Episode 59 – The Demon General's Nest
Recap
On the cursed South Road, Faizi Tian followed a trail of blood and silence that led him to a terrifying truth. Villagers had vanished without a trace, their souls harvested by a fragment demon lurking in the forest. His pursuit brought him to an abandoned quarry, where dark runes stained the stone and human cries echoed from below. At the center of the pit, a massive black cocoon pulsed like a living heart, draining the souls of bound villagers to give birth to something far more sinister. Guarding this demonic nest stood a towering Demon General clad in bone armor. With his sword glowing in golden Qi, Faizi Tian stepped forward and declared his purpose clearly — he had not come to challenge the demon, but to destroy it.
Episode 59 – The Demon General's Nest
The moment Faizi Tian crossed the final boundary of the quarry, the Demon General's aura exploded outward. The air grew heavy, thick with pressure, as if the world itself was pushing down on him. Loose stones shattered, and cracks spread across the ground beneath the demon's feet. The bound villagers cried out in pain as the cocoon's tendrils tightened, greedily pulling at their weakening souls.
Faizi Tian stood firm. His robes fluttered violently, yet his stance did not waver. Slowly, he raised his sword, golden Qi flowing like molten light along the blade. His eyes were calm, but deep within them burned a ruthless resolve. This place was no longer just a battlefield — it was an execution ground.
The Demon General tilted its skull mask slightly, studying him.
"A mere human dares to interrupt my awakening," it rumbled. "Your courage will become nourishment."
Without another word, the Demon General struck first.
It slammed its armored fist into the ground. From the cracked earth, dozens of shadow spikes erupted, twisting and spiraling toward Faizi Tian like living spears. In a single breath, Faizi activated the first form of the Heaven-Breaking Sword Art. His blade swept forward, releasing a wide arc of golden light that cleaved through the shadows. The spikes shattered midair, dissolving into black smoke.
The collision shook the quarry walls. Dust and debris rained down as light and darkness clashed head-on.
The Demon General took a step back — just one — but it was enough to make the villagers stare in disbelief. A human had forced a Demon General to retreat.
Faizi Tian did not pursue immediately. His gaze shifted to the black cocoon. The closer he looked, the clearer the truth became. This was no ordinary soul vessel. The cocoon was forming a Demon Seed, a core that would soon give birth to a greater calamity. Once awakened, it would poison the land, corrupt beasts, and turn the entire southern region into a breeding ground for demons.
His jaw tightened.
"So that's your plan," he muttered. "You're not just feeding… you're creating."
The Demon General roared in fury, spreading its arms wide. Shadows surged from its body, wrapping around its bone armor and forming massive blades along its limbs. Its power skyrocketed, far beyond the fragment demon Faizi had fought earlier. This was a true commander of the demon race.
Faizi Tian adjusted his grip on the sword and took a step forward. Golden light gathered behind him, faintly shaping itself into a towering, divine silhouette. His killing intent sharpened, pure and merciless.
"Release them," Faizi said coldly. "Or I will tear your nest apart."
The Demon General laughed, a sound filled with contempt.
"Then come, human. Let me see how long your resolve lasts."
With a thunderous roar, both sides charged.
Sword light and shadow collided at the center of the quarry, sending violent shockwaves in all directions. The cocoon trembled, the runes on the walls flickered wildly, and the fate of the trapped villagers hung by a thread.
This was no longer a simple fight.
It was a battle that would decide whether the South Road would fall into darkness — or be reclaimed by blood and steel.
To be continued in Episode 60 – Heaven-Breaking Sword, Second Form