Kaelan leaned against the rocky wall and quietly listened to the surrounding conversations.
The waiting cultivators came from every corner of the Southern Demon Territory.
Some discussed cultivation.
Others exchanged intelligence.
Many simply gossiped.
For Kaelan, every conversation was a source of information.
One group spoke about the Thirteen Royal Families of Demonkind.
These ancient bloodlines stood at the pinnacle of demon society.
Each family possessed at least one Demon King.
Their influence stretched across vast territories.
Their descendants were born with extraordinary bloodlines and resources.
Even Demon Lords rarely dared offend them.
Another group discussed the ongoing conflict between the Mountain Ape Family and the Cloud Wing Liger Family.
According to the rumours, fighting had erupted once again along their shared border.
Several Demon Generals had already fallen.
Neither side showed any intention of backing down.
Elsewhere, two wolf demons discussed the recent increase in Dead Energy within the Dead Bone Mountains.
The concentration of death-attributed energy had risen dramatically during the past few months.
As a result, undead creatures had begun appearing throughout the region in growing numbers.
Many believed an ancient ruin or inheritance had awakened beneath the mountains.
Another conversation caught Kaelan’s attention.
The Moon Wolf Store.
Its name appeared repeatedly.
Apparently, the store had recently begun selling large quantities of top-quality Flesh and Blood Pills.
The pills had become extremely popular among local cultivators.
Several demons were even speculating whether the store had recruited a master alchemist.
Kaelan remained silent.
A strange expression briefly appeared in his eyes before disappearing.
Not far away, another group discussed plans to attack a human city.
Their tone was casual.
As though they were discussing a hunting expedition rather than a war.
No one around them appeared surprised.
For demons, attacking humans was normal.
For humans, attacking demons was equally normal.
The hatred between both races had persisted for centuries.
The most frequently discussed topic, however, was the Danube Ruins.
Almost everyone seemed interested in it.
Many independent Demon Generals wanted to participate.
Unfortunately, most lacked the courage.
The situation surrounding the ruins had become increasingly complicated.
The Blue Flame Demon Lord.
The Silver Blade Kingdom.
The Silver Fox Clan.
The Iron Crow Clan.
Various independent factions.
Too many powerful forces had become involved.
Most cultivators preferred to wait until ownership of the ruins became clear before acting.
No one wanted to become collateral damage in a conflict between Demon Lords and Mysterious-Realm experts.
Three days passed quietly.
Kaelan spent most of his time cultivating and refining the Shadow Demon Body.
Finally, movement appeared at the entrance of the cave.
One cultivator after another emerged from within.
Their expressions varied greatly.
Some appeared excited.
Others looked disappointed.
A few seemed completely exhausted.
At the rear of the group walked a figure who immediately attracted Kaelan’s attention.
The demon appeared completely human.
Two arms.
Two legs.
A handsome face.
Only his hair revealed his true nature.
Countless green vines grew from his scalp and draped over his shoulders.
The surrounding demons immediately lowered their voices when he appeared.
Kaelan had already learned his identity during the previous three days.
The Illusion Vine Lord.
A Demon Lord.
And one of the subordinates of the Sky Tree Demon King.
The Illusion Vine Lord calmly swept his gaze across the waiting cultivators.
Then he spoke.
“You all follow me.”
His voice was not loud.
Yet every cultivator heard it clearly.
No one dared delay.
Kaelan rose to his feet.
Along with the other waiting demons, he followed behind the Demon Lord and entered the cave.
The passage gradually descended into the mountain.
The deeper they travelled, the denser the Spiritual Energy became.
Blue light occasionally shone through cracks in the stone walls.
The farther they went, the older the cave seemed.
Eventually, the passage widened.
A vast underground cavern unfolded before them.
Many demons unconsciously stopped walking.
Expressions of amazement appeared on their faces.
A massive blue pool occupied most of the cavern.
The water was perfectly clear.
Countless streams of azure light rose from its depths.
The entire cavern glowed beneath a soft blue radiance.
Stone pillars descended from the ceiling.
Crystal formations protruded from the surrounding walls.
The reflections dancing across the water and crystal surfaces created a scene that resembled a dream.
The scenery was breathtaking.
Kaelan barely spared it a glance.
His attention was already fixed elsewhere.
At the centre of the cavern stood a towering obelisk.
The ancient monument rose directly from the middle of the pool.
Its dark surface was covered with countless runes.
Blue light flowed through the carvings like rivers.
The surrounding Spiritual Energy revolved around it continuously.
As though the obelisk were the heart of the entire mountain.
The moment Kaelan saw it, his Spirit stirred.
A strange feeling emerged within him.
Ancient.
Vast.
Profound.
The obelisk seemed to contain endless mysteries.
For the first time since entering the cavern, anticipation appeared in his eyes.
Everything else faded into the background.
The pool.
The crystals.
The cavern.
Even the Illusion Vine Lord.
None of them mattered.
His attention remained fixed upon the obelisk standing at the centre of the underground world.
As he observed it, Kaelan gradually noticed something unusual.
Countless patterns covered the obelisk’s surface.
The flowing blue light continuously travelled through them.
The longer he studied those patterns, the more certain he became.
They were the true treasure.
The reason cultivators could comprehend River Intent from the obelisk was not because of the stone itself.
It was because of the patterns engraved upon it.
The patterns gathered, amplified, and projected the Intent hidden within.
At that moment, the Illusion Vine Lord spoke.
“Find a place and comprehend.”
“You have one week.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere changed.
One week.
To ordinary cultivators, that was an incredibly short period of time.
Many had spent years gathering enough resources for this opportunity.
Naturally, nobody wished to waste a single moment.
The demons immediately rushed forward.
Some leapt across the water.
Others claimed nearby rocks.
Several even argued over the best locations.
Everyone wanted to be as close to the obelisk as possible.
Kaelan remained calm.
Unlike the others, he possessed Spiritual Perception.
As long as he remained within the cavern, distance meant very little.
However, directly studying the obelisk from afar would attract unnecessary attention.
After a brief glance around, he noticed a tall stone spike protruding from the middle of the pool.
It stood roughly halfway between the cavern entrance and the obelisk.
Perfect.
While everyone else competed for positions near the monument, Kaelan spread his wings.
A powerful flap carried him into the air.
Several demons glanced toward him.
Then immediately lost interest.
Flying demons were common.
No one paid him much attention.
Kaelan crossed the blue pool and landed atop the stone spike.
His claws dug into the rock.
The surface was narrow.
Barely large enough to support him.
Which suited him perfectly.
The location offered solitude and an unobstructed view of the obelisk.
The moment he settled down, Kaelan spread his Spiritual Perception.
His senses expanded throughout the cavern.
The obelisk immediately became clearer.
The patterns.
The flowing blue light.
The circulating Spiritual Energy.
Everything entered his perception.
Without hesitation, Kaelan focused entirely on the River Intent radiating from the monument.
Far away, the Illusion Vine Lord suddenly opened his eyes.
His gaze landed directly upon Kaelan.
A trace of surprise appeared on his face.
“A Demon General with Spirit strength approaching the Demon Lord Realm.”
The observation genuinely surprised him.
The greatest obstacle preventing most Demon Generals from advancing was their Spirit.
Their bodies were strong enough.
Their Demon Energy was sufficient.
Yet their Spirits remained weak.
Without enough Spirituality, becoming a Demon Lord was nearly impossible.
The Crow Demon had already overcome that obstacle.
The Illusion Vine Lord studied him silently.
A thought surfaced in his mind.
Was the Crow Demon’s Spirit naturally this powerful?
Or had he consumed some rare heavenly treasure?
The difference was important.
If his Spirit had reached this level naturally, then the Crow Demon possessed extraordinary talent.
Such demons occasionally had a chance of reaching the peak of the Demon Lord Realm.
Perhaps even touching the threshold of the Demon King Realm.
However, the Illusion Vine Lord quickly dismissed the thought.
During the past thousand years, countless geniuses had appeared.
Many possessed talents no less impressive than this Crow Demon.
Yet not one had reached the Demon King Realm.
Not even himself.
The ancient curse remained an insurmountable barrier.
Eventually, he closed his eyes once more.
Roots emerged from beneath his feet.
They silently pierced the stone floor and extended into the underground pool.
Streams of Spiritual Water flowed into them.
The Illusion Vine Lord began nourishing his Essence while waiting for the week to pass.
Meanwhile, Kaelan had completely immersed himself in comprehension.
Within his Spiritual Perception, the cavern disappeared.
The pool vanished.
The obelisk vanished.
Even his own body vanished.
Only a river remained.
An endless river.
Its waters flowed across heaven and earth.
Majestic.
Ancient.
Boundless.
The river seemed to carry countless years within its current.
Every drop of water contained traces of history.
Every wave carried the weight of time.
Kaelan felt his Spirit tremble.
The River Intent crashed into his consciousness.
Like a flood.
Like a torrent.
Like a river breaking through a dam.
His Spirit seemed insignificant before it.
Yet he did not retreat.
Instead, he focused entirely upon the flowing water.
Observing.
Analyzing.
Comprehending.
He studied its movement.
Its persistence.
Its adaptability.
Its endless journey toward the sea.
Time gradually lost meaning.
Only the river remained.
And Kaelan’s desire to understand it.