Land of Death

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Late at night, the darkest hour in the Abyss.

Faint points of light glowed from the treehouse where Er Dongsheng was staying. A small lump of congealed animal fat had been placed in a tiny stone bowl and lit. Though the light was not strong, it clearly illuminated every corner of the treehouse.

Er Dongsheng had brought that burning fat with him. When it was inconvenient to light a campfire, it made a decent substitute. But this small lump was nearly used up now. Finding more would not be easy. Other demons did not have such things; only an oddball demon like Er Dongsheng still needed to keep a lamp lit at night.

Although he had become a demon through and through, down to his very bones, some habits from his days as a human still could not be changed.

By the light, he studied the map in his hands. The material was exceptionally crude, pieced together from several hides. All manner of things had been drawn on it in crooked lines, packed so densely that Er Dongsheng's head hurt just looking at it.

"System, scan it, organize it, and send it to me!"

At times like this, it was better to leave the task to the System, which excelled at collecting and organizing information. In order to improve its database, the thing nagged endlessly in Er Dongsheng's ear every day, making his mouth constantly sample all kinds of things—plants, animals, every strange and bizarre object imaginable. So long as the System did not recognize it, Er Dongsheng had to try it. He often thought that if his resistance were not so strong, and if he did not only taste the tiniest bit, he would have met God long ago.

A moment later, a relatively clearer map was transmitted into Er Dongsheng's mind. After the System's revisions, this map was much easier on the eyes.

"Hmm, this is where things are traded, so this must be my home!"

Following the curving line representing the long mountain range, Er Dongsheng found his home.

"And here—there's a danger marker. It seems someone else knows about that strange Frozen Forest too!"

"And this..."

This map belonged to Xierjie's clan. Er Dongsheng had borrowed it for a look. After yesterday's sudden events, he urgently wanted to understand the terrain around them.

Remembering yesterday's earthshaking roar, the trembling ground, and the flames running wild across the sky, Er Dongsheng could not help but feel his mouth go dry at that terrifying scene.

"My heavens, only a hundred years. Barely a hundred years have passed, and the Land of Death is reviving again?" The Xierjie sisters stared blankly at the fiery-red horizon as waves of black mushroom clouds continued spreading outward.

"The Land of Death?" Er Dongsheng was somewhat puzzled. He had no such knowledge in his memories. He had guessed that the earthshaking spectacle meant something major had happened, but he did not know what it was.

"Yes, the Land of Death. It is the most dangerous and mysterious region in this area. Every five hundred years, it rises from beneath the earth without fail. When that happens, lava spills everywhere and flames fly through the air, forcing great numbers of living creatures to leave the places where they live!" Xierjie stared absentmindedly at the horizon, looking somewhat despondent.

"Yes. We have no choice but to leave those once-beautiful homes. We only moved here a hundred years ago, and now we have to move again. Judging from these early signs, the scale may be even greater this time. Even this forest is no longer safe! But why has it appeared again after such a short time?" Shiweier spoke in anguish, her face filled with grief.

Gradually, Er Dongsheng understood what the Land of Death was, and he also understood the pitiful misfortunes Xierjie's clan had suffered.

A hundred years ago, the Xierjie sisters had still been little girls. Their mother led the clan then, and it had been quite powerful. Although it had no Second-Level Demons, it had seven or eight First-Level Demons, and its population had surpassed two hundred. Everything should have continued toward a brighter future, but the Land of Death had suddenly risen from underground. Like the other Abyssal Creatures, their clan had been forced to relocate.

In the Abyss, moving an entire tribe was the most dangerous thing imaginable, especially for an Abyssal Species whose individuals were not particularly strong. During the relocation, their clan lost large numbers of members, and few First-Level Demons remained. Their mother had also suffered grievous injuries during that migration. She held on for several years before, like the other members, passing away.

Had the sisters not become First-Level Demons one after another at the crucial moment, their clan would truly have been in danger. If they did not want to be annexed, they could only submit to a powerful demon to survive. But who would willingly live under another's roof?

From the descriptions of the Land of Death, Er Dongsheng felt that it was more like a volcano—a moving volcano. Though that was somewhat strange, it was the only conclusion he could reach.

Coming back to himself, he looked once more at the map in his mind. The place where the Land of Death had appeared last time was marked with a large red cross. The place where it had appeared this time was right beside it, not far away at all. It was still a considerable distance from the trading camp. Ordinarily, it should not affect somewhere so far away, but this suddenly appearing Land of Death was different from before. For safety's sake, many Abyssal Species had begun migrating toward the northern grasslands or deeper into the mountains.

"However, for solitary demons like us, this is a gift from heaven!"

Before its final eruption, the Land of Death would go through one or two months of activity. Lava would surge forth, but it would not yet erupt violently. Many metals and gemstones, even naturally formed low-level rune stones, would flow out with the lava. This was the best time to fish for treasure. Solitary creatures without clans weighing them down would all go try their luck. With enough luck, it was not impossible for a naturally formed rune stone to fall right onto your head.

As far as Er Dongsheng knew, the Fire Elemental Gem he had bought had been dug up by that winged demon at the site of the previous Land of Death.

Faced with something so interesting, Er Dongsheng's desire for adventure was instantly stirred. This was a huge playground—ancient ruins, fighting and slaughter over spoils, and all kinds of treasures. Tell him, how could he not go?

"Still, I need to plan carefully before going. There is someone here watching like a tiger eyeing its prey, waiting to devour me!" Er Dongsheng looked out the nearby window. His keen senses could clearly feel several gazes fixed tightly upon him.

With a wry expression, Er Dongsheng was speechless. "Are they afraid I'll run away? They even sent these ants to watch me!"

"Then, System, can you analyze a Second-Level Demon?" After considering it, he decided it was best to be cautious. Ignoring those gazes outside, Er Dongsheng asked the System inwardly.

"Without flesh and blood cells from a Second-Level Demon, analysis cannot be performed! Host, please acquire flesh and blood cells from a Second-Level Demon as soon as possible." The mechanical voice sounded, immediately urging Er Dongsheng on.

Er Dongsheng tugged at the corner of his mouth, feeling helpless.

"Then how do I advance to a Second-Level Demon?" Since he did not know what a Second-Level Demon was like, he could only choose to advance himself.

"At the host's current rate of training in Basic Body Tempering, once every scale cell throughout the host's body is covered in Spirit Runes, the System estimates that the host may advance to a Second-Level Demon!"

"About how long will that take?"

"Without external assistance, at the host's current rate, the fastest completion time for Spirit Rune body tempering is 129 years!"

Shaking his head, Er Dongsheng stopped thinking about it. One hundred and twenty-nine years was far too long. By then, daylilies would have turned cold. Though he admitted that becoming a Second-Level Demon in 129 years was already something countless First-Level Demons could only yearn for, his goal was to become a Greater Demon, a Legendary Demon, even the Demon Lord standing high above all. If merely becoming a Second-Level Demon took so much time, what would he do afterward?

Since relying on internal effort alone would not work, he could only use external forces to push himself forward. So long as he obtained that fellow's corpse—or even just a tiny bit of its flesh and blood cells—Er Dongsheng believed that, with the System's formidable analytical abilities, his speed of advancing to a Second-Level Demon would be greatly shortened. Direct advancement was not impossible either.

"It seems I need to make some preparations in advance!" he muttered. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes. For the sake of his future, Lord, you should obediently die.

I will preserve your flesh and blood well.

"System, analyze this piece of flesh!" Closing his eyes, Er Dongsheng swallowed a piece of flesh belonging to the troll Sula. He had not eaten raw food in a long time. Taking a bite now made him feel somewhat sick.

"First-Level Demon flesh and blood. Analyzing."

"97.6% of the cellular Spirit Runes are useless or inferior to the host's Spirit Runes. 2% are incompatible with the host's cells. The function of 0.3% is unknown. The host can absorb 0.1% of the Spirit Runes to improve the host's own Spirit Runes!"

"After absorption into Basic Body Tempering, the host's recovery ability can be slightly enhanced! Absorb?"

Sure enough, compared to the Spirit Runes formed through his own Basic Body Tempering, these ordinary demons simply were not up to snuff!

"Absorb them. No matter how small a mosquito is, it is still meat." The Flame Sovereign's flesh and blood—that would be the true feast! This was merely an appetizer before the main course!

Streams of vital cellular energy were extracted, beginning to transform the cells that had already developed Spirit Runes. Every scaled cell bearing Spirit Runes slowly changed, gaining a trace of tiny new patterns.

"Estimated transformation duration: 36 hours. Estimated Basic Body Tempering transformation duration: 72 hours. Please wait patiently!"

The night grew deeper and deeper. The Abyss entered its darkest hour. Every creature in the trading camp gradually quieted down, save for those few gazes that continued watching Er Dongsheng without relaxing for even a moment.

Puff.

The fat had burned away completely, and the room sank into darkness.

Er Dongsheng lay inside the treehouse, quietly enduring the pain of his transforming cells. Though it hurt, it somehow tasted sweet.

"A Second-Level Demon... is not far away..."

(Am I going to become part of the 3K club too? It's not easy!)