Having all his venom drained left Mo Fan severely weakened, and after returning to his cave, he lay there for five or six days before regaining his strength.
This ordeal made him realise that monsters will always be monsters. The entire Black Wind Mountain was devoid of light, shrouded in darkness.
Originally, Mo Fan had planned to ask the demon servant Hei Zi about the milky-white stone, but he had to abandon the idea.
He didn’t want to end up killed by that damned scorpion for his treasures.
At the same time, the thought of escaping Black Wind Mountain began to take root in Mo Fan’s mind.
Though this place was a nest for demons, it was not where he wanted to stay. One misstep, and he could end up as a dish on their table.
In just two days here, he had already witnessed the cold and harsh nature of Black Wind Mountain.
The Demon King paid him no mind, the demon generals wanted to eat him, and even the demon servant who took him in had plans to use him for venom extraction.
In short, this place was far too terrifying!
Though having his venom drained wouldn’t kill him, this experience showed Mo Fan that if all his venom was taken, he’d be gravely weakened, causing severe harm to his demon body.
He felt that if this happened a few more times, he’d surely die!
“No, I must leave Black Wind Mountain as soon as possible!”
Mo Fan took a deep breath, his expression darkening. Waiting for death was not his way.
Hearing the thunderous snoring from the next room, Mo Fan began planning his escape.
From his talks with the dog demon Lai Fu over the past few days, Mo Fan learned that the demons of Black Wind Mountain didn’t have many tasks. Each demon servant had a standard entourage of three close aides and five mountain-patrolling demons.
The close aides were the demon servants’ trusted confidants, naturally the most idle, spending their days doing little, occasionally hunting for their masters’ meals.
The patrolling demons, while not as idle as the aides, weren’t overworked either. Their main task was patrolling the mountain, with each patrol lasting half a month.
After half a month, they’d rotate.
For Mo Fan to escape, the patrol period was undoubtedly the best opportunity!
The next patrol assigned to them was just three days away!
With his escape plan set, Mo Fan fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, he was woken by the dog demon Lai Fu, as usual, to join the other demons in paying respects to the demon servant Hei Zi.
Despite his weakened state, Mo Fan had to attend these respects without fail, it was the rule!
“Lai Bao, feeling any better today?”
Seeing Mo Fan again, Da Li warmly greeted him, then said, “Hop on my back, I’ll carry you there!”
Word of Mo Fan’s venom being drained by the master had spread among the lesser demons, who felt some sympathy for him. So, for the past few days, Da Li had been carrying him to the scorpion cave.
“No need, I’m feeling much better today, so no need to trouble you, brother.”
Mo Fan felt warmed by Da Li’s kindness. Among all the demons, this honest buffalo demon was the one he felt closest to.
“Alright, since you’re doing better, you should walk a bit. You’ve been lying down for days.”
Da Li nodded, then added, “Oh, I’ve got some good news for you.”
“What good news?”
Before Mo Fan could ask, the other demons turned to Da Li, their eyes glinting with curiosity.
Mo Fan also looked at Da Li, eager to hear what the good news was.
“Tomorrow’s the fifteenth, and tonight, all of Black Wind Mountain will hold a cultivation assembly!
Lai Bao, didn’t you want to know how to absorb moonlight to refine your demon aura?
I can teach you tomorrow night!”
“Tch! That’s the good news? Just that?”
“Boring, boring!”
The other demons shook their heads, but Mo Fan’s eyes lit up. This was indeed good news for him.
“In that case, I’ll have to trouble you tomorrow night, Brother Da Li!” Mo Fan said joyfully.
“No trouble at all. We’re under the same servant, we’re the closest demon brothers. Helping each other is only natural!” Da Li grinned honestly.
“By the way, doesn’t that mean there’s a Sun Spice Contest at Flat Peak today?”
The rabbit demon Red Eyes suddenly bounced excitedly on Da Li’s back.
At the mention of “Sun Spice Contest,” the demons’ faces shifted slightly. Even Da Li, usually so honest, looked uneasy, as if it were a taboo subject.
“What’s the Sun Spice Contest?” Mo Fan asked, curious.
Since arriving at Black Wind Mountain, he’d often heard demons mention “Sun Spice,” but he didn’t understand it.
“Well… let Zha Zha explain!” Da Li’s face darkened.
“Idiot, the Sun Spice Contest is a performance of Sun Spice!”
“It’s a tradition on Black Wind Mountain. Every fifteenth is the cultivation assembly, and the day before, they hold the Sun Spice Contest. The Great King and the generals will attend, and if they’re pleased, they might even toss out some rewards.
The demon servants also use it as a chance to place bets, and the scene is even more thrilling than the cultivation assembly!” the sparrow demon Zha Zha said with a playful laugh.
Sun Spice?
Mo Fan still wasn’t entirely clear on the meaning, but since it was happening today, he figured he’d see it for himself, so he didn’t press further.
After all, aside from Red Eyes, who looked excited, the other demons, including Zha Zha, seemed to pale at the mention of “Sun Spice.”
The group soon arrived at the scorpion cave.
Scorpion cave was Mo Fan’s name for it.
In truth, it was Hei Zi’s cave mansion, but since he was a scorpion demon, Mo Fan thought the cave’s name was fitting.
As always, the three close aides were already waiting.
Once everyone was gathered, the demons paid their respects inside the scorpion cave.
Soon, the scorpion demon emerged, still in the familiar black robe.
Hei Zi scanned the group, his gaze landing on Mo Fan, and he smiled, “Lai Bao, feeling better?”
“Thank you for your concern, Master. I’m almost fully recovered,” Mo Fan said respectfully.
“Good, good. With this recovery speed, it shouldn’t delay the next venom extraction.”
Hei Zi nodded with satisfaction, but his words filled Mo Fan with silent rage.
“By the way, tomorrow’s the fifteenth, so today’s the Sun Spice Contest. Let’s head over early to get a good spot. Prepare yourselves, same old rules, we’ll draw lots, and whoever’s picked goes up.”
Hei Zi’s words made the demons shudder in unison, then they followed him up the mountain.
Though Black Wind Mountain was one mountain, it had multiple peaks. One, below the cloud layer, was unusually flat, hence named “Flat Peak.”
When Mo Fan arrived at Flat Peak, he finally understood why it was called that.
The entire peak was vast but unnaturally level, as if someone had sliced off the mountaintop with a single sword.
“Master, why is Flat Peak so level?” Mo Fan asked curiously.
“Good question. You’re smarter than these fools, at least you think. When they first saw this place, they just gawked, muttered ‘bloody hell,’ and said nothing else.”
Hei Zi chuckled, then explained, “When I first came to the mountain, I asked the Third General. He said it’s so flat because of a great battle long ago.
A human powerhouse invaded Black Wind Mountain, sliced off the peak with one sword, and killed the Demon King of that time.
That’s how our Great King later had the chance to establish his domain here.”
“I see!”
Mo Fan nodded, his heart filled with awe.
Flat Peak stretched hundreds of yards across. What kind of sword could slice off such a massive mountaintop?
As they spoke, other demons gradually arrived at Flat Peak, sitting around the edges.
This was Mo Fan’s first time seeing so many demons.
Densely packed, there were well over a hundred!
