The shattered earth looked as if it had been drenched in blood, exuding a sinister aura.
Amidst these ancient ruins, he actually encountered a living creature—but that wasn’t the main reason for his shock. What truly stunned him was the creature’s appearance.
It was a humanoid being, roughly two meters tall, walking on two legs. Its triangular face was covered in short, coarse black fur, and a pair of wings sprouted from its back. Its slitted eyes gleamed with cunning crimson light, while fiery red hair swayed wildly behind it.
“A lich!”
Tian Fan couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment. He was utterly taken aback—never had he expected to encounter such a creature here. He had never even considered that these beings truly existed.
According to ancient records from the Soaring Dragon Dynasty, there was a race known as liches in the primordial past. They were not creatures of the mortal world but belonged to the Demon Realm. This race was infamous for its cunning and cruelty, skilled in illusions that would leave enemies disoriented before they were ambushed and slain, their essence devoured.
Tian Fan had read about them during his days of being unable to cultivate, but he had always assumed they were mere legends from unofficial histories. Never did he imagine he would see one in the flesh.
‘Could it be that the legendary Demon Realm truly exists?’
“A human… you actually know of me?”
The lich was also surprised by Tian Fan’s words. Its eyes narrowed briefly before a trace of arrogance flashed across its face.
“Heh, I never expected our race’s name to still linger in the mortal world!”
“You really are a lich! What is this place? Is this… the Demon Realm?” Tian Fan asked in shock. Staring at the lich, countless questions swirled in his mind. His instincts told him that something earth-shattering had happened here—something possibly tied to the legendary immortals and gods.
“The Demon Realm? Heh, you could say that.” The lich’s green eyes flickered intensely as it licked its cracked lips, eyeing Tian Fan greedily. “It’s been so long since I’ve tasted human flesh… Today, I finally get to savor it again.”
“Wait! Tell me—what exactly happened here?” Tian Fan pressed, his curiosity overwhelming. He trusted his instincts—this place was anything but ordinary.
“What happened here? What happened…?” The lich threw its head back and roared. “The war of gods and demons! The heavens shattered, the earth collapsed! Hahaha! Look around you—this world has remained unchanged since ancient times! No sunlight, no life… forever trapped in this wretched state!”
Tian Fan’s heart trembled violently. ‘A war between gods and demons?’ He urgently asked, “You mean this place was ravaged by divine conflict? What exactly occurred? Do immortals and gods truly exist?”
“Don’t ask me! Don’t ask me!” The lich’s face twisted savagely. “Nothing remains! Nothing! All I saw was the sky breaking apart and the earth sinking! Everything was destroyed! Yet I survived… only to live a death-like existence! Hahaha!”
Its laughter was desolate, leaving Tian Fan utterly bewildered. ‘What does it mean to live yet be as good as dead?’
The lich’s triangular face contorted into a vicious grin as it coldly stared at him. “Heh, human… since you’ve stumbled in here, don’t even think about leaving. You’ll make a fine meal!”
With a sinister chuckle, the lich advanced step by step, its oppressive aura suffocating. Deathly demonic mist coiled around its body, making it seem like a true fiend.
Tian Fan frowned, sensing overwhelming pressure. Though he couldn’t discern the lich’s exact cultivation level, he was certain it was terrifyingly strong—at least at the Mixed Origin Realm. But what puzzled him was how it hadn’t turned to dust over time. Judging by the ruins, this place had to be hundreds of thousands of years old. And from the lich’s words, it had been trapped here for eons, never able to leave.
Boom!
With just a single step forward, the lich’s chilling aura sent Tian Fan flying back. A massive black hand, wreathed in demonic mist, descended from the sky, collapsing the heavens as it reached for him!
Tian Fan’s expression changed. This lich was far too powerful—likely at the peak of the Mixed Origin Realm. In his current state, he stood no chance against such an opponent. The gap in their strength was insurmountable—even if he truly had divine blood flowing in his veins.
Swish!
He instantly activated the Divine Cloud Steps, vanishing from his original position just as the ground beneath him shattered into pieces.
“Not bad speed. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a living human… Play with me a little longer.”
The lich grinned darkly as its massive black hand twisted midair and swiped at Tian Fan again—this time without using any demonic energy.
Facing this strike, Tian Fan smirked, unafraid. Physical combat was what he feared least. His golden fist shot upward, tearing through the void itself.
Bang!
The lich was actually forced back by the punch, its face filled with shock. But Tian Fan was even more astonished. He had absolute confidence in his physical strength—even against a Return to Immortality Realm expert, he could hold his own in pure bodily combat. Yet after that exchange, his fist actually ached. The lich’s palm felt like forged steel—and even more unsettling, it was utterly devoid of warmth, icy cold to the core.
“How is your body so strong?”
“Why is your flesh so cold?”
They spoke almost simultaneously. The lich stared at him coldly. “You’re no ordinary human… As for why my body is cold—if you can defeat me, I’ll tell you!”
Suddenly, a dazzling silver light erupted from the distant horizon, enveloping the entire sky. A sacred aura spread outward, bathing the world in a silvery glow.
“D*mn it! Not again! If not for this, I would’ve escaped long ago!”
The lich’s face twisted with fury as its body erupted with dark demonic energy, shrouding it completely. It glared hatefully into the distance—clearly terrified of the silver radiance.
“The Wind Spirit Orb!”
Tian Fan’s eyes lit up with excitement. The ancient divine runes within his body began vibrating on their own—something that had never happened before. But moments later, they stilled again as the distant silver light flickered and vanished.
“Brat… how do you know about the Wind Spirit Orb?!”
The lich was visibly shaken. This human was far more unusual than it had thought—how could he possibly know about the Five Spirit Pearls?
“How do I know…? That’s strange, how do I know?”
Tian Fan himself was startled by the question. He had simply blurted it out instinctively—but now that he thought about it, it ‘was’ bizarre.
“Are you here for the Wind Spirit Orb?” the lich asked, its eyes glinting.
“Yes. And nothing will stop me from obtaining it—not even a god standing in my way,” Tian Fan replied coldly.
“Heh… How about this, human? Let’s work together. I’ll help you get the Wind Spirit Orb.”
The lich’s sudden proposal left Tian Fan stunned. Never had he expected this demonic creature to suggest an alliance at such a moment…