The border between the Savage Wilderness and the Vast Heaven Continent had been in turmoil for a full fifty years, and even now, the chaos continued without end.
During that time, the intervention of high-level demonic cultivators and Dao cultivators had sparked two large-scale battles, but both had ended inconclusively. Neither side could claim victory or defeat; both had suffered grievous losses, so there had been no true winner.
Not far from this border lay a small mountain village.
The village was rather isolated and seemed unaware of the flames of war raging outside.
Most of its residents were mortals. In the past, it would have been an idyllic place to spend one's twilight years, but now, corrupted by demonic qi, it had become a ruined wreck.
Ten years earlier, the trees and plants in the surrounding mountains had begun to wither inexplicably, and the river water had lost its clarity.
An indescribable aura of death permeated every corner.
The elderly began falling ill with all manner of ailments, and most passed away after struggling in bed for only a few days.
With their elders gone, some of the young people no longer felt any attachment to the place and began making plans to leave. Strangely, however, it was as though they had wandered into a ghost-built maze: no matter which way they went, they could not escape.
Some said their village had been cursed, punished by Heaven for displeasing it.
When Su Jiu opened her eyes again, she found herself in a place where paper funeral money filled the sky.
As she walked along the village paths, she was startled to discover that almost every few houses, one had white paper lanterns hanging outside. Some even had coffins set out in front.
Some coffins held the deceased; others were