Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 236 - 129 The Pride of the Demon Race

Chapter 236: Chapter 129 The Pride of the Demon Race

"He’s here!"

Master Pang suddenly spoke.

Zheng Fa and Zhang tuned their Void Spirit Eyes and looked out towards the valley.

The square-faced youth, along with several brothers, was warily afar, watching over the valley.

"So many people..."

One of his companions remarked.

"They’re all from the Immortal Sect... This Emperor Liquid should rightfully be our Demon Race’s treasure!" Another voiced resentfully: "If one day our Demon Race prospers..."

Fiery determination and loathing alight in the others’ eyes—the unspoken words clearly shared among them.

"Big brother... we mustn’t let the Emperor Liquid fall into their hands!"

Hearing their words, the square-faced youth shook his head and sighed, "Not to mention that we are merely at the Golden Core stage... the appearance of this Emperor Liquid is quite peculiar."

"You’re just too cautious, Big Brother!"

"If our Demon Race doesn’t learn to be cautious after years of being oppressed by the Immortal Sect..." the square-faced youth coldly chuckled, "we’d be long dead by now."

"..."

His words prompted silent nods from his companions.

It was clear that his role as the core of the group wasn’t solely due to his impressive lineage.

"Then we should be more cautious." Seeing the others quiet down, the square-faced youth continued to warn, "If the Emperor Liquid truly exists, we mustn’t let it slip away... But if it’s a trap, we should first ensure our own safety."

The others nodded, seemingly taking the caution to heart.

"Look over there!"

Suddenly, from the depths of the valley forest, a burst of golden-red light shone, illuminating the whole valley, making the mountain walls before them gleam as though bathed in sunset.

What quickened their pulse more was the silhouette of a long-legged woman racing toward the forest.

"Xiao Yuying!"

"The Emperor Liquid has emerged!"

"Hurry!"

People outside the valley shouted, rushing towards the spot.

"Big Brother?"

"Let’s follow from behind!" The square-faced youth still didn’t rush to move, instead instructing his companions, "That Xiao Yuying is no ordinary person. These people are a ragtag bunch, none possessing a Nascent Soul—how could they seize the treasure from her? Let’s watch and wait!"

Indeed, before the crowd could dash into the valley, the golden-red light in the forest started flickering, as if Xiao Yuying was about to subdue it.

Their tunneling light intensified, while a man on the side urged,

"Big Brother!"

"No rush!"

Yet the square-faced youth continued to observe.

At that moment, a sharp shout from Xiao Yuying rang out from the forest, "Who’s there?"

The crowd was startled.

Then, a thunderous explosion followed; it seemed as if a fierce fight had erupted among the trees.

Boulders tumbled from the mountain walls, and the forest gleamed with the light of treasures.

The cultivators, who were initially surging forward, hastily flew back.

As for the square-faced youth and his companions, already at the rear, they could take cover even faster.

It appeared that the two in the forest had barely exchanged blows before silence fell again.

Only the collapsed hillside and the vanished dark thicket hinted at the intensity of the previous conflict.

Xiao Yuying’s figure reappeared as she looked around, seemingly searching for the one who had ambushed her from the shadows.

A few corpses lay on the ground.

It seemed some hasty cultivators had been collateral victims in the fray.

Those following Xiao Yuying were just a disorderly mob; who would dare approach her now?

All scattered in frightened flight.

"Big brother, you truly are wise!" A man next to the square-faced youth expressed relief, "Who would have thought that this place was indeed a trap! It seems someone was targeting Xiao Yuying?"

The square-faced youth nodded slightly, a smug smile creeping onto his lips.

...

Xiao Yuying looked at herself bumbling in the illusion and twitched the corners of her mouth, "What’s the point of all this?"

Before Zheng Fa could speak, Yuan excitedly responded,

"I know, I know, it’s because that demon with Qiongqi bloodline is both clever and suspicious!"

"Clever and suspicious?"

Yuan shook her head, mimicking Zhang, "He trusts only himself, loves to doubt, and isn’t easily fooled."

Xiao Yuying nodded and turned to Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa, however, looked towards the nearby Golden Crow.

With a flap of its wings, the Golden Crow soared out of the cave.

...

The square-faced youth watched as the cultivators around him slowly dispersed, deep in thought.

"Big brother? Since the Emperor Liquid isn’t here, shall we leave?"

The square-faced youth shook his head, "That Xiao Yuying is not to be underestimated... Did you see her leave?"

The crowd looked into the valley, and indeed, Xiao Yuying had not departed but was still searching around.

Though earlier she seemed to be looking for someone, now she appeared to be searching for something.

"Big brother, are you saying..."

"I don’t know..."

The square-faced youth shook his head, not entirely certain himself.

More and more people left.

The others exchanged puzzled glances, unsure what the square-faced youth was waiting for here.

At this moment, the square-faced youth suddenly caught a glimpse of a dark shadow which blended into the night and was invisible to the naked eye.

But even if they could see this dark shadow, most cultivators would think it was just an ordinary crow and pay it no mind.

Unfortunately for them, the square-faced young man recognized this crow!

"Golden Crow!" he whispered softly, "Look at this Golden Crow, doesn’t it seem like it’s sensing something?"

Everyone looked towards the Golden Crow.

Indeed, the Golden Crow was flapping its wings hurriedly, as if attracted to some great treasure, its eyes filled with excitement and fervor.

"Could the Emperor Liquid really exist?"

"It’s no easy task to fool Xiao Yuying. This Golden Crow has noble blood and probably has a special sense for treasures!" analyzed the square-faced young man, nodding to the others, "Let’s go, follow it!"

Upon hearing this, everyone thought it made sense.

More importantly, they had a lot of trust in this person’s judgment.

The square-faced young man led them to stealthily avoid the crowd and follow the Golden Crow to another side of the valley.

At this moment, Xiao Yuying also seemed to have discovered something, her figure flashed, vanishing from the spot.

...

"...Is that all?"

"I know, I know!" Yuan said: "Just now was only to let him lower his guard, to think that this trap wasn’t meant for him..."

"Now, it’s to make him believe that he’s discovered a clue to the treasure. Not only will he not have any suspicions, but he will also firmly believe it."

On hearing this, Xiao Yuying shook her head with a sigh, "Your schemes... are only targeting smart people, huh."

...

"You’ve got the sharpest mind, big brother!" Following the Golden Crow, the group murmured in admiration, "If the Emperor Liquid is real, using it might turn big brother into a Nascent Soul. With big brother’s unparalleled intelligence, in the future, you’ll surely become a dominant lord amongst the Demon Race!"

"Exactly!" another person agreed, "Even Xiao Yuying was fooled, but our big brother saw through the deceit! These so-called human prodigies..."

The square-faced young man just smiled and waved his hand to the others, "If we get the treasure, of course, I’ll share it with my brothers!"

The others looked at each other, their expressions excited.

The Golden Crow flew sneakily ahead, as if afraid someone was following it.

But it was, after all, only at the Foundation Establishment level, and failed to notice the square-faced young man and others at the Golden Core Stage.

As they followed, the square-faced young man suddenly realized that his companions were becoming fewer and fewer.

A chill went through his heart; indeed, this place was a Secret Realm. Unwittingly, he had been separated from the others.

Fortunately, he hadn’t lost sight of the Golden Crow. He gritted his teeth, not bothering to look for the others, and continued following the Golden Crow.

Who knew how long he had walked.

Suddenly, a glowing cave appeared before him.

The Golden Crow in front seemed extremely excited, and with a ’caw,’ it rushed into the cave.

The square-faced young man was delighted, fearing that the treasures inside would be taken by the Golden Crow, and so decided not to hide any longer. He suddenly grew a pair of black flesh wings behind him and shot into the cave like lightning...

Then, he saw the warm smiles of the people inside the cave.

He wanted to run.

But the Nascent Soul aura emanating from Zhang, Master Pang, and Xiao Yuying made his body go weak, and his flesh wings were drenched in cold sweat.

By now, he realized he had been tricked!

"You... you acted so convincingly?"

He stared at the Golden Crow, unable to believe that the frenzy in its eyes had all been an act!

As he said this, the Golden Crow seemed a little embarrassed, rubbing its head with its wing, then nuzzling Zheng Fa’s palm before speaking, "That was heartfelt emotion..."

...

Outside the cave.

Seeing their big brother disappear, the rest of the Demon Race gathered together, also worried.

"Where did big brother go? Why hasn’t he come out?"

"To seek the treasure?"

"Should we report this to the great king?"

Just then, Xiao Yuying’s voice rose again, "Didn’t expect there to be such a talent in the Demon Race!"

The group looked up to see a figure with spread wings rising from the valley, holding a jade bottle in hand, frantically flying out of the mountains.

Xiao Yuying didn’t seem to chase but her tone even had a hint of admiration.

"Big brother... stole the treasure from Xiao Yuying?"

"Golden Core on par with Nascent Soul!" another person said excitedly, "Big brother will surely become a Great Saint!"

"Let’s leave quickly too!"

It seemed they were afraid that Xiao Yuying would trouble them, and without daring to linger, they fled stealthily.

...

"You see, even though you fell for it, now you’ve also made a name for yourself!" Zheng Fa looked at the square-faced young man with his dejected face and comfortingly said, "From now on, everyone will know that you’re the one who could steal treasures from Fairy Xiao!"

"You will become the pride of your Demon Race!"

The square-faced young man opened his mouth.

His expression was even stranger, clearly not consoled.

Xiao Yuying, on the other hand, shook her head and said, "So this was the reason you asked me to lend you my reputation?"

...

Zheng Fa looked at Xiao Yuying somewhat apologetically.

"This matter..." Xiao Yuying pondered for a moment, then suddenly it seemed like she learned something new, "It’s quite fun!"

...

To be honest, Zheng Fa wasn’t moved by the square-faced young man’s tears, but seeing Xiao Yuying’s excitement...

He truly felt a bit guilty about corrupting a good person...

...

Half a month later.

Within the new base of the Demon Race and the Great Freedom Demon Sect.

"Why hasn’t big brother come back?"

"He got the treasure, of course, he’s cultivating!" another person said.

"Wouldn’t it be better to cultivate after coming back?"

"With so many Demon Sect and demonesses here, how can one cultivate properly! Besides, the Demon Sect is not on the same page as us!"

"That’s true, big brother is a cautious person!"