Volume One: The Nature of the Devil Never Changes
Arc: The Great Guerrilla War
The world suddenly returned…
But Scarlet King did not move.
Long Wei and the assassin stood still, exchanging glances until the assassin spoke cautiously:
"He's not moving… this is our chance… to escape… or kill him."
Long Wei replied harshly, clear irritation in his voice:
"Idiot! These shackles restrict our movement, and our cultivation is sealed. How do you expect to escape or kill him?"
The assassin hesitated, then asked nervously:
"Sorry, sir… then how did you break through to the Path Initiation Realm while imprisoned and sealed?"
Long Wei stepped forward, approaching Scarlet King as he answered:
"Because before entering prison, I was suppressing my level. But once I entered, I couldn't maintain that suppression because of the seal… so I broke through unintentionally."
He got closer… reached out… and shook Scarlet King's shoulder while raising his voice:
"Wake up, brat!"
Scarlet King's body shifted slightly—
Then Long Wei saw his eyes.
And froze.
Those were not human eyes.
It felt… as if a dragon were staring at him.
As if all the strength in his body… had collapsed in an instant.
In his vision—
Everything changed.
Darkness.
A black-red aura swallowing the surroundings.
A demonic beast… waiting to devour him.
Long Wei stepped back immediately, his lips trembling.
(What… is that gaze?!)
(I swear… my heart almost stopped…)
The assassin grabbed his shoulder, confused and tense:
"Sir… what's wrong? Why did you step back?"
Long Wei replied hoarsely, his gaze still locked on Scarlet King:
"You wouldn't understand… even if I explained…"
"But simply put… this person… is not normal."
Suddenly—
An aura exploded.
A bloody-black aura flooded the area.
The air became suffocating.
Space seemed to shrink.
Breathing grew heavy.
The assassin shouted in shock:
"He broke through… to the tenth level of Qi Refinement!"
Scarlet King slowly opened his eyes.
He glanced at his arms.
(Hah… my level rose from devouring that old man's soul.)
(Thanks to… the Law of Heaven-Devouring Battle.)
(But… I can't use it openly… otherwise…)
He closed his eyes slowly…
And spat blood into the air.
Long Wei asked with curiosity:
"Backlash from a sudden breakthrough?"
The assassin shook his head—he didn't know.
Scarlet King grabbed the chains…
And started walking.
Long Wei and the assassin followed silently.
While Scarlet King thought:
(Due to the rapid breakthrough… I suffered a minor internal injury.)
(And I can't use the Law of Heaven-Devouring Battle…)
(Because it is a forbidden technique across all existence.)
He paused briefly—
(If I use it…)
(It won't be one person hunting me…)
(But… everyone.)
(Including… the Great Emperors themselves.)
Suddenly—
A voice.
From the depths of his mind.
Dark… familiar.
(Kuang Shi Ming… you bastard.)
(You stole that technique from us and used it for yourself!)
(We planned to create the Heaven-Devouring Technique… to destroy the Rebirth Wheel!)
(But you stole it…)
(The next time I see you…)
(I'll take control of the main body and beat you senseless.)
(Even if you are a Great Emperor.)
Scarlet King replied calmly within:
(No need for anger… Black Darkness.)
(Kuang Shi Ming… is most likely dead in hell by now.)
(Do you not remember… what happened in that life?)
Silence lingered in his mind.
Then the voice returned—slower this time:
(You mean… the life where he helped Yue Guang Shi become a Great Emperor?)
(The life where Kuang Shi Ming killed six Great Emperors alone?)
(In the Battle of Shattered Heavens… within hell?)
(Where fifteen Great Emperors gathered… just to kill him?)
Scarlet King replied… his voice steady, unwavering:
(Yes…)
(I remember.)
…
Silence.
Inside Scarlet King's mind—
Memories… began to resurface.