Chapter 232: The Difference Between Barbarian Tribes and Ancient Barbarian Tribes

This was the most rugged and magnificent city the two had ever seen. Built from massive, refined steel-stones, it was impregnable and exuded a formidable aura. Like a towering figure, it stood at the border between the human and demon races, crushing all invading enemies.

The three large characters spelling "Demon Suppression Pass" were not merely decorative; they were part of a rare treasure. This treasure could distinguish between humans and shapeshifting demons, and everyone entering the city had to pass through its light to prove their innocence. Even Lu Yang and the other were no exception.

"My uncle is stationed at the Demon Lock Pass, so it seems I won't be able to see him," Meng Jingzhou said, shaking his head with a hint of regret.

"Make way, make way! My brother is injured and needs a healer!" Just as the two were about to enter the city, they heard shouts from behind them. Two burly men were carrying a stretcher, on which a thin person writhed and groaned in pain.

The crowd instinctively cleared a path. Unexpectedly, as the group prepared to rush into the Demon Suppression Pass, the three characters spelling "Demon Suppression Pass" enveloped them. The three screamed, white smoke rising from their bodies as they revealed their true forms.

The two burly men were actually two giant wolves, and the one on the stretcher was not a human cultivator, but an uninjured old badger-like demon.

The soldiers guarding the gate of the Demon Suppression Pass reacted swiftly. Without hesitation, they acted decisively, raising their spears and halberds to kill the three demons.

Demons attempting to sneak into the Demon Suppression Pass were often encountered, and their fate was always the same: death!

Upon entering the Demon Suppression Pass, the two saw people hawking demon beast hides and inner cores in the streets. Others sold healing elixirs, claiming they were 20% cheaper than in stores, while some boasted of their high cultivation and offered their services as bodyguards.

These people, like the city itself, were rugged and unrestrained.

The two first found an inn, where they rested for a night to recover their energy and gain a clear understanding of their current situation.

Lu Yang pointed at a map, analyzing the information they had gathered.

"This is the Demon Suppression Pass," Lu Yang explained. "It's 200,000 li from the Demon Lock Pass where your uncle is stationed. The dense forest we just entered is the boundary between the Great Xia Dynasty and the demon territory, separating the two sides. It's a neutral zone, not belonging to any single power."

"To reach the true demon territory, you have to pass through that dense forest and then a thick fog," Lu Yang continued. "I also asked the newspaper vendor, and he said this is a major hub for demon trade. The Money Landing Merchant Association's flying boats regularly come here; there's one arriving tomorrow at noon. So, what do you think? Do you want to go back?"

Meng Jingzhou was about to say, "Is that even a question? Of course we're going back," but just as the words were on his lips, he changed his mind.

"Go back? Why would we go back?" he declared. "That dense forest caused us so much trouble. If we don't teach those demons a lesson, how will we ever live this down?"

Lu Yang broke into a broad smile. "What a coincidence, I was thinking the same thing."

The two immediately hit it off. They decided to stay here for a while, vowing not to return until they had made a proper showing.

Returning in such a disheveled and disgraced manner would not be in line with their character.

"It's a pity that little Mang Gu didn't come along," the Immortal Fairy said regretfully from within the mental space, shaking her head. "The ancient barbarian bloodline within him has a natural suppressive effect on demons."

Lu Yang suspected that the Immortal Fairy had been fully aware when Senior Sister stood behind them earlier and hadn't warned him because she wanted to see him make a fool of himself.

It was a logical suspicion.

Soon, Lu Yang was drawn into the Immortal Fairy's topic. "There's such a thing?" he asked.

When this topic came up, the Immortal Fairy became exceptionally proud. She placed one hand on her hip, adopting an air of grand authority. "Of course!" she declared. "Did you think I merely raised the intelligence limit of the barbarians and bestowed wisdom upon them? At that time, a small part of my power was also shared!"

"Who do you think I am?" she continued. "Do you know how many ancient demons I've eaten to create the *Compendium of Culinary Arts*?"

"Ancient demons felt a fear of me that stemmed from their very bloodline," she explained. "Mang Gu, having received a tiny fraction of my power, indirectly gained this ability. He has a natural suppressive effect on demons!"

"Thanks to my gifts," she boasted, "it's no exaggeration to say the ancient barbarians could swagger through the demon race. Against a demon a whole major rank lower, they could make it prostrate itself with just bloodline pressure. And if they encountered one of the same rank, fighting two at once would be no problem for a single barbarian!"

Lu Yang was about to praise the Immortal Fairy's might and impressive power when he immediately thought of another question.

"Can this suppressive effect be temporarily hidden?" he asked. "For example, when ancient barbarians were hunting and hidden in the shadows, if a demon approached, even without seeing the barbarian, would it instinctively fear the ancient barbarian bloodline and run away in terror?"

The Immortal Fairy first thought silently for a moment, then burst into loud laughter. "...Hahahaha, you really think through everything!" she exclaimed. "With me protecting the barbarians, how could there ever be a food shortage?"

"Fairy, stop laughing and answer my question!" Lu Yang pressed.

"Hahahaha, I protect the barbarians!" she repeated, still laughing.

Lu Yang could only sigh.

Previously, Lu Yang had always wondered about the difference between the ancient barbarians and the current barbarians. He had asked Mang Gu, but Mang Gu couldn't answer, only saying that the ancient barbarians possessed a mysterious power within them, granting them various abilities and immense help. However, this power was so strong that it caused the ancient barbarians to defy the natural order, and thus it gradually faded and disappeared with the passage of time.

As for what this mysterious power was, Mang Gu himself didn't know, nor could the elders of his tribe explain it clearly; they only said it was a gift from the heavens.

Now that he thought about it, could this mysterious power be a bestowal from the Immortal Fairy?

As for why only Mang Gu remained of the ancient barbarians, whether it was due to natural selection and survival of the fittest, or if the Immortal Fairy's power simply diluted with each successive generation, remained unknown.

"Actually, I'm still very popular among the demon race," the Immortal Fairy stated.

Lu Yang looked at the Immortal Fairy suspiciously. "Really?" he thought. "Have the demons lost their minds to welcome you so much?"

"What, you don't believe me?" she retorted. "The Qiongqi clan said the Taotie clan would be delighted to have me visit them, and the Taotie clan said the Qiongqi clan would be delighted to have me visit them. I toured the demon lands, and everywhere I went, there was laughter and joy, seeing me off."

"It's understandable, really," she added. "After all, an Immortal descending upon the demon race is like a blessing from heaven."

"Now you know, don't you? My presence in your mental space, what immense good fortune that is!" she pressed. "Not to mention ancient secrets, which I can just casually reveal. Anyone else couldn't do what I do."

"Fairy," Lu Yang deadpanned, "out of all the ancient secrets you've shared, has even one been useful?"

Lu Yang felt he was not destined to enjoy such good fortune. It would be better to invite someone with a strong fate to bear it.

Senior Sister, for instance, would be perfect.

In reality, Lu Yang sighed softly. "Poor Mang Gu."

Meng Jingzhou was puzzled. "What's wrong with Mang Gu?"

They were the ones suffering in the dense forest; why was Mang Gu the pitiful one?

"Nothing," Lu Yang replied. "Let's continue discussing our next move."