The mirror was no larger than Liang Yifei's palm.
Its surface was perfectly smooth and black, polished to a depth that seemed almost bottomless, reflecting no light yet faintly emitting an eerie, unnatural glow. Along its edges ran intricate patterns resembling ancient runic symbols, etched so finely that they appeared to be part of the mirror itself rather than carved into it.
The frame was forged from a dark, iron-like metal, but the aura it emitted was unmistakably otherworldly.
Any expert who stood nearby would immediately notice something deeply abnormal — the surrounding spiritual qi did not gather toward the mirror as it normally would around a powerful artifact.
Instead, it dispersed.
It was as though the mirror rejected the spiritual energy of this world entirely.
A rare trace of excitement appeared in Liang Yifei's eyes.
Holding the mirror steady in one hand, he began reciting a chant in an ancient and unknown language. The words were harsh and heavy, carrying a resonance that seemed to belong to something far older than the cultivation world itself.
As the chant continued, a dense, devilish qi gradually began to rise around him, spreading outward like dark smoke.
When the incantation reached its climax, Liang suddenly pointed a finger toward the mirror.
A beam of black energy burst forth from his fingertip, striking the mirror with a sharp metallic clang.
The mirror trembled faintly.
Ripples spread across its surface, and within those ripples, faint silhouettes began to appear one after another.
At first, they were blurred and distorted, as though seen through turbulent water. Slowly, however, their forms solidified.
Five figures emerged.
The first was tall and powerfully built, his skin a deep crimson like burning embers. His eyes blazed with an inner flame, and a crown of curved horns rose from his head. In his hand, he held a massive sword crackling with violent energy.
The second figure was far smaller in stature, yet no less terrifying. His skin was jet-black and smooth like obsidian, his face sharp and expressionless as though carved from stone. Instead of hands, he possessed razor-like claws, and his glowing eyes held a cold, calculating intelligence.
The third was the most beautiful of them all.
She possessed a slender, graceful figure and long flowing hair that moved as if stirred by an unseen wind. Her face was exquisite beyond mortal standards, yet her eyes were utterly devoid of warmth. She wore a black dress that shimmered like liquid darkness and carried a long staff that pulsed with deep, oppressive energy.
The fourth was a monstrous figure covered in jagged spikes. His face was feral and beastlike, filled with sharp teeth and savage hostility. Despite his brutal appearance, his movements were fluid and precise. In his hand coiled a flaming whip that he idly cracked with practiced ease.
The fifth was a towering giant with gray, stone-like skin. Two curved horns jutted from his forehead, and his massive arms held a pair of enormous war hammers that glowed with unearthly power — weapons so heavy that no ordinary being could have lifted them.
Liang Yifei smiled faintly as he looked at them.
He cupped his hands politely.
"Welcome back to our world, Devil Kings," he said calmly. "Since you summoned me, I assume our preparations are finally complete."
The five Devil Kings nodded in unison, their gazes fixed on him with cold intensity.
It was clear they had not appeared for idle conversation.
"Yes," the crimson-skinned Devil King spoke first, his voice like burning iron. "Our preparations are complete. But it was not easy."
"We required more power," he continued. "More souls to fuel our devil qi. Gathering them took far longer than expected. Contracts with mortals may seem insignificant, but in sufficient numbers, their souls can rival those of cultivators."
The beautiful Devil Queen let out a soft, alluring laugh.
"Liang," she said, her tone teasing, "are you certain you still do not wish to convert fully to devil cultivation?"
Liang looked at her and smiled faintly, shaking his head.
"My cultivation technique is… somewhat special," he replied. "It would not be compatible."
She frowned slightly, clearly unconvinced.
"Hmph. With that mindset, it is no wonder you remain stuck at the Nascent Soul Realm."
"Enough of this nonsense," one of the other Devil Kings said impatiently. "Let us discuss the real matter."
Liang nodded calmly.
"I have been preparing for this day for many years," he said. "The necessary resources have been gathered, and the people required to carry out the plan are already in place."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"But we must remain cautious. Our plans cannot be discovered by anyone."
The five Devil Kings burst into laughter.
Their voices overlapped into a chilling chorus that seemed capable of freezing the blood of even the bravest cultivator.
"We do not fear spirit cultivators," one of them said coldly. "Nor their pathetic tricks. Anyone who dares stand in our path will be destroyed."
Liang nodded slowly.
He knew they were not exaggerating.
Each of these Devil Kings possessed power equivalent to the Dao Integration Realm — a level beyond the Spirit Severing Realm.
With such allies, his plan had already surpassed the scale that any ordinary cultivator could imagine.