On the shores of the Western Sea, in Yunmojia Land.
The white sand was soft, and glazed pagodas stood in dense ranks. Within them lay skeleton after skeleton, mostly from the Buddhist and demonic paths, adorned with gold and agate that glittered brilliantly.
Hordes of slaves went bare-chested, their skin baked reddish-black by the blazing sun and split open inch by inch. Together, they dragged flesh of various kinds shimmering with spiritual light along the black-stone roads into the heart of the pagoda forest.
A white elephant the size of a small mountain rested at its center, carrying a golden lotus throne on its back, wreathed in ethereal clouds.
The elephant's trunk hung to the ground, with a soft purple-and-gold stairway laid over it, broad enough for three carriages to travel abreast.
Beside the trunk stood a ferocious-looking giant, three men tall, with blue-black skin, multiple heads and arms, and a face as ugly as a ghoul. He wore a savage-looking suit of black-and-gold battle armor.
With every breath and movement, the giant sent black fire spurting out, crackling explosively and releasing a foul stench of saltpeter and charcoal.
The slaves trembled as they presented spiritual flesh in assorted jade vessels. Delight appeared in the giant's eyes, and he immediately reached out, scooping up slaves and their offerings alike and swallowing them in a bloody gulp.
Not one of the slaves below dared move without permission. They let the giant seize them at will, chew off their heads, gnaw away their limbs, then toss them aside.
A little while later, a parching wind rose outside the pagoda forest. Heat billowed up, evaporating the blood and filth on the ground until a foul stench filled the sky.
The giant casually wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Rather dissatisfied,