Volume One: The Nature of the Devil Never Changes
Arc: The Great Guerrilla War
Scarlet King moved like a black flash—faster than light itself.
After some time, he arrived at the place where he and Ikalath had parted ways.
No one was there.
Only a sea of green grass swaying gently in the wind,
and a dense forest stretching across the horizon.
(It seems Ikalath hasn't arrived yet.)
He sat upon the grass and entered meditation.
Within him, the dark-green sea inside his Core Aperture churned heavily.
(The primal essence—the sea within the Core Aperture—evolves through colors.
As it deepens, absorption, refinement, and circulation of qi improve,
resulting in purer and more stable power.
The colors of primal essence progress as follows:
red , green , brown , blue ,gold , cyan, pink ,purple, silver , gray
and finally yin and yang—white and black.)
(The darker the color, the closer one is to ascending to the next tier.
The lighter, the weaker.)
Suddenly—
A violent surge of energy erupted from his body.
A terrifying aura spread across the field, drawing several unwanted "human flies" from afar.
He exhaled slowly.
"Hah… I've broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refinement."
He opened his eyes.
In the distance, a streak of light shot toward him like a falling meteor.
It landed before him.
Four figures stood there—two men, two women.
The first man was fat, brown-haired, with narrow eyes.
The second was extremely thin, blue-haired, with wide, darting eyes.
One of the women was beautiful, tan-skinned, wearing tight garments that accentuated her curves.
The other was plain, blonde-haired, average in appearance.
The thin man spoke with a sly smile.
"Oh, brother, we're from the Heavenly Moon Sect.
We sensed your breakthrough and came to assist."
Scarlet King's thoughts were immediate and cold.
(Heavenly Moon Sect… Tian Lang's sect.
The strongest individual in this dimension—peak tenth level of Beginning of Path.)
(Of course he's lying.
He wants to kill me and seize the Blood Core formed during my breakthrough.
A pack of cubs attempting a hunt…
But they've encountered a tiger.
A swarm of flies.)
The fat man added,
"Brother, need protection?
We'll help you leave safely—with your treasures… after you share them."
Scarlet King did not respond.
He stepped forward suddenly.
Seized the thin man by the throat.
The man screamed, clawing at Scarlet King's wrist.
"What are you doing, you—!"
The fat man lunged with a spear.
Scarlet King caught it effortlessly.
Crack.
The spear shattered under his grip.
(Weak.
All of them are at Qi Gathering.
The spear is early Qi Refinement—fragile.)
The two women retreated in panic, drawing their weapons.
Then—
A sharp snapping sound echoed.
The thin man's neck.
Broken.
The blonde woman screamed:
"You devil! How can you kill someone who came to help you?!"
Scarlet King laughed without warmth.
"There is no help without a price."
"No mercy in a world ruled by strength."
"No justice where the powerful define the law."
He stepped closer.
"The heavens may appear fair—turning some into dragons soaring through the sky,
and others into filth trampled beneath boots."
"But they are not fair."
"Everyone is born with different talents and roots."
"Where is justice?"
"There is only strength… and interest."
A demonic smile curved his lips.
"And my interest tells me to kill you… while I laugh."
His aura surged.
The remaining three trembled.
The tan-skinned woman gasped:
"You were hiding your level! Ninth-level Qi Refinement—We're dead!"
He moved.
Ming Hao flashed.
The blonde's neck separated cleanly.
Her head spun through the air.
Blood erupted in an arc.
Her body remained upright for a heartbeat—
Then collapsed.
The tan-skinned woman fell to her knees.
"Please! Spare me! I'll become your slave!"
Scarlet King chuckled softly.
"That is a tempting offer."
Hope flickered in her eyes.
He continued:
"But unfortunately…
I have no desire.
No attachment."
He drove the dagger into her chest.
The blade pierced through her back.
Then he pulled upward.
Her body split in two.
Both halves fell in opposite directions.
The fat man turned and fled.
Hybrid emerged before him.
He screamed.
Urinated himself.
Hybrid's body opened grotesquely—twisting tendrils unfurling outward.
They seized him.
"No! Please! I don't want to die!"
Hybrid devoured him alive.
Teeth shredded him into pulp.
Scarlet King calmly returned the daggers to his spatial coat.
"Annoying gang eradicated."
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Red light descended.
Ikalath.
"Scarlet King, did you gather any treasures?"
Scarlet King picked up the gang's fallen weapons.
"Some modest spoils. You?"
Ikalath smiled.
"Beast cores. A few Qi Refinement-grade weapons."
He paused.
"How do you plan to eradicate the Four Great Sects—
Heavenly Moon, Heaven's Grip, Heavenly Food, and Thousand Flowers?"
Scarlet King smiled without showing his teeth.
"You will see after the talent and root assessment."
He looked up at the sky.
"I heard Da Fu, Tian Lang, and He Xuan have heirs. Correct?"
Ikalath nodded, unease creeping into his expression.
"Good."
"That is precisely what I need."
"I will approach the heirs… and complete my plan."
Ikalath grabbed his shoulder.
"Da Fu's son is a degenerate obsessed with women."
"Tian Lang and Qing Mang both have daughters under seventeen."
"And Da Fu's son constantly tries to approach them."
Scarlet King's smile widened—disturbingly.
Ikalath instinctively stepped back.
(Damn it… I've lived thousands of years and still feel fear at a smile?
But who wouldn't?
This devil is worse than evil itself.)
Scarlet King spoke calmly.
"Give me the treasures you gathered."
Ikalath hesitated.
"Why?"
Scarlet King lifted his coat slightly.
"There will be many guards at the gate."
"They will confiscate everything."
"We must conceal it."
Sweat formed on Ikalath's forehead.
But he complied.
Scarlet King stored everything inside his spatial coat.
"Let's move."
[An Hour and a Half Later]
They reached the gate.
"Stop."
They halted.
A guard approached.
"Carrying cores or weapons?"
Scarlet King answered coldly,
"We found nothing."
Suspicion lingered.
"We'll search you."
They were thoroughly inspected.
Nothing was discovered.
"Move along."
They crossed the barrier.
Stepped into the vast cosmic void.
Scarlet King spoke:
"We will set up a concealment formation around Emperor Lotus Monk's location."
"So no one discovers his inheritance."