Lucifer trailed behind James, his eyes fixed on the man darting towards his humble abode, clutching the coveted Renewal Blossom in his trembling hands. A peculiar smile adorned James' face, an enigma that perplexed Lucifer to no end.
The Devil couldn't fathom this peculiar mortal. How could a man willingly relinquish a decade from his remaining fifteen years in exchange for a elusive flower, and still display a triumphant countenance, as if he had claimed the world itself?
Lucifer's introduction to James had transpired in an inconspicuous herb shop, a humble establishment peddling the rare and potent flower. It was a place James frequented diligently, monitoring the flower's fluctuating price with unwavering determination. As fate would have it, Lucifer too coveted the Blossom for its curative properties, hoping to mend his afflicted left hand. Thus, he surreptitiously pilfered two blossoms instead of one, harboring hopes of striking a favorable deal with James.
But as he conversed with James, and the system revealed that bestowing the Renewal Blossom upon him through the 'Deal with the Devil' skill demanded a steep cost of 10 years from James' fleeting existence, Lucifer found himself gripped by hesitation. This hesitation arose because Lucifer had discovered, through the use of Devil's Vision, that James only had 15 years left to live. And what manner of man would willingly surrender a decade of his precarious existence when a mere fifteen remained, teetering on the precipice of oblivion?
Yet, despite his reservations, Lucifer divulged the details of the deal to James, laying bare the stark truth that his numbered days were dwindling rapidly. To his surprise, James agreed without hesitation, his eyes ablaze with a fervor that defied rationality. There was something in the man's gaze, a depth of longing and hope that intrigued and haunted Lucifer in equal measure.
And thus, fueled by an insatiable curiosity that seethed within his infernal veins, Lucifer decided to follow James on his way home, to unravel the enigma behind this inexplicable sacrifice. For why, he wondered, would James surrender a decade of his fleeting existence for a mere mending of limbs? And there was more—the haunting image of James, tears staining the ground upon their first meeting, a sight that ignited a conflagration of questions within Lucifer's mind.
As James approached his house, the creaking door welcomed him, and without a trace of hesitation, he stepped inside. Following closely behind, Lucifer stealthily slipped in, his Ghost Transformation skill veiling his presence.
"Hey, wake up, son! You won't believe what I've got!" James shook Ethan awake, his voice filled with excitement.
Ethan, with eyes as lifeless as the grave, cast a glance upon the flower, momentarily bewildered before realization dawned. His face contorted through a gamut of emotions, beginning with disbelief, swiftly transitioning to elation, only to be overshadowed by a creeping sense of unease. He turned his gaze towards James, his words punctuated with an undercurrent of demand.
"How did you acquire this, and speak the truth, father," Ethan interrogated.
Just as James was poised to respond, his wife arrived in the hallway, her eyes mirroring the same inquisitive doubt. Yet, before a single word could escape James' lips, Ethan's accusatory finger pointed towards something with a quivering intensity.
"What the... Who are you?" Ethan's voice quivered with fear as he pointed at Lucifer's presence within their home.
Lucifer, though taken aback, managed to maintain his composure and acted swiftly. He cast an illusion upon all three of them, causing them to fall asleep.
'How was this boy able to see me in my ghostly form? It's just like...' Lucifer's thoughts trailed off as a realization struck him, connecting the dots between this boy and Emily.
Both of them possessed the uncanny ability to perceive him in his ethereal state. How were they able to do it? Was there something peculiar about their physical composition—an extraordinary configuration of body, eyes, or ears? Or perhaps it delved deeper, reaching into the very depths of their souls? Lucifer pondered these questions, shrouded in the enigmatic veil of uncertainty. One thing, however, remained certain— Phoenix Feather sect held the answers. They not only possessed knowledge of this phenomenon but had even harnessed it for their own purposes.
"I don't know what the sect did to Emily, nor do I know what they achieved from it," Lucifer thought, feeling uncertain. "However, the fact that there are others with similar abilities or characteristics as Emily is significant. If I can uncover the secrets behind this, I might be able to discover some weakness of the Phoenix Feather Sect."
Lucifer knew the significance of Emily to them, which was evident in the promptness with which they executed whatever wickedness they inflicted upon her. Additionally, their willingness to confront a formidable cultivator spoke volumes about the importance they placed on her.
Therefore, Lucifer speculated that they might be interested in someone else possessing similar characteristics as hers.
Slowly, Lucifer descended upon the family of three, employing his illusion to coerce them into revealing their deepest secrets. From the intricacies of their lifespans to the myriad events that had transpired, he delved into their minds, driven by an insatiable hunger for answers. The eerie charade persisted until the sun descended below the horizon, casting long shadows over the landscape. Yet, despite his relentless pursuit, Lucifer found himself bereft of any meaningful clues.
After concluding his unsettling venture, Lucifer departed the house without a trace of concern for what the slumbering family might recall upon awakening. The likelihood of them retaining any memory of his visit was minuscule at best. Even during his transaction with James, he had employed an illusion to cloak his true visage, leaving behind a fabricated image to confound their senses. As for Ethan, the mere witness to his ethereal presence, Lucifer dismissed him as inconsequential. The family possessed neither the power nor the motivation to embark on a search or pursue any action against him.
His path led him unerringly to the designated rendezvous point—the restaurant where he had summoned Wrath and Victor. Uncertainty prickled at Lucifer's consciousness. Would they still be waiting for him, lingering in the hotel as he had instructed?
Upon arrival, he discovered, to his astonishment, that both Wrath and Victor occupied the very same positions they had held during their initial encounter in Phoenix Feather City. Wrath engaged in conversation with others, tirelessly extracting more and more information, while Victor, wearing an expression of contempt, observed the restaurant's patrons.
With swift employment of his telekinesis ability, he silently instructed them to exit their seats and join him outside.
"Greetings, Lord Lucifer," Wrath swiftly knelt before him, with Victor reluctantly following suit.
"Hmm, have you gathered the information I demanded?" Lucifer inquired, observing them as they stood up.
"Yes, my Lord. We have collected as much information as was possible for us," Wrath promptly replied.
"Then tell me. What are you waiting for?" Lucifer urged.
"Yes, my Lord. The county we are currently in is known as Tianxia..." Wrath began.
"Wait, county? Does that mean this world has countries and nations?" Lucifer interrupted.
"No, my Lord. From what we've discovered, there are kingdoms, followed by counties and then cities of various sizes," Wrath clarified.
Although puzzled by this weird structure, Lucifer quietly attributed this inconsistency to the influence of others like him, transmigrators
"Hmm, so is this county governed by someone, like how the Phoenix Feather sect rules this city?" Lucifer questioned.
"No, Tianxia is not ruled by humans," Victor interjected, his voice slightly louder.
Although Lucifer disapproved of Victor's tone, he received the answer he sought.
"Huh, not ruled by humans? Does that mean it is governed by another race?" Lucifer probed Victor, detecting the peculiarity in his response.
"No, my Lord. What he meant to say is that it is not governed by anyone. Technically, the kingdom holds authority, but none of the four prominent sects control it," Wrath swiftly clarified, not allowing Victor a chance to speak.
"Hmm, but didn't you previously mention that the Phoenix Feather Sect surpasses the other three sects in power? So why doesn't it rule this region?" Lucifer questioned.
"Lord, I'm not entirely sure. There may be hidden secrets beyond the knowledge of the ordinary individuals we consulted," Wrath replied.
"Fine, now tell me about these four sects."Lucifer inquired,
Wrath began, "As you are already aware, my lord, the Phoenix Feather sect holds the greatest power and exerts its dominion over the largest territory. Their stronghold is the Mount of Eternal Flames, located to the north of Tianxia County. The cities within their jurisdiction are already familiar to you..."
Before Wrath could proceed further, Victor interjected, expressing his disappointment, "Why waste time explaining all this? Just hand him the sheet containing all the information."
[Information regarding the primary sects in Tianxia County.]
1. Phoenix Feather Sect:
Element: Fire
Most powerful sect
Only sect with Core Formation Realm cultivator
Occupies the largest area, nearly twice as large as the other three sects
Location: Mount of Eternal Flames, Northern region of Tianxia County
City: Phoenix Feather City
2. Dragon's Crest Sect:
Element: Water
Location: Azure Tides Lake, Eastern region of Tianxia County
City: Crystal Waves City
3. Qilin's Earth Sect:
Element: Earth
Location: Southern part of Tianxia County
City: Verdant Stronghold
4. Xuanwu's Metal Sect:
Element: Metal
Location: Western region of Tianxia County