Six months prior, the demons infiltrated the Gallow Sea Realm through seven unstable spatial nodes. The Gate of Heaven leading to the Fourth Demon Domain was also heavily assaulted by the demonic forces. Their advance was so ferocious that Lord Mo, upon receiving the urgent dispatch, had already returned to Undying Isle to bolster defenses...
This Asura Blood Guard, named Toro, immediately provided a detailed account of recent events after Shiyan mounted the Azure-Blood Demonic Bat.
Through his narration, Shiyan learned that he had been secluded within the volcano for seven full months.
During these seven months, indeed, the Gallow Sea Realm had undergone seismic changes. Upon learning of Xia Xinyan’s severe soul trauma, the Xia family dispatched personnel to Fire Cloud Island and subsequently retrieved her to the Xia ancestral home.
The Xia family utterly dismissed any notion that Shiyan possessed the means to awaken Xia Xinyan. Learning from He Qingman that her soul injury was a direct result of recklessly attempting to save Shiyan, they had initially intended to hold Shiyan accountable.
However, with Mo Duanhun guarding the volcanic caldera and Shiyan remaining stubbornly within the Heart of the Volcano, the Xia family, frustrated, had to shelve their grievances temporarily and take Xia Xinyan away from Fire Cloud Island.
Half a year passed, and the demons from the Fourth Demon Domain forcefully blasted open several predetermined spatial nodes, daring the perilous journey into the Gallow Sea Realm. These scattered demonic entities began operating across numerous islands within the Gallow Sea Realm, arriving with overwhelming aggression.
Spatial nodes, though analogous to the Gate of Heaven, are inherently unstable. To pass through one into the Gallow Sea Realm, a demon must possess sufficient divine power to tear the node open. Within these nodes churn all manner of spatial turbulence, conditions that guarantee near-fatal odds for any demon attempting passage.
Generally, demons dare not utilize spatial nodes to enter the Gallow Sea Realm. However, any instance where they do so signals an event of supreme importance. The more powerful the demon, the greater the danger upon emerging from a node; a demon of the Nirvana Nest Realm faces an overwhelming probability of death during the transit, and a martial artist of the Celestial Tier, due to the sheer magnitude of their internal power, risks causing the spatial node itself to collapse.
Consequently, the demons entering via spatial nodes tend to be of lesser cultivation. Simultaneously with these infiltrations, the main Gate of Heaven connecting the Fourth Demon Domain and the Gallow Sea Realm was subjected to fierce assaults by the demonic hordes.
The experts of the Yang Family had already massed at the Gate of Heaven’s entrance, actively repelling the demonic onslaught.
The ferocity of this demonic incursion drew experts from all clans. The Yang Family had concentrated their entire strength, holding the line at that critical juncture.
In a mere two months, it was rumored that hundreds of Yang Family masters and thousands of demons from the Demonic Domain had perished at the Gate of Heaven entrance.
The Gate protected by the Yang Family had become the epicenter of the most intense conflict. Meanwhile, the Xia Family and the Heavenly Evil Grotto were tasked with eliminating the demons who had successfully infiltrated through the spatial nodes.
For these two months, the three major powers of the Gallow Sea Realm had been relentlessly engaged in combat against the demonic forces.
He Qingman, having received a summons from the Heavenly Evil Grotto, journeyed to Black Stone Island, situated relatively close to Fire Cloud Island, under orders to cleanse the hundreds of demons reported there. Fire Cloud Island itself was now under strict martial guard. He Luo and the other island leaders were vigilant, prepared for any necessary engagement with the demons. Shiyan, seated upon the Azure-Blood Demonic Bat, displayed a look of mild astonishment, having been wholly unaware of the profound upheavals in the Gallow Sea Realm over the past seven months.
“Young Master Shiyan, I received a dispatch from Lord Mo a few days ago. He instructs you to temporarily refrain from returning to Undying Isle. Lord Mo mentioned that if you emerge from the volcano soon, you are to proceed directly to Black Stone Island to assist the Heavenly Evil Grotto forces in dealing with the demons there. Lord Mo stated that since you have never encountered demons or engaged them in battle, he wishes you to use the engagement on Black Stone Island to first familiarize yourself with their appearance and strength, lest you be unprepared when facing them later.”
“Temporarily not return to Undying Isle? Why?”
“The Gate of Heaven between the Fourth Demon Domain and the Gallow Sea Realm lies very close to Undying Isle. Our route back to the Isle would likely take us through that vicinity. Recently, the area around the Gate has been saturated with experts at or above the Nirvana Nest Realm. The demons emerging there are also exceptionally powerful. It is far too perilous for us to pass through that sector.”
“Black Stone Island? Is He Qingman also on Black Stone Island?”
“Yes. She received the Heavenly Evil Grotto’s message half a month ago and took the Wind and Thunder Flying Lion there. Black Stone Island isn't far from here; on this Azure-Blood Demonic Bat, it should take roughly three or four days to arrive,” Toro nodded. “Young Master Shiyan, you should go to Black Stone Island. The demons there are not overwhelmingly strong. Assisting the Heavenly Evil Grotto in their purge will give you a perfect opportunity to observe the differences between them and us.”
“Very well, Black Stone Island it is then.”
Though Shiyan desperately wished to travel to the Xia residence to aid in awakening Xia Xinyan’s soul, the Gallow Sea Realm was currently in considerable chaos. The journey to the Xia family from here was long, and who knew what he might encounter en route. Since Mo Duanhun had made arrangements, Shiyan felt it best, for the moment, to follow his counsel.
The soul power within the Soul Gathering Orb required a period of settling before it could be truly absorbed.
In her current state, Xia Xinyan was not in any immediate danger; as long as the Xia family acted judiciously, nothing would befall her. He decided it would be best to wait until the soul power within the Orb was ready for absorption before seeking out Xia Xinyan at the Xia residence.
“Then we head for Black Stone Island.” Toro affirmed, urging the Azure-Blood Demonic Bat southwards. Three days later,
Shiyan and Toro arrived at Black Stone Island aboard the demonic bat.
Black Stone Island lived up to its name; all the rock formations on the island were a dark, earthy brown. The island suffered from severely sparse Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and a profound lack of water, resulting in very little visible vegetation.
As far as the eye could see, small mountains comprised entirely of black stone dotted the landscape, and the terrain was pocked and uneven.
“Very few commoners reside on Black Stone Island, nor do any powerful martial artists cultivate here. This island is noted only for producing Black Spotted Copper, a secondary material essential for forging Yin-Cold attributed Secret Treasures and weaponry. It’s hardly precious; Black Spotted Copper is abundant across our Divine Grace Continent.”
Toro frowned as he explained to Shiyan, “However, in the Fourth Demon Domain, there is no Black Spotted Copper, absolutely none. I’ve heard that some demons who practice Yin-Cold martial arts must absorb Black Spotted Copper into their bodies to perfect their secret techniques, and the Secret Treasures some demons forge also seem to require it. This copper, considered unremarkable here, is exceedingly useful to the demons. The reason those demons have targeted Black Stone Island is very likely because of the Black Spotted Copper.”
Shiyan slowly nodded.
“Young Master Shiyan, the reason the Yang Family frequently ventures into the Fourth Demon Domain is, in fact, for the Domain’s resources,” Toro, seeing Shiyan listening intently, continued his explanation. “The Fourth Demon Domain holds numerous ores and exotic herbs that have vanished from our Divine Grace Continent, or perhaps never appeared here at all. While those minerals and herbs might not be precious within the Demonic Domain, they become incredibly rare treasures once they enter our realm.”
“The Yang Family often travels to the Fourth Demon Domain to mine those ores and gather those strange herbs, bringing them back to our world. Those minerals and herbs then become the most valuable resources for refining certain specialized Secret Treasures and elixirs. Several primary ingredients for the Yang Family’s Heaven Mending Pills, Undying Creation Pills, and other elixirs originate from the Fourth Demon Domain, and many exceedingly powerful Secret Treasures incorporate the Demonic Domain’s exotic minerals.”
“The Yang Family’s willingness to contend with the demons for resources—to seize ores and herbs unobtainable in our realm—is what has made them progressively stronger, enabling their martial artists to possess Secret Treasures superior to other factions and consume elixirs vastly more costly. This, in turn, allows the Yang Family’s martial artists to advance their cultivation levels faster than other forces!”
Speaking of this, Toro exhibited palpable pride, feeling honored to be part of the Yang Family.
Shiyan nodded silently to himself.
To dare charge into the Demonic Domain, to fight the demons, and seize their resources—it was no wonder the Yang Family grew stronger with every conflict, producing talent after talent.
A martial artist’s cultivation depends not only on innate talent and diligence but also crucially on accessing various scarce cultivation resources. A martial artist possessing immense reserves of these precious resources will cultivate several times faster than one of equal talent and effort!
Shiyan had long been acutely aware of this fact. Unlike Mo Duanhun, Toro genuinely enjoyed conversation, and under Shiyan’s gentle probing, he disclosed everything he knew about the Yang Family and the Demonic Domain without reservation. Through Toro, Shiyan gained a deeper understanding of the Yang Family and discerned the foundations of their formidable power.
On Black Stone Island, atop the highest peak constructed of black stone, several figures stood, seemingly engaged in discussion. Among the group, He Qingman, clad in fiery-red leather armor, her figure alluring, stood out like a blossoming flower amidst green leaves. He Qingman was frowning slightly, leaning her tall frame against the Wind and Thunder Flying Lion while sharply reprimanding several Hundred Calamity martial artists from the Heavenly Evil Grotto. Judging by her demeanor, she was clearly displeased.
The Azure-Blood Demonic Bat descended slowly.
He Qingman looked up, her peach-blossom eyes sweeping across the sky, immediately spotting Shiyan. She showed a flash of surprise, waved her slender, pale hand, dismissing the Heavenly Evil Grotto martial artists clustered before her, and let out a slight, scornful huff. She lifted her head and called out sweetly, “You aren't dead yet?”
Shiyan gave a cold snort, looking down at her from above, and stated plainly, “I haven't received the wager you owe me; I certainly wouldn’t die before then.”
He Qingman’s face flushed instantly as she recalled the bet they had made, grinding her teeth in irritation. She coldly demanded, “What business brings you here?”
“Helping you clear out the demons.” Shiyan dismounted the Azure-Blood Demonic Bat and walked toward He Qingman, taking in his surroundings as he approached: the assembled martial artists of the Heavenly Evil Grotto.
On this peak were one elegant, beautiful matron in the Nirvana Nest Realm, four young martial artists of the Status Tier including He Qingman, and twenty-three martial artists of the Hundred Calamity Realm.
Excluding the poised and dignified matron, the rest appeared quite young, mostly in their late twenties or early thirties—likely promising young talents groomed by the Heavenly Evil Grotto. As Shiyan observed them, they too were covertly sizing him up.
Several among them even displayed clear looks of competitive eagerness.
These were the Hundred Calamity Realm martial artists who had just been chastised by He Qingman. They seemed to have perceived her antipathy toward Shiyan and perhaps hoped to curry favor with her by challenging him.