Swallowed Star: Lord of the Wolf

"A new face?" The old man in the gray robe didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice hoarse as if sandpaper was being rubbed.

"I'm new here and want to learn the rules and get some of the latest information." Bai Yu's voice was low and calm, revealing no emotion.

The old man finally raised his cloudy eyes, scanning Bai Yu like a venomous snake, lingering for a moment on Bai Yu's golden body. His withered lips seemed to twitch slightly: "Rules? There is only one rule in the Ten Thousand Demon Continent: those who survive are the rule. As for news..." He tapped an inconspicuous black jade plate on the counter, which looked like it was carved from a skull, with his thin fingers, "...a drop of Chaos Origin Essence Blood, or an equivalent 'Calamity Crystal'."

Bai Yu understood.

The essence of chaos origin blood contains the purest life essence of powerful chaos gods, making it extremely valuable. "Tribulation Crystals," on the other hand, are the hard currency of this realm. They are refined by the Yin Gods from the highly condensed energy of the seven emotions and six desires dissipated during the tribulations of countless beings (experiencing extreme emotions such as great sorrow and joy). Containing pure fragments of laws and emotional power, they are excellent resources for demonic cultivation.

With a slight thought, he forced out a drop of blood the size of a grain of rice from his fingertip. The droplet radiated a pure dark golden luster and contained a powerful chaotic pressure. This was the essence blood of the skeletal troll, which could both enhance cultivation and serve as currency.

A drop of blood fell onto the black jade plate and was instantly absorbed.

"Hmm..." After receiving payment and completing the task, the old man in the gray robe suddenly brightened the faint glimmer in his cloudy eyes, like a spark leaping from ashes. He lightly traced the edge of the plate with his withered fingers, and the glimmer subsided, returning him to his previous dazed state, only now his hoarse voice held a new seriousness.

"The rules are explained. Ask away, newcomer." The old man's eyelids drooped, as if he might fall asleep at any moment.

Bai Yu's body stood as straight as an ancient pine, his molten gold pupils filled with interest as he stared directly at the old man: "I come from an outer realm, and being new to your esteemed land, I must be cautious. May I ask how the power structures are divided on this continent? Where are the forbidden areas for the strong, and where... opportunities lie?"

"Power division?" The old man let out a low, hoarse laugh, like a broken bellows pumping. "Hoho~~~ Deep within the chaotic currents, countless nooks and crannies are hidden. It's not surprising that a few unknown little devils would emerge. Fine, let's settle this with money. The winds of the Ten Thousand Demon Continent will blow into your ears as promised."

His thin fingers tapped unconsciously on the black jade plate, producing a hollow "tap-tap" sound, as if he were sorting through a vast sea of ​​information.

"The Continent of Ten Thousand Demons..." the old man began slowly, his voice echoing only in Bai Yu's ears, "To call it a continent is an understatement; it's more like a graveyard that was shattered and forcibly pieced together, soaked in chaotic filth and blood. The true rulers of this world are the three 'Yin Heaven Gods' who reside high on the edge of the 'Sea of ​​a Thousand Calamities,' feeding on the calamities of all living beings!"

"Le Yin God, who rules the 'Abyss of Decay,' commands only skeletons, corpse demons, and vengeful spirits. The Ten Thousand Bones Wharf is merely a small puddle on the outskirts of His territory."

"The Yin Spirit dwells in the 'Heart Prison,' and is most adept at manipulating souls, weaving illusions, and drawing upon the seven emotions and six desires as if drinking from a sweet spring."

"The Blood-Burning Yin God, who resides in the 'Molten Sea,' is as violent as fire and believes in the supremacy of power. His demonic domain is like an inextinguishable furnace of flesh and blood."

With each name the old man uttered, the invisible pressure in the air seemed to grow heavier.

His murky gaze swept over Bai Yu: "These three are the heavens of the Ten Thousand Demon Continent. They may fight among themselves, but when facing external enemies, they are one. To offend one of them is to become an enemy of the three Yin Heaven Gods."

"Below the Yin Heaven Gods," the old man changed his tone, tracing lines on the black jade plate with his finger as if sketching an invisible map, "lies the nine layers of the 'Bottomless Abyss.' Not a geographical abyss, but a hierarchy of power and order. The first layer is the 'shallowest,' a mixture of those newly entering the Chaos Realm, various demon generals, and scattered soldiers. The Ten Thousand Bones Wharf is located on the edge of this layer, chaotic and disorderly, with killing being the norm. The deeper you go, the 'deeper' the abyss becomes, and the stronger those who occupy it become. The rules... or rather, the will of the strong, are the rules. The ninth layer of the abyss is adjacent to the demon palaces of the three Yin Venerables. Only the most powerful beings of the Chaos Gods or their most trusted demon generals are qualified to occupy a place there. It is a forbidden area, not to be entered without being summoned, and those who trespass... will be reduced to ashes."

Bai Yu understood.

This division of the "Nine Abysses" is actually equivalent to the three Yin Heaven Gods joining forces to establish the divine kingdom of the "Ten Thousand Demon Continent," below which are the "Lords" of the Chaos Gods.

The skeletal trolls he had killed earlier were located in the largest and most chaotic lower and middle layers of the pyramid, and had been sealed away in a very remote place.

Ignoring Bai Yu's thoughts, the old man continued, "As for secret realms and divine lands..."

The old man's cloudy eyes moved slightly, as if recalling something. "In this land ruled by the Yin Gods, which have been repeatedly plowed over countless times, anything that can be called an 'opportunity' is nothing more than a remnant of ancient times, or a 'hunting ground' deliberately left behind by the Yin Gods."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, his voice lowering even further: "Within the 'Bone Wasteland' under the command of the God of Music, there lies the 'Burial Ground of Ancient Gods.' Legend has it that it was formed from the remains of a being who fell at the beginning of the Origin World, a being even more ancient and powerful than the God of Music. His bones survived the erosion of chaos and were scattered across the wasteland. Occasionally, 'Bone Jade' containing his remaining laws or origins will appear, which is an unparalleled treasure for those who cultivate bone-based demonic arts. However, spacetime there is distorted, curses permeate the air, and the 'Bone Guards' under the command of the God of Music patrol the area. Those who do not possess both strength and luck will die eight or nine out of ten if they try to sneak across."

"On the edge of the Soul Yin God's 'Heart Prison,' floats the 'Nightmare Corridor.' It is a strange space composed of shattered dreams and obsessions, said to be the place where the Soul Yin God discarded his 'works' that failed in his experiments or that he had grown tired of. It may contain powerful fragments of souls, distorted crystals of illusionary laws, and even... the secret imprints of techniques that the Soul Yin God inadvertently revealed. The Soul Yin God is very generous; all the Chaos Gods of the Myriad Demon Continent are welcome to go there. It is the most prosperous secret realm."

"As for the Blood Burning Yin God... never mind. In the divine land under the Blood Burning Yin God's control, apart from his subordinate forces, no one who tries to cross over survives. I don't recommend you go."

The chance of survival for those who sneak into the secret realm of the God of Musical Yin is at least one in ten, but no one has ever survived the treacherous realm of the God of Blood Burning Yin. This makes the God of Blood Burning Yin the most terrifying of the three great Yin gods of the Ten Thousand Demons Continent!

The old man mentioned three places in one breath, then stopped using his withered fingers, picked up an unidentified black liquid from the side, took a sip, and let out a satisfied sigh.

“These places are just the tip of the iceberg, and they are all under the shadow of the Yin Lords. Besides…” A glint of light flashed in his turbid eyes, “The Ten Thousand Demon Continent itself is the largest ‘ruins’ and ‘hunting ground’.”

“Deep within the chaotic currents, among the remnants of world islands that haven’t yet been completely swallowed and assimilated, occasionally something… that doesn’t belong to this world will surface.” The old man’s voice carried a mysterious allure. “Perhaps fragments of artifacts from beyond this world, perhaps the remains of powerful beings from other realms swept in by spatial storms, or even… the residual fluctuations of teleportation arrays set up by some ancient beings, connecting to unknown lands. These things are of immeasurable value, but they also come with unpredictable dangers. Discovering them depends on luck, preserving them… depends on life.”

A barely perceptible glint flashed in the depths of his jade-like, gold-plated pupils.

The "thing that doesn't belong to this world" that the old man spoke of, wasn't that him? But he knew he couldn't reveal the slightest bit. Judging from the current situation, this Origin World is very young, and the concept of the Origin World is also very widespread. At least at the level of Chaos Gods, it's not a big secret... The Yin Heaven God is comparable to a God King and wants to climb to a higher peak, while the legendary Yang Heaven God might be comparable to the Emperor of the Origin Continent or even the Ancestor of an Ancient Kingdom.

For beings like them, opportunities outside the source world are what they seek.

The void gate they borrowed, and the elemental power involved, is exactly what they crave!
Once this gets out, I'll probably become the prey hunted by all the powerful.

"It sounds like danger lurks everywhere." Bai Yu nodded solemnly. "So, have there been any major events recently?"

"A grand event?" The old man chuckled twice. "The 'Blood-Clad Demoness' under the command of the God of Music, renowned for her 'Thousand Desires,' will soon host a grand 'Blood Feast' at the 'Thousand Desires Demon Palace' on the edge of the ninth level of the abyss. At that time, all demons will come to pay homage, and all kinds of monsters will vie for supremacy. One of the highlights of the Blood Feast will be the opening of the 'Thousand Desires Demon Palace Arena,' far exceeding the scale of ordinary events. It is said..."

"The final blood sacrifice offering is a Chaos God peak 'Blazing Sky' from the distant 'Holy Light Realm,' captured personally by the God of Music. His pure holy blood of light and divine core are an unparalleled 'Tribulation Pill' for us demonic cultivators! The Demoness has declared that after the arena event, everyone present will... get a share!"

Blood-Clad Demoness!
The Palace of a Thousand Desires!

The peak Chaos God, Blazing Heaven!
These words, like pebbles thrown into a deep pool, stirred up ripples in Bai Yu's heart.

A battleground where the strong gather, an opportunity to openly absorb high-quality "nourishment," and a place where one might access higher-level information. It's worth going, except I wonder if I'll be recognized for killing and devouring the skeletal trolls…

"Oh? That's quite a grand event." Bai Yu's face showed great interest. "I wonder what the requirements are for this Blood Banquet?"

"Threshold?" The old man grinned, revealing his teeth. "A living Chaos God is the threshold."

He tapped the black jade plate again with his withered fingers, indicating that the money and goods were settled, and saw the guest off, saying, "I have given you the information. How you walk your path depends on your own abilities and... whether your life is tough enough."

Bai Yu cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, seemingly lost in thought, before turning and merging into the noisy and chaotic demonic currents of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion.

A gentle breeze swept across the ground, silently.

Stepping out of the twisted, skeletal structure, the clamor and filth of the Ten Thousand Bones Wharf assaulted his senses. Bai Yu stood in the shadow of a massive rib, his molten gold pupils sweeping over the bizarre and fantastical landscape of the demonic realm, his divine sense sinking into the map of the Ten Thousand Demon Continent given to him by the old man.

hum.

A vast and complex three-dimensional picture unfolded in my mind.

The three filthy "rivers"—the Decaying Abyss of the God of Joy, the Heart Prison of the God of Souls, and the Molten Sea of ​​the God of Burning Blood—spread like giant tree roots, supporting the nine-layered funnel-shaped "bottomless abyss" that covers the entire continent.

"Blood-Clad Demoness... Blazing Sky..." Bai Yu's mind raced.

Among the fragments of the skeletal troll's memories, there is very little information about this enchantress, known for her allure and ruthlessness, who served under the god of pleasure. All that is known is that she held a very high position, was deeply favored, and acted arrogantly and domineeringly.

As for Chitian, he is a top-tier powerhouse in the Holy Light Realm, existing only in legends. The allure of devouring such a being is undeniable, but the risks are equally enormous.

Exposure of identity?

Did it attract the attention of the Yin Tian deity?
Even the Blood-Clad Demoness noticed the traces of him devouring the Bone Giant.

Deep within those molten gold eyes, a cold flame burned silently.

"The Thousand Desires Demon Palace... is worth a visit!" The decision was made.

Bai Yu withdrew his divine sense, and the bone slip turned to ashes in his palm. He took a step, his figure like an inconspicuous gray shadow, merging into the demonic current surging towards the depths of the abyss at the dock.

He did not leave immediately, but instead found a relatively secluded recess formed naturally by a massive rib. He set up a concealment barrier, isolating himself from outside prying eyes and noise, and sat cross-legged, his molten gold eyes slowly closing.

Within his body, the Devouring Essence Golden Core, existing between a solid and a liquid state and swirling with dark gold patterns, was spinning at an unprecedented speed. At the core of the Golden Core, a vast but impure energy—the remaining essence blood of the skeletal troll—was forcibly bound and refined.

The origin of refining a chaotic demon of the same level is formless, and it is by no means an easy task.

"Hmph!" Bai Yu sneered inwardly. If he could kill even the true form, what would he do with a mere trace of aura?
Strip, remove, refine!

The ancient demonic aura, filthy resentment, and fragmented pieces of the laws of death belonging to the skeletal trolls were forcibly separated, crushed, and turned into nothingness.

Only the purest and most fundamental power of the Devouring Law remains.

One hundred days later.

"It's a pity that I lost my formless and shapeless abilities in this Origin World, otherwise I wouldn't have needed to go through all this trouble." Bai Yu's eyes, which were filled with molten gold, opened, their sharp light concealed, as deep as an abyss.

He removed the restriction, his gaze piercing through the chaotic demonic currents, and looked towards the abyss.

"It's time to set off," Bai Yu whispered.

With a flicker, he transformed into a streak of gray light, silently merging into the demonic current surging into the depths of the abyss. He no longer needed to conceal himself; the demonic aura belonging to the skeletal troll had completely vanished.

Flying through the chaotic air currents, Bai Yu precisely controlled the energy tide zone from the skeletal troll's memory, like a familiar traveler returning home. He skillfully avoided the powerful demonic gazes along the way, passing through burning plains of demonic flames and skeletal mountains.

These are all occupied territories; trespassing will lead to conflict.

After flying downwards for about half a month, the dark, chaotic air suddenly became violent and turbulent, and deafening wails of demonic souls came from the deepest depths. At the edge of their vision, a vast, boundless funnel-shaped shadow appeared—the edge of the nine-layered bottomless abyss.

The murky "Breath of Decay," exuding a strong aura of decay and death, stirred up chaos like inverted tentacles, forming a turbulent current.

The spatial folds were like the tearing of intestines, the fragments were like knives, and the venomous demonic sounds were soul-corroding and bone-destroying.

The white jade hovered before the turbulent flow, its molten gold pupils calm and still. The skeletal troll's memories were crystal clear: this seemingly desolate entrance to the land followed a pattern.

He waited quietly.

Several dozen breaths later, the raging torrents experienced an extremely brief, breath-like pause—this is the moment.

Bai Yu's figure transformed into an extremely refined dark gold thread, shooting in instantly without the slightest hesitation. (End of Chapter)