All things under heaven

"What demon? There are demons here too?"

The people lying on the ground nearby, howling in pain, had thought that with a martial arts expert here, taking down this deer would be no problem.

Never had they imagined that a single remark from him would leave them frozen in shock.

Wasn't this a martial arts world?

How had a demon suddenly turned up? Was it the kind of demon they were thinking of?

If not, what was going on with this deer? An animal taking on a martial arts expert single-handedly-was this a joke?

While confusion filled their minds, Fang Zelin, some distance away, also heard the commotion and hurried over.

"Senior Brother Pang?"

The moment Fang Zelin arrived, he saw Senior Brother Pang lying nearby, coughing up blood, and his heart jolted.

Then he looked up and saw the deer ahead, its antlers covered in blood.

At the sight, Fang Zelin's heart gave another involuntary jolt.

"Be careful. I'm afraid this deer has become a demon. Just now, it spat out a demonic wind. The moment it touched me, my whole body went weak, and my muscles and bones ached."

Seeing Fang Zelin arrive, Senior Brother Pang hurriedly warned him.

At those words, a chill settled in Fang Zelin's heart. It had become a demon.

How was he supposed to deal with that?

He had only just practiced a little of the Wind-Riding Sword Art. If even Senior Brother Pang was no match for it, how could he be?

Surely he wasn't going to die here right after learning a Qi Refining method?

If he died once, the Qi Refining he had only just begun would be gone, and so would the Qi Refining book.

Finding another Qi Refining book afterward would not be easy.

At that thought, Fang Zelin immediately grew somewhat nervous.

At that moment, when the deer saw Fang Zelin looking its way, its heart also lurched.

It's over. That immortal's disciple really has come!

No, I can't show too much fear. Once I show that kind of weakness, he'll surely strike with thunderous force.

At that thought, the deer forced down its fear and spoke to Fang Zelin in human language. "They say those who cultivate the Dao practice in seclusion in the mountains and seldom concern themselves with mortal affairs. From the look of things, are you planning to intervene?"

The deer looked at Fang Zelin. Though uneasy, it forced down its fear and asked.

Naturally, it asked this to find out just what Fang Zelin's purpose was.

Had he come to subdue demons and vanquish devils, or merely to take a look?

As expected of a demon. I only entered the Dao yesterday, yet this fellow saw through me at a glance. Could its strength be far beyond mine?

At those words, Fang Zelin's heart jolted.

He had only just set foot on the path of cultivating the Dao, yet the other party had already seen through him. It must have grown quite powerful.

Faced with its question, Fang Zelin pondered for a moment. From the current situation, he could not win this fight.

If he could avoid fighting, that would be best. If they came to blows, his meager cultivation would be destroyed in an instant.

But he could not show weakness either. If he did and the other party noticed, it might suddenly lash out and hurt someone.

After thinking it over, Fang Zelin said, "Cultivation is one thing, but now that you have become a demon and slaughter living beings so wantonly, I cannot simply stand aside!"

As he spoke, his palms were slick with sweat.

The deer had no way of knowing what Fang Zelin was thinking. Hearing his words now, it felt as though he was calling it to account.

If its answer failed to satisfy Fang Zelin, would he unleash an Immortal Method?

At that thought, the deer immediately grew somewhat flustered.

It lifted a forehoof slightly and bent it, looking rather hesitant.

"This lowly demon is not bloodthirsty. It was just that those thirty-odd people earlier all came for this lowly demon. They saw something wondrous about me and wanted to kill me for my blood to drink."

As the deer spoke, it cast a demonic art, and a light breeze swept past.

All the mud and grime on its body vanished, revealing a white deer. A faint white glow shone beneath its skin, and the antlers atop its head were like luxuriant branches and leaves.

One glance was enough to leave the impression of something wondrous beyond the ordinary.

At the sight of the deer, Fang Zelin could not help drawing in a breath.

With the wondrous bearing this deer now possessed, he would have believed that drinking its blood could prolong one's life.

"The moment those people saw this lowly demon, they shouted about killing me and drinking my blood. If this lowly demon had not killed them, they would surely have brought more people after going down the mountain."

At this point, the deer lifted a foreleg in some agitation.

It was now a little worried that Fang Zelin might have the same idea.

Those who cultivated the Dao were fond of subduing demons and vanquishing devils to begin with.

This lowly demon?

Fang Zelin keenly caught the meaning in its words. Had it suddenly begun to yield?

Why had it suddenly begun to yield out of nowhere?

Meanwhile, Senior Brother Pang and the others looked at Fang Zelin in even greater surprise.

This junior brother seemed quite extraordinary. He had actually made this deer demon yield?

That was a demon!

Just what was their junior brother's background, that he could make it yield like this?

The players lying on the ground nearby were also somewhat dazed.

They had just watched this deer demon dispatch them with a single breath.

Yet the man before them had frightened the deer demon merely by showing his face?

Fang Zelin did not understand why this deer demon had suddenly yielded, but he hardly dared press it aggressively now.

If it was willing to settle things peacefully, Fang Zelin could ask for nothing better. After all, he did not have the ability to take it down.

After a little thought, Fang Zelin still had no idea what it was planning. Only after thinking it over did he speak.

"If that is the case, then this matter is not entirely your fault."

At those words, the deer's heart immediately steadied. Judging by the cultivator before it, he was not someone utterly unreasonable.

If he had charged over shouting about killing it the instant he saw it, that would have been terrible.

At that thought, it shook its head, intending to take the opportunity to leave.

But then another thought struck it, and it recalled what Zhang Weichu had just said.

His abilities reached the heavens. A single word from him could let a water ghost enter the City God's temple and enjoy incense offerings.

Only through a fortuitous coincidence had it awakened its intelligence. It had cultivated in ignorance and confusion ever since, desperately seeking an Immortal Method with no path to one.

Perhaps today its destined opportunity had arrived?

At that thought, the deer struggled inwardly for a while, then asked.

"Of all things under heaven, humans stand foremost among living beings. Humans are born with intelligence and mouths that can speak, while we of the Demon Race struggle to awaken intelligence, to dissolve our transverse bones, and to cultivate. Is it that Heaven favors the Human Race and is unwilling to let our Demon Race attain the Dao?"

As the deer spoke, a trace of resentment inevitably crept into its voice.

Fang Zelin was taken aback. He had not expected it to say something like this.

From its manner, it almost seemed to be asking him for guidance?

Could this be why it had not attacked him outright?

If so, he would have to be careful with his answer.

At that thought, Fang Zelin's heart immediately tightened, and he began to ponder its question carefully.