A strong wind blew across the plateau. From that height, Lu Xian and Qin Chang'er stood on the edge of a cliff, gazing down at the massive abyss known as the Demon's Estuary. The aura emanating from the estuary was terrifying, as if thousands of demons were breathing from the depths, spewing death and hatred into the air.
The Azure Wing Eagle that had carried them all the way flapped its wings once, then flew away. The majestic bird soared towards the horizon, leaving Lu Xian and Qin Chang'er alone in front of the terror-filled abyss.
"This is it…" Qin Chang'er muttered as she stared down.
"Why does it feel… like I'm in another world?" Lu Xian shuddered, feeling his body shaking violently even as he tried to remain upright.
Without further delay, they nodded to each other. Then, the two of them jumped into the abyss.
Their bodies slid down at high speed. The wind blowing within the estuary was unlike any ordinary wind—it had a pungent smell of blood, mixed with the scent of sulfur, as if the entire cliff wall were filled with the dried blood of demons that had been there for thousands of years.
All around them, the walls of the estuary glowed dark red, occasionally flashing like hellfire. Lu Xian was choking with panic.
"Wait! If we go too deep, how are we going to breathe? I don't want to die in vain here!"
Qin Chang'er glanced over briefly with a calm expression.
"Don't worry. This estuary isn't an ordinary abyss. There's a strange layer of air inside, and we can still breathe. If you panic too much, your oxygen will run out even faster."
Despite those reassuring words, Lu Xian's heart was still pounding. Ten thousand kilometers of falling—who could remain calm in the face of that?
After what felt like an eternity, their feet finally touched the bottom of the estuary. A blast of red dust erupted as their bodies landed.
The bottom of the Demon Estuary stretched out endlessly. Red land, black rocks covered in burnt remains, and a bloody mist obscured the view. Occasionally, the distant roars of strange creatures could be heard, sending shivers down their spines.
"We made it…" Qin Chang'er took a deep breath. "This is the bottom of the Demon Estuary."
Lu Xian looked around in disbelief.
"This place… is even larger than the entire Luo Nation. How could an estuary contain such a vast world?"
"Because this estuary isn't just a hole." Qin Chang'er lowered her head, her voice low and heavy. "The Demon Estuary is the entrance to another world. You could call it… the demon world."
Lu Xian was stunned. He only now understood why the aura was so different—it wasn't just a chasm, but a boundary between worlds.
Meanwhile, high above, Su Baijun had just reached the edge of the estuary. He stood panting, his face flushed with anger.
"Bastard! If only they hadn't helped that beast, I wouldn't have had to go to all the trouble of climbing this plateau!" he growled.
He looked down and then without hesitation jumped in, a dark aura emanating from his body pervading the air.
At the bottom of the estuary, Lu Xian and Qin Chang'er walked through the blood mist. It was silent, except for the sound of their footsteps on the rocky ground. But suddenly, the earth trembled slightly.
Thud… thud… thud…
A giant shadow emerged from the mist. A massive demon, tens of meters tall, passed right in front of them. Its body was covered in black scales, and its eyes glowed red like embers.
"Quick, hide!" Qin Chang'er whispered.
They jumped and hid behind a giant rock. Their breaths held, waiting, praying that the creature wouldn't notice them. Fortunately, the demon continued walking, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings.
But unfortunately, from the rock where they were hiding, a pebble fell. The small stone fell, hitting Lu Xian squarely on the head.
"Argh!" Lu Xian almost said, but quickly covered his mouth.
He looked up—and there was someone sitting leisurely on the rock.
"Hey!" Lu Xian called out softly. But the person ignored him, thinking it was just the sound of the wind.
Annoyed, Lu Xian picked up a pebble and threw it. "Thud!" The small stone hit the man in the back.
The man turned around, his face young, his hair long and black, and his gaze sharp. "Who dares throw rocks at me?"
Lu Xian raised his hand with a stiff smile. "I just wanted to get your attention."
The man climbed down from the rock and stood before them. "Don't you know any manners? Throwing rocks at strangers in a place like this, do you think it's a joke?"
Lu Xian scratched his head. "I… don't know."
Qin Chang'er stepped forward slightly, eyeing the man suspiciously. "Who are you? Could it be… you're a demon in disguise?"
The man snorted. "Hmph, what a rude term. I'm human, just like you. My name is Nie Yuan. And I came here… to search for treasure."
"Treasure?" Lu Xian's eyes widened. "There's treasure in a scary place like this?"
Nie Yuan looked at him scornfully. "If there wasn't, why would I risk my life coming here? I was looking for a way to break through the Gate to the Demon Realm."
Upon hearing that, Lu Xian and Qin Chang'er immediately turned their heads together. Their eyes widened.
"The Gate… to the demon realm?" Qin Chang'er muttered.
They turned, and behind the blood mist, a gigantic structure could be vaguely seen: two towering black pillars, between which lay a dark red door that pulsed like a living heart. From there, a demonic aura emanated ceaselessly.
Lu Xian was nearly at a loss for words. "So… what we've been searching for all this time… is right before our eyes!"
Qin Chang'er clenched her fists. "Finally… we've found it."
Nie Yuan narrowed his eyes. "So you're also looking for the gate. How about we work together? The demon realm isn't a place for those who come alone."
Lu Xian smiled faintly, his eyes burning with excitement. "I think so too. Then, let's go in together."
Nie Yuan crossed his arms. "But what if the demon horde blocks the way?"
Lu Xian's weapon vibrated, his aura radiating fiercely. He grinned, his teeth gleaming in the red light.
"Then… let's kill all the demons here!"