Lee Xian, Cultivator of Guyon

The rise of the Devil

A thick fog enveloped the village located in the valley between the two high mountains. That morning, when the sun should have shone brightly, the sky was covered with cloudy clouds that felt very strange. The villagers started to feel bad. The ground shook slowly, as if nature herself sensed something bad was about to happen. An evil and profound aura permeated the ground, causing the village pets to tremble and let out anxious voices.

Lee Xian, a 17-year-old youth famous for his idle nature, stood in the middle of the village, feeling an unusual tension in the air. He took a serious look as the village elders gathered under a large tree in the center of the village, their faces full of worry.

The oldest village elder, Grandpa Lin, who was usually wise and calm, spoke in a trembling voice, "Brothers, something terrible has happened. The Ancient Devil, who had for centuries been sealed within the cave at the peak of Demonic Mountain, had risen again."

The villagers heard the news with a fear that could not be hidden. They knew the legend story of the ferocious Ancient Devil, which only seven legendary cultivator figures could seal back. From then on, this village was protected by a generation of chosen cultivators who were in meditation the entire time to watch over the seal.

However, as time went on, those cultivators were forgotten and abandoned, and the seal started to weaken. And now, bad news had come, that the Ancient Devil had decided to return to the human world.

The faces of the villagers were pale. They felt threatened by the presence of this terrifying Ancient Devil. The sound of a gentle breeze began to rustle, and the fallen leaves added to the mystical impression in the air.

Xian, with his idle nature, suddenly thought of something. He saw a little boy who was crying incessantly because of his fear. Deftly, Xian grabbed a few sticks of wood on the ground and began to play around with the shadow of a hand on the wall. With a gentle and beautiful movement, he created an image of an Ancient Devil dancing ballet.

"Wow! Look, kids! Ancient Devil is dancing ballet! He looks really cool with his big tutu!" xian said with a false tone of admiration.

The village children who had been crying and frightened, now saw the shadow of the hand and laughed out loud. They forgot for a moment about their fear, and the mood in the village changed.

A mother sitting next to her crying child smiled as she wiped away her still-dripping tears. "Thank you, Xian. You always know how to make kids laugh, even in times like these."

Xian laughed cheerfully, "It's okay, Ms. Li. We can't let fear rule us completely, can we?"

While the village children continued to laugh and play around with the hand shadow of the Ancient Devil, the village elders remained in their meeting, looking for a way to deal with the real threat of the Ancient Devil.

But back then, even in the terrifying darkness, Xian's existence was capable of bringing laughter and cheerfulness. He might be famous as a prankster, but he also knew that in precarious situations like this, sometimes, laughter was the best to chase away the darkness.

The next day, Xian and the senior cultivators of the village gathered in a large village hall to discuss the Ancient Devil's sealing plan. Their faces were filled with tension and worry, realizing that this task would not be easy.

The village hall, which was usually crowded with daily activities, now seemed quiet and dark. The large oak doors that adorned the hall were tightly shut, separating them from the outside world filled with fear. Only the dim light of a few candles highlighted the serious faces.

Xian, despite knowing the importance of this situation, could not help but pursue his frown. He sat at the end of a long table, with a plate of hot tea in his hand. As soon as the conversation started, he deliberately spilled the tea onto his lap, causing the overflowing hot water to make him jump up and dance in pain.

"Argh! So hot! So hot!" he shouted while stirring the tea water that was still scattered in his pants. All eyes were on him, and the senior cultivators gave annoyed gazes.

The senior cultivator chief, Sifu Zhao, who had a long white beard, looked at Xian loudly. "Xian, this is not the time for your silly behavior. We're talking about a serious matter."

Xian nodded seriously, although his typical smile could not be hidden completely. "Sorry, Sifu Zhao. I was just trying to make the mood lighter. There's no harm in laughing a little, right?"

Sifu Zhao sighed deeply. "Alright, Xian. We all know that laughter can be the best medicine in certain situations, but right now we need to focus."

They then continued their serious discussion of the sealing plan. The senior cultivators explained that they needed to search for the three ancient artifacts needed to seal the Ancient Devil back into the cave at the peak of Demonic Mountain. The artifacts are the Sky Sword, Dragon Shield, and Goddess Bell.

Xian listened attentively, noting every detail about their task. However, as the conversation grew deeper and heavier, he could not help but make a joke.

"I just hope that the Sky Sword is not an ordinary sword that is only good for slicing bread," Xian said, trying to make everyone smile.

After hours of discussion, the sealing plan was finally completed. They would split the task, with some cultivators going in search of artifacts, while others would watch over and prepare for the sealing ritual.

Sifu Zhao stood up from his chair and looked at Xian firmly. "Xian, even though you are famous for your prank behavior, we trust you for this serious task. You will be part of the group that is looking for the Sword of Heaven."

Xian nodded sincerely. "I will do my best, Sifu Zhao. But remember, a little laughter never harms anyone."

They all knew that in this deep darkness, Xian's presence was a necessary source of light to keep their spirits alive. Although they were in the midst of a dangerous mission, Xian's laughter was a reminder that even in the greatest tension, there was room for excitement.

As the senior cultivators left the hall to prepare themselves for the thrilling task, Xian laughed to himself, recalling how irritated Sifu Zhao was towards his tea spill. But in his heart, he knew that this great task was something he had to face with great caution and determination.

After a meeting to plan the sealing of the Ancient Devil, Xian and his friends get ready to begin the search for the necessary ancient artifacts. They had been given a clue as to the location of the Heavenly Sword, which was believed to be hidden within the Cave of the Thousand Tunnels located at the foot of Demonic Mountain.

A bright morning greeted them as they arrived at the Thousand Tunnels Cave. The sun shines brightly, emitting warm rays that make the air feel fresh. The tall Demon Mountain loomed over them, and the caverns that stretched before them gave off an impression of darkness and mystery.

Xian, who had always been a source of cheerfulness within the group, immediately broke the tension. "Alright, guys, we have a serious task, but it never hurts to keep the spirits high! I have a feeling that our artifacts will be here."

His friends laughed in agreement, although they also felt nervous about what might be in the cave.

They entered the cave, walking between the dark and winding tunnels. The rumbling sounds of distant waterfalls rang out, creating a tense atmosphere. But Xian, as usual, could not remain serious.

"I hope that our artifacts are not located in this darkest tunnel," Xian said in an exaggerated tone. "But who knows, maybe the Ancient Devil has a good taste of art!"

His companions only shook their heads, but a thin smile was etched on their faces. They knew that Xian's presence was good luck, even in the most dismal of situations.

As they explored tunnel after tunnel, they finally arrived in a spacious room. In the middle of the room, they saw a huge chest covered by layers of dust and spiders.

"This is our artifact, my friends!" xian said as he ran towards the chest. "Let's see what's inside."

They opened their chests carefully, and inside, they found a sword that looked ancient and majestic. This was the Sky Sword they were looking for!

However, other than the Sky Sword, they also found an extremely strange helmet. The helmet had towering peacock feathers, and when Xian decided to give it a try, it made it look like an ostrich.

His friends exploded in laughter. Xian, with his strange peacock helmet, tried to run around the room, raising his hands as if he was flying.

"It's the perfect helmet for a circus show!" xian said while crouching and playing an ostrich character with a funny face.

Their laughter echoed within the cave, creating an incredible vibe in the darkness. Although they are in a place that may be dangerous, their laughter is a reminder that there is happiness even in the midst of darkness.

After laughing together for a while, they packed the Sky Sword carefully and decided to continue the search for the next artifact. Xian, with a heavy heart, took off the ostrich helmet and placed it back inside the chest.

They knew that there were many adventures still waiting for them, and that the Ancient Devil was a serious threat to be faced. But in times like these, they feel that friendship and laughter are the most powerful weapons they have.