C20 Myriad Demon Valley
Chu Tianyu's focus was solely on the silvery white robe before him. It dawned on him that Qin Ming was actually his senior. The yellowing of the robe suggested she must have graduated quite some time ago.
Taking the robe, Chu Tianyu hastily removed his own tattered one, wiped himself down with it, and then slipped into Qin Ming's garment.
"You actually clean up pretty well," he remarked, as the grime and blood on his face had been mostly wiped away, revealing his refined features. The silver robe was a perfect fit, as though it had been made just for him.
A smile of delight spread across Chu Tianyu's face. His previous robe had become too small after a sudden growth spurt, but this one fit him perfectly.
"I guess I'm quite the looker myself," he joked.
"Don't get too full of yourself, and don't ruin it," Qin Ming teased.
"Got it," Chu Tianyu responded nonchalantly, not particularly concerned. It was just a robe, after all; what garment doesn't get dirty or worn out?
He was blissfully unaware of the value others placed on Qin Ming's worn clothes. Some would not hesitate to trade a whole city for them without batting an eye.
If others knew how casually he treated Qin Ming's clothing, they would be up in arms, ready to tear him to shreds. So many longed for just a glimpse of her, and here he was, taking her attire for granted.
They found themselves in a vast valley devoid of towering trees, surrounded only by low shrubs and grass. Choosing a direction at random, they hurried on, fearful that Duan Dali might catch up.
Qin Ming's strength was still not fully restored, and she might not be able to best Duan Dali in her current state.
Perhaps due to the distance from the battlefield, the wildlife and Demonic Beasts in the area seemed less disturbed. It wasn't long before they encountered a Demonic Beast.
The creature was a wild boar, standing as tall as a man, its body bristling with stiff hairs and its tusks menacingly sharp. The two fangs, each about a foot long, gleamed with a metallic sheen, appearing even more formidable than a dagger.
Sensing the imminent danger, Chu Tianyu didn't wait for the boar to charge. He scooped Qin Ming up in his arms and bolted. The boar, after a brief pursuit, eventually gave up the chase.
"Huff, huff, how can this wild boar be so huge!" Chu Tianyu exclaimed, his heart still racing. It seemed to be four or five times the size of Earth's wild boars, with a fighting strength at least ten times greater. He knew he was no match for it at his current level.
Chu Tianyu turned to Qin Ming with a look of pride. "Lucky for us, I'm quick on my feet, or we'd both be that thing's lunch by now."
"Actually, I was going to say that the wild boar is just a Level Two Demonic Beast. I can take it down now, so there was no need to run," Qin Ming said, her big eyes twinkling as she looked at Chu Tianyu.
"Hehe, old habits die hard," Chu Tianyu chuckled awkwardly, wishing he could just disappear into a hole in the ground. He felt utterly embarrassed.
"Can you put me down now?" Qin Ming asked.
"No way, you should have spoken up sooner," Chu Tianyu retorted, unwilling to admit his overreaction.
Seeing Chu Tianyu's stubbornness, Qin Ming felt helpless. Despite her considerable strength and pride, she just couldn't seem to assert herself around him.
As they continued on their journey, their anxiety grew. They encountered a Level Three tiger, a Level Four Explosive Ape... But the most harrowing sight was a pack of nearly a hundred Wind Wolves, each the size of a calf. Even the weakest among them was at Level One, and the Wolf King was a formidable Level Three. Faced with such a horde of Demonic Beasts, not even a Level Five would dare to stir trouble.
This time, Chu Tianyu didn't dare to fool around. He carefully set Qin Ming down, and after she emitted a slight aura to keep the beasts at bay, they hurriedly made their escape.
"Why are there so many Demonic Beasts here?" they wondered, after traveling several dozen kilometers and encountering over ten waves of beasts. Though not highly ranked, the sheer number was alarming, especially since they had encountered so few on their previous journey of several thousand miles.
Qin Ming's demeanor had shifted from relaxed to grave, her brow furrowed with concern. "We need to move fast. It's very likely we've stumbled into Myriad Demon Valley."
"What is this Myriad Demon Valley?" Chu Tianyu inquired, his face alight with curiosity.
"Myriad Demon Valley is nestled within the Jiannan Mountain Range, spanning a massive basin that stretches for thousands of miles. We're likely just at its periphery. The valley is home to tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts of varying sizes, and they adhere to a strict hierarchy. The ruler of this land is a sacred beast, quite unlike the other Demonic Beasts. It has established a set of rules akin to those of a human dynasty. One such rule forbids the Demonic Beasts from engaging in senseless combat; they are only permitted to hunt wild animals."
"That explains why we haven't witnessed any Demonic Beasts fighting each other on our journey. I was beginning to think they were herbivores."
"Myriad Demon Valley is formidable indeed. The sacred beast has claimed this territory for centuries, attracting a host of Greater Demonic Beasts to its cause. With the stringent rules in place, their collective strength has surged rapidly. The most fearsome of them all is the sacred beast itself, rumored to possess the bloodline of the Dragon Clan. Its origins are a mystery, and its power is unmatched. Many sacred beasts have sought to challenge it and have been soundly defeated."
"It's truly fearsome. It's not the strength of the Demonic Beasts that I fear, but their sophistication." Chu Tianyu, hailing from Earth, was well aware of the influence of a structured system.
In ancient China's northern territories, there were countless tribes, yet only a select few, like the Khitan, Mongols, and Jurchen, achieved greatness while others remained confined to the harsh, frigid lands. The difference lay in their systems.
These few tribes revered Han culture, employed Han officials, and adopted Han systems. Mere valor could not compel the world to bow down.
Here, despite the abundance of demons with exceptional talents and formidable strength, they have never managed to challenge the status of the human race.
The reason is that demons are typically willful and prioritize strength above all, ruling with an iron fist rather than with benevolence. It's reminiscent of Xiang Yu during the Chu-Han Contention, whose might was unmatched and who commanded universal obedience, yet ultimately met his end by his own hand at the Wu River.
The demon clans without a system were just a horde of brutes. No matter their numbers or strength, they were akin to a pile of sand. But with a system in place, the demon clans were a different force altogether. In a battle with equal numbers, the human race would undoubtedly be the one to face defeat.
Chu Tianyu sensed something extraordinary about the sacred beast of the demon race, yet he refrained from commenting. It wasn't his place to worry, especially since he was far too weak. Even if the sky were to fall, it wouldn't crush an insignificant ant like him.
"There are dozens of Demon Kings in Myriad Demon Valley, each commanding their territory, and all are at Level Nine. They're even more powerful than I was at my peak. Moreover, there are over ten thousand Demon Soldiers here, each one a well-trained Demonic Beast at Level Four or above. This single army is mightier than one of a million soldiers. Even the Qin Empire wouldn't dare to provoke them without cause, tacitly acknowledging the existence of Myriad Demon Valley," Qin Ming said with a grave tone.
"How much of your strength have you regained?" Chu Tianyu asked, feeling a shiver down his spine. Damn, he had unwittingly wandered into such peril. A single misstep could leave nothing of him but dust.
"Currently, I can only handle a Level Five Demonic Beast. It will take at least a month for me to fully recover."
"So, a few soldiers could send us running for our lives?" Chu Tianyu's heart sank.
Qin Ming nodded. "Exactly. The Myriad Demon Valley stands united. If we were to kill one, others would quickly come seeking vengeance. It's best we make a swift exit."
Luckily, they had only ventured into the outskirts of the valley, so their journey was fraught with close calls but ultimately without incident, allowing them to escape unscathed.