Within the Heng Yue Sect, there was one spoken of, a being hailed as the Yellow Dragon True Man, a pillar of benevolence within those very gates!

Yet, the Heng Yue Sect’s Yellow Dragon was but a humble cultivator in the Foundation Establishment stage. Though bearing a resemblance to the figure in the painting before them, they were assuredly not one and the same! Thus mused Wang Lin, his thoughts swirling.

“Similar in appearance, identical in title… a sinister coincidence, reeking of the uncanny! No wonder this place is known as the Eastern Sea of Demonic Spirits. The term ‘demonic’ is indeed apt!” Wang Lin’s gaze lingered upon the expanse of black mist that clung to the painting’s corner.

“The black mist within the painting represents the Night of the Demonic Spirits. Only within the boundaries of this formation can one find safety when the moon swells full,” Ouyang Hua offered reverently.

“And what manner of event is this Night of the Demonic Spirits?” Wang Lin questioned, his eyes narrowing.

“This land is a domain of demonic spirits, and thus, there is a day when they hunt with heightened fervor – the day when the moon reaches its zenith.” Ouyang Hua glanced through the window towards the darkening sky beyond the valley. Dusk had passed, and the embrace of night deepened.

“Tonight is such a night, honored Immortal. You shall witness the spoils of the demonic spirit’s hunt,” Ouyang Hua declared, withdrawing his gaze.

Wang Lin’s expression remained unchanged, his countenance serene. After a moment of contemplation, he inquired, “You spoke earlier of an ancient demon city, and of something I require. What did you mean?”

Ouyang Hua hesitated at the question, but steeled himself and replied, “Since the Immortal asks, I shall mince no words. This land of demonic spirits is vast, spanning, as legend has it, nine districts. We currently stand within the Sky Demon District! In my life, I have journeyed no further than the Ancient Demon City, one of the cities within this Sky Demon District!”

“To be precise, this place lies within the Sky Demon District, though it is but a savage, untamed stretch. After my awakening in the Ancient Demon City, my demonic power only reached a one-star standard, insufficient to earn the right of residence. Thus, I returned to my valley tribe, becoming an elder and charged with the task of enlightening my people.

In the Sky Demon District, there reigns the Demon Emperor Xillus, beneath whom serve eight mighty demon generals and a legion of ten million demon soldiers, all dwelling within hundreds of cities, thus securing his dominion over the entire district!”

“As for what I spoke of earlier, the object the honored Immortal seeks… well, that is a tale in itself. Know that every thirty years, outsiders pierce the veil of nothingness and enter this land of demonic spirits, a truth known to all within these borders.”

“Each time outsiders arrive, they bring with them a tempest of blood and chaos. They join the ranks of various districts, earning positions through their deeds in battle. The greater their war merits, the higher their station! It is even whispered that one of the eight great demon generals of the Sky Demon District is an outsider, one who arrived long ago and never left!”

“These outsiders seem to undergo peculiar transformations upon their arrival, engaging in frequent acts of internecine violence. As though by slaying their brethren, they gain some form of advantage! This, I cannot fully comprehend. You, honored Immortal, being an outsider yourself, surely possess greater knowledge on this matter.” Ouyang Hua spoke with utmost respect.

Wang Lin’s brow furrowed, a glimmer of understanding sparking in his eyes, though his thoughts remained unformed. After a moment of silence, he slowly probed, “You still have not answered me. What is the nature of the thing you mentioned earlier, the thing I require?”

Ouyang Hua stiffened, falling into a deep silence.

Wang Lin waited patiently, his gaze fixed upon the ominous painting.

After a pause, Ouyang Hua sighed softly and confessed, “Honored Immortal, truth be told, this place does hold what you seek, but its purpose is of such vital importance! I dare not part with it. Should you take it by force, every soul within this valley will perish in due time.”

Wang Lin’s eyes sharpened, his gaze breaking away from the painting for the first time, now fully focused upon Ouyang Hua.

Ouyang Hua met Wang Lin’s gaze for a fleeting moment, before lowering his head in deference. But then, with a sudden surge of defiance, he lifted his gaze once more, declaring, “However! Should the honored Immortal possess more of those elixirs you showed earlier, I would gladly offer the thing you desire, no questions asked!”

With a flick of his wrist, Wang Lin reached into his storage bag. Instantly, a multitude of jade vials emerged, each radiating a soft, white light. No fewer than several dozen such vials danced in the air.

After circling once in a mesmerizing display, the vials returned to the depths of his storage bag.

Ouyang Hua’s eyes followed each vial with unblinking intensity, until finally, they vanished from sight. Slowly, he regained his composure.

Swallowing hard, he inhaled deeply and declared, “The elixirs of you outsiders are revered as treasures in this land of demonic spirits. Such medicine cannot be crafted here, for we lack the necessary ingredients. Honored Immortal, please follow me. I shall lead you to the thing you seek!”

Ouyang Hua, having seemingly made a decision of great import, clasped his hands respectfully and turned to lead the way.

Without a word, Wang Lin fell into step behind him, his pace measured and unhurried, as they exited the humble dwelling.

Though darkness was descending upon the valley, bonfires blazed brightly, casting flickering light upon the faces of the valley’s inhabitants, who sat in clusters around the flames, engaging in lively conversation and offering hearty laughter. The womenfolk sat beside their men, cradling children in their arms, listening to the men’s tales with smiles of contentment upon their lips.

A sense of peace and tranquility permeated the entire valley.

This warm, comforting atmosphere, however, vanished almost instantly the moment Wang Lin and Ouyang Hua emerged. The laughter ceased, and silence fell like a shroud.

The women clutched their children tighter, their eyes darting nervously towards Wang Lin.

Yet, not all the valley’s inhabitants wore expressions of alarm. Some, a select few, even cast glances of gratitude towards Wang Lin.

Ouyang Hua pressed onward, passing through the heart of the bonfires, heading towards the depths of the valley. Wang Lin followed closely behind, his pace steady and unhurried. As they passed, the valley’s inhabitants parted to make way.

In the hasty retreat, one of the women stumbled, and the child she held tumbled to the ground. Her face paled with fright, and she reached out to scoop up her little one, only to realize that Wang Lin was already upon them.

Yet, the child, oblivious to his mother’s fear, picked himself up and stared at Wang Lin with unbridled curiosity.
Wang Lin passed the child, his steps faltering for a moment. He gazed down upon the babe, a sturdy tyke with a round, cherubic face. A pang of nostalgia struck him, stirring memories of a young Da Niu. A faint smile touched his lips as he gently patted the child’s head before moving on.

The moment Wang Lin was gone, the child’s mother rushed forth, clutching her offspring tightly and retreating swiftly. Her hushed scolding carried on the wind.

Long after Wang Lin’s departure, warmth slowly returned to the circle around the crackling fire. Bai Ouyanghua led Wang Lin deep into the heart of the valley, a place shaped like a gourd. The Gourd’s Mouth served as the only entrance.

Ouyanghua stood at the gourd’s base, where few trees grew, and the ground was carpeted with unfamiliar, verdant plants. Each step upon them brought a soft, yielding sensation.

“Honored Immortal, behold!” Ouyanghua declared, halting and extending a hand.

Wang Lin swept his divine sense across the scene, only to find himself immediately drawn to a sheer cliff face deep within the valley.

The cliff was a deep azure hue, a stark contrast to the surrounding stone. Yet, this incongruity was not the cause of Wang Lin’s sudden interest. No, it was the white, crystal-like substance nestled at the cliff’s center that truly captivated him.

It was shaped like a rhombus, embedded serenely within the rock.

Wang Lin’s eyes narrowed in contemplation. He had brushed this area with his divine sense earlier but paid it little heed. Now, standing closer, his keen eyes discerned something amiss.

A faint pulse of celestial energy emanated from the white crystal. Yet, upon closer inspection, a strange notion dawned upon Wang Lin.

“This…this is not celestial power!” A spark of curiosity ignited in his gaze. He stepped forward, extending a finger towards the crystal.

His nascent soul, reaching out through his fingertip, began to probe the crystal’s aura. After a moment, Wang Lin’s expression shifted, and he withdrew his hand, lost in thought.

Ouyanghua spoke softly, “Honored Immortal, according to the tales passed down by my ancestors, this is a thing sought by you outsiders, which you call a ‘Celestial Energy Crystal’. Here, we know it as the ‘Demon Spirit Jade’.”

“Its purpose is to heal the wounds of our people. This is why I mentioned that if it were given to you, our people would surely perish.

“However, this Demon Spirit Jade is of low quality, and its healing effects are… lackluster. Compared to your elixirs, I would much prefer the latter.”

Wang Lin remained silent, raising his hand once more. He grasped at the air, and a deep rumble echoed from the cliff face. The sound, faint at first, rapidly grew into a thunderous roar, reverberating throughout the entire valley.

The violent tremors caused the surrounding cliffs to tremble and sway as if a great earth dragon stirred beneath them.

Wang Lin’s eyes flashed with determination. He clenched his hand tightly, and with a series of sharp cracks, the white crystal detached from the cliff, transforming into a streak of light that landed directly into his palm.

The instant the crystal touched his skin, Wang Lin felt a frigid energy surge forth, piercing through his hand and into his body. This white energy did not follow the meridians but clung to his bones, coursing through him swiftly before gathering at his dantian. There, it slowly coalesced into a grain-sized crystal, surrounded by swirling mists of white energy, like a miniature nebula.

This white energy appeared akin to celestial power, but in truth, it was its antithesis. Celestial power was gentle, but this energy possessed a potent, unsettling, demonic essence.

After absorbing the demonic energy, Wang Lin was visibly transformed!