As the pill slid down his throat, a harrowing silence gripped the chamber for two seconds. Then, a scream built up in Ye Fang's throat, only to be choked back into a suffocating gurgle.
His entire body began to rupture from within. The agony was akin to ten thousand rivers of molten lava coursing through his meridians simultaneously. Fueled by his Demonic Side, the pill ruthlessly shredded his pathways to expand them beyond their natural limits. He felt as though an invisible demon was grinding his bones to dust. He collapsed onto the floor, his fingernails clawing into the stone as if trying to tear through the very earth.
"Aaaarrghhh...!" Blood tears leaked from his eyes. But then, a miracle transpired.
For every ounce of excruciating devastation the Demonic essence inflicted, an equal measure of divine solace and healing rushed from his God Side. As soon as his meridians were torn asunder, the golden energy of his divinity instantly knit them back together, making them ten times stronger and wider than before. It was a cycle of pure destruction and creation—a convergence of ruin and rebirth.
A cyclone of crimson and golden energy engulfed the room. Beneath Ye Fang's skin, his meridians writhed like serpents. His aura swelled so violently that the very walls of the manor trembled in resonance. The Demonic side drove him to the threshold of absolute power, while the God side acted as the anchor, preventing his mind and body from shattering into oblivion.
For nearly an hour, this tempest raged. When Ye Fang finally fell silent, his body was drenched in sweat and thick, black impurities. But as he snapped his eyes open, the air in the room shivered at his slightest command.
He clenched his fist. He could feel his meridians—now vast, thundering rivers—poised to channel an infinite flood of 'God-Demon Qi.'
"Brother Kai Long..." Ye Fang murmured, a strange, ethereal luster dancing in his depths. "Now, I am ready for the Hao Huo Mountain."
The System chimed with cold precision: [ MERIDIAN UPGRADE SUCCESSFUL. PERMANENT GOD-DEMON MERIDIAN NETWORK ACTIVATED. ]
When Ye Fang stepped out of his chamber, his aura had undergone a total metamorphosis. Following the grueling 'Meridian Remodeling' of the previous night, his stride possessed a terrifying, predatory calm. His meridians were now 'God-Demon Meridians,' capable of anchoring power that exceeded the wildest dreams of any mortal cultivator.
As he reached the main courtyard of the manor, his gaze fell upon the gathering before him. It was not merely Yan Kai Long waiting; a full detachment of cultivators stood in formation.
Ye Fang paused for a fleeting second. Not a single muscle in his face twitched, but his sharp eyes pierced through the facade to grasp the situation. Beside Yan Kai Long stood the City Lord's daughters, Wang Mei and Wang Ling, fully clad in combat attire. Behind them stood eight to ten other cultivators, each carrying high-grade armaments and a heavy, oppressive aura.
So many? Ye Fang thought to himself. I expected a quiet journey. Does the City Lord truly grasp the depth of this Secret Realm?
The moment Yan Kai Long caught sight of Ye Fang, a deep, respectful smile graced his features. After witnessing those golden eyes the previous night, his reverence for Ye Fang had multiplied tenfold.
"Brother Ye Fang! Glad to see you've descended just in time," Yan Kai Long said with undisguised enthusiasm. He gestured toward the group standing behind him. "These elites will also be joining us on this expedition. I trust you have no objections?"
Ye Fang scanned the crowd with cold, tranquil eyes. Yan Kai Long began the introductions:
"These are the daughters of the City Lord, Wang Mei and Wang Ling, whom you already know. Beside them are the City Lord's most trusted bodyguards, Commander Zheng and Captain Luo. Zheng is among the most seasoned cultivators in all of Sanmiao City."
Yan Kai Long stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "And these men standing on the right—they are my fellow cultivators from the Long Tian Sect. This is Murong Yun, a master of swordsmanship, and Shi Mao, an expert in defensive techniques. Their presence will significantly bolster our strength for this expedition."
Ye Fang's eyes drifted to Murong Yun and Shi Mao. Their aura made it clear they were no ordinary warriors. The Long Tian Sect was one of the most influential powers on the Tianxia Continent, and having their elite warriors by his side provided a layer of security he could not ignore.
Murong Yun, carrying a massive azure blade strapped to his back, scanned Ye Fang from head to toe. He sensed something inexplicable in Ye Fang—an aura that flickered like tranquil water one moment, only to surge like a dormant volcano the next. He bowed his head in a slight gesture of respect, which Ye Fang acknowledged with a curt, singular nod.
Wang Mei stepped forward, stating, "Ye Fang, my father desires that we witness the awakening of this Secret Realm up close. The energy atop Hao Huo Mountain has become erratic; having warriors like Commander Zheng with us is a strategic necessity."
A calm, dignified smile graced Ye Fang's features. He looked at Yan Kai Long and replied with simple grace, "Brother Kai Long, if you believe that the success of this journey requires the company of such heroes, who am I to object? There is strength in unity, and the path to Hao Huo Mountain will surely be fraught with peril for us all."
"Magnificent! Then the time for departure is upon us. We must reach the foothills of the mountain before the sun hits its zenith."
Yan Kai Long felt even more impressed by Ye Fang's newfound maturity.
As the entire party marched out through the manor gates, the citizens of Sanmiao City paused, watching them pass with bated breath. The thunder of hooves and the rhythmic marching of warriors echoed through the narrow streets.
Ye Fang led the vanguard alongside Yan Kai Long. Within the depths of his mind, the System's voice was calm yet sharp: "Host, remain vigilant. Even if these people are your companions now, their intentions may shift the moment we breach the threshold of the Secret Realm. Keep the energy of your God-Demon Soul Manual in perfect equilibrium."
Ye Fang replied internally, 'I am aware. For now, this is merely a journey; the true game will begin amidst the fires of that mountain.'
The caravan crossed the city limits, pushing steadily toward the North. Before them, the colossal peaks of Hao Huo Mountain pierced through the clouds, and the crimson radiance bleeding from their summits served as a silent testament that the future of the Tianxia Continent was about to be inscribed upon these very paths.
The morning sun cast a crisp glow over the horizon, but the caravan was not destined to trudge upon the earth. Instead, they cleaved through the heavens—the most prestigious and rapid mode of travel in the cultivation world: the Flying Sword.
The warriors of the Long Tian Sect, Murong Yun and Shi Mao, stood with absolute stability atop their colossal, shimmering blades. The spiritual energy surging from their bodies provided an invisible anchor, keeping their swords aloft. Commander Zheng and Captain Luo rode their heavy, jagged blades with equal precision, forming a protective perimeter around the group. The speed was so intense that the cultivators' robes whipped violently against the gale.
Yet, a glaring issue plagued the formation. Ye Fang possessed neither a flying sword nor a cultivation base sufficient to levitate unsupported. He was currently in the 'Qi Refining' phase—a stage where energy is gathered and purified internally, far too crude to be projected for flight.
Observing this, the City Lord's eldest daughter, Wang Mei, slowed her radiant azure blade and glided near him. Wang Mei was at the peak of the 'Foundation Establishment' stage. While she could not fly indefinitely without her sword, she possessed enough mastery to provide stable passage to another. Her younger sister, Wang Ling, still in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, remained focused on maintaining balance atop her own smaller blade.
"Ye Fang," Wang Mei said, her voice cool yet firm. "You lack the means of flight, and crossing the expanse to Hao Huo Mountain on foot would be a waste of precious time. You may board my sword."
Ye Fang glanced at Wang Mei for a brief moment. "Thank you, Lady Wang Mei."
As Ye Fang stepped onto Wang Mei's blade, Yan Kai Long maintained a safe distance, his blue eyes constantly tracking Ye Fang's subtle movements. He was desperate to discern how the man who had radiated the aura of an emperor just last night could appear so tranquil and ordinary now.
As they soared above the jagged peaks, battling the relentless wind, Yan Kai Long infused his voice with spiritual energy to address the group. "As we approach Hao Huo Mountain, the pressure of the energy is mounting. My brothers from the Long Tian Sect, and Commander Zheng... remember, we are not the only ones moving. Powerful forces from other corners of the continent will be converging here as well."
Murong Yun touched the hilt of the massive azure sword strapped to his back. "Brother Kai Long speaks the truth. Within the Secret Realm, the competition will be not merely for treasures, but a brutal struggle for survival. Our primary rule must be the protection of one another. If we are scattered, the 'monsters' from the external sects will pick us off one by one."
Wang Mei stared ahead, her gaze steely. "The cultivators of Sanmiao City and the Long Tian Sect are one in this expedition. My sister and Ye Fang have the lowest cultivation bases in this group; therefore, their safety remains our highest priority."
A profound, mysterious smile played on Ye Fang's lips as he listened. He remained silent. He knew that the one they deemed 'weak' held within him the 'God-Demon' power capable of rewriting the history of cultivation. Nevertheless, he appreciated Wang Mei and Yan Kai Long's candor and their sense of camaraderie. They were not plotting against him, but treating him as a true ally.
As the group crossed the final ridge and entered the main valley of Hao Huo Mountain, their breaths caught in unison. The sight before them defied mortal imagination, reminiscent of an ancient myth.
Directly above the colossal summit, the color of the sky had shifted entirely. A massive, swirling cyclone-like portal floated amidst the clouds. It was no mere magical barrier or flickering light. Along the edges of this aperture, ancient runes glowed in brilliant gold and deep crimson. The pressure radiating from that gate was so immense that even the cultivators riding their flying swords were forced to brace their feet firmly to maintain their stance.
"This... what is this thing?" Wang Ling gasped, her voice a mix of terror and awe. She had never witnessed anything like it in her life.
Commander Zheng and the other Elder-level warriors descended from their blades, their feet touching the valley floor. They stood spellbound, gazing at the monumental aperture in profound contemplation. "This was not forged by any ordinary cultivator. This is truly the primary gate of an ancient 'Secret Realm.' The energy radiating from it is thousands of years old," Commander Zheng stated, his tone grave and solemn.
While the others remained paralyzed by the sheer impossibility of the spectacle, trying to decipher its origin, a distinct expression flickered across Ye Fang's face. He felt a strange, haunting sense of 'familiarity' as he stared into the portal. Scenes from countless tales of cultivation he had once heard or envisioned began to swirl through his consciousness. He understood with crystalline clarity what such a portal signified—a place where the legacy of ancient titans, lethal traps, and boundless power lay interred together. He felt no shadow of fear; instead, the 'Demon' aspect dormant within him stirred, exhilarated by the looming challenge.
Just as the others were occupied with examining the structural intricacies of the portal, a familiar, calm, and resonant voice echoed within the depths of Ye Fang's psyche. His guide, who resided within his very essence, communicated directly with his consciousness without a ripple of external movement.
"Host, your destination stands before you. Entry into this Secret Realm is your destiny. As I previously foretold, the ancient fire energy contained within this domain is perfectly attuned to awaken the 'Demon' half of your God-Demon Physique."
Ye Fang pondered internally, 'I am aware. But the pressure radiating from this portal is overwhelming. Will my present vessel be able to endure the environment within?'
A deep sense of satisfaction permeated the guide's voice. "The 'Meridian Pill' you consumed last night has forged your vessel to be worthy of this very trial."