Chapter 134: Treatise on Demonic Creatures

All the way, Yan Buji also noticed that among these few lone cultivators, only the young cultivator Li Wang was especially talkative.

The other three, although all at mid Lianqi Phase, posed no threat to Yan Buji.

However, they might have hidden strength, but since there is no conflict of interest, Yan Buji does not believe they would dare to strike at him casually.

Moreover, on the surface I'm only at Lianqi Tier 2; you watch such modest power so closely—how cautious are you, really?

"By the way, Daoist Ji, besides cultivation, do you have any other hobbies?"

"Hobbies... I have prepared some wine; I wonder if Daoist Li would like to sample it?"

Yan Buji smiled, took out the wine gourd at his waist, and casually formed a seal to draw the wine out.

The wine spurted from the gourd's mouth, spreading a fresh fragrance throughout the carriage.

These are some wines Yan Buji blended during his time at the market; although the brewing period was short, the ingredients and techniques were quite meticulous. With guidance from the tavern owner Tian Liang, he brewed a clear wine that Yan Buji personally enjoys.

The wine is clear; on close sniff it is not very strong, instead carrying a fresh bamboo‑leaf scent, though not like green bamboo wine, with hints of orchid, plum and chrysanthemum aromas.

"What a fragrant wine! Daoist Ji, this wine smells great—does it have a name?"

"I personally like to call it 'Gentleman's Wine'."

"Gentleman's Wine? Haha, then I must try it."

Li Wang smacked his lips, and Yan Buji smiled as he guided a stream of wine to fall in front of him.

Li Wang also circulated his mana, and a wine cup seemed to materialize in his hand, formed of condensed mana, catching all the wine without spilling a drop, then he tipped his head and drank.

"Fine wine! Plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum—truly a gentleman's brew! It lives up to its name. It's a pity the brewing time was short, though; if it had been aged for a few decades, the flavor would be immensely mellow," Li Wang laughed.

Yan Buji looked at the other three, smiled and asked, "Fellow Daoists, would you like to try?"

"We appreciate the kindness, but no need," a middle‑aged man of similar age gave a slight smile and shook his head.

"Since Daoist Ji is so kind, I would also like to try," a plain‑looking woman in palace attire laughed, and Yan Buji poured a portion of wine for her.

As for the last man in black, his face constantly covered by a bamboo hat, he said nothing; Yan Buji shrugged and reclaimed the remaining wine.

The palace‑clad woman covered her mouth and drank the wine, nodding slightly: "It's not some celestial nectar, but I can see Daoist Ji has his own unique insight into brewing. The wine is good; if it were made with Spiritual Material, it would probably be even better."

"Hahaha, where would I have the luxury of using Spiritual Material?" Yan Buji gave a wry smile, shook his head and said.

"Having drunk the wine, I, Zhu Yu, thank Daoist Ji."

"You're welcome, Daoist Zhu," Yan Buji smiled.

Since we are now acquainted, during the upcoming journey the three of us will chat from time to time.

Zhu Yu and the middle‑aged lone cultivator Zheng Xian, though reluctant to speak of their own affairs, know the ins and outs of the Gendao Territory quite well.

"The imperial court of the Gendao Territory differs from those of other realms; habitable land is scarce, excluding the barbarians, so on the Radiant Grassland there is almost a town every ten li, making it extremely crowded," Zhu Yu laughed.

"I can understand that, but with so many mountains and forests in Gendao, can't more land be cleared?" Yan Buji asked curiously.

"Well, firstly the mountains and forests are barren and host snakes, insects and fierce beasts, unsuitable for ordinary people; secondly, many demonic creatures dwell among those peaks, and a good number of them relish eating mortals."

"Demonic creatures!"

Yan Buji raised an eyebrow, looked at the group: "Could it be that the Wang family invited us here... just to guard against demonic creatures?"

"Exactly, these demonic creatures are not as rare as Abnormal Beasts; demonic creatures can generate demonic qi regardless of type, then become demons. For most demonic creatures, humans are their favorite food. Naturally, cultivators are the same; powerful demonic creatures also target cultivators. The Wang family does have masters, but since we dared to come, we are not afraid of them," Zheng Xian said with a confident smile.

Yan Buji fell silent.

He had never heard the term 'demonic creature' in the Kundao Territory before, because Yan Buji had never seen one.

But in the Gendao Territory, most areas are mountains and forests, unsuitable for human habitation. Even cultivators who hide in the hills would not readily provoke those demonic creatures.

These demonic creatures may be transformations of snakes, insects, rodents, or ants; they may also arise from flowers, grasses, trees, or from certain personal items that become spirit‑linked, and there are bizarre, heaven‑and‑earth‑defying miraculous strange demons that cannot be equated with Abnormal Beasts.

Although both demonic creatures and Abnormal Beasts pose great danger to cultivators, demonic creatures are actually smarter; because they enjoy eating humans, they develop spiritual intelligence. Abnormal Beasts, even after devouring tens of thousands, remain mindless.

This is knowledge Yan Buji gleaned from some books on the Gendao Territory, but having been here for so long he never encountered demonic creatures, perhaps because he often roamed near the market.

This time we travel far to the Radiant Grassland; the journey is so long, and we don't know how many high mountains must be crossed to arrive, making the road far from safe.

Yan Buji kept a wary eye and asked about the basics of demonic creatures: "Since I began cultivation, I truly have never seen a demonic creature; I wonder just how powerful they are?"

Li Wang laughed: "How powerful? We categorize Spiritual Material, Abnormal Material, and Abnormal Beast using the nine‑turn count, but demonic creatures are vastly different. They possess spiritual intelligence, forming their own race, and even have their own cultivation methods!"

"Demonic creature cultivation methods?!" Yan Buji's pupils narrowed; he clasped his hands and said, "Please, Daoist Li, enlighten me."

"Well, it's not a secret. Demonic creature cultivation is like ours: they inhale and exhale the world's spiritual qi, absorbing the sun and moon's brilliance. Their strength ranges from low to high, divided into nine ranks—minor demon, major demon, demon general, demon king, etc. —corresponding to our nine cultivation realms."

"However, ordinary demonic creatures can rely on their hard flesh to resist a cultivator's techniques, and they also employ unique demonic arts; so in a direct confrontation, even at the same level, the outcome depends on skill, and we are still inferior to them," Li Wang said gravely.

Yan Buji, looking puzzled, asked: "When we at the Lianqi Phase encounter a minor demon, like you mid Lianqi cultivators, how can we tell if the opponent is stronger than us?"

Zhu Yu smiled: "It's simple. After a minor demon takes shape, its own demonic qi condenses and does not disperse; at this point its whole body emits demonic qi, equivalent to an early Lianqi cultivator; when their demonic qi becomes a vortex, one can faintly sense a demonic consciousness moving, equivalent to a mid Lianqi cultivator; if the demonic qi becomes a lake, like waves covering the surface, it's equivalent to late Lianqi. Minor demons cannot control the display of their demonic qi, so as long as we are more careful, we can avoid accidents."

"Oh, I see, thank you, Daoist Zhu, for the clarification," Yan Buji smiled.

"Besides that, after slaying a demonic creature you can obtain Spiritual Material from its body, simply removing its demonic qi for use. Demonic creature Spiritual Material is slightly pricier than ordinary Spiritual Material, but still not as costly as Abnormal Material," Zheng Xian laughed.