《Devil Lotus》 Chapter 1: Great Demonic Way! Morning came as dawn arose. Golden Crow peeking over the horizon and Solar Dragon riding across the sky. The world woke up as sunlight illuminated it, rousing Immortal practitioners from their meditation and awakening the normal folk from their sleep. In a small valley, a tall youth sat. Perspiration and black substance began to suddenly emanate off of him, a black miasma clung to the air around him. This tall youth is Mo Yan. For as long as he can remember, Mo Yan lived alone as a orphan. Other than the memories that he had made till now, Mo Yan also possessed a mysterious set of instructions within his mind to live with. Cultivate the mysterious breathing technique within your mind for a decade straight, only then will you go on to become a powerful Cultivator! Mo Yan was turning ten this day, but had a appearance of a fifteen-year-old because of the mysterious breathing technique. The mysterious breathing technique gave him terrifying physical strength and greatly increased his sensitivity to Qi! Opening his eyes, Mo Yan grinned wholeheartedly. Today was the day that he would go join a Sect and become a Cultivator! Ever since coming to this world, Mo Yan had heard about Cultivators and Truth cultivation! Comprehension of Dao! Understanding of Truth! Realization of your Way! Defy Heaven and become an Immortal! Gain ultimate power and fly over the Ninth Horizon! Today was the twelfth lunar month. The birthday of Mo Yan was exactly today, the first day of the twelfth lunar month. Coincidentally enough, Sects and Academies begin opened their entrance examination at the start of the twelfth lunar month. After washing and donning a new set of fur clothes, Mo Yan set out towards Yunhai City, where the majority of powerful Sects and Academies existed. Mo Yan had already decided to join an Academy, after graduating, Mo Yan would be able to cut off any ties and freely do whatever he wants. Joining a Sect would result in him being tied down by relation and helping the Sect when it is in a dire predicament. Mo Yan did not want that! After becoming powerful enough, Mo Yan wanted to explore the world! Truth cultivation was divided into many different stages: Lifeblood Condensation, Blaze Foundation, Vitality Spring, and Yinyang Realm. There are stages further than that but Grandma Meng told him that he is too weak to know about them. Grandma Meng is of the Black Anvil Village, which had cared for Mo Yan ever since he was born, she was literally like his own grandmother. At the gate of Yunhai City. Two stoic guards stood tall, their fiery orange armor gleaming in the sunlight. This were the Sunguard of Yunhai City, and were the main form of defense and militarial power. Joining the Sunguard was equivalent to becoming a noble; you would possess an extraordinary status. One of the guards noticed Mo Yan and waved to him. Mo Yan walked over and the guard said: ¡°You their. You are a newcomer correct? Do you have identification?¡± Mo Yan helplessly looked at himself and said: ¡°No. I do not.¡± The guard sighed and then pointed towards a small stall. ¡°Go their. I¡¯ll help you set up a identification. Don¡¯t lose it, without the identification, you wouldn¡¯t be able to enter the inner layer where the Sects and Academies lay.¡± Mo Yan panicked and instantly ran over. The guard chuckled and then walked over as well. Sitting down, he drawed a golden slip and pointed a finger at it. His finger began to glow with a fire-like hue as he said: ¡°Name?¡± Mo Yan: ¡°Mo Yan.¡± ¡°Place of birth and age.¡± The guard asked after writing his name on the back of the golden slip. At the front, ¡°Yunhai Identification¡± was written out alongside a special character that only a member of the Sunguard knew. Mo Yan: ¡°Black Anvil Village. I am ten-years-old today.¡± The guard was slightly surprised and directed a bit of his Spiritual Sense into Mo Yan, who felt it and was astonished as the youthful man in front of him was at Vitality Spring. After condensing a Lifeblood and flaming a Blaze, a Cultivator would have burn their Lifeblood and form a Vitality Spring. Their soul would naturally strengthen because of this and they would develop Spiritual Sense! Writing the required information on the golden slip, the guard handed it to Mo Yan and sent him on his way shortly thereafter. Mo Yan dawdled here and their, slightly amazed by the sights before shaking his head and remembering the instructions that Grandma Meng had told him: ¡°Remember you little brat! You have to instantly get into the inner layer after getting your identification! Don¡¯t dawdle around. The sooner you join an Academy or Sect the better.¡± Slapping himself on his cheek to snap himself out of his stupor, Mo Yan deeply clenched the golden slip before putting into his breast-pocket. Tensing his muscles, Mo Yan bolted off towards the inner layer, slightly shocking the surrounding spectators. The mysterious breathing technique was exceptional in this. This was simply the tip of the iceberg to the capabilities that the physical abilities of Mo Yan had rose to after cultivating the mysterious breathing technique. The guards at the inner layer were less vigilant than the gate guards; they only required him show them his golden slip and they let him it. Now, Mo Yan was seated in a luxurious teahouse sipping tea with a pamphlet in his hand. This pamphlet is a guide of all the Academies and Sects within Yunhai City. Broken Haven Sect. Twin Moon Academy. Heaven Sword Sect. Raging Dragon Sect. Arcane Soul Academy. They were all incredibly powerful and prestigious. Finishing his tea, Mo Yan looked out of the window and sighed. The life of a Cultivator would soon await him. Mo Yan had already decided on a Academy; Twin Moon Academy. Twin Moon Academy was divided into two branches: Sun Branch and Moon Branch. Sun Branch was for those that had little to above-average talent. Those who thought that they had genius could try out for the Moon Branch. The Moon Branch was the wealthier tree of the Twin Moon Academy. They had top-tier magical techniques, special resources, and supreme Dao Scriptures available for their students! Mo Yan left a silver coin for the tea and left, going to the Twin Moon Academy. Twin Moon Academy was located at Starlight Luna Mountain. Starlight Luna Mountain was a heavily unexplored and enormous mountain range. Though Twin Moon Academy was a bit smaller than other prestigious Sects and Academies, they were far stronger in quality. Mo Yan arrived before a golden stargate. Stargate is a special magical technique of Moon Branch. They would call unto the power of the Great Celestial Bodies and borrow from the Nine Cosmos Roads. The stargate was something akin to a portal, except it was much cheaper and more powerful. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. A long line of people stood in front of the golden stargate. Off to the side, a smaller line stood at the silver stargate. This was the stargate leading to the entrance examination for Moon Branch. The line was pitifully smaller, to the point that their were only three children standing their. Without caring for the serious atmosphere, Mo Yan walked up and stood at the line of the silver stargate, making it four people long. The other three looked slightly surprised upon seeing the tall body of Mo Yan but quickly forgot about it, focusing on the silver stargate again. After awhile. Shouts of surprise and excitement rang out as the stargates glowed brightly and a drizzle of seawater appeared in the middle of them. Out of this seawater came out three people. For the golden stargate, it was a fat and thin elder. For the silver stargate, is was etheric beauty who had a cold air around her. Coldly glancing at the four people with frosty eyes, the etheric beauty said: ¡°Follow me. This entrance exam for Moon Branch will be particularly terrible this time. We rose the standard to new heights, you might even die. If you think that you cannot handle this pressure, than leave. We have no need of cowards in Moon Branch.¡± All four gulped while Mo Yan trembled in excitement. The etheric beauty carefully looked over each of the children, her eyes slightly widening in surprise when she saw the tall body of Mo Yan. Though they were terrified and scared, they secured themselves within their hearts. If they join the Moon Branch, their status would be extraordinary! They would be able to hold themselves with pride when they return to their families! Mo Yan was just excited because of the danger. Seeing that none of the four people had left, the etheric beauty slightly smiled before disappearing into the sheet of flowing seawater. The other four shortly followed her thereafter. On the other side, they emerged into the peak of Starlight Luna Mountain. Castles, pagodas, palaces, and pavilions all came into their view. The etheric beauty let them intake the beautiful sight for a moment before coldly saying: ¡°Follow me. We are going to the first part of the entrance exam!¡± They walked and walked, going into a small valley that held a single pavilion. There was an abnormal amount of moonlight in this valley and everything was bathed with a blue light. The etheric beauty walked into the pavilion and they entered a large room with a open-roof. There was grass and greenery growing in this room, creating a heavenly sight. Swathes of moonlight pierced through the open-roof and illuminated the middle of the large room with a haunting blue light. Everyone sighed in satisfaction at the beautiful scene. The etheric beauty coldly assessed them before cruelly smiling. Pointing to the middle of the room, she said: ¡°You will meditate here for ten days straight. You must discover your Dao and Truth, realize your Way in this ten days!¡± All four were shocked. Everyone had a special Dao within them and understood a grand Truth of reality, most of all they all possessed a Way within their Soulscape. The first thing a Cultivator would do is discover their Dao and Truth, realize their Way! This would normally be done with the help of an expert. If a Cultivator did not know their Way and was not in harmony with their Dao and Truth for a single moment, they would instantly be injured heavily and their cultivation would perish! This is why it is dangerous! This is why the etheric beauty told them they might die! Mo Yan gulped before walking into the middle of large room and sitting down with a determined expression on his face. Crossing his legs, Mo Yan began to operate the mysterious breathing technique and entered a meditative state. Mo Yan would normally stay in a slightly meditative state when operating the mysterious breathing technique, not delving deeper into the Truth and Dao, realizing his own Way. Instinct told him that he could, but Mo Yan chose not to. But today, Mo Yan must! Must realize his Way! Must discover his Dao! Must discover his Truth! With a deep breath to calm his nerves, Mo Yan delved deeper! The pitch-black void around him exploded into whiteness, a monstrous roar resounded throughout his mind as a archaic voice began to talk: ¡°The Diyu Realm is a vast and expansive land! Direct opposition of Shenghou Realm and complete enmity with Heaven!¡± The archaic voice continued and a large amount of information flowed into the head of Mo Yan: ¡°Let the Grand Devilish Truth astound you! The Fifth Mountain of Hell Legion will give the strength! The Unholy Soul will comfort whilst Great Dao of Blood shall receive you!¡± ¡°Open your eyes! Let your heart feel free! Be the tyrant! Do what you wish!¡± ¡°Ruthless!¡± ¡°Unperturbed!¡± ¡°Unrestrained!¡± ¡°This is the Grand Devilish Truth! This is the Great Dao of Blood! This is the Demonic Way!¡± ¡°The Demonic Way is complete opposition of Heaven! You shall become a Demonic Cultivator and cultivate to become a Divine Devil of Yellow Springs! Immortal practitioners shall be your mortal enemies and your eternal allies!¡± ¡°Understand the Great Devilish Truth! Comprehend the Great Dao of Blood! Realize the Demonic Way!¡± Powerful! Strength! Complete Dominance! This is the Will of a Sovereign, Unfettered by Heaven and unrestrained by Fate! This is the Demonic Way! Unbeknownst to Mo Yan, his body was covered by a pitch-black hue. The comfort of the Unholy Soul! The hair of Mo Yan turned into a shade of oblivion, a black hole that reflected no light. The Fifth Mountain of Hell Legion giving you strength! The eyes of Mo Yan turned completely blood-red, as if a malevolent spirit had overtaken him. Great Dao of Blood receiving you! This the Great Demonic Way! The path of a Divine Devil of Yellow Springs! The Way of a Tyrant! The Way of a Emperor! The Way of a Sovereign! This is the Great Demonic Way! Chapter 2: Cursed Hellsword Scripture Mo Yan opened his eyes with a stunned expression. The lingering roar of the archaic voice dazing him. Newfound insights into the Great Demonic Way were laying in his mind. The Great Demonic Way is tyrannical! The Great Demonic Way is indomitable! Turning his head, Mo Yan noticed the etheric beauty staring at him with wide eyes. A feeling of pure power burst within him as a warmth began to spread. Mo Yan acutely felt this warmth and know what it was, it was Qi! ¡°Finally! I am a Cultivator!¡± Mo Yan was elated. Looking at the other three, Mo Yan noticed that two were completely still and one had a profound air around him, an occasional wisp of fire bursting off him. Closing his eyes, Mo Yan looked into his cultivation. The Qi that he possessed is a special type of Qi, Demonic Qi. Demonic Qi is many times more powerful than ordinary Qi and could be found in the core of Mythical Beasts and Magical Monsters. Though it was extraordinarily powerful, Demonic Qi is more chaotic. The insights into the Great Demonic Way rested within his mind and Mo Yan excitedly accessed them. The Great Demonic Way; Grand Devilish Truth; Great Dao of Blood. This were all necessary to become a Divine Devil of Yellow Springs! The Yellow Springs were the core of the Diyu Realm, the foundation that it was built upon. Becoming a Divine Devil of Yellow Springs would give a Demonic Cultivator an abnormal amount of power. Regarding of Lifeblood Condensation, Mo Yan would instead condense Fiendblood. His entire cultivation path was completely changed. Most would follow the Great Way of Truth and not possess enmity with Heaven. Mo Yan could call himself a authentic Demonic Cultivator now. Opening his eyes, Mo Yan was slightly startled as he saw the face of the etheric beauty staring closely at him. ¡°Did you realize your Way? Comprehend your Dao? Understand your Truth?¡± The etheric beauty shot of questions excitedly. Mo Yan nodded and felt Spiritual Sense probing into him. The etheric beauty nodded with self-satisfaction and grinned widely after feeling the Demonic Qi within him. Stretching out her hand the etheric beauty said: ¡°I am Murong Nanshan. Since you did the challenge rather well; comprehending your Dao, understanding your Truth, and realizing your Way in half of the ten days, Grand Elder Xun told me that I can give you a reward.¡± Murong Nanshan motioned for him to follow her and walked out of the pavilion. The moonlight was even stronger then last time and Mo Yan felt it empowering him slightly. Devils and Demons were creatures of the night and were blessed by the Great Celestial Bodies, obviously he would be empowered. ¡°I am guessing you have questions?¡± Murong Nanshan asked. Mo Yan nodded excitedly and said: ¡°What reward am I getting? Where can I learn the stargate technique? Where can I learn magical techniques? Is there a magical treasure pavilion?¡± Murong Nanshan groaned before rubbing her head and doing her best to answer him. ¡°You get to pick a single magical treasure or magical technique from the Stargod Tower. The stargate technique will naturally be taught to you as you¡¯re a disciple of the Moon Branch.¡± Cocking her head with a thoughtful expression, Murong Nanshan continued: ¡°Magical techniques can be learned from the Thousand Flower Pavilion. Though you need to get an approval from a Grand Elder first. The Thousand Flower Pavilion is a magical treasure pavilion as well. After taking your reward from the Stargod Tower and the second part of the entrance examination, we¡¯ll go there to get your complimentary magical treasure.¡± They quickly continued walking and Mo Yan got to know more about Murong Nanshan. Murong Nanshan is from the illustrious Murong Family, which is the head of the Golden Dragon Clan. They possess the bloodline of a Golden Dragon and are extremely prestigious. Because Murong Nanshan was a millennial genius, she didn¡¯t have many friends. The fact that Mo Yan treated her as a normal person greatly appealed to her and she opened up to him. After passing hundreds of different castles, palaces, pavilions, and courtyards. They arrived in front of a large pitch-black tower. This tower gave off a ancient and archaic pressure, beckoning all to bow down in front of it. Supposedly on the highest floor the legendary Ancestor Stargod resided. Murong Nanshan could attribute that Ancestor Stargod is real, as she had met him when she had a breakthrough and formed her Vitality Spring. This astonished Mo Yan greatly. Murong Nanshan was a Vitality Spring expert at such a young age! Walking into the Stargod Tower, a blind elder greeted them. Seated on a stone slab and wearing white robes, the blind elder looked completely harmless. The instinct of Mo Yan told him completely otherwise. It was the fact that the blind elder did not emanate a shred of power that scared him! The blind elder stared at them for a few moments before smiling and murmured: ¡°A Cultivator of the rare Demonic Way; a Demonic Cultivator. And a Cultivator comprehending the Great Dao of Ice, one of the Eighteen Elemental Pathways. The Twin Moon Academy will have a glorious future.¡± ¡°Remember, after selecting your magical treasure and technique, you must immediately come back. Their is no limit to what floor you may go to. You can go to any floor if you can withstand the pressure. Don¡¯t push yourself, value your life more than your riches.¡± The blind elder advised and waved his hand. A stairway opened. Murong Nanshan pushed Mo Yan and told him to go and that she would be waiting here. Mo Yan nodded and excitedly ran off. Though the mysterious breathing technique had refined his personality a bit, there was still a spark of childishness hidden deep within him. Entering the Stargod Tower, a sight of ancient scrolls and powerful weapons greeted him. Gleaming armor and weapons were piled all around the place neatly. Bookshelves possessing ancient magical techniques were put on the walls. There was another stairway at the far end, leading to the second floor. The Stargod Tower has seven floors in total. The pressure at the fifth floor is enough to make a peak Yinyang Realm expert kneel, making some fearfully imagine how monstrous it is at the sixth floor. To think that Elder Stargod is at the seventh floor, he is without a doubt a powerful Cultivator! Mo Yan felt a slight heaviness on his body but soon learned to cope with it. Silently, he began operating the mysterious breathing technique. To his surprise, the heaviness disappeared and the warmth of training appeared even quicker and of higher quality! This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The pressure was obviously beneficial for Cultivators of practice body reforging methods! Mo Yan now knew that Demonic Cultivators were different from the norm because of two things: their body and soul! Demonic Cultivators possess a monstrously powerful body and an even stronger soul, else how would they venture into the Diyu Realm and tame undead monsters, forming their own undead legion? Staring at all the magical techniques and magical treasures, Mo Yan felt elated as he read many and looked at a lot of magical treasures intensively. A blood-red sword emanating a bloodthirsty feeling. A fire serpent magical technique. A armor that howled in pain. All this interested him! He wished to learn about them! A seedling of a scholar appeared in his heart and Mo Yan vowed to go to the library of Twin Moon Academy after this. Though they were all amazing and pleasing to the eye, Mo Yan did not feel satisfied and stared at the stairway to the second floor. Deciding that their isn¡¯t harm in doing so, Mo Yan stepped into and ran to the second floor. The difference was immediately noticeable! It felt as if a mountain had descended upon him! Mo Yan frantically operated the mysterious breathing technique even further, stretching it to the limit. Heaviness slightly decreased but pain and warmth began to play a warring battle inside of his body! The large pressure caused the bones of Mo Yan to crack but the mysterious breathing technique healed him! This continued for a while, causing Mo Yan a whole lot of pain. Gradually, he felt his physical strength increasing and his soul becoming more powerful. Tempered by pain and nourished by blood! This the path of a Demonic Cultivator! After a while, the pressure decreased even further and became bearable. Mo Yan painstakingly stood up and moved looked around. The magical techniques and magical treasures were fewer in this floor but were of higher quality. Looking around, a gleaming scorched scroll caught his eye. Small wisps of green flames burned off of it and a accursed air surrounded it. Furthermore, Mo Yan felt a certain kinship to it. Without a doubt, this was a magical technique that used Demonic Qi, a forbidden technique! Moving towards it, Mo Yan grabbed it and a sense of relief overcame him, a sense of familiarity. The Demonic Qi within him began to churn and woo. The pressure became even more bearable. Opening it, Mo Yan lightly began to read: ¡°Cursed Hellsword Scripture. Forbidden sword technique that used Demonic Qi. Comprehends insights into the Dao of Accursed. My sword is forbidden; my heart is cursed; my soul is corrupted!¡± Mo Yan grabbed it and nodded. This was what he wanted. Magical treasures could be replaced and other magical techniques could be learned later. Special forbidden techniques that had affinity with him and could be used with his Demonic Qi would be rare to find later. Tucking the scorched scroll and placing it in his breast-pocket, Mo Yan started his trek down the tower. The pressure at the first floor was now considered a complete joke to him. Mo Yan slightly shuddered as he thought about the pressure of the third and fourth floor, much less the fifth floor. Though it was beneficial to his body reforging in accordance of being a Demonic Cultivator, Mo Yan wanted to make sure that he wouldn¡¯t die once he tried to endure the pressure of the third floor. Outside, Murong Nanshan was standing and her cold expression become happier when she saw Mo Yan. In her hand was a star-colored thin book that twinkled in the sunlight. Her violet hair bristled in the air as she leaned against the wall. This heart-wrenching sight caused Mo Yan to stop and stare for a moment before shaking his head and continuing to walk towards her. ¡°What did you get? I could only go to the first floor but got lucky and found my Blood Thorn.¡± Murong Nanshan motioned to the blood-red sword resting on her back before handing him the star-colored thin book. ¡°This is the stargate magical technique.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Mo Yan was excited as he took it and opened. Murong Nanshan stopped him and said: ¡°Come with me, we must go to the second part of the entrance examination.¡± Mo Yan was confused and said: ¡°What is the second part?¡± Afterwards, he began walking, following Murong Nanshan. ¡°The first part is the ¡®true¡¯ entrance examination to say the least. The second part is a simple admission ceremony in which both the Sun Branch and Moon Branch participate within. While it is under the pretense of friendly competition it is truly their to show off.¡± Murong Nanshan pointed towards a giant stage in the distance that had masses of Cultivators gathered around it. ¡°Wow! That is a lot of people.¡± Mo Yan naively said to which Murong Nanshan chuckled. Walking towards their, they saw an elderly man walk onto the stage. Though the elderly man looked harmless, he was a superpower of the Twin Moon Academy similarly to the blind elder! Lightly coughing, everybody immediately quieted down as the elderly man began talking: ¡°This is the second part of the entrance examination; practical combat. Disciples of both Sun Branch and Moon Branch will fight. Both new and old disciples can be challenged!¡± The elderly man coughed some more and then said a few praises in regards to those that were able to enter the Twin Moon Academy. After getting off, it was deathly silent. This until a arrogant man with a lustful look in his eyes walked up to the stage and yelled: ¡°I, senior disciple of Sun Branch; Lun Liao, challenge senior disciple of Moon Branch; Murong Nanshan to a battle! I hope you share a few pointers with me!¡± Murong Nanshan narrowed her eyes before beginning to walk towards the stage. Cultivators shifted and made way for her. All while Mo Yan watched. A cold glint appeared in his eyes after seeing the way that Lun Liao stared at Murong Nanshan with a lustful gaze. After talking with Murong Nanshan for most of his time here, Mo Yan had come to regard her as an elder sister of sorts. She held a place in his heart similar to that of a familial member; like Grandma Meng. Looking at Lun Liao, Mo Yan only prayed that Murong Nanshan win. Mo Yan had no way of knowing what level of cultivation Lun Liao had but he did not miss the sinister expression that appeared for a single moment using his acute senses!