A few weeks later.
Aksai rode his black steed through the dusty trails of the neutral state Haan Di.
The beast’s hooves beat a steady rhythm against the packed dirt road. His dark cloak billowed behind him as the wind picked up.
Haan Di had been a relatively peaceful stretch, but the tension in the air as he approached the border was unmistakable. He was soon about to enter the den of demonic cultivators before he had a chance to explore the Eternal Beast Dynasty.
He could see the last city of Haan Di rising in the distance, a sprawling settlement of stone and wood that clung to the edges of the wild frontier.
It was a place of stark contrasts—order and chaos coexisted here, balanced on a knife’s edge.
The Rai City served as the final stronghold of civilization before the lawless expanse of the Wild Devil Lands, where demonic cultivators and criminals ruled.
Aksai pulled the reins, slowing his steed as he approached the city gates. The guards gave him a cursory glance, recognizing him for what he was: a Spirit cultivator like so many others who passed through this border town.
The neutrality of Haan Di ensured that no one asked too many questions. Demonic or righteous, as long as you had the Spirit stones to pay, you were welcome.
The streets of the city were bustling with activity. Merchants hawked their wares, from rare herbs and talismans to weapons and strange artifacts.
Spirit cultivators of all types moved through the crowded streets—some dressed in dark robes with ominous auras, clearly from the demonic sects, while others wore lighter, more refined garments, belonging to the righteous factions.
Yet, here in the border city of Haan Di, their differences were set aside, at least on the surface.
Soon, Aksai guided his steed toward the city’s central district, where the city hall was located.
The building was large and imposing, made of dark stone with banners hanging from its walls, each representing one of the various factions that operated within the region. He dismounted and tied his steed to a post outside, patting the horse’s neck before heading inside.
The city hall was bustling with activity. Spirit cultivators gathered around large wooden boards, where various missions were posted. The atmosphere was charged with the energy of opportunists and adventurers, each looking to gain something from the dangerous journey into the Wild Devil Lands or beyond.
Aksai approached the board, scanning the available missions. Most were related to exploring Duya Forest, the vast and mysterious expanse that lay beyond the Great Shiju River.
The Duya Forest was part of the Eternal Beast Dynasty where demon beasts roamed freely. It was said that only the strongest could survive there, and even fewer returned with the spoils they sought.
As he looked over the missions, his mind was already racing with plans.
“Coming to Rai City was indeed a good idea. Thankfully, Dia Naya didn’t let me down,” Aksai murmured to himself as he looked through the list.
The journey to the Duya Forest AKA Eternal Beast Dynasty certainly couldn’t be taken casually. Although it was safe for most late-stage Spirit Refining cultivators to explore the edges of the Duya Forest, Aksai wasn’t too keen on taking risks.
As such, he had contacted Dia Naya before leaving Emerald Cove. Dia Naya was one of the co-owners of Emerald Cove. However, she was still in the Spirit Refining realm, yet to become a Foundation Building Expert.
However, Dia Naya had more experience when it came to exploring the Eternal Beast Dynasty. Aksai didn’t feel even a bit of discomfort when he asked for Dia Naya’s help. The latter naturally was willing to help someone like Aksai for which she was rewarded as well.
“Wild Devil Lands, huh? It’s really not simple to cross this giant hellhole. Thankfully, there’s Haan Di,” Aksai murmured as he looked at the giant map that was painted on a giant wall on one side.
Aksai needed to cross the Wild Devil Lands, but he wasn’t foolish enough to go alone. The city hall was known for forming teams of Spirit cultivators to make the journey safer, and Aksai intended to join one of them.
He wasn’t about to risk his life by venturing into the lawless territory solo, no matter how many trump cards he had. After all, the Wild Devil Lands had Foundation Building Experts too. Plus, they acted as the warlords of their respective regions and basically lawless.
Did you look at my girl in a funny way? I’ll kill you. Do you have a rare artifact on you? It’s mine now. The demonic cultivators in the Wild Devil Lands had practically no bottom line. In the absence of the righteous faction forces, these beings were completely unrestrained.
Thankfully, the neutral state Haan Di had long ago established agreements with the powers in the Wild Devil Lands, including the three major demonic sects that supposedly still ruled the region.
One could say that Haan Di took the tag of “neutral” very seriously, forging diplomatic and commercial ties with the righteous as well as demonic factions without interfering in either.
The Dadangar subcontinent only had five Core Formation Lords that ruled their respective Big Five Sects. However, it was said that there were three demonic Core Formation Lords inside the Wild Devil Lands. These three Lords had established three demonic sects.
However, nobody had seen these three Core Formation Lords for more than three decades. As such, it was said that these three Core Formation Lords had died and left their demonic sects all for their core disciples to run. Therefore, only the Lords from righteous sects were counted to be currently active.
Although it was said that their leaders—the three Core Formation Lords—had disappeared decades ago, their influence lingered, and their disciples still controlled vast stretches of land.
The city’s agreement with them allowed cultivators like Aksai to pass through relatively safely, as long as they paid the proper entry tax and stuck to the designated routes.
The demonic cultivators needed money too. They needed Spirit stones and other cultivation resources for various reasons. As such, they couldn’t simply isolate themselves from the righteous faction cultivators.
Haan Di had multiple border cities that allowed the cultivators from the five kingdoms to enter the Wild Devil Lands. The entry tax collected at these checkpoints by the demonic cultivators was enough for them to make a small fortune.
As such, nobody complained. Just fork out the Spirit stones and gain access. Of course, the demonic cultivators from Wild Devil Lands also had to pay entry taxes to enter Haan Di using the same checkpoints. However, the number of applicants the Wild Devil Lands received each day was clearly greater than the number of demonic cultivators it expelled.
The demonic cultivators weren’t supposed to cross the borders of Haan Di and enter the big five sects. And for the most part, this agreement was followed.
However, some demonic cultivators had many ways to enter the five kingdoms and accomplish their goals there. Once done, these demonic cultivators would usually go back to the Wild Devil Lands, returning to a place where they couldn’t be punished.
***
After reading through a few postings, Aksai found what he was looking for a mission to form a team of Spirit cultivators for a journey to the Duya Forest.
The mission offered a substantial reward for successfully crossing the Wild Devil Lands and scouting the outer perimeter of the forest. It also involved the retrieval of few cultivation resources that one could only obtain from the Duya Forest.
He took the mission slip and brought it to the counter, where a clerk, an older man with graying hair and a sharp gaze, took his details.
“First time heading into the Wild Devil Lands?” the clerk asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.
“Yeah,” Aksai replied casually. “Figured I’d go with a team instead of testing my luck alone.”
The clerk smirked. “Smart move. The Wild Devil Lands aren’t the kind of place you want to wander through solo unless you’ve got a death wish. The tribes out there don’t take kindly to outsiders, and the demonic cultivators… well, let’s just say they aren’t known for their hospitality.”
Aksai nodded in agreement. “Any idea who else will be on this team?”
The clerk handed him a slip of paper with a list of names. “Well… as long as nobody else comes in with the same mission– you should be the last team member of this team. As for who they would be? Of course, it’s a mix of cultivators. Some from the righteous sects, some from the demonic sects. Neutral ground here, so you’ll have to work together whether you like it or not.”
Aksai glanced at the names. Most he didn’t recognize, but that was to be expected. He wasn’t here to make friends, just to get across the Wild Devil Lands and reach his destination.
“Anything else I should know?” Aksai asked.
The clerk leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
“Just keep your head down and don’t make waves. The Wild Devil Lands may have their own rules, but they’re still dangerous. Stick to the mountain pass and follow the guides. You’ll make it to the Great Shiju River in one piece if you’re lucky. You cross the river and there’s your Duya Forest.”
With that, Aksai thanked the clerk and left the city hall, pocketing the mission slip. He untied his steed and mounted up once more, casting one last look at the city behind him before heading toward the outskirts.
“Departure in two hours, huh? Let’s see who my team members are,” Aksai murmured to himself as he made his steed gallop toward his destination.