Chapter 232
"How can a mere mixed-blood Qingluan compare to me?"
To everyone's surprise, a flash of golden light flickered in the crow's eyes, and its tone was laced with disdain.
Zheng Fa felt even more puzzled.
Senior Sister Yuan was originally a Qingluan, a creature considered a divine beast among the Xuanwei feathered species. Otherwise, the sect leader wouldn't treat her like a pet. If Senior Sister Yuan could advance to the Yuanying stage, she might even become the guardian spirit beast of the Jiushan Sect in the future.
Yet this crow spoke with such arrogance.
Zheng Fa thought about the Fusang wood within him, his expression turning a bit strange—could this thing actually be the legendary Jinwu?
Senior Sister Yuan was also taken aback. She looked at the golden light in the crow's eyes, as if recalling something: "Is there actually a Jinwu bloodline in this world?"
The crow raised its head proudly and declared, "Indeed!"
Senior Sister Yuan pursed her lips, her anger slightly dissipating as she turned to Zheng Fa and Sister Zhang, saying, "In the world of feathered creatures, there are three supreme bloodlines: one is the Phoenix, another is the Kunpeng, and the last is the Jinwu." Her tone was serious. "But in all these millennia, I've never heard of any feathered creature with these three bloodlines appearing."
It was clear that she was somewhat intimidated by the crow's so-called Jinwu bloodline.
Zheng Fa nodded slightly and looked at the Jinwu.
The Jinwu met his gaze with equal pride.
"So... why is your cultivation so low?"
Zheng Fa's first question froze the arrogance in its eyes.
"…"
Senior Sister Yuan blinked, suddenly realizing something, and shook the crow in her hand.
The Jinwu did have some cultivation, but it was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Considering the so-called supreme bloodlines... there was clearly something off.
"I..."
"If you truly possess a supreme bloodline of the demon race, why is there no one protecting you? Why are you running around freely?"
"…"
The crow quietly lowered its head.
Zheng Fa glanced at its legs—just two of them.
"I heard that Jinwu have three legs..." He stroked his chin and concluded, "You must be a crippled Jinwu?"
"…You’re the cripple!" The crow couldn't take the insult anymore. "I am a pure Jinwu bloodline! It's just that the current spiritual energy environment is insufficient to support my bloodline's growth!"
Zheng Fa was taken aback; it was the first time he had heard such a claim.
The Jinwu looked somewhat aggrieved, pointing its wing at Senior Sister Yuan. "Although her bloodline is lower than mine, she can cultivate better! My Jinwu bloodline, while having awakened intelligence early, cultivates slowly..."
"So that's the reason why the so-called supreme bloodlines haven't appeared for so long?"
Zheng Fa felt a bit enlightened.
The Jinwu nodded and explained, "Over the past ten thousand years, the demon race has discovered that the stronger the bloodline, the harder it is to cultivate. This is even the reason why powerful demons want to collaborate with the demonic sect."
Zheng Fa immediately guessed, "They want to leverage the bloodline of the Demon Ancestor?"
"Yes," the Jinwu revealed a shocking piece of information that left Zheng Fa astonished. "But it's not just a desire; it's already been realized."
"Huh?"
"Some demons and disciples of the demonic sect have engaged in dual cultivation, giving birth to demon beasts capable of practicing demonic sect techniques."
"…"
Zheng Fa slowly furrowed his brows. "What advantages do such offspring have?"
"Compared to the demon race, they can use demonic sect techniques to increase their cultivation and progress faster." The Jinwu sighed. "Compared to the disciples of the demonic sect, they also inherit the bloodline of the demon race, making them somewhat stronger."
Zheng Fa grimaced.
What a mixed-blood advantage.
This was certainly not good news, especially for the Jiushan Sect.
The Demon Ancestor's control over his disciples likely lay within their bloodlines. The former Great Freedom Demonic Sect seemed to emphasize the purity of bloodlines. Now that the Demon Ancestor was willing to allow his disciples to mate with demons—on some level, it could even be seen as a breakthrough in their realm.
"Actually, even without this, the demon race has been looking to collaborate with the demonic sect." The Jinwu continued, "The demon race has suffered greatly in this era."
That much was true.
From what Zheng Fa had heard in the Jiushan Sect, the demon race didn't hold much sway in the Xuanwei realm—though there were certainly powerful demons in the deep mountains, the demon race itself was like a scattered sand, lacking a major force.
Not to mention that some sects liked to treat demons as spirit beasts.
Where there is oppression, there is resistance... especially now that the decline of spiritual energy was becoming more pronounced, the demon race naturally needed to find a way out.
Zheng Fa looked at the Jinwu and asked, "Then why…"
"I don't want to be a breeding bird anymore..."
"Huh?"
The Jinwu hung its head, seemingly realizing it couldn't hide the truth and fearing Zheng Fa wouldn't trust it, so it laid bare its origins:
"My bloodline is noble, but my strength is lacking, so I was chosen and sent to the Great Freedom Demonic Sect..."
Zheng Fa couldn't help but ask, "…You can't even transform?"
"I can't turn into a human, but the demon women of the Great Freedom Demonic Sect can turn into birds!"
"…"
"They even have methods to induce desire! On birds!" The Jinwu's voice was tinged with a whimper. "My body is almost ruined!"
What the Jinwu said left the courtyard in silence.
Zheng Fa couldn't help but admire—this Great Freedom Demonic Sect had gone too far in their biological experiments!
"So you escaped?"
Zheng Fa realized that although the Jinwu's cultivation was low, if its bloodline was truly that noble, it certainly couldn't wander around freely.
"Yes," the Jinwu nodded. "I have a strong ability to hide. If I don't speak, no one can tell I have a Jinwu bloodline. I thought this marketplace was bustling, with the celestial sects being powerful, so those people wouldn't dare chase after me."
"Then I found out…" The Jinwu looked at Zheng Fa with bright eyes. "You tempt me even more than they do!"
No way...
You can't compare me to that!
Senior Sister Yuan silently nodded beside them.
"So you’re saying they’re not planning to deal with the Jiushan Sect?" Sister Zhang asked, her eyes flashing.
"That's true." The Jinwu shook its head. "You’ve blocked the Great Freedom Demonic Sect too tightly; now they can't even get out, and they're getting anxious."
Zheng Fa's heart tightened. "What are they planning to do?"
"I'm not sure, but I heard they don't want to fight you at the Thunder Pool..."
"Jiushan Sect!"
Zheng Fa and Sister Zhang exchanged glances, both understanding the Great Freedom Demonic Sect's intentions.
Currently, the Great Freedom Demonic Sect was at a disadvantage at the Thunder Pool.
Not to mention the numerous celestial sects gathered there, with more than one or two Yuanying cultivators.
But the Jiushan Sect was different.
There was neither a Thunder Pool nor other celestial sects there, making it a potential breakthrough point for the Great Freedom Demonic Sect.
"Go find the sect leader!"
Sister Zhang nodded and followed behind him as they sought out the sect leader.
"You’re saying this crow has a Jinwu bloodline and holds a significant position among the demon race?"
The sect leader examined the crow from every angle, then turned to Zheng Fa and the others.
Zheng Fa nodded.
"It even gave up a life of three thousand concubines to come to you, enchanted?"
"…"
That sounded strange, but it didn't seem wrong.
Zheng Fa could only nod.
"I've lived for nearly ten thousand years..." The sect leader suddenly sighed.
"Master?"
"I thought your senior brother's ability to attract a demon woman from the demonic sect was already outrageous."
Zheng Fa's mouth dropped open.
"Who would have thought you’d be even more outrageous than your senior brother..." The sect leader sighed. "So, when is the demon army coming?"
"…"
"Master, I didn't summon them!"
"Just tell me if they’re coming or not!"
"They are..."
…
Jokes aside, this was no small matter.
Elder Pang was also summoned by the sect leader, and they all gathered in the Wulong Heavenly Palace for a discussion.
"Here’s the plan: I’ll go back. If the situation at the Thunder Pool becomes critical, you should lead the disciples into the Thunder Pool to hide. I’ll have Sister Huang bring the other disciples over. With me in the Jiushan Sect, and if necessary, the ancestor as well, you won’t have to worry."
The sect leader suddenly said.
Zheng Fa's heart sank; this was preparing for the worst.
Elder Pang frowned. "Brother, they’ve been patient for so long. Once they act, it will be like a thunderbolt; they won’t be easy to deal with, especially since you’ll be alone."
"Brother, I've lived for nearly ten thousand years." Zheng Fa heard his master say again, "I only have a little over a hundred years left."
"Brother…"
"And I might not even die!" The sect leader laughed. "Now that I have the Zhou Tian Thunder Tribulation Talisman, I’m not afraid even if a late Yuanying cultivator comes. If I can take down one or two late Yuanying cultivators with a hundred years of life, it wouldn’t be a loss!"
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 221
Everyone fell silent.
The sect leader was even planning to send the remaining disciples to the Thunder Pool, indicating he was preparing for the worst.
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