---

Chapter 25: Oh no, there’s an idiot

Although it was already late at night, the courtyard was far from silent.

The patrolling guards formed small groups, carrying lanterns and wandering back and forth, the clinking sounds of their armor mixed with the occasional melodious chirping of insects in the trees, adding vitality to the night’s rhythm.

This world truly resembles the ancient Eastern societies recorded in the history of Blue Star.

As the Priestess walked through the ancient and fragrant pavilion corridors, observing the nighttime scenery around her, she couldn’t help but feel similar sentiments once again.

Aside from the original language and writing, the architectural style, behavior, clothing, etiquette, and titles all seemed like a mixture of thousands of years of Eastern culture, uniquely processed into the bizarre state we see today.

It was said that during the primitive period of the Ancient Spirit Realm a thousand years ago, the landscape was very different from now, a society composed of another kind of civilization, but that civilization was destroyed by the chaos of demons, and the new civilization gradually evolved into the thriving culture of the four nations thanks to the pacification of the Four Saints.

Thus, Vilyric had indeed doubted more than once whether the legendary first Four Saint Monarchs shared similar backgrounds to Min Chen and others.

The reason she decided to join the quest for the Qilin was also to see if she could get in touch with and understand more of the hidden secrets of this civilization.

After all, the close relationship between the Four Holy Beasts and the Four Saints is a well-known fact.

Of course, that was just an afterthought.

The residences provided by Yangyuan City for the recruits seemed to be guest houses initially used by officials, vast buildings capable of accommodating at least hundreds or thousands of people. Through the front and back courtyards, the layout seamlessly combined public and private spaces.

Right now, aside from Vilyric and the other two, there were likely many other extraordinary individuals who had come to answer the call, all arranged by the Prefect to reside in various parts of the courtyard, making it quite lively.

For instance, just a hundred meters away, on a rooftop, three or four individuals dressed like ninjas were hanging upside down, seemingly engaged in some special nighttime training.

Or, in an even more distant quiet room, the clanging sounds of iron striking echoed in the middle of the night.

While curious, the Priestess couldn’t be bothered to care.

Vilyric could tell that among this group of extraordinary people who had come to Yangyuan County from all corners of the world, including the three of them, Wen Fu was not extending too much trust. They were merely seen as temporary collaborators, to put it harshly, tools or cannon fodder.

Only those who displayed exceptional strength would receive special attention and care.

After all, the benefits involved with the West Saint Beast Qilin were enormous. Rumors from who knows where claimed that drinking Qilin blood could lead one to ascend to immortality, and the bones of the Qilin could forge unparalleled divine weapons, with its scales and fur being treasures that were priceless.

Not to mention, if one could gain the Qilin’s recognition and receive its teachings and blessings, they might become the next West Saint of the Ancient Spirit Realm.

There were definitely some individuals with ulterior motives mingling among them.

This was something understood by both Wen Fu and others recruiting, as well as by Vilyric, Ling Feng, and Bai’er.

From the previous exchanges, when the Prefect specifically brought the guardian of the Yin-Yang Division, one could see his protective intentions. The information he revealed was both a gesture of goodwill and a form of testing and warning, with Princess Ling representing a deterrent from the Spirit Kingdom.

Vilyric understood all of this, she just didn’t speak it out and didn’t care much.

Suddenly, she turned her gaze and leaped over the wooden partition on both sides into the courtyard.

Though she wasn’t planning anything sneaky, the Priestess still intentionally avoided the patrolling guards, stepping on the neatly piled bricks in the courtyard and moving through the shadows.

She had simply intended to take a casual stroll, but unexpectedly, she discovered something unusual.

It was a faint… scent of rust.

The smell of raw meat, also tinged with blood.

The other’s methods were quite clever, or perhaps some special means were employed to conceal it; that bloody scent was faint to the point of being nearly undetectable, fully masked by the aroma of grass, plants, and blooming flowers that were everywhere in the courtyard.

Unfortunately, that only applied to “ordinary people.”

Not to mention a certain Little Dragon Daughter who wasn’t present. Even Vilyric, with her divine race far exceeding ordinary beings in perception, could easily lock onto this subtle strange scent at close range.

But halfway through tracking, the Priestess found another figure that surprised her.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Sneaking up like a specter behind a short-haired girl hiding behind a tree, peeking out to observe, Vilyric suddenly raised her hand and playfully tapped her unsuspecting back.

“Zheng!”

A glint of cold light flashed as a sword came at her without warning—silent but sudden!

Yet the Priestess remained unfazed, merely raising her two delicate, jade-like fingers to pinch the blade effortlessly, stopping it in place and preventing it from advancing an inch.

A sense of helplessness appeared on her face.

“No need to be so nervous… it’s just me.”

“Vilyric?”

Only at that moment did Bai’er, who had been facing forward and reflexively struck out at such an incredible angle, finally turn around. Her expression, once tense as if facing a great enemy, relaxed slightly, returning to her usual cheerful demeanor as she softly complained.

“Seriously… don’t suddenly scare others like that! When did you sneak up on me… for a moment there, I thought I was done for.”

“Who warns before attacking… So, could you put away the sword pointed at my neck?”

“Uh, sorry, sorry…”

Sticking her tongue out awkwardly, Bai’er quickly sheathed her sword and glanced at the hand that had easily held the blade just now before turning to a nearby tree’s shadow and quietly asking again.

“So, what are you doing out here in the middle of the night?”

“Wasn’t that the question I just asked?”

With a somewhat helpless shake of her head, the black-haired girl simply explained.

“I couldn’t sleep, planned to take a walk, but I felt something was off here, so I came to check it out.”

“I see.”

Bai’er nodded slightly, a hint of surprise on her face.

“You’re quite perceptive; I thought I was the only one who noticed the commotion here.”

“Flattery isn’t necessary… So what’s going on now?”

“Well, look over there.”

Following the direction Bai’er pointed, Vilyric cast her gaze behind the tree.

What came into view was a blurry black shadow, about a dozen centimeters in diameter, wriggling outside of the bushes, looking a bit like a ball of fluff, but exactly what it was remained a mystery.

Yet that barely noticeable bloody smell was indeed emanating from the bush where this fluff was hiding.

“…What is that?”

Staring closely at the peculiar movement, Bai’er quietly remarked without looking back.

“Vilyric, you should know what a ‘Demon’ is, right?”

The black-haired girl nodded.

The so-called demons in the Ancient Spirit Realm were, in fact, beasts that had become sentient, possessing extraordinary powers and high intelligence, similar to the magical beasts of the Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons.

Of course, it wasn’t just beasts; insects, butterflies, plants, even inanimate objects like stones could also become demons in the Ancient Spirit Realm.

In this region’s terms, as long as they were situated in places where the sun and moon’s essence could frequently shine, over hundreds and thousands of years of nourishment, or close to certain spiritual veins, they could gain intelligence and transform into these special beings known as demons.

Making them the true indigenous life forms of the Ancient Spirit Realm.

Demons were different from evil demons; the former were actual life forms, while the latter was a shapeless evil thought, possibly possessing form or existing only as energy groups, embodying a purer form of malice and resentment.

On the other hand, demons were smarter, their behaviors more complex. They could navigate benefits and avoid harm, even cooperate with people.

So, demons were not classified as absolute enemies by the four nations; they typically just maintained a live-and-let-live relationship with humans.

Most demons wouldn’t enter human cities, primarily residing in deep mountains, forests, or uninhabited areas. Of course, some might stake a claim to mountains, play tricks, or even attack passersby for gain, making them a diverse group of beings.

“Oh… so this is what a ‘Demon’ looks like?”

Once Vilyric understood its essence, she quickly recognized what that fluff was.

This guy had its head buried in the bushes, but its fluffy rear was exposed.