From Paimon's raised right hand, dense Infernal Force formed a massive, grimacing face twisted in despair.
The very space around them began to collapse under the force of this power.
Seeing this, the old man snorted coldly.
This miniature world wasn't naturally formed by the heavens and earth, it was artificially created.
So once it began to collapse, it wouldn’t repair itself. It would continue to deteriorate until reaching a critical threshold, at which point the small world would be destroyed completely and absorbed into the void.
The old man lightly tapped his staff against the ground.
Bang!
A wave of Infernal Force rippled outward, centered around him.
The blue crystal atop his staff suddenly shone brightly, forming a protective barrier all around them.
Paimon's strike landed on the barrier, but all its force was deflected.
“So you’re from the Samadhi Demon Tribe,” Paimon said in realization.
The moment his power touched the barrier, he sensed its origin.
The so-called Samadhi Demons cultivated three elemental forms of Infernal Force:
Samadhi Fire,
Samadhi Wind,
Samadhi Water.
This particular barrier was forged using both water and wind elements.
The old man didn’t respond. Instead, he struck the staff again, and its top turned fiery red.
A massive sea of flames erupted, dyeing the entire small world crimson.
Then came a howling windstorm, which intensified the flames, causing the fire to grow into a raging inferno.
The entire world was ablaze, engulfed in red light.
“Shame your cultivation is too weak. Your mastery over the Samadhi elements is far from complete,” Paimon shook his head. “If your Patriarch were here, then it might be a fair fight.”
With a casual swipe of his hand, wisps of Dao energy spiraled around Paimon’s palm. In the next instant, the sea of flames was completely suppressed.
“Which tribe are you from?” the old man asked, his expression filled with fear and awe.
“We don’t belong to any tribe. We rule the Ancient Demon Race itself,” Paimon said coolly.
“I am Paimon, one of the Infernal Lord’s Eighteen Infernal Archons, the Demon of Despair.”
“Infernal Archon…!” the old man murmured, his face paling with anxiety.
“How can you be here? Wasn’t the Primordial Demon Cave sealed long ago?”
“So you haven’t forgotten,” Paimon snorted.
“After the calamity of that era, I was severely wounded and have been recovering here ever since. I haven’t left this place for many years,” the old man explained quickly.
“You were behind what happened at Black Demon Temple?” Xu Zimo asked from the side.
“Yes,” the old man, Demon Thirteen, replied. “When their founder brought me back from the Eternal Lands, I had no choice but to do what I did to recover from my injuries. They were greedy for power, so I took advantage.”
“I’m only asking about Black Demon Temple out of curiosity,” Xu Zimo said. “Have you met any other demons?”
“No. After the Great Cataclysm, I awoke alone,” Demon Thirteen shook his head. “But… there is one thing you may not know.
The Ancient Demon Race’s sacred treasure, the Summon-Demon Sky-Shroud Tree, is still on the Eternal Lands. I couldn’t obtain it, and neither will you, unless you find the Infernal Lord himself.”
“The Ancestor Tree is on the Eternal Lands?” Paimon asked in surprise. “I thought it was destroyed in the Cataclysm. Seems we’ll need to visit the Eternal Lands.”
“We’ll deal with that later. I won’t make things difficult for you,” Xu Zimo said calmly. “Just purge the Infernal Force from the people at Black Demon Temple.”
Demon Thirteen nodded without objection.
“My injuries have mostly healed anyway.”
“Let’s go,” Xu Zimo said, turning to Paimon.
“Wait, young master!” Demon Thirteen called out from behind.
He waved his hand, and space in the small world fully collapsed. A pure-black carriage burst forth from the void.
Pulling the carriage was a black beast.
Its head resembled that of a horse, but it had large, black wings spreading behind it like a canopy over the sky.
Its fur was like scales, layered and plated around its body.
A single pitch-black horn protruded from its forehead, and its deep, shadowed eyes stared intently at Xu Zimo.
“This is a Night Terror, evolved from an undead warhorse,” Demon Thirteen said with a smile. “I noticed you didn’t have a carriage for your travels. This one happens to be free, I’d like to gift it to you.”
Xu Zimo looked at the Night Terror and smiled without saying a word.
It was indeed a rare and excellent mount, likely a relic of the previous epoch. That it had survived until now was remarkable.
“But this carriage lacks a driver,” Demon Thirteen added politely. “An Infernal Archon like Lord Paimon is clearly above such work. So… would young master allow me to take on the role?”
Xu Zimo chuckled. Clearly, the old demon was trying to secure a place for himself.
Paimon, one of the Eighteen Infernal Archons, showed Xu Zimo full respect.
It made sense for Demon Thirteen to take his chances. After all, there was no future for him stuck in this crumbling world.
He was the last of the demons he knew, meeting kin again was no small event.
“Hop on then,” Xu Zimo said with a grin, stepping into the Night Terror’s carriage.
Inside, the decorations were distinctively demonic. Though the carriage looked small from the outside, its interior held a spatial array.
There was a bed inside, and a table set with all kinds of demonic cuisine.
The whole structure was made from ghostwood, a material favored by demons, warm, durable, and comfortable.
…
Demon Thirteen drove the Night Terror into the sky, heading out of the small world.
They first returned to Black Demon City, where Demon Thirteen used the original (Alpha) volume of the Ancient Demon Dao to extract the Infernal Force from the afflicted.
Though this method was dangerous, it gave them a fighting chance to survive.
Before heading to Void Valley, they needed to stop by the nearest major city to obtain a Void Travel Permit.
The closest large city near Black Demon City was Tower City.
Riding the Night Terror, Demon Thirteen guided the carriage toward Tower City, bathed in the warmth of spring wind.
When speaking of Tower City, one must understand the layout of the Ninelands Region.
The Ninelands Region didn’t refer to literal lands or provinces, but to nine colossal cities, the largest in the region.
They were arranged strategically across the land, forming a unique triangular defense network, like the corners of a divine array.
Tower City was one of these nine, and one of the most famous.
As the carriage moved along the main road, Demon Thirteen kept himself hidden beneath a wide black cloak, silently driving the cart.
The imposing presence of the Night Terror naturally drew countless gazes.
But no one dared to approach or block their way.
So, just like that, several dozen days passed.
Eventually, the carriage reached the borders of Tower City.
During that time, Xu Zimo had been immersed in cultivation, his control over his power had reached yet another new level.