Though called Ascension Lake, it actually occupied a vast territory within the Azure Cloud Grotto-Heaven, encompassing the entire Ascension Sea Region and the surrounding mountains, rivers, lakes, and lands!
The Ascension Sea Region had been formed by refining secret realms controlled by demon kings such as Mingcang into the grotto-heaven. Sea Clan Demon Cultivators from the Sea of Buried Immortals primarily dwelled here. Countless rivers and lakes formed an intricate, crisscrossing water network that ultimately flowed into the sea, while these rivers and lakes served as habitats for aquatic Demon Cultivators.
The plains and mountains around the sea, as well as the islands within it, were inhabited by Demon Cultivators not born of the Sea Clan or aquatic races.
Yu Yan's reincarnated body, the Flame Qilin Beast, was a fire-aspected demon beast. Thus, Gui Wannian had settled him upon an island. A volcano stood on that island, its molten lava and Earth Fire burning without cease all year round. Yu Yan's cultivation abode lay within the volcano.
Afterward, under the arrangements of the elders lecturing at the Hall of Teachings, Yu Yan selected several fire-element cultivation arts suited to himself and formally began his cultivation life in the Scarlet Flame Sect!
There were many nonhuman Demon Cultivators in the Ascension Lake branch. Not long after arriving, Yu Yan had made the acquaintance of many fellow disciples and learned much from them. He gained a preliminary understanding of the Azure Cloud Grotto-Heaven, Scarlet Flame Sect, Five Dragon Mountain, Corpse Tuo Mountain Range, Mysterious Yellow Immortal Realm, the nine realms of the Horn Wood Flood Dragon, and more.
He also learned that nonhumans like them were divided into several ranks within the Scarlet Flame Sect.
The first rank consisted of spirit beasts and strange creatures that had entered the sect to cultivate.