Chapter 617: Not Knowing but Pretending to Understand

"What's wrong with all of you?" Han Feidao wondered, puzzled. Each of them was acting peculiar.

Zixing gave an embarrassed smile and said, "Teacher, let's sit somewhere else."

Only then did Han Feidao sense that something was amiss. He glanced at Jiang Fan suspiciously. Could it be that the Ten Stars of the Demon Race were actually afraid of a mere human junior? Jiang Fan's hands and feet were tied. Why would they need to be afraid of him?

Han Feidao sternly said, "Just sit where I told you to!"

Zixing and the other seven stars exchanged glances. They signaled each other, each trying to push the other to sit next to Jiang Fan, but no one dared.

Han Feidao became angry. How could he, a dignified teacher, not be able to command his own students anymore? But what annoyed him even more was yet to come.

Jiang Fan frowned and commanded, "Everyone, sit down properly!" He was waiting to see what exactly the Tiger Demon Emperor's reliquary box was. Not only were these few people late, but they were also dithering endlessly about where to sit.

At his shout, the few of them shuddered and quickly scrambled into their seats. Zixing, steeling himself, sat beside Jiang Fan and cupped his hands, saying, "So, the Prince Consort has arrived as well."

This scene stunned Han Feidao. His own words were less effective than those of a human junior? His aged face lost some composure, and he scoffed, "He's not even the Prince Consort yet, and they're already fawning over him like this. Since when has such obsequiousness become common among the Demon Race?"

Zixing gave a wry smile. It wasn't Jiang Fan's status as Prince Consort that he feared. The Demon Race only valued strength; status was secondary. Otherwise, how would Ling Shu dare to contend with the Demon Emperor's daughter? However, he was too embarrassed to tell Han Feidao about the disgrace of the Ten Stars of the Demon Emperor's Hall being defeated. He could only offer a silent, bitter smile.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Ling Shu quickly interjected. "Alright, alright," she said. "It's rare for Elder Han and all you demon elite to gather here. How can we waste such a precious time?"

She walked to the corner and brought a bundle wrapped in animal hide to the table. Pulling off the hide, a square black jade stone came into view. Jiang Fan's eyes flickered slightly: "This is?"

Ling Shu, holding her skirt, sat beside Jiang Fan and chuckled softly, "It's the Tiger Demon Emperor's Jade Casket."

"Jade Casket?" Jiang Fan was startled. The jade stone was a single piece, without any seams. Aside from its square shape, it didn't look like a box at all. However, only upon closer inspection did he notice it was covered in densely carved ancient demon script, vastly different from modern demon characters.

"This is the reliquary box our tribe obtained when the Tiger Demon Emperor perished," she explained. "For decades, we haven't been able to decipher the ancient demon script on it. We've brought it out today, hoping to use everyone's collective wisdom to unlock its secrets. I specifically asked the Clan Leader, and whoever successfully deciphers it will receive thirty percent of its contents."

Ling Shu looked around at everyone, her voice sweet as she introduced it. Hearing this, everyone's hearts stirred. That old Demon Emperor, who was close to reaching the Divinity Transformation stage, had left behind a legacy that granted the current Azure Sky Demon Emperor his supreme authority over the demon race. The jade casket before them was so carefully preserved. What if it also contained a legacy? Then...

Liuli, her belly prominent, walked over and pulled Zixing to his feet. She then sat on Jiang Fan's other side. She shot a sidelong glance at Ling Shu, who was sitting close to Jiang Fan's left, then curiously looked at the Tiger Demon Emperor's Jade Casket. Before coming, she had dismissed the Tiger Demon Emperor's Jade Casket, but now, she was more intrigued than anyone.

"Sister Liuli, you are the Demon Emperor's daughter and possess vast knowledge. Do you understand the demon script on it?" Ling Shu asked provocatively.

Liuli secretly gritted her teeth. Does being the Demon Emperor's daughter mean she *should* know ancient demon script? Ling Shu never missed an opportunity to subtly mock her! Everyone looked at her, and Liuli didn't want to lose face. Maintaining her composure, she said, "What's so difficult about a few ancient demon characters? Jiang Fan, tell them what's written on it."

Jiang Fan chuckled inwardly. Was she throwing her fiancé under the bus to save herself? Fortunately, he actually understood it. "Alright, I'll take a closer look."

Jiang Fan rotated the jade casket, carefully examining the characters on it. Noticing his earnest look, Ling Shu showed surprise: "Brother, don't strain yourself. Sister Liuli was just joking with you." She didn't expect Jiang Fan to be able to decipher the demon script at all. Today's main guest was Han Feidao. Since joining the Demon Race, Han Feidao had dedicated himself to studying demon culture. He didn't cultivate martial arts; instead, he was deeply engrossed in various ancient demon texts. After decades, regarding his knowledge of demon culture, if he said he was second, no one would dare claim first. Even the Demon Emperor might not know as much as him. As for Jiang Fan, he wasn't even on the guest list.

Jiang Fan smiled, "It's no bother. I happen to know a little about ancient demon script."

Ling Shu's cherry lips parted in surprise and delight: "Brother, you... you understand even this?"

Liuli, to his left, was stunned. "Wait. Jiang Fan *really* understood it! How could this guy be skilled at everything?"

Hun Yuan also looked incredulous. "That's too fake, isn't it? Jiang Fan understands ancient demon script? Han Feidao had studied ancient demon texts his entire life and wouldn't even claim to be proficient in demon script. Jiang Fan was only eighteen! And with such high martial arts cultivation, he surely wouldn't have had time to study demon script."

Han Feidao looked at Jiang Fan with surprise, then let out a scoffing laugh: "He really dares to speak so boldly. This is the script of a demon tribe called the Muye Tribe, which has already vanished into the annals of history. Their last tribal member perished four hundred years ago. Apart from a single parchment scroll in the Demon Emperor's Hall that recorded a small number of their characters, there are no other traces of them left in the world."

"Muye Tribe?" Everyone present looked bewildered. Even the most intelligent Ling Shu found it completely unfamiliar: "If only our Demon Race could learn from Elder Brother Jiang Fan's human race. The human race has continuously passed down thousands of years of history. Yet, after only four hundred years, our Demon Race has almost no history left."

Jiang Fan cast a surprised glance at Han Feidao. Although this human traitor was annoying, he truly possessed some ability. He actually recognized the demon script on it. Jiang Fan nodded slightly: "It is indeed the Muye Tribe's script. You actually recognize it."

Han Feidao laughed in anger. "Are you just parroting me? Whatever tribe I mention, you agree to, is that it?" He simply didn't believe Jiang Fan could be as proficient in the Muye Tribe's script as he was. That parchment scroll had taken him two years. He had only managed to decipher it with great difficulty, cross-referencing it with numerous surviving demon texts. Even then, he only dared to claim he recognized the Muye Tribe's script *on the parchment scroll*. Characters not recorded on the scroll, even if placed before him, he might not recognize.

Jiang Fan gave him an indifferent look and frowned, saying, "You look at yours, I'll look at mine. What's with all the nonsense!" Being constantly interrupted was quite annoying.

"You!" Han Feidao was choked with rage. He hadn't intended to bother with Jiang Fan. Who would have thought this young man would be so rude? "You like to imitate others, don't you? Fine! You decipher it first! Once you've deciphered it, this old man will announce the correct answer! I'd like to see how you'll pretend to understand when I'm not speaking!"