The demon beneath the great boulder had the six other demons line up to perform a blood-drop test on a brilliant Crystal Stone.
Xu Chang'an and the other demons waited for quite some time at a distance before the six demons finally finished their tests one by one.
Then, the crowd of demons saw the pig-like demon toss another bulging bag to the Black Chicken Spirit.
Judging by its size, it was more than double the size of the first bag!
What was going on!?
The demons in the group grew a little restless and uneasy.
Even after becoming demons, the intelligence of ordinary demons—barring those from special races—was limited.
It was only natural that they couldn't quite figure out the current situation.
Xu Chang'an watched for a moment and understood.
'The Black Chicken Spirit didn't travel for months just to do charity.'
'He was naturally after something.'
'Without a doubt, the contents of that black bag were his reward.'
'The bag had to be filled with Demon Stones.'
'The Demon Stones of the Demon Race and the Spirit Stones of the Human Race were, in essence, the same thing!'
'The names were just different due to the different civilizations.'
"With this, my task is complete. The Demon Path is fraught with hardship. I wish you all a prosperous journey!"
The Black Chicken Spirit returned from the great rock and stood before the crowd of demons.
Despite his sharp beak and gaunt face, he looked positively radiant.
With six demons of Middle-class Bloodline, plus over forty others, his profits from this trip were substantial.
Combined with his previous savings, he could probably try to trade for a Tier-Breaking Elixir for the Late-stage Qi Refining!
The Demon Race could contend with the Human Race not just because of their powerful Bloodlines and physiques, but also because they had their own civilization!
Elixirs exclusive to the Demon Race were, of course, indispensable!
Aside from the extraordinarily gifted or those with special Bloodlines, cultivation was no easy feat for the vast majority of demons, who were limited by their natural talent.
Elixirs, however, could help ordinary members of the Demon Race cultivate better and faster.
As such, Alchemy Masters within the Demon Race were highly revered.
Besides Alchemy Masters, there were also Demon Pattern Masters, Demon Talisman Masters, Blacksmiths, Spirit Plant Masters, and so on.
"Thank you, Senior!"
"Thank you, Black Chicken, for your protection!"
"Thank you!"
...
The demons all responded to the Black Chicken Spirit's farewell.
Xu Chang'an thanked him along with the others.
SWOOSH!
After bidding farewell to the demons, the Black Chicken Spirit didn't linger for a moment, his body dissolving into a black afterimage.
In truth, at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, one could already achieve flight with the help of a Magical Artifact.
However, flying consumed a great deal of Demon Power. Unless one had reached the Late-stage Qi Refining, they generally wouldn't use it as a means of travel.
Unless the situation was urgent!
Besides, the Demon Race wasn't as prosperous as the Human Race. It was no easy feat for a Qi Refining Sixth Layer demon from an ordinary background to possess a single Demon Artifact.
Looking at the towering, endless expanse of Red Cloud Mountain before them, each of the demons felt something different.
Xu Chang'an felt a touch of melancholy. 'So this is the place where I'll be spending my future.'
"Demons with Lower Grade Bloodline Talent, step forward!"
A twenty-foot-tall Wild Boar Demon covered in tusks appeared before them.
The aura it exuded was that of a Qi Refining Seventh Layer demon!
Such a level of Cultivation was enough to rule over a mountain in any ordinary, desolate land. To think that at Red Cloud Mountain, this was just a Little Demon guarding the Mountain Gate.
This was but a glimpse of Red Cloud Mountain's profound power!
In response to the Wild Boar Monster's deep, muffled voice, a full seventeen demons stepped forward.
"Good. The rest of you, leave the Red Cloud Mountain Gate at once. Do not linger!"
The Wild Boar Monster's words made the crowd of demons erupt like a pot of boiling water.
"Leave the Red Cloud Mountain Gate!?"
"What does this mean!? Only those with Lower Grade Bloodline Talent get to stay?!"
"..."
Seeing the crowd grow agitated and the situation about to spiral out of control, the Wild Boar Monster let out a furious roar, infusing it with his Magical Power.
"SILENCE!"
Xu Chang'an felt his eardrums vibrate, a splitting pain lancing through his head.
The gap in their Cultivation was too vast; it was impossible to resist.
"Those with Middle-class Bloodline Talent may directly enter Red Cloud Mountain as Little Demons. Those with Lower Grade Bloodline Talent must undergo a selection. The chosen will become Little Demons of Red Cloud Mountain. The failures will become servant Little Demons!
As for you with your paltry, Inferior Bloodlines, you think you can stay here? What do you take Red Cloud Mountain for!? Make any more noise and I'll kill you where you stand!"
With that, the Wild Boar Monster led the seventeen demons away.
Only some thirty-odd demons were left behind.
"Inferior Bloodline, Inferior... Could they have made a mistake!"
A Bear Demon not far from Xu Chang'an muttered to itself.
Months of anticipation had turned to nothing in an instant.
Xu Chang'an narrowed his eyes, watching the direction the Wild Boar Monster had gone.
'This was a twist he hadn't expected.'
'It seems the competition within the Demon Race is far more intense than that of the Human Race.'
'Survival of the fittest, natural selection at its rawest!'
'With ordinary talent and a common Bloodline, one's Demon Path is destined to be short!'
'As a renowned and powerful faction, Red Cloud Mountain would naturally be selective about the Little Demons under its command.'
Among the demons, a Leopard Demon lost control of its emotions. Screaming wildly, it tried to charge the Mountain Gate of Red Cloud Mountain.
It hadn't taken more than a few steps before a blade of light flashed, and the Leopard Demon's body was sliced in two.
The Demon Path was hard. After so much hardship, after finally succeeding in becoming a demon, it had fallen here!
The Leopard Demon's death instantly cooled the tempers of the remaining demons.
Though their hearts were filled with unwillingness, they still began to depart one by one.
From Cyan Mountain to Red Cloud Mountain—a journey of thousands of miles over several months, braving the elements—who would have thought it would all be for nothing?
"Red Cloud Mountain!"
Xu Chang'an stared at the distant, endless mountain range that pierced the clouds. A flicker of an indescribable emotion glinted in his darting eyes.
In the air before him, a panel that only he could see materialized.
Munching on medicinal herbs over the past few months of travel had allowed him to accumulate 3 Energy Points.
Name: Xu Chang'an
Bloodline: Ordinary Grey Rat (Unranked)
Lifespan: 12 Years
Realm: Qi Refining First Layer
Skills: None
Energy: (3/5)
...
Afterward, with a calm expression, Xu Chang'an glanced at the demons remaining by the great rock in the distance, dropped to all fours, and turned to leave.
'The Demon Path is long and winding, but I will raise my head to the heavens and continue my search.'
...
Bai Yuhu watched the departing demons, her expression cool and detached, her thoughts unreadable.
"Miss Yu, what are you thinking about?"
The Striped Tiger Demon came to a stop beside Bai Yuhu, the 'King' character on his forehead shining brilliantly.
"Nothing."
Bai Yuhu's voice was cool as she gazed into the distance, her emotions impossible to discern.
The Striped Tiger Demon didn't seem to mind. During their journey, he'd noticed Bai Yuhu's interest in the little rat and had felt a pang of jealousy. Now, however, he no longer cared.
They had traveled together for months, demons on the same road, but now their paths had diverged.
In the end, though they were all demons, their fates were different.
"This single Mountain Gate of Red Cloud Mountain now separates us as if by an entire world."
The Cyan Wolf Demon at his side remarked poetically, watching the departing demons.
"Everyone, you will now come with me to the Law Enforcement Hall to receive the Elder's instructions. Afterward, you will formally join our Red Cloud Mountain!"
Bai Yuhu, the Striped Tiger, the Cyan Wolf Demon, and the other three nodded in assent.