Temple of Yehun, May 6, 2030 — 10:30 AM
The young Tiang stood at the center of a vast hall, surrounded by sliding walls, with the bright sunlight illuminating the statue of Buddha. Tiang meditated, immersed in the tranquility of the moment, accompanied by the melodious song of birds and the presence of benevolent spirits floating around him.
Beside him, seated in a spiritual form, the demon queen Xuelan Mowang watched him. Her envious yet warm smile betrayed a spark of interest in the future king of the immortals.
However, Tiang was disturbed. The tormented spirits of women, children, and men devoured by the monsters of the apocalypse from all corners of the world disrupted his meditation. Their suffering filled the air, making the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.
— Do not linger too long staring into the darkness of this world, Qin… It will consume you.
Xuelan Mowang's cold voice rang out, breaking the serenity of the moment.
— Elder, why do I feel all of this…? What is it?
Tiang asked, his voice trembling with confusion, his eyes lost in the swirling dark visions.
— This lower world is filled with demonic influences. What you see is the Gu, a form of dark Qi energy. It corrupts and creates malevolent spirits wherever suffering and corruption seep in. Those who wield it become powerful—some even go as far as to destroy universes when they ascend as dark celestial immortals.
Xuelan explained in a serious tone, her voice laced with a cold concern.
— What is a lower world?
Tiang asked, a spark of curiosity in his eyes.
— There are four types of worlds: Lower worlds, dominated by evil and corruption. Mortal worlds, calmer and more peaceful, where Qi is limited. Then, there are higher worlds, which can be divided into multiple levels. When I attained the title of Earthly Immortal ten million years ago, I gained my own divine world. There, you would encounter cosmic entities or near-omnipotent immortals. Finally, celestial worlds, which represent the ultimate threshold. Beings like Sun Wukong reside there. That monkey achieved invincibility and temporary omnipotence through Nirvana, only to be reprimanded by Buddha.
She chuckled slightly, nostalgic.
— But why is this world a lower world?!
Tiang questioned, a perplexed expression on his face.
— Your youth explains your naivety. Why do you think Zhao spoke of the Dark God? He is the one responsible… The 33 Cosmic Horrors, also called the "Great Old Ones," have disrupted the balance of this world since its birth, as well as that of thousands of others.
Xuelan Mowang sighed, seemingly tired of Tiang's simplistic questions.
— Can't they be defeated?
Tiang asked innocently, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
— Have you ever seen beings close to omnipotence fight? Such a battle would be meaningless.
The demon queen responded in an exasperated tone, irritated by Tiang's innocence.
— Who created them?
Tiang, his mind eager for answers, pressed on.
— Ask your father… but don't expect him to answer. That's not something you should know.
Xuelan replied indifferently, as if the question was too insignificant to be addressed.
At that moment, Meiling entered the grand hall, accompanied by her two friends, Yin Na and Lijing. Meiling held a towel in her hands, which she tossed to Tiang.
— Xuelan… That's enough of these depressing discussions for today.
Meiling said sharply, annoyance in her voice. The wooden sword glowed, and the demon queen was absorbed into the blade, disappearing in a flash.
— Meiling, that last fight scene was so badass!
The cheerful Yin Na exclaimed, grabbing Meiling's hands enthusiastically.
— It felt like an anime! All that was missing was you shouting "Ryoki Tenkai," and I would have been in heaven!
Lijing added excitedly, her eyes sparkling.
— What do you mean, sister?
Yin Na retorted, giving Lijing a serious, almost disgusted look, her face marked with slight confusion.
— We already talked about this, girls… Drop it!
Meiling covered her face with her hands, embarrassed and blushing red.
— Hey, wait… Meiling, what were you planning to do with that towel and Tiang? Don't tell me you two were about to do something naughty~
Lijing teased, tickling Meiling slightly at her waist, while Yin Na pulled out a camera.
— I'm filming this for the occasion.
Yin Na nodded, her mischievous grin barely concealing the mischief in her eyes.
— Hey… They're really going overboard…
Tiang murmured, bewildered by the girls' energy and liveliness around him.