Demon Race

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Demon Race (妖族)
Alias(es)	Monsterkind 696 754
Composition	A collective of numerous demon races and clans, rather than a single species 506 665
Government	Demon Dynasty, ruled by the Phoenix imperial clan 503
Ruler	Shen Tian, the Demon Son of Heaven 600
Principal Leaders	Great Sage Shen Yu, whose identity Cheng Yu assumes; Demon Sage Shen Yuan; Moon King Shen Yue 504 520 600
Headquarters	Demon Capital, Central Continent 546 736
World	Eternal True World 503
Role	Former leading race of heaven and earth; one of the three great races alongside Humankind and the Netherworld Ghost Race 506 532
Status	Survives its loss of heavenly supremacy as a centralized major power; later cooperates with Humankind against the Heavenly Dao 642 810

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Demon Dynasty established	503 506	The clans unite under First Phoenix’s eldest son, concentrating enough strength to resist rising Humankind.
Great Sage becomes the source of racial fortune	509	After the former emperor dies, Cheng Yu takes his place as the Demon Race’s source of fortune, preventing the Human Sages from immediately exploiting the succession.
Demon Son of Heaven and Demon Laws	588 600	The emperor reduces his cultivation and submits to Heaven. Imperial authority gains heavenly backing, while official rank affects cultivation speed and breakthrough difficulty.
Centralized rule achieved	600	After two thousand years, regional clans submit to Shen Tian’s investiture. Their individual power diminishes, but the Dynasty’s overall strength rises substantially.
Postwar decline halted	640 642	Shen Yu’s sacrifice and the emperor’s submission secure the race’s future beneath Humankind rather than allowing its destruction. The united race remains capable of contending with its rival.
Uneven long-term recovery	736 740 767	Northern resources flourish and the race shows signs of renewed vitality. Centralization nevertheless limits some exceptional talents and weakens clans that formerly supplied many of its strongest fighters.

Background / History

Supremacy and the First Heavenly Demon War

Before the First War Against the Heavenly Demons, the Demon Race ruled the Eternal True World’s Myriad Races, including Humankind. Its three primordial sacred lineages were the Dragonfolk, Phoenixes, and Qilin. The Qilin led the difficult conquest of the Northern Continent, which remained troublesome even after nominal unification 503 613 686.

The Demon Race bore the principal burden of defending the world against the Heavenly Demons. The war gravely weakened it, and the deaths of its Three Sacred Gods caused irreversible damage. Humankind subsequently emerged from among the Myriad Races to become heaven and earth’s favored race 503 576 686.

Founding of the Demon Dynasty

The Dragonfolk departed to become Humankind’s guardian divine beasts, while the Qilin withdrew from worldly affairs. The Phoenix Race remained and became the imperial clan. One hundred thousand years before Cheng Yu’s intervention, the demons jointly enthroned First Phoenix’s eldest son and founded the Demon Dynasty 503 506.

The Dynasty initially held Humankind at bay, but powerful clans retained control of major cities and resisted imperial administration. The emperor spent his reign balancing these interests. Heavenly hostility compounded the problem: successive generations lost talent, bloodlines deteriorated, and even the exceptionally pure-blooded Phoenix emperor approached the end of his lifespan 506.

Shen Yu’s Resistance and Cheng Yu’s Regency

Shen Yu attained true sagehood through his own power rather than a Heavenly Dao appointment. He defeated three Human Sages and later threatened to destroy the Seven Demon-Sealing Passes unless Heaven granted his people a chance to survive. The concession came with immense karma and ten thousand years of torment through the Five Decays of Heaven and Man 504 506.

Cheng Yu inherits Shen Yu’s identity, memories, and responsibility for the race. After the emperor’s death, he supports the young Shen Tian’s accession, mentors Shen Yue, and governs as the effective power behind the throne 504 509 510.

His consolidation includes the destruction of the Five Fiends, suppression of clan rebellions, investigation of the Qicang case, and restructuring of the government. The resulting purges implicate numerous established clans, while preserved demon blood and monster cores enter the race’s treasury 513 519.

Demon Laws and Imperial Consolidation

Azure Owl authors the Demon Laws, which Cheng Yu finalizes. After the emperor submits to Heaven, the laws give his commands heavenly authority and connect advancement to service within the Dynasty. Regional clans rebel because delay would only strengthen the court; Shen Tian and Shen Yue suppress them 600.

The brothers also stage a conflict between the Heavenly Martial Directorate and Divine Strategy Office to expose opponents and redistribute power. After two thousand years, the great regional clans accept imperial investiture, and Shen Tian becomes the undisputed lord of all demons 600.

Second Heavenly Demon War and Its Aftermath

The First Great Wall falls during Cheng Yu’s regency, prompting him to insist that rising Humankind assume more responsibility for the world’s defense. Later, the Second and Third Great Walls fall within a hundred years. Shen Yue’s advance evacuation preserves much of the Demon Race’s elite strength 538 600.

Humankind, the Demon Race, and the Myriad Races form an alliance, but mutual suspicion undermines it. Over the following nine thousand years, the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Great Walls also fall. At a later desperate defense, demon elites and human cultivators fight side by side, supported by Human Sages, a Demon Sage, Ghost Venerable, and the Demon Race’s Great Sage 600 608.

Shen Yu eventually transforms his body into a defensive barrier as part of a bargain with the Heavenly Dao. The Second War devastates the Northern Continent: two-thirds become part of the Eastern Continent, while the remainder forms the Demon-controlled Northern Abyss Islands 640 642 651.

Renewed Rivalry and Cooperation

The postwar balance prevents either Humankind or the Demon Race from conquering the other. Shen Yue nevertheless exploits the Demon-Seeding Secret Art to corrupt Baiyue Prefecture’s commissioner, Ji Hu, creating an opportunity to remove human control from the Southern Continent. The Qilin intervene to preserve the balance 678.

Relations later ease enough for trade and Shen Bai’s visit to human territory. Behind the public rivalry, Shen Tian accepts Qin Shuo’s proposal to challenge the Heavenly Dao. Their joint formation, Humanity’s Way, draws on the collective will of Humankind and Monsterkind, with Shen Bai serving as the crucial link 754 810.

Government and Organization

Imperial Authority

• Phoenix monarchy: The Phoenix Race supplies the imperial family. Shen Tian succeeds the founding emperor, while Shen Yue becomes a central governing figure and wartime commander 503 510 600.
• Demon Son of Heaven: Shen Tian is recognized as Heaven’s eldest legitimate son and lord of all demons. Disobeying him incurs heavenly displeasure 600.
• Central administration: Cheng Yu introduces the Three Departments and Six Ministries system, replacing an arrangement that concentrated excessive authority in the prime minister 514 519.
• Taxation reform: Clans are required to pay according to income, with rates capped at fifty percent. Cheng Yu intends to make participation worthwhile through benefits to younger demons’ potential 540.
• Great-clan qualification: A clan normally qualifies as a great clan by possessing at least one Emptiness Realm expert, equivalent to Epic. Hereditary imperial recognition can preserve that status after the qualifying expert dies 736.

Institutions

Institution	Function and Notable Details
Imperial Guard	Protects the emperor. Cheng Yu replaces Niu Da with Jin Chi as commander to provide Shen Tian with a more attentive guardian 513.
Heavenly Martial Guard	Cheng Yu’s new force, commanded by Jin Yang with Niu Da as deputy 513 514.
Heavenly Martial Directorate	Conducts investigations, arrests, purges, and espionage. Its agents infiltrate Baiyue Prefecture through the rebels’ commercial connections 519 578.
Divine Strategy Office	Established as a public counterweight to the Directorate, though Shen Yue retains influence over both. Yun Xiang rises as its Great General 600.
Qingping Institute	Official healing and purification institution; employs races proficient in curses, poison, healing, and purification 615.
Ministry of Rites	Handles foreign affairs, including Great Qin’s demands following the Nian Beast’s attacks 529.
Ministry of Works	Rebuilds Heaven-Reaching Peak over thirteen years as a monument to Demon Race history 588.
Demon Register	Records recognized members of the race. Half-demons must reject their human identity and swear a Heavenly Dao oath to enter 640.

Political Factions

Faction	Position
Pro-Human Submission Faction	Supports nominal accommodation with Humankind to preserve the race. White Elephant’s willingness to compromise does not mean abandoning demon interests 506 529.
Pro-Human Surrender Faction	Contains members treated as traitors; some traffic their own people. Cheng Yu largely dismantles it 529 719.
Conservative Faction	Divided among fence-sitters, advocates of withdrawal into the Desolate Region, and supporters of a future comeback 506.
Radical Faction	Favors fighting Humankind; contains both rational and reckless branches 506.
Reform Faction	A new faction Cheng Yu plans to support under Zhen’s leadership 529.
Monster Emperor Party	Supports the throne. The Karkadan clan is identified as one of its few members during the earlier period of clan dominance 736.

Cheng Yu seeks to make competing factions serve the emperor rather than destroy one another. He also regards multiple political voices as useful safeguards against catastrophic mistakes 514 529.

Territory and Important Locations

Location	Significance
Central Continent	Imperial heartland containing the Demon Capital, Tokyo City, Wangshu Mountain, and Jade Bamboo Grove 524 740.
Demon Capital	Permanent home to more than a trillion demons during Cheng Yu’s regency; contains the imperial court and major state institutions 546.
Western Continent	Fully held by the Demon Race before the Second War. Harsh terrain and impoverished communities contrast with the wealth concentrated in Western Capital City 524 740.
Northern Continent	Former northern stronghold and principal Heavenly Demon war zone. Beijing City served as the heart of demon control 613.
Northern Abyss Islands	Surviving Demon-controlled portion of the shattered Northern Continent. Later produces enough resources to support the central court 651 736.
Southern Continent	Shared and contested with Humankind’s Baiyue Prefecture. Southern Capital City anchors Dynasty operations; Kuang Cang later brings much of the region under his control 554 585.
Haiqi City	Largest Demon Race border city in the Southern Continent; formerly a rebel stronghold 664.
Eastern Continent	Contains demon settlements before the later territorial changes, but is chiefly Humankind’s heartland 524.
Seven Demon-Sealing Passes	Seven Great Walls defending the world against Heavenly Demon invasions; historically maintained chiefly through Demon Race sacrifice 576 600.
Heaven-Climbing Hall	Venue for major imperial occasions. Its 990 steps bear great-clan totems and test the emperor’s qualification to rule 510.
Heaven-Reaching Peak	Ceremonial mountain rebuilt with carvings of the race’s origins and history 588.

Appearance and Society

Physical Diversity

• Demons include foxes, wolves, tigers, birds, bulls, and many other forms; no single body type defines the race 512 665 736.
• City residents may have human bodies with beast heads, beast bodies with human heads, or entirely animal bodies. Almost-human demons often retain distinctive ears, markings, or tails 665.
• Some original forms are enormous. During the grand sacrificial ceremony, clan chiefs restrict their bodies to ordinary sizes to avoid crushing nearby peaks 588.
• Following Humankind’s rise, races adopt human-like everyday forms and surnames to share in human fortune. The Phoenixes and Dragonfolk use “Shen,” while the Qilin use “Cheng” 504.

Customs and Social Order

• Strength and status: Many demons regard the stronger fighter as being in the right. This attitude contributes to clan autonomy, weak administration, and frequent public fighting 506 531 546.
• Regional variation: Western Continent communities favor wildness and demonic forms, and show pronounced hostility toward human visitors 740.
• Urban life: Demon cities contain markets, inns, shops, palaces, and pavilions in varied architectural styles. Soldiers patrol streets and control crowds 530 665.
• Protection of smaller clans: The Demon Laws make it harder for great clans to disregard ordinary demons’ lives. Some small clans gain noble titles and rise in standing 740.
• Limits of reform: Advancement becomes concentrated in the Dynasty’s hands. Declining great clans resent the system, and tensions persist beneath its enforced order 740.
• Minor races: Before reform, some dominant demon clans treat subordinate peoples as slaves who can be killed or disposed of at will 708.
• Trafficking: Shen Yu’s purge nearly exterminates the clans involved in selling demons. Trafficking virtually disappears within demon lands, but demons remain vulnerable beyond them 652 719.

Half-Demons and Wild Demons

• Half-demons arise through human–demon intermingling, especially in the Southern Continent. Shen Tian offers conditional recognition through the Demon Register, but some Great Demons still regard them as livestock 640.
• Shen Bai illustrates the limits of that acceptance: despite royal blood, exceptional talent, and the White King title, he holds little actual political authority 754 772.
• Wild Demons develop naturally outside the official registration system and Demon Laws. They maintain their own settlements and communities 719.

Abilities & Military Strength

Demon Laws

• Give the Demon Son of Heaven’s commands heavenly authority and impose adverse consequences on rebels 600.
• Connect official rank to cultivation speed and the difficulty of breakthroughs 600.
• Protect bloodline use within Demon Race territory; Niu Ba exhausts himself using his powerful bloodline outside their protection 664.
• Unite collective strength, but restrict some gifted individuals’ potential and diminish the great clans’ contribution to elite combat power 740.

Bloodlines and True Forms

• Innate bloodlines supply exceptional abilities, though younger demons may be unable to sustain their full power 664.
• Combatants can reveal animal-like true forms for close combat. Meng Ji transforms into a large white, leopard-like beast during his last stand 608.
• Monster cores, blood, bones, flesh, hides, and fur have valuable medicinal or crafting uses, making demons targets for exploitation 719.

Collective Fortune

• The race possesses collective fortune whose retaliation carries Mythic might 532.
• Its ruler serves as a focal point of racial providence. Cheng Yu temporarily bears this responsibility after the former emperor’s death 509 524.
• Loss of heavenly favor causes declining aptitude and bloodline degeneration; imperial submission and the Demon Laws stabilize the race’s prospects 538 642.

Warfare and Specialist Support

Capability	Documented Strength or Limitation
Regular soldiers	Began at Black Iron Five-Star during the First Heavenly Demon War 695.
First War casualty ratio	Approximately one Demon Race casualty per 5,000 enemy demons 695.
Second War Allied Army ratio	Approximately one allied casualty per 2,000 enemy demons before Shen Yu intervened 695.
Medical and purification support	Qingping Institute specialists counter battlefield harm and contamination 615.
Espionage	Heavenly Martial Directorate agents exploit trade routes and rebel connections; Can Yue verifies intelligence before passing it to commanders 578.
Strategic withdrawal	Shen Yue evacuates elites before the Third Great Wall falls, preserving forces against a superior Sage Realm enemy 600.
Joint realm access	Humankind and the Demon Race together hold nearly ninety percent of the True Knowledge Secret Realm’s entry keys 793.

Demon-Seeding Secret Art

• Shen Yue acquires the art after the original Demon-Worshipping Cult is brought under demon control 678.
• It exploits existing psychological weaknesses, turning Ji Hu’s disappointment with Qin Shuo into paranoia, greed, and demonic transformation 678.
• Shen Yue nearly succumbs to it himself. Shen Tian remains protected through his connection to Mirror Lake 678.

Relationships

• Humankind / Great Qin Celestial Dynasty — Former subject race and principal rival for territory, resources, and heavenly supremacy. Relations evolve through war, a defensive alliance, trade, and a secret joint plan against the Heavenly Dao 686 600 754 810.
• Heavenly Dao — Ordains Humankind’s rise and restricts the Demon Race’s sages and future. Later grants protection through the Demon Son of Heaven; demon leaders nevertheless refuse to entrust their survival to it 504 506 642 810.
• Dragonfolk — Former foundational lineage that joins Humankind as guardian divine beasts. Its ancestral sacrifices retain official recognition within the Demon Race despite resentment over its departure 503 715.
• Qilin — Former foundational lineage that withdraws into seclusion. Later quietly preserves the balance between the two hegemons in exchange for a share of future prosperity 503 678.
• Netherworld Ghost Race — Fellow great race and potential partner. Cheng Yu secures Netherworld’s promise of limited aid through negotiations over the Blood Corpse God 532 545.
• Heavenly Demons / Outer Demons — Abyssal invaders and existential enemies, distinct from the Demon Race itself. Their successive assaults devastate its armies and northern territory 534 600 615.
• Demon-Worshipping Cult — Attacked by both hegemons. After dismantling the original cult, Shen Yue works with Humankind to establish another under the same name as a shared enemy intended to redirect popular hatred 642 678.
• True Knowledge Sect — A force beyond either hegemon’s control. Its threats prompt both races to deploy experts, while its wider influence accompanies easing relations between them 754 767.

Notable Quotes

“I don't want anything! I only beg Your Highness to save the Demon Dynasty, to save the Demon Race!”
— Niu Da 506

“Brothers! Reveal your true forms! I will fight alongside you to the very end! For the Demon Race! For the Demon Dynasty! For His Majesty!!”
— Meng Ji 608

“Our sovereigns Yu Yuan, Tianyue and Bai; may our race endure for ten thousand generations.”
— Demon Race folk rhyme 772