The group entered the innermost gate of the walled city, where two fox demon guards opened the doors.
A barrier shimmering with milky-white spiritual light appeared.
As they stepped through the barrier, everyone instantly felt a wave of power sweep over them, scanning their bodies.
Fortunately, there were no mishaps. Everyone passed safely and entered the territory of the Qisu Kingdom.
They arrived in Wuxue City, located on the border.
Xie Tinglan, who had entered through the demon beast passage, walked over to regroup with them.
“Daoist Yin, I have matters to attend to, so I shall bid you farewell here. May our paths cross again,” Yan Yurong said, snapping his fan shut and cupping his hands toward Wen Li in a parting gesture.
Wen Li nodded. “Very well. Until we meet again.”
Yan Yurong smiled and nodded to the disciples before turning and walking away.
“Let’s go.”
Wen Li led her six disciples deeper into the Qisu Kingdom.
It was their first time visiting a nation of demon cultivators, and they couldn’t help but look around. Many of the demon cultivators they saw were like the ones they had encountered at the registration gate—they had human bodies but still retained certain bestial traits. For example, a yellow dog demon might have a patch of yellow fur on his head, or a scorpion spirit might have a tail trailing behind her.
The seven of them walked down the street. The architecture of the Qisu Kingdom was different from other places. While there were still solid wood pavilions, many buildings were constructed from vines and tree hollows to allow for better ventilation and sunlight.
It felt somewhat like a magical castle in a primeval jungle.
Yao Dai glanced to the side and saw an adorable little tabby cat crouching under a tree hollow. While Wen Li wasn't looking, her hands started to itch, and she couldn't resist walking over and squatting down.
“Pspsps, kitty, kitty~ You’re so cute~” she cooed, her face fixed in a doting smile as she reached out to pet the tabby, her voice pitching up into a high, cutesy squeak.
Poof!
“What ‘kitty’? My name is Sang Biao. You got a problem?” a gruff, raspy voice barked.
A burst of spiritual light erupted, and the adorable tabby cat that had just been on the ground instantly transformed into a burly man with markings like full-sleeve tattoos. His face was covered in scruffy black stubble, and a patch of grey-black fur—the signature marking of a tabby cat—grew between his brows.
He stood up, towering over Yao Dai by half his height; she only reached his waist.
Demon beasts tended to be much larger than humans once they transformed.
Yao Dai’s pupils shrank, and she froze. “...”
Wait! How could her cute little kitty be a burly man with full-sleeve tattoos?!
“I-I’m sorry, I...”
When Yao Dai looked up, he was so tall and imposing that she could practically see the hairs inside his nostrils. She couldn't even make out his full face from that angle, and she could actually feel the heat radiating from his bulging, twitching arm muscles.
“Ah, excuse us, sorry about that! This is the child's first time in the Qisu Kingdom. She’s never witnessed a demon cultivator’s magnificent transformation before, so she’s not used to it,” Wen Li called out. She had turned back to count the children and realized one was missing, so she quickly hurried back to retrieve her.
“Alright, let’s go, let’s go.”
Hearing Wen Li’s words, the tabby cat demon gave a light huff. The force of his breath blew back the hair on Yao Dai’s forehead. Her eyes widened, and she felt like she had just narrowly escaped a disaster.
“Right, thanks, Big Brother!” Wen Li said with a smile, quickly pulling Yao Dai away.
Yao Dai still hadn't fully recovered when she returned to the quiet group.
Suddenly, a snake demon landlady burst out of a tavern on the side of the street and let out a furious roar.
“Who was it?!”
“Who took the checkered snake lying on the street and used him as a jump rope?! That’s my son! He hasn't even been able to transform yet! He was just lying there in the sun, and some lowlife with itchy hands swung him around until he was tied in knots! The poor child is crying and is too scared to leave the house now! Just wait until I catch you!”
“When I catch you, I’m going to use you as a jump rope too!”
The force of her screech made the group’s eardrums ache.
“See? I told you not to touch things on the side of the road. Demon beasts are everywhere in the Qisu Kingdom. Don't go petting every cat or dog you see; their parents might be right behind them, watching you,” Wen Li took the opportunity to lecture the six of them.
“...Yes, Master,” the six replied, having learned their lesson.
Suddenly, the tavern landlady’s gaze shifted toward them. Her green vertical pupils shimmered slightly as she hurried toward them from across the street.
Wen Li’s eyelid twitched, and she took a step back, quickly whispering to the six, “Did you guys use her son as a jump rope?”
Yao Dai, who had a prior record, quickly waved her hands. “Master, we just got here. We haven't had the chance.”
It wasn't that they wouldn't; they just hadn't had the chance yet.
The others also shook their heads.
Wen Li frowned in confusion, and when she turned her head, the landlady was already right in front of them.
They locked eyes—her own against the shimmering green vertical pupils.
“Whoa!”
Wen Li jumped, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly clutched her chest to steady herself.
“Ah, sorry, sorry.”
The landlady appeared entirely human except for those green vertical pupils. She stepped forward with a face full of smiles.
“Oh, you all must be new to our Qisu Kingdom! Have you eaten yet? My tavern’s food is famously delicious! Why don’t you all come in and have a taste? I guarantee you’ll keep coming back for more.”
The Qisu Kingdom was managed in the form of city-states, and spirit stones were needed everywhere. Naturally, the transformed demon beasts had taken up trade and business just like the humans.
Wen Li recovered and looked at the six. “Are you guys hungry?”
Only Yao Dai and Xin Jiuxian nodded, while the others remained silent, looking at her with puppy-dog eyes.
Yao Dai, in particular, looked like she was about to cry. She had lost nine games of cards to Xie Tinglan, Xin Jiuxian, and Zongzheng Huangyue and was supposed to take over their cooking duties as punishment. They had been flying through the air for days with nowhere to eat out, and she felt like her arms could no longer even lift a kitchen knife.
Yao Dai pleaded, “Master, I’ll pay for this meal.”
Wen Li sighed helplessly and looked at the landlady. “Alright, let’s take a look.”
“Wonderful! Right this way, please!”
Gu Linshu was terrified of snakes. Knowing she was a snake demon, he hid at the very back of the group, staying close to Xin Jiuxian.
The group followed the landlady into the tavern.
“Would you like to sit in the main hall or a private booth?”
Wen Li was indifferent. “The main hall is fine, as long as there’s a screen for some privacy.”
“Certainly! Please, sit here. Xiao Feng, bring the menu!”
Wen Li didn't even bother looking at the menu. She simply said, “Bring us one of everything you have. And give us double helpings of your most popular dishes.”
“Right away!” The landlady’s eyes lit up with greed. “Please wait a moment, dear guests. I’ll go give the order to the kitchen.”
She set down some tea and left.
The seven sat behind the screen and observed the tavern. It was quite lively.
There were many demon cultivators in the Qisu Kingdom, with the ratio of demon to human cultivators being roughly seven to three. There were still a fair number of humans in the tavern.
“Hey, I heard the Dragon clan’s Young Master and the Nine-Tailed Fox clan’s eldest young lady are going to have a marriage alliance. The Ancient Phoenix clan is getting a bit anxious; they’ve been recruiting a lot of geniuses from other demon tribes lately.”
“Hm? Other tribes? Doesn't the Dragon clan have six vassal clans under them? And the Nine-Tailed Fox clan has six of their own. Can the Ancient Phoenix clan really recruit rising stars from among those twelve clans?”
“Who knows? The competition between the clans is fierce. The Beast Taming Sect’s Demon Tide Tournament is approaching soon. I wonder how many of our low-level demon beasts will be captured or hunted this time. And then there’s the Qingyun Gathering—who wouldn't want to find a backer and perform well so they can step into the Central Province?”
At the mention of the Beast Taming Sect, many of the demon cultivators in the vicinity were filled with righteous indignation.
“Hmph, the Demon Tide Tournament! Using us demon cultivators as prey for those humans! They deserve to be killed! It’s only because the Beast Taming Sect has several Soul Formation cultivators that they can lord it over our Qisu Kingdom!”
As soon as those words were spoken, the human cultivators in the area didn't dare utter a sound.
Rate on N.U.
