He didn’t look back. In his sleeve, he held the Tower of Soul Repose, its warmth radiating against his palm. No one remained in the valley to answer him; only the rustling leaves of the phoenix trees seemed to respond.
Purple Moon Mountain had remained dormant for many years. After the battle between the gods and demons, where three True Gods moved the Nine Nether Hell from the mountain, the gates of Purple Moon Mountain had remained closed for eight hundred years.
During these eight centuries, the demon world saw a shift in power. After the deaths of the leaders Sen Hong and Sen Yu, the tiger demon clan declined, and their elders retreated to Tiger Roar Mountain with the younger generation to recover. Meanwhile, the fox demon clan thrived under the rule of Hong Yi, the Ten-Tailed Heavenly Fox. Three hundred years ago, after ascending to the Divine Realm with the Eagle Princess Yan Shuang, the fox clan encountered a new rival—a faction in the third sky of the demon realm known as Cold Spring Palace.
Cold Spring Palace was founded by Zhen Yu, whose origins were as mysterious as the former High Lord of the Immortal Clan, Qing Mu. His demon power was formidable; three hundred years ago, he suddenly appeared, defeating ten of the demon world’s top warriors without a single loss. He established Cold Spring Palace, and its power grew as numerous skilled demons pledged allegiance, quickly rising to become a dominant force.
When Hong Yi ascended, there was no half-divine Fox Lord, and it had been a long time since the demon realm produced another immortal. Upon his ascension, he left an imperial decree in the Hall of Heavy Purple: three hundred years hence, a demon emperor would rise among the hundred clans. Whosoever achieved the strength of a half-divine and broke the Heavenly Fox Seal outside the Hall of Heavy Purple would become the next emperor of the fox clan.
Years flew by. With only a decade left until the decree’s deadline, the fox clan leader Chang Mei and Zhen Yu of Cold Spring Palace both reached half-divine status. As the two powers in the demon realm gathered their strength for the throne, a purple moon rose once again over the demon world, and the gates of Purple Moon Mountain reopened.
When news of this reached both Jing You Mountain and Cold Spring Palace, Chang Mei and Zhen Yu were momentarily stunned.
Eight hundred years ago, when the demon clan nearly obliterated all within Purple Moon Mountain, the Divine Lord Tian Qi didn’t appear. So why, in these uneventful times of peace, had the mountain gates opened?
Both leaders knew, however, that no matter how fierce their competition might be, the final decision of who would take the throne of the demon emperor would rest on a single word from Tian Qi. With this in mind, they hurriedly led their followers to pay their respects at Purple Moon Mountain, laden with gifts and treasures.
In the Hall of Purple Moon, Tian Qi was greeted by the sight of his smirking divine beast, feeling an immediate headache.
“You opened the mountain?”
Zi Han, looking like a young boy, proudly nodded. Years ago, Zi Han had accompanied Tian Qi into the torrent of time and space to search for Yue Mi, but he returned five hundred years ago, unable to endure the monotony. Since then, he’d been passing his days idly on Purple Moon Mountain with San Huo and Bi Bo, growing quite bored.
“You raised the purple moon?”
Another proud nod.
Tian Qi took a deep breath. “What else did you do?”
“Oh, not much else, Divine Lord,” Zi Han replied, looking pleased. “I just raised the purple moon and opened the gates. They’ll flock to Purple Moon Mountain to pay homage to you!”
Zi Han’s eyes squinted into little crescents, practically twinkling with delight. “Ever since San Huo, that dragon whelp, and Bi Bo, that child, left to wander, I’ve been all alone on Purple Moon Mountain. Now that you’re back, we should liven the place up! There are some remarkable warriors in the demon realm now. Let them meet you; it’ll give them pride!”
“Oh? So it brings me pride, or is it that you can pocket some of their treasures for yourself?”
Tian Qi cast a cold glare at his divine beast, his head aching at the dragon’s natural greed.
Shrinking under Tian Qi’s gaze, Zi Han said nothing and transformed into his small dragon form, clutching Tian Qi’s leg.
“Divine Lord…” The young dragon’s soft, dragging tone was filled with a whining tone, his large purple eyes brimming with tears, his little mouth trembling. “Please don’t be mad! I just like shiny things…”
Tian Qi drew in a sharp breath, looking at this creature of tens of thousands of years reduced to a sniveling, clingy child. He was utterly speechless.
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