Redemption of a Born Demon

The Eastern Mediterranean Region, on the outskirts of a certain city.

The sky was dominated by two phenomena.

On one side, Blood Fire scorched the heavens. Flames seemed to dance between the clouds, reminiscent of a world-ending calamity. Yet, after the calamity, there was a pure land of enlightenment and ease.

The tribulation fire burned the world, weighing all under heaven not for destruction, but in pursuit of a higher realm—the Righteous Dharma of the mortal world.

On the other side, a colossal Three-legged Golden Crow soared across the sky. With every beat of its wings, a crimson-gold radiance illuminated the world.

The Three-legged Golden Crow was, in legend, the incarnation of the sun itself. The light it cast was the light of the sun, scorching hot yet containing immense life force. It was a symbol of eternal indestructibility, representing humanity’s pursuit of eternal, supreme life—the desire to impose one’s own will upon the will of the heavens.

These were two different great paths, embodied by two of the most supreme figures of the current age—beings who truly stood at the pinnacle of individual power, organizational strength, and recorded history.

WHIRRRRR!!

Between five and fifty kilometers from the two phenomena, fleets of aircraft circled from all directions.

These aircraft didn’t belong to any single nation; they came from countries all over the world.

Unlike the previous battle in Jun City, that fight had erupted too suddenly, and the world’s nations hadn’t been prepared.

But this time, the East King had not hidden his movements, and Yi Beidou’s group had likewise made no effort to conceal their tracks.

The Mediterranean Region was now the focus of global attention, and any slight disturbance would be detected by all parties.

The reason the various aircraft were positioned at different distances from the battlefield was the intense magnetic interference generated by the phenomena. Without the proper countermeasures, the aircraft of most nations couldn’t get close at all.

The distance between the aircraft and the battlefield was a direct ranking of each nation’s military might.

Donghua’s helicopters were, naturally, the closest to the battlefield. They were equipped with anti-interference modules, and their pilots wore special combat suits developed by the Purple Cloud Research Institute, which allowed ordinary people to maintain their sanity and motor functions even under the biological pressure of a Saint Realm expert.

Furthermore, the helicopters were fitted with special cameras capable of maximally shielding against the magnetic interference of the powerful experts, allowing them to capture the clearest possible footage.

「Donghua, Kyoto.」

The highest-ranking officials in Donghua had all temporarily set aside their work. They gathered together, watching the live feed projected onto a large screen.

On camera, beneath the terrifying phenomena, five figures could be seen standing on one side, while on the other, a single being stood proudly, like a Fallen Immortal.

The side with more people seemed, paradoxically, to be suppressed by the other’s aura.

This battle was of monumental importance. It had already been proven that modern conventional weapons had limited effect on the Sleepers, and the cost of using strategic weapons was far too great. The best method remained a strategy of using the strong to keep the strong in check.

The outcome of this confrontation between Donghua Martial Artists and a Sleeper would determine the future attitude and strategy of all nations toward these hidden beings.

Would it be a mutual balance of power, maintaining equilibrium between the secular and the hidden worlds? Or would it be as before, where they had to endure humiliation, and the entire secular world had to make way for these terrifying existences?

「Special Security Bureau Headquarters.」

Here, too, many figures were seated in a conference room, watching the screen.

Wei Cheng, Wang Chen, Zhao Ping, Yue Ming...

All the Saint Realm experts who had been stationed at Penglai Immortal Mountain had been withdrawn back to the country. The staff at the research institute there had also been completely evacuated. After all, no one knew what dangers would arise if the East King were to return.

In addition to those Saint Realm experts, esteemed elders and high-level practitioners from across the country had also rushed here to watch the situation unfold.

The expressions on the faces of Wang Chen and the others were incredibly grim. They had all once confronted the East King head-on and intimately understood his terrifying, overwhelming power, as well as the profound sense of helplessness it induced.

’Can Yi Beidou and his group accomplish what we could not?’

The Starry Sky Country, Japan, Beisha Country, the European Countries...

The eyes of countless important figures were focused on this battlefield.

"The show is about to begin."

Atop a certain highland, the Beretta Incarnation stood with his arms crossed, a slight smile touching the corners of his mouth.

This battle would provide him with extremely important data, and his eyes and mental perception were the best recording instruments.

「At the scene.」

The phenomena made contact, colliding and churning. The distance between the two sides was now about one hundred fifty meters.

For experts of this caliber, this distance was like the point of a needle to the tip of a spear—a battle could erupt at any moment.

Yi Beidou and his four companions observed the East King, who in turn was sizing them up. However, his gaze swept past the others, lingering only on Yi Beidou.

"Dripping with Demonic Qi, a Celestial Demon descended to become a living calamity, seeking to dominate this entire generation—a Demon Lord who would decide the fate of all. What grand ambition, what audacity. But you are also utterly ignorant of your own limits."

A slight smile appeared on the East King’s lips.

"My heart desires to surpass the heavens, and my will can shift the very stars. You are nothing but a rat who buried himself in the dirt just to cling to life, stealing ancient power that doesn’t belong to you. Like a fat rat draped in an Immortal’s robes, you are just a monster in disguise. And you think you’re worthy of judging my great path?"

Yi Beidou’s expression was serene, but his words were like swords, each one striking a fatal blow.

"You insolent child with a sharp tongue. How could you possibly know the height of the heavens or the breadth of the earth? Throughout all of history, countless heroes have been buried in the dust. What makes you think you’re so special? A frog at the bottom of a well, presuming to speak of the great path. It is truly laughable."

"A karmic debt exists between us. You killed my Daoist Child and occupied my blessed land. Instead of hiding, you’ve delivered yourself to my doorstep. In that case, I will make you understand that there are always heavens beyond the heavens, and I will show you the true meaning of the word ’Immortal’."