TALES OF DEMON AND GODS : FAN FICTION

The Nie Mansion stood before Nie Li, its grand silhouette towering in the darkness. The faint hum of energy pulsed beneath the grounds, as the intricate underground network of inscription pillars for the Ten Thousand Beasts Array and resonated with power.

Nie Li had arrived, but the weight of the battle with the Abyss Demon and the subsequent chaos weighed heavily on him.

As he approached the mansion's entrance, Du Ze, Lu Piao, and Nie Yu were already waiting, their faces full of concern and curiosity. Their eyes immediately sought out Nie Li, hoping for answers.

Du Ze, always calm, was the first to speak. "Nie Li, what happened? What was that explosion? That demonic energy… I could feel it from miles away."

Lu Piao didn't wait for an answer and rushed forward, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced with anxiety. "You've been through hell, haven't you? What was that explosion?!"

Nie Li stood for a moment, his ocean-blue eyes reflecting the weight of the situation. The battle over but his work multipled. He didn't have time for explanations; he had to act fast. His voice was firm but calm as he spoke.

"The Dark Guild infiltrated Glory City. They released a demon, and tried to kidnap many noble heirs but for now the problem is sloved. I will tell your everything later. "

He spoke with absolute certainty. "For now, I need both of you to take Nie Yu back to the mansion's inner chambers immediately."

Nie Yu, who had been silent until now, opened her mouth to ask a question, but Nie Li cut her off.

"I need to lock down the mansion. No one— no one is allowed in." His eyes locked with Du Ze and Lu Piao, and his command was clear.

He continued, "Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun will be coming here soon. Take care of them, keep them safe, and stay with them till experts from their family arrive to pick them up. I won't be available to speak to anyone for the rest of the night. If anyone from the City Lord's Mansion or the other families comes, let them leave their invitations. I will address them later. But for now, no entry."

Lu Piao nodded with a furrowed brow, clearly understanding the urgency in Nie Li's words. "Got it. But… how bad is it? What do you need us to do?"

"Just follow orders," Nie Li replied. "The protection array would make sure no one can disturb the mansion. I'll handle everything else later."

As Du Ze and Lu Piao rushed inside to fulfill his orders, Nie Li turned to the underground network. His mind was already commanding the A.I. Chip to initiate a scan of the mansion's defenses.

"A.I. Chip, assess the damage on the Tai Yi Killing Array first. Report any weaknesses."

The A.I. Chip processed the request instantly. A brief moment later, data flooded into Nie Li's mind.

[Beep!Damage Assessment: Tai Yi Killing Array—43.2% damage. Several primary pillars weakened due to energy overload. 17% of the array is currently inactive. Immediate repairs are necessary.]

"Damn." Nie Li clenched his fists in frustration. The array was crucial for both offence and control, and losing nearly half of it was a dangerous blow.

"A.I. Chip, begin repairs. Use available resources."

The A.I. Chip responded, and Nie Li felt the formation under his feet begin to hum with energy once again.

He looked toward the inner chambers of the mansion, where the Ten Thousand Beasts Array and other formations were stored. This night would be long.

The Dark Guild was already inside the gates of Glory City, although the threat is eliminated for now but with the damage to the arrays, he can't rest calmly. He would need all of his power to survive.

As the night wore on, Nie Li worked tirelessly alongside the A.I. Chip, commanding the repairs of the Tai Yi Killing Array, Gua Support Array, Xia Qi Defence Array etc..and preparing defenses around the mansion.

He knew the coming days would be filled with political tension and dangerous confrontations, but for now, he had to make sure his own house was secure before the next storm arrived.

The night passed in tense silence, with the darkened skies above the Nie Mansion reflecting the unease brewing beneath its walls. The Tai Yi Killing Array was slowly being repaired, its pillars regaining their lost stability, but even with the A.I. Chip's help, it was clear that the mansion's defenses were compromised.

Nie Li sat in the inner chamber, his thoughts far from rest. The dark guild's infiltration had made it clear—he had underestimated the need for capable subordinates. His mind was sharp, his control over the arrays and formations unparalleled, but his subordinates—the people he depended on to protect his estate and future—were severely limited.

Cao Wang, his loyal servant, and Jin, the Gold Rank fighter, had done their best in the chaos, but both were still too weak. Even Cao Wang's Dragon-type demon spirit was formidable, but it could not stand against opponents of Black Gold Rank, let alone the powerful forces within the Dark Guild.

"I need more," Nie Li thought bitterly. "I cannot rely on just a few men to handle these threats."

His eyes turned toward the map of Glory City, his finger tracing the paths of influence, the various factions, and families that held sway. Today he has witnessed not only the power of Dark Guild but also the ability of Glory City.

He knew he also needed more than influence—he needed an elite force to support him, to combat the growing darkness that lurked in the shadows.

Nie Li knew that his own strength alone was enough to control his fate and protect him in Glory City but that is not enough.

He had seen it tonight—he had fought hard to protect those around him, to hold off enemies, but in the end, it was clear that he lacked the manpower to defend everything he had built.

He had always cultivated his strength, focused on inscriptions, alchemy and had become a master strategist, but he can also use his ability to build others and command them, lead them.

He has always tried to do everything by himself, keep everyone far away from himself but today he saw how people even those who had no power, were insignificant against a demon like Abyss Demon stood up against it, putting their life on the line to protect this city.

"I need a force of my own," he muttered under his breath. "A true, capable force. I need loyal subordinates—strong ones who can protect my interests and also..."

Nie Li looked at the sky, the world was devoured by the darkness of the night "...I need people who can help me pry open the secrets of this realm. Are we really the only living human alive? And what about the civilization and empires that are destroyed, what about their legacy? Ye Mo, Glory City only Legend rank Demon Spiritualist has found so many treasure outside including the Ten Thousands Beast Array. How many secrets does the outside world hide?"

Nie Li thought back to the ancient records he had studied talking about the glorious age of cultivators begore darkness engulfled the human race.

Nie Li stood up and made his way to the training hall. He passed the resting room of Cao Wang, who was still resting after the earlier battle, and Jin, who was preparing to continue the defense.

Both men were loyal, but they were not enough. They were too few, and their growth was limited by their current realms.

"I will have to cultivate my own force." The thought echoed in his mind.

As he stepped into the training hall, his gaze lingered on the various spiritual painting displayed on the walls. He could no longer afford to rely on others. The Dark Guild, Sacred family, and the unseen forces plotting against him would only grow stronger.

Nie Li's eyes burned with new determination. "I will build my own elite force. Not just to protect me, but to challenge the world itself."

His mind raced with ideas—recruitment, training, and forging loyalty. But for now, he needed to focus on the immediate threat. He had to repair the rest of his defenses and make sure the Ten Thousand Beasts Array was fully operational.

But after that—his true work would begin.

Nie Li's plans were already taking shape in his mind. He needed capable warriors, demon spiritualist, and strategists. People who could grow under his guidance, people who were loyal and could wield the power of spiritual energy and demonic beasts. But the most crucial part was the loyalty and strength of the individuals he chose.

With this decision, Nie Li knew that the next phase of his life was about to begin. He would reshape Glory City—not as a scholar, but as a leader. And no one would stand in his way.

Hours passes, Nie Li stood in the training hall, planning his next steps, his mind remained sharp, as always. The repair of the Ten Thousand Beasts Array was almost complete, but there was still much to be done. His thoughts, however, were interrupted when a faint ping echoed in his mind.

[Warning: Unidentified object detected in inventory.]

Nie Li paused, a slight frown creasing his brow. He had just gone through his inventory and had everything meticulously organized. There was nothing that seemed out of place.

Nie Li didn't ponder and reached out mentally, activating the A.I. Chip's analysis functions.

[Object detected in inventory. No record of acquisition. Object is a Legend Rank Artifact. Preliminary scan shows it to be a shortened version of the Abyss Demon Flaming Sword, a weapon of tremendous power. Highly compatible with fire and abyssal energy."

A brief flash of realization passed through Nie Li's mind. "Another hidden mission award."

He immediately retrieved the object, his fingers grazing the cold metal.

The sword was unlike anything he had seen before. Its blade shimmered with a deep, fiery glow, faint traces of abyssal energy crackling along its edge. The hilt was intricately crafted, resembling the sharp fangs of a beast, and the sword's flame-like aura made the air around it feel heavy and oppressive.

Despite its smaller size, Nie Li could feel the immense power emanating from it. This was no ordinary weapon; it had been forged in the very depths of the Abyss, a place of unparalleled danger and destruction. The flames of the abyss burned fiercely within it, and with a single swing, this sword could decimate any opponent caught in its wake.

[Object scan complete. The Abyss Demon Flaming Sword is a Legend Rank artifact. Its power is greatly enhanced by abyssal flames, capable of channeling destructive waves of energy. The shortened version retains most of the original capabilities but is more suitable for precise control.]

Nie Li examined the blade in his hands, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He was impressed by its power.

He placed the Abyss Demon Flaming Sword back into his inventory with a flick of his wrist, hiding it among his other valuable treasures.

Nie Li closed his eyes for a moment, calculating his next moves. This Legend Rank artifact was a reminder that there were still hidden rewards in his journey—things he hadn't yet fully uncovered.

'Is the rewards handed out when I complete some sort of story mission? It can't be completely random, it always follow an event. From reading the books in library and hunting horned sheeps to slaying Abyss Demon, something must be common in all these events.'