Mount Huqi, the stronghold of the Ghost King Sect of the Demon Sect, was shrouded in a solemn and grim atmosphere. The once powerful sect had suddenly lost over half of its members, a devastating blow to any formidable faction in the world. So many brave disciples, filled with high fighting spirits, set out to battle, but only the blood-soaked Ghost King returned.
The shadow of that grimness loomed over every face and heart in Mount Huqi. No one knew who the next target of those brutal and vicious beast demons would be.
After returning, the Ghost King immediately shut himself away for rest. No one dared to question him, but it didn’t take long for news to start filtering back. It gradually became clear that in this southwestern great battle, the three major factions of the Demon Sect had, for the first time, united to fight against the beast demons. The reasons behind their alliance, however, remained a mystery, known only to the Ghost King, if anyone.
This battle resulted in the most catastrophic defeat the Demon Sect had suffered in a thousand years. The Ghost King Sect lost over half of its members, while the Venomous Sect was severely weakened by internal strife. The beast demons then invaded the Viper Valley, nearly wiping out the remaining experts. The Reclusive Joy Sect, which had always lain dormant, joined the battle with all its might, only to be utterly annihilated by the endless horde of beast demons.
At this moment, the severely weakened Ghost King Sect was in a state of panic, but they were still far better off than the Venomous and Reclusive Joy Sects. Most of the Ghost King Sect’s experts remained in Mount Huqi, so their core strength was not entirely diminished. As for the Venomous and Reclusive Joy Sects, no one even knew if any of them had survived.
After several days of recuperation, amidst the nervous speculations of his disciples, the Ghost King reappeared before the members of the Ghost King Sect. He made no mention of the recent devastating defeat, instead issuing a series of direct orders. Soon, the entire interior of Mount Huqi began to stir.
Everyone started packing their belongings and preparing rations, as the last order from the Ghost King clearly stated that, due to the rampant beast demons in the Central Plains and the grievous loss of the Demon Sect, for the future of the Holy Sect, the Ghost King Sect would move northwest into the vast and desolate Wasteland, to the legendary birthplace of the Holy Sect—the “Sacred Temple of the Wasteland.”
In the midst of this flurry of activity, the Ghost King, with a stony expression and his hands clasped behind his back, walked towards the icy stone chamber deep within the mountain. The journey was long and arduous, and the Wasteland was barren and scorching, making it unsuitable for Bì Yáo’s current condition. The Ghost King originally intended to entrust her care to Little White, with her millennia of cultivation and the intricate defenses of Mount Huqi, it should have been safe. However, things had changed. Since he returned, Little White had mysteriously disappeared, and no one knew where she had gone.
Thinking about this, the Ghost King’s brows furrowed slightly, and he found himself standing outside the icy stone chamber where his daughter lay. He sighed and opened the door, stepping inside.
Ghost Li stood there, silently accompanying Bì Yáo. He heard the sound of footsteps behind him but did not turn around.
The Ghost King slowly paced to Ghost Li’s side, gazing at his daughter lying peacefully on the icy stone platform. Her pale and beautiful face was as serene as ever, as if she sensed that the two men who cared for her the most in the world were by her side.
Her expression was calm, composed, and at peace!
The Ghost King looked at Bì Yáo for a long time, his eyes flashing with a rare tenderness. After a while, he sighed deeply and said, “Why don’t you go and pack your things?”
Without lifting his head, Ghost Li did not directly answer but asked, “I’ve heard that the Wasteland is a vast expanse of desolate land and endless desert, with extreme heat year-round. Is that true?”
The Ghost King nodded, “Yes, I once visited the Sacred Temple of the Wasteland, and the climate there is indeed like that.”
Ghost Li frowned, “How can Bì Yáo endure such a place in her current… state?”
The Ghost King glanced at Ghost Li, “I never intended to take Yáo-er to the Wasteland.”
Ghost Li’s expression changed, and he looked at the Ghost King. The Ghost King continued, “The Wasteland is not suitable for Yáo-er. My plan was to leave her in Mount Huqi and activate the defenses to seal the entrance, ensuring her safety. However, someone must check on her at least once a month to prevent any mishaps.”
Ghost Li stood up, “Who will stay? Who is it?”
The Ghost King replied indifferently, “I originally intended to entrust Little White, given her profound cultivation and her desire to rest in Mount Huqi. But for some reason, she has vanished these past few days.”
Ghost Li’s expression flickered, and the Ghost King noticed, “Do you know where she went?”
Ghost Li slowly shook his head and remained silent for a moment before saying, “Let me stay and take care of Bì Yáo.”
The Ghost King stared at him, “I trust you to take care of Yáo-er, and I have faith in you. But now that the Holy Sect has just suffered a great defeat, I need to restore our power and unify the sect. I need you by my side.”
For the first time, Ghost Li’s gaze left Bì Yáo and slowly moved to the Ghost King, “Are all the disciples who followed you in the battle with the beast demons dead?”
The Ghost King’s expression changed, and his eyes gleamed with intensity. This was the first time someone had dared to bring this up in front of him, but he did not get angry. He simply looked deeply at Ghost Li and then said, “They are all dead.”
Ghost Li’s gaze returned to Bì Yáo, and after a while, he said, “After this battle, although the Demon Sect is severely weakened, the Venomous and Reclusive Joy Sects have been completely annihilated. For the Ghost King Sect, this is a perfect opportunity to unify the Demon Sect. Even without me, there is no force in the sect that can challenge you.” He paused, “But Bì Yáo still needs someone to take care of her. Let me stay and take care of her.”
The Ghost King looked at him for a while and then nodded, “Since you say so, I won’t force you. I entrust Yáo-er to you, and I believe you can take good care of her. But remember, the beast demons are powerful and have keen senses. To be safe, seal the entrance and check on her once every one or two months. That should be sufficient.”
Ghost Li slowly nodded in agreement. The Ghost King’s gaze returned to his daughter, and after a moment, he let out a sigh and turned to leave.
As he approached the door, Ghost Li’s voice called out from behind, “Sect Leader…”
The Ghost King paused, somewhat surprised. Ghost Li rarely spoke to him, and this sudden inquiry was unexpected. “What is it?”
Ghost Li remained silent for a moment before asking, “Do you hate me?”
The Ghost King stood motionless, facing away, without speaking, and his expression was hidden.
Ghost Li continued, “Bì Yáo is like this because of me. Do you hate me in your heart?”
His expression was cold, as if he were discussing something unrelated to himself, but the Ghost King remained silent. The two men stood back-to-back, and the air in the stone chamber seemed to stiffen.
A faint mist rose from the icy stone platform beneath Bì Yáo, drifting through the air. After a long while, the sound of the stone door opening broke the silence. The Ghost King said nothing and quietly walked out.
With a low rumble, the stone door closed again, leaving only Ghost Li to accompany Bì Yáo. His face was blank as he stared at the woman before him.
***
In the ancient and dense forest, a ghastly and acrid smell carried by the wind, like ugly scars, marred the once green landscape. Everywhere, the traces of the beast demons’ rampage were evident. Giant trees lay fallen, and the remains of countless animals were scattered about, robbing the forest of its former tranquility.
On the second day after finding the mad disciple of the Demon Sect, Xiao Yicai, Fǎxiàng, and their companions, seven disciples of the righteous path, followed the increasingly obvious tracks of the beast demons, drawing closer to the valley hidden in the mountains. Along the way, the forest was filled with the same gruesome scene. Although they had not seen human remains, the sight was still deeply unsettling.
Many could not help but wonder: Could these beast demons truly be born for slaughter?
Around midday, the group appeared on the broken ancient road outside the Viper Valley. The signs of destruction by the beast demons were so apparent that it was almost effortless to discern. The ancient road had been widened several times over by the trampling of countless beast demons, and the air was filled with a pungent, nauseating smell. There was also a faint but more unbearable stench, though no one could identify its source.
Looking at the entrance to the valley, the scene inside was just as chaotic as outside, with the once-beautiful land and forest clearly ravaged by a terrible flood. The ancient road twisted and turned, and no one knew what lay beyond.
For some reason, everyone’s expressions were tense, and an awkward silence settled over them. Finally, Xiao Yicai coughed, but he discovered his throat was dry and painful. He calmed himself and said, “It seems the Demon Sect disciple was not lying. This must be the place where the beast demons and the Demon Sect fought.”
He looked around, hesitated, and then asked, “Shall we go in and take a look?”
No one spoke. Even Li Xun’s expression was grim. After a while, Fǎxiàng, standing beside Xiao Yicai, chanted a low Buddhist incantation, “Since we have come this far, we should not give up. Let us go in.”
Everyone understood this, but the valley seemed to have a mysterious, foreboding presence that affected their emotions, instilling a sense of dread. Fǎshàn, who had been following Fǎxiàng, grunted in agreement and stepped up to his side.
“Let’s go,” said Lin Jingyu, not Xiao Yicai. He tightened his grip on the Dragon Slaying Sword, his expression solemn, and led the way into the Viper Valley. Behind him, Lu Xueqi and Li Xun followed, and after exchanging a worried glance, Xiao Yicai and Fǎxiàng also entered.
The vast valley, surrounded by endless forests, was eerily silent. Not even the usual bird calls could be heard. The place seemed to have become a ghostly wasteland.
The pungent smell of the beast demons filled the air, but as they delved deeper, each person’s frown deepened. A new, revolting smell, almost vomit-inducing, grew stronger with the wind.
The path was winding, and the group proceeded cautiously. At a bend, the air was so foul that it was unbearable. Suddenly, Yan Hong rushed to the side of the road, and the others were shocked. Li Xun exclaimed, “Junior Sister, what’s wrong?” He stopped when he saw Yan Hong vomiting violently in the grass.
No one mocked her; no one knew how much longer they could endure. This valley, though not yet revealing its true form, was already more terrifying than most places. Yan Hong gasped and, with a pale face, returned to the group, “I’m sorry, I really couldn’t…”
Fǎxiàng managed a smile, “Junior Sister, it’s okay.”
Xiao Yicai added, “Yes, no one can stand this smell. If you can’t go on, maybe you should wait outside the valley.”
Yan Hong hesitated but shook her head, “Let’s keep going.”
Li Xun walked over, nodding at Yan Hong, “Be careful, don’t push yourself.”
Yan Hong nodded, and Xiao Yicai turned to the group, “Okay, let’s continue. We don’t know what dangers lie ahead, so be cautious.”
Everyone nodded, and they moved forward. Lin Jingyu led the way, approaching the bend. His hand holding the Dragon Slaying Sword was sweating coldly. The air was so foul it was hard to breathe. Lin Jingyu’s face paled, and with a determined step, he rounded the bend, seeing the scene within the valley.
He froze.
Behind him, the others noticed Lin Jingyu’s reaction and tensed up. Xiao Yicai called out to him, but he did not respond, his eyes fixed on the scene before him. Lu Xueqi was the next to approach, followed by Li Xun, Yan Hong, Xiao Yicai, Fǎxiàng, and Fǎshàn. One by one, they saw the horrifying scene in the Viper Valley.
Then, everyone froze.
It was a hellish scene, a battlefield of despair, starkly visible under the clear sky. Countless bones, both human and those of various beast demons, lay scattered in and around the houses. Some were complete, but more were mutilated and torn, piled high, with barely any empty space.
Grimly, Xiao Yicai and the others continued forward, their faces pale.
The horrors were everywhere, and the deeper they went, the more gruesome the scene. The battle had been intense, with human and beast demon corpses entangled, and the ground soaked in blood, turning black.
Entering the courtyard, they saw the remnants of fierce battles, with piles of bones blocking entrances. The struggle had been relentless, with both sides fighting to the death, stepping on the bodies of their comrades.
In the courtyard, they found the massive corpses of beast demons, some even larger than the buildings. These once fierce creatures now lay silently, awaiting decay.
The stench of rotting flesh and blood was overpowering, but the group felt a strange detachment, their faces reflecting the horror. They continued deeper into the courtyard, encountering more and more bones. No one knew how many Demon Sect disciples and beast demons had died in this valley. They walked on, driven by an almost unconscious force.
Each face was rigid and blank, each clutching their weapons tightly. After crossing a sea of bones and blood, they reached a hall.
It was still recognizable as a hall because of the coffin inside. The area around it was the site of the fiercest fighting, with bones piled high. Here, they found many familiar corpses: Poisonous Sage, Bloodsucking Old Fiend, and Elder Duān Mù…
These once mighty figures of the Demon Sect, their faces still frozen in fear and defiance, lay in the midst of the chaos.
One could only imagine, but none dared to, the scene of their final moments.
As they delved deeper, Xiao Yicai and the others found more renowned figures of the Demon Sect, including the three major disciples of the Poisonous Sage and many important figures from the Reclusive Joy Sect. Strangely, though many Ghost King Sect disciples had perished, the corpses of its well-known members were scarce.
Gathering in front of the hall, they saw the somber faces around them. Xiao Yicai said, “Many people died here, and the important figures of the Demon Sect are all here. The Venomous Sect seems to have been completely wiped out.”
Yan Hong, her face deathly pale, whispered, “The Reclusive Joy Sect suffered greatly too. Even Lady San Miao…”
Lu Xueqi’s face was pale, her teeth biting her lip, her expression a mix of grief, disgust, and fear. After rejoining the group, she asked, “Have you seen any of the Ghost King Sect’s members?”
Everyone shook their heads, and Li Xun’s expression darkened. Xiao Yicai looked at him and said, “Many ordinary disciples of the Ghost King Sect died, but there are no… bodies of notable figures.”
Lu Xueqi’s expression relaxed, but Li Xun’s eyes gleamed with coldness, “Brother Xiao, don’t you remember that these beast demons eat humans? On our way here, we saw so many bones. Who knows if the demonic members of the Ghost King Sect have already been…”
A loud retching interrupted him. Yan Hong, unable to bear it, rushed to the corner to vomit again. Li Xun sighed and fell silent.
Fǎxiàng and Fǎshàn chanted low prayers, and everyone knew that Li Xun’s words, though harsh, held a grim possibility. Xiao Yicai, Lin Jingyu, and the others’ faces were complex, and they lowered their heads. Only Lu Xueqi, her face pale and her body swaying, remained unyielding.
She slowly raised her head, looking up at the endless blue sky, where even the clouds above the valley appeared blood-red.
Lu Xueqi’s lips moved as if she wanted to call out, but no sound came forth.
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