Wandering Swordsman |

On this night filled with anticipation, Shen Mo found Hua Tianyou, and the two sat on a giant rock deep within the Demon Refining Mountain. Only the faint moonlight illuminated their silhouettes, and the occasional calls of night birds in the distance added a touch of mystery to the tranquil environment.

Shen Mo's voice was deep and gentle, "We're leaving here tomorrow, and I want to talk to you about what will happen after we leave."

Hua Tianyou slightly raised his head, his gaze fixed firmly on Shen Mo: "My lord, please speak, what do you wish to discuss?"

Shen Mo sighed softly, his tone turning serious: "When you pledged your allegiance to me, you asked me to go with you to the far west to kill someone. Could you tell me more about that?"

Hua Tianyou's eyes instantly deepened, as if he were lost in memories: "My Heavenly Demon Qi and martial arts were all imparted to me by my father, Hua Shenyong, before his death. He told me that if I could become the new Heavenly Demon God, I would have the power of revenge, and the person I would have to kill would be my enemy."

Hearing this, Shen Mo began to understand Hua Tianyou's actions. He then continued, "So, the secret about the Heavenly Demon Qi of Refining Demon Mountain, was it your father who told you?"

Hua Tianyou took a deep breath and slowly said, "Back when Father obtained the Heavenly Demon Qi in the cave, Hei Yan's voice appeared in his mind, saying that it would grant him supreme power. But Father was concerned about the warning from the first Heavenly Demon God on the bluestone wall, so he ignored it and left directly."

Upon hearing this, a look of realization flashed in Shen Mo's eyes: "So that's how it is. No wonder the black flames have only appeared now."

"Did your father tell you that the black flames would take over your body?"

Hua Tianyou's gaze hardened: "My father naturally didn't know. He only told me that there was an extremely powerful force in that cave. If I could obtain that force, revenge would not be difficult."

Hearing this, Shen Mo understood that the previous Heavenly Demon God had not come into contact with the Black Flame, so he naturally did not know that the Black Flame would possess his physical body.

Hua Tianyou continued, "If it were a chance for revenge, I would be willing to pay any price. So when I came into contact with the Black Flame, knowing it would take over my body, I still opened my meridians to let it in. Fortunately, I had a special method that came in handy, so I made a deal with the Black Flame in my inner world: he would help me fulfill my wish, and only then would I completely surrender my body to him..."

"...But thanks to my lord, I can now take revenge even without losing my body."

Shen Mo listened quietly, admiring Hua Tianyou's determination. After a moment, he continued, "There's one more thing. After leaving Demon Refining Mountain, I plan to appoint you as the new Demon Lord—the Heavenly Demon Lord."

Upon hearing this, Hua Tianyou was stunned, disbelief flashing in his eyes. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something but was momentarily speechless. Then, he immediately knelt down, his voice filled with gratitude: "Thank you, my lord! I will certainly do my utmost to serve the Heavenly Demon Sect!"

Shen Mo quickly reached out to help Hua Tianyou up, a warm smile on his face: "There's no need for that. I've seen your strength and determination. We have a long road ahead of us. If the Heavenly Demon God Sect needs to become stronger, we need to support each other and move forward together."

Hua Tianyou stood up, his eyes shining with determination: "Rest assured, my lord, I will prove my worth with my actions and will never let you down."

Shen Mo then smiled slightly: "However, after leaving the Demon Refining Mountain, I cannot immediately travel west with you. I still have matters to attend to in the Central Plains, so I need to make a trip there. After I return, we will travel to the far west together. In the meantime, I hope you can manage the Heavenly Demon God Sect on my behalf. After all, the Heavenly Demon God Sect values ​​strength above all else, and your strength is second only to mine. Only you can command respect."

Hua Tianyou was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Shen Mo to make such an arrangement. After a moment of contemplation, he replied firmly, "My lord, in that case, I will do my best to manage everything and await your return." His eyes revealed unwavering loyalty and determination.

"Furthermore," Shen Mo continued, "if you encounter any problems you can't solve, you can seek help from Yue Linglong or Xie Xin. Although they are not as capable as you, they have unique insights into handling complex matters."

A hint of gratitude flashed in Hua Tianyou's eyes: "Thank you for the reminder, my lord. I will communicate with them frequently to ensure that no oversights occur."

A gentle night breeze brought a touch of coolness, which also calmed the two of them. The surrounding trees cast dappled shadows in the moonlight, adding a touch of poetry to their conversation.

......

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, all the disciples of the Heavenly Demon Sect had already gathered outside the Demon Refining Mountain. The scene was exceptionally grand, with a sea of ​​people, as if the entire sect had converged there. Curiosity and excitement filled the faces of the people, who whispered among themselves, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Cheers and laughter occasionally broke the silence of the crowd, as if everyone was thrilled with the important moment that was about to begin.

The Flame Demon Lord, the Moon Demon Lord, and the Blood Demon Lord stood at the front of the crowd, their auras resembling three majestic mountains, bringing peace and strength to everyone present. The Flame Demon Lord's fiery aura seemed to ignite the surrounding air; the Moon Demon Lord, like the bright moon in the night sky, was calm and mysterious, giving people a sense of tranquility; the Blood Demon Lord, though slender, had piercing eyes that revealed unfathomable strength.

"Everyone, we have gathered here today to restart the Demon Refining Mountain to witness the birth of a new generation of Heavenly Demon Gods." The Moon Demon Lord's clear and cold voice pierced through the clamor and echoed throughout the entire square. Although her voice was calm, it was full of power and blessings, and every word was deeply imprinted in everyone's heart.

Inside the Demon Refining Mountain, the disciples who had already spent five years there could hardly contain their excitement. Their eyes were filled with anticipation for the future and a yearning for freedom. For five years, they had endured countless hardships on the Demon Refining Mountain, and finally, this moment had arrived. Some disciples even trembled slightly, their eyes glistening with tears, as if they couldn't believe it was real.

Outside Demon Refining Mountain, under everyone's watchful eyes, the three Demon Lords simultaneously extended their hands, their fingertips shimmering with light. The three forces converged, forming a dazzling beam of light that shot towards the massive stone gate.

As the three forces were injected, the ancient stone door slowly opened, emitting a heavy rumble. The moment the door opened, a terrifying surge of demonic energy erupted out, seemingly turning the air gray wherever it went.