Chapter 1

In the vast, desolate land, strong winds blew fiercely, and dark clouds gathered, leaving only a gloomy sky without a trace of sunlight.

Suddenly, a bolt of blue lightning, like a force that could split the heavens, descended from the sky, reducing a thousand-meter-tall tree to ashes. Then, a large meteor shower streaked across the sky, and after a brief moment of brightness, the world plunged into darkness again. A mountain range had vanished, leaving only the lingering flames from the meteors burning fiercely.

In the Demon Garden, several tall witch clans flew over the desolate hills, unleashing their innate abilities, manipulating the elemental energies of heaven and earth, and wreaking havoc on the land with their boisterous laughter.

A large number of demon clans fled in panic, some flapping their wings to fly high, others running on all fours, not daring to resist.

Alas, the disparity in strength was too great. Faced with these powerful witch clans, fleeing had become a luxury. One by one, figures were either torn apart by lightning and gales or crushed by massive fists. Only a few managed to escape by sheer luck.

Similar scenes unfolded throughout the Demon Garden. Despite the numerous demon clans, they scattered in fear at the appearance of the witch clans, fleeing for their lives.

Amidst the flames and slaughter, two weak figures ran desperately forward. They were two small demons, no more than at the Core Formation stage, with low strength and unable to fly. The laughter of the witch clans behind them made them almost lose their courage.

"Xu Luo, hurry... they're catching up!" The one speaking was a Fire Swallowing Demon, with several uncontrollable flames breaking out on his body, trembling and shaking as if mirroring his inner fear.

His name was Zhao Ming, given by the fox demon who had found him, meaning "yearning for sunlight."

The Demon Garden was not a paradise for the demon clans but a hell, a place where the witch clans raised demons to hone their descendants.

This land was sealed by powerful witch clans with witchcraft, making it impossible for anyone inside to leave or for anyone outside to enter easily.

Zhao Ming had never seen sunlight; he had only heard that it was a bright light emitted by something called the sun, warm and comfortable. Unfortunately, he had never seen it.

The land, enchanted by the powerful witch clans, was always shrouded in dark clouds, dim and gloomy, with storms, heavy snow, and lightning and meteors appearing at any time, but no sun. Just like the future of the demon clans, there was no glimmer of hope.

Escaping alongside Zhao Ming was a Blood Demon, also found and named by the fox demon, called Xu Luo. According to legend, there was a place called the Blood Sea, where a powerful race known for their bloodlust, the Asura clan, lived. Hence, the fox demon named him Xu Luo.

"Zhao Ming... I can't run anymore... I can't! You run, don't worry about me!" Xu Luo panted, more weak than Zhao Ming.

Blood Demons needed to drink blood, but there was no fresh blood for him to drink in the Demon Garden.

As soon as he spoke, Xu Luo fell to the ground, completely out of strength.

Zhao Ming quickly helped him up, dragging him to continue fleeing, encouraging him, "Don't be afraid, Mother is ahead, she will definitely save us! Don't give up, absolutely don't give up."

The "Mother" he referred to was the fox demon who had found them, though she did not like being called "Mother."

Comforting Xu Luo, Zhao Ming himself was trembling with fear.

At this moment, he deeply regretted listening to the snake demon's instigation, who said that they could see the sun at the boundary where the Demon Garden connected to the outside world. If not for that, he and Xu Luo would not have sneaked out.

Although the Demon Garden was dangerous, the fox demon who had found them was powerful and could protect them from being discovered by the witch clans.

"Enough, Zhao Ming... I really can't go on. You run, or we'll die!" Xu Luo said weakly, trying to break free from Zhao Ming's grip, but he was almost immobile.

Zhao Ming shook his head; they were brothers, and he would never abandon Xu Luo, even if it meant dying together. However, if they continued like this, they would soon be caught by the witch clans, and the disparity in strength left them with no hope of survival.

In a state of extreme anxiety, suddenly, over a dozen large fireballs streaked from the horizon, moving at incredible speed.

Meteors! Zhao Ming's eyes filled with despair. Once these terrifying objects landed, the destruction would be immense, capable of reducing everything within hundreds of miles to ashes. With a dozen meteors, it would be a stroke of luck if they left even a trace of ash.

"Boom, boom, boom," several loud explosions, and the dozen large fireballs landed beside them in an instant.

Zhao Ming's body stiffened. After a moment, he realized that the scenario he had imagined did not occur. Turning his head, he saw that the dozen large fireballs were not meteors but a dozen large demon clans.

These were powerful and terrifying demons in Zhao Ming's eyes, but they were no match for the witch clans.

A burst of laughter came from a distance, from the witch clans, getting closer. Zhao Ming was filled with fear, glancing at the dozen still burning demon corpses around him. Seeing a black bear demon whose body was already twisted and stiff, he gritted his teeth and dragged Xu Luo over.

Focusing on the flames, he silently activated his innate ability, separating the flames under the black bear demon's twisted body. As a Fire Swallowing Demon, separating and swallowing flames was his natural ability, provided the flames were not too powerful.

The black bear demon's large body, twisted and deformed, created a small space between it and the ground, enough for Xu Luo to hide.

"Xu Luo, bear with it!" Zhao Ming instructed, pushing Xu Luo into the space, then lying on the black bear demon's corpse, transforming his body to blend with the flames, making it indistinguishable.

At the same time, he continuously activated his innate ability to separate the flames around Xu Luo without extinguishing them.

Running was impossible; they could only hope that the flames and the lingering demon aura from the black bear demon's body would conceal their presence from the witch clans.

It was a good idea, but Zhao Ming's strength was insufficient, and he dared not let the flames go out. Many flames still scorched Xu Luo, and he could even smell the scent of his blood being ignited.

Xu Luo buried his head in the soil, clenching his hands, not moving, not making any sound, not even trembling from the pain, as if he were not the one being scorched. Zhao Ming couldn't help but wonder if he was already dead.

Unable to determine, and not daring to make a sound, the sound of heavy footsteps approached, and the massive figures of the witch clans appeared not far away.

"Finally, I've let off some steam!" A witch clan laughed loudly, making Zhao Ming's heart race.

This witch clan was exceptionally powerful, far stronger than those who usually appeared in the Demon Garden, and even more powerful than the fox demon who had found them.

Such a powerful being, Zhao Ming wondered if he could be deceived. He held his breath, praying that Xu Luo would hold on and not make a sound.

"This Demon Garden may not be exciting, but it's good for venting and having fun! It's rare for Lord Zhu Hong to visit, so he must be able to relax and vent here. If he likes it, he can stay here permanently," another witch clan said loudly, with a hint of flattery.

However, his flattery seemed to fall on deaf ears. The witch clan called Zhu Hong immediately changed his expression, "Do you want me to be punished by the elders for life?"

"Idiot, Lord Zhu Hong is a genius, a pillar of our clan. He won't stay in a place like the Demon Garden forever. The vast world outside is where Lord Zhu Hong will show his true strength," a witch clan behind him immediately shouted.

"Yes, yes!" The flatterer quickly nodded and apologized.

Zhu Hong snorted, "The demons in this garden are no match for us. Occasionally killing them is somewhat entertaining, but none of them dare to fight back. They are truly worthless."

"Yes, yes, yes! Lord Zhu Hong is right. How can a worthless race like the demons compare to our witch clan!" The flatterer hurriedly agreed.

Zhao Ming lay on the black bear demon's corpse, listening quietly, his heart burning with anger, but he dared not show any reaction.

Life in the Demon Garden had taught him that anger without strength was worthless, and impulsiveness would only lead to a quicker death.

He did not know why the demon clans were so oppressed by the witch clans, why they were called a worthless race, or why there was a place like the Demon Garden where demons had no dignity.

He only knew that he had to survive. Only by living could he learn the things he did not know, and only by living could he have hope to change the things he could not bear. And only by living could he have the hope to see the sun they spoke of.

"Lord Zhu Hong, there are more demons in that direction. Should we go check it out?" The flatterer asked again.

Zhu Hong shook his head, "No, the Pan Shen Sacrifice is about to begin. We just need to capture some sacrifices to complete our task."

Then his expression darkened, "Su Xingbei, I will avenge this debt sooner or later."

A witch clan beside him quickly said, "Lord Zhu Hong, the elders said not to provoke the Su family at this time, or..."

"Or what?" Zhu Hong interrupted, "Our witch clan is the supreme race. Why should we fear the Su family? The High Priest has said that the entire vast world will eventually belong to our witch clan. As for Su Xingbei..."

He suddenly paused, his gaze sweeping over the black bear demon, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

Zhao Ming immediately felt a chill, almost extinguishing the flames on his body. He thought he was doomed. This witch clan's strength was astonishing, and his method of concealment might not fool him.

However, Zhu Hong did not act, as if he had not noticed, and turned to the other witch clans, "Enough talk, it's not related to you. Quickly go and capture some good sacrifices; I need to return and complete my task!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" The accompanying witch clans nodded repeatedly.

Zhu Hong glanced at the black bear demon's corpse, a slight smile on his lips, and left with the other witch clans, a cold laugh in his wake.