Vermilion Bird searched tens of millions of miles through the southern mountains, subduing a host of extraordinary Divine Beasts and Strange Beasts, great and small.
Vermilion Bird sent all these newly joined members of the Demon Race out to seek traces of the Nine-Colored Divine Deer.
The legend that the Nine-Colored Divine Deer lived in the great mountains of the southern wilderness had to have come from somewhere. Vermilion Bird was not discouraged.
Some mighty beings liked to rule over a region, roaring proudly through the mountain forests.
Others preferred peace and quiet, living hidden in the woods.
The Nine-Colored Divine Deer was undoubtedly such a Divine Beast. Yet although she disliked appearing before others, she was no soft persimmon to be squeezed.
Thousands of years ago, a Fierce Beast, the Long-Haired Tiger, had sought to slaughter the living creatures of the southern mountains for food. It was the Nine-Colored Divine Deer who appeared and killed him atop the great southern mountain cliff.
That alone spoke to the Nine-Colored Divine Deer's temperament.
Still, even those living in seclusion left a few strands of spider silk and hoofprints to follow.
Another fortnight passed before Vermilion Bird received a report from a newly subdued member of the Demon Race, saying that the Nine-Colored Divine Deer was now on Distant Cloud Mountain in the southern mountain ranges.
"Distant Cloud Mountain-isn't that the great mountain at the northernmost edge of the southern wilderness?"
Vermilion Bird looked toward Distant Cloud Mountain and spoke softly.
"Yes, Lord Demon Sage!"
The newly subdued member of the Demon Race who had brought the report answered respectfully.
Just as the northern Demon Race regarded Di Jun as the Demon Sovereign, and the eastern Demon Race regarded Taiyi as the Demon Emperor, the southern Demon Race regarded Vermilion Bird as