Chapter 44 - 6 Azimiao and the Demon Clan's Talent

Wang Qi stood up, stretching his lower back: "I really need to reflect on this matter. It seems once I start going crazy, I forget about everything else, and the worst part is, I don't even realize it." "The players are lost in the game; the spectators see clearly. Even I almost missed it, let alone you." Wang Qi shrugged his shoulders: "I thought I was remaining quite calm." Zhen Chan sighed, "My boy, it's not that you weren't calm, but you were too stifled. You're calm during life-and-death situations, yet you get carried away by your emotions in everyday life." "Maybe I'm thinking that no matter how recklessly I act, I can't really die? Heh." As he said this, Wang Qi surprisingly felt a sense of relief: "This is an illness, it needs to be cured." Zhen Chan replied, "Indeed. You act purely for thrills, and unless it's a matter of life or death, you throw caution to the winds." "Forget it, there's no point in discussing this further." Wang Qi walked outside the Transmitting Technique Hall: "An issue doesn't change just because there's a 'momentary impulse' as an excuse. You still have to take responsibility for what you do while drunk, right?" Zhen Chan couldn't help but laugh and cry: "What kind of comparison is that?" "Isn't the analogy apt? Getting carried away and pushing down several girls, and now needing a formidable wife to calm things down?" "The creators of these Cultivation Techniques would cry!" "But honestly, I feel like I've grasped the key to solving this problem." "Oh? What is it?" Wang Qi slapped his forehead: "I absolutely know the method, but I just can't remember the specifics." Zhen Chan laughed and cried again: "Is that even possible?" "You always say it seems like you've come across the Yao Ding Calculating Scripture techniques but just can't remember where. It's the same thing." "This old man has eaten more salt in his lifetime than you've eaten rice, walked more bridges than the roads you've traveled. Isn't it normal that I can't remember everything instantly?" Wang Qi found this strange: "Aren't you not supposed to need food after reaching the Ancient Method Grain Avoidance Period? Ancient Method Practitioners always looked down on the food of the Mortal World, finding it troublesome. So how often did you eat salted meals before? Plus, didn't you mostly travel by Flying Escape? When did you need bridges?" Zhen Chan roared: "That's not the point, you brat!" After dinner, it was the last theoretical class of the day, which went on until nightfall. After class, Wang Qi sat on the ground where he had arranged to meet Mao Zimiao to collect his pillow. Mao Zimiao hadn't arrived yet, so Wang Qi simply sat down and closed his eyes to think. He was indeed too green. When taking action before, he only chased the thrill, thinking as long as he didn't die, there was joy to be found in anything he did, and acted purely on impulse. Wang Qi still felt that this attitude towards life was quite good. After all, this wasn't a novel where some delusional noble would come out of nowhere to mock him, demanding that he now go on top of a mountain or cliff and loudly proclaim, "Don't overlook the young and poor; fortunes can reverse in thirty years." It would indeed be difficult—after all, wasn't the Xin Mountain Peak an Immortal Alliance forbidden area? But playing blindly can lead to trouble. It's like watching an adult film that's 120 minutes long and you're done in 10 minutes—how much enjoyment of the film is left? "So, I need to plan how I tinker with this world," Wang Qi nodded and muttered to himself. Zhen Chan said, "Why not just say you plan to change your bad habits, set great ambitions, and then work hard like a decent person?" Wang Qi was shocked: "Are you dissing me? The way you put it makes me sound like a wastrel who's been lazing at home for twenty years and finally decided to mend his ways!" Zhen Chan chuckled, "It's invaluable for a prodigal son to turn over a new leaf." "Damn it, you're actually not denying it?" Zhen Chan laughed heartily: "This is a good thing! If you cultivate step by step, wouldn't the chances of this old man's return to Heaven and Earth be greater?" "Now I suspect you deliberately set me up..." Zhen Chan burst into laughter: "Seeking stronger killing power within the same realm was your own choice. I warned you too, didn't I? How is that a setup? And didn't you believe Miss Xiang when she said, 'The Immortal Institute gives you the chance to make mistakes'?" Wang Qi sneered: "Thinking about it now, if you really wanted to stop me, you just had to say, 'In my opinion, these few Cultivation Techniques are top-notch choices. Cultivate them all and the Great Dao awaits you.' I would've doubted the experience of Ancient Method Practitioners and thought twice, wouldn't I?" Zhen Chan scoffed: "With your previous temper, even thinking longer would lead to the choice 'I'll mess around first, anyway, I'm here to make mistakes'." As the two were bickering, a soft and glutinous voice suddenly sounded behind Wang Qi: "Xiao Qi!" Wang Qi jumped: "When did you get here!" As a Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator, Wang Qi's awareness of his surroundings was far beyond that of mortals. Even while talking with Zhen Chan, he was still aware of any movement around him—he wouldn't miss the sound of footsteps. The orange-haired cat-eared girl was also startled: "You're overreacting!" "Nonsense! Wouldn't you be freaked out by someone appearing silently behind you? And what on earth is 'Xiao Qi'? Just call someone by their name without adding 'meow' all the time—ugh, stop, you're making me do it too!" Mao Zimiao's mouth opened slightly as if she had discovered some incredible secret: "So Xiao Qi is afraid of ghosts?" Wang Qi kept a straight face: "Being snuck up on by a master means certain death; we must be aware of the dangers." Mao Zimiao looked around, puzzled: "But we're in Xinyue, how can there be any enemies here?" "It's called being proactive." Zhen Chan laughed: "You still haven't shed some of those mortal habits? Haha, lucky for me, I'm not a cultivator from Sangmen or Ghost Path, otherwise wouldn't you be scared to death?" Heh, "the one afraid of ghosts ends up playing with the dead" isn't exactly a fresh joke anymore. Wang Qi silently sneered to himself. But if he really encountered a ghost, Wang Qi would definitely cast several spells without any hesitation to blast those mourning creatures to smithereens. For most people, ghosts themselves aren't scary; what's truly terrifying is the "unknown". Seeing that Wang Qi didn't want to talk about it any further, Mao Zimiao didn't joke about it anymore either. She pulled out a cloth package and said, "Your pillow, meow!" When Wang Qi opened the cloth package, the contents were a sight for sore eyes, the entire thing like a freak of the pillow world sewn together. But seeing a whole pillow, Wang Qi was still quite satisfied, "Hmm, thanks for that." "You too, Xiao Qi, don't practice swordplay in your room anymore, meow!" Wang Qi scratched his head, chuckling dryly. Practicing the Elephant Phase Wave Skill involved solving problems related to wave-particle duality, which was far beyond the scope of knowledge for the Immortal Institute disciples, so he hadn't publicly claimed he had mastered this cultivation technique. "Also, don't drool in your sleep; sewing it up is really a bit gross, meow." "Heh." Wang Qi changed the subject, "Anyway, thanks a lot, Zimiao, for even wrapping it in cloth for me." Mao Zimiao shook her head, a bit embarrassed, "No, carrying such a tattered pillow is a bit shameful." "Heh... Anyway, thanks for sewing it up so many times..." Mao Zimiao, pointing to her eyes, said, "Threading a needle might be a bit of a chore for ordinary people, but I am a half-demon, you know? Naturally great eyesight. And walking silently too." "Oh, that's pretty convenient, Azi!" "I feel like my name is getting weirder and weirder in your mouth, meow." "Why would that be, Azimiao!" "It sounds like a spirit beast raised by a villainous cultivator in an enlightenment story, meow..." "Right, every time, defeated by a member of the Wanfa Sect wearing a blue uniform, someone very short." "It feels really pitiful, meow." Watching Mao Zimiao's discontent as she twitched her ears, Wang Qi very ethically steered the conversation back—this kind of joke must be played over a long time. It wouldn't be fun if he teased her too much in one go. He shifted his gaze from the top of Mao Zimiao's head to her feet: "But to be honest, even though you haven't reached the Qi Cultivation Stage, maybe disciples who have might already be unable to beat you." Zhen Chan interjected, "Demon Clan talent is inherent, formed naturally, in harmony with the laws of magic. Human Clan cultivators may be stronger overall than demon creatures, but they can't compete in the domains where demons excel. Little girl, if you focus on developing your talent, in the future... why are you all looking at me like that?" Wang Qi looked disdainful, "Old man, you still say you didn't mean to trick me? You really are tireless in teaching lessons!" Mao Zimiao spoke hesitantly, "Teacher, your experiences are a bit, well, you know, meow!" Zhen Chan was clueless, "What?" "You definitely spaced out during history class!" "What do those histories have to do with me?" Wang Qi roared, "I was actually planning to bring you with me for the exams! Two heads are better than one! You've really let me down!" "What have you reduced me to!" "A convenient cheating device." Seeing that Zhen Chan was about to explode, Mao Zimiao consoled him, "Actually, teacher is just afraid of getting emotional, meow." Unexpectedly, this attempt at comfort only made things worse, Zhen Chan roared, "I am certainly not some sentimental poet pining for the past!" Wang Qi sneered coldly, "Give it a rest, old man. Being tsundere might be endearing to young girls but it's just nauseating coming from an old man. Are you sure you can handle this information? Then let me give you a history lesson!" After Yuanli Master Newton led the Modern Cultivators to exterminate all the Ancient Method Practitioners in Shenzhou Continent, the Modern Immortal Path began a booming campaign of demon slaying. Any demon beast with a record of eating or harming humans was executed without exception, and only the young of such species were left to be thrown into sealed "protection zones". As a result, the number of demons in Shenzhou Continent plummeted, and they quickly faced the crisis of extinction. At this time, nine Demon Kings stood up. In order to protect their forces, what they could do was—become idols! Pah, Demon Kings. With the overwhelming popularity of the Demon Kings, they were able to rally great strength! The first to start was a Highland Tree Demon, a Bifang that was the essence of the southern bright departure fire, and a Chi Dragon from the Final Cold Land, these three demon creatures not fond of leaving their haunts had no favored ones to enjoy the blood of humans. Then, six more Great Demons were roped into the gang. Zhen Chan clicked his tongue in amazement, "These few demon creatures are monsters that have survived for a hundred thousand years. In my youth, they were already infamous Giant Demons." "And then those Giant Demons died with their eyes wide open!" Wang Qi said with glee. Zhen Chan said, "It probably wouldn't be difficult for Modern Cultivators to slay them." "That Tree Demon, an expert in Wood Element Magic, turned life force into Poison Power, but ended up being planted with mushrooms by the King of Ten Thousand Fungi, Bashide—don't get me wrong, not the Heavenly Sword. Rumor has it that when the Tree Demon died, its entire body was covered in mushroom spores, and its life force, along with its Life Fire, were all sucked dry by Senior Ba's mushrooms." "What about the south's fiery Bifang and the cold Chi Dragon from the north?" "They both died at the hands of a Carefree Practitioner from Fentian Prefecture." Zhen Chan let out an incredulous cry, "Bifang excelled in fire, with flames so intense that even ghosts and gods kept their distance. The Chi Dragon was the complete opposite, with bone-chilling coldness, that even a Mahayana would freeze to death. They were actually defeated by a Fire Cultivation cultivator?" "Don't forget, the true nature of the 'Heavenly Entropy Technique' isn't ice and fire, but 'Thermal Energy'. Its ability also lies not in Ignition, but in heating." Only when putting others down did Wang Qi patiently explain, "The temperature of Bifang's departing fire was already very high. Just pushing it up a few degrees exceeded Bifang's own limit of endurance. Then Bifang was burnt alive by its own supercharged departing fire. The Chi Dragon, on the other hand, was frozen into pieces—just a few degrees' drop from its own icy blood. The Fentian Marquis Kelvin could do it all by himself." "An innate nature unbeatable? That's hilarious! Any creature that doesn't understand the essence of its own power can't be all that strong!" ———————————————————— The recommendations surged today again. I'm grateful to the readers who cast their votes for me while I was on leave. I bow in thanks again!