“You should know about Void Valley,” Master Universe began. “No matter how powerful a being is, they can’t withstand the void storms inside it. My grandmaster chose a relatively calm day to enter the valley. But who would have thought disaster would strike unexpectedly? Not long after he went in, he was swept up by a void storm. We all thought he was dead. But ten years later, he suddenly returned to White Sage Temple. Only then did we learn that the void storm didn’t kill him. Instead, it tore through dimensional space and sent him into another world.”
“Another world?” Xu Zimo frowned slightly.
“You mean a world outside of the Primordial Heartlands?”
“I’m not too sure either,” Master Universe said, shaking his head. “After he returned, Grandmaster often mumbled to himself. He said the universe is made up of countless worlds. The Primordial Heartlands are considered a minor world, while the Outer Heavens are part of a greater one. Everyone seeks to transcend the Dao, to escape the river of fate, but in the end, it’s just a personal struggle.”
Master Universe continued, “In that other world, he stumbled upon a site of ancient inheritance. A legacy of the Ancient Demon Race.”
Xu Zimo’s brows furrowed. Things were more complicated than he had imagined.
“That was the first time we learned of these creatures called ‘demons.’ The site contained many of their cultivation methods and meridian techniques.”
Master Universe paused for a while, then sighed. “All the tragedy started with a manual called the Ancient Demon Dao.”
“Ancient Demon Dao…” Xu Zimo repeated, thinking to himself that he would ask Paimon about it later.
“The Ancient Demon Race has a unique spiritforce called Infernal Force. According to that manual, anyone who can cultivate Infernal Force will be acknowledged by the Ancient Demon Race. And this Infernal Force is of a high-grade nature, cultivating it would mean a massive leap in personal strength,” Master Universe explained.
Xu Zimo nodded. Though radiant stones were a natural counter to Infernal Force, it was still far superior to common elemental energies like fire.
“So this is how the Black Demons were created?” Xu Zimo guessed.
Master Universe nodded. “Our obsession with power led Grandmaster to begin experimenting with Infernal Force.”
He fell silent for a long moment before saying, one word at a time: “To keep the experiment a secret, back then, White Sage Temple was just a minor sect, we didn’t dare test on outsiders. So we turned to the families in White Sage City.”
“The disciples didn’t object?” Xu Zimo asked with a frown.
Those people in the city were their own family, after all.
“White Sage Temple sealed itself off. All dissenters were captured and turned into test subjects,” Master Universe said in pain.
“Everyone was obsessed. They believed that with Infernal Force, the temple could become one of the strongest powers in the world. All sacrifices made now would be worth it.”
“That’s extreme,” Xu Zimo muttered, shaking his head.
“Isn’t it?” Master Universe said with a sigh. “By the time we realized our mistake, it was already too late. Most of White Sage Temple had been infected by this strange energy. Many died, and those who survived became Black Demons.”
Master Universe sighed again. “A few centuries ago, the number of Black Demons had grown massive. They broke through the temple’s defenses and launched a massacre on Black Demon City below. Our grandmaster led us down the mountain to exterminate the demons. That battle wiped out most of them. But they were our own disciples! After that, we had no choice but to seal off White Sage Mountain for eternity. Grandmaster renamed the temple to Black Demon Temple and the main hall to the Hall of Atonement, to constantly remind us of our sins. He went back to Void Valley, hoping to return to that other world and find a cure. He never came back. Centuries have passed. I am now the temple master, and I fear I may be the only sane person left in Black Demon Temple.”
“Where did the current Black Demons come from?” Xu Zimo asked. “When I came yesterday, there were only a dozen people in the temple.”
“Those disciples can still resist the influence of Infernal Force during the day. Only at night do they turn. That’s why I let them out during daylight hours. The others, the ones who’ve lost their minds completely, I’ve locked away in the underground prison.”
“Tell me about Deepfeather,” Xu Zimo said.
“He’s a tragic child. His parents died during that Black Demon rampage. He was bitten and infected with Infernal Force too. He was still a baby then. I saved him with all my strength and took him in as a disciple, hoping to raise him well. But somehow, he learned about what really happened back then. He’s been plotting to destroy this place ever since.”
“So I was just his pawn. That’s great,” Xu Zimo said with a slight laugh.
“Sigh… This is all our doing,” Master Universe said with regret. “Please, fellow cultivator, help me save the people of the city.”
“Saving them isn’t my concern. But I will kill him,” Xu Zimo replied calmly.
He rose into the air, flying with Master Universe toward Black Demon City.
Night had fallen. A crescent moon hung in the sky, casting its dim light over the world.
…
By now, Black Demon City had become hell on earth. There were simply too many Black Demons.
The people, who had resisted bravely at first, were now retreating.
The Black Demons were slaughtering indiscriminately. Mindless and savage, they attacked any living creature they encountered.
The city was engulfed in chaos, it would not sleep tonight.
When the two arrived, Master Universe closed his eyes in agony at the sight before him.
He swung his sword. Although the Black Demons were many, their power was still far from the God Meridian Realm.
He cut them down one by one, each strike felling a former disciple turned monster.
The arrival of two God Meridian Realm cultivators revived hope for the city.
The people fought through the night. By dawn, the number of Black Demons had dropped significantly.
But a terrifying problem remained, mutated Infernal Force. Once it entered another’s body, it would either kill them or turn them into more Black Demons.
If they weren’t eradicated quickly, they might become impossible to eliminate.
“Deepfeather, come out. I know you’re nearby!” Master Universe shouted, rising into the air and scanning the area.
“If you dared to do it, then stop hiding!”
“I have no need to hide. The one who’s truly hiding is you,” a voice echoed from beyond the city.
Master Universe looked over and saw Deepfeather, dressed in a black robe.