Chapter 217: Chapter 16 The Unique Spiritual Beast Society
CRACK! The rough Flying Boat opened its hatch. Chen Jiuge took the lead, followed by Yue Meng and Da Bai, while the other passengers helped each other disembark.
Feeling the fearful yet admiring gazes of the Spiritual Beasts behind him, Chen Jiuge’s lips slightly curled up. Sometimes, using violence can be quite interesting, he thought.
Beast City was a city of Spiritual Beasts. Although it was established by the strongest Divine Beast races of the Desolate World, the layout of the city was rather crude.
The huge gray rock walls were tall and seemingly sturdy. However, the fluctuations from the Array Patterns on them seemed a bit weak, and there were many mistakes. Isn’t this too careless? Chen Jiuge mused.
THUD! A loud sound echoed as an elegant black cat pinned a plump, black wild boar to the ground by stepping on its belly, simultaneously blasting a huge hole in the city wall.
"Little pig, how dare you provoke me? You’re asking for trouble," the black cat said maliciously.
"What do you want? Killing beasts isn’t allowed in Beast City!" the wild boar cried in panic.
"Of course, I’m not going to kill you. However, I suddenly fancy some roast pig trotters."
As the black cat’s claw swiped, the wild boar’s hefty front leg was severed, eliciting agonizing screams.
The black cat transformed into a scantily clad young girl. However, the sight of her carrying a large pig trotter was rather wild.
"Hey, are you humans?" the black cat asked, eyes shining as she spotted Chen Jiuge and his group.
"Yeah, why?" Chen Jiuge took two steps back. Her stare is a bit frightening, he thought. Beast City isn’t without Human Cultivators. Is there a need to look at us like we’re some precious treasure?
"Wow! Humans! They’re really humans!" The girl, who was the black cat, dashed off like the wind, even dropping the large pig trotter.
Da Bai quietly picked up the pig trotter. This looks rather tasty, he thought. Shouldn’t let it go to waste.
"Sorry, my younger sister can be a bit too impetuous," the gentle woman in front of him, also a cat demon named Zhao Hongyan, said. The black cat was her sister, Zhao Xiaotang.
"It was you, you little brat, who took it! I can smell the pig trotter on you!" Zhao Xiaotang shouted.
"How can you, a cat, slander an innocent beast like that?" Da Bai retorted.
"Hmph! To think a Fire Qilin like you would stoop to snatching a pig trotter. I despise you!" Zhao Xiaotang said, sticking out her tongue.
Chen Jiuge was startled. How did Zhao Xiaotang recognize Da Bai’s true form? He’s clearly concealed by Magic. Ordinary Cultivators shouldn’t be able to see through it, unless they’ve cultivated special Dharma Eyes.
Zhao Hongyan explained, "My sister and I once received teachings from Human Clan Cultivators, so naturally, we possess some unique methods."
"I see." Chen Jiuge looked deeply at the gentle woman. These two cat demons are no simple creatures, he realized.
"Mr. Chen, since you’re new to Beast City, why not settle down in my humble inn for now? Beast City might be a little different from the Immortal Cities of humans," Zhao Hongyan suggested.
"Alright," Chen Jiuge agreed. I’ve already gathered a fair amount of information on the Flying Boat, he thought. I just haven’t seen it with my own eyes, so I can’t be completely sure.
The Cat Inn, run by Zhao Hongyan and her sister, matched Beast City’s rugged exterior. The guest rooms were basic, lacking even Cultivation Rooms or the simplest Spirit Gathering Arrays. However, they were spacious and relatively clean.
After they had chosen their rooms, Chen Jiuge planned to take Yue Meng and Da Bai downstairs to sample Beast City’s local cuisine.
Chen Jiuge and his companions descending the stairs immediately caught the attention of the many Spiritual Beasts dining in the main hall.
A Spiritual Beast with a leopard’s head inadvertently drooled. "A Divinity Transformation Stage Human Cultivator... slurp!"
"Am I seeing things?"
"Is it real?"
"Hey, kid! Are you human?" Finally, a Spiritual Beast that hadn’t fully transformed couldn’t restrain itself any longer. It blocked Chen Jiuge’s path, its eyes gleaming.
After a closer look, Chen Jiuge said disdainfully, "A wolf?"
"Sharp eyes! This great one is indeed a Wind Spirit Wolf!" the wolf-like Spiritual Beast declared, baring its large, blood-red maw.
Within Beast City, the use of Spiritual Energy or Divine Skills was forbidden. This meant that regardless of race, one could only rely on physical strength. Combat was permitted, but fatal blows were not.
Chen Jiuge raised his hand and, with a flick of his fingers, sent the little wolf of Divinity Transformation Cultivation flying out of the inn.
At the same time, the Magic placed upon Chen Jiuge by his Sect Master was officially broken by Chen Jiuge himself.
After learning Beast City’s rules, Chen Jiuge understood why so many disciples from the Myriad Beasts Sect came here to gain experience: many of them also practiced Body Cultivation.
Chen Jiuge said, flashing a grin at the terrified Spiritual Beasts, "You all seem quite interested in me!"
Seeing the Spiritual Beasts shake their heads frantically, Chen Jiuge felt a bit bored. I thought they’d be like those Spiritual Beasts on the Flying Boat, he mused, talking tough even when they couldn’t win.
Zhao Hongyan approached slowly. "Brother Chen," she said, "these are just the lowest-ranking Spiritual Beasts in Beast City. With their Cultivation levels, they wouldn’t dare talk back to you."
Noticing that he had revealed his Mahayana cultivation and that Zhao Hongyan’s form of address had changed, Chen Jiuge thoughtfully watched the little cat demon.
"Bring me something to eat, preferably something characteristic of Beast City."
"Brother Chen, rest assured. Though my inn is small, we do have a few special dishes," Zhao Hongyan said with a smile before excusing herself.
When she reached the kitchen, cold sweat instantly beaded on Zhao Hongyan’s forehead. This human actually has Mahayana cultivation! Why couldn’t my sister and I discern it with our methods?
This is bad. This human’s identity isn’t simple. He might even be a disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect! I need to find a way to get rid of him, or my inn’s business will be ruined! Zhao Hongyan felt Chen Jiuge was extremely dangerous; it was best to drive him away quickly.
"Sister Yan, is someone causing trouble?" the chef asked in a muffled voice. He had two huge bull horns on his head and wielded a cleaver as long as an ordinary person’s thigh.
"It’s nothing, Big Bull. Just go prepare a few of our signature dishes," Zhao Hongyan replied, not revealing the situation to her chef.
Cracking open the huge leg bone to reveal the bright red marrow, Chen Jiuge used his chopsticks to pick up a jelly-like piece and put it in his mouth.
It’s quite gamey and very spicy, but this fiery sensation isn’t bad at all, he thought.
After finishing the marrow from the large leg bone of some unknown beast, Chen Jiuge looked satisfied. "Excellent. How many Spirit Stones?"
Zhao Hongyan chuckled. "How can I take Spirit Stones? We’re all friends here; consider it my treat."
"Business is business," Chen Jiuge said, flicking a small bag of Spirit Stones onto the table.
"I’d like to take a look around the city. Do you have any recommendations?"
Hearing this, a particular place immediately came to Zhao Hongyan’s mind. If I’m lucky, he might just leave after going there, she hoped.
"Brother Chen, Beast City might be a bit different from the Immortal Cities you Cultivators are used to. However, there’s one place all Cultivators like to visit when they come here: the Fox Fate Pavilion. Every Cultivator who comes to Beast City makes a point of going there."
"Is that so? Alright, I’ll go take a look," Chen Jiuge replied, not giving it much thought.
Zhao Hongyan’s Cat Inn was located right by the entrance to Beast City, so Chen Jiuge hadn’t gotten a clear view of the city’s interior yet.
About fifteen minutes later, after crossing a quiet, deserted residential street, Chen Jiuge was stunned by the peculiar sight before him.
He saw numerous Mountain Kui, laden with beast meat or Low Rank ores, trudging along the edges of the street. Both sides of the street were lined with various stalls, each displaying an assortment of miscellaneous goods.
Curious, Chen Jiuge approached a stall. The owner was a seemingly cute rabbit, but the faint traces of blood on its snow-white fur told him, This rabbit is not to be judged by its appearance.
"A Human Cultivator? See anything you like?" the rabbit, a male, asked in a hoarse yet magnetic voice.
Chen Jiuge casually browsed the items. Most were around the Fourth Rank, with a few Fifth Rank Spiritual Objects, and almost nothing of higher rank. Eventually, he selected a Fifth Rank Spirit Fruit tree.
"How many Spirit Stones?" Chen Jiuge asked, holding the small tree.
"We don’t use Spirit Stones. We trade goods for goods," the rabbit replied.
Chen Jiuge pondered for a moment, then took out a Sixth Rank Spirit Fruit. He had picked these from Eden Garden before setting out on his travels and still had many in his Grotto Heaven.
"A Sixth Rank Spirit Fruit? One isn’t enough. You’ll need at least three," the rabbit shook its head.
Chen Jiuge considered it. It is a Fifth Rank Spirit Fruit tree, after all. Even though it’s young, it’s worth more than a single Sixth Rank Spirit Fruit, he conceded.
Chen Jiuge took out two more Spirit Fruits, and the rabbit promptly made the exchange.
"Human, I also want to trade for your Spirit Fruits! How about I use this ore?" a burly man jeered. He was almost fully transformed, with only a tiger’s tail still visible.
Are all Spiritual Beasts this brainless? Don’t they even check the Cultivation of who they’re trying to bully? Chen Jiuge was speechless as he looked at the Tiger Demon before him, who was in the Returning Void Realm.
"But I think I’m more than enough! Remember, you can only use physical strength in Beast City!" the Tiger Demon laughed heartily.
"Da Bai, beat him senseless." Chen Jiuge didn’t want to act himself. He’s too weak.
Da Bai adjusted his sunglasses, looked up at the Tiger Demon, then with a small leap, his palm swung out.
Watching the Tiger Demon spin several times before collapsing to the ground in a daze, Da Bai showed a faint smile. "Handled."
The other stall owners who had harbored malicious intentions instantly became as meek as lambs, earnestly hawking their wares, "Come take a look! All good stuff here!"
Listening to their simple cries, Chen Jiuge suddenly had a thought. Perhaps the main difference between Spiritual Beasts and Cultivators is that Spiritual Beasts are more straightforward in their thinking, just like this collapsed Tiger Demon.
"Which way to the Fox Fate Pavilion?" Chen Jiuge asked the rabbit stall owner.
"Straight ahead. You’ll see it when you reach the city center," the rabbit said, as calmly as ever.
If I hadn’t accidentally noticed its trembling legs, I might have mistaken this rabbit for some formidable figure, Chen Jiuge thought.
After passing through the street crowded with stalls, Chen Jiuge finally saw proper eateries and shops selling spiritual materials, Elixirs, and Magic Artifacts.
I really thought Spiritual Beasts were clueless about such things. But this city was built by many Divine Beast races working together; how could it be so lacking? Chen Jiuge scoffed at his earlier judgment. He didn’t linger and headed straight for the city center.
On the way to the city center, Chen Jiuge noticed that the auras of the Spiritual Beasts grew increasingly strong, and their Spiritual Beast Bloodlines became more pronounced. A Spiritual Beast here, even in the same Returning Void Realm, could probably take on ten of the Tiger Demon he had just encountered.
Moreover, the closer he got to the city center, the fewer strange looks he received from the Spiritual Beasts. It was as if they weren’t curious about the appearance of a Human Cultivator like Chen Jiuge.
Because he couldn’t use Spiritual Energy, Chen Jiuge spent the journey observing Beast City. By the time he and his companions arrived at the city center, the sky had already darkened.
Looking at the Fox Fate Pavilion before him, emanating a pinkish aura, Chen Jiuge remarked, "Finally here."