Chapter 47: The Vanished Divine Race? The Existence of the Great Demon Lord?

This was Li Muchen’s first time setting foot in the Kingdom of Beiji.

More than two years ago, he had just been transmigrated into this world.

Back then, he was merely the son of the Eldest Princess of the Great Zhao Kingdom and the late Lord Li.

His status was noble, yet he still enjoyed a certain degree of freedom.

But that freedom was short-lived. His late imperial uncle suddenly fell ill and passed away.

The imperial uncle left no heirs, and there were no other royal bloodlines within the Great Zhao’s imperial clan.

Even if there were, they were distant relatives with little connection to the late emperor’s lineage.

The only suitable candidate was Li Muchen himself—the son of the emperor’s full sister, the Eldest Princess.

Moreover, Li Muchen’s paternal ancestors also belonged to the Li royal lineage, though they had long since lost their nobility.

Within the entire Great Zhao Kingdom, only Li Muchen qualified to be the next emperor.

From that moment on, Li Muchen’s days of freedom were completely over.

Since ascending the throne, he had been confined almost entirely within the palace, scarcely able to step outside.

Furthermore, since his reign began, the Great Zhao Kingdom had suffered two consecutive years without rain, leading to a poor harvest.

Soon after, famine ensued.

As the emperor of Great Zhao, Li Muchen had no leisure to explore the world.

His mind was consumed with thoughts on how to end the famine.

Now,

Li Muchen walked along the streets of the Kingdom of Beiji.

He glanced left and right, curious, his hands unable to resist touching this and that.

“Master…”

“I never expected that although Beiji lies right next to Great Zhao,”

“its customs and traditions differ so greatly from Great Zhao.”

Yun Qing listened to Li Muchen’s words, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

“That’s only natural.”

“Though Great Zhao and Beiji share a border,”

“Great Zhao is a nation composed purely of humans, while Beiji is home to humans, cultivators, and various demons and spirits. Naturally, they are quite different.”

“What you see now is only a part.”

“There are many more differences—take your time, observe carefully…”

Yun Qing maintained his gentle smile and fell silent.

---

After hearing Yun Qing’s explanation, Li Muchen gained a clearer understanding of the differences between the two kingdoms.

Though he followed closely behind Yun Qing, his eyes darted around ceaselessly.

Yun Qing remained quiet, but Li Muchen was not alone. Alongside him were three protectors: Li Zhengyi and two others.

Though orphaned from childhood, these three were native to Beiji.

Moreover, they had been raised since youth on Qingmu Mountain, where they learned the art of cultivation.

Their perspectives and knowledge surpassed those of common citizens and ordinary cultivators.

Whenever Li Muchen encountered something puzzling, he immediately turned to Li Zhengyi and the others for explanation.

With their guidance, his understanding of this world deepened further.

Especially regarding the relations among cultivator clans, elves, and demons, he gained profound insights.

Though Li Zhengyi and his companions were surprised at how little Li Muchen knew at the start,

they reasoned that since he came from the purely human Great Zhao, it was natural that he lacked knowledge of the wider world beyond human society.

Now that they were citizens of the Kingdom of Datang, and Li Muchen was their lord,

they answered his questions without reservation.

In the short walk, Li Zhengyi and the others provided Li Muchen with a comprehensive enlightenment.

Though Yun Qing remained silent, he found it odd that his disciple was so uninformed in many respects.

After all, while not everyone can become a cultivator,

even humans from a purely human country would have heard much about other races from those around them.

Though puzzled, Yun Qing kept his questions to himself.

Everyone harbors their secrets.

He, Yun Qing, had his own.

Especially concerning Li Muchen—

who, even when forced from the palace, deposed, and exiled, had swiftly gained the aid of four extraordinary beasts—no, divine beasts.

This was perplexing.

What exactly were those four—demonic beasts or divine beasts?

Li Muchen had told Yun Qing that the four phoenixes were ancient divine beasts of the old gods.

But in this world, the gods were long considered mere legend.

Five or six centuries ago, there were traces and records of their existence.

Yet overnight, the gods vanished—

---

No one knew the reason to this day.

Since then, no cultivator clans, elves, or demons have ever ascended to godhood.

Even the immortals were only spoken of in rumors, rarely witnessed.

Instead, the demonic clans flourished, reigning tyrannically over this world.

Even powerful sects like the Xunxian Sect dared not provoke the demons.

This was because the demon clans had a great demon king.

No one knew how high the demon king’s cultivation truly was.

After Li Zhengyi and his companions finished explaining the basics of this world, Yun Qing supplemented Li Muchen’s knowledge with deeper insights.

Especially regarding the demon king.

Despite Li Zhengyi and the others’ status as former senior disciples of Qingmu Mountain, detailed information about the demon clans was scarce.

Yun Qing spoke seriously, and Li Zhengyi and the others listened attentively.

Li Muchen, ever the diligent student, asked many questions about the demon clans.

He was especially curious about the demon king.

“Master, you said the demon clans are powerful.”

“But I’ve been in this world for two years and have never heard of them appearing.”

“I’ve heard of the cultivators, elves, and demons, and even seen them…”

“But I really haven’t heard much about the demon clans.”

Yun Qing looked at his disciple’s eager face, tapped his head gently with his finger, and began to explain:

“You haven’t seen them because the demon realm is remote, and the demons rarely venture out.”

“Since demons seldom appear, we wouldn’t be foolish enough to approach them ourselves.”

“Oh? So that’s why…”

Now Li Muchen understood.

Yun Qing shook his head again and sighed:

“It is precisely because of the demon clans’ existence that over a hundred years ago, the cultivator world reached a consensus.”

“Legitimate cultivators are strictly forbidden from using the evil demon clan’s practice of sacrificing living beings for cultivation.”

“Anyone found doing so becomes the enemy of all cultivators, and must be exterminated.”

“Ji Hanliang, how dare he take such a risk!”

Yun Qing’s expression darkened, a flicker of murderous intent glinting in his eyes.