Chapter 258: Demon Realm Market

“Zheng…”

A melodious tune drifted from the long zither.

Qing Tianyou’s eyes lit up. He said, “Such a beautiful tone, truly special!”

After obtaining the silk, the Chang Qin (Long Zither) had finally been completed. Since Qing Tianyou got it, he couldn’t put it down; he carried it on his back constantly.

Water flowed over the mountain ridge, cascading down. A waterfall dozens of yards high crashed into the small pond below with great splashing.

Standing at the base of this waterfall made one feel tiny. Mist sprayed up, threatening to veil everything.

“Splash…”

Qing Tianyou, with the long zither on his back, said, “This place is called Falling Stone Waterfall. Legend says it was formed by giant rocks flung down during a clash between ancient Great Demons.”

Chen Changsheng lifted his head to look at the magnificent waterfall. “It’s truly grand…”

Qing Tianyou asked, “Does the Mortal World have sights like this?”

Chen Changsheng answered, “Yes, but none as grand as this.”

The Demon Realm was bound to be different from the natural world. Shaped by external powers, its scenery naturally became much more exaggerated.

Under this dozens-of-yards-high waterfall, people seemed insignificant. Even the mist kicked up could entirely shroud the pool’s bottom.

“The deeper in we go, the grander the scenes become…” Chen Changsheng remarked.

Qing Tianyou nodded. “Only about thirty percent left to walk through. We’re nearing the core of the Demon Realm. To be honest, I advise against going further. Deeper in, avoiding others becomes much harder.”

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment. “There’s sense in what you say.”

Qing Tianyou paused, surprised. “Changed your mind?”

Chen Changsheng smiled. “Better to avoid trouble.”

Qing Tianyou chuckled. “I’ve tried persuading you many times along the journey, and you wouldn’t listen. Seems you hadn’t seen enough before. Are you satisfied now?”

“I suppose so,” Chen Changsheng nodded.

Qing Tianyou smiled. “‘Go anywhere’—that’s easy to say. But if you really died in the Demon Realm, I’d probably feel ashamed my whole life.”

Chen Changsheng said, “I—Chen Changsheng—am just a passing stranger. If I truly died, forgetting me is best. What’s the point in remembering?”

Qing Tianyou breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve spent my whole life in the Demon Realm. None of them understood what I truly cared for. But you’re different. You never looked down on me. You never thought it absurd for a Monster like me to be obsessed with music. I saw genuine appreciation in your eyes—something I’d never felt before.”

Chen Changsheng smiled. “There are many, many people like me out there.”

Qing Tianyou said, “Not just humans, many Monsters too… But whoever they are, no one is exactly the same as another.”

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng smiled warmly. “This journey has been immensely rewarding for me, Chen.”

Qing Tianyou asked, “The scenery of the Demon Realm is grand.”

Chen Changsheng said, “It’s not the scenery I meant.”

“Then what?” Qing Tianyou inquired.

Chen Changsheng looked at him and shook his head, offering no explanation.

Qing Tianyou seemed to grasp a little. Following Chen Changsheng’s gaze back to the huge waterfall, a faint, unconscious smile touched his lips.

…

After witnessing this magnificent waterfall.

It was time for them to part ways.

Qing Tianyou spoke first. “Let me see you out.”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “I remember the way back.”

Qing Tianyou insisted, “When you’re leaving, how could I not see you off?”

Chen Changsheng said, “No need for such formal courtesy. Rest assured, with my cultivation, no Monster along the way could stop me.”

Qing Tianyou remained silent for a long while, then could only offer a deep sigh.

“Well, well, well.”

He asked, “Should you ever return to the Demon Realm, remember to seek me out.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “I will.”

Qing Tianyou smiled and nodded in return, then bid Chen Changsheng farewell.

Qing Tianyou transformed into an Azure Eagle and soared upward in a circling flight. He looked back once at Chen Changsheng.

“Travel safely.”

Chen Changsheng said, “Understood.”

The Azure Eagle nodded and flew off into the distance like a streak of azure.

Chen Changsheng stood at the foot of Falling Stone Waterfall. After Qing Tianyou left, he did not take the original path back.

Leaving the waterfall behind, he continued onward to more distant places.

He was determined to see the whole Demon Realm.

But this was the Demon Realm. Qing Tianyou was a Monster, while he was human. He himself wasn’t afraid, but associating with Chen Changsheng could cause great trouble for Qing Tianyou.

Chen Changsheng journeyed alone afterwards. The way felt suddenly, strangely dull without the sound of the zither and flute.

He witnessed many more magnificent landscapes ahead, yet he always felt something was missing.

Those vistas no longer held his gaze for long. A single glance now felt almost tiresome.

A lone traveler fearing loneliness—that was somewhat laughable too.

Chen Changsheng took a large swig of wine from his gourd, pushing all these thoughts behind him as he walked on.

The Demon Realm divided its territory by boundaries. The northernmost part was the Thirty-Six Caves, guarded by thirty-six Great Demons. The structure tiered down layer by layer; the farther out, the weaker the Monsters’ strength level, and the sparser their numbers.

Chen Changsheng also sensed the Monsters ahead growing increasingly numerous.

Going further down, avoiding them probably wasn’t an option anymore.

Chen Changsheng sighed helplessly. “Better use a little trick then.”

“The Mystic Art of Qian Kun, Concealing Breath and Calming Spirit.”

He raised his hand, plucked a strand of hair, and formed a hand seal. Golden Light encircled him, masking his entire presence, making it impossible to tell if he was human or Monster.

“If only I could still use the Divine Decree art… it wouldn’t be this troublesome…”

Chen Changsheng sighed.

Even disguised, if someone paid very close attention, something might seem off.

Heading north, Chen Changsheng lifted his eyes and saw what looked like a market nestled within the mountains.

“A market? So there is a market for Monsters in the Demon Realm…” Chen Changsheng stroked his chin. Countless Yaozu auras mingled within. He sensed several particularly strong presences; likely at the Eighth Realm.

In the Mortal World, such Eighth Realm beings would be easily slain by a Divine Transformation Cultivator. But in the Demon Realm, the Eighth Realm represented the highest strength commonly seen.

This was mostly due to the lack of the Heavenly Dao.

After all, this Spirit Cage was formed by borrowing strands of Power of Heavenly Dao, so it naturally couldn’t compare to the outside world.

Chen Changsheng, his presence masked, entered the market. Remarkably, the guards seemed lax.

It felt a little odd, but the liveliness was real.

“Premium Crimson Sun Grass! Fire Essence! Take a look, everyone!”

Chen Changsheng glanced towards a small stall on the market’s edge.

The stall mostly held items: spirit plants, Spirit Stones, and other materials aiding Cultivation. While less useful for higher-level Monsters, there were still some valuable things among them.

Chen Changsheng watched the ‘Monsters coming and going’ on the street, murmuring to himself, “It’s truly bustling.”