Those Not of Our Kind

"Yes, it's him." He Li said this through gritted teeth.

One was inside the formation, the other outside, separated by a light barrier; they could hear each other but not see one. Yue Qianchou crossed his arms and pinched his chin with the other, asking curiously, "Eh! You sound quite dissatisfied with him! Isn't he your master? What? Did he do something to wrong you?"

"It wasn't there before, but it's very likely now that you're here," He Li snorted.

"I don't understand what you're talking about," Yue Qianchou said. "Tell me what happened. What have I done to offend you?"

"I told you, you shouldn't have come to the Demon Ghost Domain." He Li said with a face full of resentment, "I've endured so many years, and now that old codger is finally about to leave, this Demon Ghost Domain should be mine. I am the most qualified person to be the next 'Punishment Envoy.' But why do you look at the old man differently as soon as you arrive? No outsider has ever been allowed to stay on Shuntian Island without a reason. Apart from the old man's friends, you are the first exception."

Hearing the other party's seemingly deranged words, Yue Qianchou frowned and said, "It seems you're afraid I'll take your position as 'Punishment Envoy.' You're overthinking it. I have no interest in this inhuman place. Even if you kill me, will the position of 'Punishment Envoy' necessarily be yours? Without the cultivation of the Spirit Transformation stage, who can control the entire Demon Ghost Domain? You're only at the mid Tribulation stage realm, and I'm even further from that. Neither of us can possibly control it. Think it over carefully and let me out! I can pretend today's events never happened."

He Li chuckled, "How could it be impossible! It's just that you don't know the reason. Before, the old man was worried that he would never return from his journey to the Eastern Pole Sacred Land, leaving no one to guard the Demon Ghost Domain. He entrusted it to his close friend Mr. Nongzhu, but Mr. Nongzhu said he was too lazy to take on the responsibility. The old man said, 'If you don't take it, I can't find a suitable person. If the Demon Ghost Domain isn't guarded by a suitable person, there will inevitably be great chaos in the human world. Mr. Nongzhu came up with an idea: 'You can entrust it to your disciple. I just broke through to the mid Spirit Transformation stage Spirit Transformation stage.' The old man nodded in agreement. I was there and heard it with my own ears. Do you think I have a chance?"

"Damn it! You heard it with your own ears, what does it have to do with me? Let me out!" Yue Qianchou roared, feeling like he had encountered a madman.

He Li's face darkened, and he said, "How can it not concern you? The old man personally kept you here and even observed you in secret for several days. This is unprecedented. Do you think a junior in the Core Formation stage like you is worth him going to such lengths for? I suspect that the old man intends to take you as his disciple and have you take over the Demon Ghost Domain with the support of Mr. Nongzhu. Do you think you deserve to die?"

"Uh... you want me to take over the Demon Ghost Domain? You mean Bi Changchun wants me to be the 'Punishment Envoy' of the Demon Ghost Domain? How is that possible?" Yue Qianchou said in astonishment, unable to tell whether he was happy or unhappy, he was really surprised. But then he broke out in a cold sweat. Damn it! That old bastard had been secretly observing me for several days. Luckily I was patient, otherwise even if I had run away, once he had him on my side, I would never have been able to show my face again, and I would have had to hide in Utopia for the rest of my life.

After having this idea, he disagreed with He Li's stubborn idea and said with a wry smile, "He Li, don't you think about it? I've only known him for a few days, and you and your master have been together for many years. How could he possibly let me take over the Demon Ghost Domain?"

"Whenever someone trespasses into the Demon Ghost Domain and causes trouble, as long as it's not too outrageous, the old man will show some leniency. But demons and ghosts, let alone going to the human world, even if they have the slightest thought of going, if the old man finds out, he won't show any mercy and will kill them without hesitation, regardless of whether they are right or wrong. You saw what happened to Demon King Ao Li and Ghost Meng Yan last time." He Li shook his head painfully and said, "I've seen too many of these things. You don't understand. You and the old man are human, I am a demon. As long as there is a second choice, the old man will not completely trust me to rule the Demon Ghost Domain."...

Upon hearing this, Yue Qianchou paused slightly. He didn't deny that He Li's words made no sense. In his previous life, he had heard the saying, "Those Non-Self our kind will surely have different hearts." If it were him, he wouldn't necessarily entrust the Demon Ghost Domain, which could potentially be related to the life and death of humanity, to a Demon Race. That would be too risky. After thinking for a moment, Yue Qianchou still comforted him, "You're overthinking it. My cultivation is too shallow. Even if I were to manage the Demon Ghost Domain, unless Mr. Nongzhu, as you said, stayed Demon Ghost Domain permanently, I simply wouldn't be able to control it. And you said that Mr. Nongzhu doesn't want to be restrained, so Bi Changchun won't let me be the 'Punishment Envoy'."

"You don't understand. The old man and Mr. Nongzhu are both human. Based on their cultivation experience, it's easier for them to cultivate a human in the Core Formation stage to the Spirit Transformation stage than to cultivate Demon Race like me in the Tribulation Transcendence stage to the Spirit Transformation stage. As for controlling the Demon Ghost Domain, it's not difficult at all. The reason why the Demon Ghost Domain is shrouded in gloom all year round is because of a set of spiritual treasures protecting it. Whenever there is any excessive fighting in the Demon Ghost Domain, the spiritual treasure in the old man's hands will immediately show up. So, no matter who controls the Demon Ghost Domain, as long as they have that set of spiritual treasures in hand and Mr. Nongzhu helps them, control is not a problem at all."

At this point, He Li sneered, "Now you know why I didn't kill you outside! With my cultivation level, killing you would be too easy, but as soon as we started fighting, the old man's spirit horse would know immediately. So it's best to lure you here and trap you to death, and no one will know."

"Damn it! Do you think I'm as easy to kill as you make me out to be?" Yue Qianchou chuckled. "Aren't you afraid that I'll leave some traces before I die here? Bi Changchun can't find me, he might come here to take a look."

"Leave whatever traces you want, I'll wipe them clean before that old codger returns," He Li a sinister smile. "Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, that protective light barrier can't leave any traces. As for the ground, it's incredibly hardened from enduring the scorching heat of the Azure Flame for countless years. With my cultivation level, it's difficult for me to leave any marks. I don't know what abilities you have. Also, this Azure Flame will erupt once a month, and the space inside will be completely filled with it. It seems the eruption is in two days, so you'd better hurry if you want to leave anything."

Having heard him go this far, there was no point in saying anything more, nor was there any need to beg him anymore, since this place couldn't hold him back anyway. He had initially thought his confinement here was Bi Changchun's doing, and he was a little worried, but now that he understood, he breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't Bi Changchun's doing, things would be much easier. Yue Qianchou frowned and said, "You really did have a plan all along, but there's something I don't understand. Presumably, you revealed the information about the Three Flavored True Fire to me intentionally, but what I can't figure out is, how did you know I would definitely come to see this Azure Flame?"

"Haha!" He Li laughed arrogantly, "I heard from the old man that he sensed the aura of flames on you, but he couldn't detect anything. He even doubted whether he was mistaken. Although I don't know what happened, I have a lot of confidence in his cultivation. Since he sensed something was wrong, it means you must have something to do with fire. So I leaked the news of the Three Flavored True Fire to test you. I didn't expect you to be so enthusiastic about the Azure Fire, and even thought I was a fool, trying to fool me with a family secret recipe for grilled fish. How could you come up with such a thing? Haha! Since I have such a good opportunity to get rid of you without the old man finding out, I'm naturally happy to go with the flow and help you."

"Damn it! Don't be so smug. You're just a feathered beast, thinking you can rule the Demon Ghost Domain? You're dreaming. Wait until I get out and I'll deal with you slowly, you beast." Yue Qianchou cursed angrily, feeling very uncomfortable about playing tricks on himself.

"Flat-feathered beast? Haha! Well said. I was never one of you humans to begin with. Once I control the Demon Ghost Domain, I'll show you humans how powerful this flat-feathered beast is." He Li said mockingly, "Keep cursing in there. Hopefully, you can hold out for a few more days. Don't come back to find nothing but ashes. Hmph! I'm not playing along!"

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