Southeastern side of the continent,
Most of the population of the Barisan continent cultivate energy in a more 'safer' manner. Cultivating is like balancing yin and yang inside one's body, and usually the cultivation techniques they use lean towards yang in nature, warm and positive. But that is not the case with some people who choose a more 'extreme' way of cultivation in this part of the continent like the demon cultivator and devil cultivator.
The demon cultivator, also known as the unorthodox cultivator, use cultivation techniques that lean towards yin in nature—cold and negative. The way they cultivate is harsher and can sometimes harm or even kill the cultivator. It's no wonder the energy exuded from demonic cultivators is darker and more sinister than that of orthodox cultivators, though less so than that of devil cultivators.
The difference between devils and demonic cultivators lies in how they cultivate their negative energy. Demon cultivators manage their negative energy in a more controllable manner with the balance of yin and yang, Although this approach is more challenging, demon cultivators still experience positive human emotions. When they feel love, they cherish it to the extreme; when they like something, they do so to the extreme, and so on.
Because of these unique traits, demon cultivators are often shunned and antagonized by orthodox cultivators but are not hated as much as devil cultivators.
The hierarchy of the demon territory is composed of many sects with ironclad rules: if you want to be a leader, you have to prove your strength. This is why the Piercing Heaven Sect remains the top behemoth of the demon territory and is considered the strongest sect, effectively representing the demonic cultivators. It is said that the creator of the Piercing Heaven Sect is a descendant of the Heavenly Demon, whom demonic cultivators revere and worship.
The Piercing Heaven Sect occupies a vast land of 1000 km², featuring many beautiful towering mountains that pierce the clouds. The sect itself is located among these mountains. The serene and beautiful landscape contrasts sharply with the sinister image often associated with demonic cultivators.
In one of the large Chinese-style buildings, the sect leader of the Piercing Heaven Sect gathered with the elders to discuss recent issues.
"The change that happened in the Everlasting Silent Forest is truly astonishing. Does anyone know why it happened?" one of the grand elders said.
"We still don't know yet. The Sword Demon, who got lost in that forbidden place 500 years ago and also returned a few months ago, is difficult to contact. We still can't reach him." answered one of the elders.
"Forget that lunatic, If he wants to hide himself, it would be difficult even for the 'Bloodhounds' to track him. Are there any other demonic cultivators of the past who have returned? We could try to ask them."
"We're still trying to reach them. We should have results within a week."
A middle-aged man with a white robe, black hair and a short beard sat in the central chair, the seat of the sect leader. His handsome face, sharp eyes, and sturdy body radiated the charisma of a leader everyone must follow.
"Whatever it is, the change in the Everlasting Silent Forest might be an opportunity, we might find something interesting inside that unexplored land." the sect leader said, prompting the elders to fall silent and listen attentively.
"We can explore the land and assess the danger. Perhaps that land will lose its status as forbidden zone and can be claimed by those greedy orthodox cultivators or worse, the devils."
The elders agreed with the sect leader, but one of them voiced his doubts.
"Is there any connection between the change in the Everlasting Silent Forest and the phenomenon from 10 years ago?"
The hall fell silent. They were still in awe of the spectacular sight from that day—the power they felt and the aura of those dragons and phoenixes, plus the sky that seemed to be delivering a divine sign, were etched in their minds.
"Maybe yes, maybe no. Anyhow, we must take the initiative. Send our disciples to the Everlasting Silent Forest as soon as possible," ordered the sect leader.
"Yes, Sect Leader!"
The elders then dispersed, leaving the sect leader alone. Similar discussions were happening across the continent, with the Everlasting Silent Forest as the center of attention.
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Somewhere on the northern side of the continent,
The Devils, is the cultivators who practiced a unique and sinister form of cultivation. The origin of their cultivation manual was unknown, but all devil cultivators followed the same path. They harnessed the accumulation of negative energy in the world, which made them more violent and difficult to control.
The accumulation negative energy, often referred to as devil energy is the energy that came from the negative energy of living being such as pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth. These energies were abundant throughout the universe, providing a vast reservoir for the devils to draw upon. In exchange for forsaking their virtues and embracing this malevolent power, devil cultivators gained extraordinary strength that was difficult to match within the same realm, except by certain exceptional individuals.
These cultivators, devoid of compassion, feelings, or mercy, became the embodiment of true villainy. Their loyalty lay solely with their devil god, whom they worshipped as the ultimate power.
This is one of the most dangerous place on the continent, not because it's classified as a forbidden zone though it might be for some, but because it is the territory of devil cultivators. Anyone who enters the devil territory is immediately engulfed by an eerie aura and atmosphere, saturated with negative energy, if outsiders are not strong enough and are exposed to this environment for too long, they risk losing their minds. This is a land without laws where the weak can be consumed by the strong and that can be meant literally.
In the center of the devil territory stands a castle shaped like a giant altar, surrounded symmetrically by six pointed structures. The sky above the castle region is a menacing red and dark hue, and the surrounding landscape is littered with the bones of both humans and beasts, adding to the eerie atmosphere. The scent of blood and rotting corpses pervades the area, making one wonder how any living being could survive in such an environment.
In the midst of this desolate landscape, a hooded figure walked casually towards the castle, stopping in front of its giant gate.
"I come to report to the devil lord." The hooded with man voice said.
The two gate guardians, with their disfigured faces, scrutinized the figure before making a hand movement that caused the gate to open on its own. The figure entered the castle, stepping into a hallway dimly lit by torches that lined the walls, their flickering light casting ominous shadows. The end of the hallway was obscured by darkness.
As he walked, the hooded figure passed numerous statues of goat-like beasts and he sometimes can heard a few people screaming from who knows somewhere inside the castle.
He kept walking until he reached a large dark room dimly lit by torches on the surrounding walls. Inside this room were four silhouetted figures. Three figures were sitting around a round table with seven chairs, while one figure sat on a throne at the end of the room. The man on the throne was accompanied by two naked women, each with a choke chain connected to the throne. They rested their heads on his legs, their expressions deadpan and bruises visible on some parts of their bodies, while the man leaned his head on his hand.
The hooded man then bowed to the one sitting on the throne, a burly man who held the highest authority in the devil territory—the devil lord.
"My lord, I bring news to you."
The devil lord lifted his head and looked at the figure with his red eyes.
"The 'Fire Apostle' and 'Blizzard Witch' came back from Everlasting Silent Forest. We also saw some of the devil cultivators from the past, but they were killed by the cultivators from Vindas Empire and Doria Empire." the man said, waiting for a response.
"With all those missing people returned, something has happened in the Everlasting Silent Forest. It looks like we have to adjust our plan, but even with the return of the 'Fire Apostle' and the 'Blizzard Witch,' it will not change anything." the devil lord said.
"Kekekeke, the lust devil will be very happy to hear that the Blizzard Witch has returned." said one of the silhouettes.
"Snort, I just hope he doesn't screw up our plan." said another silhouette with an arrogant face, his tone full of contempt.
The last silhouette remained silent, but one could see the woman's body with her arm on top of the table, her head tilted, leaning on one of her hands.
"Keep watching the Everlasting Silent Forest. We can't underestimate the hidden 'thing' inside that place, and we will not fail like our ancestors did 3 million years ago." the devil lord ordered.
"Yes, my lord!" answered the others, except for the woman.
The silhouette excused himself from the room, leaving the others to execute their lord's orders.
"The day of the prophecy will come, and the devil god will descend." the devil lord thought to himself. Silence returned to the dark room, leaving only the crackling sound of the fire torches.