And now the "Heavenly Book" had not been seen, yet this Qiankun Qingguang Ring, lost for a thousand years, had suddenly appeared. Baiduzi was shaken to the core, and felt that the true strength of the Underworld Sect was unfathomable. Yet a smile surfaced on his face—though it looked uglier than weeping. "Sect Master jests. Who does not know that the Underworld Sect stands at its zenith today? But this Brother Long we truly have never met, and I should very much like to know him."

The Lord of the Underworld gave Baiduzi a long, deep look, a keen light flickering in his eyes, then suddenly smiled. "You speak truly, Brother. We shall meet again soon enough in any case. You should know that three hundred years ago, under the previous Lord of the Underworld, our sect possessed Four Holy Envoys, do you not?"

Baiduzi's expression changed, and the Ancestor Duanmu had already blurted out, "What? Those four—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—they are still alive?"

The pale-faced scholar and the Lord of the Underworld exchanged a smiling glance, and the scholar said to the assembly with a faint smile, "Greetings, all. I am Azure Dragon."

On the side of the orthodox sects the reaction was not so violent, but Baiduzi and the other demon cult figures were visibly shaken. Three hundred years ago, when the Underworld Sect had just risen, its foundation and strength had rested, apart from the previous Lord of the Underworld, upon these so-called Four Holy Envoys. From that base its power had surged day by day; through many a bloody struggle and secret feud within the demon cult, through countless storms of blood and slaughter, it had won its present standing. The strength of those four could well be imagined.

Then Azure Dragon suddenly sighed, turned to the Lord of the Underworld, and said, "After all, I have grown old. Look at those young men of the orthodox side across the way—every face is full of doubt. Most of them have likely never heard my name."

The Lord of the Underworld laughed. "Why trouble yourself, Brother Long? The young are new to the world and easily amazed. Give them time, and your name will surely overawe the realm again."

Azure Dragon laughed heartily, and amid his laughter he looked down at his own right hand, as though something faint and desolate still lingered there.

"Bang!" A great crash made them all start, and they turned toward the sound. It was Shi Tou's Demon-Breaking Staff, which had shot up into the sky earlier and only now came falling back down.

For a moment the field fell silent. On the orthodox side most people wore knitted brows, gathering their minds in guard. The demon cult's revival this time had exceeded all expectation in strength, and judging by the look of things, still deeper and greater powers lay hidden and uncommitted.

And on the demon cult's side, each likewise harbored his own designs. The Ancestor Duanmu was the least troubled—he belonged to no sect, and stood at the Old Vampire Fiend's side only out of friendship. But Baiduzi and the Old Vampire Fiend were both important figures of the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate, and now they looked at each other in silence, deeply wary of the Underworld Sect.

Only the Lord of the Underworld and Azure Dragon stood there at ease. Azure Dragon seemed to murmur something in a low voice; the Lord of the Underworld smiled and shook his head—yet, as though by chance, he cast a glance toward where Zhang Qingyue stood.

The night deepened, and the sea wind howled. Out in the vast ocean far away, that strange long cry of the deep night seemed to draw nearer and nearer, growing clearer by degrees.

Tian Buhui and Daoist Cangyan exchanged a look, and each saw the intent to withdraw in the other's eyes. Beside them Su Wan coughed once and said softly to Daoist Cangyan, "Senior Brother Cangsong, the demons are strong now. We had best retreat for the time being, and after returning to the mountain and consulting with our sect master, decide what is to be done. What say you?"

Cangsong pondered a long while, then nodded decisively. "What you say is right, Junior Sister." He glanced at Tian Buhui as he spoke, and Tian Buhui nodded slowly.

Daoist Cangyan was just about to speak when something else occurred to him. He looked to left and right, frowned, and said in a low voice, "Where is Xiao Yichen? How is it I have not seen him all night?"

Qi Hao, standing beside him, took a step forward at this. "Master, when we came out earlier, Senior Brother Xiao said he was not feeling well and did not come along."

Daoist Cangyan's face darkened, and he gave a cold hum, but before his disciples he could say nothing. He could only turn away, and was just about to address Facheng, Li Xun, and the others of the several sects, when suddenly, from behind the crowd, came a miserable scream.

The whole assembly was thrown into commotion and confusion. Several young orthodox disciples who had been standing at the rear came staggering out of the darkness, badly wounded, drenched in blood, and cried out hoarsely, "There are demon cult people behind us!"

In the darkness of the ancient forest, it seemed countless shrill, vicious laughs rang out. Tian Buhui and the others turned pale. Ever since the Lord of the Underworld and his company had appeared, everyone's attention had been drawn to those old monsters; they had not reckoned that the demon cult, full of tricks, would send men secretly to cut off their rear and strike without warning.

In that instant, lights flashed throughout the forest—countless magic treasures came flying in to kill. The orthodox cultivators hastily summoned their own treasures to strike back, but taken by surprise on the one hand, and with the demon cult's numbers far greater than they had imagined on the other, they were at once at a disadvantage.

Daoist Cangyan's face was ashen. With a great shout he sprang into the air—but before he could make a move, Baiduzi and the Ancestor Duanmu both came rushing at him.

Baiduzi laughed aloud, his face savage, and cried, "Dog of a Daoist, give up your life!"

Daoist Cangyan halted in midair, not daring to make light of these old monsters, and could only turn to meet the attack; at the same time a crimson light blazed up beneath him—it was Tian Buhui striking out, taking on the Ancestor Duanmu.

Su Wan stood on the ground, brows tightly knit, a trace of worry on her beautiful face. At present the orthodox side was clearly at a disadvantage; on the demon cult's side, the unfathomable Lord of the Underworld and Azure Dragon had not yet lifted a hand, and who knew how many more demon cult followers lurked in the dark. The situation was grave.

By now the field was in utter chaos. It was as though, in the deep night and the shadows, demon cult followers were everywhere, and at any moment a murderous blade of treasure light might come flying out. The orthodox cultivators were locked in bitter battle, and stifled groans and screams rose without cease.

Zhang Qingyue held the Dark Iron Staff but did not strike, for Song Dayi of Dazhu Peak, Tian Lingsu, and the others, mindful of the wound he had taken, had closed him in their midst, so that for the moment he was unhurt. Yet the situation was desperate, and he too was tense.

He watched the demon cult's lights grow ever brighter around them, the orthodox cultivators pressed slowly back—chiefly because in the darkness of night they could not see the demon followers hidden in the shadows at all, and so suffered greatly.

Zhang Qingyue stood where he was. Seeing the pressure mounting on the senior brothers around him and on Tian Lingsu as well, he grew anxious. He judged that though his body was somewhat fatigued, he was otherwise sound enough, and made to step forward and join the fight.