"Boss, why didn't you just kill that dumb human brat earlier?" asked one of the Demons to the Demon who had killed Zhao Yuan.
Another demon nodded. "What if he grows up and becomes a powerful Cultivator and takes revenge?"
The Demon Boss shook his head and sneered. "He's just a foolish human boy. Besides, his dantian and spiritual root have been destroyed. It's certain he can't resurrect his cultivation." he said with a cynical, confident tone.
The other demons nodded in understanding.
---
Zhao Clan.
Zhao Long, kneeling among the ruins of the clan.
His gaze was empty, as if devoid of the will to live.
Around him, crimson flames raged wildly, devouring any burnable rubble.
The ground had taken on the color of blood.
Dozens of corpses lay not far from him.
The area that had been the Zhao Clan was now leveled to the ground.
There was nothing he could do now.
His father's body had exploded into a mist of blood, without a single visible limb.
While bowing and staring into nothingness, Zhao Long unconsciously noticed a glowing emerald-green object behind a stone.
Curious, he pried the stone open and saw what emitted that green light. Who would have thought — it was a necklace, the same as the one he wore.
The necklace belonged to Zhao Yuan.
With trembling hands, Zhao Long picked up the necklace. His eyes reddened and tears streamed down his face once again.
He hugged the necklace tightly, not noticing that its glow had begun to fade.
After a while he released his hold, staring at the remains of Zhao Yuan's blood.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a strong wind blew and began to extinguish the flames.
A cold aura spread, cooling the previously scorching air.
Sensing it, Zhao Long put on a flat, cold, expressionless face.
Swoosh!
The wind blew again. But this time it carried with it three figures.
The three figures appeared behind Zhao Long.
The figure in front was a man with a cold face, gray hair, and wearing a black robe. What caught the eye was his differently colored pupils: the left eye was blood-red black, as if forged from blood; the right was a slightly golden gray.
The second figure was a young man standing beside the first. He had short black hair, a cold, handsome face, and wore a black robe. He also had a pair of gray pupils.
The third figure was a woman. She wore a blue hanfu, her long white hair flowing elegantly behind her, and her cold aura caused the temperature to drop. Her face was beautiful, with skin as white and smooth as newly polished jade.
The three figures looked at Zhao Long with pity.
Zhao Long, with no intention of turning back, immediately stood. Then he walked forward without a glance behind him.
The three newcomers frowned, then followed Zhao Long.
A few minutes later, Zhao Long's steps halted.
So did the steps of the three trailing figures.
Zhao Long's face grew extremely gloomy.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his hands bled from being scratched by the necklace he held.
"Are you alright, young one?" the black-haired man stepped forward and asked in a cold tone.
But Zhao Long did not answer.
His fists tightened further. His eyes sharpened and fixed on a certain direction.
The direction the Demons had gone.
Then, the clenched hand loosened.
Zhao Long realized he could do nothing — he was merely a mortal human. His cultivation base had been destroyed, along with his spiritual root and dantian.
He was certain no one could restore his cultivation base, except for some miracle that defied fate.
The gray-haired man sighed deeply, then stepped forward. Less than two meters separated him from Zhao Long.
"I know how much you hate the Demon race. And how eager you are for revenge. But because your cultivation base is shattered..."
Before the gray-haired man finished speaking, Zhao Long cut in.
"What do you want?" Zhao Long asked, getting straight to the point. His voice sounded grim, hoarse, and cold, carrying a chilling aura only certain people could sense.
The black-haired man snorted in annoyance. "Of course to help you take revenge. What else? You fool."
Hearing that, Zhao Long clenched his fists. "I can't!"
"Can't?" the gray-haired man smiled and shook his head. "Do you think there's no way in this world to restore a destroyed cultivation base? Your thinking is too short-sighted."
Zhao Long gritted his teeth, then turned and growled angrily. "I know it's possible in this world to restore a cultivation base, but do you think it's as easy as flipping your palm? Ridiculous!"
He continued, sneering, "You're so useless. I'm just a poor brat who now has no family left. And still expected to resurrect my cultivation? Even my body was sold off, couldn't pay a single cent." he scoffed, putting on a displeased face.
The black-haired man narrowed his eyes. He immediately smiled faintly. "As for the price or whatever, you don't need to worry about that. What we want is just one thing. Do you want revenge or not?" he asked.
Zhao Long clenched his hand. "If I could, of course I would!" Zhao Long said. A fierce resolve shone in his eyes. He desperately wanted to torture the demons who had killed his father.
"Good!" the gray-haired man nodded with a wide smile. "If that's the case, then follow us."
"Why should I join you?" Zhao Long frowned.
Join these people?
Impossible!
He didn't know these three figures at all — how could he trust them?
"Just come with us, fool. This is your chance to get revenge against that ugly race. Opportunities like this don't come twice. So go with us. Besides, what are you still doing here? This is no longer a home, but ruins!"
**
Elsewhere.
Brak!
A table was slammed so hard it shattered into pieces, making several people jump in alarm.
"You're not joking, are you? How could you lose that flower!" an old man shouted angrily at several men before him.
"S-sorry, Patriarch. We did not notice that the flower had disappeared along with the two young men after they received the trial lightning." one man bowed and explained in a trembling voice, afraid of the old man's anger.
The old man raged and kicked them hard. "You are Divine Rulers, how could you be fooled by two little ants of the Saint Realm? This is utterly unbelievable!"
"Go! Find those two Saint Realm ants until you do. Don't kill them because they still have use to our sect. Just beat them. And... I don't want to hear if the Nine Divine Flower must be at its peak!"
He continued, spitting threats laced with murderous intent.
The kicked men swallowed their saliva and nodded, then hurried out of the old man's room.
"You're so arrogant, thinking yourselves strong as ants of the Saint Realm. I want to see how far you can run from my grasp, you damned Saint Realm ants!"