1 Echoes of the past

"Ten thousand years ago, all the immortals perished in the epic battle that finally vanquished the ancient Devil Lord. All the immortals fell, that is, except for three. The deity Buzhao, his divine phoenix, and the Guardian Mohe."

"These three stood as the last bastions of hope in a world teetering on the brink of annihilation. Even though they managed to defeat the Devil Lord, his dark powers lingered, like a malignant disease, threatening to consume all that was pure and good."

"To eradicate these dark powers, Deity Buzhao and Guardian Mohe utilized the divine artifact 'Nebulite', formed from the energy of celestial bodies, and stored all that power within it."

"The dark energy was so potent that the artifact could not contain it for long. To save the world, Deity Buzhao absorbed the artifact, but the immense dark energy backfired the moment it collided with the pure and divine energy of Deity Buzhao, causing him to lose control."

"The divine phoenix, a majestic beast that had fought alongside Deity Buzhao in numerous wars, used her spirit energy to calm her Lord. Depleted of all her spirit energy, she began to fade away. Knowing her end was near, she buried her egg in the mortal world, protected by dangerous beasts."

"After absorbing all the dark energy, Deity Buzhao sealed himself in the nine hells with the help of Guardian Muhe, who vowed to return and rescue his friend once he found a solution. Both friends, along with the phoenix, disappeared, saving the world but never to be seen or heard from again in these ten thousand years."

"Many emperors, sects, and even top-ranked individuals tried their best to find 'Nebulite' hidden by Deity Buzhao and the egg of the divine beast, but all failed. In search of these, many never returned."

"Storyteller, storyteller." began the youngest elite, Ning, of Lushan Academy. "What was the origin of the devil lord? Where did he come from?"

The storyteller, a wise and weathered man named Hua, stroked his long, white beard thoughtfully.

His eyes, as deep and mysterious as the night sky, twinkled with ancient secrets. "The Devil Lord appeared abruptly, like a storm on a clear day. His origin and the extent of his power remain shrouded in mystery. Mortals like us are but ants in his presence, incapable of causing him harm."

A collective sigh of disappointment echoed from all the elites of Lushan Academy.

"Didn't you say you were going to tell us how the Demon Sect came into existence? So why are you recounting this story from ten thousand years ago?" questioned Zhang, the 'D+' ranked elite of Lushan Academy.

"Oh yes, Brother Zhang, I was thinking the same." Ning agreed.

"Wait, did I say that?" The storyteller, Hua, asked in a humorous tone. His laughter echoed through the hall, a warm and comforting sound that eased the tension in the room.

"MR. HUA!!!" All the elites of Lushan Academy exclaimed in unison. Their voices filled the hall, a symphony of respect and mild frustration.

"Haha, yes, yes, I was getting to that, lads." Hua reassured them, his voice as soothing as a lullaby. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes twinkling with mischief and wisdom as he began the story.

"The Demon Clan was once a powerful tribe of the GuangZhou Continent, known as the Tianshu Tribe. It was ruled by Zhou Shang, the brother of Emperor Zhou Yuan."

"This tribe was involved in all sorts of illicit activities, their hands stained with the blood of the innocent and the guilt of the guilty. They were never apprehended due to their leader's royal connections, a shadow that loomed over the kingdom like a dark cloud."

"As their crimes escalated, many people from the Tianshu Tribe began practicing black magic, their souls tainted by the allure of power. This caused chaos throughout the GuangZhou Continent, a land once known for its peace and prosperity."

"When Emperor Zhou Yuan discovered this, he attempted to stop them. However, they rebelled against him, their hearts filled with greed and hatred. They attacked his throne, their actions a declaration of war."

"Fortunately, the GuangZhou Continent emerged victorious in the war. The Tianshu Tribe, once a powerful force, was defeated. Their pride shattered, they retreated underground to the Abyss, a place devoid of sunlight and scarce in water."

"They exhausted all their resources within a year, their once vibrant community reduced to a shadow of its former self. Their people began to lose themselves, living in profound darkness. Gradually, they transformed into demons, their hearts as cold and ruthless as the world they inhabited."

"They formed their own continent, the 'Darknight Court', in the western region. They began practicing black magic, their actions a stark contrast to their claims of advocating for world peace."

"Thirty years ago, the demons wreaked havoc on the GuangZhou Continent. Mortals couldn't withstand the disturbance, their lives turned upside down by the chaos."

"As the top-ranked individual and the emperor of GuangZhou Continent, Zhou Yuan led all the sects in suppressing the Demon Clan and establishing energy barriers."

"Abyssal Academy was granted the right to manage the energy barrier, and their elites were tasked with protecting the mortals from demons. Then, Zhou Yuan distanced himself from the mortal world and focused on cultivation."

"Unexpectedly, he had an accident while on his way to ascend to immortality and disappeared. After Zhou Yuan, the Holy Empress ascended the throne, leading the human race to prosper once again."

The story ended, leaving the hall in silence. The elites of Lushan Academy sat in awe, their minds filled with images of ancient battles and legendary heroes.

...

Meanwhile, in the midst of the silence, a stir within the dark energy of Deity Buzhao, sealed in the deepest recesses of the nine hells, caused the seals to quiver slightly.

This subtle shift was enough to rouse Guardian Mohe from his deep cultivation within the icy solitude of the Dark Frost Mountain.

As his eyes flickered open, a wave of realization washed over him - 10,000 years had slipped away like sand through fingers.

The seal, once robust and unyielding, that held Deity Buzhao captive, had weakened over the millennia. It was a dam holding back a river, now threatening to burst. Rising from his meditative posture, a thought dawned upon him.

The being destined to vanquish this dark power had already been born. It was a beacon of hope amidst the looming darkness.

With a sense of urgency, he began to search the entire continent using his formidable powers.

However, after a few moments, he realized that the person he sought did not belong to this universe. His search then transcended the boundaries of his own universe, reaching out into the vast expanse of the multiverse.

Finally, his search led him to a small, blue planet in the year 2024 - Earth. The person he had been searching for, the one destined to confront the dark power, was living there. His name was Xu Kai.