The so-called "Demon Race" is not really a species, at least not biologically. The scientific name that Ling Beast Mountain gave for the demon race is "Demonized Individuals". For example, the Barbarian Lion Demon, the correct biological name should be "Cat Family Leopard Subspecies Lion Species Barbarian Lion Demonized Individual".
As for the term "Demon Race", it's more like a cultural identity. Archaeological evidence shows that the Demon Race once had a brief civilization. But when the Human Race took over the world, the Demon Race's civilization was completely wiped out, with barely any remnants left. Their language was mostly grunts, and only a few big demons used their spiritual sense to convey simple images or messages.
Back in the days of the Ancient Daoist Immortal Era, thousands of years ago, when humans dominated the world, they were the undisputed rulers of the Divine Land. Although not as powerful as the Four Sea Dragon Race that controlled the seas, they had the advantage of strong unity and a complete cultural system. Some insightful great demons began to learn the human written language, and their transformation technique… umm, I mean, shape-shifting ability also originated from this time.
Demons were not born with intelligence. They gradually awakened their spirit through instinct, by aligning their activities with the breath of the world, similar to how modern techniques (Now Law) were inspired by the spiritual practices of the Demon Race. It was because of this, that the Demon Race had natural abilities that aligned with the world's laws, which made the ancient techniques of Now Law almost invincible.
Using their innate abilities, the Demon Race managed to survive for countless years, fighting the human race head-on in scattered groups. When the modern immortal technique declared war on them, the Demon Race finally gathered the courage to retaliate.
However, not willing to give up their right to eat humans, the nine idol demons who led the way to freedom were soon taught a lesson by the immortal technique's practitioners using methods they excelled at.
The King of Ten Thousand Bacteria, Ba Shide, planted mushrooms on the leading Gaoling Tree Demons.
The Burning Sky Monarch, Kelvin, controlled the temperature with the "Heavenly Entropy Formula," burning the Southern Ming Vermillion Bird to death and freezing the Northern Nether Cold Chi to death.
The Northern Wild Bear, who had close ties with the Northern Nether Cold Chi, used the Earthly power to borrow the momentum of Kun earth, but he was flattened into a meat pancake by the gravity technique of Master Newton.
The Wandering Fire Eye Water Ape from the East Sea, known for his strength in hand-to-hand combat, was killed with bare hands by the first immortal practitioner of Now Law, the God of Destiny, Darwin.
The Ancient Poison King of the Naxi region, famous for his poisons, was dissolved into a pile of rotten bones by the Immortal Technique practitioner, the "Divine Being in All Things," Slava.
The Quasi-Beast King, who controlled the Thunder Pool, was said to be the strongest demon king that humans could not surpass. He was struck by lightning until cooked by the Thunder Prison Monk, Faraday, who then shot his roasted meat with a magnetic crossbow and killed the Quasi-Beast King.
The last demon king, the Golden Sword Demon, who took the form of a sword, used to absorb the life essence of humans. After transforming into a demon, he became even more brutal, turning a city's worth of people into blood to form a pool, calling himself the "Ancient Sword Weird Pond." The Golden Sword Demon was naturally skilled in swordsmanship, and every movement unleashed sword qi. Finally, the Immortal of Light Palace, with his "Great Elephant Wave Technique," shattered him into pieces.
After the death of the Golden Sword Demon, the last influential demon fled overseas with his followers. From then on, the Demon Race no longer had any power in the Divine Land. The demon tribes in the continent were now governed by the Immortal Alliance, with those who no longer ate humans and embraced human education enjoying equal rights with human practitioners. Nowadays, the Immortal Alliance has some demons in its ranks, and half-demons have become a trend.
After Wang Qi finished telling this story, he couldn't help but mock Zhen Chanzi: "Did you hear that? 'Demon Race's innate abilities are invincible'? That's become a joke now. Those who didn't climb the tech tree, even if they started strong, once they build the second mine, they can only say 'Haha!'"
Mao Zimiao said: "Although I don't know what you're talking about, it feels so impressive, meow..."
"By the way, what technique are you going to study? I remember you were analyzing the 'Cloud Lance Over Sun Formula' from the Flow Cloud Sect, right?"
The "Cloud Lance Over Sun Formula" is a relatively primitive technique in the Flow Cloud Sect, inspired by the sect's founder observing cloud formations, and it also has traces of ancient water techniques. It is far from being comparable to the "Wind Control Formula." However, the "Cloud Lance Over Sun Formula" is easy to start with and has a good effect on light body techniques and health cultivation.
Mao Zimiao shook her head: "Hmm, not that one. I've already decided, it's the 'Heavenly Evolution Record,' meow."
Wang Qi was shocked: "You?"
Both Ling Beast Mountain and Yang God Pavilion had stated that there was no evidence to show that half-demons have the same intelligence as humans, but Wang Qi suspected this was just to avoid "racial discrimination" and had issued a fake statement. From what Wang Qi had seen, Mao Zimiao's level in mathematics was simply... pitiful. If it weren't for Mao Zimiao being a half-demon he was familiar with, he would've totally thought this was a general rule of the world.
The limitations of her math level narrowed her choices for spiritual techniques.
Mao Zimiao puffed up her cheeks: "You're too much, Wang Qi! Are you treating me like an idiot, meow?!"
Wang Qi showed a sincere smile: "Yes!"
"Hmph, you're a devil!"
"However, I still suggest you reconsider," Wang Qi said seriously: "The 'Heavenly Evolution Record' does focus on accumulation and inspiration, but as far as I know, once you practice it to a deep level, it also requires understanding the logic of numbers."
Mao Zimiao shook her head: "Isn't that the case? Most of the modern techniques, when practiced deeply, require some form of mathematics, meow?"
"That's true," Wang Qi nodded.
The "Ten Thousand Methods" sect is indeed considered the orthodox in modern techniques. Nearly all sects and techniques have some influence from the "Ten Thousand Methods" sect.
Wang Qi changed the subject: "By the way, how come you suddenly decided to practice such a legendary technique, meow?"
"One of my very good seniors told me that half-demons should at least practice the 'Heavenly Evolution Record' to maximize their potential, meow. At least before building the foundation, I plan to mainly practice the 'Heavenly Evolution Record' and use the 'Cloud Lance Over Sun Formula' as a secondary technique," Mao Zimiao explained.
Wang Qi whistled: "Someone good to you? Godfather? Is there some secret relationship?"
Mao Zimiao turned red in the face: "It's not like that, meow! Senior Sister Ai... Ai Senior Sister is just a little... a little free-spirited, meow!"
"I thought it was a hidden rule, but turns out it's a pure love between two girls!" Wang Qi teased.
"It's not, meow!"
"Hey, does she have…"
Soon, Mao Zimiao remembered the terrifying fear of having her moral boundaries shattered by Wang Qi and the humiliation of being teased by him. "Moral boundaries" was an area where a pure half-demon like her was no match for Wang Qi.
Luckily, Wang Qi knew when to stop. Seeing Mao Zimiao's face twist and her anger rising, he wisely changed the topic and pulled out something from his storage bag: "Okay, okay, we won't talk about this. Here, this is a token of my gratitude for helping me sew the pillow."
Mao Zimiao looked puzzled: "What's this? Is it some kind of spiritual herb, meow? It looks a little familiar."
Wang Qi held up a plant, a green, cone-shaped flower tightly packed together, looking somewhat like a dogtail grass.
"It's a species of dogtail grass from the Poaceae family… probably an annual plant? I've only been here for less than a year so I'm not sure. This place, with its Feng Shui, could easily cause some mutations, so maybe it's a rare treasure."
It really was dogtail grass! Mao Zimiao's mouth twitched: "So… how do you use this, meow?"
Wang Qi handed the dogtail grass to Mao Zimiao: "Let me demonstrate."
"Okay."
Mao Zimiao nodded, but after waiting for a while, Wang Qi was still fiddling with the grass. She couldn't help but ask: "What are you doing, Wang Qi?"
Wang Qi frowned: "Don't you want to try hitting the grass? Or do you want to use the ultimate method?"
"Eh?" Mao Zimiao was about to ask what the "ultimate method" was. However, when she saw Wang Qi move the dogtail grass toward his chin, she instantly understood.
"Meow—! Don't! Treat! Me! Like! A! Cat!"
A few minutes later, Wang Qi got up from the ground: "Half-demon strength is terrifying..."
Mao Zimiao hadn't even reached Qi Cultivation yet, but she nearly knocked out Wang Qi, who was at Qi Cultivation, with one slap.
Zhen Chanzi said, "Using catnip to tease a cat demon... How could you even think of that?"
Wang Qi chewed on the dogtail grass: "What's wrong with that?"
"Everything is wrong. I was wondering why you were picking dogtail grass on the road," Zhen Chanzi snorted. "Also, when country folk chew on the stem of grass, it's usually because they want something to chew on or are attracted to the plant's sweet juice. Why are you chewing it?"
Wang Qi rolled his eyes: "Because I like it."
Zhen Chanzi fell silent for a moment: "Could it be that it has the scent of the half-demon girl?"
Wang Qi's mouth dropped open, and the dogtail grass he had been chewing fell to the ground: "What the hell… I think you've lost all morals recently."
"Close proximity breeds resemblance."
"Heh."
"What are you planning to do next?"
Wang Qi shook his head: "Haven't thought of anything. It's better not to meditate and cultivate my Qi before I resolve the mind technique conflict. I've been tired all afternoon, so practicing techniques now won't be effective."
Thinking about the mind technique conflict, Wang Qi glanced in the direction where Mao Zimiao had left.
That silly cat has decided on her own path, huh...
And I? What exactly do I plan to do? What are my ideals?
Confusion swirled in his mind. After a long while, Zhen Chanzi finally spoke up. Wang Qi shook his head: "Forget it, this isn't something I can decide in one or two days. Besides, no matter what, I have to resolve the technique problem first."
Looking at it right now, studying the "Heavenly Evolution Record" is the only way out. But Wang Qi had no interest or talent in biology, so he couldn't see a future on this path.
Actually, Wang Qi had thought of using other methods to bypass evolution theory and directly deduce the "Heavenly Evolution Record" using pure mathematics. But that might lead to unforeseen risks, and that's why he hesitated so much.
Standing still, he thought for a moment, and finally shook his head: "Alright, I'll just brush up on biology for the next month or two."
Once he made up his mind, Wang Qi headed to the library. Although the books were not available for borrowing at night, the "Wanxian Mirror" could be used at any time.
The "Internet" was still new in the Divine Land, and its entertainment functions had not yet been developed, so not many people used it. In the Immortal Mirror Room, only five or six out of thirty mirrors were being used.
Wang Qi sat down in front of the "Wanxian Mirror," but then ran into a problem. His knowledge of biology was only a little better than a high school textbook, and he had no idea where to start.
"Guess I'll ask a Tianling Mountain practitioner tomorrow... Oh, Tianling Mountain is a branch of Ling Beast Mountain..."
Suddenly, Wang Qi remembered the expression on Su Junyu's face when he mentioned Xiong Mo, and his curiosity surged.