In the White Stone Forest on the Lower Hill Plain, within a vast city built of enormous stones, Demon Emperor Zhe Guduo sat high upon his Throne. Like a lion surveying his territory, he gazed down majestically over the spacious hall below.
Outside the hall lay an immense plaza. A group of Demonfolk sounded horns as guards clad in armor and bearing weapons escorted more than a dozen Demonfolk prisoners inside.
"Reporting to the Emperor Venerable! The insolent members of the Xiaoshan Tribe have been brought here!" A burly Demonfolk who appeared to be the captain of the guards stepped forward from the ranks and reported to Zhe Guduo, seated high above.
"Offer them in a blood sacrifice!" Zhe Guduo said coldly, his face expressionless, without even a flicker in his eyes.
Many other Demonfolk, apparently envoys from various tribes, stood within the hall. All turned their gazes toward the prisoners.
The prisoners seemed to know their fate and began hurling curses.
"Zhe Guduo, you'll die a miserable death!"
"Even from beneath the Nine Hells, I won't let you off!"
"The Xiaoshan People will never be slaves!"
All the Demonfolk grew solemn, but the guards remained unmoved, continuing their task like efficient puppets.
They lifted the Xiaoshan Tribe's prisoners one by one, drove sharp metal hooks through their shoulder blades, and suspended them in the air.
As blood dripped down, sticky gore spread across the stone slabs below, staining them red. Faintly visible in those slabs was an engraved design a hundred zhang across, resembling an ancient totem-the image of an enormous monster.
The monster lurked in darkness and had nine heads, each resembling a monstrous python with sharp horns, a peach-shaped forehead, and a demonic face. Every mouth gaped wide, exposing sharp fangs, and its vicious eyes seemed ready