Bai Tianyao’s words made Mo Fan frown. He naturally knew that a demon with awakened intelligence only needed a trigger to transform into a true demon.
And the so-called trigger was medicines like spiritual herbs or spiritual fruits that contained vast amounts of spiritual energy.
Just as he had once transformed, by simply swallowing two spiritual fruits, he had successfully become a demon.
But all of these had one prerequisite, and that was awakening intelligence!
When he had first become the Great King of Black Wind Mountain, he had also worried about the shortage of demon soldiers. Therefore, he had specifically sent the Fierce Pig Squad to the Demon Spirit Mountains to search for wild beasts that had awakened intelligence, but the results had not been ideal.
The Demon Spirit Mountains were too vast. There were many wild beasts, but finding those that had awakened intelligence was easier said than done?
Moreover, for wild beasts to awaken intelligence was no easy feat. It required a true great opportunity, which was far more difficult than transforming into a demon.
Perhaps understanding what Mo Fan was thinking, Bai Tianyao spoke again. “The reason wild beasts have not awakened intelligence is because they are born in a state of ignorance.
In the past, we lacked good methods and found it hard to gather large numbers of beasts, but now it is different.
If we use the Mountain-Shaking Drum to summon the beasts in droves, and then conduct a period of preaching, constantly instilling thoughts into the herd, I believe there will be no small number of wild beasts that awaken their intelligence!”
Preaching?
Mo Fan’s heart stirred at those words, but he soon frowned again and said, “Preaching to a group of wild beasts, how easy is that?
They are inherently ignorant by nature and know nothing of the world. What difference is there from playing the lute to a cow?”
“It is indeed not easy, but under sheer numbers, there will always be some beasts that stand out.”
At this point, Bai Tianyao looked at Mo Fan with a serious expression and smiled. “We do not need all beasts to break free from ignorance. We only need a portion of them to awaken intelligence.”
“It does seem to make some sense.”
Mo Fan nodded at her words, but in his heart, he could not help thinking of Mr Pig. That fellow had once been just a domestic pig, yet under the influence of constant reading aloud, he had indeed gradually awakened intelligence.
So what Bai Tianyao said was not entirely impossible.
However, this brought up a second problem, that of the time required for awakening intelligence.
“Preaching to awaken intelligence is feasible, but to make wild beasts awaken it would likely require an extremely long process.” Mo Fan shook his head with a bitter smile and said, “Yet what we lack most now is time.”
“Look at these fellows. Who among them could wait ten or eight years?”
As he spoke, Mo Fan reached out and pointed at the group of commanders in the cave mansion hall, helplessly pursing his lips.
“Great King, perhaps it will not take that long!”
This time, before Bai Tianyao could speak, Mr Pig below interjected first, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Oh?” Mo Fan looked surprised and then said, “Then tell me about it!”
“Great King, do you still remember the story I told you about my life before entering the mountains?” Mr Pig asked in return.
“Of course I remember, but even you took several years to gradually awaken intelligence, did you not?” Mo Fan frowned.
“In truth, it did not take that long. Back then, when my intelligence first awakened, I had no concept of time. Now, thinking back carefully, it should have been just one or two years at most!”
“…”
Mr Pig spoke with excitement, but this left Mo Fan speechless for a moment. He then turned to the assembled commanders and asked, “One or two years, can you wait that long?”
“Great King, one or two years is still too long. Can it not be faster?” Red Eyes scratched his head and looked at Mo Fan eagerly.
“You and your endless complaints!”
Mo Fan glared at him irritably.
From their previous exchanges, how could he not know that this whole matter had been stirred up by this scoundrel Red Eyes and that bastard Zha Zha?
Yet he did not blame the two demons, for this was indeed a promise he had made.
“You lot, talking as if it is no effort at all. Two years to turn a wild beast into a demon is already no small feat. If even that you cannot wait for, then go recruit soldiers yourselves!”
Mr Pig also grumbled irritably.
He had cultivated step by step from a domestic pig and knew full well how difficult and rare it was for an ordinary wild beast to become a demon.
“In truth, it requires neither ten or eight years, nor one or two. One or two months will suffice!”
At that moment, Bai Tianyao spoke again, then said to Mo Fan, “It is not easy for ordinary wild beasts to awaken intelligence, but if they swallow spiritual herbs and then undergo preaching, the speed of awakening will greatly increase.”
“Is there such a thing?” Mo Fan’s eyes lit up at her words.
“Naturally. The reason spiritual herbs are so expensive is because they contain vast amounts of spiritual energy, and spiritual energy is not only for cultivation. It can also aid living beings in certain transformations.
This is precisely why the great clans of the human race are always seeking spiritual medicines to aid their clan’s younger generation in consumption.
Because spiritual medicines not only enhance cultivation but also sharpen the mind!
For wild beasts that have already awakened intelligence, eating spiritual medicines allows them to transform into demons, while for those that have not, it gives them a much greater chance of transformation and thus awakening intelligence!
In truth, this is no secret among the human race. It is simply that the cost is too great for many, so few use spiritual medicines to awaken intelligence in a wild beast.” Bai Tianyao explained.
Hearing this from Bai Tianyao, Mo Fan pondered for a moment and found that her method seemed truly feasible!
With this in mind, he stood up at once and laughed heartily. “Good! Since you have said so, this king shall give it a try!”
With that, he turned to the assembled demons and snorted coldly. “You have all heard it now. Satisfied, are you?!”
“Great King, I was actually just saying it in jest. Truly, I always thought the Second General was deliberately withholding demon soldiers from our Enforcement Squad, so I went to block his cave mansion.
But if it only takes one or two months, then I can wait that long.”
Red Eyes chuckled sheepishly, which earned him an eye-roll from Mo Fan and nearly set Wolf’s fierce eyes ablaze with fury.
This was clearly tattling on him!
“We obey the Great King’s command!”
The remaining commanders chimed in one after another, their expressions much improved.
Evidently, hearing that demon soldiers could be replenished had naturally cheered them all up.
“Then Tianyao, I entrust this matter to you!” Mo Fan directly passed the buck to Bai Tianyao.
“And what will you be doing? Remember, you yourself are the king of Black Wind Mountain!” Bai Tianyao reminded him irritably.
“Heh heh, the capable should do more!”
Mo Fan chuckled, then said mysteriously, “As for me, I must head out for a bit, to use this opportunity to overhaul Black Wind Mountain with sweeping reforms!”
“Reforms?”
Bai Tianyao looked puzzled, unsure what scheme this fellow had up his sleeve.
To this, Mo Fan merely smiled and made no reply.
Next, he chatted a bit more with the higher-ups of Black Wind Mountain before dismissing the demons. Then, he left the Spring Pool Cave alone, preparing to head to the Broken Temple Market.
Just as Mo Fan was about to fly away from Black Wind Mountain, Black Clothes suddenly appeared at his side.
“What are you doing here?” Mo Fan asked in surprise.
“I have not yet left Black Wind Mountain, so I can still follow you for a while.”
Black Clothes stated it as a matter of course.
“Fine then. It will be a good chance for you to broaden your horizons.”
Mo Fan thought for a moment and nodded. Then, with a tap of his finger to his brow, a black figure flew out from the tiger pattern.
“Greetings, Master!”
White Clothes first bowed respectfully to Mo Fan, then glanced at Black Clothes beside him and nodded to her. Unfortunately, Black Clothes remained impassive and ignored him.
Seeing this, Mo Fan sighed softly.
The reason he had Black Clothes follow him was not for her protection, but to let her have a proper talk with White Clothes.
After all, it would not be long before Black Clothes left Black Wind Mountain, and it would not be so easy for the siblings to meet again then.
Though the Demon Spirit Mountains were not vast, the distance between the three mountains still spanned over a thousand li.
