In the depths of the demon market, hidden beneath a thick energy barrier that shimmers faintly like mist, Kaelan steps out of a dimly lit store.
The air here reeks of blood, smoke, and incense, thick enough to burn the lungs of mortals.
He lifts his gaze toward the grandest building in sight, a sprawling manor of black stone and red lanterns—the residence of the market lord.
He had arrived in this secret place a few hours ago, walking through the maze of stalls selling beast organs, cursed weapons, and the bones of ancient cultivators.
But he found no trace of what he came for—no slavers, no cages, no chained humans.
So he had entered the store behind him, one that sold information instead of goods.
Inside, behind a counter of dark wood, a rat demon with silver whiskers and narrow eyes told him the truth—humans aren't traded openly this close to the Tang Kingdom's capital.
The slavers here only deal with those they trust.
When Kaelan described what he wanted—a human of the Grand Master Realm and another of the Supreme Master Realm—the rat demon's whiskers trembled.
It told him that such people are beyond the reach of ordinary traders.
Only the market lord himself could fulfil such a request.
Now, Kaelan begins walking toward that towering manor, his steps slow and steady, the faint light of the barrier glimmering against his shadow.
The murmurs of demons fade behind him as Kaelan nears the market lord's residence.
The building looms high, its roof lined with horned gargoyles, lanterns burning with black fire at every corner.
Two guards step forward, halting him before the gate.
Their scent strikes him first—thick, metallic, and ancient. Blood Hound clan.
Noble demon beasts, known for tracking prey across realms.
Kaelan studies them in silence, noting the weight of their aura. Half-step Core Formation. Not ordinary guards.
He wonders if the market lord is of the Blood Hound clan or perhaps one of the six royal families of demon beasts.
With his aura hidden, the guards grow uneasy, gripping their long black spears. One steps forward and says, "Lord, state your business."
Kaelan answers, "I want to meet the market lord."
The other guard narrows his eyes. "Do you have an appointment, Lord?"
Kaelan lifts an eyebrow. "No."
"Then you cannot meet the lord," the first guard says flatly.
"I can write your name," the second adds, "and you may see her tomorrow."
Kaelan decides waiting isn't an option. A black feather materialises in his hand, its edges faintly shimmering with dark and death energy, revealing his aura.
He holds it out. "Take this and show it to the market lord."
The two exchange a look, silent understanding passing between them.
One takes the feather carefully, as if it might burn him, and disappears into the manor.
Kaelan folds his arms, knowing the outcome before it comes.
The demons of the Core Formation Realm have been curious about him ever since word spread of how he defeated a Divine Puppet Sect high priest and her ten Core Formation puppets.
Moments later, the guard returns. "Sir, the lord will see you." He extends the feather back with both hands.
Kaelan waves it away. "Keep it."
He walks past them through the open gate, his steps echoing faintly as he enters the house of the market lord.
A female snake demon meets him at the doorway, her emerald eyes glinting in the dim light.
She bows slightly and gestures for him to follow.
As they walk deeper into the mansion, laughter drifts from somewhere ahead, accompanied by the soft strains of music—an oddly cheerful noise for such a shadowed place.
They reach a large room where six male white fox demons dance gracefully in the centre, their movements precise and mesmerising.
Around them, other demons sit in small groups, drinking and observing the performance.
At the far end of the room, a grand staircase leads up to a throne.
Perched upon it is the market lord herself, transformed completely into human form: golden hair cascading like liquid sun, sapphire eyes that seem to pierce reality, and a face that is otherworldly, revealing nothing of her true clan.
She looks bored, idly observing the dance.
Her gaze lands on Kaelan, and with a sharp command, she orders everyone out.
The music cuts abruptly, laughter ceases, and every demon rises, filing past him in silence before the massive doors close behind him.
She stands from her throne with a soft sigh, beginning her descent down the staircase. "Thanks to you, I can finally send them out. They bore me to death," she murmurs, her voice melodic yet tinged with authority.
Kaelan's mind catalogues every demon that has passed him.
One figure lingers in his memory: a fox demon with golden double tails.
The realisation strikes him. "Entourage from the Golden Tail Fox Clan," he says aloud.
The woman raises a golden eyebrow. "Yes, that's why I cannot simply send them out without a sufficient excuse," she replies.
Kaelan steps further inside the room. "I need a favour from you."
She stops, considering him with piercing eyes. "I think this is the first time we've met," she says slowly.
"Yes," Kaelan answers, "but if you help me this time, I will owe you a favour."
The woman tilts her head, weighing the promise. After a moment, she nods. "Okay. Tell me what favour you need."
Kaelan explains the challenge, the need for a Grand Master and an Ultimate Martial Arts Master to meet his objectives.
She listens, then finally says, "Okay. Did you have dinner?"
Kaelan shakes his head. She gestures for him to follow. "Come with me. At dinner, I want to hear why you've been in conflict with the Divine Puppet Sect."
He falls into step beside her, the weight of the market lord's curiosity and power pressing against him as they move toward the private dining chamber.
----------
The next day, or perhaps a week before the competition, Kaelan meets the two martial artists sent by Soraya.
In the Tang Kingdom, four families reign supreme after the royal family: Gu, Qin, Zhao, and Wang.
These families command both martial artists and Qi refiners, and their influence is such that even the Qi refining sects of the Ren Kingdom often interfere in Tang affairs, much like the great families across all eight kingdoms.
The two martial artists Kaelan meets are from the Qin and Zhao families.
The Grand Martial Arts Master, Qin Yulan, hails from the Qin family, while the Supreme Martial Arts Master, Zhao Lianhua, represents the Zhao family.
Kaelan immediately senses the depth of Soraya's influence in the Tang Kingdom.
He gathers the two masters along with Chen Wei and Chen Qi and moves to a village operated by the Wuya escort agency—a training ground for orphans destined to serve in the agency.
Inside, Kaelan inspects the orphans, carefully assessing their potential.
Each match in the competition carries different stakes: a Master Realm victory earns one point, a Great Martial Arts Master earns two points, a Grand Martial Arts Master earns three points, a Supreme Martial Arts Master earns four points, and an Ultimate Martial Arts Master earns five points.
Kaelan's confidence is unshaken.
He is certain he will win his match.
If Qin Yulan, Zhao Lianhua, or both Chen Wei and Chen Qi secure their victories, their agency will claim the overall win.
Yet Kaelan knows that a complete sweep—winning all five matches—would bring unprecedented fame, opening doors for the Wuya Escort Agency to expand beyond the Tang Kingdom, carving a reputation feared and respected across all neighbouring lands.
Six days before the competition, Kaelan receives word from one of his crows that Lin Zian has awakened.
He orders the crow to continue watching him closely.
For now, winning the competition takes priority over everything else.
Training alongside his team sharpens not only their strength but also his own comprehension of martial arts.
Through every movement and strike, Kaelan begins to faintly sense the Dark Element Power that flows within Heaven and Earth. It is not dark elemental energy, but something far deeper—power.
The two are vastly different.
Comprehending a complete Power allows one to stand as a god within a small world.
The relationship is clear in his mind: Law gives birth to Power, and Power gives birth to Energy.
While Kaelan trains, Lin Zian sits inside a quiet chamber, facing Li Xueyao, the eldest princess of the Tang Kingdom.
He had planned to leave her residence after waking, but upon learning she was the one who arranged for his sister to enter the Mirror Lake Gate, he decided to stay and hear her out.
Li Xueyao studies him, her deep black eyes sharp enough to pierce through his guarded heart. "I want your help to take down Prince Liang," she says.
Lin Zian had long desired to kill Prince Liang, yet he knew his limits.
With his current strength, it's impossible. Only when he has the strength of a Core Formation Realm will he stand a chance.
"Princess," he says calmly, "our strength isn't enough to defeat Prince Liang."
She rolls her eyes. "Tell me something I don't already know. I'm not talking about defeating him directly."
Puzzled, he asks, "Then how?"
She leans forward slightly. "My father can't act against my uncle because there's no proof of his rebellion. If we can bring him proof, then my father will have reason to strike."
Lin Zian frowns. "Prince Liang won't surrender. That will lead to war."
Her voice hardens. "War will come either way."
At that moment, the sound of footsteps echoes through the garden.
A man wearing a black robe embroidered with the golden insignia of the Demon Hunter Association steps inside.
He greets with a light smile, "Xueyao, you returned and didn't even send someone to inform me."
Without waiting for a response, he takes a seat beside the princess, resting his hand on the table before subtly sliding it toward hers.
But the princess immediately pulls her hand away and shifts her chair farther from him.
His expression darkens, a faint frown forming as his eyes narrow.
Then he turns his gaze toward Lin Zian, his tone turning sharp. "Who are you?"
Lin Zian remains silent for a moment. The man's golden insignia marks him as a Golden Envoy of the Demon Hunter Association—someone whose realm is at least that of a Grand Martial Art Master.
Lin Zian wonders how he should introduce himself, but before he can speak, the princess does it for him.
"Tian Ruyang," she says calmly, "he's my saviour."
Tian Ruyang's brows knit together, confusion flickering in his eyes. "Saviour? What happened?"
The princess answers evenly, "When I was returning to the capital, I was ambushed on the outskirts. If he hadn't appeared, you'd be attending my funeral instead of sitting here."
Tian Ruyang's voice lowers, a thread of suppressed anger running beneath his calm words. "Who was behind it?"
The princess lets out a faint sigh. "Who else could it be?"
"Prince Liang," Tian Ruyang says coldly, his jaw tightening.
Lin Zian's eyes narrow slightly. "Princess, why does Prince Liang want to kill you? From what I see, you're not a Qi Refiner or a martial artist—you shouldn't pose a threat to him."
That thought still puzzles him deeply. According to the kingdom's chronicles, the princess is nearly ten years older than he, yet she remains an ordinary person without cultivation.
Li Xueyao meets his gaze steadily. "Perhaps because I'm the only one in court who dares to stand against my uncle. I even went to Shinji Prefecture myself to uncover his crimes."
Silence settles between them for a brief moment.
Then, hurried footsteps sound again.
Meilin rushes into the garden, breathless. "Princess! The Bronze Sparrow Escort Agency has challenged the Wuya Escort Agency! They're set to fight in the royal arena!"
The princess's eyes widen in shock. "What?"
Tian Ruyang's expression mirrors hers. "The Wuya Escort Agency dares to accept the challenge?"
Meilin nods. "They did. Two days ago."
The princess frowns. "Why would the Bronze Sparrow Escort Agency challenge the Wuya Escort Agency? Aren't they lowering their stature? Do they not fear people saying they bully the weak?"
Ruyang says, "They found a sufficient reason—because of the Mi Rice House."
He explains the situation, and Li Xueyao listens in silence before saying, "Then the Wuya Escort Agency must win this competition. Behind the Bronze Sparrow Escort Agency stands the Gu family, and they're tied to Prince Liang. If you deal them a heavy blow, it might slow your uncle's movements and give us time to find evidence against him."
The others nod.
Lin Zian asks, "What's the strength of the Wuya Escort Agency?"
Meilin replies, "Their leader is a Grand Martial Arts Master."
Both Lin Zian and the princess are stunned. Lin Zian mutters, "How could they accept the challenge then?"
The princess asks, "Which noble family or sect supports them?"
Meilin says, "None. They aren't linked to anyone."
The princess looks at Tian Ruyang. In the Tang Kingdom, nothing escapes the Demon Hunter Association.
Ruyang says, "According to our information, they're connected to the Death Crow Demon Lord near Qinghe City."
Her eyes narrow, voice softening with thought. "Then this competition will be interesting."
They exchange glances and nod.
Five days before the competition, Kaelan spars with Chen Wei.
Chen Wei attacks with his spear, darkfire coiling around the shaft like a serpent. Kaelan watches his movements calmly.
He not only created the Dark Slash technique but also forged many martial skills for his men, each rooted in the dark element or blended with it.
After becoming his dependents, his men gained affinity with darkness, allowing them to cultivate such techniques.
The Darkfire Spear technique that Chen Wei wields was created by Kaelan himself.
He knows every flaw, every point where the flow stumbles.
Each exchange is meant to refine Chen Wei's control, to push him closer to mastery.
Martial techniques are divided into ranks: Influential for those below the Master Realm, Master for Martial Masters to Grand Masters, and Supreme for those in the Supreme Master Realm.
The Darkfire Spear technique stands at the high level of the Master rank. Even a small mastery of it allows Chen Wei to fight across realms.
After training Chen Wei, Kaelan moves to Chen Qi, guiding him toward great mastery of the same technique.
Then he spars with Qin Yulan and Zhao Lianhua.
They are not his followers, yet he hones their combat instincts, forcing them to polish their strengths and overcome hesitation.
That night, a crow returns with news. Through its eyes, Kaelan learns that Lin Zian tortured his senior brother Liu Ming to death.
The reason shocks him less than the pattern.
Liu Ming had turned against Lin Zian for the same cause that drove Senior Brother Wu Hai's death at the hands of Bu Lai and Ji Mo—the struggle over a fragment of a supreme-rank martial art, the Rainbow Sword Technique.
Four days before the competition, Kaelan trains his group as usual.
That morning, a crow reports that Li Xueyao has been summoned to the imperial court.
The crows cannot see what happens inside, but when she emerges, her face is pale and tense.
Later, back at her residence, she discusses the reason with her maid, unaware that a crow is listening nearby.
Through it, Kaelan learns the truth—Li Xueyao has been ordered to marry within a month.
A list of candidates was presented to her, and at the top stands Tian Ruyang.
She, however, refuses the idea, knowing his cold and possessive nature.
To him, she is not a person, but something to own.
Hearing this, Kaelan can't help but smirk.
It feels like one of those forced-marriage dramas he used to read and watch in his previous life.
The world itself seems desperate to tie its fates together.
But he also understands why.
Li Xueyao lacks martial ability because her body absorbs all forms of energy, converting it directly into vitality.
The vitality within her is immense, yet she cannot mobilise it, leaving her an ordinary person in appearance.
However, during dual cultivation, that vitality can be channelled into her partner, granting them rapid advancement.
The world wants Lin Zian's strength to rise quickly—and Li Xueyao is the perfect catalyst.
Thinking this through, Kaelan's lips curve into a faint, knowing smile. A mischievous thought stirs in his mind—the princess is exactly his type.
He wonders, what would happen if he asked for her hand in marriage? The Tang King would surely refuse now, but after the competition, once the king witnesses his strength, he might be tempted to agree—especially if Kaelan adds a few enticing conditions to the offer.
Then another idea blooms—what would the world do if he interfered with its predetermined destiny?
A thrill runs through him at the thought, like butterflies fluttering in his stomach.
Curiosity gnaws at him, and the balance within his heart slowly tilts away from caution.
Perhaps he will make this wild idea a reality, just to see how the world reacts.
Three days from the competition, training continues as usual.
Two days before, he halts their practice and enters a deep retreat.
One day from the competition, he remains secluded, the air around his room heavy with dark energy and silence.