The mirror was only as large as Liang's palm.
Its surface was smooth and pitch-black, so deep that it seemed bottomless. It reflected no light, yet a faint, eerie glow came from within. Intricate patterns resembling ancient runes covered its edges, so finely carved that they looked as though they were part of the mirror itself.
The frame was made of a dark metal resembling iron, but the aura it emitted was far from ordinary.
Any expert who came near it would notice something strange. Rather than gathering around the mirror, the surrounding spiritual qi dispersed, as though the mirror rejected the energy of this world.
A rare trace of excitement appeared in Liang's eyes.
Holding the mirror in one hand, he began chanting in an ancient language no one in this world could understand. The words were heavy and harsh, carrying an ancient resonance that seemed to come from beyond the cultivation world.
As he continued, dense devil qi rose around him, spreading like black smoke.
When the chant reached its climax, Liang pointed a finger at the mirror.
A beam of black energy shot from his fingertip and struck its surface with a metallic clang.
The mirror trembled. Ripples spread across its black surface, and faint silhouettes began to emerge within them.
At first, the figures were blurred, their shapes distorted as though they were being seen through turbulent water. Gradually, their appearances became clear.
Five figures appeared.
The first was a tall, muscular man with deep crimson skin resembling burning embers. Flames seemed to burn within his eyes, and a pair of curved horns rose from his head. He held a massive sword crackling with violent energy.
The second was much smaller, but no less frightening. His skin was jet-black and smooth as obsidian, while his sharp face remained completely expressionless. His hands had been replaced by razor-sharp claws, and his glowing eyes held a cold, calculating intelligence.
The third was a woman whose beauty surpassed that of any ordinary mortal. She had a slender figure and long hair that flowed as though stirred by an invisible breeze. Her delicate features were flawless, but her eyes held no warmth. She wore a black dress that shimmered like liquid darkness and carried a long staff radiating a powerful, oppressive aura.
The fourth looked like a ferocious beast, his body covered in jagged spikes. Sharp teeth filled his mouth, and his face was twisted with savage hostility. Despite his appearance, his movements were surprisingly smooth and precise. A flaming whip coiled in his hand, which he cracked casually.
The fifth was a towering giant with gray skin resembling stone. Two curved horns protruded from his forehead, and his massive arms held a pair of enormous war hammers glowing with strange energy. Each hammer was so heavy that an ordinary being could never have lifted it.
Liang looked at the five figures and smiled faintly before cupping his hands in greeting.
"Welcome back to our world, Devil Kings. Since you summoned me, I assume our preparations are finally complete."
The five Devil Kings nodded, their cold gazes fixed on him.
They had not gathered here for a casual conversation.
"Indeed," the crimson-skinned Devil King replied, his voice sounding like burning iron. "Our preparations are complete, though it took considerable effort to reach this point."
"We needed more power and more souls to strengthen our devil qi. Gathering enough took longer than expected. Contracts with mortals may seem insignificant, but when their numbers are large enough, their souls can rival those of cultivators."
The beautiful Devil Queen laughed softly.
"Liang, are you really certain you don't want to abandon your current cultivation and fully embrace the devil path?"
Liang met her gaze and shook his head with a faint smile.
"My cultivation technique is rather special. It isn't compatible with devil cultivation."
She frowned, clearly dissatisfied with his answer.
"Hmph. With that kind of thinking, it's no wonder you're still stuck at the Nascent Soul Realm."
"Enough," one of the other Devil Kings interrupted impatiently. "Let's get to the point."
Liang nodded.
"I've been preparing for this day for many years. All the necessary resources have been gathered, and the people needed to carry out the plan are already in place."
His expression grew serious.
"But we must remain cautious. No one can discover what we're planning."
The five Devil Kings burst into laughter, their voices merging into a chilling chorus.
"We have nothing to fear from spirit cultivators," one of them declared coldly. "Their little tricks are meaningless to us. Anyone who dares interfere will be destroyed."
Liang nodded slowly.
He knew they had the strength to back up those words.
Each of the five Devil Kings possessed power equivalent to a Dao Integration Realm cultivator, far surpassing those in the Spirit Severing Realm.
With allies like these, his plan had already reached a scale that ordinary cultivators could scarcely imagine.