The air was thick with stale smoke and the metallic scent of blood as Yi Zhen strode through the cavernous throne room deep within the Dead Spine Mountains.
The remnants of Lei Shen's empire—demonic guards, shackled slaves, and broken relics—greeted his every step with silence and fear.
At the center of the vast chamber lay a throne carved from obsidian and bone, crowned with twisted spikes that seemed to pulse with the last traces of dark energy.
And upon it rested the motionless form of the Demon Emperor himself—Lei Shen.
---
Yi Zhen's footsteps echoed coldly as he approached the throne.
With a slow, deliberate motion, he removed his gauntlet, revealing his corrupted arm glowing faintly with the residue of the Inverse Dao Severance.
He knelt beside the corpse and placed a hand over Lei Shen's chest.
His voice cut through the heavy air:
> "Lei Shen is dead. The Demon Emperor who enslaved and tormented us... is no more."
A murmur rippled through the gathered demons and slaves.
> "Spread the word across the mountains and beyond. Prepare yourselves."
He stood, eyes blazing with fierce command.
> "We will free the captives. Tear down these chains."
---
But before they could celebrate their liberation, Yi Zhen's gaze turned toward the looming fissure that split the mountain's heart.
> "And there's more to be done."
He summoned a small cadre of trusted allies—demons loyal to the promise of freedom—and they stepped toward the gaping rift.
Inside the fractured mountain lay hidden treasures: veins of rare minerals glistening in the darkness, forgotten scrolls sealed within stone sarcophagi, and ancient artifacts humming with arcane power.
---
Carefully, Yi Zhen gathered what he could carry: precious ores to trade or forge, and scrolls whose worn ink still whispered secrets of forbidden knowledge.
Among the scrolls, one caught his eye.
It detailed rituals—dark rites involving the sacrifice of souls.
The pages spoke of unimaginable power gained in exchange for something dear: life, memories, or even one's own humanity.
The ritual masters who had penned these scrolls had long vanished, but the wisdom remained—a deadly bargain waiting to be struck.
---
Yi Zhen's lips curled into a knowing smirk.
> "Sacrifice for power, sacrifice for knowledge... the question is what am I willing to give—and what will I demand in return?"
He rolled the scroll carefully and secured it within his satchel.
The mountain echoed with distant howls—slaves stirring, chains breaking.
The tide was turning.
---
Author's Note – Terry
The throne room marks a turning point: Lei Shen's death, the promise of freedom, and the discovery of ancient, dark rituals.
These rituals add a new layer of complexity—power isn't just earned by cultivation or battle anymore, but through choices with heavy prices.
What will Yi Zhen sacrifice to ascend? And what horrors await those who trade souls for strength?
The road ahead grows darker.