Mo Fan and his group soon arrived at the Broken Temple Market.
However, it was still early, so the Broken Temple Market had not yet opened.
The three demons alighted on a large tree near the Broken Temple to rest. Mo Fan scanned the surroundings with his gaze, only to find that there were not a few cultivators about, but they were all demon cultivators. As for human cultivators, not a single one was to be seen.
Mo Fan could understand this situation well enough.
Since the destruction of the Great River Academy and the Azure Sky Sect, most human cultivators in the Southern Frontier had fled deeper into the region. Though there were occasionally some rogue cultivators who boldly ventured to the Demon Spirit Mountains side in hopes of a stroke of luck, they were few and far between.
However, following the recent incursion of hordes of demons from Moonwatch Valley into the Southern Frontier, naturally no human cultivators dared set foot in the Demon Spirit Mountains anymore. They were all too busy fleeing for their lives.
In this way, the Broken Temple Market had instead become a fine destination for demon cultivators.
While Mo Fan was sizing up the surrounding demon cultivators, they too were eyeing them, though the majority of the gazes were fixed on White Clothes.
Ever since White Clothes had transformed into a vengeful spirit, his form could be seen by the living beings of the world.
However, he was a ghostly entity after all. At this moment, black qi billowed from his entire body, his face was unnaturally pale, and his body appeared faintly semi-transparent, giving him the look of a proper spectre.
“These fellows, where are they from?”
“Unclear, but that white-clothed fellow seems a bit off!”
“Yes, I have noticed too. He looks a bit creepy. Could he be a ghost?!” A demon said with a shudder.
“Broad daylight, where would a ghost come from?”
“Besides, we are demons!”
“Surely we are not afraid of those so-called ghosts?”
“Er… that does make some sense!”
The demons chattered among themselves, but one ox demon grinned and said, “Hey! What you are focusing on is not the point!”
“What do you mean?”
“Have you forgotten which demon used to hold sway over that tree those three demons have occupied?”
“Hiss! If you had not mentioned it, we would nearly have forgotten. Looks like there is a show to watch…”
The demons’ voices were low, but no matter how low, they still reached the ears of Mo Fan and his two companions.
“Master, it seems we have taken another demon’s spot.” White Clothes said with a smile.
“No matter. I have come to this Broken Temple Market many times and have never heard that these perching trees outside are claimed by any particular demon.”
Mo Fan smiled but did not take the matter to heart.
He knew full well what sort of demons frequented this Broken Temple Market: mostly rogue cultivators, with a few from certain demon mountains, but generally low in cultivation.
With all three of them here now, unless a Demon Ancestor descended, Mo Fan would not hold much fear.
Moreover, this place was under the protection of the Broken Temple Market. Whoever dared make a move here would undoubtedly be crossing that Azure Lotus Princess.
“Are there other markets deeper in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?” Mo Fan suddenly asked.
“There are, and quite a few at that. Almost every notable demon mountain opens a market within its territory to generate additional revenue.” White Clothes replied.
“Additional revenue?”
Mo Fan was momentarily stunned, then laughed. “That is a fine idea. When we get back, we will set one up at Black Wind Mountain too!”
White Clothes could not help but smile wryly at this. “Markets are not something you can just open at will. You need a major backer behind you.
There are many markets in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, but nearly every one has the shadow of a Demon Ancestor behind it, which is what keeps the restless nature of demon cultivators in check and prevents chaos.
Your strength is commendable, Master, but your cultivation still has some deficiencies, and you have made many enemies. If you open a market, it will likely draw powerful Demon Kings to cause trouble.”
“A backer, eh?”
“Who says this king has no backer!”
Mo Fan chuckled slyly, his lips curling up. “Does the White Tiger Holy King count as a backer?”
“But the White Tiger Holy King after all…”
White Clothes was about to speak but swallowed his words. After all, with so many demon cultivators about, who knew if it might reach other demons’ ears.
“If the White Tiger Holy King is not enough, what about adding the Fire Phoenix Holy King?” Mo Fan said with a roguish grin.
“This… Great King, you plan to borrow the Fire Phoenix Holy King’s name?”
White Clothes gaped, stunned by Mo Fan’s idea.
He naturally knew the Fire Phoenix Holy King was not truly Mo Fan’s protector. If Mo Fan deliberately used her name, it might incur her displeasure, and that would be more loss than gain.
Seeing White Clothes’ dazed expression, Mo Fan could guess his thoughts and laughed at once. “How can it be called borrowing?
Everyone knows I went to Phoenix Cry Mountain to report for duty, so naturally Black Wind Mountain falls under Phoenix Cry Mountain’s jurisdiction. In that case, if I open a market, who would object?
At that time, if I send a certain tribute to the Fire Phoenix Palace each year, who could say the one behind me is not the Fire Phoenix Holy King?
So this king is not borrowing the Fire Phoenix Holy King’s name, but stating facts as they are!”
“This… Great King, are you certain you want to do this?”
White Clothes frowned, still feeling the method was unreliable. If the Fire Phoenix Holy King took offence, it would be enough to give all of Black Wind Mountain a hard time.
“Of course. This is just a current notion of mine. We will take it step by step. First, let us solve Black Wind Mountain’s present issues.”
Mo Fan waved his hand. What he needed to do now was seek Yun Rou’s help in the market, to see if she could find a suitable candidate to go to Black Wind Mountain for preaching.
This was the purpose of his trip.
He wanted not only preaching, but to seize this chance to sweep away the illiteracy plaguing all of Black Wind Mountain. This was the plan he had once told Bai Tianyao about.
He intended to start from Black Wind Mountain, implementing a character-creation plan to reform the demon race’s cultural foundation!
In simple terms, he wanted to create a unique script for the demon race, one that only they could understand!
Writing was not only a vital link in the inheritance of racial civilisation, but also the simplest means of conveying information!
After an unknown wait, as dusk began to fall, suddenly a vast demonic aura descended from above Mo Fan’s head.
“You three little demons, from which mountain?”
“Do you not know this spot has long been reserved by my family’s general?!”
A cold snort came from above the three demons.
Mo Fan looked up to see a one-horned demon cultivator seated atop a large bird.
And the speaker was that very bird.
“Scram!”
Seeing Mo Fan look up, the one-horned demon said coldly with a single word.
Mo Fan was speechless but did not grow angry. Instead, he said with an odd expression, “A mere Demon General dares act so arrogantly. Are you not afraid of provoking an existence you cannot afford to cross?”
“Hahahaha…!!”
“An existence you cannot provoke?”
“Are you referring to yourself?!”
The one-horned Demon General laughed uproariously at his words, then sneered, “Lad, do you know who I am?”
“Oh? I would like to hear who you are and from whence you come.” Mo Fan said calmly.
“Then listen well! This general hails from Moon…”
“Shut him up!”
Before the one-horned Demon General could finish speaking, Mo Fan murmured softly. Black Clothes, who had been seated cross-legged on the branch beside him, vanished in an instant.
When she reappeared, she had already seized the one-horned Demon General by the throat, preventing him from uttering another word.
“You have some nerve!”
“To dare…”
The bird demon beneath the one-horned general shrieked at the sight, but likewise failed to complete its words before Black Clothes stomped down with one foot, stunning it outright.
The grey bird plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily to the ground, while Black Clothes dragged the one-horned Demon General before Mo Fan.
“White Clothes, I need to know his origins!”
Mo Fan said flatly. White Clothes nodded and at once turned into a wisp of black mist, entering the one-horned Demon General’s brow.
“Who dares make a racket near my market?!”
And at that very moment, a stern voice rang out abruptly!
