Chapter 1: The Holy Coffin’s Mission
Li Xingruo climbed out of the coffin.
He knew that he had completed the baptism of the Holy Coffin, and his innate talent and cultivation had surpassed his previous limits.
In the future, among the great powers of the demonic path, there would surely be a place for him!
As the seventeenth-generation chief disciple of the Radiant Sect of the demonic path, Li Xingruo had shown extraordinary talent since the day he joined.
Over the years, even the son of the Demon Lord had paled in comparison to his brilliance.
It was precisely because of this that the high-ranking figures of the demonic path entrusted him with a task more difficult than ascending to the heavens—
The matter began half a month ago.
That day, the atmosphere on the Radiant Sect’s Holy Mountain was unusually solemn.
Li Xingruo followed his master toward the main hall, silently pondering why the Demon Lord, after emerging from seclusion and halfway through a meeting, had suddenly called for him by name.
“Although the Radiant Sect has declined since the war between immortals and demons, it still governs thousands of miles and has endured for a millennium as a major sect, with at least seven or eight hundred Core Formation cultivators. Why would a figure like the Demon Lord take notice of a young junior like me…?”
Li Xingruo gazed at the jade statue of the Demon Lord in the main hall, his heart filled with unease:
“Could it be… he found out about me sneaking the Demon Lord’s tribute when I first joined?”
The steps of the Holy Mountain were not long, and soon they reached the entrance of the main hall. Li Xingruo was still speculating on the reason when his master respectfully bowed toward the interior:
“Demon Lord above, your humble disciple Li Xingruo has been brought.”
“Let him enter.”
Hearing the summons, Li Xingruo adjusted his attire, took a deep breath, and walked in with his head slightly lowered.
There were many people seated in the main hall. As he bowed to the Demon Lord, he discreetly scanned the crowd with his peripheral vision.
As expected, every person present was a core high-ranking member of the Radiant Sect.
Some of them had likely been specially summoned from afar. With such a lineup, could it be that something major was about to happen in the Radiant Sect?
“You are Li Xingruo?” The Demon Lord’s gaze fell upon him, scrutinizing him closely.
“Reporting to the Demon Lord, it is indeed your disciple.”
Li Xingruo bowed again.
From the Demon Lord’s intense gaze, he sensed no malice, yet there was an inexplicable strangeness that unsettled him.
Rumors that great powers practicing demonic arts often required harvesting others flashed through his mind, causing his heart to tremble. He instinctively lowered his head further, avoiding the Demon Lord’s probing eyes.
“Xingruo, no need to be so formal. Circulate your spiritual energy and let me see how your cultivation is progressing,” the Demon Lord said, his voice still gentle.
But to Li Xingruo, those words carried a chilling undertone.
See my spiritual energy? Could this old monster really be planning to harvest me? I’m a man!
“So, what do you think, Lord Demon Lord?” A sleazy-looking elder to the Demon Lord’s left chuckled.
Seeing the Demon Lord nod, the elder grew even more smug, glancing at the other elders: “A water-type Heavenly Spirit Root, one in a million. I told you this kid would definitely meet the Demon Lord’s needs.”
Meet… his needs…?
Li Xingruo’s heart pounded faster. Highlighting my water spirit root trait—could something filthy really be about to happen?
“Xingruo, how old are you this year?” the Demon Lord asked again.
“Seventeen.”
“A fine age… and you’ve been with our Radiant Sect for seven or eight years, correct?”
“Reporting to the Demon Lord, exactly eight years.”
“Hm.”
The Demon Lord nodded slightly, then asked a few casual questions, like “How has the sect treated you?”
Just as Li Xingruo braced himself for the moment when the Demon Lord might demand he offer himself in gratitude to the sect, the Demon Lord’s tone shifted:
“There is a matter concerning the survival of the Radiant Sect, and indeed the entire demonic path. I wish to entrust it to you. Xingruo, are you willing to serve the sect?”
Using the sect’s righteousness to pressure me into compliance? Is this the new trend in the demonic path?
Li Xingruo was stunned. “Lord Demon Lord and the esteemed elders possess vast powers. What task could possibly require a disciple like me?”
The Demon Lord did not answer directly but continued:
“I’ve heard, Xingruo, that for an assassination mission, you once disguised yourself as a female cultivator—and did so quite convincingly. Is that true?”
“That was because…” Li Xingruo explained with a wry smile, “I specifically studied female cultivators’ etiquette and habits from my junior sisters, but it was all to complete a mission for the sect. I had no choice!”
Damn this old demon! Asking such a question in public—what perverse things is he thinking? And these elders, with their ambiguous expressions… even if the Demon Lord wants to harvest, why are they so excited? Are they planning some kind of depraved party?
The Demon Lord’s questions filled Li Xingruo’s mind with unsettling images.
Unaware of Li Xingruo’s thoughts, the Demon Lord continued:
“How much of those skills do you still retain?”
“Lord Demon Lord, what exactly is the task you wish to entrust to me?” Unable to endure the constant sense of danger, Li Xingruo clenched his fists and countered with a question.
If these old fogies from the Radiant Sect showed even the slightest hint of demanding he offer himself, he would immediately dissipate his cultivation. Even if it meant ruining his foundation, he wouldn’t let them take advantage of him.
Fortunately, the tension didn’t last long. The Demon Lord spoke:
“I want to send you to the immortal sects. As for the specific task, Elder Lin, explain it to him.”
“Our spies in the immortal sects have reported that in five years, the immortal sects will jointly open the Immortal Domain Spirit Vein, allowing their young disciples to cultivate there for a hundred days,” Elder Lin said, clearing his throat. “Xingruo, the Demon Lord’s intention is for you to infiltrate the Immortal Domain Spirit Vein and steal the immortal sects’ treasure—the Spirit Vein Nexus! If you can also disrupt the Immortal Domain Spirit Vein and disturb the immortal sects’ fortune, that would be even better.”
“Steal the immortal sects’ treasure and disrupt their spirit vein?”
Li Xingruo could hardly believe his ears. The absurdity of this task was no less than the rumors of the sect leaders’ penchant for men.
“Though I have some talent, my strength is meager. How could I bear such a heavy responsibility? Moreover, the immortal sects’ techniques are vastly different from those of the demonic path. With my demonic aura, I’d likely be captured the moment I set foot in their territory.”
“No need to worry. The sect has already made thorough arrangements.”
Elder Lin clapped his hands, triggering some mechanism. The floor of the hall began to shift, and a coffin rose from a hidden chamber beneath.
“This is the sect’s thorough arrangement?”
Li Xingruo cursed inwardly, dumbfounded. Not only are they sending me on a suicide mission, but they’ve even prepared a coffin?
Why don’t you just kill me now!
“Xingruo, what’s with that look?”
As if seeing through his thoughts, Elder Lin glared at him. “This is no ordinary coffin—it’s a supreme treasure of the demonic path, passed down from ancient times! Sleep in it for a while, and all your demonic aura will be completely concealed. Even the old monster Liyang from the immortal sects wouldn’t see through it.”
“The wonders of the Holy Coffin’s baptism are far more than that. With your water-type Heavenly Spirit Root, once the baptism is complete, you’ll face no cultivation barriers before reaching the Nascent Soul realm.”
Seeing his hesitation, the Demon Lord added persuasively:
“This matter concerns the rise or fall of our sect and the entire demonic path for the next millennium. No one but you can bear this responsibility. Xingruo, you don’t want to see the demonic path decline, do you?”