Chapter 361: The Client’s Cleverness (3)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Everyone was terrified of Mount Kuluo. If they lost focus, even for a moment, they would become rations for those magical and demonic beasts. Therefore, none of them would ever want to enter such a dangerous place.
Shen Yanxiao frowned when she saw those leaders’ violent reactions. Their state of panic and actions were unbearable when she compared them to Du Lang’s reaction.
All of them were leaders of mid-sized mercenary groups, but even though Du Lang was worried about Mount Kuluo, he still adhered to their principles. He would not consider a retreat, and he even ordered all of his subordinates to make preparations for battle.
Those leaders had the same status as Du Lang, but the moment they saw Mount Kuluo, they did not try to coordinate their mercenaries to complete the mission. Instead, they had wished to withdraw their men from the area.
Even though they were unhappy with the client’s deliberate intention to conceal information from them, they had not cared when they heard about the Phoenix and the bountiful remuneration.
The client had also mentioned that the mission would be a dangerous one. Otherwise, they would not have employed all of the mid-sized mercenary groups in the Black City. They had also declared that the location would be kept a secret. However, those mercenaries were blinded by greed, and they only saw the immediate benefits. They did not notice the dangers beneath the attractive perks.
Shen Yanxiao had been impressed by Du Lang’s reaction and how different it had been from the other leaders.
Someone with such courage and temperament like him would probably not stay as a leader of a mid-sized mercenary group for long.
Shen Yanxiao touched her chin. Her knowledge of Du Lang had deepened, and that raised an idea in her mind.
If Du Lang and the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group honored their principles to that extent, then they must be worthy friends.
No one knew better than her the terrible dangers that awaited them. Besides the usual savage magical beast and crafty demonic beast, their real opponent was a Phoenix at the rank of a mythical beast!
Even though the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group were brave and good at fights, they were also too weak against the Phoenix. For the Phoenix, their existence was akin to ants. Other than the seven wolves, none of them could withstand a single blow from the Phoenix, let alone a full retreat.
She had stayed with the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group for the past few days, and even though they were upset about her presence, they did not make things difficult for her. On the contrary, after they had familiarized themselves with her, the mercenaries had cared for her like their little brother. If other mercenaries were to disrespect her, they would immediately retaliate against them.
Even though they might have done it because of Du Lang’s orders, their own feelings had played a part in it too. They were a group of firm and unyielding men, and despite their dissatisfaction with her presence, they could not bring themselves to bully a young kid. Shan Yanxiao’s presence in the group might have been awkward, but they did not mistreat him.
The kid was their leader’s guest, so how could they allow other mercenaries to bully him?
They had discreetly taken care of Shen Yanxiao throughout the journey. Some of the younger mercenaries had appointed themselves as her brother, while the older ones cared for her with the gentleness of a senior.
Chapter 362: The Client’s Cleverness (4)
The way they treated her reminded Shen Yanxiao of her comrades from her past life.
They were a team of thieves in an organization, and they had both young and old members. Shen Yanxiao had been the youngest member there, and they had despised her when she joined the team. They would whisper bad things about her, but if she were in any danger, they would be the first to rescue her.
At that time, Shen Yanxiao was not very skilled, and she would encounter difficult situations during her missions. However, someone from her team would discreetly deal with those situations, and they would also resolve any problem at crucial times.
It was only later that Shen Yanxiao found out that the organization had raised those groups of people, and they had developed deep friendships with one another. As for their initial rejection of Shen Yanxiao, it was because they could not bear to see a little girl in such dangerous missions.
It lasted until Shen Yanxiao developed excellent skills to become the number one thief goddess in the world, and the organization pulled her out to train by herself. As a result, she had been forced to leave that group of people.
Even so, she had always kept memories from that time close in her heart.
She had felt similar emotions when she was with the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group. It seemed like she had become the youngest in the group again, a dead weight that a group of uncles and brothers would protect.
That complicated feeling distressed her for some time. She had known about the dangers that awaited them, but she did not know how to mention it to that group of honest mercenaries.
When she saw the reactions of the other mercenary groups, she realized that she had to make a decision. She thought that the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group mercenaries would have a slight chance of survival as they would be cooperating with the other mercenary groups. However, as she looked at the trash who were frightened by the mere reputation of Mount Kuluo, she knew that they were not worthy of fighting alongside the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group.
When a young mercenary from the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group saw the little frown on Shen Yanxiao’s forehead, he softly said, “Hey, kid. There’s no need to be afraid. If you’re in any danger, your brother here will take care of you. Besides that, you also have Evil Wolf by your side to protect you, so you can definitely survive this.” That mercenary was about eighteen to nineteen years old, and he was a junior expert. In the face of the perilous Kuluo Mountain, his first thought was to comfort a young kid that he had only recently befriended.
Even though they did not like the sight of him at the start of their journey, the kid did not behave childishly or wilfully. He would remain silent every day, and the group of hot-blooded mercenaries felt only compassion for the fragile-looking thing. They started to care for him like a younger family member.
One should know that the mercenary was a profession that dealt with life and death situations daily. They might even die on the job one day. Most of the mercenaries had no family or relatives. A lot of them were well past the age of thirty, but they had yet to start a family of their own. They had already abandoned the thought of starting a family when they joined the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group. If they were to die during a mission, would their wife not become a widow?
Besides that, they were usually on missions for eleven months in a year, and hence, they would not have time to accompany their families as well. Therefore, they would rather not implicate anyone else in their lives, and they preferred to earn enough to feed themselves in the company of their brothers.
Those mercenaries had developed tender affections for the little kid who had made an unexpected appearance in their group.
Chapter 363: The Client’s Cleverness (5)
Shen Yanxiao smiled as she looked at the mercenaries who tried to comfort her.
They were aware of the dangers that surrounded Mount Kuluo, but no one from the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group had backed out. They even had the energy to comfort a ‘dead weight’ like her. Their concern for her was very similar to her team members from her past life.
Unfortunately…
The team that had brought her endless warmth had been killed during one of their missions.
Did she have to look on helplessly as the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group suffered the same fate?
Shen Yanxiao clenched her fist.
Even though she was not a kind soul, she still cherished every person who had been kind to her. Du Lang had invited her to the mission with an ulterior motive, but the group’s care and concern stemmed from their hearts. All of them regarded her as an ordinary little kid.
In her past life, she could not resist fate as she was under the control of the organization.
However, she would not allow the same thing to happen again.
From a particular perspective, that unscrupulous girl valued friendship more than anything else. The loss she experienced in her past life made her cherish that word even more.
Even though they had only spent ten days with each other, the mercenaries had shown their heart to her. She was determined to ensure their survival in that mission!
Shen Yanxiao discreetly made a vow. She did not care about the life and death of the other mercenaries, but she would protect the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group during their trip to Mount Kuluo!
Many of the mercenaries were in disarray. All their leaders also rushed toward the client with questions about their destination.
However, the client looked at the agitated leaders with a cold and indifferent expression.
“I have clearly mentioned the dangers of this mission, and all of you have agreed to it. Yet you wish to back out now? Why? Don’t tell me that the mercenaries of the Black City dared to accept a mission but had no courage to complete it? Only the mere mention of the slightest danger and you have refused to advance further. If you’re such cowards, don’t tarnish the name of a mercenary and go back home to cultivate fields.” The client sneered and spoke after everyone else had their say. His every single word was a sharp slap on the leaders’ faces.
Shen Yanxiao narrowed her eyes. The client was right. He had mentioned everything beforehand, and per the rules of mercenaries, they had to gauge if they could undertake the mission before they accepted it. If they were to accept it, then they would have to persist until they could complete the task, even if they had overestimated their ability. That was the mercenaries’ principles.
As for the people who had tried to back out, they had indeed disgraced the name of mercenaries.
However…
Shen Yanxiao discreetly sneered. The client was no better. Even though he had stated all the pros and cons of the mission, he had deliberately reduced a twelfth-ranked magical beast to an eighth-ranked one. The difference in four ranks would cause the annihilation of an entire team of a thousand men. That man was cruel, indeed!
The client’s clean-cut speech had managed to slap the group of leaders in their faces. They did not even have the words to refute him.
Their actions had tarnished the reputation of mercenaries, but it was not entirely their fault.
Who could have expected that their destination was Mount Kuluo, a place that everyone avoided like the plague? That place was a nightmare for all mercenaries. Unless they were crazy, otherwise no one would have accepted the mission.
The client had dug a pit hole for the mercenaries as they assumed that they only had to deal with a single eighth-ranked Phoenix. None of them expected that the Phoenix’s nest would be located at such a dangerous place.
Chapter 364: The Client’s Cleverness (6)
All those present were the top mercenaries in the Black City. If that news were spread around, then future clients might consider it a stain in their profile. A reputation was crucial to a mercenary.
However, should they really go to Mount Kuluo?
When the client saw that his sarcastic speech was the reason for the leaders’ darkened expression, he knew that they were hesitant about their decision. “Even though Mount Kuluo had a bad reputation, the previous group that perished there were only 100-men strong. Furthermore, they did not know the real situation on Mount Kuluo, and thus they had underestimated the dangers there. However, which of you were not aware of the unsafe condition on the mountain, and would you underestimate your enemies? In addition to that, we are now 1000-men strong. Even if any beasts wanted to attack us, they would have to consider if they could go against all of us.”
His first move was to mock the leaders to arouse their indignation. Then he analyzed the situation for them to hint that their numbers far exceeded the group that rumored to have perished on the mountain.
That two-pronged approach swayed many of the leaders.
Shen Yanxiao laughed in her mind. That client was not a simple character, indeed. With only a few sentences, he had managed to control those leaders’ emotions. It looked like he had a good grasp on a human’s mind.
First, he imposed the honor and reputation of the mercenaries on the groups of people. Then, he analyzed the advantages of the situation to them. She believed that most of the leaders had already been moved by what he had said.
The client had the same thoughts as Du Lang, and both of them felt that it was an impossible mission.
The difference was in the Phoenix’s real rank.
Du Lang thought it was possible because he believed that their target was an eighth-ranked Phoenix. He had adopted a wait-and-see attitude as he felt that their sheer number might be able to help with their victory.
However, both Shen Yanxiao and the client knew that the Phoenix on Mount Kuluo was a twelfth-ranked magical beast. It was even comparable to a mythical beast! If they were to rely on the teams that they had, then they would suffer more than just light damages.
Du Lang had been right. It was apparent that the client had attempted to coax people to do the work for him.
Those leaders had wavered when they heard those few sentences.
Those leaders were not idiots, and they acknowledged that they would fare well with their sheer number. However, it was still a dangerous mission, and they were still worried about it.
At a crucial moment, it was as if the client had predicted the situation. He suddenly said, “If we were to complete this mission, I promised to triple the original remuneration.”
Triple the original remuneration?
Everyone gasped. The original reward for the mission had already been higher than the average mission. The client had tripled the amount, and that meant the compensation was comparable to payment for ten missions.
Those leaders were tempted.
When it was about money, it was hard for them to consider anything else.
Soon after that, one of the leaders caved and agreed to continue with the mission. Even though they still had some worries, those were insignificant when compared to the generous remuneration.
Mount Kuluo might have been dangerous, but they had the advantage in the number of mercenaries with them. It should not be too risky.
They did not know that their moment of greed would cause nearly a thousand mercenaries to lay their lives behind on Mount Kuluo forever.
Chapter 365: Xiu’s Promise (1)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Those mercenaries decided to remain with the mission due to the client’s encouragement, and the leaders began to pass orders for their men to make the necessary preparations. After all, they were about to enter Mount Kuluo, the place where both demons and magical beasts run rampant.
After everything was set, almost all of the leaders went in search of Du Lang. Even though they might have been jealous of the man, they decided that they should build a good rapport with the leader from the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group. He was the strongest among them, and they might require his assistance when they entered the dangerous zone.
Shen Yanxiao sneered when she saw how the other leaders fawned over Du Lang.
As leaders, they were supposed to have the same status, but they all wanted to get in his good graces.
After a short rest, the whole team then headed toward Mount Kuluo.
The surrounding areas were scorching hot due to the fire elements that surged from the earth. All the ordinary horses could not even move in those areas. The group decided to abandon the carriages and make their way onward to Mount Kuluo on foot. All the groups had to leave one or two members behind to take care of their respective horses and carriages.
“We are about to enter Mount Kuluo.” Evil Wolf looked up at the towering mountain not far away, and his heart pounded vigorously.
Shen Yanxiao glanced at the mountain with an air of indifference. She could sense the fire elements that were diffused from the peak even though she stood so far away. The fire element there was much stronger than Lava Valley, where the Vermillion Bird had resided.
Could the Phoenix at Mount Kuluo be more powerful than the Vermilion Bird?
She decided to enter her consciousness to wake the slumbering Vermilion Bird for a little chat.
The Vermilion Bird’s small physique had cuddled into a ball as he floated in midair. He looked so adorable as he slept.
Shen Yanxiao made her way toward the mythical beast and poked him with her finger.
The Vermilion Bird felt that poke and frowned at the discomfort. His round body wriggled as he twisted continuously until he flipped his body and faced Shen Yanxiao with his buttocks as he continued to slumber.
Shen Yanxiao did not know whether she should laugh or cry when she looked at that sleepyhead. If she did not know his real identity, she would not have correlated his adorableness with the infamous mythical Vermilion Bird.
However, cuteness aside, she had questions for him.
Shen Yanxiao laughed lightly before she grabbed the Vermilion Bird’s shoulders to shake him into consciousness.
The slumbering Vermilion Bird was rudely awakened, and he sat up in a daze. His chubby fingers tried to rub the tiredness from his eyes as he yawned.
One’s heart would pound if one were to see his cute appearance.
“Hey, why are you here?” The Vermilion Bird was confused with Shen Yanxiao’s presence. However, when he saw his heartless master, he immediately pouted.
Why would one call him a mythical beast? It was obvious he was a cute beast!
Shen Yanxiao smiled and said, “I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?” Even though he looked like his usual arrogant self, the Vermilion Bird was surprisingly easy to talk to if he was still in a sleepy daze.
“Do you sense the strong fire elements from the mountain? How does it compare to Lava Valley?” Shen Yanxiao got straight to the point.
“What mountain?” The Vermilion Bird blinked his eyes in confusion.
Chapter 366: Xiu’s Promise (2)
Suddenly, the Vermillion Bird’s head cleared in an instant, and he looked at Shen Yanxiao in surprise before he surveyed his surroundings.
“You mean there’s a mountain here with strong fire elements? No wonder I had fallen asleep. I had sensed the familiar fire elements a while back, and for a brief moment, I thought that I had returned to the Lava Valley. That was why I felt so sleepy.” Even though he had been bored because he could not venture outside, it was also hard for a mythical beast to fall asleep once they had awakened. That meant that they could stay awake for hundreds of years at any one time. A mythical beast would need several elements to be fulfilled before they could get sleepy. They also would never fall asleep at some random location.
It was more accurate to describe their sleep as training. When they enter deep sleep, it meant that they were in a place with an abundance of elements that their body required. Their body would subconsciously devour the elements to increase their strength.
The Vermillion Bird explored a little, and he realized that Shen Yanxiao was right. The fire elements that surrounded them were in abundance.
“This is weird. The fire elements are abundant here, and its purity is even higher than Lava Valley. How did I miss this place?” The Vermilion Bird felt a little depressed. He had been quite proud of Lava Valley, and he did not expect to find an even better place.
Unfortunately, it was evident that the place had already been taken.
“Can you sense the rank of the fire elemental magical beast at the peak of the mountain? Is it higher than your rank?” Shen Yanxiao asked.
The Vermilion Bird pondered for a moment and said, “If we based it on the sheer amount of fire elements on the mountain, it seemed like the magical beast is indeed stronger than me. However, sage beasts had gone extinct since the last war between the gods and the devils. There shouldn’t be any left in the world.”
Shen Yanxiao’s heart dropped when she heard that.
She had predicted that the Phoenix on Mount Kuluo could very well have the same level as the Vermillion Bird. However, that adorable mythical beast then mentioned that the Phoenix could be stronger than him.
The Vermilion Bird was a mythical beast at a mythical level. Only sage-ranked beasts could be stronger than him.
“Could the Phoenix at Mount Kuluo be a sage-ranked beast that had resurrected?” Shen Yanxiao could no longer maintain her optimism.
At that moment, Shen Yanxiao could not maintain her optimistic attitude. The difference between a mythical-level beast and a high-level beast was the same as the disparity between a sage-level beast and a mythical-level beast. If they were to encounter a mythical-level Phoenix, she could still rely on the Vermilion Bird to deal with it. However, if it was a sage-level Phoenix, then it was probably better for the Vermillion Bird to avoid that fight.
The Vermilion Bird frowned as he felt that something was amiss.
His perception was not incorrect. The fire elements at Mount Kuluo were stronger than the ones in Lava Valley, indeed.
Just as the human and a mythical beast were deep in their thoughts, Xiu’s silhouette gradually appeared before them.
The moment the Vermilion Bird saw Xiu, he immediately turned his head away from him and returned to his usual arrogant self.
Even though those two had stayed in Shen Yanxiao’s body, they had never seen eye to eye.
Well, it was more accurate to say that the Vermilion Bird was hostile toward the mysterious Xiu.
As for Xiu…
Well, he did not consider the so-called Vermilion Bird as his match.
“Even though sage-level beasts are rare, their existence is not unlikely. However, I do feel that its energy is somewhat strange. However, you don’t have to be too worried. Just continue to head toward Mount Kuluo, and we’ll just have to wait and see.” Xiu said with an air of indifference. He had lived inside Shen Yanxiao’s consciousness long enough to grasp the changes in her mind. He might not have known her exact thoughts, but he could still sense the change in her emotions.
Chapter 367: Xiu’s Promise (3)
Shen Yanxiao’s mood changed when the Vermillion Bird mentioned sage-level beasts. Coupled with her motive for the trip, Xiu knew why she was worried.
“However, if it is really a sage-level Phoenix, I’m afraid that those mercenaries won’t be able to keep its attention. The Phoenix would kill them off in seconds.” Shen Yanxiao got even more worried. Even if she could not rely on the Vermillion Bird to fight the sage-level Phoenix, no one would be able to stop her if she had wanted to leave.
The problem was the people from the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group. Was she supposed to watch them die?
Xiu looked at the worried Shen Yanxiao and said, “If that’s what you want, I will protect them for you.”
Xiu would want to protect the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group?
Shen Yanxiao was quite surprised. If it were really a sage-level Phoenix, even the Vermillion Bird would not be able to deal with it, and yet Xiu said that he would protect Du Lang and the rest of the group?
That was a sage-level Phoenix, for goodness sake!
Even though Shen Yanxiao knew that Xiu was a mighty being, he had never revealed his strength to her. He had never used an ounce of his powers. Well, except for the times when he had to undo the seal. Shen Yanxiao could never grasp the limit of his power, but she was sure that he was powerful. He could even be stronger than anyone she had ever encountered. Furthermore, he was not at the peak of his strength yet.
However, it seemed like he dared to compete with a sage-level beast with the tiny bit of the strength that he had recovered!
Who was Xiu, exactly?!
“The situation is not as bad as you think it is. Even though the fire elements here are very strong, it is only slightly stronger than the Vermillion Bird. Therefore, there is no need for you to worry right now. I believe that you can still make your escape if you could not deal with it.” While he was with her, Xiu had seen the little devil enter and leave the residences of the four great aristocratic families and even the state treasury. She had even snuck into the Saint Laurent Academy’s medicine storage room a few days back. Xiu knew that she would have the ability to make a hasty escape if she were to meet a stronger enemy.
Shen Yanxiao was not worried about herself, but Xiu’s words reassured her. After all, there were only a few things that could get her to stay, let alone magical beasts. She had only been worried about the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group. Even though those big and tall mercenaries seemed somewhat silly, they were good people.
Since she had Xiu’s promise, Shen Yanxiao knew that she did not have to worry.
“You’re right. Who cares if it is a mythical-level or a sage-level beast. As long as I want it, there’s nothing that I can’t get. Shen Yanxiao laughed with great confidence. After she had managed to clear things up with the two of them, she withdrew her consciousness.
The thousand-men team was already on their way to Mount Kuluo. As they got closer to the peak, the fire elements assaulted their body. Many weaker mercenaries were already drenched in sweat.
Ordinary mercenaries might not have noticed anything unusual with the fire elements, but those with advanced professions had already discerned the abnormalities.
Was the high-temperature from the fire elements caused by a mere eighth-ranked Phoenix?
Du Lang gathered his members with him, and he maintained his wait-and-see stance. He did not pay any attention to the other leaders.
Chapter 368: Demon (1)
If the Phoenix at Mount Kuluo were beyond eighth-rank, then the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group would have a hard time protecting themselves. Could they still care for the weaker mercenaries?
Half an hour later, those one thousand men finally stepped into the infamous Mount Kuluo.
The mercenaries felt a disturbing aura floated past them just as they stepped into the dense forest.
“It’s a demon.” Du Lang furrowed his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes as he swept his gaze across the dense forest.
The other mercenaries had also raised their vigilance.
A demonic beast that was left behind in the world would bring terrifying memories to humans. Even though the mercenaries were used to exterminating those demons, they would suffer casualties as well. Those demonic beasts were not only scary because of their savageness, but they had a very crafty nature as well.
Lower-level demons were easier to kill, but higher-level demons could disguise themselves as humans and mingled with them as they waited for an opportunity to strike. It was harder to detect them too.
Shen Yanxiao was rather excited as she had never seen a demonic beast.
Demons!
Xiu’s favorite food!
She wondered if she could kill some demons in that mission and get her hands on a few demonic cores. Even if it was not to feed Xiu, she could still use it on Clemance.
Du Lang and his team members would probably faint if they knew what was in Shen Yanxiao’s mind while dangers surrounded them.
The demons that humans feared were only food for a little girl’s bow and a certain lord.
Fortunately, those demons did not have any intention to provoke the large mercenary team. All of them ran away in haste after they observed them in the dark for a while.
They had not even revealed themselves before their bloodcurdling aura disappeared without a trace.
Shen Yanxiao felt a little upset that she did not get to see a demonic beast.
The mercenaries sighed in relief as they did not want any trouble at Mount Kuluo.
Lower-level demons liked to gather, and one of them could bring trouble to the whole team. If that were to happen, they could have suffered casualties even before they saw the Phoenix.
Most of the mercenaries relaxed when they realized that the demons had left. However, Du Lang did not share their optimism.
“That is not a simple low-level demon. Most lower-level demons would leave immediately if they noticed that they could not break through our defenses. However, that demon observed us for a while before it left. From that, we can deduce that it has a certain level of intelligence. I wonder if it is a fortune or misfortune that it left.” Du Lang reminded his subordinates.
“Oh? There are demons that are as smart as humans?” Shen Yanxiao did not fear those demons. Instead, she was rather interested in them.
“Intermediate-level demons have the same intellect as ordinary humans, while the high-level demonic beasts are comparable to many of us here. For the demons, food will always remain their strongest desire and they prefer to hunt for their food individually. Otherwise, if those high-level demons were to join forces, then the fight would not be as simple.” Du Lang said with a serious tone.
Shen Yanxiao chuckled, but she had a different thought.
It seemed like they were still far away from the Phoenix’s nest, and it would probably take them another day to reach their destination. The sun had already set, and the team had set up camp around the base of the mountain. Was that not the best time to widen her knowledge about demonic beasts?
Chapter 369: Demons (2)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Even though the large team did not have that many experts with them, they would still win with their sheer number. Their journey had been quite smooth, except for one or two lower-level demonic beasts in the forest. The demons might have had a chance if there were only a hundred of them. However, a thousand-men team was a large one, by any design. That was why the mid-level demonic beasts did not act rashly when they discovered the group.
The large group of mercenaries had encircled and killed any weak and ignorant lower-level magical beasts that managed to cross their paths.
The group that killed the beast also got to keep the magical core.
All the leaders had been calm before they entered Mount Kuluo. They realized that things were not as terrifying as they thought it would be, and so they could finally relax their minds. If they were not mindful of delaying their journey, they would have gone further into the forest to kill more magical beasts for their cores.
Those mercenaries lowered their vigilance because of the smooth and unimpeded journey. When night gradually fell, they decided to stop at the waist of the mountain to reorganize themselves.
Shen Yanxiao sat at the edge of the bonfire, and as she watched the raging flames, her mind drifted toward the dense forest.
She thought that it was weird that their journey had been so smooth. Even though the mid-level beasts would realize that they were a tough group to swallow, the lower-level ones would not have had the same conclusion. However, except for two low-level magical beasts, they had not seen even a silhouette of another beast.
Even though Shen Yanxiao had never been to Mount Kuluo, she could already guess its risks as the previous mercenary group to go there had been entirely wiped out.
She was uneasy with the smoothness of the journey, and she felt as if the absence of those magical and demonic beasts was not a good thing.
Invisible dangers had always been more terrifying, but unfathomable dangers hidden in the dark were the lethal ones.
The other leaders were too relaxed. Some groups took advantage of the rest time to gather a small team. When no one paid them any mind, they left the camp and set off toward the dense forest.
When Shen Yanxiao saw them, she immediately knew that they wanted to get cores from the lower-level magical beasts.
Those mercenaries were tricked by a false sense of security when they did not encounter any danger or demons along their journey. They felt that Mount Kuluo was not as bad as some people had made it out to be. There must have been another reason the previous mercenary group was killed, and the rumor must have been exaggerated over the years.
The two lower-level magical beasts had not even been a difficult challenge. Greed surfaced in the men’s hearts when the leaders relaxed their stance.
Their objective for that mission was the Phoenix, and they had yet to see its silhouette. Furthermore, most of the teams were resting, so they thought that they could earn some quick bucks since Mount Kuluo was not as terrifying as it was rumored.
Those who were greedy had the same thought process.
They thought that Mount Kuluo was not scary at all. They had been traveling for so long, and they had not even seen a single intermediate-level magical beast, let alone more powerful ones. If the forest had many low-level magical beasts, then it was an excellent opportunity for them to make some quick money. Even if they were no match for their opponent, they could just run away, right?
Chapter 370: Demons (3)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
If they stayed close to the camp, they could still get back there if they could not cope with the situation. They had a thousand men there, were they afraid of a little trouble?
There was a subtle change with the mercenaries. Many of the leaders dispatched their members in search of lower-level magical beasts when they were supposed to rest in their camps.
The leaders could not leave because they had to answer to the client, and they dared not pass such an order so openly. Therefore, they could only get a small team to sneak out of the camp.
However, Shen Yanxiao had noticed their actions.
She was not the only one who did as even Du Lang had realized their intentions.
“They’re reckless for slipping away now.” Shen Yanxiao snickered coldly as she looked at those mercenaries when they snuck away discreetly.
Du Lang looked at Shen Yanxiao with doubt. He did not comment on it even though he noticed the mercenaries’ departure from the camp. After all, they were not from his team, and he did not mind it as long as his subordinates did not do the same.
However, after he heard Shen Yanxiao’s comment, Du Lang deduced that Shen Yanxiao must have come to a realization.
Throughout their journey, Shen Yanxiao did not behave like a kid that she was, and Du Lang even praised her for her wisdom and cautiousness. He was curious about her thoughts on the people who had left without permission.
“Why do you say so, Huo Xiao?” Du Lang asked.
Shen Yanxiao appeared to be calm and unruffled as she crossed her arms. As she looked at the mercenaries who had left the camp so casually, she said with an indifferent air, “These people had been afraid of Mount Kuluo, and they had kept their guard up before we entered the mountain. Then they perceived the situation was not as bad as they thought it would be. Coupled with the many low-level magical beasts around the mountain, how could they not be tempted? Unfortunately, they are too short-sighted. They only saw what was on the surface, and they have neglected any hidden dangers entirely. Do they really believe that the previous mercenary group was almost wiped out by these low-level magical beasts?”
Shen Yanxiao paused for a moment as she looked at the leaders who pretended to be calm. “They don’t even have the basic vigilance that a mercenary should have. They are unsuspecting of any unusual situations, and they even wanted to take the chance to make a profit. The ignorants are indeed fearless. Out of those who ventured outside tonight, I’m afraid only a few of them would make it back to our camp.”
Shen Yanxiao’s voice might have sounded like a child, but the words she used stunned the other seven wolves by her side.
Even though they knew that the mercenaries should not have left the camp, at least two hundred men had gone into the forest. It might have been a smaller number when compared to their one thousand men, but it was still an impressive size of a team. Did Shen Yanxiao really think that only a few of them could survive their little adventure?
“I doubt that they’d go too far from the camp, so there shouldn’t be any real danger,” Magic Wolf coughed and said. He was a bit frightened by Shen Yanxiao’s words. Despite their greediness, those mercenaries were not idiots, and they would not go too far away from the camp. Even if they were to encounter any danger, they would still be able to make their escape.
Was that not an exaggeration on Huo Xiao’s part?
Shen Yanxiao lazily shot a glance at Lazy Wolf as she casually said. “It wouldn’t be up to them at that time.”
Shen Yanxiao glanced at Lazy Wolf with an equally lazy glance before she casually said, “I’m afraid that wouldn’t be up to them.”
“What do you mean?” The seven wolves were surprised by what she had said, so they turned to look at Shen Yanxiao at once. They had gradually forgotten she was only a young kid after they had traveled together for so many days. They thought that her speech was comparable to any other adult.
Chapter 371: Refusal to Walk an Easy Way Out (1)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
She always thought of things that one would never have expected.
Everyone looked at Shen Yanxiao. Even though she doubted that they would be so stupid to seek death like those groups of idiots, she decided to add on to her initial comment so that they would not make the same mistake.
“If they were to discover a low-level magical beast that they could easily kill, but it escaped before they could attack, or perhaps it escaped into the forest after it was injured, do you think those idiots would abandon it? They would definitely chase after it and thus, go further than our campsite. Who could anticipate what would happen after that?”
“Humans are greedy by nature. Tell me, among those who had taken advantage of the situation and snuck out while they were on a mission, which of them were not greedy?”
Greed would always cause one to overlook any important details, and it would almost always lead to a tragedy.
Shen Yanxiao’s words prompted the seven wolves to think about what she had said. If they were to discover an easy prey in a location that they believed to be safe, they would definitely go after it. They would not have realized that they had gone further than they anticipated as they would be filled with a desire to kill the beast.
Even though the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group believed that Mount Kuluo was not as simple as it seemed, the rogue mercenaries did not have the same opinion. Their guards would be down, and that would eventually lead to accidents.
The seven wolves shivered as they pondered about that. Even though Shen Yanxiao had mentioned greed as the motive, they thought she was trying to hint about the dangers that surrounded Mount Kuluo.
Did she know something that they missed?
Shen Yanxiao knew nothing about Mount Kuluo except for the twelfth-ranked Phoenix. She merely talked about it based on the experiences that she had accumulated in the past. Furthermore, Du Lang had mentioned that mid-level demons and magical beasts would have a certain level of intellect. Who knew if the beasts had devised any plans to trap them? If they did, then the mercenaries would have nowhere to turn to for help.
While the seven wolves were in deep thought, Du Lang passed an order to his men and told them not to wander too far away from the camp. No matter what Shen Yanxiao meant, it would be better for them to exercise caution.
Shen Yanxiao did not continue to say anything as she noticed that the rest of the group were in deep thoughts. Her attention then drifted away from the group of idiotic mercenaries to the demons that hid on Mount Kuluo.
She wanted to see what a demon looked like. Those in the Brilliance Continent regarded those creatures as their nightmare, but Xiu treated them like delicacies. Xiu also mentioned that if she were to win the competition that was due in half a year, she would get a city in the Forsaken Land. Then, he would force her to breed demons for him!
Therefore, Shen Yanxiao thought that her first priority would be to see an actual demonic beast.
If Du Lang and the rest of the team knew that Shen Yanxiao intended to venture into the forest, they would have jumped on her and forced that reckless little kid into the tent.
Unfortunately, no one knew about her plans. By midnight, all the mercenaries in the camp had gone to sleep.
Shen Yanxiao took the chance to leave the camp discreetly, and she headed toward the pitch-black forest.
Chapter 372: Refusal to Walk an Easy Way Out (2)
Shen Yanxiao did not expect to bump into another group just as she stepped out of the darkness.
It was a small team with about a dozen mercenaries, and it looked like they also intended to sneak into the forest of Mount Kuluo to make a quick buck.
Those people were momentarily stunned when they saw Shen Yanxiao. They had snuck out to avoid discovery, and so they did not expect a little kid to have found them as soon as they left.
Shen Yanxiao had looked so out of place when she was amongst the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group that everyone in the thousand-men team knew who she was.
Everyone had wondered about the reason Du Lang had brought a useless kid with him. If it were not for the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group’s reputation, they would not even bother to look at that little kid.
However, they also did not expect to bump into her.
“Why is the kid not asleep? And why did he come out?” One of the men muttered. He also thought that no one would know about them sneaking out, so he did not expect the kid to see them instead.
The client knew what the rogue mercenaries had done, but he did not care about them. Perhaps the client thought that he would have to pay less because of their actions.
That was why they wanted to sneak out at night. However, it seemed that part of their plan had failed.
“Damn it! That little kid had better keep his mouth shut tomorrow. If the client where to find out about this and decided to deduct our reward, our leader would strangle us!”
Those mercenaries stared at Shen Yanxiao with ill intentions. If it were not for the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group, that kid would not have been on their radar. Since they thought she was a young child, an idea struck them.
A man with tall build glared at Shen Yanxiao with a fierce expression as he waved the steel sword in his hand. “Little kid, you had better listen up. You did not see anything tonight. If you are careless with your words, I’ll let you taste my sword!”
Shen Yanxiao blinked at him. She had seen some reckless people, but she had never met someone who did not fear death and even dared to threaten her.
She had not planned to meddle in their business. However, they had dared to provoke her. It seemed like they wanted to court death.
“I’m not interested in your business. However, if you dare to continue with this nonsense, I’ll make you crawl your way out.” She had a demon to find, and those idiots had better not delayed her.
Those mercenaries did not expect a thirteen-year-old kid would dare to threaten them. They were so surprised that it looked as if their eyes would pop out of its socket.
“Little kid, just because you have the Cave Wolves Mercenary Group’s protection, don’t assume that you can rest easy. Du Lang would not even know if I were to kill you where you stand!” The man looked at her maliciously as he spoke.
Without another word, Shen Yanxiao took her rarely used Clemance from her interspatial ring. Ten arrows were loaded in the blink of an eye, and then she released them. Those mercenaries did not even have the time to react before a strong force hit them. The impact was so strong that it pushed them back until they hit the tree trunks.
Dang, dang, dang!
In an instant, those arrows had nailed those arrogant mercenaries to the trees. Each of the arrows pierced through their shoulders and struck the tree trucks.
Chapter 373: Refusal to Walk an Easy Way Out (3)
All ten of them felt a sharp sting in their shoulders. They wanted to cry out in pain, but Shen Yanxiao had held up Clemance as she loaded more arrows and took aim at them.
“If you dare to utter another sound, I’ll nail your heads onto the tree.” There was an easy way out, but they insisted on going through the hell’s gate. Those idiots dared to delay her trip and even threaten her? It seemed like they wanted to seek their deaths.
Those mercenaries were shocked by what had happened. They did not expect that little kid to be an archer! A single shot with ten arrows; was she even human?
She had nailed them against the three in a split second, and they did not even have time to react.
They felt like they could cry as they stared at the bow and arrow in her hand.
Why were they so unlucky? Why was the kid so ruthless to nail them to the trees without any hesitation at all? There was no skepticism on her dull face, and she looked so calm that the mercenaries were terrified of her.
It was already pretty good that they were not shocked to death, let alone to utter any sound.
How the heck was she a little kid? She had to have been a monster!
The mercenaries wished that they could slap themselves silly. They thought that she was an ordinary kid, and they had even threatened her! She only needed to take one single action, and she had defeated all of them. One could see the huge gap between their abilities.
Even if their courage were to increase to a hundred-fold, they still would not dare to go against Shen Yanxiao’s order. None of them wanted an arrow in their skull.
Shen Yanxiao looked at the mercenaries who did their best to keep their mouths tightly shut. Then, she put Clemance back into her interspatial ring and left for the deeper parts of the forest.
Everyone there recognized her as Huo Xiao, and no one knew her real identity. Thus, she did not need to conceal her strength. Those ten idiots could only blame things on their bad luck to have encountered Shen Yanxiao in that situation and landed in such a plight.
All ten of them watched Shen Yanxiao’s back profile as they bid her farewell with their eyes. None of them dared to utter a single word.
That little kid was scary and ruthless. The moment she held her bow, blood would be shed.
Furthermore, she was powerful. Even though they were not experts, they still had above average strength. They did not expect that a kid could defeat them.
At that very moment, they were afraid.
They did not see Du Lang as a terrifying person as they knew full well of his strength. They were more afraid of those who appeared harmless on the surface but turned out to be the strongest hitter at the end of the day. Most would dread those with an unexpected level of strength.
After Shen Yanxiao dealt with those ten idiots, she continued to venture deep into Mount Kuluo’s forest. However, after she had traveled a certain distance from the camp, she noticed something unusual about the forest.
The silent Mount Kuluo seemed gloomy under the night sky, and she could also detect a faint smell of blood.
Shen Yanxiao narrowed her eyes. Blood must have been spilled at that very place just moments ago. She immediately knew that the blood was from those mercenaries who had left the camp without permission.
Shen Yanxiao could also detect an odd scent amid the blood smell. It was a light scent, but it was quite similar to the demon that they had encountered just as they got to Mount Kuluo.
“It’s a demon.” A smile curled on Shen Yanxiao’s lips. It seemed like those mercenaries had been pretty unlucky. They wanted to kill a magical beast, but they got a demon instead.
Furthermore, based on the blood scent, instead of the demon, it seemed like those mercenaries were injured instead.
Chapter 374: Survival of the Fittest (1)
Shen Yanxiao walked noiselessly into the depths of the forest as she followed the faint scent of blood. She wore the Moonlight Necklace and jumped on a tree branch immediately after that. She rapidly made her way forward on the tree branches.
As she traversed forth, the blood scent thickened. Shen Yanxiao noticed that some grass on the ground was stained with fresh blood. It seemed like whatever creature that did that had left only a few moments ago.
Shen Yanxiao could hear a muffled shout from inside the forest, and she immediately leaped toward it.
Mount Kuluo was exceptionally eerie and scary at night. The terrifying atmosphere intensified with the smell of blood in the air.
Shen Yanxiao could see many black shadows crouched in open space among the trees, and they had formed a circle. Their shoulders shook; it seemed like they were busy with something.
Shen Yanxiao was on a tree about ten meters away, and she narrowed her eyes to get a sharper view of those silhouettes. She could hear snapping sounds from those black figures, and the blood scent that surrounded them intensified.
The moonlight seeped through the leaves, and strands of it lit up those oddly-shaped silhouettes. At the same time, it also revealed a puddle of blood in their midst.
Shen Yanxiao realized that those figures were not humans. Their bent back was crooked in a strange shape, and they did not have a single shred of cloth to cover their bodies. There were also weird, uneven scales all over their black skin. Shen Yanxiao could only see their backs, but she knew that they were what she had been searching for—demonic beasts.
They had bones that protruded from their backs, something that was inherently different from a human.
The look on her face changed when she realized what was in the middle of the circle and surrounded by those demonic beasts.
Five to six humans with their chests ripped open were scattered on the ground, and their fresh blood dyed the soil beneath their bodies. Their internal organs were exposed; those demons had pulled them out with their sharp claws to chew on them.
Shen Yanxiao deduced that they were the mercenaries who had left the camp without permission. She bet that they had not expected to encounter demons instead of magical beasts.
The crushing and snapping sounds that she had heard were noises that the demons had made as they gnawed on the humans’ bones and flesh.
One unlucky mercenary was still alive, and she could see how his twisted hand had trembled. He vomited a large quantity of blood as those demons tore his abdomen open with their sharp claws. Then they pulled his internal organs out.
That grisly scene had occurred soundlessly under the night sky.
That was the first time that Shen Yanxiao had seen the rumored demon beasts. Even though she had seen how the demons killed the humans, she had a rather odd expression on her face. It did not look like it was fear or disgust, but it was something that one could not explain.
If someone else had seen the same scene, they would have run away in fright. However, Shen Yanxiao remained unmoved. She stood quietly on the tree branch and continued to look at the disgusting and unendurable scene.
“Xiu, are those demons?” Shen Yanxiao whispered as she pointed to the creatures that had swallowed the mercenaries’ bodies so greedily. One could not say that their eating behavior was like a human. Instead, it was much more similar to a wild beast.
Chapter 375: Survival of the Fittest (2)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“They are only a group of lower-level demons,” Xiu spoke with a calm voice. It was as if he was not concerned with anything that had happened.
“The lower-level demons are not much different than other ordinary beasts. They often only act upon their hunger for food. They do not have much wisdom to talk about.” Xiu described those terrifying creatures as if they were ants.
“It is easier to determine the level of a demon than it is a human. Lower-level demons are similar to beasts. Even though they may be quite powerful, they are also the easiest to deal with. As for intermediate-level demons, they possess a certain level of intellect and are not as rash as the lower-level ones. The one we encountered at the foot of the mountain was an intermediate-level demon. It knows to conceal itself to observe the enemy before it decides what to do with you. As for the high-level demons...” Xiu paused for a moment.
“The high-level demons usually have higher intelligence than an average human. Their strengths are also comparable to those experts who have changed professions. These demons also can disguise themselves as humans and mingle in their midst. Average humans would never discover their existence.”
Shen Yanxiao felt an aura from behind her in the middle of Xiu’s explanation.
“Wait and observe,” Xiu said when he realized that Shen Yanxiao had wanted to act on that.
So, Shen Yanxiao could only continue to stand on the tree branch as if she had sensed nothing.
That particular aura got closer as each second passed until she could even sense that being’s strength. Suddenly, an ice-cold aura reached out from behind her. It had a strong dark element that caused Shen Yanxiao to shiver.
“Where are you from, little kid? How courageous of you to enjoy the show from here.” A voice teased from behind her. As soon as Shen Yanxiao turned around, a pale white hand suddenly held her neck in a tight grip.
A handsome-but-monstrous face entered her line of sight. He had a rather pale complexion and purple pupils in his narrow eyes. He looked about eighteen to nineteen years old, and he had a bloodcurdling smile on his face.
That person looked very dangerous!
A warning alarm rang in Shen Yanxiao’s mind. However, Xiu did not have any instructions for her yet, and that was what confused her.
That monstrous young man licked his lips, and his greedy, teasing eyes sized her up.
“You were neither surprised, nor fearful when you saw how the demons skinned those humans alive. Little kid, are you truly that brave, or did that scene shock you into silence?” The frightful-looking young man was quite curious about Shen Xiao’s calm attitude, and his fingers that looped around her neck softly brushed against her skin like a feather.
Shen Yanxiao could already guess his identity when she stared into his purple eyes. His powerful and imposing demeanor and his extremely abnormal eyes could easily suffocate people, and It was not something that a human could possess.
It was just like what Xiu had said. A high-level demon could transform into any human appearance of their choice. Furthermore, she knew that only demons could have purple eyes.
She had only intended to peek at the demons in the forest. She did not expect that she would get to meet a powerful high-level demon.
Shen Yanxiao did not know if she should feel happy about her serendipitous fortune or to mourn her bad luck.
The strength of an advanced demon could rival Yun Qi, who was at his peak. Even though she had reached the level of an intermediate Warlock and Archer, she could not even begin to compare to such a powerful existence.
Chapter 376: Survival of the Fittest (3)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Shen Yanxiao knew that Xiu must have detected that demon’s presence. However, he did not tell her to leave. Instead, he told her to wait and observe.
Even though she did not know what he had planned, Shen Yanxiao trusted her ally. She believed that Xiu would not harm her intentionally, and he would even follow her to the netherworld if she were to die.
With that in mind, Shen Yanxiao was not afraid of that high-level demon.
Her eyes were as calm as water without ripples, and she did not even bother to conceal her intention when she assessed the demon that was supposed to be one of the most powerful beings amongst the demonic beasts.
The monstrous young man looked at that little kid in surprise.
Even if the kid was mentally deficient, she could not have been that calm, right? Did she not see his oddly-colored eyes?
The low-level demons nearby seemed to have sensed that something was amiss, and they had stopped their feasting. Then they rushed toward her at high speed.
They roared with their bloodied mouth, and they exposed their razor-sharp teeth as they dashed toward the tree.
They had sensed it. The demons had sensed the strange, powerful energy that was there, and it was a temptation for them.
The first demons to reach the tree had to welcome a nightmare instead.
When they approached the huge tree trunk, the monstrous young man threw them an irritated look as he stood on the tree branch. With Shen Yanxiao trapped in his embrace, he released a low but frightening roar at the group of restless demons.
His roar did not sound like a beast’s cry, but those who heard it would still feel the chill all over their body. After that roar, an invisible force spread throughout the young man’s surrounding area.
The force knocked those low-level demons against the trees in an instant. Then they wailed as they fell onto the ground. However, none of those demons dared to move after that. Their bodies could only tremble as they curled and crawled on the ground. It looked as though they had encountered something so frightening that their previous ferocity and savageness had disappeared entirely. They looked like quails that had been shocked out of their wits.
The monstrous young man looked at those frightened low-level demons with satisfaction. Then, he reached out to poke Shen Yanxiao’s face with his finger.
He was only there for a leisure stroll; he did not care for the humans that his fellow demons had been devouring. Even if those were only meant to fill his stomach, he would still find them hard to swallow. He had not expected to discover an interesting human there. She did not only watch the scene where the demons consumed those humans with an unflinching expression, but she was also very calm when she saw him. That was an intriguing situation.
He had noticed it when he approached Shen Yanxiao. She had an enticing scent on her. Even though it was somewhat concealed with the help of some items, it did not escape the sensitive sense of smell that a high-level demon would have. That fragrant scent was a delicacy amongst humans.
If one were to ignore her unusual behavior, the demons would still go crazy over her scent.
To a certain extent, it was the fragrant scent that had attracted the attention of that monstrous young man.
“Little kid, why is there such a lovely scent on you? I’ve not smelled such a delicious human for a very long time.” The young man greedily took a few sniffs at the crook of her neck.
Chapter 377: High-levelled Demon (1)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“You’re a high-level demon.” Shen Yanxiao did not care if the demon could rip her apart and devour her that very second. Instead, she preferred to casually analyze the level of the demonic beast in front of her.
That monstrous young man chuckled and said, “Since you know that I’m a demon, why didn’t you shout, or be afraid? You should know that there’s a huge gap between me and those demons that you’d usually see. Even if a human expert were to stand before me, they can only resign to their fate and let me devour them.” It was interesting to see a kid who was not afraid of him.
“Will you let me go if I were to shout, or if I were afraid of you?” Even though Shen Yanxiao did not know much about demonic beasts, she was quite familiar with their obstinate attitude toward things.
The frightful young man laughed in a low voice. She was the first human in dozens of centuries to be so calm in his presence. He was also shocked to learn that she was not only unafraid of him, but it also seemed like she did not loath demons either.
“If you’re terrified, perhaps I can be more quick-handed with you.” The young man chuckled as he revealed his evil intentions toward her.
“Then, perhaps you can satisfy my dying wish before you eat me? Are you really a high-level demon? Is this your human form?” Shen Yanxiao did not seem like she was aware of the danger around her. Even though she did not know Xiu’s plans, she knew that he would not let her die if she were to encounter any danger.
In a sense, Xiu’s silence meant that she was not in any kind of danger.
However, was it not dangerous that she was face-to-face with a high-level demon that was about to swallow her whole?
The demonic young man blinked. He had never met a human who would still ask so many questions in the presence of a demon. She did not beg for mercy, nor did she resist him. Instead, she remained obediently rooted to her spot. She had asked a series of questions about his identity, and it was as if the danger was not as crucial as his identity.
“My name is Freud, a demon of Mount Kuluo. Compared to those ordinary demons that would eat whatever they could find, high-level demons have very high expectations of their food.” Since she was such a delicious prey, he could fulfill her curiosity before her death. Freud had always believed that he was a demon with good taste.
“Food? Do you mean humans? However, you did not have humans with you when you lived underground with the Devil Clan. So how did you survive?” Perhaps she was sure that she was not in any danger, or maybe she felt lucky to have encountered such a demon, Shen Yanxiao had a sudden interest in the demons’ habits.
Freud pondered about her question and said, “We didn't eat humans before. However, the dark element that the Devil Clan provided us does not exist in the human world. We could not find any real food, and so we could only decrease our hunger with human flesh. Alas, human flesh is no substitute for what we consider real food.”
Demons were not the original inhabitants in the human continents. Their existence there was the result of the battle between the gods and the devils. Unfortunately, the path that connected the human world to the Devil’s Clan continent had been closed since, and all of the demons could only roam around the alien continent. They might have survived with human flesh as part of their diet, but that would not allow them to increase their strength.
Chapter 378: High-levelled Demon (2)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The demon’s arrival had been a nightmare for humans. However, for the demons, it had also been a nightmare when they reached the continent.
“If you were to find something that could give you dark elements, would you stop eating humans then?” Shen Yanxiao’s mind spun rapidly. She did not believe there was such a thing as natural enemies. The conflict between humans and demons started because the latter had no food to fill their hunger in the human world. Even though human flesh could not provide them with the dark elements that they need, the demons would have to survive with the dark side of the human mind.
If they could find something to substitute their diet, then perhaps the demons and humans could coexist peacefully. It was a coincidence that Shen Yanxiao had that very item in her possession.
The combination of Moling, Flame Grass, and Skeleton Flower could produce powerful dark elements.
Xiu had even wanted to use that to breed demons to recover his strength. If she could get all three elements before the competition in six months, she would get a city in the Forsaken Lands if she were to win it. At that time, they could produce enough dark elements to keep a few demons alive. To put it simply, they would have enough to satisfy Xiu’s needs and change the way humans treat demonic beasts. Shen Yanxiao did not want to keep those demons in chains while Xiu absorbed their energy.
It would be perfect if they could achieve mutual benefits for all parties involved.
However, the only problem with that situation was that Shen Yanxiao did not know much about the situation, and Xiu could only tell her the general circumstances. That was why she was eager to meet a demon; it was so that she could continue to make plans.
The demon in front of her was not only smart, but he was also not in a hurry to devour her. That had given her a chance to ask questions about the demons.
Freud curled his eyebrows and looked at the little kid who had asked those questions. He thought that it was a joke.
“We need dark elements that originate from the Devil’s Clan. As far as I know, humans are fearful of such elements. If they were careless enough to feed their inner demons, they would be turned into a half-human-half-demon thing. And you’re saying that we can find such dark elements here? You must be joking.”
Shen Yanxiao said, “How would you know if you have yet to try it? If you were given a choice, would you rather feed with chicken ribs, or would you rather gain a large increase in strength that the dark elements could provide?”
The dark elements were just as essential to the demons as battle aura and magic is to humans. Often at times, they did not need to train hard as they could absorb sufficient dark elements to increase their strength if they were to rely on their innate abilities. No humans could think of such an easy way to do that.
Freud laughed out loud and said. “If such an opportunity exists, do you honestly think that humans would attract our attention? Well, both options are food, but we would rather choose the dark elements that could increase our strength. Little kid, I know what you mean. You’re asking why we don’t search for food that could substitute dark elements but insist on preying on humans. It was not like we did not wish for that too. However, the most useful item to do that had been destroyed by that so-called God Realm. How could we still possibly have a choice?”
Chapter 379: High-levelled Demon (3)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Shen Yanxiao furrowed her eyebrows and asked, “What if you can find Moling?”
“Moling?” Freud narrowed his eyes. He did not expect to hear the name of a plant from the Devil Clan from the mouth of a human child.
“From what I know, if we were to plant the Moling with the Flame Grass and the Skeleton Flower, it would produce powerful dark elements. Would those dark elements be enough to satisfy the demons’ needs?” Shen Yanxiao looked so earnest as she discussed the problem with Freud. She did not look as if she was afraid that she would be devoured soon.
Freud looked at Shen Yanxiao thoughtfully. The Flame Grass and the Skeleton Flower could be found in both continents, so it was not strange for Shen Yanxiao to know their names. However, it was odd that she knew about the Moling and how those three plants could produce powerful dark elements.
That was not something that a human would know.
“Little kid, where did you learn of these things?” He thought that she was a weird kid.
Shen Yanxiao said, “Just reply with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ will do.”
Freud was speechless. Did that kid not have any self-awareness? Did she not realize that he had her life in his hands?
For the first time in his long life, Freud felt as if he had been snubbed.
However, Shen Yanxiao’s question had struck a chord with him, and so Freud could only give her an answer. “Yes, it can.”
Shen Yanxiao’s expression brightened. It looked like she could rely on those three items to attract demons in the future. However, she did not know how to communicate with the low-level demons as they were weak and did not possess any intellect. As for mid and high-level demons, could she get along with them if she were to reveal that kind of information to them?
Shen Yanxiao did not want to be hostile toward the demons as that would only cause headaches to the four empires in the Brilliance Continent. Unless she were crazy, else she would never fight them willingly.
“Very well then, little kid. I have satisfied your curiosity. I have been in a rare good mood, and so, I have answered your questions readily. Now, please stay still so that I can eat you.” It had been a weird day as he had just had a conversation with a human child. Freud was pretty shocked with himself, but it did not change his plan to eat her.
After all, humans were merely food for the demons.
“Wait!” Shen Yanxiao suddenly raised her hand and covered Freud’s mouth with her palm.
Was it not too late to resist now? Freud furrowed his eyebrows. Demons had thin patience, and he did not even expect to have a chat with that small child. It was unprecedented, and he was no longer in the mood to continue it. Demons only cared about their appetite.
Freud ignored Shen Yanxiao’s resistance, and he was ready to consume his delicious meal when her next words stunned him.
“I have some Moling in my hands, and I know where to get some Flame Grass. If you still wish to devour me, then please feel free to do so. However, I’m afraid you might have to bid farewell to the only chance that could provide you with dark elements since you lost it thousands of years ago.” Shen Yanxiao’s tone was neither hot nor cold, but her words had thoroughly shocked Freud.
He stared at Shen Yanxiao in disbelief and stuttered, “What did you say? You have… Moling.. In your hands?”
Chapter 380: Secret Collaboration (1)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
A group of low-level demons crouched on the ground and remained frozen as they sensed the powerful aura from a high-level demon. Even though their intellect was similar to wild beasts, they still found it weird.
Why would a powerful figure of their species stand so high on the tree branch for such a long time? The human in his grip also looked very delicious. The world of demons adhere to strict divisions of levels, so the low-level demons would always have to bow to the high-level demons. Therefore, they had no choice but to worship and revere that powerful demon on the tree.
However …
Had he not finished with eating that small human?
Those low-level demons finally raised their heads, but they were stunned with what they saw.
That esteemed high-level demon had actually started a conversation with the ‘food’!
What kind of situation was that?
Their tiny brains could not process the scene that they had seen. They were curious as to why he had not devoured the food. Instead, they caught him staring at it.
If those low-level demons could understand the conversation between Shen Yanxiao and Freud, they would not have been that curious.
Unfortunately, none of the other demons understood the situation, and there were only two beings who were in a wretched conversation within the dense forest.
No one knew what Shen Yanxiao and Freud had discussed. They only knew that Freud had not devoured that delicacy, and he had even released her. Furthermore, he had chased them away as he leaped and hid in deeper parts of the forest.
As for Shen Yanxiao, she had a sly smile on her face as she watched the back of the high-level demon who had left after a defeat.
“Did you guess that I would use that method to escape?” After Freud had left, Shen Yanxiao had rudely gestured to a certain someone who had asked her to wait and observe. It looked as though he had left her to fend for herself.
Xiu declined to comment, and he did not answer her question.
If Shen Yanxiao could see his physical body, she would undoubtedly strangle his neck and ask him why he had been so unreasonable.
When she faced Freud, she had to control the entire situation by herself. She knew that if she were to make a single mistake, the demon would kill and devour her. Xiu had so much confidence in her that he allowed her to negotiate with the demon at ease.
She might have achieved a perfect conclusion, but the process was a little too much for her heart to bear.
“You don’t seem to be worried that he’ll eat me,” Shen Yanxiao snorted.
Xiu was silent for a moment before his chilly and confident voice said, “He won’t eat you. If he dared to do so, I would have snapped all of his bones.”
Shen Yanxiao stuck out her tongue discreetly and said, “Alright, I know. My death means your death, and we’re the most solid of allies.”
“Yes.” Xiu gave her the barest response.
“Even though I have discussed a collaboration with that glutton, Freud, we would still need to win that competition first.” Shen Yanxiao touched her chin. The competition was in six months, but she probably only had four to five months to prepare for it.
“When we get the Flame Grass, you will have to locate the Skeleton Flower as soon as you can. As soon as we gather all three items, I will try to undo your nest seal. If we could do that, then you would have a higher chance to win at that competition.” Xiu was always more talkative whenever they talked about the competition.