1566 Demon King’s Corpse
It wasn’t long before a strange mountain appeared on the horizon, the blazing sunlight causing it to cast a long black shadow. It appeared to be a half-kneeling giant, its head pressing against the clouds and its feet stomping the earth. In its hand was a thousand-meter sword, half of it buried in the soil. The giant had both hands grasping the hilt of the sword, using it to support its body as it raised its head high.
As they flew closer and closer, Turan ordered Little Cherry to fly around to the front of the giant mountain so that Xia Fan could get a closer look.
It was a petrified corpse?
Xia Fan’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but stand up and look out the window. The back of the mountain had a human form, but the front was that of a demon, its pitch-black sunken eyes exuding an intimidating darkness. At the time of its death, both eyes had been crying blood.
Bzzz! A strange voice resounded in his mind. Xia Fan felt like there was some inconceivable resonance between him and the demon corpse. A strong gale howled over the land, making Xia Fan feel uneasy. It felt like the voice was calling him!
“Enough. Let’s leave now,” Turan ordered Little Cherry. The great macaw immediately flapped its wings and took them away. Once they were far enough away, the strange howling sound disappeared.
“That was one of the strongest Demon Kings we’ve ever killed, Achilles! Although he is dead, his corpse is imperishable and even tougher than diamond. There is an ancient legend in Subduing Demon City that these dead Demon Kings will one day be reborn and once more use darkness to reign over the Three Realms!
“Achilles is different from all the so-called demons you’ve run into before. Most of the time, gods and demons are a sort of culture, worshiped by people who don’t know the truth. Many experts also like to call themselves gods or demons to flaunt their uniqueness and power.
“But the demons I speak of are real demons. In their bodies flows an ancient bloodline that comes down from the foundation of the universe, and they control a terrifying power that can destroy the world!”
Xia Fan was quiet for a few moments before saying, “The Skywings have demon blood, so you hope that us people with the demon blood can deal with the demons? That logic doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
Turan laughed, and then said seriously, “First, the fifty percent blood purity is called the bloodline threshold. Beneath that bloodline threshold, you won’t become a demon. Your bloodline only has a demonic nature, but you are fundamentally still human.
“Second, only speed is best to deal with speed. You should understand this principle, and the same principle applies to people with the demon bloodline. Only demons can deal with demons!”
Xia Fan nodded. All things had that which they could overcome and that which they were overcome by. Humans with the demon bloodline were not only strong in combat, but they also thought like demons. Most of the time, the Skywings stood out from everyone else, usually ignoring the rules and casually traveling around and causing messes. Those were traits particular to demons. In that way, when the Skywings went up against the demons, they would be able to predict their foes’ tactics more easily.
At this time, the communication stone in Turan’s head vibrated, words appearing on the smooth and glossy surface.
Turan looked at the message and then said to Xia Fan, “Our people have already set off. One group is going to the White City to look for Xia Geng and tell him the truth so that he doesn’t get too impulsive and do something that makes him stand out.
“Another group is going to search for your father, tell him that you’ve come to the Lower Realm, and then bring back his message. Although I can’t help you meet, you can at least exchange letters.”
My father?
Xia Fan turned to look out the window, his heart both excited and uneasy. He had never met this man called the Lone Wolf of the Skywings, and there was also his mother and older siblings. What sort of people were they?
Traveling Buddha had always been very envious of Xia Fan for having nothing holding him down, able to do whatever he wanted. But Traveling Buddha had always had a bad relationship with his father, who often sternly rebuked him as if nothing Traveling Buddha could do could ever satisfy him. As for Xia Fan, nobody ever asked him anything, and he was free to do as he pleased!
But Traveling Buddha didn’t know that whenever he was on the phone with his family, Xia Fan would always be at the side, listening with perked-up ears.
“It’s so annoying! My mom wants to introduce me to a partner. I knew this girl when I was little, even helping her wipe her snot. What’s she trying to do? I don’t have the slightest interest in her!” Traveling Buddha had put down the phone and grumbled to Xia Fan.
Xia Fan soothed Traveling Buddha, but he was inwardly envious. If he had his own mother by his side, would she be encouraging him to get with girls? Would she nag him as much as Traveling Buddha’s mother? Would she forbid him from making strange sounds at mealtime and adjust the light when he was reading to protect his eyes…
He really wanted to be nagged at by someone…
Xia Fan turned to the side and copied Turan by laying down.
…
After a day and night of flying, Xia Fan finally arrived at the legendary Subduing Demon City.
From the sky, the place was a giant city in the shape of a circle. The city was set up next to a large lake, and in the center of the city was a white tower that soared into the clouds. This was the elevator that connected the two planes. From there, one could descend to the lower plane.
The buildings were in an ancient style, but they were all from different eras. The new buildings seemed like they had been finished yesterday, the tiles and windows all brand-new and still smelling of paint. As for the old buildings, they were so mottled that it was impossible to tell their original colors. The wooden windows shuddered in the wind and seemed like they could drop onto the street at any moment and injure pedestrians.
“War has destroyed Subduing Demon City again and again, but when the war is over, we bring the city back to its original appearance, restoring the streets and buildings, which is why things look like this. Although it has the same style as the first Subduing Demon City, the buildings and streets are all copies made at later dates,” Turan explained to Xia Fan.
“War?”
“It’s all because of those annoying demons. The elevator isn’t safe, and they will often invade it. That’s why there’s a Seal around the perimeter of Subduing Demon City. It prevents the demons from charging into the continent and hurting the ordinary people. As for the wasteland between the wall and the city, that’s a buffer region!”
Xia Fan nodded. To summarize, Subduing Demon City was a place where rookies were gathered, and in normal circumstances, there wouldn’t be conflicts with demons here. But once one took the elevator down, things became completely different. Down there was the main battlefield, and Subduing Demon City existed for rookies to train and study. Once they became proper warriors, they would be sent down to the lower realm!
Xia Fan’s father and the Skywing’s main army had already secretly descended the elevator to the lower level, after which they had hidden away in some unknown location, ready to unleash their power at any time and assist the Demon Subduers in winning the war against the demons.
“Because of the war, your identity will be kept a secret,” Turan said to Xia Fan. “Nobody will know about your Speed ability. In Subduing Demon City, you will be a new student with the non-combat Scent ability. Do you understand? If you encounter any problems, come and find me.”
——
Under Turan’s arrangements, Xia Fan took up residence in the city. He was living in a place similar to a student dormitory. He passed a few boring nights, waiting to take part in the test held for new Demon Subduers, after which he would begin joint training. As for the contents of this training, it was primarily basic knowledge on demons and how to defeat them.
Happily, not long after entering the city, Xia Fan received two pieces of good news. First, under Turan’s secret arrangements, Traveling Buddha would soon join Xia Fan in Subduing Demon City. Second, his father had written Xia Fan a letter!