Chapter Thirteen: An Invitation from the Ancestral Land of the Demon Clan

Thus, the two of them pressed onward, one after the other, traversing the vast expanse of mountains and forests for a long while. By midday, they arrived at the banks of an exceptionally wide river.

“In the southern frontier, there has long been a legend,” the voice intoned. “Whenever the blood moon shrouds the land and spiritual energy grows thin, a rain of extinction will fall upon the world.”

“In that rain lies unending death, withering grass and trees, corrupting mountains and rivers…”

“The entire demon race will face an unprecedented ordeal…”

Gazing at the river ahead, which shimmered with a faint bluish hue, the Prince of Shadows’ eyes reflected a sense of nostalgia as his voice drifted gently through the air.

King Chujiang stood respectfully behind him, not daring to speak out of turn.

Suddenly—BOOM. BOOM!

“Well, it seems you are truly well-versed in the affairs of our southern frontier.”

In that instant, the entire forest began to tremble violently! As a cool, clear female voice rang out, countless demon beasts surged forth from the surrounding woods.

Clouds of demonic aura coiled around them, and the atmosphere grew instantly solemn. A flash of cold light appeared in King Chujiang’s eyes, and the frigid hell beneath his feet was just about to unfold—only to be halted by a gentle pat on the shoulder from the Prince of Shadows, signaling him to restrain his magic.

Meanwhile, across the river, a graceful woman in a white cheongsam appeared, stepping forward with unhurried elegance.

She was tall and strikingly beautiful, her long white hair coiled with a jade hairpin. The fitted white dress accentuated her alluring figure. Her skin was as flawless as creamy jade, her lips a vivid red, and her long lashes quivered lightly—yet her eyes held a trace of chill.

If one looked closely, it seemed as if there was a fierce, world-destroying power hidden within her. A single glance inspired awe and reverence.

Yet the Prince of Shadows remained utterly calm, as if he had anticipated everything and not the slightest ripple disturbed his heart.

The woman, too, continued to scrutinize the two men before her, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension.

“One of the Four Spirits beneath the Serpent God’s throne—Bai Lin,” she finally announced after a long silence.

“We welcome Your Highness to the southern lands.”

Her icy gaze gradually softened. With a slight bow of her fists to the Prince of Shadows, she spoke in a quiet tone:

“By the Serpent God's decree, I am to escort Your Highness to the ancestral grounds of the demon race.”

“Thank you,” the Prince of Shadows replied, his expression unchanged, offering no further words.

“Please, this way.”

Without further delay, Bai Lin waved her hand, and a magnificent white jade bridge appeared across the broad river as if conjured from thin air. She gestured invitingly toward the depths of the forest—a host’s courtesy on full display.

“Let us go,” the Prince of Shadows called out, setting off toward the bridge, his countenance somewhat shadowed. King Chujiang, seeing this, followed closely behind without delay, never once leaving the Prince’s side.

These demons are far too insolent, King Chujiang thought darkly. Ordinarily, anyone daring to address the Prince in such a manner would have already tasted the terror of the Ice Hell. Yet today, for reasons unknown, the Prince tolerated their impudence.

King Chujiang did not understand, but as a loyal subject, such matters were not for him to question. He remained vigilant, keeping constant guard at the Prince’s side, silent and watchful.

The Prince, for his part, sensed the unrest in King Chujiang’s spirit, but merely shook his head and smiled slightly, offering no explanation.

At the front, Bai Lin led the way, her spiritual senses sweeping around as she studied the pair before her, her eyes betraying a profound gravity.

The accompanying demon clansmen eyed the two men with open hostility, their vigilance unrelenting throughout the journey.

As time passed, the group traveled a great distance. The Prince of Shadows remained calm as ever, and the demons’ wariness never wavered. King Chujiang, trailed and scrutinized at every step, grew visibly more sullen.

Yet Bai Lin never stopped leading them forward. King Chujiang, out of respect for the Prince, could only follow, face growing ever darker, saying nothing as they pressed onward.

After another two hours or so, a colossal mountain appeared before them. It was less a peak than a sheer cliff, upon which was carved a grand mural.

Four spirit beasts were etched into the stone, so vivid they seemed alive: a blue dragon soared in the clouds, head raised, summoning rain; a vermilion bird, wreathed in endless flames, stood proudly upon a parasol tree; in the lower left, a massive black tortoise emerged from an enormous lake, its savage head raised in a skyward howl; to the right, amidst a tangle of broken blades, a fierce white tiger stood tall and defiant.

Each spirit beast occupied a corner of the mural. At the center, encircled by the Four Spirits, was an unremarkable-looking leaf.

“The Lord of All Demons…”

Gazing at that ordinary leaf amid the carvings, a trace of emotion flickered in the Prince of Shadows’ eyes as he unconsciously murmured to himself.

Bai Lin heard him, a glimmer of surprise passing through her expression, though she said nothing.

“With blood as the key, the ancestral spirit descends…”

“Open—”

Without further pause, Bai Lin lifted her hand, and a drop of blood thick with demonic energy welled up at her fingertip.

With a flick, she sent the blood sailing to land precisely on the brow of the carved white tiger.

A low hum arose as the entire cliff began to tremble, and the white tiger glowed with dazzling light. It was as if, roused by Bai Lin’s blood, the tiger within the stone sought to break free and return to the world.

The group watched in silence.

Soon, as the light faded, the humming from all directions subsided as well.

Then, with a thunderous rumble, a smooth fissure appeared abruptly in the great mural.

The crack widened, revealing a stone stairway leading upward.

Almost simultaneously, a cool wind swept by and the ancient lanterns lining the staircase lit one by one.

“Please, follow me,” Bai Lin invited, gesturing for the pair to proceed up the seemingly endless stairs.

The Prince of Shadows said nothing, striding forward onto the stone path, with King Chujiang close behind, ever alert.

Bai Lin, now more at ease, led the way ahead, and the three of them entered together.

None of the other demons followed. Evidently, entry to the ancestral grounds was not a privilege granted to ordinary clansmen…

…

Time passed quickly, and in half an hour, they could already see the end of the stairway.

There, a swirling vortex shimmered softly with light.

It looked less like a whirlpool and more like a teleportation array, leading to another realm.

“Beyond lies the ancestral ground,” Bai Lin announced, turning slightly to address the two men before continuing ahead.

The Prince of Shadows nodded and followed without delay.

As for King Chujiang… his wariness toward Bai Lin only deepened as he glanced at her, eyes sharp and alert.