Upon the celestial city aloft, a myriad of phoenix blossom lanterns painted the skies.

Above, the firmament shimmered with iridescent hues, a tapestry woven from Daoist arts, crafting a dreamscape.

Each year at this time, the disciples of Lingxiao Pavilion would emerge from the secret realm, venturing forth to patrol the myriad cities of the Cloud Country. Their presence served not only to maintain order but also as a potent display of the pavilion’s might.

The day-to-day governance of the Cloud Country rested with the Joint Council, while each city and peak boasted enshrined extraordinary cultivators. Though the world’s major powers regarded the Cloud Country as the private domain of Lingxiao Pavilion, the pavilion itself rarely made a public appearance. Nestled within a bustling mercantile metropolis, a nexus of worldly convergence, yet maintaining an air of seclusion and hidden living – a true embodiment of “great hermitage within the city.” This was also a necessity for preserving their neutrality.

Generally, those who sought to expand their influence across the lands would inevitably clash with other forces, rendering neutrality an impossibility.

Lingxiao Pavilion stood as the heart of the Cloud Country, and Ye Lingxiao himself was known for his distinct preferences and volatile temperament. Yet, Lingxiao Pavilion almost never meddled in the Cloud Country’s national policies. A peculiar symbiotic relationship existed between them, unlike any other country or power in the world.

For instance, it was widely known that Ye Lingxiao harbored ill will towards the former monarch of Yong Country, Han Yin. And though he had been acquainted with Zhuang Country’s prime minister, Du Ruhui, in earlier years, they had since grown estranged. Nevertheless, the Cloud Country never specifically targeted these two nations; trade routes flowed ceaselessly.

Even during the critical juncture of the Zhuang-Yong war, when Han Yin perished, the Cloud Country refrained from any opportunistic actions. The neutrality of the Cloud Country was so absolute that it seemed untouched by Ye Lingxiao’s personal inclinations.

Of course, none doubted Ye Lingxiao’s absolute control over this land.

The entirety of the Lingxiao secret realm was bathed in a surreal, star-dappled light. Within her chamber, Ye Qingyu sat alone, meticulously poring over the intelligence reports from the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons. She read each word thrice before gently setting the documents down.

No sigh escaped her lips; she simply rose.

She harbored an unwavering belief that Jiang Wang still lived. She knew that Jiang Wang’s fifth brother still lingered in the Heavenly Prison World’s Umon City, awaiting a miracle. But she could not remain there indefinitely.

The Cloud Country could not function without Ye Lingxiao’s leadership, and within the Lingxiao secret realm, Jiang Anan remained. Their fortnight in the Heavenly Prison World had already reached its limit.

Stepping out of the chamber, she traversed the long cloud corridor, searching for a while before finding the little figure of Anan at Jinxia Terrace, the spot where the sunrise first broke.

Anan wore a beautifully new dress, her small hands propping herself against the cloud terrace, her tiny feet dangling in the mist and clouds. Her eyes were fixed on the distant horizon, as if awaiting the dawn before the last embers of sunset had faded.

Even Stupid Gray was less lively than usual, lying quietly beside her.

Two little ones, in this vast, vast world, sat, relying on each other.

Recalling what little Wang had said today, that Anan was overjoyed when she was taken to ride the phoenix blossom lantern, Ye Qingyu suddenly understood. Little Anan was slowly maturing, learning to conceal her emotions.

She deliberately made her footsteps audible, giving the little girl a moment to compose herself.

Hearing the sound, Stupid Gray turned its head. Upon seeing Ye Qingyu, it enthusiastically wagged its tail, then promptly rolled on the ground. After getting up, as if it had performed some incredible feat, its eyes shone with pride, and drool dripped from its doggy maw.

Jiang Anan also turned back, obediently calling out “Sister.”

“Why aren’t you playing with Big Wang and the others?” Ye Qingyu’s voice was gentle. “Are you unhappy today, Anan?”

“I’m very happy! My brother sent me another letter! And gifts! So many gifts!”

Jiang Anan said, quickly turning back to face the distance, her voice growing softer. “But he’s too busy, he can’t come to see me.”

“That cannot be helped either.” Ye Qingyu sat down beside her, her jade legs dangling into the cloud sea just like Anan’s. “Your brother is a world-renowned great hero. Today he fights the sea clan, tomorrow he fights the demon clan. He cannot accompany you, so that more people can be reunited. But I believe, he definitely misses you very, very much.”

Stupid Gray let out a soft whine, as if in agreement. The two people and one dog simply sat in silence for a while.

The cloud sea and the star-strewn sky were equally vast. And equally wordless.

After a long, long time, Jiang Anan asked again, “Sister, did my brother write you a letter?”

Ye Qingyu pursed her lips, stroking her hair. “He did.”

Jiang Anan tilted her head, leaning into her embrace. “Did he mention me?”

“He said you are the world’s most obedient little sister.”

The unlimited martial arts competition across the three major regions of Tianxi Wasteland, Ziwu Hills, and Shenxiang Flower Sea, culminating at Jinyang Terrace, held preliminary selections in the great cities of each demon clan region.

For example, Moyun City would hold a grand city-wide competition to determine the ten strongest youths, who would then represent Moyun City in the Tianxi Wasteland competition.

Finally came the grand competition at Jinyang Terrace, where the prodigies from the three regions would converge.

Though he consistently vowed to seize the championship, relying solely on Chai Ah Si’s current demon soldier level strength was demonstrably insufficient. He needed to cultivate divine abilities from his demon conquest, achieving demon general level strength equivalent to having an Inner Mansion, and then, with the guidance of the great ancient god, he might possibly break into Moyun City’s top twenty.

Fortunately, the competition schedule was lengthy, allowing Chai Ah Si ample time to progress.

The nine massive martial arts platforms scattered throughout the city had been cleared several days prior, only opening today. The demon clan possessed a fierce martial spirit, with frequent private duels, making martial arts platforms common fixtures. These nine largest platforms, however, were constructed with significant investment, using superior materials and inscribed arrays. In ordinary times, they were rented out, but during special events, they were exclusively used to host various competitions.

At this moment, a large contingent of black-clothed small demons gathered around the martial arts platform closest to the Flower Street. Each one exuded a fierce and malevolent aura, glaring at passersby.

This caused the onlookers to seethe in silent indignation.

After all, this location was very close to the Flower Street, and this group of black-clothed small demons, surrounding their leader like stars orbiting a moon, was none other than the Flower Fruit Society’s most ascendant incense master – Swift Wind Killing Sword Chai Ah Si.

“Who is this, so arrogant?” In a wine house on the upper floor not far away, a sinister-faced young demon, mid-drink, posed the question.

The left half of his face was covered in dark, malevolent demon marks. The marks twisted grotesquely, and upon closer inspection, seemed to writhe, a conspicuous and extraordinary demon conquest that also declared his identity – Quan Xihua of the Moyun Dog Family.

He was Quan Xizai’s cousin. After Quan Xizai vanished in the 100,000 Great Mountains, he became the most vocal contender for the head of the Dog Family. His participation in the Jinyang Terrace martial arts competition this time was a means to solidify his position and silence any dissenting voices. He intended to let those demons know that even if Quan Xizai returned, he would firmly hold the reins of succession.

This particular location in the wine house offered the best view. Quan Xihua, of course, did not need to concern himself with the preliminary selections. His purpose this time was primarily to host a banquet, incidentally treating the squabbles of these lesser demons as mere drinking fodder.

Seated opposite Quan Xihua and sharing drinks with him was a handsome demon with compound eyes. Hearing the question, he merely glanced out the window. “Oh, an Ape Family dog.”

Quan Xihua frowned, a subtle discomfort lingering in his mind. To speak of pigs, dogs, and the like – these were originally demon names.

Some beast races were naturally born with features resembling demon conquests; this was quite normal. Creations of the same world, they were bound to possess both differences and similarities. This very fact demonstrated that both demons and beasts were born of Heaven and Earth, existing in accordance with the principles of nature.

But demons were demons, and beasts were beasts.

Innately extraordinary power and innate wisdom were the natural boundaries separating racial nobility and baseness. Demons had demon names; beasts had beast names.

For example, what the human race called “pig” was anciently named “shi.” What the human race called “dog” was anciently named “huang er.”

All things born of Heaven possessed their own purpose; regardless of the name, it originally carried no inherent insult.

But that damnable slave race, those who called themselves “humans,” actually went about renaming beast races according to features resembling demon conquests, using “pig,” “dog,” and various livestock to insult others all day long. They successfully transformed demon names into beast names and beast names into terms of contempt. Insulting language always spread the fastest.

It was unclear when, but these customs of the human race had also seeped into the demon clan.

Though he clearly understood that the word “dog” from Zhu Yong’s mouth nominally referred to the beast race of dogs, it actually meant accomplices and lackeys, there was always a sense of being directly insulted.

Had it been any other demon speaking so carelessly, Quan Xihua might have ensured their next life was more mindful, but facing the young master of the Spider Family, he could only suppress his discomfort and change the subject. “A mere underground organization, so brazen recently. Does the security office not manage it?”

Zhu Yong merely glanced out the window once more before looking away, saying faintly, “Pigs need to be fattened enough; that’s the time for the slaughter.”

Quan Xihua plastered a faint smile on his face in accompaniment. The wine cup in his hand remained untouched, but his heart was startled. These words, of course, were reasonable.

But if the Flower Fruit Society was that pig awaiting slaughter, then what of the East Prosperity Gang under his control? And the Moyun Ape Family? What then of the Moyun Dog Family?

Because the Moyun Spider Family’s backer, the Heavenly Spider Lady, had suffered severe injuries in the war against the human race and was now recuperating in hiding, rumors even circulated that she had succumbed to her wounds. The recent period in Moyun City had seen surging undercurrents and many forces stirring. Various evil gods and malevolent spirits, all sorts of chaotic organizations.

But the Spider Family still appeared terrifyingly strong.

The scrutiny of Moyun City’s top young masters did not affect our Swift Wind Killing Sword in the slightest. He simply remained oblivious.

At this moment, he was still reveling in the spectacle of dozens of little brothers accompanying him in his swagger.

What did it mean to be virtuous and respected? What did it mean to have a command answered with a hundred calls? Never in his life had he been so prestigious! The saying went, “Wealth not returned to one’s hometown is like wearing brocade in the night.”

Having so many little brothers and not bringing them out to be arrogant was tantamount to not having so many little brothers. Moreover, the graceful and charming Yuan Xiaoqing had even come to cheer him on today!

At the edge of the martial arts platform, Chai Ah Si took out the ancient god mirror from his bosom and handed it to Yuan Xiaoqing, saying affectionately, “Xiaoqing, my mother passed away early. This is the only thing she left behind. I’ve always carried it with me, treasuring it like my life. Now I’m about to go on stage; please hold onto it for me.”

After this period of getting along, the feelings between this pair of young demons had continuously warmed. But Chai Ah Si entrusting her with such solemnity, and entrusting his mother’s only relic at that, was a first.

Yuan Xiaoqing was moved by this trust. She solemnly placed the seemingly ordinary mirror against her chest, close to her heart, and hugged it. “Ah Chai brother, don’t worry. I will definitely keep it safe. I absolutely will not let the mirror left by Aunt fall or be lost.”

Witnessing the ancient god mirror nestled in such a critical position, Chai Ah Si’s eyelid twitched. He reached out to adjust the mirror, but couldn’t budge it. “Xiaoqing, this thing isn’t that precious. There’s no need to hug it like this. Just hold it in your hand.”

Yuan Xiaoqing hugged it even tighter, and shyly lowered her head. “You’re so annoying!”

Chai Ah Si was momentarily stunned. In his heart, he silently repeated, *It’s just a mirror, just a mirror. Looking through a mirror doesn’t count as turning around and looking at her whole body.* With a surge of killing intent, he strode onto the martial arts platform.

Choosing to hand over the ancient god mirror before the martial arts was naturally a reminder from the great ancient god.

With a large-scale event like the Jinyang Terrace martial arts competition, who knew if any demon clan powerhouses were watching? He needed to minimize the risk of exposure.

Furthermore, once on the martial arts platform, with Chai Ah Si’s strength, he simply couldn’t maintain stability and might get injured anywhere. What if this kid used the ancient god mirror as a heart-protecting mirror…

Then for him, the mirror ancient god, would it be better to expose himself or not?

Of course, what Chai Ah Si didn’t know was that the mirror ancient god he so worshipped was no longer within the mirror. His worries were completely unfounded.

To be precise, the ancient god mirror that Chai Ah Si constantly carried had long been replaced by the great ancient god through the technique of “shifting flowers and wood.” His recent communications with Chai Ah Si were actually conducted through the bestowed Red Heart God Seal.

When transmitting the techniques to Chai Ah Si, the so-called “receive my god seal, spiritual awareness without invasion,” was actually the ancient god himself having invaded eight hundred times over.

The Red Heart divine ability, imbued with immortal power, combined with the god seal technique, was more convenient for divine soul communication than the Red Fire God Seal or Frost Wind God Seal, while also possessing the power to guard the divine soul. External evils below the demon king level, of course, could not invade Chai Ah Si’s divine soul.

With all his knowledge already supplemented to Chai Ah Si, Jiang Wang could almost completely manipulate Chai Ah Si’s perceptions. Thus, from beginning to end, this kid never discovered the mirror’s abnormality.

If one day Chai Ah Si met with an accident, or if Chai Ah Si himself had some ideas about this fragile mirror, he would discover that everything was empty. The ordinary mirror he carried was, in fact, truly very ordinary.

The real ancient god mirror had long been hidden in a secure location.

Through controlling Chai Ah Si, Old Man Yuan, and Big Li Pig, in a situation where the three of them were not fully aware, the great ancient god directed them to dispatch subordinates, exchanging hands more than ten times, and finally, with a ten-year lease, rented a guest room in a certain inn.

Naturally, no demons lived in the guest room. Only a mirror named “Red Makeup” was hidden there.

Even all the furnishings remained undisturbed; only the original dressing mirror was replaced with the Red Makeup mirror. Even if one day, someone were to search here, without a clear target, it would likely be very difficult to discover anything.

In the mirror world, Jiang Wang slowly ceased his breath adjustments.

His physical injuries had been slow to recover during this period. Instead, his divine soul, nourished by those evil gods, was recovering remarkably well.

Praise the evil gods. Praise the Taiping Dao.

He wasn’t overly concerned with Chai Ah Si’s martial arts competition journey. Having participated in the present world’s most grand prodigy competition and successfully won the championship, this level of selection could not possibly pique his interest.

He only paid attention to how far Chai Ah Si could ultimately go, as this related to Chai Ah Si’s future demon life path.

The As in a Dream Order quietly operated, and a yellowed ancient book slowly opened – this was a Buddhist scripture Chai Ah Si’s little brother had “acquired” from some ancient bookstore to honor him, called “Wisdom Fruit,” said to be the work of the famous ancient Nanshan Bear Zen Master.

Of course, this was a translation into Dog script.

The reason for the uncertainty about the name and content was that the text of this ancient book was not only in the Dog clan script, but the era was also very old, dating back to the early ancient era. Each clan’s script evolved naturally among small demons. The Dog clan script of that time had undergone significant changes compared to the present-day script.

Heaven help him, the great ancient god had only just begun to decipher modern Dog script and could only understand simple sentences.

So when Chai Ah Si came asking for explanations, the great ancient god could only tell him to first refine his body with a set of Hundred Tribulations Thousand Difficulties Invincible Golden Body, which promptly refined him into unconsciousness.

Of course, Chai Ah Si could be cunning, greedy, and lazy, but for the great ancient god, the word “evade” did not exist.

It was not realistic to have Chai Ah Si and the others collect Daoist scripture books now. Such ancient books were the best harvest – one had to face them directly, even if reading was such a headache.

Thus, while Chai Ah Si was bathing in blood on the martial arts platform, the great ancient god in the mirror world also had a book in hand that he couldn’t put down. The As in a Dream Order continuously urged him, opening modern Dog script books one by one at the divine soul level.

He not only wanted to learn the Dog clan script but also, based on modern Dog script, research the Dog script of the ancient era.

Even with a firm mind like Jiang someone, who was already a powerful existence, both divine and enlightened, looking at those texts that resembled ghost drawings and symbols, he couldn’t help but frown into the shape of ghost drawings and symbols for a moment.

This book was truly not meant for people to read!