Hearing the words from the big black head, Lin Xiao’s face could not help twitching.
Eating demon frogs?
What an idea! With the way demon frogs looked, no one could bring themselves to eat them! Yet he could not refute the tadpole.
There were indeed many bad people. Spirit beasts also followed the law of the jungle, but each had their preferred prey. Unlike humans, who ate anything.
From a spirit beast’s perspective, humans were far more sinister.
And in truth, they were.
“Yes and no. When you grow up, you will understand. This is the root conflict between our spirit beast ancestors and human ancestors. Things are very different now.”
The middle-aged man answered vaguely.
“So is it yes or no…” The big black head muttered, truly puzzled.
But she was straightforward. Unable to figure it out, she stopped thinking and tilted her head towards Lin Xiao and Huo Ruyan. She asked the middle-aged man, “Then Brother Lin Xiao and Sister Huo Ruyan are not bad people, right?
They look quite nice.”
“They are not bad people.”
The middle-aged man replied noncommittally.
“Hehe, I knew they were not bad. Otherwise Brother Qing Yan would not have brought them back.”
The big black head said.
Soon, the group flew several hundred li to a hillside.
Along the way, the big black head asked Lin Xiao many questions.
Her questions were so innocent that Lin Xiao found them hard to answer. Several times, they even left him stunned.
From another perspective, one heard entirely new viewpoints.
Humans considered themselves the righteous side, yet from the spirit beasts’ view, it was reversed.
Humans saw spirit beasts as threats and food. To spirit beasts, humans posed an even greater danger.
By contrast, many spirit beasts did not eat humans. The demon frog clan, at present, never did.
Now, on the hillside before Lin Xiao stood a small cluster of buildings, quite large, like a restaurant courtyard. Luxurious, very similar to human establishments.
Clearly, someone had visited human restaurants.
Lin Xiao and Huo Ruyan landed with the others at the palace entrance. The middle-aged man glanced at the rest. “Everyone, disperse. I will speak with our two human friends.”
He then looked at Qing Yan and his wife. “You two withdraw as well.”
“Father, besides his Blood Demon Body reaching Martial Saint, he also has the strength to kill Martial Saints. His cultivation is at fifth-layer Martial Emperor, spirit power at early seventh-grade. He is openly the top genius among humans.”
Before leaving, Qing Yan spoke directly to the middle-aged man, without concealment.
The words shocked not only the demon frogs. He had detected the Blood Demon Body’s Martial Saint breakthrough.
But this youth, with such low cultivation, possessed such formidable strength. It far exceeded expectations.
“To think humans have progressed this far…” The middle-aged man showed surprise, sighing with some dejection. He waved at Qing Yan and the others. “Very well. Withdraw.”
Qing Yan and his wife nodded, then left.
The stunned others followed. The two tadpoles left reluctantly, then plunged into the distant swamp to play in the mud.
After everyone departed, the middle-aged man led Lin Xiao and Huo Ruyan into the hall, to a tea room, serving them with human tea etiquette.
Clearly, he knew human customs.
“To think my demon frog clan, with two saints, produced Qing Yan, the most outstanding genius in generations. Gestated a century, matured another century, only then reaching sainthood. Yet you two young friends, at such tender age, already possess this strength. Truly enviable!”
The middle-aged man sighed to them.
“Senior overpraises us!”
Lin Xiao said humbly.
“Brother Qing Yan’s combat power likely surpasses ordinary first-layer human Martial Saints.”
Huo Ruyan added.
“That son of mine has decent battle strength, but in comprehension, he falls far short of you two… Never mind him.”
The middle-aged man said with disappointment.
After a pause, he spoke more warmly. “I, Qing Gao, though nearing four hundred years, in demon frog terms am still a middle-aged man of forty or fifty. If you do not mind, call me Uncle Qing.”
“Uncle Qing!”
Lin Xiao and Huo Ruyan returned the courtesy.
Qing Gao nodded, speaking plainly. “Over three thousand years ago, our demon frog ancestor caused chaos and was suppressed by human experts in the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower. The clan nearly faced extinction. Since then, we have declined.”
“Before suppression in the Tianji Tower, that ancestor passed down the ancestral rule: no revenge, no enmity with humans, no entering the world. Thus, the escaping ancestors preserved our bloodline.”
“Suppressed in the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower?”
Lin Xiao was greatly shocked. A demon frog ancestor had also been suppressed there?
Qing Gao did not know why Lin Xiao reacted so. He simply attributed it to youth and surprise at hearing of the Tianji Tower.
Huo Ruyan, having heard from Lin Xiao, knew his mother was suppressed on the sixth layer.
Thus, she understood his reaction.
“Do you know which layer that senior of the demon frog clan was suppressed on?”
Lin Xiao could not help asking.
“The seventh layer.”
Qing Gao replied.
“The seventh layer.”
Lin Xiao was inwardly shocked. His mother on the sixth layer already required major forces. Suppressing a demon frog ancestor on the seventh, how strong must it have been?
“After several thousand years, survival is impossible…” Lin Xiao thought sadly.
He had considered recruiting the demon frogs to attack the Tianji Tower.
But after millennia, even if not tormented to death by the tower, lifespan would have ended long ago.
“Uncle Qing, is there any chance that senior is still alive?”
Lin Xiao asked reluctantly.
Though unlikely, if there was the slightest possibility, or if the demon frogs still wished to act against the Tianji Tower, he might recruit them.
After all, the giant infant in Death White Rock and the other old monster had survived by special means.
If the demon frog ancestor had a special method, survival in the Tianji Tower was not impossible.
“The Tianji Demon Suppression Tower, also called the Nine-Layer Hell Tower, is utterly evil inside, suppressing all manner of demons and monsters. Entering the seventh layer for thousands of years, survival is impossible.”
Qing Gao shook his head, showing no hope.
Hearing this, Lin Xiao’s heart sank further. Nine-Layer Hell Tower, suppressing demons and monsters. His mother on the sixth layer, what would happen to her?
At the thought, invisible rage surged in Lin Xiao. His urgency to act against the Tianji Tower grew.
“Moreover, even with one chance in ten thousand of survival, we have no opportunity to open the seventh layer. Humans now thrive, with countless strong experts and major forces. They would never allow it.”
Qing Gao said. “Humans flourish while demon frogs dwindle. Other beast clans have no ties with us. Harbouring such thoughts would likely mean our extinction in this generation.”
“I faintly sense great turmoil approaching this era. Our clan’s strength may not suffice against the crisis. Thus, I wished Qing Yan to leave the swamp and help Miss Huo breakthrough.”
“Of course, I also held a slim hope of marriage alliance with humans. But alas…”
