When I awoke, I found myself in a resplendent, golden palace. My first thought was awe: I died using Heavenly Demon Disintegration, didn't I? How did I end up in such a magnificent place? Is this heaven? A murderer like me doesn't belong in heaven. Could it be hell? Damn, I thought hell would be terrifying, but this place is grand. I wonder how little Phantom is doing—she must be crying her heart out.
As I lost myself in thought, a neutral voice interrupted, "You're awake, kid." I turned to see a middle-aged man smiling at me. He was decent-looking, though just a tad less handsome than me, the Demon King. I asked, "Are you the King of Hell?" He shook his head. I continued, "A ghost officer, then? Even ghost officers are this good-looking now, almost outshining me." His eye twitched as he shouted, "I'm not a ghost officer! I'm your ancestor, you brat!" Furious, I snapped back, "Don't think I'm scared just because you're a ghost officer! I'm the Demon King! You think you're worthy of being my ancestor? And stop calling me 'kid'—I have a name: Demon King!"
He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm Mo Tian, the first Demon King of the Demon Sect, the only one to master all eighteen layers of the demonic arts and shatter the void." I laughed, "The demonic arts can't be mastered to the eighteenth layer. The fifteenth is the limit. The rest is a lie—impossible to practice. If it were possible, I wouldn't have needed Heavenly Demon Disintegration. So, next time you lie, at least prepare a draft." Mo Tian replied, "Don't believe me? Try me. Actions speak louder than words." I smirked, "If I kill you, don't blame me." He nodded. I wasn't about to hold back—I was already furious, and now someone was asking for a beating. Perfect. I channeled seventy percent of my power into a Heavenly Demon Palm. Mo Tian shook his head and said, "Use your full strength." I sneered, "You're asking for death? Don't blame me." I unleashed my full power, my palms glowing blood-red as I struck. His palms turned black, mirroring my Heavenly Demon Palm but in a different hue. When our palms clashed, I was sent flying.
Scrambling to my feet, I stared in shock. "How is it the same? Yours is better—mine's red, yours is black!" Mo Tian explained, "It's the same technique. Over generations, much was lost, leading to this difference." Furious, I shouted, "How could something like this be lost? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in this mess! My empire, my beauties—I haven't even enjoyed them yet, and now they're gone because of your screw-up! You owe me!" Mo Tian laughed, "I passed down the complete technique, so don't blame me for what was lost later. I saved you because of your talent and because your methods remind me of myself. Otherwise, you'd be in hell right now." Unconvinced, I snapped, "So I should thank you, great former Demon King? You shattered the void—can you send me back?" He replied, "There was a way, but not anymore." I pressed, "Why not?" He said, "You used Heavenly Demon Disintegration. Your body is gone—you're just a soul now." Desperate, I asked, "There's really no way?" He shook his head.
Muttering to myself, I said, "Gone. Everything's gone. How am I supposed to live in a place like this? Stuck with an old man forever? Ugh." Mo Tian, irritated, smacked my head and said, "Who said you're staying here? Don't flatter yourself!" I jumped up excitedly. "So you can get me out?" He nodded. "Yes, but not back to your world. I can send you to another dimension." I asked, "What dimension?" He replied, "No idea. I can only rip open a random space for you to enter. You'll have to figure it out from there." I yelled, "That's so irresponsible! You're dumping me somewhere and washing your hands of it? What if it's full of monsters? Am I supposed to die the moment I arrive?" He thought for a moment and said, "Fair point. As my descendant, you can't be bullied. Fine, I'll teach you my newly created Demonic Desire Art, far stronger than the demonic arts. But it has no fixed techniques—you'll need to develop your own." My heart leaped—complaining a bit got me a divine technique! Feigning reluctance, I said, "Fine, I'll take it." He smacked my head again, growling, "Stop acting after getting a bargain!" Clutching my head, I yelped, "Ow! Stop hitting me!" Inwardly, I vowed, Once I master the Demonic Desire Art, I'll pay you back a hundredfold for hitting the Demon King's head.
He said, "Come here." I approached, and he placed his hand on my head. A flood of text from the Demonic Desire Scripture poured into my mind, and soon, streams of true energy coursed through my body. After an hour, he withdrew his hand. I jumped up, feeling invigorated, but noticed my original inner energy was gone. He explained, "I dispersed your old demonic energy and cleared your body of impurities with my true energy. Now, practicing the Demonic Desire Scripture will be twice as effective. Enough talk—time to go. I'll open the space." For the first time, I felt genuine gratitude. I'd fought my way through life alone, and now an elder was showing me kindness. It felt like family. Sincerely, I said, "Thank you, Grandpa."
He froze, then turned, gently patting my head with affection. "After all these years, having a grandson makes it all worthwhile. It's time. Be careful out there, my boy." I nodded firmly. He channeled true energy into his hands and slashed at the sky, tearing open a rift. He looked older, worn. "Go, my dear grandson," he said. Holding back tears, I ran toward the rift, shouting without looking back, "Goodbye, Grandpa!"
As the rift closed, Grandpa turned and walked away slowly.
Next chapter begins the pirate adventure! Beauties and enemies await. Let's build the greatest harem! Your votes are my motivation.