Chapter 128: The Face of the Cursed Demon Lord

Master Xuan Zhe said, “Master, from what Li Jinxuan saw and described, the experiments the Celestial Curse Demon Clan conducted on those people and beasts back then closely resemble the state Wei Xiaofan exhibited today. However, I sense that Wei Xiaofan’s condition is somewhat milder compared to those from several centuries ago.”

Master Shang Heng replied, “Yes, based on your description of Wei Xiaofan’s symptoms, he indeed seems less afflicted than those humans and beasts experimented on by the Celestial Curse Demon Clan centuries ago. I believe the reason those beings suffered more severely was because the clan intended to use the beasts as soldiers to fight and kill on their behalf. Consequently, the drugs or curses administered during the experiments were far harsher. Wei Xiaofan, on the other hand, has trained in martial arts and cultivated the celestial path under us, so his body’s resistance naturally surpasses that of the clan’s subjects by a great margin. Moreover, Wei Xiaofan is currently under the control of that soul-capturing sorcerer, who still finds him useful. That is why the sorcerer hasn’t dared to harm Wei Xiaofan outright; otherwise, he wouldn’t have promised you that ‘once my mission succeeds, I will return Wei Xiaofan’s original self.’ At present, the sorcerer controls only certain aspects of Wei Xiaofan’s consciousness and hasn’t resorted to cruelty.”

“When I heard the sorcerer say that, I had the same thought. Master, what happened afterward? Did Li Jinxuan continue to follow Yang Youren? Did he discover the true dwelling place where the Celestial Curse Demon Clan lived, ate, and relieved themselves?”

“Li Youqian said that when Li Jinxuan heard Yang Youren was going to meet the Demon Lord of the Celestial Curse Clan, he assumed the Demon Lord resided elsewhere. So, he shadowed Yang Youren to see which direction he headed within the cave. When Yang Youren approached the cave’s exit, Li Jinxuan swiftly flew down the mountain and hid near the cave entrance to wait for him. Unexpectedly, after more than an hour, Yang Youren did not exit, leading Li Jinxuan to suspect the Demon Lord also lived inside the cave. He then flew up the mountainside to search for the Demon Lord’s residence. After about fifteen minutes, he found another cave opening several hundred meters from the nine upper caves used for daytime illumination. Li Jinxuan examined the stones around the entrance. Though uneven, it was clear the stones had been chiseled and carved by human hands. Remembering the nine upper caves for daylight use were likewise man-made, though differing in thickness, all required tremendous labor to create. Li Jinxuan guessed the cave system was more expansive than imagined. Observing that the Celestial Curse Demon Clan invested such massive effort in building their base in such a remote and perilous place—Wasteland Island—he sensed they must be hiding some enormous and unspeakable secret. So, he continued to peer inside, searching for Yang Youren to see exactly where he would meet the Demon Lord and what the Demon Lord looked like.”

Master Xuan Zhe said, “What Li Jinxuan said makes sense. For the Celestial Curse Demon Clan to undertake such a grand and secretive project in such a remote place shows they have long been scheming deeply shameful deeds. Master, what happened next? Did Li Jinxuan actually see the Demon Lord? Did he describe the Demon Lord’s appearance?”

“About the time it takes to finish a bowl of rice, Li Jinxuan saw Yang Youren emerge from a dark corner. Soon after, two shadows appeared behind him, seemingly fused together, performing the same movements as they floated out of the darkness,” Master Shang Heng recounted.

“Two shadows fused together? Master, what does that mean? Were they two people supporting each other?” Xuan Zhe asked curiously.

“The person following Yang Youren was dressed entirely in a black robe, head covered as well, so dark it blended with the shadows on the ground. That’s why it looked like two shadows moving together,” Master Shang Heng explained with a slight smile.

“That’s a fascinating description from Li Jinxuan!” Xuan Zhe chuckled.

Master Shang Heng continued, “Not long after, Yang Youren turned to the black-clad figure, clasped his fists respectfully, and pledged in a solemn tone, ‘Demon Lord, please wait! Rest assured, no matter how difficult, even if I must sacrifice my life, I will complete the mission!’ The black-robed figure immediately responded, ‘Elder Yang, you overstate it! Under no circumstances do I want you to throw away your life. I only require your earnest efforts. Even if this mission fails, I will have other tasks for you. Remember, never lightly risk your life unless absolutely necessary. As long as you live, you remain valuable to the Celestial Curse Sect. Now go.’ After watching Yang Youren depart, the black-clad figure suddenly looked up toward the cave ceiling and let out a deep, low laugh—about ten chuckles in total. Then, he clenched his right fist tightly and thrust it upward with great force. Immediately, a powerful gust surged from beneath the cave, swaying the grass and trees near the entrance. Li Jinxuan, hiding behind a stone, watched secretly. When the Demon Lord laughed with his head raised, his back was to Li Jinxuan, so he did not realize he was being observed.”

“When Li Jinxuan finally saw the Demon Lord’s face, he was astonished. The Demon Lord’s face was not human. It was pitch black, as if smeared with charcoal. His thick, dense eyebrows were black like two sticks of charcoal. His nose was two to three times larger than a human’s, and his mouth was also over twice the size, jutting forward. Except for the whites around his eyes, the entire face was an intense, coal-black hue. In short, it resembled the face of a giant gorilla, and the expression was filled with raging fury.”

Master Xuan Zhe was taken aback upon hearing that the Demon Lord’s face was that of a giant gorilla. He stared at Master Shang Heng in disbelief.

“The Demon Lord’s face is that of a giant gorilla? Could it be that a gorilla leads the entire demon clan? That seems impossible!” Xuan Zhe exclaimed.

Master Shang Heng did not answer but continued, “After laughing, the Demon Lord turned and disappeared into the darkness from where he came. Li Jinxuan waited a while longer, ensured the Demon Lord had gone far enough, and then cautiously retreated, afraid of alerting him. After slipping down the mountain, Li Jinxuan flew back along the original route to the interior of the Wilderness Continent and reported everything to his master, Li Youqian, and the abbot of Lingrui Taoist Temple.”