Novels2Search

Inheritor of the Scarlet Demon

The Warces Mountain stood in a edge of the Demonic Lands, it was an enormous mountain with perpetual dark clouds obscured its peak. Chen Zhe had accepted the request from his previous companions, who would claimed to have obtained a map with indications of finding a treasure deep inside the Warces Mountains. Chen Zhe together with them obtained an external sect pass from the Dark Valley Sect, which supervises the Demonic Lands.

It was no trival task to explore this mountain that demanded both experience and courage. The mountain was not entirely free from threats. Dense forests surrounded the bottom of the mountain, which was infested with demonic beasts that in turn increased the danger as one goes deeper inside. Exploring this domain required not just navigation skills but considerable combat abilities.

Chen Zhe's team comprised of a swordsman, an archer, a guide and himself, an archaeologist. The guide led them through the forest where they encountered a pack of mischievous monkeys throwing fruits at them, poisonous spiders, venomous snakes and many other dangerous creatures. The journey as grueling as it was seemed even more perilous than anticipated.

"This path should have been the easiest." the guide explained with a frustrated sigh. "The recent heavy rainfalls seem to have displaced the regular inhabitants scattering them everywhere and turning the most simple route into a menace."

Despite the party leader Tian Lou, the swordsman who was new but well-known for his successful exploration of an ancient treasure pavilion insisting they find a different route, the guide refused. "Even the easiest path is like this." he said shaking his head. "Who knows what we might encounter elsewhere?"

Tian Lou and his sister, Tian Lan the skilled archer were visibly exhausted from their constant vigilance. The forest's dangers demanded their unwavering attention. As they climbed higher up the mountain things took a darker turn when they came across a group of people sheltering inside the cave. Tian Lou instinctively reached for his sword hilt and stepped forward slowly trying to inspect the strangers.

From the shadows, a man stepped forward with a sly grin and a heavy axe resting on his shoulder. "We've been waiting for you here for a long time" he sneered. "And now finally here you are."

Chen Zhe immediately knew who it was. This man was well-known as a looter, who robbed and murdered people in the wild after that accusing the mountain's dangers of being responsible for their deaths. The mere sight of him gave Chen Zhe a chill.

"Step back." Tian Lou ordered his voice as hard as steel as he motioned for Chen Zhe and the guide to back away. "You would just be a liability here so leave."

The looter group was made of five men- two axe users, a spearman, and two noncombatants who witnessed the whole show with evil eyes. Tian Lou and Tian Lan prepared themselves to engage in sudden battle even as they were already exhausted from battling with the demon beasts but Chen Zhe and the guide tried to support them by throwing rocks and other debris from a safe distance at the enemy.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

The battle was fierce and Chen Zhe could not keep up against them. Tian Lou's sword shone as he parried a deadly axe swing countering again with a swift slash that forced his opponent back. Beside him, Tian Lan's arrows flew with deadly precision and one of them, embedding itself into a looter's shoulder. However, the spearman proved to be a formidable foe with his weapon's reach keeping both siblings on edge. A sharp jab caught Tian Lan's arm and she began crying with blood staining her sleeve.

"Fall back now." Tian Lou shouted gripping his sister's arm as he began retreating. The guide seizing the opportunity also narrowly escaped together with them.

But Chen Zhe was not so lucky. The path back was now blocked by the looters forcing Chen Zhe to head forward into the cave. He ran with his heart pounding as the voices of the looters receded into the background.

"Let him go" one of the men sneered. "There are savage beasts deeper in the cave. He is as good as dead with his abilities."

Chen Zhe's breath was high as he stumbled through the twisting tunnels. The shadows seemed alive and the air grew colder with each step. Suddenly, a load roar echoed throughout the cave. A fire demon with blazing eyes and a horned demonic creature emerged with their forms illuminated by the faint glow of molten rock veins. They pursued him relentlessly with their swift movements and was unyielding to give up.

A sharp claw cut across Chen Zhe's side and he cried out in pain, his robes soaking red with blood. Desperation fueled him as he thought for solution. He was at his wit's end when as if in the last rays of hope, his blood fell on a peculiar stone etched with ancient symbols. With a rumble, the cave wall opened up and a hidden passage was revealed. Chen Zhe dashed into it without hesitation.

The door slammed shut behind him locking out the beasts. Chen Zhe caught his breath and looked around the chamber. It was nothing like he had ever seen before. The walls were deliberately carved in murals with some ancient letters. Stalactites hung like jagged teeth from the ceiling and an opening in the chamber provided a glimpse of the stormy sky outside. In the center of the chamber few stairs away was a treasure chest with intricate patterns that seemed to pulsate with an ancient aura.

His heart raced as he approached the chest while forgetting the pain from his wounds for a moment. Various thoughts arose in his mind: Was this really the treasure they were looking for? Would it be worth the lives risked? His hands trembled as he opened the lid. Inside was a skeleton skull with hollow sockets staring back at him. Below that was a tattered book but its pages worn out and some of its contents long since lost to time. Grinding his teeth with grit, Chen Zhe picked up the book and tucked it into his robes with his mind thinking a lot of questions. What was this place? And how much could he sell the book hidden in the secret chamber?

As he turned back to the chest, he froze. A deep resonant voice echoed through the chamber. "You will inherit the legacy of the Scarlet Demon."

Surprised, Chen Zhe spun around his eyes darting across the room. "Who said that?" he demanded but the chamber was silent. Dismissing the voice as a figment of his imagination, he returned to the chest hoping to find more treasures.

"I am below you" the voice said again irritation lacing its tone. "What are you looking up there for?"

Chen Zhe’s gaze dropped to the skull. That’s when he saw that the skeleton skull was the one to speak. His blood ran cold as he realized the voice was coming from it. The skull’s jaw moved slightly as it spoke, its hollow eyes glowing faintly.

“You.” Chen Zhe stammered taking an involuntary step back. “You can talk?”

"Indeed" the skull replied with its tone almost smug. "And you, my reluctant inheritor have much to learn.