Prologue

Langhan Mountain, the Absolute Cloud Cliff, the foremost of the four most wicked places upon the Vermilion Cloud Continent. Beneath the Absolute Cloud Cliff lies the Graveyard of the Reapers, where countless souls have plummeted to their deaths. Among them, even three Warring Kings of the highest order—those whose power could pierce the heavens—never returned, never found alive.

At this moment, beside the Absolute Cloud Cliff, a massive stone as tall as two men leans against a young man with black hair and dark eyes. He is drenched in blood, his black robes torn open in countless places. He has been standing here but for a few breaths, yet a small pool of blood has already gathered at his feet.

His chest heaves violently, his breathing heavy and terrifying. Every muscle in his body trembles slightly—clearly, he has reached the end, his strength spent, his flame nearly extinguished. Had it not been for that massive stone beside him, he might not even be able to stand. Yet his eyes remain as sharp as two cold blades, unmarred by the slightest hint of daze or surrender, blazing with the feral glare of a wolf, his lips curled into a bitter, contemptuous smile.

Before him, a dense crowd of people has blocked every path of escape.

"Chun Che, you're trapped at last! Just hand over the Celestial Poison Orb, and maybe we'll let you live!"

"We've come to mete out justice—we'll kill you for being a pest! Hand it over now, or I'll make you suffer every possible agony!"

"Chun Che! Stop being so stubborn! Your only way out is to give up the Celestial Poison Orb! This divine artifact isn't meant for someone like you to possess!"

The roars of accusation echo from the crowd, each voice righteous, each tone filled with righteous fury. Should any ordinary person from the Vermilion Cloud Continent pass through here, they would be struck dumb with awe at the sight before them: this black-clad mass of people had gathered virtually every powerful sect from across the land. The leaders of these sects were all present in person, even ancient monsters long forgotten and overlooked by the world stood among them. It is no exaggeration to say that any one of them standing here could shake the foundations of a region.

And yet, all these mightiest warriors had come together here, drawn by one man—by the Celestial Poison Orb he clutched in his hands. The divine artifact of the Vermilion Cloud Continent.

The crowd shouted threats, closing in slowly. When the Celestial Poison Orb finally manifested again, the most powerful beings from across the land, unable to resist its allure, swarmed toward him. After three days and three nights of relentless pursuit, they had finally reached the moment of reckoning.

"You... you want this... Celestial Poison Orb?"

Chun Che smiled coldly, raising his right hand. A sphere of brilliant green, glowing with a faint dark light, appeared in his palm. The moment the orb revealed its light, all the advancing footsteps ceased, all eyes fixed upon that emerald glow, radiating an almost insatiable hunger.

These were beings whose power could move nations, yet in Chun Che's eyes, they seemed pitifully small and grotesque. His eyes lifted slowly, his gaze still proud and scornful even in this direst of circumstances. Deep within his pupils, a fierce, unyielding hatred burned: "My master spent his life saving countless lives, never asking for reward or recognition... but because of this Celestial Poison Orb, seven years ago, you—those so-called noble sects—murdered my master."

"I hate... I hate that I failed to exterminate all of you dogs and sects... all seven years, I never succeeded in wiping you all out!"

His words were carved with unyielding fury. Even after seven years, thinking of his master's death, two crimson tears still traced paths down his cheeks.

Chun Che did not even know his parents' identities. When his master found him, he was only days old. In spring, when the clouds were light and the wind gentle, the mountains clear and the waters pure, the master named him "Chun Che"—hoping his heart would be as pure as clouds, his spirit as clear as water, and that he might one day inherit his robe and become a healer who could save lives without blemish or malice.

No matter how grave the illness or injury, under his master's care, all could be healed. The reason was the Celestial Poison Orb hidden within his body. The title "Poison" spoke of its immense toxic power, yet in medicine, poison and cure are two sides of the same coin. His master never used even a fraction of its deadly force; instead, he refined and forged its essence into countless divine elixirs, saving countless lives. He passed down his medical knowledge to Chun Che... and seven years ago, the secret of the Celestial Poison Orb was revealed. His master gave it to Chun Che, letting him flee, while he himself died beneath the hands of the great sects.

Upon hearing of his master's death, Chun Che wept day and night for three days and three nights, planting the seed of vengeance within his heart. He abandoned the study of medicine and instead poured himself into absorbing the terrifying poison power from the Celestial Poison Orb, making revenge his sole belief. Seven years later, his poison arts had matured. He finally revealed his vengeful fangs, and within ten days, poison spread across the land, claiming countless lives and igniting chaos and fear throughout the Vermilion Cloud Continent. This drew the attention of peak-level warriors, who united to hunt him down, all for the sake of the Celestial Poison Orb—until this very moment.

He gazed at every face before him with hatred, his smile growing colder and colder: "You filthy scum... if you want the Celestial Poison Orb I hold... you're... dreaming... of daylight!"

His deep voice boomed as Chun Che suddenly lifted his hand and shoved the Celestial Poison Orb into his mouth. A surge of energy rushed from his mouth straight into his abdomen...

"Y-you... what are you doing!"

"He... he just swallowed the Celestial Poison Orb!"

"Chun Che! Are you insane!"

"It doesn't matter. We'll kill him and take the orb!" The orb entering his body, Chun Che did not die as they had expected, nor did he poison himself and perish. Instead, a faint green light shimmered across his skin.

"Kill him now! If something happens inside his body, it could be disastrous!"

A great shout rang out. Dozens surged forward, all at once grabbing at Chun Che's form—but they could not lay a single hand on him. They could only watch helplessly as his body soared toward the cliffside below...

The Absolute Cloud Cliff—fitting enough for my burial.

In my entire life, I have nothing to show for it... I failed to avenge my master... I never found my true parents...

Chun Che gently clasped the silver pendant at his chest. The only possession his master had given him when he found him. The wind whistled in his ears. He slowly closed his eyes, letting his body fall into the endless, bottomless darkness below...

——————————————————————

The following was written five years later.

Yes, from the first chapter of the first volume of *Mo Luo* uploaded on October 1st, 2009, to today—exactly five years have passed.

Five years—long in one sense, fleeting in another—unnoticed, they slipped by.

Five years, five books—from *Online Game: Mo Luo Legend*, to *Tian Chen*, to *Online Game: Evil Dragon Over Heaven*, to *Online Game: Tian Nao Mo Luo*—over five hundred thousand words. This was a number I never dared to imagine when I first typed the first character of *Mo Luo*.

But because of you, Fei Xing has managed to walk this path until today. Without your companionship, there would be no Fei Xing Gravity today, and no *Nitian Evil God* either.

For you, I have always felt grateful, and I have strived to deliver. In the early parts of *Mo Luo*, *Tian Chen*, and *Evil Dragon*, there was never a single day of delay or omission. But from the later stages of *Evil Dragon* through the entire *Tian Nao Mo Luo*, I owed you far more than I could repay. Countless delays, countless setbacks, have damaged my reputation built over years. The accumulated guilt and shame have left me often too ashamed to face you. The Xingzu and Pei Duan factions flourished once, but later cooled due to my slump and lack of momentum. I have disappointed countless people, caused countless others to depart sorrowfully, and yet countless others have remained without resentment, unwavering in their loyalty.

I want to say sorry. I want to say... thank you...

Today, as the new book launches, I see familiar faces and long-lost ones returning, accompanied by blessings and warm applause. My heart overflows with gratitude.

This *Nitian Evil God*—Fei Xing will pour all its strength into it, and will not let you down again. I will take real action to restore your trust in Fei Xing.

In the first month of the new book, Fei Xing aims for the top spot on the monthly votes, to restore the glory of Xingzu...

Help me!