Two peak Demon Sorcerers had returned to the world.
This was the Age of Demon Chi.
Zoran watched Shendu's departing figure. The Fire Demon was returning to his ancient domain to reclaim Asia. As for the rest of the azure planet, those territories were reserved for their brothers and sisters, Zoran would not interfere, just as in the days of old.
Even though the others remained trapped in the Netherworld, Shendu had complete faith. With Zoran's own escape as a precedent, the Fire Demon believed his eldest brother, Tso Lan, would deliver them all, just as he had delivered him.
In the meantime, Shendu needed to sweep the world clean to prepare for the siblings' grand return.
After giving Shendu a few words of caution, Zoran began to contemplate methods for releasing the others. The world was governed by a cruel reality: the laws of balance between Good and Evil could not be broken. When one side rose, the other was destined to fall.
If they weren't planning to leave this realm entirely, one person's existence became pivotally important.
Jade.
As the one with the strongest "protagonist's aura," she was unique. Her existence was rejected by neither Demon Chi nor Noble Chi; she could be an agent of Section 13 or the Queen of the Shadowkhan. Within her, Light and Darkness reached a delicate equilibrium.
Perhaps she should be established as the anchor of balance to lock down the world's harsh rules… but only after the other six demons were free.
Thinking of this, Zoran reached out his hand as demon chi began to churn. He anchored his physical form in the depths of space and cast a soul projection spell upon himself. Indeed, it had been a long time since he had faced his siblings. It was time to pay them a visit.
With a slight curl of his lips, he steered his soul directly toward the Netherworld.
…
Inside the Netherworld.
The moment Zoran entered that blood-red dimension, a stone platform rushed toward him.
"It seems quite lively here," Zoran remarked calmly. His voice rippled through the void, announcing his arrival.
"Eldest Brother?" a startled voice rang out. "You really didn't forget us?"
Wings sliced through the sky as Hsi Wu landed on the platform, his eyes burning as he stared at Zoran. "Brothers! Sisters! The Eldest has returned!"
Hardly had Hsi Wu spoken when several powerful auras converged, surrounding Zoran in a protective circle.
"You're finally back!" Bai Tza hissed, the tentacles on the sides of her face twitching.
"It seems you found a return ticket," Dai Gui grunted.
"I assume you have something to tell us," Tchang Zu added, gripping his lightning spear. As he spoke, he hurled the weapon into the distance, where a scream of agony immediately followed.
Xiao Fung's gaze remained fixed on Zoran. "It seems the world outside has changed."
Zoran looked around at his six siblings and nodded. Even in his soul form, he kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, exuding an air of composed authority.
"I have reclaimed my Chi," he began. Before the others could interrupt, he continued, "And Shendu has reclaimed his as well."
The Netherworld fell silent for a beat. They understood exactly what this meant.
"Then our time... is coming," Tchang Zu declared, standing tall as lightning crackled in tune with his excitement.
Zoran spoke: "I promised on the first day we entered this hell that I would find a way to save every one of you. Do you remember?"
Hsi Wu shook his head, Tchang Zu fell silent, Bai Tza turned away, and Dai Gui lowered his head. Po Kong, as usual, simply stared hungrily at the distant Lü Dongbin.
"You might have mentioned it once... but this cursed place..." Hsi Wu trailed off. The Netherworld had eroded too much; they simply didn't remember.
"I remember," Xiao Fung said suddenly. His crimson eyes dimmed for a moment. "You said you would never stop looking for a way for us to leave together." He looked up, sighing. "It has been so long. Perhaps in another century or two, even I would have forgotten."
Zoran looked at Xiao Fung. If he recalled correctly, the Wind Demon's emotions were the least eroded of the group. In the original timeline, he was the only one who immediately thought of saving his siblings after escaping through a portal opened by the Pan'ku Box.
"At least you remember now," Zoran said. "It isn't too late."
He pointed a finger toward Lü Dongbin and said gravely, "He won't be the first, and he won't be the last. Everything that was taken from us shall be returned in full. This is the promise of your Elder; it is absolute."
Zoran's voice was light, yet it carried an immense weight, echoing like thunder in the hearts of the six demons. Their gazes trembled. Zoran had already completed the first step; Shendu was free, which meant their opportunity was coming. It was merely a matter of time.
The Eldest was fulfilling his promise step by step. In this world, there was nothing more reassuring.
…
A short while later, Zoran left the Netherworld and returned to his physical body.
Good news was meant to be shared with family first. Furthermore, he had checked on Lü Dongbin's condition; bound by Shendu's curse and defenseless against six demons, the Immortal was no longer a threat. Zoran was satisfied.
Neither he nor Shendu could currently "pluck" the others out of the Netherworld directly. They could travel back and forth, but they couldn't bypass the fundamental rules of the portals. To bring the others out, they would need another way, a way that did not yet exist in this world.
…
On Earth.
A gargantuan presence suddenly descended, its aura saturating the atmosphere almost instantly.
Shendu walked through his ancient territory. Before anyone could react, the ancient demon had arrived in his "loyal" domain.
San Francisco, Uncle's Rare Finds.
"Uncle, we're in big trouble!" Jackie paced back and forth. They had already received word of Shendu's return to peak power.
"The Immortal Deity did not defeat the demon!" Uncle furrowed his brows, his voice filled with dread. "The Age of Demons has returned!"
Jackie said anxiously, "What do we do, Uncle? We have to send him back! You said only magic can defeat magic..."
"Aiya! Jackie! Do you expect Uncle to fight a Shendu at the height of his power?"
…
Meanwhile, on the other side of town.
Valmont was behind the steering wheel, pulling a city bus into a stop. He was covered in stubble, his face a mask of bitterness.
Since the last time he was possessed by Shendu, things had gone from bad to worse. Money, glory, and his henchmen… all gone. He had been sent to prison after Section 13 caught him, and as the former leader of the Dark Hand, he was now undergoing community rehabilitation. Having lost his fighting spirit, he had behaved well enough to be granted a job as a bus driver.
Just as he was lamenting that this was likely all his life would ever be, a robust figure stepped onto the bus.
The doors hissed shut. Valmont habitually called out, "Please remain seated," as he prepared to hit the gas.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind him—the passenger who had just boarded. It was a voice he had heard countless times, familiar to his very core. Even with a slight change in tone, Valmont could never mistake it.
The owner of that voice had berated him, hijacked his body, and promised him riches beyond compare, only to betray nearly every promise he ever made.
But at this moment, that voice set his heart ablaze.
The man said, "It seems you've fallen on hard times since we parted, Valmont."