Deep within the Thousand Demon Den, outside a magnificent great hall.

A full figure draped in a black robe; set off against the Nanyang pattern upon it, a pair of golden wings drew slightly in.

The woman climbed the sweeping cloud-dragon stair at an unhurried pace, came to stand upon the Great Sun worked in relief, and looked ahead.

A perfectly unremarkable black-backed yellow dog lay sprawled lazily before the hall.

An iron chain hung from its neck.

The other end of that chain was held in its own mouth.

The woman bowed respectfully, her expression earnest. "Gold-Wing greets the Den Master."

At that, the dog opened its eyes without hurry. Those eyes seemed to have seen out whole ages, and were somewhat clouded. With the chain between its teeth, its words came out a little indistinct. "Speak."

"Gold-Wing knows that abandoning her post is a grave offence, and willingly accepts punishment. But before that, I intend to surround and kill a prodigy of the human race. He may well be inside the Thousand Demon Den. I ask the Den Master to bestow spirit-treasures."

The Gold-Winged Demon Emperor cupped her hands in earnest. "He has a means of translocation and cannot be pinned down. He is also skilled in formations, to a depth I cannot gauge. He wears a dharma-robe, and his body is hard to wound."

She set out every requirement in detail, leaving nothing out.

The old dog in its twilight closed its eyes again, and streams of light came welling out of the hall to settle before the woman.

"Gold-Wing needs one more thing — someone to stand guard outside the Thousand Demon Den."

The Gold-Winged Demon Emperor apparently still did not think it enough, and made a second request.

The old dog was silent a long while, then finally nodded.

At that, the Gold-Winged Demon Emperor turned and left the hall at last, her expression going utterly cold the instant she did.

Once she was well away from the place—

She slowly opened her hand. Three smooth, mellow Spirit-Transformation Pills lay in her palm.

For immortal…