In the vast Xuan Yuan Continent, a fifth-level Lower Realm, designated as the most inferior province among all the Lower Realms.
This Xuan Yuan Continent was collectively known as the 'Murim' – a designation typically reserved for Lower Realms from the fourth level downwards. The reason stemmed from its harsh and barren environment; the innate talents of its inhabitants were severely limited. Consequently, the majority of the population only practiced physical martial arts, lacking any understanding or even the basic concept of the more profound path of cultivating Qi.
At that moment, a young man appeared, clad in robes as black as an endless, starless night. The darkness of his attire starkly contrasted with his pure white skin, making it stand out like sacred snow fallen from the ninth heaven. His face possessed a transcendent beauty that defied conventional description, beautiful enough to be mistaken for a disguised goddess, yet carrying the sharp, handsome features of a celestial prince. His fair skin shone brighter than true light itself. His jet-black hair was deeper in hue than the profound Abyss or absolute, dull darkness. His crimson eyes faintly reflected the dim starlight of Xuan Yuan before a flat, emotionless voice spoke into the emptiness before him, "The First Generation Heavenly Demon... also known as the Demon God. So, you were born in this very world."
Instantly, the space beside the young man trembled and distorted violently before tearing open, revealing the figure of another man garbed in black robes trimmed with fiery red. Although his face appeared youthful, like a man no older than thirty, and possessed a delicate beauty reminiscent of a long-haired woman, he radiated an overwhelming aura of masculine majesty. His crimson eyes, however, were dark and profoundly deep, blending seamlessly with the surrounding darkness, like a perfect fusion of blood and endless night. He emerged from the void, immediately dropping to one knee, his head bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the ground, demonstrating the utmost reverence and awe. He spoke, his voice trembling slightly with overwhelming loyalty, "Young Master Luo Fan, what you have stated... is entirely true, Your Highness... I, Cheonma, your most loyal and humble servant, was indeed born in this worthless land."
At that very second, the corner of Luo Fan's mouth lifted into a faint, unfathomable smile...
...
Within the vast territory of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Inside the hidden demonic caves, the nurturing and training grounds for the young disciples of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, excavated deep beneath the immense and sprawling Ten Thousand Heavenly Demon Mountain Range. There were approximately one hundred such hidden demonic caves, each housing around two thousand young disciples who had either passed a rigorous selection process or voluntarily joined the cult. This selection occurred every ten years.
Within Hidden Demonic Cave Number One - The cave that gathered the true geniuses.
The conditions inside the cave were extremely far removed from what any creature calling itself human would consider habitable. It was merely a chilling stone cavern, composed of rough rock walls and a heavy atmosphere, tinged with faint poisonous miasma that slowly corroded both body and spirit. If not for being brought here and forced to grow accustomed to it from a tender age, such a cruel environment could easily erode the sanity of even the strongest individuals, driving them to madness.
"Assemble!" The authoritative voice of the Head Instructor, Demon Head Yang Qing, echoed, reverberating through every particle of air within the cave. Utilizing his proficient [Qi Voice Technique], the sound waves were controlled to spread evenly, sharp and clear in every nook and cranny of Hidden Demonic Cave Number One.
Approximately seven hundred disciples slowly emerged from the shadows of their resting places. Among them were about two hundred young women and over five hundred young men. Every life here had been intensely forged and indoctrinated with fervent ideology, molded into devout believers and followers willing to sacrifice their lives for the Heavenly Demon. Their entire existence was crafted for a single purpose: to serve the supreme god of the cult – the Heavenly Demon, and only him.
Demon Head Yang Qing surveyed the disciples he had nurtured and trained since they were merely five years old, now fully fifteen. Their development was evident to his eyes. Although still considerably weak by his standards, they were the seeds of the future, the next generation of elite demons for the mighty Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
"Today marks the final test, before all of you graduate from this hidden demonic cave!" Yang Qing announced forcefully, gazing deeply into the eyes of the disciples, which now shone with a raw, intense desire – a desire to shatter their limits, a desire to grow stronger, a desire to seize power, and a desire to ascend to the pinnacle as formidable elite demons of the cult!
The heavy, grating sound of a massive stone gate rumbled from behind the disciples. They slowly turned to look. Unfamiliar, brilliant sunlight pierced through, striking their eyes violently. This light, which they hadn't experienced for ten full years, made adaptation difficult and painful. Many disciples instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes, yet not a single one uttered a groan or showed any sign of weakness – tolerance and resilience had been carved deep into their very bones.
Yang Qing glanced towards the top fifty disciples with satisfaction. None of them had raised their hands to block the light. While some had to squint slightly or showed clear signs of irritation, the top ten, the absolute pride of this hidden demonic cave, merely blinked once. Their bodies instantly adjusted to the searing brightness, demonstrating superior discipline and bodily control that visibly surpassed the others.
"All of you, step forward and enter the sacred arena... Today is the day you shall display your true power before the senior demons and the high-ranking demons!"
Yang Qing's commanding voice echoed once more before the disciples began to move, forming ranks according to their established hierarchy, marching out with discipline... Before them lay an arena vast beyond sight, surrounded by colossal stone stands rising in a circle. Upon those stands, countless high-ranking demons and demon heads were now densely packed, their shadows stretching long. A rough estimate suggested their numbers approached nearly ten thousand.
Although the young disciples did not know the identities of those seated on the grandstands, the immense waves of Qi radiating from every figure were palpable. It was heavy, oppressive, and cold as death itself, blanketing the entire area like an invisible, thick veil of power, creating an atmosphere so terrifying it made the hair on their bodies stand on end. Even the proud top ten couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and trepidation towards the overwhelming power permeating the air.
It was then that the number one disciple of Hidden Demonic Cave One noticed a crucial detail. Around the vast arena, there were approximately one hundred entrance gates, meaning this arena connected to *all* the hidden demonic caves! This realization caused the corner of his mouth to twitch into a cold smile. It meant this was the legendary sacred arena, the very place where, in the distant past, countless Demon Kings, over a thousand Demon Lords, and even the twelve Supreme Demon Lords had shed blood and fought life-and-death battles!
And suddenly, a powerful announcement thundered from the stands, "Today is the day of the grand trial for the young demons, who shall transcend their limits and be fully reborn as demons of the cult! I hereby declare the commencement of the trial! Fight! For honor! And for power! For our great and mighty Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!"
Simultaneously, high above the drifting clouds in the sky, Luo Fan stood, seemingly the center of the universe, gazing down upon the immeasurably vast domain of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult below. His crimson eyes pierced through everything, as if clouds, mist, or even thick stone walls were meaningless before his sight.
"Cheonma, it seems that even after tens of thousands of years have passed, they still revere and worship you with utmost devotion. The Heavenly Demon... remains an eternal symbol, never fading with the passage of time," Luo Fan remarked, his voice as flat as ever, yet carrying a rare spark of admiration.
A faint smile touched Cheonma's lips, a flicker of pride showing momentarily before he replied with deep-seated humility mixed with pleasure, "It is due to Young Master's grace. This lowly servant dares not accept such high praise, Your Highness."
"Then, go down and inform your descendants. They should not commit any act that would be discourteous or disrespectful towards us," Luo Fan commanded. His voice was simple, devoid of any emotion, yet carried an absolute authority that could not be denied.
Instantly upon hearing the command, Cheonma bowed his head in unconditional acceptance before his form dissolved into the void without a trace, as if he had never existed there even for a second.
Luo Fan, still hovering prominently above the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's territory, allowed a faint, inscrutable smile to touch his lips before directing his gaze towards the vast stone arena and the roughly seven hundred disciples waiting there. In an instant, Luo Fan's pitch-black robes ignited with silent, dark flames. They consumed the original attire before reforming into the simple, slightly torn uniform of a Heavenly Demon Divine Cult disciple, blending seamlessly into the crowd.
Luo Fan's eyes swept across the scene just once. All possibilities, the past, present, and future of everything within his line of sight, were read and comprehended completely in a fraction of a second. Then, his figure appeared silently, unnoticed by anyone, integrating himself among the disciples on the arena floor.
"The seven hundred odd disciples from Hidden Demonic Cave Number One will be granted the right to participate in this test. The rule is simple: kill your enemies and survive to be the last one standing. Killing is permitted without restriction!" Yang Qing's voice boomed, the atmosphere instantly becoming heavier. The dark, cold auras from the high-ranking demons and demon heads on the stands radiated outwards openly, filled with a silent, oppressive darkness, like lions waiting to watch lesser beasts tear each other apart for their savage entertainment.
Immediately, the gate connecting to Hidden Demonic Cave Number One opened wide, herding the disciples into the desolate arena. This arena could easily accommodate seven hundred people with plenty of room left for bloody combat. It could be said that it was intentionally designed for mass slaughter, to select the strongest and most ruthless survivors, devoid of any justice or mercy.
It was an open stage, with no cover or corners to hide in. There was only the cold stone floor; before them lay life, behind them, death.
Yang Qing met the gazes of the high-ranking demons on the stands for a moment before speaking in a flat tone, "If that's the case, then it's time to begin the final test for Hidden Demonic Cave Number One." He then turned to the disciples and concluded, "May you all... have good fortune."
The sound of war drums began, a slow but heavy rhythm building tension...
*Thump... Thump... Thump...*
*Thump... Thump... Thump...*
Then, a shrill horn blast pierced the air, signaling the official start of the trial!
The next second, chaos erupted! Disciples lunged at each other like a pack of starved wild beasts. The top ten disciples immediately became the primary targets for many others. The number one disciple chose to defend coolly, awaiting opportunities, while other top-ranked disciples launched fierce attacks, displaying their power and martial techniques to eliminate opponents quickly. Although they held high ranks, facing numerous opponents with similar Qi levels and diverse martial arts was an extremely difficult and dangerous battle.
Amidst the chaos, Luo Fan remained perfectly still, his crimson eyes scanning the surroundings with indifference, as if the fierce battle unfolding before him was merely a tedious play. Before long, a disciple, seeing Luo Fan standing motionless and undefended, seized the opportunity and lunged, aiming for a kill to reduce the competition. Luo Fan didn't even bother to glance at him. He simply raised his hand slowly, casually. And in the instant his fingertips moved – the unfortunate disciple's body suddenly exploded violently, reduced to nothing more than scattered fragments of flesh and a mist of blood raining down onto the stone floor.
"Disgusting," Luo Fan stated flatly, brushing non-existent dust from his sleeve. This incredibly casual action, with such terrifying results, caused every eye in the arena to snap towards Luo Fan, becoming the sole focus. Even the high-ranking demons and demon heads on the stands showed visible shock. They couldn't perceive or sense what method Luo Fan had used, but it was undeniably linked to his hand movement – the disciple had disintegrated instantly.
All fighting abruptly ceased, as if by unspoken agreement. Even the top ten had to halt their actions and turn to look at Luo Fan, their eyes filled with suspicion, doubt, and the highest level of vigilance. Before long, one disciple couldn't bear the pressure and shouted, "You! What trick did you use?!" The voice came from the 200th-ranked disciple. He glared resentfully at Luo Fan before pushing through the other disciples to stand directly before him.
Luo Fan remained motionless, not moving a muscle, simply gazing with empty eyes at the 200th-ranked disciple standing about ten meters away. A distance that was not far at all for martial artists; it was dangerously close. Luo Fan and the disciple faced each other silently, amidst the heavy silence that had enveloped the entire arena.
It was Luo Fan who broke the silence. "A trick? Interesting... In that case, why don't you experience it for yourself?" As soon as the words left his lips, cracks suddenly appeared all over the 200th-ranked disciple's body, like a clay figure about to shatter. He couldn't speak, couldn't even move a finger. The Qi within his body dissolved into chaos, uncontrollable, beginning to surge wildly within him, as if his body was about to explode from the inside out.
And in the next instant, his body did indeed explode! Reduced to an even more disgusting spray of blood mist and gore than the previous victim, scattering across the area.
Luo Fan revealed a faint smile at the corner of his mouth before sweeping his gaze over the remaining disciples, who were now frozen stiff with terror. "You all... Are you going to stand there like stone statues, or will you continue fighting and get this over with?" These words acted like a jolt, snapping everyone back to reality and forcing them to become wary of their surroundings again. The top ten disciples, possessing quicker reactions and wits than the others, seized this golden opportunity to strike, instantly killing the disciples who had attacked them moments earlier.
Now, Luo Fan had become the true epicenter of fear and caution. Everyone tried to maintain the maximum possible distance from him, not daring to get close. They had no idea how Luo Fan did what he did, and more importantly, how to defend against it. Ultimately, none of them were foolish enough to risk their lives fighting such a terrifying entity who could kill them without them even being able to retaliate.
It was then that Luo Fan noticed an interesting development. The remaining two hundred female disciples had gathered together tightly, forming an organized, cohesive unit, effectively helping each other in combat and defense. This piqued Luo Fan's interest slightly.
Forming such a group made them the strongest defensive fortress in the arena at that moment. However, it was also a double-edged sword. If their defense broke, it meant all of them would face death together.
The 3rd and 5th ranked disciples, the only two females within the top ten, took charge as the leaders of this group of two hundred young women. They stood firm at the edge of the formation, directing and repelling attacks, preventing the male disciples from easily charging in.
The fierce battle raged on continuously for six full hours. From the initial seven hundred-plus disciples, only 401 now remained alive on the arena floor (excluding Luo Fan). They were divided into 201 male disciples and the complete group of 200 female disciples.
The defensive tactics of the female disciples had proven remarkably effective. However, at that moment, Luo Fan, who had been observing, shook his head slightly, thinking inwardly, 'In the immediate situation, it might be a good strategy. But ultimately, in a world where equality between men and women is merely a fantasy, for men to accept that women are superior, or even equal on the battlefield, is considered a matter of great shame. Conflict is bound to erupt sooner or later.'
And as if confirming Luo Fan's prediction, a loud and vulgar shout suddenly erupted violently, "Fuck! Why is it! Hundreds of us men have died, but not a single one of those bitches has fallen!" The shout came from the 72nd-ranked disciple. He was well-known among the disciples for his extreme sexism and racism, yet possessed astonishing talent in swordsmanship, rivaling even the number one disciple. However, his Qi was pitifully scarce, almost non-existent, due to a congenital illness he carried since birth.
His crude and inflammatory words had an immediate effect. The face of the 3rd-ranked disciple instantly turned deathly pale. Of course, she knew exactly what this meant. It meant that if she couldn't find a way to persuade the remaining male disciples, the next target for all the males in the arena would shift from fighting each other to collectively slaughtering all the women!
"You're speaking utter nonsense! You know we have no reason to needlessly kill each other! In just six more hours, the test will be over!" The words that escaped the 3rd-ranked disciple's lips were filled with false hope and did nothing to improve the situation. In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, power and strength were everything. The supreme rule under the Heavenly Demon was singular: Power is righteousness, power is everything!
Luo Fan could clearly feel the atmosphere shift. It was now thick with killing intent and hatred directed towards the group of female disciples. He knew there was no way for the situation to de-escalate peacefully unless this group of women could make a move sharp and powerful enough to turn the tables or checkmate their opponents instantly.
"Shut up! Stop talking nonsense!" The authoritative voice of the number one disciple cut in. He swept his cold gaze over the female disciples before speaking in a flat, yet oppressive tone, "You banded together and only defended. What guarantee do we have that once we men have fought amongst ourselves until exhausted or injured, you won't seize the opportunity to attack us from behind?"
This question wasn't just adding fuel to the fire; it completely fractured the relationship between the male and female disciples. The 3rd-ranked disciple was speechless. She didn't even understand why the number one disciple would do this. But when she inadvertently met his eyes, she saw a strange smile – a cold, cruel smile, like the grin of a demon.
In that instant, she finally realized. The number one disciple's true goal was to eliminate all of them! The 3rd-ranked disciple's face turned even paler, like paper.
"Leader... What should we do..."
"I think... I don't think we can fight all of them..." Whispers of despair spread through the female disciples' group.
The high-ranking demons and demon heads on the stands watched the unfolding situation with great interest. Although, aside from Luo Fan's terrifying presence, the trial hadn't offered much excitement, the most interesting aspect now was the psychological warfare and battle of wits playing out between the powers of men and women on this battlefield.
Just then, a mysterious voice echoed softly within the 3rd-ranked disciple's mind, 'If you require assistance... You know who you should seek out.' The voice startled her, making her tremble. *What kind of technique is this?* It wasn't an ordinary telepathic technique commonly found, and certainly not taught in the Myriad Demon Ways Hidden Treasury!
Her eyes darted around rapidly, observing her surroundings, before finally landing on Luo Fan's figure, still standing calmly not far away. She stared at him, and finally became certain that the owner of the mysterious voice was undoubtedly Luo Fan!
At that moment, gathering all her courage, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "You there! If you can help us, all of us female disciples are prepared to repay you fully!" She stared intently at Luo Fan, her eyes filled with desperation and resolve.
"Harlot! You'd best not get involved with him! Even if he has some weird powers, he can't possibly defeat all the rest of us by himself!" The snarled retort came from the 52nd-ranked disciple. He and the other remaining male disciples looked back and forth between Luo Fan and the 3rd-ranked disciple with contempt and intimidation.
But before he could say anything further, the 52nd-ranked disciple's body simply vanished into thin air! This time, however, it was different. It wasn't an explosion into blood and gore, but a complete cessation of existence! Not even a speck of blood or the slightest trace of his being remained! It was like being erased from reality itself! This event shocked the high-ranking demons and everyone else in the arena far more than the previous incidents! What level of power was this?! It was the complete annihilation of existence!
It rendered the entire arena utterly silent once more. Even the number one disciple, known for his composure and intellect, couldn't hide the extreme shock and overwhelming awe reflected in his eyes. Though he tried to control his expression, the fist clenched so tightly by his side that it trembled, and his utter silence spoke volumes about his inner turmoil. He was completely speechless when faced with power of this magnitude.
At that moment, Luo Fan smiled faintly at the corner of his mouth again, before speaking in a casual tone, "When asking for help, shouldn't you specify the reward clearly?"
The 3rd-ranked disciple was rendered speechless. She didn't know what else to say. In this situation, they possessed absolutely nothing that could be considered a suitable bargaining chip for power of this level. It left her feeling utterly hopeless. Meanwhile, Luo Fan's calm gaze remained fixed on her, as if patiently waiting for an answer. No one dared to move or do anything.
'I... What should I do?...' This question spun relentlessly in her mind. It was truly a life-and-death situation, and she didn't hold a single card to negotiate with.
Of course, she could choose to turn and cooperate with the remaining male disciples to gang up on Luo Fan. But faced with his terrifying and unfathomable power, she couldn't even entertain the thought of making an enemy of him.
Before she could decide on a course of action, her right-hand woman, the 5th-ranked disciple, quickly stepped forward and whispered urgently in her ear, "Leader... What if we... offer our bodies, all of us, to him? Surely no man under heaven would refuse two beautiful women ready to serve him..."
The 3rd-ranked disciple's face flushed crimson instantly at this suggestion. She had never considered such a thing before. But at the same time, it seemed like the only viable option left. She was born to serve the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, that was true. Yet, even within the cult, safety wasn't guaranteed. This cult revered the iron law of strength above all else, second only to the Sacred Flame and the Heavenly Demon himself, and ultimately, the Primordial Demon God.
'In the future... this person definitely cannot be ordinary. If we can latch onto him, or establish a good relationship...' This thought flashed through her mind quickly. Although her flushed face and ears couldn't be controlled and revealed her embarrassment, she knew this might be the best choice in the current circumstances.
She turned to look at the 5th-ranked disciple before nodding firmly. "Alright... If you help us... I... and the 5th-ranked disciple, will offer our bodies to you!" The 3rd-ranked disciple squeezed her eyes shut before shouting this shameful proposition out loud. Naturally, it shocked everyone in the arena once again, both the remaining male and female disciples.
Everyone's faces turned back to Luo Fan once more, awaiting his answer in hushed silence, their expectations varying wildly.
However... Luo Fan simply shook his head gently...
This action shocked her and made her heart sink. *'Not... Not enough?!'* The question arose in her mind. But before despair could completely overwhelm her, one of the female disciples in the group bravely stepped forward and declared loudly and clearly, "Me too! I will also offer my body to you!"
And this was followed by a massive wave of similar declarations, "Me too! I'll offer my body to you!"
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
"I will offer my body to you!"
All the remaining female disciples felt the immense sacrifice their leader was making, and they refused to take advantage of the leader who had always protected and guided them. The two hundred surviving female disciples, in unison, echoed the same pledge, "Me too! I will offer my body to you!" The sound of their vows resonated throughout the arena.
This gave the 3rd-ranked disciple renewed courage. She looked up, met Luo Fan's gaze, and declared with a voice now firm and earnest, "In that case... all two hundred of us female disciples, including myself and the 5th-ranked disciple... all of us will offer our bodies to you. We only ask that you please help us survive this crisis!"
Luo Fan, who had been standing silently throughout, suddenly let out a soft chuckle before speaking in a tone that seemed pleased, "Interesting... Very interesting... In that case, I accept."
The very instant the word "accept" left Luo Fan's lips – without any further movement, no raised hand, no perceptible surge of energy – all the remaining male disciples on the arena floor, over two hundred of them, simultaneously exploded! Their bodies disintegrated into dust finer than atoms, vanishing into thin air, leaving behind not even a speck of blood or flesh, not even the slightest trace of their former existence! It was an absolute and terrifyingly complete annihilation!
This unimaginable event caused the tens of thousands of high-ranking demons and demon heads in the stands to shoot to their feet in unison, their eyes wide with a terror and disbelief never seen before. "Madness... Utter madness! This... How is this even possible?!" Exclamations of disbelief echoed throughout the grandstands.
Even the two hundred female disciples, who had just escaped death, were utterly stunned into silence, their bodies trembling with a fear that went bone-deep. Every face was deathly pale, devoid of blood, as they witnessed Luo Fan's incredible power firsthand. They realized instantly that Luo Fan hadn't shown even the slightest sign of fatigue or energy depletion. It clearly indicated that he could have done this from the very beginning, and killing the first two disciples was merely probing or perhaps amusement. His true power... could annihilate everyone in this arena, perhaps even everyone in the cult, as easily as flipping his hand!