Volume One: The Nature of the Devil Never Changes
Arc: The Great Guerrilla War
Scarlet King thought about the Era Talent:
(Every twenty-two trillion years, eleven Era Talents appear.)
(Each one becomes the target of all higher existential powers, who seek to seize it and elevate their own strength.)
(And every appearance of such talents triggers an existential war… one so great that even embodiments of concepts may emerge because of it.)
Liu Zai Hang laughed—
but the laughter wasn't normal.
"Do you realize… what we're standing in front of?"
Scarlet King pushed him aside. His expression showed clear disinterest—
or rather… a complete lack of fear.
After all, having an Era Talent in their hands meant only one thing:
"An Era Talent…
means… pursuit."
"Either we protect it…
or it gets taken from us."
Liu Zai Hang winked and said:
"If you don't take it…
then I will."
Scarlet King looked at him with a cold gaze—
the gaze of a predator.
Liu Zai Hang tensed.
He suddenly remembered—
this wasn't just any devil.
This was the Devil of Rebirth.
"…Try."
Scarlet King's pupils expanded unnaturally—
and that alone made Liu Zai Hang's fear deepen. Still, he forced a sarcastic smile.
Scarlet King continued:
"And we'll see…
how long you have left to live."
Liu Zai Hang laughed nervously, a drop of sweat sliding down his face.
"I'm joking… I'm only interested in chasing the legend of the Third Poem of the King in Yellow. I'm not interested in taking disciples."
Scarlet King asked, slightly puzzled:
"Then why did you take me as your disciple in the beginning?"
Liu Zai Hang shrugged:
"I was just having fun… but I didn't expect to meet the Devil of Rebirth. Someone who might bring me closer to my goal faster."
He smiled with obvious mockery:
"So I allied with you…
and became—"
"A piece on your personal board."
Suddenly, Cai Yun spoke:
"Master… does that mean I'm strong?"
Scarlet King looked at her…
and gave a faint smile.
"Weak."
"But… worth investing in."
Liu Zai Hang's tension increased. He leaned closer and whispered:
"I know you never smile, Scarlet King."
The smile disappeared instantly.
"The smile doesn't mean happiness…
it might just mean… I obtained something useful."
Scarlet King turned and looked at Cai Yun:
"Stay with Uncle Liu Zai Hang… while I go take care of something important."
Liu Zai Hang chuckled slyly:
"The 'important matter' you mean… is Long Wei?"
Scarlet King replied:
"Since you already know… there's no need to explain."
He opened the door and left.
Liu Zai Hang muttered aloud:
"This time… he won't survive…"
Then suddenly—
"Wait! Scarlet King, you forgot the prison pass!"
He moved quickly—
but stopped.
The pass… was gone.
He froze. His expression turned cold. His lips straightened, and he closed his eyes.
"That bastard… stole from me without me noticing."
"I shouldn't carry anything valuable in front of him… or it'll be taken."
Outside—
Scarlet King had already left the palace.
He shot through the sky at a speed that made light itself seem slow beside him.
The air tore apart—
Suddenly, Lin Yuan appeared beside him and asked:
"What about Ikalath?"
Scarlet King replied calmly:
"He's fine now… he just needs some rest."
Then he looked at Lin Yuan with a sinister, devilish gaze:
"Now go… and tell Meng Ling to return to his family."
"…Because he'll find a surprise there."
"And only tell him this—"
"Go to your family… they are in danger."
"Nothing more."
Lin Yuan nodded, stopped midair, then turned back toward the Blood Arena.
After minutes of flight—
Scarlet King arrived at the prison of the Heavenly Food Sect.
The prison was underground—
inside a massive mountain beyond the main sect's borders.
He descended slowly and stood before the gate, where two large guards in brown armor stood watch.
One of them shouted:
"Who are you? Identify yourself!"
Scarlet King pulled out the pass.
"Gu Yue… one of the Heavenly Food Sect's disciples."
The guards inspected it.
They saw Liu Zai Hang's golden seal.
"One of the Second Elder's passes…"
They paused—then opened the gate.
"Enter… and don't take long."
Darkness filled the prison.
Scarlet King walked down the stairs.
The walls were damp.
He moved forward…
until he stopped in front of a cell.
Inside—
Long Wei was sitting calmly, reading a book and eating a green apple.
Scarlet King spoke coldly:
"Long Wei… get up. We're going to court."
Then he glanced at one of the guards:
"Bring me the assassin who tried to kill me. I'll take him along with Long Wei."
The guard snapped angrily:
"And who are you to take prisoners so easily?"
Scarlet King looked at him coldly.
"These are the Second Elder's orders…"
"Do you want… your head to fly?"
The guard's courage vanished instantly.
He bowed and hurried off to fetch the assassin.
Silence returned.
Scarlet King looked at Long Wei—
who had already stood up, a sly smile on his face.
The silence between them…
was heavy.
Long Wei was slightly taller.
Scarlet King lifted his gaze—
their eyes met directly.
Then he spoke coldly:
"…Hah."
"Even dogs…"
"…forget what the sky looks like…"
"after spending too long in cages."