying!”

Zhou Ying was stretched out below the row of floor-to-ceiling windows on the other side of the living room, the intense sunlight of the summer afternoon baking his body. He squinted, enjoying the rare sunshine after days of persistent rain, listening to Liu Di and Huo'er bicker.

None of the three 'beings' currently in the room were human.

Bi Fang, 'Huo'er,' was a spirit beast, creatures that only Gods, Demons, or Immortals were normally able to command. However, for reasons unknown, it had stuck with the Shadow Demon, 'Zhou Ying,' viewing the Shadow Demon—who had raised it since it was a hatchling—as a father figure.

The Shadow Demon (Ying Mei) was originally the lowest form of demon regarded as an anomaly by humans, born from the dampness of swamps and the Yin energy of primeval forests—a formless, thoughtless, unconscious Chimei. But this one, through a twist of fate and arduous self-cultivation, had gained form, thought, and attained the status of a 'Yao.' Its ultimate goal was to achieve true apotheosis and become one of the Gods, Demons, or Immortals. Thus, it had assumed a human guise and entered the city to live a human life ('becoming human' being a mandatory lesson for Yao seeking apotheosis), giving itself the name 'Zhou Ying.'

Several months prior, a Yashu had been eating people in the city. Because its actions were too undisguised, it drew widespread human attention, severely impacting Zhou Ying's life. Consequently, Zhou Ying joined forces with another demon to eliminate it. Through that incident, Zhou Ying met his only friend, Liu Di—a Earth Wolf (Di Lang).

The Earth Wolf had resided in this city for over seven hundred years and was completely accustomed to human life. It neither sought the arduous cultivation of Zhou Ying nor the reckless abandon of the Yashu. Its sole purpose for existence was 'indulgence'—savoring the pleasures brought by human civilization, eating, drinking, and playing all day, and socializing with human 'females,' occasionally eating a person for a snack. It was the antithesis of Zhou Ying’s earnest dedication, a somewhat lackadaisical creature unconcerned with anything. His blissful life, however, gained a source of torment after meeting Zhou Ying: that Bi Fang named 'Huo'er.' Since Bi Fang were spirit beasts capable of subduing demons and banishing monsters, the Earth Wolf couldn't help but fear it, even though Huo'er was still just a juvenile.

Just like today, Liu Di had been pestered by Huo'er all day, forced to tell stories. Liu Di was already parched, yet he dared not refuse the creature.

“Tell us another one, an interesting one,” Huo'er urged the Earth Wolf.

“You won’t believe it anyway.”

“Tell me one I can believe.”

“...Zhou Ying, control this bird!”

Zhou Ying hadn't even opened his eyes—where there is light, there is shadow; the brighter the light, the denser the shadow. Sunlight was a vital source of power and vitality for a Shadow Demon. He couldn't be bothered to spend his energy mediating disputes between Liu Di and Huo'er.

“Another one, quickly!”

Liu Di glanced at the aloof Zhou Ying, then at the Bi Fang who loved stories the most. It looked like it was about to pounce on him. He sighed, “Why don't you ask Zhou Ying? That’s your responsibility, right!”

“I know everything about Ying. I want to hear a story I haven’t heard before!” Huo'er boasted confidently.

“Maybe not? For instance, remember when you went on that school trip with the little Nine-Tailed Fox a few days ago? You don't know what happened then.”

“Liu Di!” Zhou Ying, who had been silent, suddenly called out. “If it’s about that incident, stop talking!”

“What? You’re still dwelling on that? It wasn't your fault.”

“It’s not about right or wrong; it’s just... I was one step away from death, and I actually... In short, I don't want to bring that up again.”

“One thought, one deviation, a world of difference. That’s why he died, not you!”

“...Just don’t mention it again...”

“What is it? What’s going on?” Huo'er flapped around the room, flying back and forth. “What are you talking about? Why can’t I understand! Tell me quickly, say it!” It flew above Liu Di, threatening him, “Or I’ll land on your head!”

“Hey, hey, Zhou Ying told me not to say it! Why blame me! Go ask him!” Liu Di shielded his face with his hand, warding off the dazzling light Huo'er emitted in its agitation.

“Ying...” Huo'er immediately flew onto Zhou Ying and pecked at his hand.

“No! Tell him to tell you something else!”

“I want to hear this one! I want to hear it!” Huo'er bounced wildly on Zhou Ying’s body.

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore!”

“Then, Liu Di...”

Seeing Huo'er’s attention return to him, Liu Di quickly said, “Zhou Ying won't let me. I won't betray a friend.”

“Hmph, you’re teaming up to bully me...” Huo'er started getting angry. The flames on its body whooshed out, instantly changing from bright red to golden yellow. “I have to hear it one way or another!” Saying that, it suddenly flew to the top of Zhou Ying’s head and smashed down heavily with a wing. Zhou Ying, completely caught off guard, instantly fell into a deep sleep.

“Good, Ying is asleep, now he won't hear you tell it!”

“Ah...” Liu Di grinned, glancing worriedly at the unconscious Zhou Ying, then at the approaching Huo'er, whose fiery eyes were fixed intensely on him...

Liu Di emerged from the home of a female acquaintance he’d met the night before just as dawn broke. Lighting a cigarette, he hailed a taxi. As he settled in, he suddenly remembered he hadn't visited Zhou Ying in over half a month. He’d been preoccupied weaving relationships with human females, indulging in the pleasure of 'romance,' and had neglected his friend somewhat.

“I’ll go chat with him this morning,” Liu Di thought, telling the driver, “Take me to Taoyuan Residential Area.”

The place where Zhou Ying lived was an old-style residential district, comprised entirely of six-story apartment buildings, now rare in the city. The blocks were densely packed together, giving an impression of suffocation. Most residents were migrant workers from all corners of the country, a motley assortment of people. Even a demon like Zhou Ying living there wasn't conspicuous. In fact, Liu Di knew that Taoyuan had more than just Zhou Ying and Huo'er; behind those pigeon-coop-like windows, there were certainly a few more known or unknown demons residing there, as this location was quite ideal for demons trying to blend into the crowd.

Liu Di walked uphill, hands tucked into his pockets, humming a tune that had no discernible melody: “In a big city, anything can happen. One demon living on the fifth floor (the Nine-Tailed Fox Lin Rui lives below Zhou Ying, also a demon); two demons on the sixth floor, and one handsome demon climbing the stairs... Are we eating human meat for lunch or going for KFC? We’ll probably end up eating just boiled greens! (Zhou Ying’s staple diet is boiled greens in water)...”

Singing his nonsensical song, Liu Di finally reached the top floor where Zhou Ying lived. Zhou Ying loved sunlight, so his residence had to be completely unobstructed from all sides. In a metropolis where buildings often reached dozens or hundreds of stories, a six-story building offering such ample sunlight was rare. Thus, despite this area being a den of iniquity, Zhou Ying was quite satisfied staying there.

Liu Di knew Zhou Ying never went out in the mornings, so he didn't even knock. He passed straight through the wall and entered the apartment (Earth Wolves are demons who dwell within the earth and can easily pass through soil, rock, cement, and some metals). To his surprise, there wasn't a single 'person' inside.

Liu Di scratched his head. “How could he not be here?”

He vaguely recalled meeting the Nine-Tailed Fox Lin Rui, who studied at a human school, a few days ago. Lin Rui had mentioned he was going on a school-organized trip and was taking his 'good friend' Huo'er along. “Oh! Right!” Liu Di slapped his head. “Bi Fang must have gone traveling with Lin Rui. But where is Zhou Ying? Did he go along too?” Liu Di looked around the room, thinking Zhou Ying wasn't the type of demon interested in travel, unless he was worried about Huo'er causing trouble. “But with Lin Rui there, there shouldn't be any problems. That guy doesn't just have nine tails; he seems to have nine brains too!”

So, where could Zhou Ying have gone?

Liu Di stretched languidly, flopping down onto the sofa, warmed by the sunlight, and yawned. He decided he would just wait for Zhou Ying to return. Just then, his gaze was drawn to a newspaper lying on the coffee table.

It was a daily from the city.

Liu Di picked it up. The headline announced: Large Ancient Ruins Discovered in Our City.

The gist of the news was that an ancient architectural ruin had been found in a village on the outskirts. Preliminary expert assessment confirmed it dated back to before the Xia Dynasty. The unearthed artifacts were extremely rare, and experts suspected it was a temple or altar used for sacrifices, significant for understanding the culture and religion of that period.

Liu Di’s attention wasn't on the text but on a picture accompanying the news item: a black-and-white photo of a stone platform half-buried in the earth. Several strange characters were partially exposed on the platform. The caption explained that this was a newly discovered script that could not yet be deciphered.

Liu Di stared at the characters and softly read them aloud: "The Land of Wuxian." He hadn't seen script like this from his memories in a long time, and for a moment, he felt adrift.

He recalled how, in his youth, his parents often used books written in this script to teach him spells, ancient legends, and poetry. Now, Liu Di's family, like this script, had been buried in the long expanse of time. Gazing at the photo, memories of the "Land of Wuxian" flashed automatically in his mind: "The Spiritual Mountain, Wuxian, Wulang, Wugu, Wupan, Wupeng, Wuzhen, Wuli, Wudi, Wuxie, Wuluo (the Ten Shamans) ascended and descended from here, and all medicines loved to stay." The ten shamans climbed the ladder to heaven, gathered all the herbs to refine the elixir of immortality, and descended to convey the divine will, ruling the people according to the Heavenly Emperor's decree. The place where they lived was named after their leader, called the "Land of Wuxian."

“So the legendary Land of Wuxian was here?” Liu Di mused. “No, as far as I know, the Land of Wuxian lies between the Kunlun of the Celestial Realm and the Human Realm; it’s not in this mortal plane at all. This site must just be a place where humans commemorate the 'Ten Shamans.' Humans always manage to find things that interest me in their history. I’ll go take a look once they’ve finished excavating the ruins.”

Liu Di casually flipped through the rest of the newspaper, finding nothing else of interest. He thought to himself, "Zhou Ying isn't home. Could this newspaper be related?"

“The Land of Wuxian... The Land of Wuxian... All medicines loved to stay... Eat it and never die...” Liu Di suddenly jumped up from the sofa. “Zhou Ying—could he be trying to...” He scratched his head. Surely Zhou Ying wouldn't go looking for that possibly nonexistent 'Elixir of Immortality,' would he? Liu Di knew Zhou Ying’s purpose in life was 'achieving apotheosis.' If he found out there was an immortal medicine that granted eternal life by eating it, it would be normal for him to go search for it. But could such a thing even exist? Going just because a ruin was discovered seemed too vague and ethereal. However, Liu Di understood Zhou Ying; the Shadow Demon was a creature of singular focus. He might very well act based on a single news report.

Liu Di went straight to Zhou Ying’s cup, poured some water, and pondered: Should he wait here for him to return? Or should he go check it out and see if he could help? He looked out the window. Since the weather was nice today anyway, he might as well go for a drive outside the city to clear his head.

The wheat fields, which should have been growing, were a mess due to bulldozers and similar machinery. Behind a few mounds of dirt was the archaeology site. This field hadn't been destroyed because of the archaeology; quite the opposite, humans were preparing to build a factory here, turning a perfectly good piece of land into this state, which is how the ancient remains were discovered. Liu Di glanced at the wheat seedlings poking green leaves out from under the dirt mounds and shrugged.

The archaeological site was bustling, with dozens of people working in an orderly fashion. Liu Di, using an invisibility spell, stood nearby and watched silently for a while. He disliked how humans arbitrarily altered the environment, but he respected these diligent workers and did not disturb them.

“Ying...” Liu Di looked around. “Has he not been here?” He carefully scrutinized the area again: the ruins consisted of many stone walls half-buried in the earth. Judging by these foundation walls alone, one could imagine the ancient complex must have been magnificent. Liu Di placed his hand on a stone wall, as if listening closely. After a moment, he nodded: “Is that so? It’s down below.”

If Liu Di hadn't been invisible at this moment, anyone who saw him would have been terrified. The Liu Di who had been standing there slowly sank downwards, as if the ground beneath his feet were quicksand. In no time, his entire body was swallowed by the earth.

Liu Di now stood in an underground passage about two meters below the surface. The dark tunnel was damp, with water dripping in many places. The sound of dripping echoed in the passage, creating a somewhat terrifying, cinematic atmosphere.

“It feels like a monster could jump out at any moment,” Liu Di continued, hands still in his pockets, walking unsteadily. “But I am a demon myself. Should I jump out and scare someone?” Liu Di was slightly disappointed that there seemed to be no one here for him to frighten.

The darkness, dampness, and narrowness of the tunnel, along with the rotten smell of the underground soil, had no effect on Liu Di. In fact, this was the environment truly suited to his race, the Earth Wolves, who naturally lived in the soil. Liu Di, living above ground amidst the sunlight and blue sky, was a rare oddity among them, preferring to mix with humans.

“A demon, a demon...” Liu Di continued singing his self-composed 'Demon Song,' following the sloping passage deeper underground. After turning a corner, he faintly saw firelight ahead. Liu Di frowned—Zhou Ying was a Shadow Demon; like Liu Di, he didn't need illumination to see. This meant he wouldn't need to light a fire. So, who was lighting a fire for illumination up ahead? Had Zhou Ying not come here? Or was Zhou Ying not the only one here?

Liu Di dropped his usual casual demeanor and moved towards the light almost silently.

It was a relatively spacious "hall" compared to the tunnel. An unextinguished torch lay discarded in the hall, its flickering light making everything appear even more indistinct. The walls of the "hall" were covered in marks from blades, swords, axes, and spears. The ground was littered with fallen dirt and white paper scraps. Liu Di picked up the nearest scrap of paper; it was cut into a simple human shape, inscribed with strange runes written in cinnabar red.

“Zhou Ying! Zhou Ying!” Liu Di tossed the paper figure to the ground and shouted into the tomb chamber, “Are you alright? Zhou Ying!”

Only his echo returned in the empty passage.

Liu Di stomped his foot. Someone who uses talismans made from paper figures like this must be a human mage. Zhou Ying was a simple-minded creature; if he faced a cunning human, he would surely suffer. Liu Di didn't dare delay. He dropped onto all fours and transformed into his true form—a black, dog-like demon—sprinting down the passage.

All the way, there were signs of fighting. Liu Di had wrestled with Zhou Ying personally and had fought alongside him against the Yashu, so he was intimately familiar with Zhou Ying's fighting style. He could clearly distinguish the traces of battle left by Zhou Ying from those that weren't. Based solely on these signs, Zhou Ying was not at a disadvantage, but he certainly wasn't having an easy time. Liu Di knew that Zhou Ying’s nature and true form destined him to be defensive rather than aggressive. All along, Bi Fang 'Huo'er' had been his 'talisman'; with Huo'er present, combined with Zhou Ying’s own abilities, he could handle most opponents. But now Huo'er was traveling with the Nine-Tailed Fox, and Zhou Ying was fighting alone.

“Zhou Ying! Zhou Ying!” Liu Di heard the clang of weapons ahead. He called out a few more times, hoping his voice would let the opponent know Zhou Ying had backup and might become hesitant. Indeed, as soon as his voice carried, the fighting ahead quieted down.

Liu Di leaped into the earth, moving completely concealed. Relying on the scent lingering in the air, he could already confirm Zhou Ying’s opponent was a human mage. Liu Di had clashed with human mages many times in his 700 years of existence and deeply understood how cunning and troublesome these individuals could be. He proceeded with the utmost caution. “But...” he licked his lips as he ran, “these types are usually quite delicious!”

Peering through the soil, Liu Di finally saw Zhou Ying, and also his opponent.

This was another "hall." Zhou Ying had already revealed his true form—a black, humanoid shadow, standing braced against the wall. In the center of the hall, several paper figures transformed into brightly armored warriors wielding broadswords and long halberds were fighting the shadows cast by the flickering torchlight. Zhou Ying's gaze cut through the 'battlefield,' fixed tightly on his adversary. The man was on the other side, also pressed against the wall. Having heard Liu Di call 'Zhou Ying' beforehand, he was wary of Zhou Ying while remaining vigilant of the surrounding passages. In the alternating light and shadow, his features were unclear, but Liu Di could sense he was a rather young man.

“For his age, this level of magic is already extraordinary, but... too foolish, actually pressing his back against the wall...” Liu Di thought. “Today’s human mages have no experience fighting demons, back in my day...” Liu Di muttered to himself like an old man while extending his sharp claws.

Liu Di burst forth from the wall. The human mage's reaction was surprisingly agile; he rolled on the spot at the critical moment, narrowly dodging Liu Di’s fatal strike, though his robe was grazed by the claws.

“Another demon,” the man rose from the ground, dusting off the dirt, and scattered several talismans with a wave of his hand. Immediately, several more warriors materialized in the narrow underground tunnel, pressing towards Liu Di.

Liu Di leaped over the heads of these warriors and landed silently beside Zhou Ying, asking, “How are you? Are you alright?”

Zhou Ying shook his head.

"You should have discussed any endeavor with me beforehand! I've lived four hundred years longer than you; surely I have more experience!" Liu Di grumbled while defending back-to-back with Zhou Ying against their assailants.

"But I couldn't find you during this time." "Ah..." Liu Di recalled his recent dalliances and realized he hadn't contacted Zhou Ying. He seized a halberd lunging from a warrior, deftly spun, dragged the fighter close, and swiped off his head; the warrior immediately dissolved into drifting paper figures.

Turning back to watch Zhou Ying fighting intently, he murmured, "I'm sorry." Zhou Ying, wielding a long blade forged from his own shadow, cut down an opponent. Then, extending his arm, the shadow blade splintered into countless flying knives aimed at the human mage.

He asked Liu Di, "How did you find this place?" "I saw the newspaper on your desk..." Before they could finish their exchange, the human mage, having dodged Zhou Ying's flying knives, summoned six or seven more paper warriors. "What's the origin of this human?

Why is he so persistent?" Liu Di shredded two opponents in quick succession, asking Zhou Ying. "I don't know.

He just appeared suddenly, shouting about fighting!" There was a hint of anger in Zhou Ying's tone. "I don't know him at all." Perhaps the very notion of fighting without cause was inconceivable to him; it might take a long time before he could learn to understand that sometimes, the human justification is simply, "Those not of our kind must have different intentions." "Abomination, perish!" the human mage roared, throwing several wooden puppets.

Upon landing, these puppets transformed into warriors larger and sturdier than the paper ones, and these figures were far more resilient than paper. Liu Di's sharp claws only scraped off splinters, while Zhou Ying's shadow blade only managed to leave shallow cuts that sounded like dull thuds.

"Damn this human!" Liu Di narrowly avoided a blow from a wooden puppet, cursed, and said, "Zhou Ying, it's time we used our real skills, lest we be underestimated by humans." He leaped up, instantly vanishing into the dirt of the cavern ceiling. Simultaneously, Zhou Ying's silhouette faded until he too disappeared.

The human mage held a talisman, intently watching his surroundings, knowing that the Earth Wolf and Shadow Demon could emerge from any shadow at any moment. He had practiced the Way since childhood with his grandfather and had dealt with no small number of demons over the decades, but these two—a Shadow Demon and an Earth Wolf—were truly formidable opponents.

He couldn't afford to relax his vigilance. "Hurry!" the mage shouted, hurling a spiritual talisman toward the dirt beneath his feet.

With a howl, the Earth Wolf tumbled out of the earth, his fur scorched by the talisman attached to him, emitting a sizzling sound as he rolled in agony. The mage threw another talisman, pinning the Earth Wolf firmly to the ground.

He continued to howl and writhe but could no longer move. Yet, the mage's guard did not lessen; he began scanning for the Shadow Demon whose hiding spot remained unknown.

A black shadow lunged out like lightning. The mage barely had time to cast a talisman before swinging his peach-wood sword to stab.

The shadow agilely slipped beneath the sword, and its claws raked across the mage's arm, instantly causing blood to stream down. The sword clattered to the ground.

"Earth Wolf!" The mage cried out after clearly recognizing his opponent. "Then who did I just restrain..." Before he could finish, he turned to check, and the "Earth Wolf" behind him leaped up, wielding a shadow blade to strike down.

The mage lunged forward, desperately and clumsily dodging the blow. "Zhou Ying, hurry and go!" Liu Di reached out, grabbing Zhou Ying, and together they rushed through the underground "hall." The mage, just struggling to his feet, felt the entire cavern shake violently as huge chunks of earth and rock tumbled down, firmly sealing both the entrance and exit of the "hall." "Hahahaha!" Liu Di roared with laughter.

"Dare to oppose me? You can take your time digging yourself out from in there." Liu Di and Zhou Ying proceeded through the tunnel, one in front of the other.

The tunnel grew lower, narrower, and damper, yet their speed remained unaffected. "You came here searching for that 'Wu Xian Medicine,' didn't you?

Even if such a thing exists, it might not be here," Liu Di tried to dampen Zhou Ying's enthusiasm. "There's no harm in looking." "Wasting time is still a loss." For Liu Di, any time not spent on indulgence was time wasted.

"This time won't be wasted," Zhou Ying turned back seriously. "I overheard that human mage mention that their family has guarded the 'Spiritual Medicine' buried underground for millennia.

Perhaps the Ten Witches did leave something here." "Something from thousands of years ago might not even exist now, and even if it does, it might not be usable," Liu Di continued to pour cold water on the idea. "There's no harm in looking for a bit longer." "Yes, yes, I give up on you..." Liu Di said lazily.

"In any case, anything left by the Ten Witches won't be beauties or fine wine, so thinking about it doesn't stir any excitement in me..." Despite his words, his pace never slowed, following Zhou Ying closely. The tunnel grew longer and longer.

By Liu Di's rough estimation, they had traveled over ten li. Since the path sloped steadily downward, they were at least dozens of meters underground.

If a human had walked this far, they would have already suffocated in the murky air. Liu Di quickly caught up to Zhou Ying and made a gesture for him to stop.

Sniffing the air, he said, "The air's smell has changed." Zhou Ying looked ahead down the tunnel; it remained pitch black with no end in sight. He couldn't discern any difference from the section they had just passed, but Liu Di's senses were extremely keen.

Zhou Ying waited nervously for his conclusion. "The scent of magic," Liu Di said as he walked, sniffing.

Zhou Ying felt that he looked more like a 'wolf dog' than ever before. Liu Di advanced about twenty paces, chanted something under his breath, and swept his hand through the empty air.

A barrier conjured by magic appeared, with lightning crackling and weaving across the pale blue surface. Liu Di told Zhou Ying, "A Five Thunder Talisman barrier.

Step on it, and even your bones will be incinerated." Liu Di and Zhou Ying split up, tearing down the five spiritual talismans plastered on the walls. Despite thousands of years passing, the cinnabar inscriptions were still vividly red.

Liu Di flicked his hand, and the talismans dissolved into ash; the Five Thunder barrier vanished along with them, revealing the path ahead. "Since they set up a Five Thunder barrier for defense, there must be something inside." Liu Di glanced at Zhou Ying, who certainly possessed more confidence than he did.

Zhou Ying was the type to press forward in a straight line without looking back, while Liu Di tended to anticipate the worst outcomes first before acting. "Since we started with a Five Thunder Talisman, it's only going to get worse the deeper we go." In his view, even if the 'Wu Xian Medicine' existed, the risk wasn't worth it.

But he wasn't here for the medicine; he was here for Zhou Ying. If Zhou Ying intended to proceed, Liu Di would risk his life accompanying his friend.

Breaking through the barrier set by the "Five Thunder Talismans" was like stepping into another world. Not only did the murky air vanish, but the height and width of the cavern increased, gradually becoming an underground long corridor paved with flagstones, over two people tall and several meters wide.

As Liu Di and Zhou Ying walked through, the talismans affixed to the walls lit up automatically, only to extinguish as they moved away, lighting up sequentially. It gave the disorienting impression of walking through a modern structure equipped with voice-activated lighting.

Walking through this light spanning millennia, Liu Di and Zhou Ying felt vastly different emotions. Unlike the Shadow Demon, which arose from illusion and transformation, the Earth Wolf belonged to a demon race with a long tradition and a complete family structure.

Liu Di had grown up in a family adhering to ancient rites and received an education rooted in ancient times. Although he had severed all ties with his race, entering this time-reversing space brought forth memories of the past automatically.

For Liu Di, this was far from a pleasant experience. "Why bring up those dusty old matters of Chen Gu Zi?" Liu Di sighed.

"It's been a long time..." "Zhou Xu... must have lived in that era too, perhaps?" Zhou Ying murmured to himself.

All his knowledge of those distant human dynasties and cultures came from Zhou Xu. Thus, seeing these talismans and the carved Ying Long and Great Wind creatures on the flagstones naturally brought the old human to mind.

"In Zhou Xu's time, did people construct towering skyscrapers that pierce the clouds, rather than these reserved and elegant structures hidden deep underground?" Unconsciously, both Liu Di and Zhou Ying slowed their pace. "Abomination!

Die!" Liu Di shivered, snapping out of his reverie, and looked toward the source of the voice. The human mage had caught up from behind, brandishing his peach-wood sword and chanting incantations, but his focus was not on Liu Di or Zhou Ying; he was frantically attacking the empty air.

Liu Di glanced back, swiftly grabbed Zhou Ying, and a cold sweat broke out on his own back. Just a few steps ahead of them, there was a bottomless abyss filled with surging flames, their tongues licking close to Liu Di's feet.

This was not a natural feature but the product of powerful magic; even demons falling in would instantly be reduced to dust, just like touching the flames of the 'Mountain of Blazing Fire.' Liu Di and Zhou Ying had been drawn forward as if by an unseen force, sinking into their memories as they walked. When Zhou Ying snapped back to reality and saw the path ahead, his face grew even paler than Liu Di's.

The human mage was clearly in the same state: completely immersed in an illusion, fighting something invisible while brandishing his sword, and he walked past them, continuing forward. "If he hadn't made that sound, we would have fallen in," Liu Di said, reaching out to grab the mage just as one of his feet stepped over the edge, dragging him back.

He slapped the mage a few times, jolting him awake. Upon regaining consciousness and seeing Liu Di and Zhou Ying standing before him, the mage immediately drew a talisman and assumed a defensive stance.

Liu Di nudged his head toward the rear, signaling him to look. "I just saved your life despite everything.

If you repay my kindness with hostility, don't blame me for being impolite." The mage saw the abyss behind him and was momentarily speechless with fear. However, after composing himself, he declared firmly, "I don't need help from you demons.

I would rather die than owe you a debt of gratitude." Liu Di shrugged and began searching along the edge of the abyss for a path across, ignoring the mage. Zhou Ying followed him and tossed a remark at the gritting-teethed mage: "If you truly cannot accept Liu Di's help, then you might as well jump in yourself, and consider that he never helped you." "I thought I was malicious enough, but I didn't expect this fellow to be even more venomous than I am," Liu Di praised Zhou Ying, patting his shoulder.

"I just offered him a solution to his problem." "..." The mage watched the two demons walk away laughing, clenching his fists so tightly that fire seemed to blaze in his eyes. With the abyss of rolling flames on one side and the loudly roaring mage and his controlled puppets on the other, Liu Di said to Zhou Ying with a grin, "Oh my, I shouldn't have saved him after all." "Careful!" Zhou Ying warned him about a cleaving blow from a puppet.

Liu Di easily hopped aside and kicked the puppet down, saying, "Let's just do what you suggested—throw him down there!" A puppet chopped down by Zhou Ying fell into the abyss, splashing tiny ripples in the sea of fire, like a pebble dropped in water. A few flames instantly wrapped around it and it vanished, leaving not even ashes.

Liu Di beckoned to the mage, "Come, come! See?

It's gone in an instant, without even feeling pain. Stop dawdling and jump down quickly!" "Earth Wolf, you should be the one going down!" The mage glared at Liu Di with pure hatred, throwing several talismans at him.

Liu Di dodged them, laughing heartily. "Watch out!" Zhou Ying shouted.

Following his cry, several streams of flame surged out of the abyss like monstrous waves. As the fire columns dissipated, what remained above the deep flames were several massive firebirds.

These spirit beasts, with the body of a Phoenix, a single claw, and cyan eyes, flapped their wings, staring down at the two demons and the human before them. "Bi Fang!" The human mage and Liu Di exclaimed in unison.

"No," Zhou Ying corrected. "Those are merely the shadows left behind by Bi Fang." They forgot their fight and looked up together at the shadows left by the powerful spirit beast from millennia ago.

The dazzling feathers of the Bi Fang shifted colors, and the air stirred with heat from its beating wings, making it seem vividly alive. Zhou Ying, who spent his days with Huo'er, realized for the first time that even three-hundred-year-old Huo'er was still a child, but in another seven hundred years, it too would become a magnificent and dazzling spirit beast like the one before them.

"Bi... Fang..." The four shadows of the Bi Fang cried out together, flapping their wings, and scorching hot flames swept down over them...

Far down the long passage, away from the abyss, the cries of the Bi Fang still echoed, reverberating hauntingly through the underground tunnel. The mage knelt on the ground, frantically beating out the flames on his clothes; much of his hair and eyebrows were scorched, and half his face was blackened with soot, leaving him in a sorry state.

Liu Di burrowed out of the wall behind him, having reverted to his true form, with patches of scorched fur, licking his wounds while sitting on his hind legs—his appearance was little better than the mage's. Zhou Ying emerged from the shadow of the wall; his appearance was slightly better than the other two, showing no external wounds, but he still looked shaken.

None of them had expected that the shadows left by the Bi Fang thousands of years ago could still wield magic to harm enemies—and that shadows so ancient could use such powerful magic. They couldn't begin to imagine how powerful the true Bi Fang must be.

"That was terrifying," Liu Di gasped. "Zhou Ying, you should just give up." "No!" Zhou Ying declared with rare resolve.

It was the mage who first sprang up from the ground and began walking in the direction from which the Bi Fang's cries had come. Zhou Ying immediately followed.

"Two fools," Liu Di muttered, kicking a stone, but he still followed Zhou Ying. When they reached a point where they could feel the heat of the fire, they stopped simultaneously.

Liu Di leaned against the wall, standing on one leg, and casually asked, "How do you plan to cross?" acting as if it didn't concern him. Zhou Ying transformed into a shadow, attempting to glide along the ceiling, but one of the four Bi Fang shadows fiercely attacked him, forcing him back in disarray.

The human mage drew several talismans to summon Zhu Rong, presumably hoping the Fire God's power would confuse the Bi Fang. However, the Bi Fang showed no mercy to the talismans of the Fire God either; if he hadn't rolled away in time, he wouldn't have escaped this time.

"See? I told you so?" Liu Di's voice instantly forged a sense of common cause between the Shadow Demon and the human mage—both felt an urge to rush over and punch the Earth Wolf for watching the fire from the sidelines.

"I thought you understood shadows well enough—they are just shadows, aren't they?" Liu Di continued, unconcerned by their feelings. "Those are the shadows of 'Bi Fang'." "I thought you understood Bi Fang well enough too." "Do you have a way?" Liu Di gave a thumbs-up.

"You certainly understand me." The gazes of Zhou Ying and the mage fixed on him. "But, before we cross..." Liu Di looked at the mage.

"Who are you, and what is your purpose here?" The mage proudly declared, "My family has practiced the Way for generations, guarding this place and vanquishing demons. I am here to protect the Spiritual Medicine from being tainted by you monsters!" "Why lie now?" Liu Di stood with his arms crossed.

"You can't get across without our help either. It's best if we lay everything out and cooperate.

That's the right choice." The mage showed a flicker of embarrassment at being seen through, then puffed out his chest and said loudly, "I, Qi Zhiyuan, swore an oath in my youth to (slaughter all demons under heaven) and use the ancestral Spiritual Medicine to enhance my own power—what is wrong with that? In any case, the medicine must never fall into the hands of shameless demons!" "Zhou Ying is seizing something that isn't his for selfish gain; you are violating your ancestors' teachings for selfish gain.

I wonder who is more shameless." "Don't equate me with demons!" "Yes, yes, when humans do the same thing, it's always justified; when demons do it, they are shameless and deserve death. I get it, alright..." Liu Di said cheerfully.

"So, do you want to cooperate with us?" The mage remained silent. He knew he couldn't cross alone, but he was unwilling to verbally agree to cooperate with demons.

"Fine, it's settled. We cooperate until we cross this abyss—after that, we remain mortal enemies." Liu Di clapped his hands together.

"I'll tell you how to get across..." The flames in the abyss burned fiercely, rolling tirelessly. The four shadows of the Bi Fang still stood majestically above the flames, showcasing their power.

When a black shadow darted out from the tunnel, one of them immediately attacked. However, instead of dissolving into ash as usual upon impact, the target exploded, scattering a large amount of water—Liu Di had drawn water from the underground veins and used Qi Zhiyuan's puppets to carry it across.

The vast amount of water meeting the intense flames instantly filled the cavern with suffocating steam, making everything a blinding white expanse, impenetrable even to the Bi Fang's sight. Dark shadows leaped one after another in the mist.

The Bi Fang shadows frantically counterattacked, but their targets were puppets carrying water, and their attacks only increased the humidity and reduced visibility within the cave. If it were the real Bi Fang, they would have reacted more appropriately, but these lingering shadows couldn't make a clear judgment.

When the mist obscured their vision, they simultaneously beat their wings, unleashing massive gusts of scorching wind and flame to disperse the fog. The power of the four Bi Fang shadows churned within the cavern with earth-shattering force.

Not only did the mist instantly vanish, but even the flames that had burned in the abyss for thousands of years could not withstand such might. After one round of attacks from the Bi Fang shadows, the wind whipped up the flames, instantly filling the entire cavern, and then they were extinguished.

"Bi... Bi...

Fang..." The Bi Fang shadows cried out in unison, and as the flames disappeared, so did they—they were merely shadows left by the Bi Fang using the abyss flames as their medium. The flames and the Bi Fang's spiritual energy were mutually dependent, allowing them to persist for millennia.

To dispel the water mist, the Bi Fang shadows fanned the flames, causing the shadows to lose their foundation and disappear along with the fire. In the tunnel, instantly scorched black by the momentary blaze, the glowing talismans were all burned away.

It was pitch black, and the final cries of the Bi Fang echoed long in the silence...

Zhou Ying melted into a shadow, sheltering Liu Di and Qi Zhiyuan behind him. The Shade Beast could absorb light and heat; while it couldn't withstand Bi Fang's full power, it was more than enough to shield his companions from the incoming wave of fire. Liu Di poked his head out from behind him and stuck out his tongue. "So powerful."

The darkness that followed the vanishing of the talisman used as a light source didn't bother Liu Di or Zhou Ying much; they dusted themselves off and walked on. Qi Zhiyuan, however, could only ignite his own, which illuminated barely ten feet around him. He looked into the bottomless chasm before him, then across to the far bank, his brow furrowing—if he still had his puppets, he could have been carried across, but he had used them all moments ago.

Liu Di and Zhou Ying easily flew across to the opposite side, with Liu Di turning back to wink at him.

When the puppets had been used against Bi Fang earlier, it was Liu Di who had continuously urged him on: "Another one, it's not enough! Bring another one!" In this manner, he had used up all his puppets without realizing it. Now, it seemed, this was exactly what the Earth Wolf had planned all along!

Liu Di and Zhou Ying reached the far shore and walked further and further away with relief, acting as if they were certain Qi Zhiyuan could never catch up, all the while laughing loudly.

Qi Zhiyuan gritted his teeth and leaped toward the opposite bank. With his skill, leaping several zhang was no problem, but the darkness of the cavern skewed his judgment. He was mere inches from the far side when his energy gave out, and his body began to drop. He thrust his sword toward the wall, hoping to halt his descent, but how could a peach wood sword possibly embed itself in the hard rock? Just as he was about to fall helplessly into the endless abyss, a hand seized the collar of his robe.

Liu Di deliberately pulled him up slowly, saying, "The agreement was 'cooperation until we pass this abyss is over.' You haven't made it over yet." He hauled Qi Zhiyuan up and set him on the ground, feigning a gesture of dusting him off. Leaning close to his ear, Liu Di whispered, "From this moment on, our partnership is dissolved. If you dare to obstruct us again, I will..." He drew two fingers across his own throat in a slicing motion.

Qi Zhiyuan watched Liu Di's retreating back, unable to stop himself from clenching his fists and grinding his teeth...

After crossing the abyss and traversing a long corridor, they encountered two tightly closed stone doors. Carved on the doors were Bi Fang and Ying Long, respectively. The inlaid gemstone eyes of the carved spirit beasts gazed coldly at the two monsters before them.

"You wait here; I'll go in and take a look," Liu Di said, shifting into his true form and slipping through the stone door like a large dog.

Zhou Ying stood outside the door, his heart filled with intense tension, not even noticing when Qi Zhiyuan caught up.

Achieving true form—this concept, once merely a noun, was now manifesting before him with startling reality. A place protected by such layers of defense must contain something precious. If it truly was the Medicine of Wu Xian... If it were real...

After Liu Di entered the stone door, he discovered that the massive door concealed a small room barely large enough to turn around in. From floor to ceiling, the floor and walls were covered in runes of unknown purpose. In the center of the room rested a stone shelf divided into over two hundred tiny compartments. Even if used to hold items, these couldn't contain anything very large—only things "the size of a finger, a few cun wide," Liu Di murmured, "like, perhaps, a medicine vial..." However, the compartments were all empty. Liu Di circled the shelf once before finding a single earthenware bottle in the bottom-most compartment on the side.

"Only this one?"

The small earthenware bottle was several cun long, exquisitely made, and covered in swirling, vigorous patterns. The mouth was sealed with vermilion wax, upon which a golden spell glimmered brightly. Liu Di shook it with his large paw; something was definitely rattling inside.

Several flashes of light shot toward Liu Di. He snatched the vial into his mouth and dodged with a mixture of leaps and rolls, but the flashes continued to strike relentlessly. He tried to burrow underground but found himself trapped by the power of the runes; he couldn't use his magic within this room.

"Liu Di! Liu Di!" Hearing that something was wrong, Zhou Ying threw himself against the stone door, hammering on it, but a force flung him back. Zhou Ying scrambled up and dissolved into shadow, attempting to slip through the crack, but he was repelled just the same. Zhou Ying pressed forward again and again in desperation, but the result was always the same. "Liu Di! What's wrong with you! Get out quickly!" The explosions from inside the room grew more frequent, making Zhou Ying more anxious. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Liu Di!"

"Why are you shouting so loud? I'm not deaf!"

The stone door burst open. Liu Di appeared in human form, the earthenware vial still clenched in his mouth, pushing the door open with both hands. The flashes of light behind him were still striking; a few beams shot over his shoulders, forcing Zhou Ying to jump back hastily to avoid them. Only after Liu Di stepped out of the room did the noise inside abruptly cease.

Liu Di was covered in cuts and scars, but on his back, he had drawn a large talisman using his own blood—he had mimicked the runes on the shelf after noticing that despite the continuous flashes of electricity, the stone rack remained undamaged, and it surprisingly worked. He collapsed onto the ground, tossed the vial to Zhou Ying, and let out a breath.

Zhou Ying caught the vial, examining it, and murmured, "This is the Medicine of Wu Xian..."

Liu Di waved his hand. "Eat it! Eat it! If you eat it, you'll achieve immortality."

"Your injuries..."

Liu Di laughed heartily. "This is nothing."

"But you obtained it."

"I don't care for this thing at all! Don't you want to achieve true form? Aren't you worried that Huo'er might become someone else's spirit beast someday? Now there's no problem!"

"Mm!" Zhou Ying nodded joyfully.

"Get out of the way!" Zhou Ying grabbed Liu Di and leaped aside just as a talisman from Qi Zhiyuan exploded on the ground in a large burst.

"Hand over the spirit medicine!"

"No."

A massive net descended from the cave ceiling. Liu Di and Zhou Ying were caught completely by surprise, both ensnared within it. The net was hung with bells and plastered with talismans, glowing dimly and intermittently after covering them, emitting faint, tinkling sounds. Qi Zhiyuan sneered, "The demon-catching net passed down through the Qi family for generations. Let's see how you escape!" With a flick of his wrist, he dragged Liu Di, net and all, toward him. Zhou Ying, however, drifted out through the net's mesh like a wisp of smoke—he was a shadow; how could a net possibly hold him?

"Stop! Or I'll kill this Earth Wolf!"

Zhou Ying paused, the earthenware vial held tight in his hand, but he did not turn back.

Two talismans were stuck onto Liu Di, rendering him immobile. Qi Zhiyuan kicked his leg, forcing one knee to the ground, and yanked his hair back, forcing his head up. Qi Zhiyuan pointed his peach wood sword at Liu Di's throat. "Put the thing down."

Zhou Ying clenched his fingers.

With a sharp twist of his wrist, Qi Zhiyuan forced the blade into Liu Di's flesh. Although he intentionally avoided the windpipe and major arteries, the blunt edge drove in several cun, causing considerable damage. Blood immediately gushed out when the sword was pulled free. However, Liu Di did not struggle or cry out as expected, merely glancing at him with a faint, detached smile. Liu Di's attitude angered Qi Zhiyuan more than the Shade Beast competing for the Medicine of Wu Xian. He met Liu Di's gaze and brought the sword hilt down hard on his head. Blood streamed down Liu Di's forehead; he shook his head, spraying droplets, and then simply started chuckling softly.

"Put down the Medicine of Wu Xian, or else..." Qi Zhiyuan realized, as he continued to threaten Zhou Ying, that the Shade Beast had vanished.

"Damn it!" Qi Zhiyuan roared, throwing curses and talismans into the surroundings, but there was no response. Gone. Zhou Ying was no longer in his line of sight.

"Where is he?" Qi Zhiyuan demanded, stepping on Liu Di.

"How would I know," Liu Di replied with a self-mocking smile. His face had never lost that nonchalant expression, even after realizing Zhou Ying had fled alone with the spirit medicine; it remained that languid, uncaring look.

"Aren't you friends? Just abandoning your friend to escape alone—is this the friendship of you demons? You cold-blooded, heartless things!" Exchanging Liu Di for the Medicine of Wu Xian was his only opportunity, and now that Zhou Ying had abandoned Liu Di, he could no longer conceal his disappointment. He kicked Liu Di repeatedly, cursing, "A demon is a demon! Damned thing! Shameless creature!"

"And how much more noble are you? Don't forget I saved you twice, and look what you are doing now," Liu Di taunted. "Are you trying to be more monstrous than the monsters?"

"Shut up!" Qi Zhiyuan shrieked. He regarded the help he had received from this Earth Wolf as a deep humiliation, yet Liu Di kept bringing it up. He struck Liu Di several times with the sword hilt. "Shout! Shout loudly for that Shade Beast to come back and save you!"

"Heh heh heh..." Liu Di chuckled again. "If you had the Medicine of Wu Xian, and your partner called for help, would you return to sacrifice the spirit medicine to save him?"

"I don't believe you truly aren't afraid of death!" Qi Zhiyuan brought his sword down swiftly, severing one of Liu Di's arms, which fell to the ground.

Liu Di grunted, nearly fainting from the pain. Losing an arm normally might not mean much; with appropriate spells and his own regenerative ability, it would grow back in less than a month. But bound by the talismans and covered in wounds left by the peach wood sword, Liu Di couldn't even stop the bleeding himself. He managed to straighten his body, preventing himself from collapsing entirely, and looked sideways, still sporting that smile. "Not bad, I am not afraid of death."

Qi Zhiyuan dragged him up, pushing him forward. "I won't let you die so easily. I refuse to believe I won't find that Shade Beast!"

Although Liu Di tried hard to keep his footing, as blood loss increased, his steps became unsteady. When he finally fell heavily to the ground, Qi Zhiyuan laughed triumphantly, prodding the still-struggling Liu Di with his sword. "Well, fiend? Aren't you reluctant to die here after being betrayed by your friend? Keep laughing, let's see if you can still manage that smile!"

Liu Di hung his head, supporting his body with one hand, and spoke slowly. "I have lived for over seven hundred years, witnessed several human dynasties. My relatives and friends have long since turned to dust. I have consumed thousands of humans and demons, and I personally bit to death dozens of my own clan and two elder brothers. I have indulged in all manner of pleasure, and experienced betrayal, loyalty, love, and hatred. If you could live that long and see that much, you would understand that nothing in the world is sacred. Betrayal, selling out, death—none of it amounts to much..." He tilted his head to look at Qi Zhiyuan, his expression grave, yet a faint smile still curved his lips. "You might be the last human I see in this life. I offer you some advice. If you wish to be a great sorcerer, first try to understand what a demon is thinking—just as a demon must first become human to achieve true form, a sorcerer cannot become a 'Heavenly Master' without understanding the demon's perspective... I have met many sorcerers; I ate some of them, and became friends with others. I know your magic is high and your talent brilliant, but like this, you will never become the finest sorcerer... Never."

"Who needs the lecture of a demon!" Deep down, Qi Zhiyuan understood Liu Di's words were correct; they echoed what his grandfather had said, which only made it more unbearable—this Earth Wolf seemed to know better than him how to be a good sorcerer.

"I originally intended to offer you some assistance," Liu Di maintained his lazy demeanor. "After a lifetime of doing only this one good deed, and you won't accept it—I am truly heartbroken."

"One day I will become a 'Heavenly Master' and wipe out all demons; you don't need to worry about that! Either way, today you are one of the demons I will eliminate!" Saying this, he raised his sword to stab down toward Liu Di's head.

Liu Di watched the tip of the sword faintly, not even blinking.

"Stop!"

Qi Zhiyuan immediately halted his hand, striving to conceal his excitement as he looked up.

Zhou Ying stood about ten paces away, holding the earthenware vial aloft. "I'll give you the spirit medicine; let Liu Di go." He was intensely ashamed of running away and abandoning Liu Di. Seeing the severed arm and the blood covering Liu Di's head and face, his self-reproach deepened, and he looked apologetically toward Liu Di. For the first time, Liu Di's smile vanished as he gazed at Zhou Ying with profound intensity.

"Let him go, and I'll give you the item," Zhou Ying urged, desperate to check Liu Di's injuries and end the ordeal.

"Give him half the spirit medicine," Liu Di's voice had returned to its mocking tone. "I've been beaten half to death by him; giving it all to him is too much of a loss for us."

Zhou Ying was surprised he could still smile at a time like this, and his eyes involuntarily reddened.

Zhou Ying placed the earthenware vial on the ground and slowly walked toward Liu Di. Qi Zhiyuan verified that the talisman seal on the vial was unbroken before releasing Liu Di and walking toward it, giving Liu Di a kick as he left.

Zhou Ying helped Liu Di sit up, frantically trying to stop the bleeding. Liu Di allowed him to fuss over him, closing his eyes and leaning back, letting out a long sigh.

"I'm sorry, Liu Di, it's all my fault..." Zhou Ying stammered. "I just thought that if I ate the spirit medicine, my power would increase, and then I could come back and save you. I didn't mean to leave you alone..."

"It's nothing..."

"I stared at the medicine for a long time, but I was afraid—what if this spirit medicine has no effect? Even if it works, what if it doesn't take effect immediately? The more I thought, the more frightened I became, feeling it was safer to just trade it for you... But I didn't expect him to inflict such cruelty on you."

"I'm not dead anyway; it's good that you came back. Everything else doesn't matter," Liu Di semi-sat up. "I often flirt with death anyway; if one day I slip across the line, I'll accept it."

Zhou Ying was very emotional, tears welling in his eyes. Liu Di helped him stand, saying lightly, "Let's go back today. I'll settle accounts with him another day." As he spoke, a coldness flashed in his eyes.

"Stop!" Qi Zhiyuan shouted.

He had removed the talisman from the earthenware vial, broken the seal, and held a small, black pill the size of a thumb tip in his hand, coldly saying, "Neither of you will escape! After I take the spirit medicine, watch how I use you to consecrate my sword and wipe out all demons in the world."

Liu Di shrugged. Despite his weakness, he couldn't resist a jab. "Take the item your ancestors guarded; don't drag us into it. What does it have to do with us?" Zhou Ying supported him as he turned around and slowly walked toward the exit.

"I told you to stop!" Qi Zhiyuan could barely remain calm under Liu Di's cold sarcasm. He shoved the spirit medicine into his mouth and swallowed it. "Today will be your burial site."

Zhou Ying stepped in front of Liu Di, extending his hand. His own shadow transformed into a single-edged saber that landed in his grip. Regardless of the spirit medicine's efficacy, he had to prevent Liu Di from being injured again.

Qi Zhiyuan aggressively pressed forward. Although the swallowed medicine showed no effect, he was determined to bury this Earth Wolf deep underground.

Zhou Ying felt the hand Liu Di placed on his shoulder grow tighter and tighter. Finally, Liu Di pulled Zhou Ying back, stepping forward himself. "I’m not willing to let you kill him; this human, I will deal with myself."

"Liu Di!"

"When all my limbs were broken, I could still bite an opponent to death. Losing one arm is nothing!" Liu Di roared, extending his remaining arm, five sharp claws extending from beneath his fingernails.

Qi Zhiyuan had never truly hated the Shade Beast for competing for the medicine; his sole intent was to kill the Earth Wolf. Liu Di stepping forward suited him perfectly. He felt a searing heat rise from his dantian, realizing the spirit medicine was taking effect. He smugly assumed a stance, thinking: I'll test the effect of this Medicine of Wu Xian on you.

Liu Di closed his eyes slightly, and a violent cold light erupted from them.

Qi Zhiyuan suddenly screamed and collapsed to his knees. Blue-green flames erupted from his mouth, nose, and eyes, then burst through his skin, engulfing his entire body. He flailed wildly, struggling, but could do nothing to resist the fire originating from within. Liu Di watched his struggle, momentarily startled, before a look of mocking realization dawned on his lips.

Zhou Ying grabbed Liu Di and pulled him back several steps, keeping him away from Qi Zhiyuan. In truth, the flames had already extinguished because there was nothing left for them to consume—Qi Zhiyuan had been reduced to a few specks of black char piled on the ground, and a gust of wind sweeping through the cave erased even that trace...

Zhou Ying and Liu Di exchanged a look. After all, this was something from several thousand years ago; it was possible its efficacy had changed. Zhou Ying didn't know if he should feel relief or solemnity; it had been a hair's breadth away from being him swallowing the fatal "spirit medicine."

"The duties of the Ten Shamans of the Kingdom of Wu Xian were not only to gather all herbs and refine the elixir of immortality, but also to transmit divine intent and manage the state... They were not a medical team dedicated to saving lives, but an entire kingdom! In politics, poisoning is quite common, isn't it?" Liu Di murmured. "It's entirely possible this 'spirit medicine' was originally intended for such use."

The events that transpired in a kingdom where humans, gods, and demons coexisted millennia ago were now untraceable. Whether this spirit medicine had mutated due to time or was intended for "poisoning" from the start—perhaps Liu Di and Zhou Ying would never know the answer.

"Liu Di, I..." Zhou Ying felt he had to say something to Liu Di, but once he opened his mouth, the words wouldn't come.

Liu Di shook his head. "You don't need to blame yourself; don't be upset over something that didn't happen."

"You might as well beat me up or bite me. If you don't mind me, that would make me feel worse."

"Bite you? Bite something without blood and flesh for what?" Liu Di rolled his eyes at him. "I genuinely don't mind. I used to get angry and sad over betrayals and sell-outs, but after seeing and experiencing so much, I grew accustomed to it and can no longer be surprised. However, I am very happy that you came back, truly."

Zhou Ying felt a pang of sadness. Liu Di wasn't not angry; he simply didn't care whether Zhou Ying committed such an act, which perhaps proved that Liu Di didn't care about Zhou Ying himself, that he hadn't regarded Zhou Ying as a true friend. But this was what he deserved; hadn't he betrayed Liu Di at the crucial moment? Liu Di was Zhou Ying's first and only friend, and it seemed he was about to lose him because of this foolish action.

"If you hadn't come back then, I truly wouldn't have cared. I stopped caring about everything long ago, but... you did come back..." Liu Di placed his hand around Zhou Ying's neck and said, word by word, "So, if the same thing happens again and you abandon me to escape alone, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth, to the Yellow Springs, and I will devour you. Because I can be indifferent to everything, but I have not yet learned to be indifferent to the betrayal of a 'friend'!" With that, his body swayed, and he collapsed...

"I will never 'betray' anyone again..." Zhou Ying woke up at some point, listening to Liu Di finish telling Huo'er the "story." "That feeling is not easy to endure."

"Didn't I tell you? Stop blaming yourself for things that haven't happened, and make sure you forget anything unpleasant within three days!"

"Some things I can't forget even if I try… Besides, it's better to remember than to forget." Zhou Ying remained unable to let go.

"Sigh…" Liu Di shook his head, flopping onto the sofa and yawning widely. "I can't stand your stubborn mind! Why remember things that neither the past nor the future will ever bring about?"

"Things that won't happen in the future! Absolutely not!" Zhou Ying declared loudly.

"Then that settles it…" Liu Di lazily drew out his words, his hand moving slightly so that the cup on the table poured water by itself and hopped into his hand. After talking for so long, he was truly parched.

Huo’er was still savoring the story from earlier, taking a while to snap back to reality, commenting, "This story wasn't bad. Stories involving Ying are definitely better than your own."

"Is… is that so…" Liu Di hugged a large cushion, burying his face inside it, his voice muffled.

"Come on, tell us another one just as good."

That request made Liu Di, who was nearly asleep, leap up instantly. "Tell another one!"

Huo’er took a few sips of water from its cup, shook its wings, shifted its posture, and settled in, ready to continue listening.

"Ah…" Liu Di cried out miserably. "Zhou Ying, help me…"

Zhou Ying rubbed his still faintly throbbing head, snatched his coat, and said, "I have to go to work now; my time is up."

Huo’er flapped its wings at him. "You can go by yourself today; I won't accompany you."

"Zhou Ying, who was it that swore never to betray a friend again!" Liu Di jumped over the sofa and lunged toward Zhou Ying.

Zhou Ying acted as if he hadn't heard, fleeing in disarray. The door slammed shut with a bang in front of Liu Di. Huo’er stood guard at the entrance, craning its neck to watch him. "Come on, tell us another story!"

"Zhou Ying…"

Lin Rui, the Nine-Tailed Fox returning from school that afternoon, tilted his head in confusion as Liu Di's shriek echoed up the stairs…