Immortal of the Ages

Below the Beastly Peaks, the faces and armor of the Desolation Corps gleamed a ghastly green.

Even their teeth and tongues sparkled with an eerie green light!

"Wick! The wick..."

Terrifying demons and gigantic monsters, their eyes wider than their gaping mouths, rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

The tumult within their hearts was immense!

First, the purification of the wick by the Fleeting Life King ignited cheers, then despair at its near extinguishment, and now, as the wick's life flared tenfold, their spirits soared once again to the heavens!

Words failed them, their excitement and exhilaration could only be expressed through hysterical roars.

Moon Fairy's intervention had drawn some outrage. But now, as the Reincarnation Wick consumed the heavens, a thousand emotions violently shook the Desolation Corps, their eyes fixed on the silver-haired youth beside the Ghost Cauldron!

There, the fox demon, transformed into human form, pressed a palm against the Ghost Cauldron. His five fingers extended into five green fiery paths of life, entwining the entire cauldron and spreading inside!

These five green paths of fire were irrefutable proof of the dramatic change in the wick, and Moon Fairy’s undeniable connection to it…

The shock from the revival of the life flame was long from settling.

Even the high-ranking officers of the Desolation Corps were stunned, the hundreds of Heaven and Earth Generals stood rooted, each looking like frozen statues.

"You, you..." The Black Bute Bear, Lin Daiyuan, looked like she'd been struck by lightning. She stared blankly at Moon Fairy, her heart a tumultuous sea of conflicting emotions.

Her heart trembled the most! Moon Fairy had wrought such a miracle! And because she had been the one to bring him back, she surely played a part in this.

But the issue lay with the Soul Refining Cauldron incident, where the little fox had strayed from the group, and for the sake of military discipline, she had been forced to act against him.

If not for that, she, too, would be rejoicing like the others. And now, her heart twisted into a knot, her face an array of conflicting emotions.

“How powerful must his desolation talents be to reignite the Reincarnation Wick?”

This question lingered in the hearts of all the demons, a mystery they couldn’t hope to unravel.

“Desolation Marshal!”

At that moment, the generals of the Desolation Corps all turned toward their commander, faces alight with excitement, their expressions gleaming like polished oil.

In their elation, they nearly forgot about the Fleeting Life King!

When despair had reached its peak, the savior had arrived just in time… who would have believed it?

Amid the gazes of the gathered demons, the Desolation Marshal, hidden behind her black-scaled armor, let out a long breath, her vibrant, multicolored eyes brimming with joy and relief.

She had carried the heaviest burden!

The arrival of Moon Fairy was like a legendary hero descending from the heavens, shattering the weight of 1,000,000 mountains pressing down on her.

At last, she could breathe again.

“A blessed star has descended, protecting our Reincarnation Demon Clan!” The Desolation Marshal inhaled deeply and, in a flash, appeared beside Moon Fairy.

Catching a whiff of the fragrant air, Moon Fairy turned his head and locked eyes with those dazzling, multicolored eyes.

Up close, even though only the Desolation Marshal's face was visible, Moon Fairy could sense her commanding beauty—graceful, dignified, almost divine. For a demon to exude such an air of nobility and righteousness was exceedingly rare.

None of the demons Moon Fairy had encountered carried this kind of presence.

Demons, after all, defied the heavens and awakened their intellect through sheer will; most carried an inherent wickedness.

But this Desolation Marshal... she was different, a force of grandeur, as radiant as a goddess.

Her eyes shimmered with emotion as she suppressed her excitement, speaking as gently as she could. “Young lady, you arrived just in time. You saved the Beast Path! You are the fortune of our demon clan…”

Moon Fairy was basking in this reverence when the words nearly made him choke. Helpless, he corrected her, "Erhm, I'm a male fox.”

“Ah?” The Desolation Marshal blinked at his stunning face, suddenly noticing the unmistakable Adam’s apple and the sharp, predatory glint in his eyes. An awkward smile crept across her face. “I must apologize. My mistake.”

For someone of her stature to apologize, it showed how monumental Moon Fairy’s actions had been.

“Desolation Marshal, may I enter?” Moon Fairy asked.

“The Ghost Cauldron has a suppressive force. I’ll lead you inside,” the Desolation Marshal replied.

“I appreciate it,” Moon Fairy said.

As the words left his mouth, the Desolation Marshal reached out and took hold of Moon Fairy’s hand.

Though she stood not as tall as Lin Daiyuan, her towering presence was unmistakable, and with a mere gesture, she could easily lift Moon Fairy into the skies.

Together, they soared toward the heavens!

"Follow me." The Desolation Marshal led him inside the Ghost Cauldron, now entirely filled with the flames of the Reincarnation Wick.

As Moon Fairy landed, the green flames parted for him, while the Desolation Marshal shielded him from the Ghost Cauldron's oppressive force.

Close at hand, her brisk and dashing beauty was even more palpable, her multicolored hair fluttering before his eyes like a surrounding rainbow.

"The wick is up ahead."

The first time he set eyes on the Reincarnation Wick, Moon Fairy paused, stunned. For the wick bore a human form, like a white jade maiden in bud, her eyes tightly shut, lost in deep slumber.

"How is it faring?" the Desolation Marshal asked, her voice tinged with anxiety as she noticed the cracks and signs of aging on the jade maiden's body.

"It's fine, as long as I am here, it'll remain healthy," Moon Fairy reassured her, descending to the closest point to the Reincarnation Wick and touching its face.

At that moment, the Reincarnation Wick seemed to open its eyes, and endless vitality began to revive within it, as if refreshed by sweet rain, making the fire of life upon it burn even brighter.

Exclamations of awe echoed from outside.

Under Moon Fairy's touch, the aging and cracks on it were slowly healing.

"I will come here daily for a while, and in half a month, it should fully recover to its optimal state," Moon Fairy turned back and informed the Desolation Marshal.

Truth be told, he could restore the Reincarnation Wick immediately, ensuring it would last 1,000 years without fail... but then, what use would he be?

It was important to remain necessary.

"Good, very good."

Upon hearing this, the Desolation Marshal's tensed heartstrings finally relaxed.

"Let us leave now," she suggested.

"Yes."

Holding the Desolation Marshal's hand, Moon Fairy followed her like a child flying out of the Ghost Cauldron.

He glanced back at the Reincarnation Wick, thinking of Lady Hua Lian...

"Although I'm eager for her rebirth, now is not the right time. I must first use the wick to greatly enhance my strength quickly. Once my power is sufficient, what can't I do?"

With this thought, Moon Fairy contained his impatience.

Soon, the young fox and Desolation Marshal reappeared before the Desolation Corps. Once outside, it was even more evident that the fire of the Reincarnation Wick was now perfectly sustained, radiating a sense of unending vitality.

Before the million soldiers, the Desolation Marshal, with a smile bright upon her face, made a joyous proclamation, "Heaven has eyes! Our ancestors protect us! In the Beast Path, a demon of our kind with an over 80% desolation affinity has arisen. Not only has he mended the ailment of the Reincarnation Wick but he will also restore it to its peak, ensuring it decays not for 1,000, even 10,000 years."

With the Desolation Marshal's confirmation, the hearts of the demons were relieved, plunging them into wild celebration, their gazes burning with fervor as they looked upon Moon Fairy, their chests swelling like volcanoes ready to erupt.

"Little Fox, let all your brethren of the demon race know your name!" the Desolation Marshal turned to him, her smile unmistakable.

It was well known that the Desolation Marshal seldom smiled. Many had followed her for decades and had scarcely seen her smile as much as on this day. Such was the joy in her heart.

"My name is Moon Fairy. Newly initiated into the Six Paths of Reincarnation, I was chosen by the Black Brute Battalion and am serving as adjutant to Colonel Lin Daiyuan," Yun Xiao declared, using his body double to address the vast army, introducing not only himself but also casting Lin Daiyuan into the spotlight.

"Moon Fairy! Moon Fairy!"

Demons, straightforward and direct by nature, openly expressed their admiration for Moon Fairy without restraint.

For a moment, the name Moon Fairy reverberated through the mountains, its echo long-lasting.

Old Kapok and the other fearsome demons of the Black Brute Battalion were all stunned...

And there stood Lin Daiyuan, isolated among the group of Desolation Corps generals, her face a picture of bewildered awe.

"Colonel Lin, well done."

"An eye for talent, Lin Daiyuan. You're doing us proud."

"To think such a genius was discovered by you."

Each word of praise from her superiors only heightened Lin Daiyuan’s anxiety. Because of that one moment, she was now tormented with regret, wishing she could have done things differently...

Apart from her, it seemed the entire Beastly Peaks was in celebration!

And of course, there was one more.

That was the Fleeting Life King. He had been silent for a while, but now he approached, looking at Moon Fairy and saying to the Desolation Marshal, "Congratulations to the Desolation Marshal, and to the entire Beast Path! With such a demon, we are secure for 10,000 years."

The Desolation Marshal bowed. "I am deeply grateful for your help this time. Should the Reincarnation Wick of the Asura Path also suffer, we will surely offer our utmost assistance."

"Generous as ever." The Fleeting Life King smiled.

"Now that the ailment of our Reincarnation Wick has been resolved, please have a celebratory drink with me back at my base," the Desolation Marshal said.

The Fleeting Life King shook his head and replied, "The recovery of the wick is a moment for universal celebration in the Beast Path, and I'd rather not intrude on your festivities today. I wasn't much help and nearly caused a crisis; I truly feel undeserving of such a gesture."

"Fleeting Life King, you're too modest," the Desolation Marshal insisted. "Your journey here alone, intended to assist us, has already earned our deepest gratitude; there is no need for any guilt."

"Indeed! We are grateful to the Fleeting Life King."

"The Beast Path and Asura Path are close as kin; please, Fleeting Life King, do not dwell on such thoughts," the other generals added.

The Fleeting Life King smiled. "Since that's your sentiment, I'll take your kind words to heart. However, I indeed have other matters to attend to. Next time, I shall join my brothers here for a long toast."

His decision to leave was firm, and after some polite attempts to retain him, the Desolation Corps did not press further.

The Fleeting Life King then ascended his celestial palanquin and flew off into the sky!

"Desolation Marshal, could the sudden depletion of the wick be his doing?" an old man with the appearance of a youthful crane whispered to the Desolation Marshal.

She glanced at him and muttered, "Let's not talk about that here."

"Understood." The elder nodded, looking towards Moon Fairy with a sense of admiration. "He's truly a godsend. At the very least, he has saved the lives of 100,000 of our troops."

"Yes…" the Desolation Marshal deeply agreed, "Once the Reincarnation Wick goes out, the Samsara Sourcecore of the Beast Path would have fallen into violent chaos, sparking a crisis and countless casualties among the weaker demons. He has saved our world."

"We must protect him well," the elder stated earnestly.

"Indeed."

This went without saying; the significance of Moon Fairy was clear to all.

Meanwhile, the Desolation Corps continued to cheer for Moon Fairy, the youth receiving such acclaim yet remaining composed, which even surprised the Desolation Marshal.

"Moon Fairy," she called out, approaching with the generals of the Desolation Corps.

This group of massive demons, powerful enough to suppress a 1,000,000-strong army, caused the very earth and sky to tremble with their presence.

At that moment, each one of them toned down their aura, all smiles, careful not to startle Moon Fairy.

"Greetings to the Desolation Marshal and the generals," Moon Fairy said with impeccable manners, pleasing the elders further.

"Your role in saving the Reincarnation Wick is of great significance to the Beast Path. We are willing to invest heavily in your development, to help you realize your potential and reach the peak. Will you accept this?" the Desolation Marshal earnestly stated.

"Desolation Marshal, I am willing," Moon Fairy replied without hesitation, his straightforwardness evident.

A person, when deemed sufficiently important, need not worry about resources, nor indulge in arrogance.

"Good." The Desolation Marshal and the generals of various factions were very satisfied with his direct character.

"In that case, you will leave the Black Brute Battalion and train at my base. I will assign someone specifically to oversee your development and security," the Desolation Marshal announced.

The Desolation Marshal’s base was undeniably the heart and most crucial part of the military encampment.

"Yes!" Moon Fairy nodded decisively.

Like this, it was settled! Many demons heard this with a hint of envy. Training at the Desolation Marshal’s base was beyond the reach of ordinary demons.

But while they envied him, they did not begrudge him; Moon Fairy had, in their eyes, saved them, and so deserved this reward!

Indeed, it was a universal celebration, full of joy!

"Moon Fairy, you have achieved great things today. Do you have any other requests? Feel free to ask," the Desolation Marshal said softly.

Her gentle demeanor made many envious, especially the generals of the Desolation Corps. They had never seen her behaving this tenderly before!

In the eyes of the Desolation Corps, this Desolation Marshal was an absolute and ruthless existence.

"A request?" Moon Fairy thought for a moment, then said, "I have no requests, but I do have a small wish."

"Speak," the Desolation Marshal responded.

JustLivingJL's Thoughts

"My name is Moon Fairy. Newly initiated into the Six Paths of Reincarnation, I was chosen by the Black Brute Battalion and am serving as adjutant to Colonel Lin Daiyuan," Yun Xiao declared, using his body double to address the vast army, introducing not only himself but also casting Lin Daiyuan into the spotlight.