This time, the Qingyi bird didn’t continue to be obstinate. After a brief silence, it asked:
"Where did you learn Heart Flame?"
Wu Chang said, "Of course, I learned from the Fire Demon King."
The Qingyi bird incredulously exclaimed, "Are you also a demon? How could a human cultivator learn that old bug’s Heart Flame."
Wu Chang smiled and said, "I took out the Blazeworm from its stomach and taught myself by referencing it."
The Qingyi bird: ...
The Blazeworm is the core of the Candle Yin Remains; extracting it is like taking out a human heart. You can’t just extract it and shove it back as if nothing happened.
When the Blazeworm leaves the body, only one possibility exists: the Candle Yin Remains is already dead.
After a moment, the Qingyi bird suddenly started laughing.
"Good riddance. That old bug deserved to die long ago."
This time, the Qingyi bird spoke directly, no need for the All-Knowing Crystal to translate.
The Qingyi bird laughed happily, but Wu Chang was not so pleased. He raised his fist, threatening to strike.
"What a beast, speaking human language yet always chirping like a bird. Trying to mock me, are you?"
This time, the Qingyi bird stopped laughing. It had witnessed True Self punch the Wind Shadow Beast into pieces and knew that even as a Demon King, it couldn’t withstand that punch.
Ultimately, one cannot escape this calamity; there is no need to endure another beating before death.
"Wait, you promised me earlier to give me a swift one."
Wu Chang lowered his hand and glanced sidelong at the Qingyi bird, saying:
"Willing to talk now?"
The Qingyi bird said, "I’m going to die anyway. Whether I speak or not makes no difference to me. You’ve helped kill the old bug; I’ll tell you some information as a token of gratitude."
Wu Chang scoffed indifferently—it turns out it was due to a personal grievance. I thought you were afraid of my Heart Flame.
Before asking, he said, "I didn’t expect you could speak human language; it sounds even more fluent than your bird speech."
The Qingyi bird replied with an even tone:
"The difference between demons is sometimes greater than between demons and humans."
"Although we all turn into demons, our kind — exotic beasts with awakened bloodlines — can awaken spiritual intelligence by absorbing Demon Qi. Whether in cultivation or thought, we are no less than you human cultivators."
"Contrary to us, Candle Yin Remains, as incarnations of disaster and resentment, are powerful yet as stupid as pigs, driven only by desire and instinct, unable to maintain thought."
In Cuixian County, Wu Chang had already noticed this difference when encountering the ginseng spirit.
The ginseng spirit, although only a Demon General, spoke clearly and acted much like a human, completely different from Candle Yin Remains. He wondered how such two types of demons could communicate without barriers.
Especially when the ginseng spirit mentioned that the Earth Demon King and Wind Demon King preferred recruiting demons transformed from exotic beasts or spirits as subordinates, he became even more curious about the internal situation of the Demon Race.
Now, hearing it from the Qingyi bird itself, one could see that intelligent exotic beasts indeed looked down on these low-intelligence Candle Yin Remains.
Since the internal dynamics are not monolithic, many things can be negotiated.
He asked:
"First question, why are you perched on Gourd Mountain, or rather, what considerations do the four Demon Kings have in choosing territories."
The Qingyi bird anticipated Wu Chang’s question without hesitation, saying:
"Our strongholds were not chosen by us; they chose us."
"The existence within Gourd Mountain is akin to your cultivators’ Immortal Mansions; however, the inside is not complicated, requiring no tests. Upon entering, its contents make their selections."
"Once selected, the body’s energy undergoes a transformation, becoming a Demon King."
Wu Chang looked at the Qingyi bird, saying, "You seem to be quite familiar with Immortal Mansions."
The Qingyi bird self-mockingly said, "Before I became a demon, I was used to probe Immortal Mansions."
Currently, the scenario is about strategy, not about Qingyi bird, so Wu Chang was not interested in hearing it talk about its unfortunate childhood, continuing to ask:
"So how do you find the Inheritance Land?"
The Qingyi bird said, "We don’t need to find it. Similar to the summons to Liuyun City, when the Demon Realm formed, whatever inheritances we can acquire suddenly appeared in our minds."
"With my talent in controlling wind and energy, fire and wind Demon King inheritance locations appeared in my mind."
Wu Chang casually asked, "Did you first try for the Fire Demon King?"
The Qingyi bird’s voice seemed unnatural, as if recalling unpleasant memories, saying, "Yes."
They say wind aids fire, so the Wind Demon King should be friendly with the Fire Demon King. Even if the Qingyi bird despised Candle Yin Remains, it shouldn’t have such deep resentment to rejoice over its death.
If the Qingyi bird first attempted the Fire Demon King but failed and bore a grudge with Candle Yin Remains, then that would explain things.
Wu Chang continued asking, "Can I enter Gourd Mountain?"
The Qingyi bird said:
"Non-Demon Race entering the Inheritance Land, under demon aura corrosion, will cause the entrant’s mind and body to collapse."
"But I can sense you have fairy destiny. If your will is strong enough and you are not afraid of death, you might try your luck."
Demon Qi corrosion and will testing—how convenient. Wu Chang feared neither.
Wu Chang learned from the Qingyi bird how to enter Gourd Mountain, then proceeded to ask:
"When the Demon Realm formed, it unleashed a wave that caused all cultivators in the Grand Province to tremble in their hearts. What was the source of that wave?"
The Qingyi bird said:
"I’m not clear on the specifics. I can only say, if you manage to enter the central region of the Demon Realm, you will find a lake where demon aura gathers—that should hold the answers you seek."