Chapter 109: Breaking the Curse

Boom!

The heavy door slammed shut on its own behind him.

Inside, it was pitch black—darker than the darkest night, as if able to swallow even the blackness of one’s own pupils.

Yet within that darkness, a pair of red eyes glowed, flickering with an eerie light, unsettling and mysterious.

Li Mu extended his spiritual awareness and sensed a presence standing in the dark—a strange being unlike any of his own kind.

“A demon?”

He quickly cloaked himself in a sandstorm formation. Though seeing a demon for the first time, he did not panic, but remained cautious and alert.

Within the darkness stood the second disciple of the Wood Dragon, a fierce and malevolent demon.

“Who are you?”

A hoarse voice, tinged with a shriek, cut through the silence. This second disciple, though a demon, did not speak with spiritual words, but possessed two piercing eyes capable of seeing everything even in the night.

Li Mu remained silent, his mind racing with thoughts.

Could it be that even Lian Mountain harbored demons? Was the Wood Dragon in league with them, or had he captured one?

The second disciple spoke again, a hint of doubt in his tone, “Are you here seeking the ancestor of the Wolf Clan?”

Li Mu smiled disdainfully at the question. “The Wolf Ancestor? Demons are a proud race. They would never call anyone ‘ancestor’.”

Surprised, the second disciple lowered his head, eyes filled with deep sorrow.

Even a demon of low cultivation would never lower himself before other races—they only bowed to their own kind or to those stronger than themselves. Yet here was this one, a slave to the Wood Dragon, who, despite having no cultivation power, had used deception to triumph.

If he were alone, he would rather die than submit.

But now, he had no choice. If he defied the Wood Dragon and tried to deceive the rebellious Li Ge into surrendering, both he and his master would surely perish. He knew Li Ge would never beg for mercy, nor would he allow it.

As a slave to a demon master, one must give everything—oneself, and even one’s dignity.

The second disciple lowered his head and smiled, though it was a smile tinged with embarrassment. “If you seek the Wood Dragon, he is currently cultivating. Do not disturb him. Luckily, he is cultivating; otherwise, you would have been killed already.”

Li Mu nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.

His earlier suspicions had been answered. His swift and smooth passage into Lian Mountain had been possible only because the Wood Dragon was in cultivation and thus not aware of his presence. When cultivators meditate, they often suppress their spiritual senses, focusing all their thoughts inward, much like using a Stone Pill to enhance their practice.

But very quickly, his thoughts darkened.

If the Wood Dragon was cultivating, he might have already reached the post-refining pulse stage and was now using rare heavenly treasures to push himself to the limit, currently at the Pill Formation stage.

This was a grave and troubling matter.

At the Pill Formation stage, the Wood Dragon could easily battle the Great Wolf Clan alone and even dominate the Wolf Realm—it would be no great challenge. But what of Li Mu and his companions? How would they be treated?

“Could it be that the Wood Dragon, without further cultivation, intends to quickly leave the Wolf Realm and venture elsewhere?”

Li Mu’s mind raced as he considered his options, but his resolve hardened swiftly, his eyes cold and sharp. “The path I’ve taken is hard-won—I won’t run away. There must be a way.”

He looked into the darkness at the second disciple. “You are the Wood Dragon’s second disciple? If he is cultivating, why don’t you run away? You are a demon—are you willing to be a lifelong slave?”

The second disciple’s voice was bitter. “I will not run. My master is imprisoned here. I endure this treatment in hopes of someday rescuing him.”

“Your master is a demon, and very powerful?”

At Li Mu’s mention of Li Ge, the second disciple’s expression became serious. He crossed his arms in a strange posture. “My master Li Ge will one day be king of all demons.”

Li Mu’s thoughts quickened. “I will help you rescue him.”

Still smiling, the second disciple laughed lightly. “Your kind’s words—I could never trust them. Everyone in this world is so lowly.”

Li Mu shook his head. “I am not like that.”

“Why should I trust you?” the second disciple snorted.

Li Mu’s expression was sincere. “Imagine I am not from this world. I hold no grudge against demons. My only goal now is to free the Wood Dragon. If something bad happens to him, I will intervene and handle it carefully.”

Doubt flickered in the second disciple’s eyes. “You are not from this realm? What do you mean?”

“Yes and no. No need to worry about it.”

Li Mu’s tone hardened like iron. “Helping you rescue your master is good for me, for you, and for your master. Why wouldn’t you believe me?”

The second disciple thought for a moment, then nodded. “How do we rescue him?”

Demons seemed surprisingly easy to reason with. Li Mu relaxed somewhat and prepared what he would say, yet the second disciple’s trust came quickly.

“You must tell me where your master is imprisoned.”

The second disciple pointed beneath himself. “Inside this heavy iron mountain.”

“Heavy iron, huh? No wonder there’s no spiritual energy here.” Li Mu nodded slightly. Heavy iron was an extraordinarily dense metal, harder than stone, impervious and able to completely block spiritual energy. But it was useless for forging treasured weapons, making it an ideal material for spiritual suppression formations.

Demons naturally feared spiritual energy. Only in places devoid of it could they survive.

A flash of anger crossed the second disciple’s face; his voice rose sharply. “The Wood Dragon split this heavy iron mountain in two. Inside the other half, he placed a spiritual energy zone to torment my master.”

Li Mu said nothing.

Such cruelty was vicious, but when used against demons, many would likely resort to similar methods.

“To break through this heavy mountain and rescue your master?”

The second disciple nodded, worry flickering in his expression. “I was too anxious and forgot—you can’t do it with your level of cultivation. Heavy iron mountains are extremely dense, with thick walls and spiritual suppression. Only cultivators at the refining pulse stage can break through, using powerful artifacts.”

His words were honest. Though heavy iron was useless to cultivators, it was one of the hardest third-grade materials—breaking it was no easy task.

Li Mu waved his hand. “I have a way, but you must ask your master to step aside to avoid injury.”

The second disciple looked at Li Mu uncertainly, then moved toward a corner.

There was a tiny hole, a voice transmission channel they must have used regularly.

After a while, the second disciple returned slowly. “My master has moved to the other side. If you truly can break the wall, my master will surely reward you.”

Li Mu nodded. “Good. I will have a favor to ask later.”

Confidence filled Li Mu as he examined the dark wall beneath his feet and drew forth his Soul Spear.

The second disciple stood close, gazing intently at Li Mu, his eyes still full of doubt. Secretly, he wondered, “Could this thing be like the demon weapons of my people?”

Demon weapons were black and powerful, slightly weaker than treasured artifacts, but not fueled by soul power or true strength—they drew on the demon’s own source power. Only the master’s demon weapons were different from regular treasured artifacts.

Li Mu gripped the Soul Spear, channeling his true energy.

Dark, gloomy energy swirled around the spear like countless black serpents.

Even in the night, the aura of malevolence was palpable, chilling to the bone.

“Heh ha! Break!”