The sky of the Demon Realm churned with leaden clouds, stretching for tens of thousands of miles.
Within the clouds, a colossal Heavenly Demon face materialized, its features grotesque with a blue visage and fangs.
Vast divine might permeated all directions, an aura of supreme authority enveloping the land.
All beings prostrated themselves, kneeling with faces full of piety and fervor.
The Heavenly Demon Chi Yan displayed a divine spectacle, announcing his arrival to the denizens of the Demon Realm.
Countless streams of faith, like rivers flowing into the sea, converged upon the Imperial City, then channeled through the Heavenly Demon statues in the temples to an unknown destination, merging into Chi Yan's true form.
Inside a temple.
The possessed boy wore a look of satisfaction. This influx of faith power had the potential to help him break through his cultivation and ascend to new heights.
Faith power was indeed a shortcut to cultivation, no wonder other demon gods coveted it.
Back then, Chi Yan had engaged in fierce battles with other demon gods for ownership of this plane, the Demon Realm, even damaging his innate artifact, the Void Shuttle.
Despite the heavy losses, the rewards had been worth it.
He had originally placed the Void Shuttle in the Demon Realm to nurture it, intending to repair it with the faith of all beings. He never expected Ji Mo to snatch it away.
This time, he was determined to reclaim it, no matter what.
The boy's soul had been completely devoured by a wisp of divine consciousness from Chi Yan's descent. He had now become a mere avatar of the Heavenly Demon.
"This body is truly pathetically weak."
Chi Yan examined the state of his body. It was merely at the Emperor realm, the weakest avatar he had ever possessed.
However, this vessel was quite exquisite. At thirteen or fourteen years old, with rosy lips, white teeth, and exceptional handsomeness, it perfectly suited his taste.
He moved his hands, and Dao runes leaped, chains of order encircling his body. Endless spiritual energy from heaven and earth surged forth, pouring madly into him.
Subsequently, his cultivation began to skyrocket at a terrifying pace.
Emperor Realm peak!
Mortal Immortal Realm first level!
Mortal Immortal Realm second level!
...
Mortal Immortal Realm ninth level!
In just over half an incense stick's time, he reached the peak of the ninth level of the Mortal Immortal Realm!
As long as he willed it, he could ascend to immortality at any moment.
In the span of half an incense stick, he achieved a realm that the vast majority of beings in the world could not reach in a lifetime, astonishing everyone present.
Especially the children, who truly witnessed what it meant to achieve instant ascension.
The fear on their faces dissipated, and they knelt even more devoutly. If they could gain Chi Yan's favor and receive a boon, the benefits would be unimaginable.
Chi Yan curled his lips into a cold sneer. These brats were still naive, actually hoping for benefits. They didn't know that Chi Yan had always been one to take, rarely to give.
Of course, a few sweeteners were offered.
"You two have done well. Once this matter is concluded, I shall help you achieve immortality."
Chi Yan looked at Demon Lord Solon and the High Priest, making a promise.
This was also a tactic of manipulation, letting outsiders know that as long as they served him loyally, there would be no shortage of benefits.
"We thank Lord Chi Yan for his grace."
"We do not know what matter you intend to undertake, but we are willing to spill our blood and brains to share your burdens."
Solon and the High Priest suppressed their surging joy, doing their utmost to appease Chi Yan.
As long as they served this one well, the benefits would be endless.
"Kill someone!"
Chi Yan gritted his teeth, Ji Mo's face appearing in his mind. His handsome features contorted with rage, and he let out a furious snort, "I will personally dismember him and scatter his ashes to the winds."
Sensing Chi Yan's overwhelming fury, Solon and the High Priest couldn't help but feel pity for that person. Provoking the Heavenly Demon Chi Yan would surely lead to a terrible fate.
Death would be considered fortunate; they feared a fate worse than death, where the soul was toyed with, making life unbearable.
However, they were also puzzled. Who exactly was this person, and what was their background, to enrage the Heavenly Demon Lord to the point of taking personal action?
Chi Yan paused, then continued, "How is Nie Tie doing? I still need to borrow that brute's strength to help me track that person down."
He had tried, but he couldn't pinpoint Ji Mo's exact location. Now, he could only rely on Nie Tie's special divine ability to find people. However, he wasn't sure if he could get that lazy creature to help, and he feared he would have to pay a hefty price.
"Lord Nie Tie... it is not in the ancestral temple right now. I don't know where it has wandered off to play."
The High Priest's scalp tingled, his body trembling slightly.
He had always been the one to look after the Iron-Eating Beast, and yet he had lost it.
But how could he keep track of a divine beast cub?
"Useless!"
Chi Yan's face turned ashen, his eyes suddenly narrowing.
Immediately, the High Priest was sent flying, blood splattering across the ground.
Solon moved his lips, wanting to say that he might know Nie Tie's whereabouts. Recently, there had been news that someone in the rebel territory seemed to have spotted Nie Tie.
However, he dared not speak rashly. Firstly, this situation could not be confirmed, and if Nie Tie were indeed involved in the rebellion, it would imply deep dissatisfaction with his rule, which would have severe consequences.
Chi Yan roared, "Find any means possible to locate that brute for me."
...
The Ancient Bull Demon tribe's settlement.
Niu Ben and the Ancient Soul-Devouring Toad clung to each other, trembling like sieves, each seeing the fear in the other's eyes.
They gazed into the distance, watching the Heavenly Demon's phantom in the sky, feeling their throats dry and their legs weak.
"That bastard Demon Lord is so dishonorable. Does he really need to be this ruthless? He just occupied a small piece of your territory, and he directly summoned a Heavenly Demon. How am I supposed to play this game now?"
The Ancient Soul-Devouring Toad's large mouth wiggled, its face mournful.
It had never expected the Demon Lord's reaction to be so intense, summoning a Heavenly Demon to deal with it.
No.
Why use a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken? Could it be that the Demon Lord knew of Mr. Ji's existence and knew he was difficult to contend with, thus resorting to this step?
Or was it that Mr. Ji's arrival in the Demon Realm had a deeper meaning, a grander scheme? Was he using the Demon Realm as a chessboard, intending to have a showdown with the Heavenly Demon Chi Yan?
It looked towards Ji Mo, who was painting under a canopy not far away, contemplating whether Mr. Ji's strength could contend with a Heavenly Demon.
Although the descended Heavenly Demon might only possess a fraction of its true power, it was still a supreme deity.
"Ha, let's escape. That Solon fellow is not human. We'd be better off fleeing to the Xuanling Realm to lie low, otherwise, it's a dead end."
Niu Ben felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
The Heavenly Demon's intervention was enough to sweep away everything. Who could resist?
The only path to survival now was to hide in the Xuanling Realm and eke out a meager existence.
"Stay calm. Didn't you see Mr. Ji isn't panicking at all? What are you afraid of?"
The Ancient Soul-Devouring Toad encouraged itself, because with such a massive commotion, Ji Mo still had the leisure to paint, showing no signs of tension, as steady as an old dog, proving he wasn't intimidated.
"Demon Ji is very strong, but how could he possibly be Chi Yan's match, even if this is just an avatar?"
Niu Ben couldn't understand why the Ancient Soul-Devouring Toad placed such blind faith in Ji Mo.
"Xiao Tuantuan, hold your pose, don't move around."
Ji Mo flicked his wrist, giving the Iron-Eating Beast a flick on the head, telling it not to fidget.
At this moment, he was meticulously painting for the little fellow on a large piece of beast hide, intending to create a grand banner for the beast legion.
Before long, a banner was hoisted high, fluttering in the wind.
Simultaneously, a vast and boundless aura surged into the sky, clouds and storms gathering. The colossal figure of the divine beast Nie Tie was projected onto the firmament, confronting the Heavenly Demon's phantom in the distance.