I Don't Agree to the Terms

Chapter 939 496: After Ten Years of Rumors, This Time They're Really Going to Attack the Demon Domain

"Recently, I heard that the court plans to raise an army to attack the Demon Domain."

"I know about this. They've been saying it for years, but there's still no sign of action."

"No, no, no, they say they'll fight every year, every day they say this, and yet, haven't seen a trace of it."

"Surely, they're just fooling the Demon Domain again."

Amidst the noisy tavern, a person dressed like a scholar heard these words, and for a moment, his eyes transformed into vertical pupils, before quickly returning to normal.

'How many times have I heard this rumor this month? Every day they talk about attacking the Demon Domain, but never once have they actually done anything.'

His real name is Mao Shijiu, a cat demon, tasked with blending into the Da Xuan Dynasty as a spy, replacing a scholar, and his daily job is to play the role of this scholar and gather all kinds of intelligence.

Initially, the news of Da Xuan planning to attack the Demon Domain was indeed significant, but turned into a rumor over the years, from a major event to a laughable matter.

So he doesn't care anymore. He stopped reporting this matter years ago because even if he did, the clan wouldn't take it seriously, nor does he mind, since it's fake anyway. Were it true just once, the Da Xuan Dynasty would have penetrated deep into the Demon Domain by now.

"Scholar Liu, why are you leaving so early today?"

Mao Shijiu stood up to leave, and the tavern owner teased him. Usually, he would stay in this tea house until noon before leaving, but today, he guessed they'd again chat about when Da Xuan Dynasty would send troops, surely failing to gather any useful intelligence.

Better to go back and cultivate, as he recently broke through to the Great Demon Realm and needed to stabilize himself; without mission requirements, he wouldn't go out.

'Oh, when will I succeed in becoming a Demon King?' Mao Shijiu sighed inwardly, thinking it would be nice if instead of being a spy, he were an ordinary demon living in Da Xuan, as he wouldn't have to worry about being eaten by other demons over trivial matters.

"Today seems quite dull, I'll go back to read and write," Mao Shijiu responded to the tavern owner.

"A good thing, are you perhaps planning to take an official position with the court?" The tavern owner also inquired.

"I'm considering it," Mao Shijiu casually answered and then left the tea house.

The longer he stayed among humans, the more he liked it there—it's safe, has no life-threatening dangers, and is friendly.

Definitely, there are shortcomings, but compared to the brutal survival in the Demon Domain, here is like a safe zone.

After leaving, he returned to his home and started cultivating according to the Cultivation Technique.

However, cultivating in human form felt awkward, and the efficiency decreased significantly.

'If only I could cultivate in my original form,' Mao Shijiu naturally longed to revert to his demon form, but unfortunately, being in the heart of Da Xuan Dynasty, turning back would mean exposing demon energy during cultivation, and once detected by cultivators, it would be certain death.

With his strength, at least a hundred people in this city could easily kill him.

'The human race's development in recent years has reached an extreme speed, reportedly the current Emperor Xuan has cultivated for less than a century and is now about to reach God Demon level.'

Mao Shijiu didn't have much loyalty to his tribe, first because serving as a spy among humans wasn't voluntary, and secondly because he carried his tribe's methods to prevent betrayal.

He was essentially forced into it.

Thankfully, being a spy in the Da Xuan Dynasty, as long as not exposed, the danger level was notably lower than in the Demon Domain.

The cat demon tribe has been fighting battles everywhere, top-tier cat demons often exploit and devour lower-tier demons, which actually poses higher risks than being a spy.

After a session of cultivation, progress seemed almost nonexistent, which made Mao Shijiu's expression show some helplessness.

"Unfortunately, the resources needed for cultivation in the clan require using achievements to exchange for them; now that the resources are used up, making further progress is exceedingly difficult."

His success in breaking through to the Great Demon Realm was thanks to the initial rumors of Da Xuan Dynasty attacking the Demon Domain, leveraging the first-hand information to earn enough achievements to exchange for resources necessary for the breakthrough.

Now, this intel has long lost its value, with the entire Demon Domain not caring about it anymore, just treating it as a joke.

'Returning to the Demon Domain is impossible, even if asked to go back, I wouldn't.'

'If I want to settle in Da Xuan, my identity will inevitably become a risk.'

'Unless I become a legal citizen of the Da Xuan Dynasty!'

Several years ago, Da Xuan Dynasty opened stipulations for demon race immigration, allowing demons to apply and become citizens, enjoying the same policies as humans.

Initially, no demon believed it since it sounded exceedingly absurd.

Later, some desperate demons were forced to try applying, and a few have succeeded, but most didn't.

Application is easy, but passing the examination is tough; Da Xuan accepts demons as citizens, but not all kinds of demons.

Those malicious and extremely vicious demons not only wouldn't be accepted but would be brought to justice.

Mao Shijiu pondered his chances of passing the examination.

Over the years, he gathered information about the examination process through various channels; technically, it's not difficult but requires a minimal level of atrocities.