Chapter 1038: Is This Even Human

The Black Domain stretched endlessly, an infinite expanse of darkness.

In this peculiar place, even spiritual senses were restricted. No matter how high one's cultivation, their perception was barely stronger than that of a mortal.

A few figures sped across the domain in a boat, like a lone leaf adrift in an ocean. If not for the faint glow emitted by their flying vessel, they would have gone entirely unnoticed. The same was true elsewhere—even if there were movements, they were nearly impossible to detect.

Deep within the Black Domain, the mist grew denser, so thick one could hardly see their own hand in front of their face.

Amidst the endless darkness, a furious shout suddenly erupted.

"Ha! Art is explosion!"

The voice pierced through the abyss, brimming with fanaticism.

And then—an earth-shattering explosion truly tore across the heavens and earth!

"BOOM!!!"

The deafening roar echoed endlessly, the shockwave rippling out for thousands of miles.

Daylight abruptly appeared, the heavens trembling.

The black mist was dispersed by the blast, revealing the desolate land beneath.

A fierce gale swept through, sending the corpses of demonic creatures tumbling like dry grass. A storm of blood and gore followed the shockwave, vanishing into the distance.

Only when the tremors finally subsided did several figures step forward, their faces alight with excitement.

At the forefront, Xiao Zhan diligently gathered chunks of demonic flesh while loudly instructing the others.

"Senior Brother Hong has been a huge help! The secretions from these demons after death are excellent—not only are they top-tier waterproofing materials, but they're also incredibly convenient to use!"

"Come on, everyone, work hard! First, gather all of Senior Brother Hong's pieces, then collect the demon corpses. Not a single scrap can be missed—absolutely nothing goes to waste!"

The men and women responded with fervor, immediately throwing themselves into the laborious harvest.

Soon, the sea of corpses was bustling with activity. Everyone wore cheerful expressions, working with such enthusiasm it was as if they were picking crabs from muddy shores. Laughter and chatter filled the air.

"All of Senior Brother Hong's fragments have been collected! Now, onto the demons!"

"Got it!"

"Brothers, put your backs into it! We can’t waste the effort Senior Brother Hong put in!"

"Let’s go! We’re taking every last demon corpse back with us!"

The black sands were alive with feverish activity as over a dozen people rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

To an outsider, this scene would have been jaw-dropping. Who could imagine people so obsessively collecting demonic corpses, treating the Black Domain like farmland?

And even more unthinkable—using demon corpses as construction materials…

At the outskirts of the sandy wasteland, an even more bizarre spectacle unfolded.

A large group of demons was being marched forward in chains, their massive footprints leaving deep impressions in the barren earth. Demons of all kinds had been reduced to prisoners, their hands bound behind their backs as they trudged along in silence.

Their captors? A mere dozen or so young humans.

Despite their frail appearances—some not even reaching the knees of certain towering demons—the once-feared demonic beings now resembled wilted eggplants.

They marched without protest, grunting and panting, too terrified to resist.

Their faces were twisted in humiliation, yet they dared not stop, docile as water buffalo.

The young humans, meanwhile, chatted leisurely as they escorted their prisoners.

Fang Han, ranked eighty-sixth among the disciples, gazed admiringly at the senior brothers collecting demon corpses.

"Hey, Senior Brother Hong is truly incredible! That explosion of his was devastating—just one strike and we’ve got so many demon corpses!"

Lu Dayuan, ranked forty-third and slightly more experienced, nodded with a proud smile.

"This is nothing. When Senior Brother Hong really gets going, it’s way more impressive than what you just saw! And if the Grandmaster were here, these demons wouldn’t even have time to run—they’d be begging for reincarnation!"

At the mention of the Grandmaster, reverence filled the disciples' eyes.

Their voices brimmed with awe.

"I wonder where the Grandmaster is now… Will the urban world we’re building meet his expectations?"

"It definitely will! The Grandmaster’s vision must be about creating an entire realm!"

"Right, right! As long as we give it our all, we’ll surely satisfy him."

"Exactly. The Grandmaster’s wisdom and foresight are beyond our comprehension. If we can follow even a fraction of his path, this life will have been worth it!"

Their excitement grew, fueling their determination.

Lu Dayuan, ever the earnest one, nodded solemnly, his eyes shining with anticipation.

"I wonder how Senior Brother Bai is doing. We’ve captured about three thousand laborers this time—that should help a lot with the city’s development."

Fang Han, brimming with energy, suggested, "Senior Brother Bai is bold and unrestrained in his methods. This many laborers might not be enough. After we deliver this batch, should we go catch some more?"

At these words, the towering demons shuddered.

Several pairs of green eyes flickered with dread.

Yet Lu Dayuan nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, seems like the only way."

"Lately, there’s been a severe labor shortage. These three thousand probably won’t cut it. Last time, Senior Sister Su Yunyun’s research parameters were a bit off—the laborers she captured were sent to build artillery towers, and over half were lost. These three thousand won’t be enough either!"

Lu Dayuan spoke frankly, his voice loud and clear.

The demons heard every word, their bodies stiffening in horror.

They were proud demonic beings—living creatures!

Yet they were being hauled off to build artillery towers, with many perishing in the process…

They weren’t even being treated as living things. How brutal was that?

What kind of creatures could do such things?

At the very least, humans shouldn’t be this savage, right?

The demons’ faces twisted in disbelief and dread.

But Lu Dayuan wasn’t finished. His calm voice continued.

"Oh, right."

"Master Lu also asked us to pick out a few strong laborers. The manure disposal team is expanding, and they need to dig new sewage lines soon!"

Was this even human speech?!

The moment these words left his mouth, many demons trembled with indignation.

Proud demons could endure enslavement—but not manure duty!

Yet as they clenched their teeth and lifted their heads, the sight of those smiling young humans sent chills down their spines.

Harmless as they appeared, their expressions triggered the demons’ most horrific memories.

The massive figures trembled, forced to march onward in silence.

Nearby, amidst the towering corpses, a tiny demon—no taller than a few inches—peered out from hiding. Pointed ears twitched, its cunning eyes wide with shock.

Without hesitation, it fled into the depths of the Black Domain.

……

At the heart of the Black Domain lay a path of bleached bones, flanked by crimson blossoms.

This seemingly majestic road was paved with the flesh and blood of countless souls, exuding an aura of death so potent that even the black mist dared not encroach. It was a sovereign’s path—regal, yet chilling to the core.

At the end of the bone-laden road stood two colossal skulls of ancient beasts.

Even in death, their remains radiated a primordial terror, the air around them thick with bloodlust.

Between the hundred-foot-tall skulls, ripples distorted the void as ghostly energy coalesced into a mirror-like surface—or perhaps a towering gate, stretching into the blackened heavens like a pillar supporting the sky.

This was the Demon Race’s Star Gate, the sole passage connecting all demonic realms.

Countless formidable auras of blood and qi must be gathered, and only with supreme cultivation can this gate be opened. None but the most elite of the demonic race can wield it, and those capable of mastering such intricate arcane arts are peerless geniuses among their kind.

Along the bone-paved path, countless towering demonic figures stood in silent vigil.

A dark tide of shadows, their baleful presence overwhelming the skies.

At this moment, tens of thousands of eyes converged as one.

A small, pitiful figure crouched by the roadside, trembling as it pleaded toward the colossal gate with a voice full of despair.

"My lord!"

"Another three thousand of our kin have been captured! I beg for your judgment!"

The plea was laden with grief, the kind that should have incited the demons to fury.

Yet, the gathered horde of demonic shadows fell into an eerie silence, their complex, many-eyed gazes turning as one toward the Starry Sky Gate.

Within the gate loomed an immense, dominating figure.

But upon hearing the report, that towering demonic presence shuddered violently.

"Quick! Close the gate! Seal the Starry Sky Gate at once! We cannot let that devil return!"

The urgent command echoed, and the foremost elite demons sprang into action.

Together, they channeled their demonic power, coalescing into a pitch-black radiance—a swirling mass of intricate runes pulsating with terrifying might—that surged toward the Starry Sky Gate.

Under the ocean-like torrent of demonic energy, the two colossal skeletal skulls began to draw closer.

The gate was already halfway shut, moments away from being temporarily sealed—

When suddenly.

A bald human descended from the heavens, his dead-fish eyes half-lidded with drowsiness, looking for all the world like a sleepwalking fool.

The moment he appeared, the demons recoiled in horror.

An abrupt silence fell, the blood-stained bone path now devoid of even the faintest sound.

The man paid no heed to his surroundings. He merely threw a single punch toward the massive gate—a motion so simple, so unremarkable, it resembled a child waving its hand.

Yet as his fist swung forth, a deafening sonic boom erupted, drowning out all else in its wake.