The Divine Cult of the Celestial Demon had not been built in an ordinary place. Its location sat precisely between the Sacred Land of the Royal Family of the Illusory Demon Realm, the ancient Immortal Mountain of the Venerable Demon, and the majestic Imperial Palace of the Illusory Demon…
That entire vast territory had been completely transformed into a sect worthy of being number one across the entire Azure Star Polar. Entire mountains were created by the Demon Lord, valleys were leveled, rivers diverted, and artificial lakes formed. The result was a colossal expanse of architecture that resembled a divine city far more than a mere sect…
The main gates of the cult rose like a celestial wall. They were forged from black spiritual metal interwoven with crimson jade, adorned with countless intricate details that could captivate anyone's heart.
Beyond the gates stretched an immense stone avenue leading straight to the heart of the cult. It was wide enough for ten imperial carriages to pass side by side, flanked by columns of spiritual crystal that glowed with an ethereal light during the night. Between these columns grew rare trees whose translucent leaves reflected the moonlight as though made of liquid silver.
Palaces, pavilions, and towers were scattered throughout the entire region.
Some floated upon jade platforms suspended in mid-air, connected by bridges of spiritual energy. Others rose from crystalline lakes where spiritual flowers of a thousand colors bloomed eternally…
Artificial waterfalls cascaded down the slopes of nearby mountains, forming shimmering veils of water that gleamed beneath the glow of luminous formations.
The air was saturated with profound energy.
Massive buried profound formations drew energy directly from the profound veins of the Azure Star Polar, creating a cultivation environment so rich that even breathing there caused the body to slowly absorb profound power.
It was impossible for any practitioner not to feel their heart race upon entering that place.
That night, the sky was particularly clear.
The full moon hung high, bathing the entire Divine Cult of the Celestial Demon in a silvery glow.
At night, the Divine Cult of the Celestial Demon appeared even more breathtaking.
Thousands of floating lanterns hovered throughout the complex, emitting a soft blood-red light. The illumination did not dazzle; on the contrary, it enhanced the sect's dark, luxurious beauty, casting elegant shadows across curved rooftops and black stone courtyards. Disciples clad in dark robes embroidered with golden crows—the sacred symbol of the cult—moved in absolute silence along the paths, their disciplined footsteps producing almost no sound.
Even so, none of them dared approach the true center of power within that vast complex: the Cult Leader's Palace, situated at the heart of the mountain once considered the Sacred Land of the Royal Family of the Illusory Demon Realm. The palace remained isolated from the rest of the sect by wide empty courtyards and elite guards. Only the Inner Court Elders and the Demon Lord's Empresses held permanent permission to pass through its gates. As for ordinary disciples and even the powerful Outer Court Elders, entry was possible only upon formal summons.
For many within the cult, receiving such a summons was regarded as the supreme honor. That was why countless disciples trained day and night, dedicating their lives to surpassing their own limits, all with a single goal in mind: one day becoming worthy of meeting the Cult Leader's expectations and serving him directly.
Even from a distance, the palace's appearance inspired reverence in anyone who glanced at it. It seemed to touch the sky itself. Its base had been carved directly from the mountain, transforming the rock into a colossal foundation of polished black jade that reflected the moonlight like a silent mirror.
Above this base rose multiple levels of imperial pavilions. The curved roofs were made of darkened spiritual gold tiles. Gigantic statues guarded the stairways leading to the main gate. Their eyes were crafted from rare gems that glowed faintly at night, giving the impression that those creatures were alive and watching every approaching visitor.
The palace's inner courtyards were vast. Perfectly aligned black stone slabs covered the ground, polished so flawlessly that they reflected the night sky like a dark lake. Carefully tended gardens occupied the spaces between pavilions, filled with spiritual flowers that bloomed only under moonlight. Small artificial streams wound through these gardens, their pure water emitting a soft silvery glow. Jade bridges crossed these streams, connecting the various halls and pavilions of the palace…
It was a place that naturally compelled any visitor to bow their head in reverence.
On that silent night, one of the palace's great doors slowly opened.
And then he appeared.
Ren Zu stepped out from the interior of the palace.
He raised his arms above his head and stretched lazily, like someone who had just awakened from a long, comfortable rest.
Despite nine months having passed, his appearance had not changed in the slightest. His face remained perfect, as though sculpted by the heavens themselves. Perfectly balanced features, snow-white and flawless skin that seemed to glow under the moonlight, and eyes that were profoundly clear, with pitch-black pupils that appeared to have witnessed millions of years of transformations—yet showed no flicker of emotion, piercing straight into the heart of anyone who met them deeply. Upon closer observation, his eyes resembled an infinite starry sky. In every instant, a different world was born and vanished within them. Merely looking into his eyes felt as though one's soul was being drawn inside. His long lashes cast delicate shadows over his gaze, lending his expression a naturally intense air even when he was completely relaxed.
His hair was long, smooth, and ink-black. It fell freely down his back nearly to his waist, with a few loose strands sliding over his shoulders and chest. Under the moonlight, the strands reflected subtle bluish tones. Part of his hair had been tied back with a small ornamental black jade hairpin carved in the shape of a golden crow with spread wings, while the rest remained loose, swaying gently as he moved.
His body was tall and perfectly proportioned. Broad shoulders gave him an elegant frame, while a narrow waist created a naturally harmonious silhouette. Even through his clothing, one could discern a well-defined physique—the result of profound cultivation and constant bodily refinement…
He wore a traditional cultivator's ensemble. The inner layer was an extremely thin, long black silk tunic fitted elegantly to his body. The fabric was so light that it flowed almost like water when he walked. The high collar gently embraced his neck, while the front opening was secured by small silver clasps engraved with demonic cloud patterns. Over this tunic came the main garment: a long robe of deep purple—almost black in places—crafted from a rare fabric that seemed to both absorb and reflect light simultaneously. Depending on the angle of illumination, the material revealed subtle shifting patterns like waves of mist. The sleeves were wide and extraordinarily long, typical of immortal attire, with multiple inner layers that created a fluid effect as he moved.
The edges of the sleeves and hem were embroidered with extremely fine silver threads. These embroideries formed complex patterns: golden crows with spread wings, demonic clouds, and dragons. Every detail had been stitched with near-artistic precision…
The front of the robe was slightly open, revealing part of the inner black tunic and creating an elegant contrast between the deep purple and absolute black.
Around his waist was a wide belt of reinforced black silk studded with thin plates of dark spiritual metal. At the center of the belt rested a translucent violet jade ornament carved in the stylized form of a Golden Crow—the symbol of the Divine Cult of the Celestial Demon.
The lower part of the robe fell in multiple layers of fabric that reached the ground. When he walked, these layers parted slightly, revealing inner black trousers and long boots of dark spiritual leather reinforced with thin metal plates along the sides. The boots appeared simple at first glance yet were extremely refined, with discreet patterns engraved across their surface.
Although his attire enhanced his appearance, even if he had worn torn and filthy rags, he would still be the most beautiful man in the Primordial Chaos. He was so stunning that he could make even the most convinced man question his own sexuality for a single moment of absolute disorientation…
Ren Zu finished stretching, his arms falling languidly to his sides. He tilted his head back, gazing at the night sky where the full moon hung like an immense, cold jewel. A small, tranquil smile curved his perfect lips.
"Nine months… passed in the blink of an eye." His voice emerged low, almost a whisper laden with deep satisfaction. He took a step forward, the deep-purple robe rippling like liquid shadow around him, the silver threads of the embroidery catching the moonlight in subtle glints, as he murmured: "It's time to begin my journey into the mundane world."
Over the past nine months, he had made all the necessary preparations.
The Little Demon Empress, Xia Qingyue, and Feng Xue'er had entered seclusion during the final week. The goal was clear: to reach the Ninth Level of the Divine Tribulation Realm!
Throughout the past year, thanks to their relentless cultivation efforts—especially through dual cultivation with him—the three had broken through successive bottlenecks and finally reached the peak of the Divine Soul Realm. To consolidate those advances and accelerate their progress even further, he had personally refined several high-grade profound pills. These pills had been given to the three and would be gradually absorbed over the coming year, nourishing their foundations and granting immense benefits…
The reason for this intense effort was simple. He intended to depart for the Realm of the Gods soon—a plan he had discussed at length with the three women. All of them wished to accompany him. After much consideration, he had agreed… but with one clear condition: they needed to reach at least that level of strength before the journey.
By his calculations, once they achieved that stage, each would possess combat power equivalent—at minimum—to a high-level Divine Spirit Realm cultivator, and potentially even rival early Divine King Realm experts. In other words, they would have enough strength to protect themselves in the Realm of the Gods without constantly relying on him. This was important to him; he did not wish to bring them into such a vast and dangerous world only to have to safeguard them every moment.
The reason for such extraordinary growth was directly tied to him. Part of his own talent had been shared with the three through dual cultivation, dramatically strengthening their foundations and future potential. Moreover, he had spent countless hours guiding their comprehensions over the past year, imparting profound principles of cultivation in this world that few mortals would ever have the chance to hear. This combination—shared talent and direct guidance—had accelerated their progress to an almost absurd degree…
But the most decisive factor was a technique he himself had created. Drawing inspiration from his own cultivation method, he developed an inferior yet still extraordinarily profound version called the [Myriad Dharmic Wheel]. This profound art was not focused on brute force; its true purpose was to assist in comprehending the laws most suited to each cultivator. Within the method existed a "myriad of forms," meaning everything depended on the individual comprehension of the practitioner. From it, countless different profound arts could be born—some potentially terrifying in power. At its core, it was an auxiliary skill of incalculable value; a technique that, even when compared to the legendary God Legacies of the Primordial Era, stood without disadvantage.
It proved so extraordinary that even Jasmine was shocked when she first heard of the method. After all, she was a Divine Master—someone who had witnessed countless techniques and legacies throughout her life. Yet upon observing what those three women were demonstrating, she could not help but feel deeply astonished.
She herself had witnessed the three employing profound arts so powerful that, at first glance, she believed they belonged to some ancient divine legacy. A clear example was the Little Demon Empress's "Blossoming Flame Flower." The technique combined her profound comprehension of fire laws with the flames of the Golden Crow, resulting in power comparable to the final stage of the [Golden Crow World-Ending Flames Record]. The attack unleashed a concentrated explosion of flames that bloomed on the battlefield like a destructive flower, capable of devouring everything around it…
Xia Qingyue, in turn, had developed the terrifying "Sky-Freezing Lotus." According to Jasmine's evaluation, the technique possessed such extreme power that it could literally freeze a Divine Spirit Realm cultivator to death. The most frightening aspect was that she had created and executed this art while still only in the Divine Soul Realm—something that completely defied the common logic of the Divine Path…
And as if that were not enough, Feng Xue'er demonstrated even more astonishing talent. In the past month, she had fully inherited the legacy left to her by the Divine Phoenix. Yet what truly left Jasmine speechless was the technique Feng Xue'er presented afterward: the "Primordial Phoenix Avatar." According to Jasmine's own assessment, that art held such devastating potential that, if pushed to the extreme, it could literally set the entire world ablaze.
And that was merely the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to the [Myriad Dharmic Wheel], this was only the beginning of what they would be capable of developing. With time and deepening comprehension, each could give birth to countless other profound arts. Some might reach a level of power comparable to the devastating techniques they had already shown, while others would emerge with different purposes: extremely refined movement techniques, near-perfect defensive arts, or even auxiliary skills focused on battlefield control and support.
Naturally, Jasmine was extremely tempted to learn the method herself. However, when he explained that she would first need a suitable physical body to practice it, her reaction was immediate: visible displeasure. She remained clearly sulky for a while, though he promised to teach her as soon as that condition was resolved…
Well, it was during that conversation that he also revealed the nature of his unique physique—something that left her even more intrigued, though she commented with a somewhat irritated look that it seemed "perfectly suited to a pervert." Even so, her mind quickly began analyzing the implications of that physique. She spent considerable time reflecting on the benefits a joint cultivation with him could bring, and gradually she began to understand something that had previously puzzled her. Xia Qingyue and Feng Xue'er were clearly far more talented than she remembered from the time she knew them through Yun Che. Now it made sense…
At one point, she even asked an unexpected question. With her face slightly flushed and visible embarrassment in her expression, she inquired what kind of progress a Divine Master could achieve if she cultivated with him… especially if she were still a virgin. He answered directly: in that case, the person would likely leap at least three cultivation levels at once. The expression that appeared on her face at that moment was difficult to decipher—a mixture of surprise, calculation, and something deeper. Still, he had a good idea of what was passing through her mind in that instant…
After that conversation, something in Jasmine's demeanor changed subtly. Before, she always reacted to his provocations with immediate irritation, responding with sarcasm or empty threats, as though constantly trying to reaffirm a clear distance between them. Yet after better understanding the nature of his physique and the absurd benefits it could bring to cultivation, her attitude became… slightly different.
No one could blame her for feeling tempted. As a Divine Master, she perfectly understood the value of any method capable of accelerating cultivation—especially one that could produce results as outrageous as those she had witnessed in Xia Qingyue, Feng Xue'er, and the Little Demon Empress…
Thinking back on it at the time, Jasmine could not help but have a somewhat ironic thought. She did not doubt for a second that even that hypocritical woman—who lived using men whenever it suited her while pretending to purity and disdain for them—would also be tempted by something like this. After all, beyond sharing part of that incomparable talent, there was still the possibility of advancing in cultivation at an absurd speed simply by sleeping with him. And to make everything even more ridiculously convenient, he also possessed an appearance that made practically any other man look like an ugly pig in comparison…
Well, setting aside Jasmine's recent discovery about his physique—which had subtly shifted the dynamic between them—and the fact that his wives would remain in seclusion for the coming months, he turned his attention to something far simpler: his own plans.
A journey where he would live as a mortal for a time.
Walking among ordinary people, without titles or reverence. Tasting street food sold at makeshift stalls, listening to exaggerated traveler tales in noisy taverns, observing bustling markets, and feeling the wind without constantly bearing the crushing weight of absolute power. Simply existing, for a period, as just another person in the world…
For him, this was not mere curiosity or leisure.
It was the final necessary step to complete the inner transformation that had been taking place within him ever since he had shed Yun Che…
He was pulled from his thoughts when Jasmine emerged from the Heavenly Poison Pearl in a soft flash of crimson light, her small, ethereal form floating beside him like a living flame beneath the moon's silvery glow. Her red hair danced lightly in the night breeze, and her black eyes fixed on him with that characteristic mixture of curiosity and something deeper that she would never admit aloud…
She crossed her arms, chin raised in her usual proud princess pose.
"…So you're finally leaving…" she said, voice low but trying to sound indifferent. "Where do you plan to go first?"
Ren Zu shrugged casually, the deep-purple robe rippling gently around his perfect form.
"Wherever the wind takes me," he replied simply, the calm smile still on his lips. "Don't worry—while I'm at it, I'll gather all the items needed to restore your body."
Jasmine's eyes widened slightly—just a fraction of a second, but enough for him to notice. Her small face visibly flushed, though she quickly turned her gaze aside, trying to hide the emotion threatening to show.
"…Hmph." She huffed, but without her usual venom. "You'd better not forget that. This princess won't forgive you if you come back empty-handed."
Ren Zu merely smiled, refraining from teasing her this time.
Jasmine remained silent for a few more seconds, as though gathering the courage to say something she didn't want to admit mattered.
"…It would be good to start with the Azure Cloud Continent…" she finally spoke, still looking away, her voice a little quieter than usual.
Ren Zu raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious.
"Why?"
She huffed again, crossing her arms more tightly.
"Because it's the place you visited the least in the past year. And… well, there are things there that might be useful for… for what you need to find."
Ren Zu observed her profile for a moment—the faint blush on her cheeks, the way she tried to maintain an air of indifference even as her heart visibly raced.
He smiled lightly.
"Understood. Then we'll start there."
Without another word, he took a step forward.
The two vanished completely.
Only the wind continued blowing, carrying a few flower petals that danced in the air for a few seconds before dissipating.
The mountain peak returned to absolute silence.
The full moon continued shining, indifferent.
And somewhere far away, on the Azure Cloud Continent… a new journey was beginning.
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