Wandering Swordsman |

This martial artist, named Chen Feng, was a key figure in the Flame Demon Pavilion responsible for intelligence gathering. He strode up to the Flame Demon Lord, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and respectfully said, "Your Excellency, news has arrived from the west: a person claiming to be from the far west has entered Fallen Sword Valley."

The Flame Demon Lord frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "The far west? That's such a remote place, with dangerous environments blocking the way. How could anyone have come here from there?" He smiled with a touch of sarcasm, "Could it be someone as remarkable as the Heavenly Demon God?"

Chen Feng raised his head, a strange light flashing in his eyes: "This person is about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, and his martial arts are extremely high. Although he did not use his full strength, it can be roughly seen that the martial arts he uses are of the same origin as those of the Heavenly Demon God Sect."

Upon hearing this, the Flame Demon Lord's expression instantly turned serious. He knew all too well that the intervention of any external force could disrupt the existing balance. Especially since this young man had actually managed to traverse numerous natural barriers to arrive here from the far west, which in itself proved that his strength was not to be underestimated. "Continue," the Flame Demon Lord said in a deep voice.

Chen Feng nodded and continued, "After entering Fallen Sword Valley, this person did not show any hostility, but instead inquired about information about Demon Refining Mountain."

The Flame Demon Lord narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Does this person have any companions? Or does he exhibit any unusual behavior?"

"From observation, this person is a loner, without any companions. However, there seems to be some deeper meaning hidden in his words and actions," Chen Feng replied. "It's one thing for him to know about the Demon Refining Mountain, but it seems that his understanding of the Heavenly Demon God Sect is also beyond that of ordinary people."

Upon hearing this, the Flame Demon Lord fell into deep thought. He knew that this was a crucial moment for the birth of a new Heavenly Demon God at the Demon Refining Mountain. If a young man of unknown origin suddenly appeared and possessed such profound knowledge of the Demon Refining Mountain and the Heavenly Demon God Sect, then he must have some ulterior motive.

"It seems I need to meet this person in person," the Flame Demon Lord said slowly. "Send someone to invite him to the Flame Demon Pavilion immediately."

"Yes!" Chen Feng replied, then got up to leave.

Chen Feng nodded in agreement and quickly left. Silence returned to the training room, with only Yan Mojun standing alone by the window, his gaze still fixed on the distant mountains. At this moment, he was filled with wariness towards this suddenly appearing young man.

Meanwhile, in a corner of Fallen Sword Valley, the mysterious young man sat quietly on a boulder, a black sword in his hand, which he was wiping with a cloth. His eyes were calm and profound, as if he had already seen through the essence of all things. Although he appeared indifferent on the surface, he was inwardly weighing every step he would take.

He murmured to himself, "Father, I have arrived at your sect..."

Just as he was pondering, he heard soft footsteps approaching from not far away. He looked up and saw a figure dressed in black robes slowly walking towards him. The man stopped in front of him and bowed respectfully, saying, "Young hero, I heard you were inquiring about the Demon Refining Mountain. Our sect leader, Lord Flame Demon, invites you to come. He will tell you about the Demon Refining Mountain in detail."

Upon hearing this, the young man's lips curled into a slight smile. He stood up, straightened his clothes, and then followed. The young man's name was Hua Tianyou, and he was about twenty years old. He had a handsome face and a heroic air about him. His clothes were simple yet tasteful; his long, light gray robe swayed gently in the wind, making him particularly eye-catching.

Led by the man in black robes, Hua Tianyou passed through a dense forest and arrived before a magnificent palace. The palace gates were wide open, and the interior was brightly lit. The Flame Demon Lord sat on a high platform in the center of the hall, his gaze piercing, as if he could see through everything. When he saw Hua Tianyou enter, he was startled—this young man bore a striking resemblance to Hua Shenyong, the Heavenly Demon God who had journeyed west a hundred years ago!

"Welcome to the Flame Demon Pavilion." The Flame Demon Lord's voice was deep and magnetic, but a hint of wariness flickered in his eyes. "May I ask how I should address you, young hero?"

Hua Tianyou stepped forward and bowed calmly, saying, "I am Hua Tianyou. My father is Hua Shenyong, also known as the Heavenly Demon God."

Upon hearing these words from Hua Tianyou, the Flame Demon Lord was shocked, almost unable to believe his ears. He carefully examined the young man before him and discovered that the spirit in his features was indeed identical to that of the Heavenly Demon God from back then. Countless questions immediately welled up in his mind: Could he really be the son of the Heavenly Demon God?

"Why are you here?" the Flame Demon Lord asked, his tone tinged with a hint of probing.

Hua Tianyou smiled slightly and answered frankly, "When my father passed away five years ago, he asked me to return to the Heavenly Demon God Sect, enter the Demon Refining Mountain, and become the new Heavenly Demon God. So I traveled thousands of miles from the far west, crossing deserts, snow-capped mountains, and cliffs, just to enter the Demon Refining Mountain."

The Flame Demon Lord secretly pondered. If what this person said was true, then his appearance would undoubtedly ruin his carefully planned scheme. At this moment, an idea surfaced in the Flame Demon Lord's mind: Should he eliminate this person on the spot to avoid any unforeseen complications?

Thinking of this, the Flame Demon Lord suddenly released terrifying demonic energy, instantly turning the entire hall gloomy and oppressive. Hua Tianyou frowned slightly, feeling an unprecedented sense of crisis, and immediately released his own powerful demonic energy to confront the Flame Demon Lord's demonic energy head-on. The two forces collided in the air, producing a series of booming sounds, and the surrounding air seemed to be torn apart, forming invisible ripples.

Sensing Hua Tianyou's power, the Flame Demon Lord was secretly astonished. Judging from Hua Tianyou's displayed strength, he truly lived up to his reputation as the son of the Heavenly Demon God. He lacked the confidence to kill him instantly. Therefore, the Flame Demon Lord quickly withdrew his released demonic energy and ceased his attack. He decided to temporarily refrain from fighting and instead adopt another strategy.

"I see." The Flame Demon Lord smiled, feigning ease. "However, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. The Demon Refining Mountain has been open for three and a half years, and it will end in one year."

Upon hearing this, Hua Tianyou remained unmoved and instead said with even greater determination, "Flame Demon Lord, as far as I know, according to the sect's rules, if a capable member of the Heavenly Demon God Sect misses the opening of the Demon Refining Mountain because they were not in the sect at the time, they can challenge one of the Twelve Venerables in the presence of all the Demon Lords. If they succeed in the challenge, they can be allowed to join the Demon Refining Mountain midway through the process."

Upon hearing this, the Flame Demon Lord frowned, deeply surprised. He hadn't expected Hua Tianyou to be so familiar with the sect's rules; it was clearly not a spur-of-the-moment decision or a reckless act of ignorance. The Flame Demon Lord had to re-evaluate this suddenly appearing son of the Heavenly Demon God.