The Chili Contest lasted well over half a day before concluding, and Old Six didn’t stand out among the dozens of competing demons, failing even to make the top three.
Black Scorpion Demon could only sigh helplessly at the result, ordering Dali to drag the unconscious Old Six back.
The champion wasn’t one of the usual favourites, nor even a Demon Lieutenant, but a small rat demon, one Mo Fan had crossed paths with before, under the command of One-Eyed Demon, a subordinate of the Fourth General.
Mo Fan vaguely recalled this one was called Mountain Rat. Though small, even the tiniest among the contestants, it was the most “chili-resistant,” surprising all the demons.
One-Eyed even shot Black Scorpion a provocative glare.
After the contest, the demons dispersed, Black Scorpion headed straight back, while Old Eight and Old Three, his attendants, dragged Old Six away.
Mo Fan naturally escorted them back with Dali and Red Eyes.
On the way, Mo Fan suddenly asked, “Brother Dali, I heard at Flat-Top Peak that it was carved out by a single sword strike from a human powerhouse. Are humans really that fierce?”
At the mention of humans, the demons perked up, all looking to Dali.
Since most of these lesser demons had never encountered human cultivators, they knew little of their fearsomeness, only hearing bits from others.
Seeing everyone’s gaze, Dali pondered, then nodded, “Humans are indeed very fierce!”
“When I was young, I joined an invasion into human territory, led by the Fourth General and five Demon Lieutenants, with over fifty of our kind storming the southern human lands.
Our mission was to capture some humans for food, but those humans would rather die than yield. Even weak ones grabbed hoes to fight us. We massacred a few towns, but barely advanced a hundred miles before human cultivators ambushed us.
Just a few human cultivators, but they were terrifying.
In half a day, we were routed, the Fourth General abandoned us and fled.
Of the fifty-odd of us, only a handful escaped.
That’s when my original Demon Lieutenant was killed, and I was reassigned to Black Scorpion’s camp upon returning.”
Dali spoke with lingering fear.
The demons listened eagerly, while Mo Fan’s heart stirred. He hadn’t expected this bull demon to have been to human lands, so he said, “So human cultivators are that terrifying. What are their cultivation realms, and how do they compare to us demons, Brother, do you know?”
“Why do you ask?” Dali countered.
“I’m just worried if I meet human cultivators one day, I won’t know what I’m up against,” Mo Fan smiled, “I don’t have your skills, Brother. If I don’t know their foundations, I might end up as their feast!”
“Makes sense!” Laifu nodded repeatedly.
“Sense, my arse!”
“You two idiots, as lesser demons who haven’t even fully transformed, how could you cross hundreds of miles of Demon Spirit Mountains to reach human lands?
If you don’t go there, how would you easily meet human cultivators?” Chirp mocked from atop Dali’s horn.
“Dead bird, always raining on our parade, one day I’ll roast you for a feast!” Laifu snapped.
“I’m just worried about the off chance…” Mo Fan gave an awkward smile.
“Laibao’s concern is valid. In the past, demon hunters often entered the Demon Spirit Mountains, who’s to say some fierce human cultivators won’t invade our Black Wind Mountain one day,” Dali said, then addressed Mo Fan and Laifu, “Human cultivation realms are more complex than ours, but I know a bit, so I’ll explain to give you a sense of it.
From what I know, the weakest humans are hunters and village guards, at the Innate Realm, roughly equal to us lesser demons.
After Innate comes the Qi Refining Period, those are true cultivators with some fierce spells, comparable to our Demon Lieutenants.
Only Qi Refining cultivators qualify as demon hunters.
After Qi Refining is the Foundation Establishment Period, said to allow wielding magical tools for flight, incredibly fierce, on par with our Generals.
Beyond Foundation Establishment is the Core Formation Period, then the Nascent Soul Period.
I’ve heard there are Nascent Soul powerhouses in the southern human sects, beings even our Great King Grandpa would flee from…”
Dali indeed knew much about human cultivators, even comparing their realms to demons’, giving Mo Fan a clearer picture.
“Didn’t expect you to know so much about humans, Brother!” Mo Fan praised timely.
“Know what? I’m just older, lived a few years in human villages tilling fields, so I know a bit,” Dali shook his head.
Hearing this, Mo Fan realised this bull demon had lived among humans, likely turning demon by some chance, escaping to the Demon Spirit Mountains to join Black Wind Mountain.
Mo Fan tucked this away, knowing he’d need to escape to human lands one day to unravel that book’s secrets.
Chatting along the way, the demons returned to their dwellings.
Sparrow Chirp parted first, flying to a nest atop a banyan tree, then Bull Demon Dali took Red Eyes to his cave on the hillside.
Seeing this, Dog Demon Laifu perked up, sidling up to Mo Fan, grinning, “Laibao, how about catching a few fish from the spring pool later?”
“Catching fish isn’t hard, but might need to wait till evening,” Mo Fan replied.
These past few days, the dog demon had been mooching food off him, clearly a habit now.
Mo Fan didn’t refuse, thinking anything that could aid his escape was worth using.
The better his ties with these lesser demons, the smoother his escape would be.
“No problem, I can wait, just don’t forget,” Laifu grinned, then asked curiously, “Not coming back with me?”
“Not yet, I’ve got some questions for Brother Dali,” Mo Fan said.
“Alright, I’ll head back to sleep, don’t forget your promise!”
Watching Laifu leave, Mo Fan felt an odd relief, then approached Bull Demon Dali’s cave, calling, “Brother Dali, can I come in?”
“Laibao? Come in!”
Mo Fan entered at the call.
The cave was small, everything in plain sight, just a smooth, well-worn patch of dirt on the floor, nothing else.
It was absurdly simple, far from what Mo Fan imagined a demon’s home would be.
Scanning the cave, Mo Fan didn’t see Red Eyes and asked, “Is Brother Red Eyes not here?”
“That Red Eyes made a fool of himself today, went back to his own cave to sulk,” Dali grinned, then asked, “What’s up, Laibao?”
“Well, since you know so much about humans, I wanted to ask more about them.”
