The Eastern Domain, the Myriad Beast Mountains.

Malachi Arcanus opened his eyes, only to find himself besieged by a swarm of snarling, oddly-shaped demonic beasts.

"Boss, this brat’s just at the Golden Core Stage, but he can actually transform—and transform so perfectly too! He must have some incredible treasure on him."

"You’re right. We beasts need to at least be at Nascent Soul to transform; Golden Core at best can just speak human tongue. This kid is suspicious. Grab him first, search for any treasures, and if there’s none, just roast and eat him."

"Yes, boss."

...

A fierce gleam flashed in Malachi’s eyes. In an instant, he reverted to his true form—the Abyssal Demon Wolf—his body engulfed in Red Lotus Karmic Fire, six scarlet wolf eyes glimmering within the flames.

"Want to eat me? Try my Red Lotus Karmic Fire first!"

He grinned viciously, baring his fangs, then leapt into the air, unleashing waves of Red Lotus Karmic Fire.

The lesser beasts that lunged at him were reduced to ashes in an instant.

On a distant treetop, several Beast Taming Sect disciples stared wide-eyed in shock.

"That... that’s the ancient beast, the Abyssal Demon Wolf?"

"That’s Red Lotus Karmic Fire, right? My word, that’s one of the legendary Ten Rare Fires, unimaginably powerful, and a demon wolf’s got it now..."

The Beast Taming Sect disciples exchanged glances—before sneaking off as fast as they could.

If they didn’t run now, they’d be ashes too.

Malachi Arcanus had long noticed their presence, but didn’t care.

Half an incense stick later.

He sat atop a pile of beast corpses, gnawing on a roasted tiger leg, while a crowd of bruised and battered lesser beasts knelt at his feet. "Boss, from now on you can do whatever you want in the Myriad Beast Mountains."

Three days later.

The Myriad Beast Mountains had a new ruler. The new Demon King, Malachi Arcanus, hefted his Wolf Fang Club, planting one foot on the edge of Soul’s End Cliff, barking orders, "Listen up, all of you! The person in this painting is my partner, so open your eyes wide. Whoever finds her gets ten top-grade demon stones. Anyone who hears news and reports it gets five."

A scroll painting unfurled mid-air, activated by demonic power—on it was a lifelike portrait of Luna Sutton, painted from Malachi’s memory, vivid features coming alive on the parchment.

"Understood, Demon King!"

The beasts responded in trembling voices, then scattered in a flurry to begin the search.

Malachi nodded in satisfaction, then turned into a streak of light, darting deeper into the mountains.

He had to go pay a visit to the old Nascent Soul Poison Drake that lurked in Viperdrake Pool; territory boundaries needed to be clear.

As for finding Luna, the whole Myriad Beast Mountains had better start moving for him.

Even though he hadn’t reached the Nascent Soul Stage, his strength was more than enough—crossing realms to fight was no big deal.

A mere Nascent Soul Poison Drake, that’s all.

If three heads still couldn’t beat a Poison Drake with just one, plus Red Lotus Karmic Fire on his side, then yeah, he might as well go die now.

...

Austros, Elysian Palace, Pavilion of Hidden Fragrance.

Soren Phoenix awakened with a start, only to find himself surrounded by seven or eight enchantingly seductive female cultivators, their disheveled robes half-off, sultry fragrance drifting so thickly in the air it nearly choked him. He sneezed several times in a row.

"What a handsome young master! Just seeing you makes my heart flutter~"

The leading violet-clad beauty traced her scallion-fingered hand down his chest, smiling bewitchingly.

Soren’s peach-blossom eyes narrowed dangerously; just as he was about to explode in anger, he suddenly felt his spiritual energy stagnate within, his face turning unspeakably grim.

Damn it, they’d obviously slipped him Soft Muscle Powder.

"Look, sisters, even his angry face is so handsome!"

The girl in pale yellow giggled as she reached for his sash.

Soren’s eyes flashed coldly—phoenix fire crackled into life in his palm, making the ladies scream in terror.

"That... that’s Phoenix True Fire? But both dragons and phoenixes are supposed to be extinct for millennia! How do Phoenix True Flames still exist?"

The violet-clad female’s face changed dramatically, hastily retreating with her sisters in tow.

Soren ignored their complicated stares; seizing the chance, he flipped up, forced himself to overcome the drug’s effect, and turned the fire in his palm into a blazing whip—smashing the carved wooden door of the Pavilion of Hidden Fragrance to smithereens.

"I’ll remember what happened today."

He gave a cold laugh, staggers out of the building, and transformed into a Fire Phoenix, vanishing into the sky.

When the violet-robed woman saw the Fire Phoenix, her face darkened further. Thinking of something, she yelled out, "It’s a phoenix! Sisters, after it!"

The Elysian Palace women nearby snapped to attention and all chased after him with magic artifacts in hand.

Soren spread his wings, shooting through the sky, Phoenix True Fire raining down like sheets of fiery rain.

The women chasing him were scorched and wailed in utter misery.

Suddenly, a playful laugh sounded from deep within Elysian Palace: "What a wild temper—and an ancient phoenix too, still so handsome. I like it."

A dazzling beauty at the Divinity Transformation Stage flew over, shaking a silk fan. "Since you’ve come to Elysian Palace, little gentleman, why the rush to leave?"

Soren’s expression grew even darker. The phoenix fire burst beneath his feet. "Out of my way."

The stunning woman’s smile froze, and she snapped her fan, "Since you won’t drink a toast, you’ll drink punishment instead."

Soren had seen this coming; with a sneer, he instantly deployed the Phoenix Clan’s survival secret technique and escaped.

All that was left on scene were a few Phoenix Feathers.

The stunning woman picked up the Phoenix Feathers with trembling fingers, her expression twisted. "Damn it! He actually got away!"

She handed the feathers to the violet-robed woman behind her. "Viola, take them and have a magic artifact forged. Phoenix Feathers are priceless."

"Yes, Palace Mistress." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Viola accepted the feathers, glanced one last time toward Soren’s disappearing shadow, and, with clear regret, retreated.

...

The Eastern Domain, Sect of a Hundred Flowers.

Mael Valerius had just fallen out of a space rift—crashing directly into Vienna Paxton, the Sect Master of the Sect of a Hundred Flowers’ medicinal spring, splashing water all over her hair and face.

"What kind of lecher dares barge into this Sect Master’s medicinal spring?"

Vienna’s pretty face was tinged with anger. With a graceful wave of her hand, the robe on the shore instantly wrapped around her alluring curves.

Her gaze fixed on Mael Valerius, and she slammed a palm at him.

Mael’s golden eyes narrowed dangerously, his expression one of disdain. "If anything, my eyes are the ones being soiled."

But sensing the terrifying force behind her strike, his pupils contracted, and instinctively he transformed into the Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon, soaring skyward.

A dragon’s roar rocked the whole Sect of a Hundred Flowers. Sunlight shimmered blindingly off his golden dragon scales.

"An Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon? Or is that an Umbral Netherwyrm of ancient lineage?"

Vienna looked up, face drastically changed.

The Dragon Clan was supposed to be extinct for millennia—how is there still a dragon in the Cultivation Realm today?

At most, only Flood Dragons exist now.

Where the hell did this one come from?

A faint smile flickered in her eyes. Suddenly, she took to the sky and gave chase. "Did you think the Sect of a Hundred Flowers was a place you can come and go as you please? Since you’ve seen my body, you can just stay and be my husband!"

"God, you’re crazy."

Mael could only sigh inwardly. Did she think he wanted to look? His eyes felt contaminated as it was.

Knowing he wasn’t her match, the dragon tail whipped, and in a flash he dove into the clouds.

Vienna came up empty-handed, her face dark. Then, as something occurred to her, she broke into a smile. "Little Golden Dragon, you won’t escape my grasp."

As the words left her lips, she turned into a streak of light and shot after him.

Mael felt her closing in, his expression grew even gloomier, and he sped through the clouds in earnest.

Right now, he only wanted to find Luna as soon as possible, wherever she might be.

This world was weird beyond belief: eerie and uncanny in every way, yet spiritual energy was oppressively rich—even random female cultivators were at the Divinity Transformation Stage. Absolutely ridiculous.

...