The small child immediately caught Xu Ke's attention.
Eyes wide, he circled around the child, curiosity pulling him closer and closer until he stood right in front of them.
He reached out and pinched the child's cheek. "Are you human? How did you end up on the Demonic Beast Mountain?"
The child tilted their head, then raised their own hand and pinched Xu Ke's face in return.
"Who says humans can't live on the Demonic Beast Mountain? You're just a mortal, and you arrived here safe and sound, didn't you?"
They answered with complete seriousness.
Xu Ke was taken aback, then gradually seemed to find the child's words convincing.
He clapped his hands happily. "You're right! Demonic beasts and humans can absolutely coexist in harmony.
"That's how it is in our sect.
"I imagine it's the same here on the Southern Abyss Demonic Beast Mountain."
A flicker of innocence crossed the child's eyes as they shook their head. "The Beast Taming Sect? I've heard that its human cultivators use the Beast Taming Art to forcibly bind and control demonic beasts.
"Many beasts don't truly wish to become companion beasts. They're simply controlled by the technique, powerless to resist.
"Is that what you call harmonious coexistence?"
The child asked in earnest.
Xu Ke waved his hands in a fluster. "It's not like that..."
He opened his mouth to argue, but the words wouldn't come.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he grabbed Little Hei from atop his head and held the bird out to the child like a treasure. "Look, this is Little Hei. We get along great!
"Even though he became my companion beast through the Beast Taming Art, the bond between us is absolutely real. Isn't that right, Little Hei!" Xu Ke shook Li Fan, hoping for agreement.
Li Fan, however, simply flew back to Xu Ke's head and pecked him with his beak, making him yelp and go still.
Ignoring Xu Ke's antics, Li Fan studied the child before him, who was as exquisite as carved jade.
Doubt stirred in him.
Instinct told him this child was no ordinary mortal, that their origins were significant. Yet there wasn't the slightest trace of a demonic beast's aura about them. Even when Li Fan employed his innate divine ability to observe their pillar of providence, it appeared utterly ordinary, no different from a mortal's.
He couldn't make sense of it.
Watching the rather harmonious exchange between master and companion beast, the child let out a giggle, visibly amused.
"Follow me. The paths in the city are complex. Be careful not to get eaten," they cautioned once more.
With that, they simply headed inward.
Xu Ke hurried after.
The surroundings were deathly silent, with no sign of other demonic beasts. The beasts that had arrived with them earlier had all disappeared to places unknown. Only the footsteps of two children echoed through the empty city, one after the other.
They journeyed inward, climbing dozens of staircases. After some time, the child led Xu Ke into a chamber. The moment they entered, the surrounding walls turned transparent.
It was as if they had been suspended high in the air.
The scenery spread out before them in every direction, unobstructed, affording a clear view of the space below, where countless demonic beasts of every conceivable shape crowded together in dense masses. They seemed to be debating something, arguing with great fervor.
"Silence!"
Slightly below where Xu Ke stood, several massive orbs of light hovered in the air. Vague silhouettes could be glimpsed within them.
The one who spoke was a crimson nine-headed bird. Its voice was like metal plates grinding together, piercing and unpleasant, yet its authority among the demonic beasts was clear: the moment it spoke, the gathered beasts fell instantly quiet.
"Esteemed ones, let us welcome His Majesty Sovereign Primus, who, after many years, has once again summoned the myriad demon beasts to convene this council!"
Boom!
At those words, every demonic beast in the space seemed to erupt at once. Uncontrollable excitement surged through the crowd as they roared in collective joy.
At that same instant, a massive shadow descended from above.
A grey mass of writhing flesh hovered over the gathered beasts like a dark cloud, heads surfacing and submerging across its surface in an endless, unsettling churn.
Every demonic beast present fell silent and bowed their heads in respect.
"That... that is Sovereign Primus?" Xu Ke stared at the fleshy mass below and stuck out his tongue. Then he lowered his voice. "Why does it look... so ugly..."
The child heard this, but rather than taking offense, they nodded in agreement. "Hehe, I think so too. It really is ugly!"
Li Fan's heart lurched.
To dare call the most revered demonic beast in the world ugly, and in the heart of their own stronghold, this child...
Before he could dwell on it, the words of Sovereign Primus below drew his attention.
"My brethren, I have summoned you here today because the time has come once more to decide the fate, the very survival, of our demonic beast race."
Sovereign Primus's voice was peculiar. It seemed to emanate from every part of the fleshy mass at once, as though composed of thousands of voices layered and blended together. Yet when one tried to tell them apart, they became indistinguishable, a unified whole. It sounded mechanical and strangely spirited at the same time, bizarre beyond measure.
Sovereign Primus continued, "The Xuanhuang World faces an impending cataclysm. This coming calamity will be more brutal than any before it.
"Not just humanity, but we demonic beasts, and indeed the entire world, will face a life-threatening crisis. Even drawing on the wealth of experience embedded within our bloodline memories, I fear this time we may not escape unscathed..."
The demonic beasts below erupted into cacophony.
The fleshy mass writhed, and the light and shadows above the beasts shifted. The multitude fell silent once more.
"Therefore, for the future of our race, I need to hear your opinions."
From among the orbs of light beneath the fleshy cloud, a demonic beast that looked strikingly similar to Sovereign Primus, likewise spherical and featureless, spoke up. "Sovereign Primus, whatever you decide, we shall do.
"I, Purple Headless, will always be your most loyal subordinate!"
Many beasts below roared their agreement.
"Oh? And what if I decide to lead you away from the Xuanhuang World, to seek a new homeland?" Contrary to all expectations, Sovereign Primus asked coldly.
"What?" Purple Headless clearly hadn't anticipated the question and went momentarily still.
Before it could reply, the aged Azure Divine Dragon beside it spoke first.
"Sovereign Primus, what is your reasoning? Could it be that even with the formidable strength of us demonic beasts, we cannot survive this so-called great calamity?"
"Indeed. We have weathered countless tribulations unscathed. And even if we were to leave, where would we go?"