Chapter 23 : challenges.

Kai frowns upon seeing the creature's body in front of him.

"You okay?" Caihong asked upon seeing the frown on Kai's face. Kai nodded, and Elder Xieling signaled for them to keep moving forward.

"Kai, this is the first layer of the purgatory land. The purgatory land has nine layers, which are classified into three levels. Each level consists of three layers; however, each level is under the command of three terrifying devil generals". Elder Xieling explained.

"We are currently in the first layer of the first level; however, this layer is not much of a threat to you; that's why I'm going to bring you to the third layer of the first level. You will be training there for the next six months; however, I have a mission for you" Elder Xieling stopped and turned to look at Kai.

Kai stared back at her with a calm demeanor. "The mission is for you to kill the first-level devil general, and you are to do that within six months," Elder Xieling said calmly while looking at Kai.

Kai's mind shuddered a little, but he did not lose his confident composure; However, he knew in his mind that this mission would be so complicated that his chance of death was 90%; he was willing to take the risk because the path of cultivation is a path of no return and to become strong in this world, one must undergo many dangers and hardship.

"Elder Xieling, I'm willing to take the mission, but can you please explain to me what I'm about to face?" Kai replied calmly.

Elder Xieling looked at Kai for a while before she turned around and started walking calmly deeper toward the third layer. "Each devil general governing each level has different strengths; the first level devil general has the mid-level immortal realm cultivation base; however, his battle power is more than that since he is not an ordinary immortal but rather an immortal king. Also, he had many low-level immortals as his subordinate". Elder Xieling explained.

Upon hearing this explanation, Kai frowned and started calculating in his mind; Kai hadn't fought with an immortal King level warrior before or even fought with an ordinary immortal warrior. However, he knew with his current power, he could kill anyone within the low-level immortal stage, but as for the mid-level, he was sure. So he concluded in his mind that he only had a 5% chance of surviving this mission.

Kai also knew in his mind that the only way to get stronger quickly for him was by facing impossible challenges. He discovered this from his last fight with Garos; he knew exerting his body and mind beyond their limit was the faster way to grow stronger. Therefore he decided to complete the mission no matter what it took.

"Kai, the devil generals are all creatures from the underworld, but they are of the highest bloodline and royalty, so there is more to their power than you can imagine, so you must be careful." Elder Xieling said.

Kai was pulled back from his thought by the elder Xieling voice, and these even made him make up his mind to do it; his path is not a path that accepts backing down from danger; he had to face any danger head-on even if it's going to cost his life.

After they walked for thirty minutes, they arrived in front of a barrier leading to the second layer, and beyond the barrier, Kai could see a vast dark land filled with abyssal energy and multiple creatures like the ones on the first layer flying around there, but these creatures had much more powerful aura, all of them are in the peak mortal stage while some have even stepped into the immortal realm.

Kai saw many of these creatures while walking in the first layer. Still, all these creatures called wing devils did not come closer to them because they could feel Elder Xieling terrifying aura, but Kai was able to study their behaviors, and he knew these creatures called wing devils like to work in groups.

"We will be leaving you to continue your journey from here till you reach the third layer, we will also be heading to the third level, and after six months, we will come to pick you up, and that is if you are still alive." Elder Xieling said in a cold tone without showing any emotions.

Kai shook his head, seeing how heartless the devilish woman could be; he couldn't help but wonder what she had been through to reach her current level; even though Kai couldn't tell her cultivation stage, he knew she was a terrifying existence.

"I won't die so easily, so rest assured, Elder Xieling, we shall meet again in six months," Kai said to her.

"Okay, but if you die, then that means you are not qualified to return the favor you owe me, and I will make sure you pay me back in your next life since no one owes a demon a favor," Elder Xieling said and without waiting to see kai reactions, another portal appeared in front her, immediately she and Caihong walked inside without looking at Kai.

Kai was helpless, but he knew these two ladies cared about him so much; they only wanted what was best for him, which was him relying on and overcoming every obstacle himself.

Without wasting time, Kai also stepped through to the second floor. The moment he walked through the barrier, and appeared in the second layer.

He felt danger, and immediately his saber appeared in his head, and he slashed forward with a quick reaction; he had learned from his previous mistakes, so he was prepared this time.

With his heavy attack, Kai forced a tall creature out of the void; this creature had the same physical features as the wing devils; the only difference was that they had no wings and were like a ghost. They hide and attack from the shadows; they are called "Shadowthorn" Kai had learned about them from Caihong.

According to Caihong's explanation, these creatures are the most difficult to deal with in the first level because they are like an assassin, and their attack is unpredictable since they attack from another plane entirely.

Before the shadowthorn could return to the void, another attack of Kai arrived and beheaded the devil without giving it any chance.

After killing the shadowthorn, Kai quickly dashes forward; he knows he has attracted other creatures with the bit of disturbance he created.

However, luck was not on his side as the direction he was running, he came across a group of twenty wing devils, and they spotted him immediately; moreover, their leader was in the low-level immortal stage.

The wing devil's fiery eyes spark upon seeing Kai; since they view humans as food, they immediately rush toward him. Kai stopped on his track, and a frown appeared on his face.

Fighting these creatures was not what bothered him; he was concerned because he knew if he started fighting, he would create a disturbance that would draw a more powerful group to him, and he wanted to avoid that as much as he could.

In this second layer, there is no hiding place; it only consists of mountains and dry lands; there is no forest or river; it's dead land filled with mountains.

Kai knew the hiding place here was by hiding deep in the ground, and he had no such abilities. Upon seeing no other options, he braces himself and charges toward the group leader since that's the quickest way to end the fight.

With his speed, he arrived in front of the leader with a few steps and slashed forward, aiming for its head; Kai was only attacking with brute force because it takes time for his mind to connect to the energies around him.

However, Kai underestimates the immortal realm too much; being in an immortal realm is not just a change in energy but a complete change in every aspect.

The creature did not even bother to move; he stood in his position till Kai's saber landed on his neck, and immediately a loud metallic sound rang out; Kai was forced back ten steps after the collision.

He quickly balanced himself in mid-air before he landed on the ground smoothly. He gazed ahead at the wing devil still standing in its position; it didn't even move an inch.

A weak smile appeared on his face, and he knew things would be more demanding than he imagined; although his attack earlier was stronger than a peak mortal realm attack, it was still not strong enough to move an immortal realm warrior.

Kai quickly noted in his mind that the only way to match the strength of an immortal is by controlling the energies with his mind, which he cannot achieve instantly yet.

The group leader screeched at Kai, and immediately the rest of the wing devils swam toward Kai with soaring energies.