Chapter 118: Fishing

The cat demon nodded. "It was my luck. As a cub, I instinctively absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon. After I began cultivating, I met an elder bamboo demon who enlightened me with a drop of Emperor's Dew, which awakened my innate wisdom and allowed me to speak human words."

Hearing this, Qin Sang suddenly understood.

Demonic beasts' cultivation realms are divided into Mortal Demon, Spirit Demon, Core Demon, and Shapeshifting stages. The origins and bloodlines of demonic beasts are very complex. Some demonic beasts with powerful bloodlines can rival Golden Core cultivators upon reaching adulthood, though their intelligence may not be very high. Legendary ancient mythical beasts, endowed with unique advantages, are born with strength comparable to human grand cultivators and wisdom no less than humans, yet they are often slow to shapeshift.

Ordinary beasts like the white cat, similar to mortals, first instinctively absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. They then cultivate step-by-step in an orderly manner, a process no less difficult than for human cultivators. When a Mortal Demon beast advances to the Spirit Demon stage, it gradually gains intelligence, but still cannot shed its instincts. After forming a demonic core and entering the Core Demon stage, its intelligence steadily increases until it undergoes the shapeshifting tribulation, becoming a great shapeshifting demon, at which point it is indistinguishable from human cultivators.

Emperor's Dew is a divine substance born from heaven and earth when demonic beasts undergo the shapeshifting tribulation. Records describe it as "countless olives, tens of thousands of golden threads, strung together, descending upon the human realm. Plants and trees that receive its essence can transform into demons." It is said that Emperor's Dew is indispensable for demonic beasts undergoing shapeshifting, offers great benefits to human cultivators, and can enlighten ordinary beasts, directly awakening their intelligence. It is a coveted treasure for countless demonic beasts.

The white cat was fortunate enough to be enlightened by Emperor's Dew, so it's no wonder its intelligence is on par with humans. For that bamboo demon to casually give away such a divine substance as Emperor's Dew suggests a significant background, even if they are not a great shapeshifting demon. Most great demons in the Little Cold Domain are gathered in the Western Demonic Region's Heavenly Demonic Hills. Could it be that there are also great demons cultivating in seclusion within Mount Shaohua or the Cloud滄 Great Marsh? If they remain still, so be it. If they move, they must be exterminated!

Qin Sang secretly warned the cat demon and asked in a deep voice, "We are strangers. Who sent you? What do you need to report to me?"

The cat demon did not reply, but nodded to Qin Sang. Then it waved the green bamboo backward. A beam of green light flew out and soon returned, enveloping over a hundred human figures. The green light finally deposited them before Qin Sang, spreading them out on the ground. There were children, as well as young men and women. Their clothes were rough, and their faces sallow, clearly indicating they were from poor families. These people, like the young man from earlier, had sunken eyes and pale faces, though they were not as emaciated. All of them lay motionless on the ground, eyes closed, resembling rows of corpses.

Qin Sang glanced indifferently at them, his tone chilling. "What is the meaning of this? Are you threatening me with these mortals?"

The cat demon looked earnestly at Qin Sang and said, "They are all villagers from Black Tiger Gully below the mountain. After being brought up the mountain, not a single person died. Heiwa... oh, my companion, cultivates a demonic art that requires blood sustenance, but he has never killed an innocent person. After abducting these villagers, when his demonic art acted up, he merely absorbed some of their blood and essence. They only need to be sent back to rest for a while to recover. His purpose in doing this was solely to lure Gu Tiannan and you, young master, here. I wish to ask, young master, are you a high-level cultivator from the cultivation sect behind Gu Tiannan?"

Hearing this, Qin Sang suddenly had a premonition, but as it was not of his kind, its words might not be trustworthy. Qin Sang did not answer, saying instead, "Continue."

"Let me tell you a story, young master," said the white cat.

The blazing sun hung overhead, yet the mountain was shrouded in an eerie aura. A towering green light enveloped the area, and from the outside, the green light fluctuated violently, suggesting a fierce battle within. Inside the green light, a man and a cat were separated by hundreds of unconscious mortals. The cat spoke, and the man listened.

There was a young man named Hei Hu. His parents were alive, and his family was harmonious. He lived a peaceful and prosperous life in a small mountain village. Then, one day, disaster struck. His entire family was slaughtered by a demon, and the whole village became a living hell. Only he miraculously escaped and became an orphan. Later, he became an apprentice to a martial arts master, learned various martial arts, and made a great name for himself in the pugilistic world, never forgetting his deep-seated blood feud. He traveled across the Ancient Abyss Kingdom, seeking revenge on the demon. However, he obtained a legendary immortal scroll. Only after cultivating it did he realize that this demonic art required devouring the souls of mortals and using them as blood sustenance. The young man suddenly realized that the person who slaughtered his relatives was very likely someone who also cultivated this demonic art. He began to follow the clues and eventually discovered that over several decades, not only in the Ancient Abyss Kingdom but also in several nearby small countries, there had been more than one similar tragic incident. He also found the cave dwelling of a person who cultivated the demonic art.

Based on the dying words found in the cave dwelling, the trail ultimately led to Gu Tiannan...

The white cat spoke quickly and concisely, as if pressed for time. "He knew he was no match for Gu Tiannan, and he had already fallen into demonic cultivation. Even if he found other immortal cultivators, his word alone wouldn't be believed, so he decided to avenge himself with his own life."

After hearing the story, the first thought that came to Qin Sang's mind was "entrapment." The information revealed by the white cat shocked Qin Sang.

"Gu Tiannan's cultivation is at the thirteenth level of the Qi Refining stage?" He had interacted with Gu Tiannan for so long without sensing it in the slightest.

The white cat replied, "Yes, that's right. Not just Gu Tiannan, but his disciple's cultivation is also no weaker than yours, young master. If not for this green bamboo left by Elder Bamboo Demon to protect our lives, we would have been killed by them long ago. Last time, Heiwa intended to avenge himself in person, only to discover Gu Tiannan's true strength. He was caught off guard and severely injured. Although I rescued him, his injuries are too severe; even if he doesn't die this time, he won't live much longer."

Qin Sang was not concerned about that. "He lures others into cultivating demonic arts, then devours those who cultivate them, to achieve such high cultivation?"

The white cat nodded. "To our knowledge, that is indeed the case."

Qin Sang's eyes flickered. He lowered his head and thought for a moment before pressing, "What is your relationship with Heiwa, and why are you helping him? Do you expect me to suspect my fellow sect brother is the mastermind based solely on your side of the story?"

The white cat said, "I have some connection with his ancestors, and agreeing to help him also serves my own purposes. I know you won't believe me, young master, but if you are willing to come with me, you can see the truth with your own eyes. The time... is almost upon us."

The white cat stepped out of the green light, turned back to look at Qin Sang, and awaited his decision. Qin Sang had long harbored suspicions about Gu Tiannan. After hearing the story, he already believed it seventy to eighty percent, but he knew that seeing was believing.

The green light remained in place, simulating an intense battle. Qin Sang activated his Cloud-Descent Wings, and the white cat also concealed its form. One after another, they soared into the depths of the mountains.

"We're here!"

Just as they were about to cross a mountain, the white cat suddenly stopped and mouthed words to Qin Sang.