Stronger with Crimson Modifier

This person was draped in a Glazed Kasaya, their appearance solemn and majestic. Behind their head, an Eight-Treasure Light Wheel turned slowly.

It emanated a soft yet solemn golden light. As the halo shifted, faint streams of Buddhist chanting seemed to ebb and flow.

His entire body was shrouded in a faint golden radiance, making him look like a god or Buddha descended to the mortal realm.

Although his face was hidden in the light and shadow, making it hard to discern, it wasn’t difficult to guess from his attire and tone that he was a monk.

At this, he turned slightly to the side.

His gaze fell upon the figures beside him as he spoke.

"Fellow Daoists, I wonder, do you have any insights on this matter?"

One of the two he addressed as "Fellow Daoists" was a figure clad in a Yin Yang Fish Daoist Robe.

The Daoist Robe fluttered gently in the wind, and a current of pure energy seemed to flow around him.

He carried a longsword on his back. Its scabbard was simple and ancient, yet it seemed to hold back a cold light that threatened to burst forth with exceptional sharpness.

The other was dressed in a plain white robe, wearing a Jade Crown inlaid with a single purple Jade Bead.

A roll of Bamboo Slips hung from his waist, and his every movement exuded an air of scholarly refinement.

Hearing this, the figure in the Daoist Robe formed a hand seal. A clear light flickered at his fingertips as if he were divining something.

A few breaths later, he stopped and shook his head slightly.

"With the Heaven-Sealing Stele’s suppression, the net of fate is rooted in this world."

"All creation in this realm is within our grasp."

"Fate is clear and follows its normal course. There are no signs of deviation."

"Indeed. Fate follows its usual course, with no major deviations to be seen," the other figure, the one in scholarly attire, replied in kind.

"It must be the last thread of the Demon Race’s Celestial Mandate, making a final, desperate struggle. They are cornered beasts, foolishly trying to defy the heavens and alter their destiny."

"As long as the Heaven-Sealing Stele stands firm, even if unforeseen changes occur, it is absolutely impossible for this world’s Celestial Dao to break free from our control."

The figure stared at the Wordless Stone Stele, a strange note entering his voice.

"In another thousand years, we will surely be able to take that final, crucial step and transcend the shackles of this world."

He paused, glancing at the Heaven-Sealing Stele before continuing in a heavy voice.

"However, before that, we must first reinforce this Heaven-Sealing Stele to prevent any accidents that might affect the coming calamity."

"Agreed."

The other two heard this and nodded in agreement.

With that, the three raised their hands in unison.

In an instant, three streams of light—gold, cyan, and white—landed precisely upon the Wordless Stone Stele.

The stele trembled.

Gradually, the once blinding golden light began to recede.

The Runes flowing across its surface also faded, sinking back into the stone.

In a moment, everything returned to its original state.

The Wordless Stone Stele stood quietly. If one’s gaze could pierce through to its base, they would discover a fine, dense net of fate spreading out from below like tendrils, enveloping the entire world.

Even the figures of these three were within it.

They looked like prey struggling within the great net.

However, compared to the other lives caught in the net of fate, the threads representing these three were exceptionally thick and strong.

...

「A few days later.」

「Tai Ze Lake.」

「Before the gates of the Water Ape Mansion.」

A streak of Flowing Light descended.

It transformed into an old man dressed in an azure long-robed shirt.

The old man was somewhat hunchbacked and held a staff in his hand.

A closer look would reveal that the bulge under his robes was, in fact, a black turtle shell.

The old man looked at the Water Ape Mansion before him, which was enveloped in a curtain of light.

He spoke in a clear voice that spread distinctly through the water.

"I am Chen Po, in service to the great Demon Monarch. I have come to pay my respects to the Vortex Demon King. I hope Your Majesty will open the gates and grant me an audience."

After speaking, he stood quietly in place.

However, time passed—enough to drink half a cup of tea.

Yet the Water Ape Mansion before him remained deathly silent. There was no response, nor did any member of the Demon Race emerge.

Seeing this, the old man named Chen Po frowned.

He felt a surge of displeasure.

It was true that the other party was a Demon King of the Nascent Element Realm, while he himself was only a Great Demon of the Dao Foundation Realm.

His own strength was inferior.

Under normal circumstances, the other party, as a Demon King, naturally had the right to ignore him.

But things were different now.

He had come representing the master of Tai Ze Lake—the River-Devouring Demon Monarch.

For the Vortex Demon King to be so dismissive was going too far.

If he returned dejectedly to report his failure, he feared he would incur the Demon Monarch’s thunderous wrath and suffer severe punishment.

At this thought, Chen Po snorted coldly, his aura surging.

He looked at the Water Mansion, which was shrouded by a curtain of water.

He took a step forward, raised his staff high, and, channeling his Demon Essence, thrust it fiercely toward the barrier-like water curtain.

His intention in attacking was merely to cause a commotion and attract the attention of those inside the Water Mansion.

Thus, he didn’t use his full strength.

However, what he never expected was that the moment his staff touched the water curtain, it popped like a fragile bubble.

POP.

With a sound, it instantly burst apart, revealing the Water Ape Mansion hidden behind it.

This sudden development stunned him.

But when he saw the scene within, his expression changed dramatically.

This was not his first visit to the Water Ape Mansion. Although it couldn’t compare to the Demon Monarch’s utterly extravagant Crystal Palace...

...as the residence of a Demon King who ruled over hundreds of miles of water, it was certainly not shabby.

It had all the expected trappings.

But what lay before him now was a scene of utter silence.

The once-vast Water Ape Mansion was completely empty, without a single soul in sight. It was as if it had been abandoned long ago.

The Clam Girls and Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals that once bustled about had all vanished without a trace.

Chen Po’s expression turned grim.

Heedless of anything else, he swept his Demon Sense outward, not missing a single corner.

However, after a thorough search, he still found nothing.

After that, he went to the domains of the other Dao Foundation Realm Great Demons in this territory.

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