Chapter 24: Xiao Bitian’s Demonic Cultivation Lesson

Meng Qingxi and the other Golden Core demonic cultivators truly felt wronged.

They had cultivated in the demonic path for decades. Of course they knew that if you stayed in seclusion too long, you’d miss out on news.

But the problem was, this time their “closed-door cultivation” had barely lasted a few days!

Who could have imagined that in less than ten days of seclusion—a nap, really—the power balance in the Demonic Abyss would flip upside down?

Six living hell gods had shown up.

“Young Master Xu, this is a magic treasure this old dog prepared for you.”

Xiao Bitian smiled brilliantly as he held out a purple-black wooden staff, coiled like a horned dragon, and presented it to Xu Gu.

Seven black lotuses bloomed along the length of the staff, exuding a chilling aura.

Just looking at it felt like being stared at by thousands of malevolent spirits.

“The Netherworld Demon Staff, a Golden Core–grade magic treasure. This old dog has refined the souls of those four just now into the staff as spirit cores, which will greatly increase its power.

“Young Master Xu may rest assured, there are formations inscribed on this staff. Its power can grow with you, until it can fully display the might of a proper Golden Core magic treasure. It will be a perfect fit for you.”

Xiao Bitian was extremely attentive.

He’d prepared this long ago.

First lesson of the demonic path: demonic cultivation is not about fighting and killing—it’s about networking and favors.

“Many thanks, senior.”

Xu Gu did not refuse. He really did need a handy magic treasure. He took it and politely expressed his thanks.

“Aiyo, no, no, no! How could this old dog dare be your senior? If Young Master doesn’t mind, just calling me Big Yellow would be this old dog’s greatest honor.”

Xiao Bitian hurriedly backpedaled, acting as though Xu Gu calling him “senior” would shorten his lifespan. His posture was utterly humble.

He looked nothing like a sinister, overbearing demonic overlord.

“What an old dog, alright…”

The watching elders and protectors were grinding their teeth in hatred.

He was embarrassing the entire demonic path.

And yet, in their hearts, they were also insanely jealous.

They, too, wanted to rush up and grovel. These six were all heaven-sent demonic children—especially Xu Gu at their head, who had descended in response to destiny itself proclaiming the rise of the demonic path. His future achievements would clearly be astounding.

If they could latch onto this thigh, it would be like following a future emperor.

Originally, none of them were Heavenly Demon Elders, so they didn’t qualify to act as guides for these six. Failing to grab this thigh didn’t feel too bad.

They were all in the same boat.

Who knew that this old dog Xiao Bitian would get lucky and become Xu Gu’s acting guide.

And suddenly, he wasn’t “the same” as them anymore.

Of course they couldn’t stay calm.

“Hmph, you won’t be smug for long!”

“Xu the demonic child is demonic to the core. Serving at his side won’t be easier than serving an emperor.”

“You’d better be careful not to get ‘cleaned up’ someday.”

A few Earth Demon Elders who couldn’t eat the grapes started calling them sour.

Xiao Bitian heard their sound transmissions and kept his expression flat as he spoke to Xu Gu:

“Young Master, this old dog just heard someone sending a voice transmission… it sounded like they were speaking ill of you…”

The moment those words left his mouth, the elders who had been mocking him via sound transmission all turned pale.

“Elder Xiao! Let’s talk this out!”

“Haven’t you always wanted me to refine a batch of Nascent Soul Pills for you? I’ll do it.”

“And that bone magic treasure I found in the tomb of that dragon race expert—I can sell it to you cheap…”

They were furious at Xiao Bitian’s shameless bluffing, but none of them dared ignore him. One after another, they promised him all sorts of benefits in hopes of shutting him up.

“Heh heh.”

Xiao Bitian snorted coldly, utterly smug.

Second lesson of the demonic path: a qualified demonic cultivator must be good at tattling.

“Unlucky.”

The Nascent Soul demonic overlords who had been watching the show never expected that just spectating would end with them being shaken down by Xiao Bitian.

They cursed him viciously in their hearts and left.

The other spectating demonic cultivators also dispersed.

As for the Heavenly Demon Elders and true legacy disciples, they hadn’t cared about this little scuffle at all.

This was just how demonic cultivators were—constant fighting and killing. That’s what made the sect feel “alive.”

“You’re incredible, Senior Brother Xu! You already knew something like this would happen and prepared in advance!”

“Truly amazing!”

“You even managed to subdue a demonic overlord like Xiao Bitian!”

In the training arena, the five righteous-path infiltrators all marveled at Xu Gu’s personal charisma.

He actually had a late-stage Nascent Soul great demon eating out of his hand, obedient and docile.

After praising Xu Gu, the five turned their gazes toward the group of demonic disciples who had just tried to surround them. Their smiles turned playful.

“From now on, you’re all our slaves.”

Kong Haoran was thrilled as he addressed the demonic disciples:

“Whatever we tell you to do, you do. Got it?

“If you don’t listen, you won’t have a good ‘jooce’ to drink later!”

This kind of experience was impossible to have back in their own sects.

The other four righteous infiltrators stood to the side, watching like five tigers sizing up a pen of rabbits.

They felt not the slightest resistance to the idea.

Demonic cultivators? Senior Brother Xu had already said it—these people were steeped in sin. Their lives didn’t count as lives at all.

Not killing them outright and merely making them do hard labor was already an act of immense mercy.

“Yes!”

After what had just happened, the demonic disciples were scared out of their minds. None of them dared show the slightest hint of dissatisfaction.

“…”

Xu Gu’s expression shifted a few times.

He had thought these five righteous infiltrators would be influenced by the atmosphere of the Demonic Abyss.

Now it seemed the Abyss wasn’t influencing them at all.

These five righteous disciples had come here purely to release their true natures.

Every one of them was more “demonic” than the last.

Honestly, the Five Immortal Sects probably sent them here because they couldn’t stand how improper they were and were afraid they’d corrupt the other disciples—so they just dumped them all in the Demonic Abyss.

“Then this old dog will take his leave first. If Young Master needs anything, just give the word.”

Xiao Bitian had no intention of sticking around and said to Xu Gu.

“Senior, take care.”

Xu Gu didn’t slack on respect and still addressed him as senior.

He had no backing and no real strength yet; he couldn’t afford to be arrogant.

“Aiya, Young Master just call me Big Yellow!”

Though Xiao Bitian waved his hands and pretended to refuse, his anxious heart finally settled, and inwardly he was overjoyed.

And thus, the two of them decided to each call the other as they pleased.

Xu Gu called him senior, and he called Xu Gu Young Master.

Mutual respect.

After that, Xu Gu chatted briefly with Huan Caiyi and the others, then headed back to his cave residence.

[Achievement Unlocked — Initiation!]

[You have obtained three purple talent fragments.]

Back in his cave, Xu Gu stared at the notification, a bit surprised.

Hadn’t he already joined the Demonic Abyss?

Then he understood.

This talent system was actually pretty “smart.”

Only after he officially completed the “initiation ceremony” did it count as completing the “Initiation” achievement.

Without hesitation, he chose to fuse the fragments.

[Congratulations, you have obtained a purple-grade talent — Everyone a Dragon!]

[Everyone a Dragon: The people around you are all dragons.]

“Hiss…”

As expected, Xu Gu was once again completely baffled.

That was just how these talents were.

Their descriptions were always extremely concise—almost too concise.

Every time he saw one, he felt like it made no sense.

And every time he finally figured out how to actually use it, he’d realize that the description was… weirdly accurate.

“You’re going into seclusion again?”

The white fox was still buzzing from the thrill of suppressing Golden Core cultivators in the arena.

Seeing Xu Gu tidy up and prepare to sit down to cultivate, it cried out in surprise.

“What else am I supposed to do? Sit here and wait for another wave of resentment to crash into me?”

Xu Gu said matter-of-factly.

While his enemy count was still relatively small, he had to cultivate the Heavenly Demon Art as fast as he could and power up.

Otherwise, his enemies would beat him to death sooner or later.

Boom!

Just as he finished speaking, the void trembled.

A rolling tide of resentment, as vast as an ocean, surged toward him again.

It was like a mountain pressing down upon him.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Again?”

Xu Gu’s scalp went numb.

He almost wanted to slap himself. What a crow’s beak.

How had he managed to provoke so many enemies again?

This time, as he faced this wave of resentment, he couldn’t help shivering.

He had a very bad feeling about it.

At his side, the white fox shrank back and whispered weakly,

“Did you… slaughter another city?”

(End of this chapter)