In the Demonic Heavenly Domain, on a seemingly unremarkable inhabited planet.
An ancient, imposing city stood.
A thick blanket of leaden gloom shrouded the sky here year-round, blotting out the sun.
At that moment, the atmosphere within the city was utterly strange.
The broad, weathered streets held none of the bustle one might have expected.
Instead, severed limbs lay scattered everywhere.
Some had already shriveled, while warm blood still flowed from the cut ends of others. Stark white bone splinters pierced the flesh, exposed in a horrifying sight.
The fresh stench of blood permeated the damp air, assailing the nostrils of everyone still alive.
Yet faced with this hellish scene, the local residents flooding the streets dared not show any fear.
They were the natives of this place.
Thousands upon thousands of people flowed like a muddy river, their heads bowed and bodies stiff as they slowly shuffled toward the enormous square at the city's center.
Demons of all shapes stood on either side of the crowd.
Most retained half-beast forms, long sabers in hand and indolent expressions on their faces.
Whenever a mortal moved too slowly, they received a merciless lash-or even a blow from the back of a saber that snapped their spine with a dull crack.
[Heavenly Peace Ancient Stockade].
The ancient fortified city's name had originally expressed a prayer for Heaven's protection and everlasting peace.
Once, with the help of the Concealment Array, the stockade had survived for many years in this chaotic heavenly domain.
But after an accidental leak of spiritual energy, disaster had descended.
The stockade's strongest cultivator, who guarded this place, had lasted only three breaths before being blasted to pieces!
In despair, the remaining cultivators had laid down their weapons and surrendered, begging to be spared.
The immensely powerful [Heavenly Ox Beast