NOVPUBAccompanied by the explosion of thunder, the entire sky began to change color.
A vast surge of Demonic Qi soared into the heavens, staining the entirety of the firmament above, enveloping the cities beneath in its clutches.
The sun was now obscured, the sky free of clouds, with thunder and lightning rolling within the clouds.
The citizens of Heaven Blue City raised their heads in terror to watch the skies above.
"What is this?" they murmured, discussing among themselves as they watched the billowing Demonic Qi.
Inside the Lan Residence, situated at the very center of the city, this unassuming dwelling was surrounded by many lush plants.
Even the plants had turned pitch black, and the pendulum that hung floating in the courtyard at the estate’s central location,
suddenly began to move, its pointer trembling non-stop at a certain position, making a "clang clang" sound.
Most of the Lan Family did not know of their Demon-Slaying Family identity, and as the foremost power of Heaven Blue City, many members also felt panic.
Within that rolling Demonic Qi above, a pair of exceptionally crimson eyes reflected on the firmament, calmly observing the entire city.
"What on earth is that?" someone said in terror.
The Lan Family Head, Lan Juntian, promptly made his way to a space within the family grounds, a place unknown to others.
The space was not large, containing seven ordinary thatched huts.
Before these huts was a large vegetable garden, which could be said to have all kinds of vegetables.
Behind the thatched huts was a vast orchard, within which were Spirit Trees so ancient their age was beyond tracing.
Picking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, leisurely one sees the Southern Mountain!
The space was not very large, but the atmosphere was very peaceful, making it an excellent place for the elderly to live.
In front of the main gate was a river that stretched to infinity; this river disappeared into the horizon, and no one knew its true length.
As Lan Juntian entered this space, he saw seven elders sitting by the river bank, leisurely fishing.
These seven elders appeared ordinary, without any heaven-shaking aura.
It was as if they were just seven common elders who had stepped into their sixties, the sun setting beyond the western mountains.
"Juntian, you’ve come," one of the elders said with a warm smile as he looked at Lan Juntian.
"Elder," Lan Juntian quickly bent down to greet them.
"You should understand, unless our clan is facing extinction, do not disturb us," another elder said with a somewhat displeased expression.
"I know," Lan Juntian quickly nodded, then hesitantly said, "But the signal left by the elder long ago has appeared."
"What has come?" Among the seven, some had not yet grasped the meaning of these words.
However, the elder sitting at the foremost turned to look at the firmament, his originally cloudy eyes flaring with sharp light.
Eventually, he murmured with a heavy expression, "The heavens are changing."
"Jiulin, what exactly has come?" the elder who had previously spoken asked with some confusion.
"The day of Demon’s Advent has arrived," Lan Jiulin said slowly, enunciating each word.
As soon as his words fell, the other six elders present changed their expressions drastically.
"Demon’s Advent," someone whispered, repeating the phrase in a low voice.
Everyone present understood what those two words truly meant.
Just like the existence and purpose of the Demon-Slaying Family, it was their mission, as well as their value personified.
"So many years have passed, it seems the seal over the Ancient Demon Cave has begun to stir; another three thousand years of reincarnation has gone by."
An elder sighed and said, "They’re coming to seize the Chaos Stone."
"If the Chaos Stone is taken, and the Demon-Suppressing Lock opened, the Ancient Demon Cave descending upon the Yuan Central Continent," Lan Jiulin shook his head gravely as he spoke.
"The consequences would be unimaginable, so, everyone, even if we must risk our lives today, we must slay this demon here and now."
Everyone nodded, having made up their minds; they were all ancestors of the Lan Family, their era long since past.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that each person here had slain demons before.
This is the mission for which the Demon-Slaying Family, the Lan Family, exists!
"Juntian, have all the family members and townspeople evacuate from here," Lan Jiulin ordered.
"The seven of us are going to confront this demon."
"Old Ancestor, let us stay and help you," Lan Juntian said anxiously.
"It’s useless, you’re too weak. Even if there were more of you, it would only increase the casualties."
Lan Jiulin shook his head slightly and said, "Don’t worry, we have always had a backup plan.
In past eras, it’s not that there haven’t been Heavenly Demons who came to steal, but they all became dead souls under our hands."
Lan Juntian nodded firmly and said, "I will await the victory of our ancestors."
"Juntian, one day, you too will stand in our place, facing a new Heavenly Demon," Lan Jiulin said with a smile.
"Don’t be nervous, the Heavenly Demon isn’t as strong as you imagine."
Seven elders stood up and stepped into the void one by one, leaving the hidden space.
...
By this time, the outside world had already been enveloped by rolling demonic Qi, completely covering the hundred li around Heaven Blue City.
A barrier formed, preventing outsiders from entering and those inside from leaving.
People huddled together in terror, witnessing a scene akin to the end of the world.
At this moment, within the Lan Residence, Lan Ke’er stood in her separate courtyard, looking up at the sky.
The deeds of the Demon-Slaying Family were in fact unknown to the other family members, but she, as this generation’s Demon Slaying Warrior, knew far more than the others.
Now in the courtyard, the figure of Lan Juntian also stepped in from outside.
"Father," Lan Ke’er greeted him.
"Ke Er, how well have you learned the Demon-Slaying battle techniques I gave you?" Lan Juntian asked.
"I have started practicing," Lan Ke’er nodded, "and I can already begin to condense the Demon-Suppressing Qi."
"Good, in this era, our Lan Family is like a rootless duckweed; in the future, we will rely on you to lead the family to glory."
Lan Juntian, looking up at the rampaging demonic Qi in the sky, lamented, "If there were a choice, I would absolutely not want you, a daughter, to face these things.
Unfortunately, the selection of Demon Slaying Warriors is not up to you or me."
"I understand everything, Father, there’s no need for more explanations," Lan Ke’er said with a smile, shaking her head.
She asked, "Is there a new Heavenly Demon coming?"
"Yes, but this matter will be handled by our ancestors; we need not worry too much," Lan Juntian said.
"You should pack up quickly and hide with the other family members for now. Father also needs to start evacuating the crowds."
Watching the receding figure of Lan Juntian, Lan Ke’er remained silent for a long time, her gaze fixed inexplicably on the distant east. n𝚘𝚟𝚙u𝚋.co𝚖
She whispered softly, "What are you doing now?"
...
After the seven old ancestors of the Lan Family made their majestic exit from the void.
