As soon as Lin Xuanji(Mo Tianzun)— stepped through the parted waterfall, he found himself surrounded by glowing azure crystals embedded in the cavern walls. Water dripped from above, and apart from the soft roar of the waterfall, the cave was eerily silent.
As he ventured deeper, he noticed an array of magical artifacts strewn across the ground. To others, they might appear powerful or rare—but to him, a former Demon Lord who ruled a treasury in the Infernal Realm, they were nothing more than corrupted remnants—dark tools tainted with malicious qi.
"These things are barely even functional," Xuanji muttered, eyes narrowing. The weapons exuded black energy—residual malevolence, most likely from the demonic beasts they had been taken from and thrown into this cave for containment. Perhaps the waterfall served as a natural barrier, keeping fools away from this dangerous refuse.
As he continued walking, a sudden whisper echoed through the cave.
"Move forward..."
"Demon Lord..."
"Take me..."
The voices swirled in the air, unsettling but familiar. Then, he saw it—a spear embedded into the stone floor, pulsating with dark and ocean-blue energy.
"The Abyss Spear of the Demon Sea Dragon," he whispered.
It was no ordinary weapon. He had forged it himself, long ago, as a gift to an old comrade—one of the great demon beasts of the sea.
Seeing the weapon abandoned, Xuanji chuckled and stepped forward.
"Oh, my old friend… your master was truly pathetic, letting himself be defeated by mortals of all things," he said with a sneer, grabbing the spear.
The moment his hand touched it, the spear flared with power, its light intensifying.
As he pulled it free from the stone, the entire cavern trembled.
"Hah… if a weakling dared to wield this, he'd be dead before the spear even responded," Xuanji muttered. With the weapon now in hand, he descended a set of ancient stone stairs deeper into the cave.
Suddenly, a translucent figure materialized before him.
"Why would the Demon Lord appear in this place?" the spirit asked, floating effortlessly at his side.
Xuanji didn't even pause. "You're the guardian of this cave?"
The spirit let out a shrill laugh. "No… Iam the Spirit of the Waterfall."
"Then you're the one who set up the barrier?" Xuanji asked again, keeping his pace steady.
The spirit nodded. "Yes. I sensed a powerful Yang presence—stronger than even that spear. I couldn't allow others to take it. That one emits far too much disruptive energy, unlike the other lesser tools. But I dared not touch it myself…"
Xuanji laughed lightly. "Then shouldn't you be thanking me?"
The spirit bowed respectfully. "I am deeply grateful, Demon Lord."
"I may return and forge something for you," Xuanji added casually.
The spirit's eyes lit up with joy. "A treasure crafted by the Demon Lord himself? I shall await it with reverence, my lord!"
Xuanji smiled faintly. "I must go now. It seems a crowd has gathered outside."
"But what about the spear? If they see you carrying it—?"
Before the spirit could finish, the spear glowed and transformed into a sleek ring adorned with a sea dragon motif, resting around Xuanji's finger.
"I created it. Of course I can reshape it," Xuanji said coolly. "Now then… farewell."
The spirit bowed deeply. "Farewell, my lord."
As Xuanji lifted a single finger to part the waterfall once again, the cascade suddenly split open of its own accord—this time by another's power.
A cultivator emerged, wielding the profound aura of the Way of Boundless Flow.
Xuanji rolled his eyes. "Another immortal," he muttered, and stepped out calmly.
"YOUNG MASTER XUAN!" the Liu Twins cried in relief, rushing forward and wrapping their arms around him tightly, nearly knocking him off balance.
"I'm not dead, I'm not dead! Now let go of me!" Xuanji exclaimed in frustration.
The twins quickly released him, grinning sheepishly.
Xuanji turned toward the immortal cultivator and nodded. "Thank you."
The immortal was still staring, wide-eyed, sensing the enormous yang energy radiating off Xuanji in waves.
Hah… he's probably overwhelmed by my presence, Xuanji mused inwardly.
"You're welcome… Concubine Lin," the immortal finally said, and walked toward His Highness the Crown Prince.
"The Crown Prince is here?" Xuanji asked in surprise.
The twins exchanged mischievous looks and nodded.
"We should take our Young Master to the bathing chambers to freshen up," Fenglan declared.
Without waiting, the Liu Twins dragged Xuanji away—though not before they bowed politely to Crown Prince Zhao Longxuan and bid him farewell.
———
"You should stay away from that concubine of yours," said Shui Wuyin, the Azure Tides Immortal, his voice calm but solemn.
Zhao Longxuan sighed, while Jiang Fenglie, his sworn brother and confidant, looked confused.
"Is something wrong with Concubine Lin, Master Shui?" Fenglie asked.
Before Wuyin could respond, Longxuan interrupted, his voice cold and firm.
"We shall not speak nonsense any further." He turned his sharp gaze toward the immortal. "Your task is done. You may return."
Fenglie stared in confusion, but said nothing as he followed his prince, who walked away without looking back.
Left alone, Shui Wuyin sighed deeply.
"That is not Lin Xuanji's soul… but the soul of something far more dangerous.
Even I, an immortal, must remain silent—lest I invite my own end."
With those words, the immortal faded into mist and vanished.