The Portal of Wonderland

Shi Mu stayed silent for a moment as his eyebrows wrinkled.

“Brother Shi, please allow me to ask, are you planning to head to the Heaven Ascension Peak?” Yu Yi hesitated before asking.

Shi Mu’s eyes wavered but remained silent. It was a sign that his answer was yes.

“Excuse my presumptuousness but if Brother Shi plans to go there, you might want to wait half a year,” Yu Yi said.

“Why is that?” Shi Mu asked

“About seven or eight months back, I heard that the Demon Tribe would hold a grand ceremony on Heaven Ascension Peak. It’s known as the Form Assuming Ceremony. All the leaders of the Demon Tribe would attend the ceremony. Since the guards of Heaven Ascension Peak would also attend, the peak would be left defenseless,” Yu Yi explained.

Shi Mu’s eyes instantly lit up.

If such a large-scale ceremony was going to be held with the Heaven Rank Demon King personally presiding as the main guest of, the security of the Heaven Ascension Peak was likely not to be as tight. That would be a good time to sneak in undetected.

“Please inquire and collect as much information as possible about the Form Assuming Ceremony,” Shi Mu said.

“Of course!” Yu Yi nodded.

“Also, please sort out the materials of the demon tribe you came into contact with, in greater detail if possible.”

“Alright, I will. Oh, I almost forgot, Brother Shi…” Yu Yi stopped as if he was choked by his own words.

“Brother Yu, is there anything else?” Shi Mu noticed Yu Yi’s expression.

“I also heard some news about two demon tribesmen. It might be useful for you and your journey.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Recently, the demon and barbarian tribes have been in frequent conflict. Many small-scale wars erupted, and I learned the reason. They say the demon tribe has been kidnapping mineral slaves of the barbarian tribe from the Spirit Stone mine. No doubt this caused further hostilities between both sides. During the battle, it’s said the barbarian warriors command an incarnation of zombies to enhance their power. This is known as the Zombie Art, which originated from the Dark Moon Holy Cult.

“Thank you for letting me know. You may go now,” Shi Mu said as he nodded his head and waved.

Yu Yi bowed to Shi Mu and quickly made a retreat.

Shi Mu was lost in thought as he touched his chin.

After a while, he flipped out the map of Heaven Ascension Peak.

After a careful look at it, Shi Mu turned his hand, took out a white array, and began chanting. Suddenly a beam of white light emerged from the array, forming a white spell-like formation.

Shi Mu whispered to the array as the small white characters emerged, disappearing in a beam of light.

…

Yu Yi had always been efficient when it came to errands. Not long after, Shi Mu had received news about the Form Assuming Ceremony and the Demon Tribe on Heaven Ascension Peak.

The demon tribes that resided in the Heaven Ascension Peak frequently traveled to Red Flame City for trade. Along with Yu Yi’s reports, Shi Mu persisted in collecting more information about the Demon Tribe.

Shi Mu flipped through the writings before walking out the door with Cai over his shoulder.

Half a month later, Shi Mu sat next to the windows on the second floor of a restaurant in Red Flame City.

There were a few dishes on his table, a pot of saké, and a glass of wine, but he did not move at all. He had his eyes fixed on a shop outside the window.

Cai stood at the table with all focus on eating.

Ever since Cai woke up, it had grown an interest in consuming not only Spirit Stones but also wine and saké. It would occasionally show a look of satisfaction while sipping the alcohol.

Suddenly, Shi Mu’s eyebrows moved like a man in gray robes arrived at the shop opposite the restaurant. His whole thin body was wrapped in his robe and even his face could not be seen.

As soon as the man walked out of the shop, he did not stop at all but walked straight in one direction.

Shi Mu did not say a word. He immediately grabbed Cai—who was still enjoying the food and drink— went down to the ground floor of the restaurant.

“Since you’re so full of energy now, here’s our time to work!” Shi Mu said to Cai, as he locked eyes with the back of the man in a gray robe.

Although Cai still seemed somewhat reluctant and muttered a few words grumpily, he still flew up and tailed the man in a gray robe.

Shi Mu did not need to follow the man any further as he was able to observe every movement through Cai’s shared vision.

After half an hour, the man in gray arrived at a remote courtyard.

Cai landed on top of a building nearby. As his eyes flashed, the courtyard walls became transparent and Shi Mu was able to see what transpired inside.

There was a large space in the courtyard and more than a dozen rooms. Multiple shadows and figures stood in the yard and seemed to be discussing something important.

These people were known as Human Beasts. They exuded a wild and strong demon scent, having come from the Half-transformed Demon Race.

This was most likely a place solely dedicated to dealing with the Half-transformed Demon Race in the inner city.

When the man in gray walked into the courtyard and took off his robe, his appearance was revealed. He had the features of a human snake. His eyes were green and his face was covered in scales like an actual snake. His arms too were tightly covered with fine black scales. He was an innate level of the Snake Demon.

When the Snake Demon walked in, the demons in the courtyard only took a quick glance but turned back and continued their own business. Some did not even bother to turn around.

The Snake Demon man seemed to be very anti-social. He not only turned a blind eye to the other members of the Demon Tribe but went straight into a room at the corner and closed the door right behind him.

Outside the small courtyard about a few hundred feet away, Shi Mu leaned against the wall in an alley. Through the eyes of Cai Er, having the first-hand view of the situation, a smile appeared in the corner of his lips.

“Cai, come back now!” He contacted Cai by heart. After a while, Cai flew back.

“Shi Mu, I get that you have been tracking these strange demon men for almost a week but you have been spying on this particular Snake Demon for several days already,” Cai said as he landed on Shi Mu’s shoulder.

“Well, it’s almost time now,” Shi Mu replied.

Although Shi Mu’s words were vague, Cai Er obviously already knew the real meaning behind them. All Cai did was nod in understanding.

“Cai, from today onwards, your main task is to follow this Snake Demon.” Shi Mu ordered

“Understood!” Cai nodded.

In the blink of an eye, one month had passed by.

During this period, Shi Mu had frequently gone in and out of major shops in Red Flame City to purchase different types of materials. In his spare time, he would stay in the courtyard creating different charms. At this point, he rarely stopped by the Lava Pool anymore.

On this particular day, Shi Mu was sitting in the quiet courtyard creating various charms when suddenly a beam of white light flashed.

He gave a slight glimpse as he put down the magic pen in his hand from creating charms. He immediately waved his hand and the white array appeared on his palm. A line of white characters floated on top of the array.

Shi Mu’s eyes swept over the small print and could not contain the happiness from showing on his face. He immediately stood up and walked outside.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the second floor of a restaurant in Red Flame City.

As it was nowhere near meal time, there weren’t many guests on the second floor. Sitting at the window was a short middle-aged man. There was another individual wrapped in a black robe seated in front of the middle-aged man. Based on the build and posture, he deduced that person is most probably a young woman.

Shi Mu walked up to the second floor as his eyes swept across the room. Though his sight originally landed on these two individuals, they soon moved away. Shi Mu furrowed his brows slightly as he tried to decide where to sit down.

“Senior Shi!” the middle-aged man stood up and said. His voice was crisp though his appearance was slightly aged.

“You are… Hou Sai Lei…” Shi Mu looked at the man with confusion and hesitation before blurting these words.

The middle-aged man cracked a smiled and his body lit up with a glimmer of light that slowly dissipated. He showed his true colors. It was not other than Hou Sai Lei.

At the same time, his body creaked and he grew a few inches.

“You’re becoming more slick and subtle to the point I almost could not recognize you,” Shi Mu said.

“Senior Shi, I rushed over as soon as I got your message, though I have met some difficulties along the way so I arrived slightly late. Please forgive me,” Hou Sai Lei said apologetically.

“It’s no problem at all..” Shi Mu said casually, but his eyebrows wrinkled as soon as he noticed the person in a black robe standing beside Hou Sai Lei.

“Who is this friend of yours?” Shi Mu asked.

Hou Sai Lei showed a hint of fear and shook his head.

“I would never dare to bring any outsiders to see Senior Shi without approval but I can’t seem to shake her away from following me. So in the end, I eventually give in,” Hou Sai Lei said with a bitter smile.

Shi Mu remained silent with a stern look painted on his face.

“Really?! How can Senior Shi Mu not remember me?!”

The person who was in black who had been sitting beside Hou Sai Lei all this while suddenly laughed like the sound of silver bells. She stood up and took off the hood that was hiding her beautiful face.

“It’s you!” Shi Mu gasped.

This woman in front of him was not other than Leng Yue Tong!

“Shi Mu, it’s been so long! Have you missed me?” Leng Yue Tong slyly teased.

“So it’s Lady Leng. Is there something wrong that makes you come looking for me?” Shi Mu asked.

“Why? Don’t you want to see me?” Leng Yue asked teasingly.

The next moment, she looked at Shi Mu from head to toe and had a surprised expression.

“it’s great that you managed to advance to this level,” Leng Yue Tong said in surprise.

Upon hearing Leng Yue Tong’s words, Hou Sai Lei looked stunned, but his eyes revealed his joy.

Shi Mu did not flinch at all. He only looked at Leng Yue Tong and remain silent.

“Ugh! I haven’t seen you for only a few years and you’re already so cold towards me. But it’s alright. I like your personality,” Leng Yue Tong snorted and smiled.

Shi Mu sighed and sat down.

“Be straightforward. You have come all this way with Hou Sai Lei just to see me. What is the matter?” Shi Mu asked.

Leng Yue Tong smiled and sat down.