While Han Li's heart was still churning with doubt, Feng Xi smiled lightly and asked: "I heard that a few years ago, when Daoist Wu was protecting Brother Gui Xian, he was ambushed by several human cultivators. Although he drove them off in the end, he still suffered a minor loss. Is that the reason your Jiaolong clan decided to act? Your Spirit Beast clans have always been quite protective of your own, haven't you?"
"In recent years, the human cultivators on those islands have indeed grown far too arrogant. They actually believe this sea territory truly belongs to them. They treat us Shape-Shifting stage demon cultivators the same as those low-grade beasts that haven't even shed their animal forms. They were simply courting their own destruction. My incident was merely one of the catalysts."
The Venomous Jiaolong paused here, then continued in an indifferent tone: "The most important thing is that the humans killed a freshly minted seventh-grade Suanni beast of the Wanzhang Sea Royal Clan. This enraged the old Suanni so much that he didn't hesitate to expend his essence blood to activate the Myriad Demon Command, which led tens of thousands of demonic beasts to crush the human islands in one sweep. Our Jiaolong clan agreed to lend a hand — not to avenge the Suanni clan, but because the sacred relic passed down through our sea clans across generations, the 'True Fragment of Sansheng,' was on the very Suanni that was killed and fell into human hands. Although this artifact was already incomplete and of no real practical value, it remains one of our demon clans' great inherited treasures. It absolutely cannot be left in the hands of human cultivators." The Venomous Jiaolong shot Han Li a cold glance, a flash of harshness crossing his face.
"I've actually heard something about the Suanni's death, but I had no idea about the loss of the 'True Fragment of Sansheng.' Without that inherited relic, wouldn't the Suanni clan be even less able to hold their position as the Wanzhang Sea Royal Clan? Could it be that the Jiaolong clan intends to take over this sea territory?" The Gale Beast's expression shifted slightly, and he directed a strange smile at the Venomous Jiaolong.
"Now that, I wouldn't know. After all, I rarely concern myself with clan affairs. However, I am quite interested in the 'Three Sansheng Arts' recorded on that True Fragment of Sansheng. I hear this technique is an ancient secret art passed down from primordial demonkind, with extraordinarily powerful might. It's a shame that the several True Fragments bearing this technique have long since scattered far and wide — there's no way to reconstruct the full art." The Venomous Jiaolong first showed a look of interest, then spoke with regret.
"Ha ha ha! Brother Wu, you're too greedy. What ancient secret art — I think it's nothing more than rumor. I refuse to believe that our Jiaolong clan's 'Dragon Transformation Technique' is any inferior to it." The Turtle Demon suddenly cut in with a hearty laugh.
"That's true enough. When our clan's 'Dragon Transformation Technique' is cultivated to its deepest level, one can transform from a Jiaolong into a true Dragon. It is naturally one of the supreme techniques of demonkind." Hearing this, a hint of pride flickered across the Venomous Jiaolong's face, and he spoke with some self-satisfaction.
Feng Xi simply smiled without commenting.
"True Fragment of Sansheng?" Han Li, who had been sitting off to the side, maintained his composure outwardly upon hearing this name, but inwardly his heart stirred. He thought of the copper fragment he had only recently come into possession of.
That copper fragment recorded a demon cultivator's technique, and it appeared to carry considerable power.
Could it really be such a coincidence that what these two demons were discussing was exactly that object?
He didn't know the specific purpose of the "True Fragment of Sansheng," but the moment he heard it was an inherited treasure of the demon clans, he knew it had to be a scalding hot potato.
Could it be that the dark-skinned cultivator was the one responsible for triggering the Abyssal Beast Tide? He had mid-stage Core Formation cultivation — destroying a seventh-grade demon beast wasn't out of the question.
Han Li muttered to himself, though he didn't feel particularly panicked.
He was already in the typical state of owing so many debts that one more didn't matter. With his life hanging by a thread at every moment, one more scalding hot potato was hardly something he cared about.
Perhaps feeling that with Han Li present, there were more sensitive matters that couldn't be discussed, Feng Xi turned to face Han Li and said flatly: "Daoist Li, you only recently advanced to late-stage Core Formation and still need to consolidate your realm. I would not wish for your magical power to suddenly falter at a critical moment during the treasure refinement. Follow this light and return to your quarters to rest and cultivate for a while."
With that, the Gale Beast raised a hand, and a white sphere of light flew from his fingertip, darting toward a side door on one end of the hall.
Han Li had no choice but to force a smile, rise to his feet, and follow the light orb out of the hall.
What he really wanted at this moment was to hear more of the demon clans' secrets!
As he reached the doorway, Feng Xi's warning came from behind: "Under normal circumstances, Daoist, you'd best stay in your room and not wander out casually. Otherwise, if I were to misunderstand something... things could get unpleasant." The demon cultivator spoke in a flat tone.
Han Li's back was turned to the three demons. His figure paused ever so slightly, but then, without a word, he walked out through the side door.
"Is everything alright? I don't think that kid looks like the type to give his all willingly. Don't let something go wrong at the critical moment of the treasure refinement." The Venomous Jiaolong stared in the direction Han Li had vanished, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.
"Relax. This time, the refinement of the Wind Thunder Wings is primarily up to the three of us. This human is merely providing a wood-attribute spiritual energy tool. Once the refinement begins, he'll have absolutely no say in the matter — he can only obediently supply his magical power. Besides, there's still the Chaos Evil Qi I planted inside him. Even if he had other thoughts, he'd be powerless to act on them." Feng Xi's lips curled upward as he spoke with a cold smile.
"Speaking of the Chaos Evil Qi, I seem to recall there was no such thing in the Jade Flame Wine. Don't tell me Brother Feng tampered with it?" The Turtle Demon suddenly grinned and chimed in.
"Heh heh! Of course. The Jade Flame Wine I gave him was specially brewed. This Chaos Evil Qi should properly be called the Chaos Demon Qi — it was something I refined from the body of a troublesome demonic cultivator I killed back in the day. Even having this Demon Qi inside my own body, I find it extremely troublesome to expel." Feng Xi adjusted the silver crown on his head, a cunning look appearing on his face.