The Shadow of Snake

Book excerpt: Amidst the celestial battleground of the Western and Eastern Heavens, a young Eastern prince becomes ensnared in a divine conflict, haunted by the ominous shadow of a demonic serpent. As the gods he cherishes endure successive losses, the prince wrestles with the burden of responsibility, stemming from his own perceived cowardice. Upon completing his earthly mission and returning to the Eastern Heaven, he confronts a new conflict within the divine realms. Caught between asserting his own will and adhering to family expectations, the prince must navigate treacherous celestial politics. In a desperate bid to rescue a cherished friend from the escalating conflict, the Western prince makes a harrowing decision: to trade his very soul to the demon. He is prepared to sacrifice everything in the name of the friendship he shares with the other prince.