Chapter 51 Demon Realm 2: Mystery of Identity
Nothing is more surprising than waking up to find yourself a different race.
When Xu Xing opened her eyes, she found herself lying properly in bed, presumably brought in by her senior brother.
Xu Xing didn't expect to faint so quickly after arriving in the demon realm. The reaction was so strong. Could it be that she had nothing to do with the demon race at all?
But the next moment, she saw her hands covered in scales.
"..."
Xu Xing jumped off the bed, found the mirror on the table, and quickly looked at it. Sure enough, apart from her hands, her face and neck were also covered with tiny white scales.
The illusion pill had lost its effect, and the golden pupils, set against the white scales, appeared even more eerie and radiant.
Xu Xing was relieved to be alone in the room. She took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself down, summoned the Wind Spirit Deer, and asked, "Yin Xue, what happened after I lost consciousness? Did anyone else see me like this?"
"Master, after Shen Du took you back to your room, he left quickly. It was only after he left that your body began to change."
The Wind Spirit Deer still found it strange. Even though Xu Xing now clearly had the characteristics of a demon, it couldn't sense any demonic energy from her at all, which puzzled it greatly.
Thankfully, his senior brother didn't see it, and Xu Xing breathed a sigh of relief.
"Am I... a demon?" Xu Xing murmured to herself. She touched the back of her hand; the scales were hard and cold, like touching a block of ice.
The seven-leaf lingzhi is a companion herb of the snake clan. With these scales, Xu Xing had to accept the fact that she might be a snake demon. She wasn't too upset about it, but she was a little confused.
The Jade Cloud Sect and Water Cloud Immortal are different. Obviously, the Jade Cloud Sect would never accept a demon disciple. If she continues like this, how can she ever return to the Jade Cloud Sect?
Xu Xing didn't have particularly deep feelings for the Jade Cloud Sect, but he had lived there for seven or eight years, and his friends included A Yao, Aunt Lian, Linglan, Zuoqiu Xu, and Chen Du...
She has many friends and ties. If she were a demon, would she have no choice but to leave?
After sitting blankly on the edge of the bed for a while, Xu Xing began to carefully examine his body. The sudden appearance of so many scales meant that something must have changed inside his body.
With a little perception, she discovered that the spiritual energy within her body was incredibly abundant. If she were to hone it properly, she could almost reach the mid-Foundation Establishment stage in one fell swoop!
"So fast?"
The Wind Spirit Deer, however, had a guess: "Master, perhaps it's the power of demon spirits. Demons cultivate by relying on demon spirits. Your body lives in the human realm and has never come into contact with demon spirits. Suddenly absorbing them into your body has greatly increased your cultivation."
Do you know how to retract these scales?
Xu Xing wasn't ready to travel the world with his scales covering him.
The Wind Spirit Deer was somewhat troubled. It was a beast race, not a demon race. However, the demon and beast races had a long history and might have some things in common.
"Master, like the beast race, the demon race transforms into a pearl in its dantian. Why not try to sense the existence of the demon core and absorb the demon spirit into it?"
Under Yin Xue's guidance, Xu Xing looked inward at her dantian, but it still looked like a human cultivator's dantian, filled with white spiritual energy, and no demon core appeared.
There was no demon core?
"I have never heard of a demon race without a demon core. Master, your body may have something special about it, and we cannot determine whether you are a demon race at this time."
Yin Xue paced anxiously around the room, feeling distressed that she couldn't share her master's worries.
Even Yin Xue didn't know this, so Tuanzi and Qingcai, being second-tier demon beasts, couldn't possibly know either. Xu Xing then gave up the idea of asking the other two beasts for advice.
She asked Yin Xue to keep watch for her while she tried to conceal her aura, but after trying for a long time, she not only failed but also broke out in a sweat. "Could it be that these scales can't be retracted?"
Xu Xing lay on the table, feeling utterly defeated. She thought of Qianqian's arm that she had accidentally seen; it also had scales on it. Was this true for all demons?
She wanted to ask, but she wasn't very familiar with Qianqian yet, and it would be rather offensive to ask about the scales so abruptly...
Demon spirits...
This sudden surge in cultivation was due to the absorption of demonic spirits. If it were consumed, would it be possible to conceal these scales?
Thinking of this, Xu Xing jumped up and took out the alchemy furnace. Since he had such abundant spiritual energy, he might as well use it to refine pills instead of wasting it.
The Wind Spirit Deer stood quietly in a corner of the room, its gaze towards Xu Xing gentle yet somewhat strange; it was the first time it had ever seen such a special cultivator.
Despite his changed human identity over the years, he was still able to calmly begin refining pills, leaving it speechless...
Xu Xing's alchemy speed was already very fast, and now with ample spiritual energy, the pills were formed even faster, each one round and plump, of excellent quality.
She began to try refining the third-tier Myriad Spirit Pill. The Myriad Spirit Pill can replenish a large amount of spiritual energy and improve cultivation. Its effects are incomparable to basic pills like the Spirit Gathering Pill. It is also a rare and wonderful elixir for Golden Core cultivators.
After most of the day had passed, Xu Xing's spiritual energy was completely depleted again, and the scales on his arms and face began to fade, revealing his originally fair skin.
Xu Xing, engrossed in alchemy, was unaware that two people were having a brief conversation outside his room.
"Fellow Daoist Shen..."
Mei Zihan was about to head towards Xu Xing's room when he saw Shen Du standing guard not far away. He turned around, stepped over, and smiled, "We are heading to the secret realm tomorrow. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Shen is feeling unwell?"
"It's nothing."
Shen Du was always aloof and taciturn. After knowing each other for a month, Mei Zihan had already gained some understanding of their personalities. Hearing this, he didn't care and only glanced at the tightly closed door. "When we first arrived in the Demon Realm, I noticed that Fellow Daoist Xu seemed quite unwell, but now he has the energy to refine pills, so he must be much better now."
Mei Zihan was an alchemist, though not an expert, but he could still discern the cause of the faint noises coming from inside the room.
When a high-grade elixir is successfully refined, there are often unusual phenomena. At this time, everything is calm, but if you observe carefully, you can find that the spiritual energy around the room is gathering in one place, reaching a certain peak and then stopping. Obviously, the elixir is successful.
So fast?
Mei Zihan had gone out to verify Xu Xing's identity as an alchemist, but only half an hour had passed since he first noticed the commotion, and the pill was already finished? Judging from the movement of spiritual energy, the pill's grade must be no less than third-grade...
Xu Xingcai is only a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet he's already a third-tier alchemist?
Mei Zihan's pale face showed no sign of distress, but her heart was in turmoil. If Xu Xing hadn't been hiding his cultivation level...
A third-tier alchemist in the Foundation Establishment stage is a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
"..."
Shen Du didn't speak, but his eyes clearly conveyed the order to leave.
Mei Zihan smiled, turned around and went back to her room downstairs.
"Senior Brother, is Fellow Daoist Xu alright?"
He Yue came up to her. She had also noticed Xu Xing's condition that day and was somewhat worried.
"It's alright, we'll depart as scheduled tomorrow."
Mei Zihan responded and then looked at Qianqian, who was adjusting her breathing, "Has it been suppressed?"
Qianqian opened her eyes, a green light flashing in them. She stretched out her left arm, rolled up her sleeve, and showed off her smooth arm. "It's all better now."
Qianqian is indeed a demon. She is of the Jiao clan bloodline and is a green Jiao that has not yet reached adulthood. Moreover, she possesses the Heavenly Origin Body, which is rare to see in a thousand years. She has reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage in just seven years of cultivation, which can be described as a genius. If she had not been corrupted by demon blood, she should have advanced to the late-Foundation Establishment stage.
However, her sect kept this a secret, not even from the main sect. This is the main reason why the others dared not return to the sect for help when Qianqian was poisoned by the demonic blood.
Although Shuiyunxian accepts disciples of the demon race, she does not include disciples of the dragon race.
The Jiaolong clan, relying on the fact that they, like the snake clan, had served the dragon clan and thus held a different status from other demon clans, joined forces with the demon clan to lead all living beings into chaos after the last trace of the dragon bloodline was extinguished, attempting to control the demon realm.
The turmoil not only injured many demons, but also caused heavy casualties to Shuiyunxian, who came to provide support. Fortunately, it was eventually suppressed by the former demon king and did not cause a major upheaval.
The exclusive partnership between Shuiyun Xiandu and the Demon Realm was also a form of compensation given by the former Demon King.
The former Demon King was from the Snake Clan. Out of consideration for their past relationship, he did not exterminate the Flood Dragon Clan. However, the Flood Dragon Clan refused to give up and continued to secretly accumulate power in an attempt to wreak havoc on the Demon Realm. Seven years ago, they were discovered by the Snake, Tiger, and Deer Clans and were completely expelled from the Demon Realm.
At that time, Qianqian was only eight years old and a little dragon who had just transformed. After her entire clan was expelled, she was not only seriously injured, but also abandoned in the demon realm. On the verge of death, she was picked up by Mei Qing, the master of Mei Zihan and others, and became their junior sister...
Qianqian knew that the Jiao clan did indeed rebel hundreds of years ago, but after it was suppressed, several leaders of the rebellion died, and the remaining Jiao clan were just a bunch of defeated soldiers who had no desire to become kings. The claim that they rebelled again seven years ago was a complete fabrication!
In order to lead her people back to the demon realm, Qianqian cultivated day and night without ever slacking off after being given a second chance at life.
This time, the Mahayana cultivator from the Tiger Clan named Rong Jun actually dispersed his cultivation and used his own domain to create a secret realm, all in order to find the key.
Upon learning of this, Qianqian immediately decided to come, because Rong Jun was the mastermind behind the framing of the Jiao Clan back then!
“That old thief Rong Jun has controlled the Guixu Secret Realm for many years, and he himself has not been able to enter. Now he dares to open the door wide and allow cultivators of all races to enter the Guixu Secret Realm to search. It can be seen that his body cannot wait any longer. Now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Qianqian looked at Mei Zihan, "If we go to explore the Ruins again, we can't repeat the same mistakes. Senior brother, do you still remember the terrain of the Ruins? Why don't we draw a map before we set off and show it to those two fellow Daoists?"
He Yue asked doubtfully, "Qianqian, you seem to have a lot of confidence in them?"
Xiang Di praised Shen Du, saying, "That Golden Core sword cultivator is indeed sharp in sword intent and has considerable strength."
Qianqian hesitated for a moment before explaining, "It's not because of that sword cultivator, but because of Fellow Daoist Xu. For some reason, she feels somewhat familiar to me, and I can't help but feel close to her."
Mei Zihan glanced at her but did not refute her. "I will draw a map and send it over later."
While Shuiyun Xiandu and the others were discussing matters concerning the secret realm in the room, Xu Xing finally finished refining the pills.
She used up the spiritual energy she had accumulated to refine three Detoxification Pills and one Myriad Spirit Pill, all of which were of the third rank. Having exhausted her spiritual energy, Xu Xing, who should have put away the alchemy furnace, discovered that she could actually draw upon the surrounding demonic spirits to continue refining pills. With such a good opportunity, why not refine more? Xu Xing, in one go, refined five more third-rank Myriad Spirit Pills, raising her [Medical Skill] by five levels.
Xu Xing opened his life skills panel and glanced at it. Compared to two years ago, all his skills had improved:
Gold mining level 6
Herb gathering level 24
Forging Level 21
Medical skill level 43
Cooking Level 50
Sewing Level 15
Her cooking skill leveled up the fastest; it increased whenever she cooked, seemingly regardless of the ingredient's level—even peeling fruit would grant experience. However, this skill wasn't particularly special beyond filling her stomach. Although her food could restore a significant amount of spiritual energy and stamina, it paled in comparison to the effects of elixirs.
Xu Xing values medicine and forging most, one for alchemy and the other for weapon crafting, which are indeed the most useful skills for cultivators.
Xu Xing had a feeling that if she could reach level 30 in forging, her senior brother's Xuan Yue Sword might be able to be repaired.
After confirming that he was completely clean, without a single scale, Xu Xing finally opened the door.
Intending to search for Chen Du, Xu Xing saw him standing not far away. He paused, took a few steps forward, and asked, "Senior Brother, have you been guarding this place all this time?"
Chen Du glanced at her, "Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Xu Xing shook his head. "I'm fine, senior brother, thank you."
Regardless of whether Shen Du noticed her unusual behavior, Xu Xing was very grateful for his protection.
"Senior brother, look..."
Xu Xing took out the Myriad Spirit Pill and said with a smile, "Finally, I've managed to refine a third-tier pill that even Senior Brother can use. This is the Myriad Spirit Pill. Even a Golden Core cultivator can quickly recover all their spiritual power after taking it. Please accept it, Senior Brother."
A thought struck Shen Du: he suddenly remembered the two bottles of pills she had given him years ago, tugging at his sleeve. He had used one of them during his tribulation, while the other, a rather crudely made bottle of pills, was now carefully stored in his storage ring.
Lowering his gaze, Chen Du took the medicine bottle from her hand, opened it, and glanced inside. There were four perfectly round spiritual pills emitting a refreshing medicinal fragrance. With his discerning eye, he could naturally tell that these pills were extraordinary; no wonder Mei Zihan had tried to test them.
In the art of alchemy, Shen Du had never seen an alchemist more outstanding than Xu Xing.
"you……"
Chen Du stroked the medicine bottle, recalling the scale, and then looked at Xu Xing, whose eyes were smiling. Before he could finish speaking, he changed his words to, "Are you hungry? Let's go get something to eat?"
She slept for two days and just woke up today to be refining pills again. She must be hungry.
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