A beam of fragmented light pierced the desolate halls of the Demon Lion Temple, where the bones of the fallen lay scattered. The air, thick with floating dust, seemed almost frozen in place. Two gruesome, bloodied creatures, silent and lifeless, lay motionless. One was a three-colored pheasant, the other a fanged hellhound, both victims of the tyrannical Three-Eyed Demon Lion, who, with a swift strike, killed them to assert his dominance.
The lesser demons in the hall dared not make a sound, trembling in fear.
At the head of the hall, upon a stone throne, sat a massive demon with the head of a lion and the body of a man, his mane a fiery yellow. With a flicker of demonic power, he conjured a translucent lotus flower, its beauty cold and otherworldly. He cast a disdainful glance over the assembly before speaking, his voice dripping with malice: "From this day forth, scour every inch of land within eight hundred miles—whoever finds this item for me will be richly rewarded!" The lotus he conjured was unmistakably the same strange flower etched in Li Xiaobai's memory, perhaps the same Chaos Azure Lotus spoken of by the serpent demon.
The lion-faced demon's scarred visage, marred by both human and demon alike, bore several prominent marks that almost formed the letter "S."
Should one add the letter "B" to his face, this beast would become a walking mockery of itself.
"Yes, Lord Mudu!" The trembling demons responded in unison, their fear palpable. None dared protest.
It was well known that Mudu, the Three-Eyed Demon Lion, was a miser—treacherous and stingy. Even if they were to find the coveted item, they were unlikely to receive anything of worth. More likely, they'd find themselves devoured by the beast instead.
The demon realm knew no law but strength. Most of the two hundred or so lesser demons were at the early stages of spiritual awakening, their powers little more than rudimentary magic. The few that were slightly more formidable were mere novices, barely able to gather the essence of the sun and moon. Even when united, they were no match for Mudu, whose strength had already reached the True Elixir realm. As such, they had little choice but to swallow their pride, serve him like cattle, and risk their lives with every misstep.
Among them were a few demons of Form Transformation rank, powerful beings who had earned Mudu's favor and were treated with respect. These were Mudu's trusted subordinates, the backbone of his rule, unlike the lesser demons who were often treated with cruelty and disdain.
The Form Transformation realm was equivalent to the Spirit Refinement stage in human cultivation—though still beneath Mudu's True Elixir rank. Even those of initial cultivation stages in the righteous sects of human magic would struggle against such a powerful foe.
Not far from the stone throne, a black demon steed, its mane as dark as night, stomped its hooves before turning to its companion, a snake demon coiled nearby, and murmured, "Little Snake, what kind of reward do you think Lord Mudu will give us?"
"I am called Qingyao, not 'Little Snake,' and you could learn some respect, Horse Black," the serpentine demon hissed, turning her head with an air of disdain.
"Alright, alright, Qingyao, answer my question," the demon steed snorted, flicking its head in frustration.
"Humph! News has arrived from deep within the Demon Kingdom. The Moonlight has erupted, a once-in-a-thousand-year event, and the Emperor's Essence has gone missing. Even the Chaos Azure Lotus, which harnesses the Moonlight, has been stolen. Our patriarch has ordered that whoever finds this Essence will be rewarded with one hundred drops of it, and our patriarch will personally aid in their breakthrough to the True Elixir realm. If the Chaos Azure Lotus is recovered, one may choose any treasure from the Demon Palace's vault or any supreme technique. Do you believe Mudu's promises of reward?"
The snake demon gave the horse a pointed glance, her meaning clear—she did not trust Mudu's words. As ambitious as she was, she knew that Mudu, relying on a few meager human trinkets, could only strut around the temple like a fool. Had he ventured deeper into the Kunlun Demon Palace, his arrogant boasting would be his undoing.
"Ha!" the steed snickered, sharing the same sentiment.
Anyone who obtained the Emperor's Essence or the Chaos Azure Lotus would surely flee with it to enjoy it in secret, rather than hand it over to the likes of Mudu.
The Emperor's Essence was essential for the transformation of beasts into demons. A single drop could awaken the spiritual powers of even the weakest creatures, elevating them to the lowest rank of spiritual demons. A hundred drops could transform them into powerful Form Transformation demons, and a thousand drops could forge a True Elixir demon.
As the demons eagerly awaited further orders, the conversation was interrupted by a shrill voice. A wasp demon, its body wiry and thin with two pairs of transparent wings, hovered near. "What are you two discussing?" it asked, its eyes narrowing.
"Ah, Brother Wasp," the snake demon coiled playfully, "I was just discussing dinner with Horse Black. What do you think—should we use more salt or sugar? Not long ago, I ate a human, and he claimed that sweet is justice and salty is heresy. Should I make you a taste?"
The wasp demon, momentarily distracted, began to agree with her, only to snap back to reality and scold, "Did you not hear the orders? Find the item, or else!"
Despite the lighthearted banter, the mood soon grew tense as the wasp demon, ever eager to climb the ranks, flattered Mudu to gain favor.
As the demons began to disperse, only Mudu and the wasp demon remained in the hall.
"Lord Mudu," the wasp demon whispered with feigned sincerity, "I think that the snake and the horse might be plotting something against you. Perhaps they have ill intentions."
Mudu, though aware of the wasp demon's two-faced nature, permitted it, knowing that such a lackey was useful for maintaining control over the lesser demons.
"I trust in your loyalty," Mudu responded coldly. "From now on, you will keep a close watch on them. Report any suspicious behavior immediately, and I will deal with them personally."
"Master, you are wise and invincible!" the wasp demon praised, its voice dripping with false reverence.
"Get lost!" Mudu growled, disgusted by the sycophantic display. With a swift kick, the wasp demon was sent flying.
Meanwhile, Li Xiaobai, abandoned alone in a dark cave, no longer played the trivial game of "who blinks first" with the two vipers slithering at his feet. He had no strength left to speak, but inside, his thoughts were a whirlwind of frustration and anger. How had he ended up in this forsaken place, hungry, cold, and in pain?
Suddenly, he noticed something astonishing: the lotus seed in his heart had transformed into a budding lotus, its delicate roots entwined with his soul.
Before he could fully process the change, the two vipers hissed and retreated. A soft sound of footsteps drew his attention.
A figure appeared in his vision—a slender, seductive woman with the grace of a snake, her movements mesmerizing. Her eyes swept over him, and she smiled, her voice dripping with mock tenderness, "You seem well, my lord."
Despite the warmth of her smile, Li Xiaobai felt nothing but disdain. Starving, cold, and trapped, he could only grit his teeth in anger. "Demoness, if you're going to eat me, then do it quickly. Put me out of my misery," he spat, his voice hoarse with frustration.
Before he could say more, a guttural growl from his stomach interrupted, bringing an awkward silence to the air.
The snake demon laughed, her voice a tinkling melody, as she gazed at him with a playful glint in her eyes. "Ah, so you are hungry. I truly have been neglectful," she cooed, as if his suffering was some trivial amusement.
Li Xiaobai's fate, it seemed, was only just beginning to unfold.