Looking at the ruined landscape before him, Cao Changjing came to an abrupt halt.
Li Xuanxiao swept his gaze across the scene. "This is the paradise you mentioned?"
Before their journey, Cao Changjing had told him his friend might have information about the Frost Venom Toad.
This friend had quietly retired to a village hailed as a "Minor Grotto-Heaven,"
a place surrounded by verdant mountains and clear waters, with undulating peaks, lush trees, and rich spiritual energy.
Yet now...
Cao Changjing frowned slightly.
The place lay in complete ruin—barren lands stretching as far as the eye could see, with broken walls and debris scattered everywhere.
While not exactly crawling with demons, it was far from peaceful.
A group of minor demons blocked their path."Halt!!"
Cao Changjing's expression darkened further.
In broad daylight, these demons dared to openly gather and brazenly obstruct them.
His fists clenched, his face stormy.
One of the demons, with a sharp mouth and monkey-like features, demanded, "Who are you? Don't recognize your faces."
Cao Changjing shot back, "Where are you from? What happened here?"
The demon snorted. "Where are we from? This is our Great King's territory! Outsiders, scram if you don’t want to die!"
"Who is your Great King?"
"Our Great King? Listen well! Our Great King is the Red-Horned Venerable of Mystic Mountain, the Moon-Devouring, Heaven-Burning King!"
Before the demon could finish, half its face was obliterated by Cao Changjing’s slap.
By the time the other demons reacted, an overwhelming pressure forced them prostrate, trembling in fear.
"............."
Standing before the so-called Great King’s lair,
Cao Changjing gave a bitter smile. "Apologies for the unsightly display, Brother Li."
Li Xuanxiao waved it off. "No matter. This isn’t your fault."
As a disciple of Burial Armament City, Cao Changjing naturally felt responsible for the state of Cangzhou.
Seeing it reduced to this pained him deeply.
A massive figure shot out, arcing through the air before slamming into the ground—
a pitch-black boar demon!
Its colossal body thudded heavily, the impact trembling the earth.
The boar tumbled forward, its blubbery mass squeaking against the rough terrain.
Li Xuanxiao watched with amusement.
This "Red-Horned Venerable, Moon-Devouring, Heaven-Burning King" was just a hairy boar.
Cao Changjing flashed out, stomping on the boar’s head.
"Where are the people here?"
"Cough... Wh-what people?" Blood gushed from the boar’s mouth.
"An alchemist named Li Zhi’an," Cao Changjing demanded.
"Alchemist?"
The boar’s eyes darted.
"Fail to remember, and you die."
"I know, I know!!" the boar yelped. "All nearby alchemists were taken!"
"By whom?"
"The Nine Bones Master of the Wind-Cleft Mountains! He rounded them up—they’re probably with him now."
"............."
"I’ve gathered intel," Cao Changjing said. "This ‘Nine Bones Master’ is one of the demon generals who crossed the sea with the Eastern Desolate Demon Territory. He’s entrenched in the Nine Bones Wind-Cleft Mountains for years—his influence runs deep."
"I must investigate regardless," Li Xuanxiao declared.
Cao Changjing nodded. "Rest assured, I’ll spare no effort."
"My thanks, Brother Cao."
Li Xuanxiao didn’t stand on ceremony. In Cangzhou, he was a stranger.
As a former Burial Armament City disciple, Cao Changjing knew the land intimately.
Morning wind carried icy dew, sweeping the last stars into cloud seas.
The eastern horizon split with a golden fissure, igniting endless clouds into molten fire.
Li Xuanxiao, Di Nü Feng, and Cao Changjing pressed onward,
halting at daybreak.
The Nine Bones Wind-Cleft Mountains coiled like a skeletal dragon—sinister and treacherous.
Spanning northwest to southeast, its ridge split the heavens like a blade, nine peaks jutting like monstrous bones.
Li Xuanxiao stood between the fissures.
A miles-deep chasm gashed the main peaks.
Amidst cliffs veiled in mist and light, his hand gripped his sword hilt.
In the distance, bone-piled mountains oozed violet-tinged blood mist.
Tch—
What a hellish realm.
The black boar had given them concrete intel:
The Nine Bones Master was convening a demon gathering.
A perfect opportunity.
While Li Xuanxiao and Cao Changjing could infiltrate easily, Di Nü Feng couldn’t blend in.
After deliberation, Li Xuanxiao carved out a cave,
leaving a clone to guard her before venturing forth with Cao Changjing.
As they advanced, more figures converged,
swelling into an army marching toward the main peak.
Blending into the demonic horde,
their composure held—unlike lesser men who’d quake in terror.
Many among these demons wielded formidable power.
Facing their combined might meant certain death.