Venerable Demon Chef

Chapter 558: Chapter 555: Eve of the Grand Opening (2)

"What the hell is going on?" Qin Hai roared, getting in touch with Gu Weitian and the others.

"It’s the Demon Sect!" Gu Weitian said gravely. "The Demon Sect’s moles in Yunfeng City rescued the families and clansmen of those Death Warriors."

As the City Lord of Yunfeng City, Feng Gong’s expression became incredibly grim.

Overnight, the entire Song Family had vanished from right under his nose.

He Jincheng’s face was also dark. Not only had the Demon Sect rescued the clansmen of He Shan and He Hai, but they had also cleaned out over a decade’s worth of the mines’ yield while they were at it.

"So, you’re saying that kid, Mo Qi, is one of the Demon Sect’s people?" Qin Hai asked.

Gu Weitian shook his head. "He’s not one of them, but his ties to the Demon Sect run deep."

"Our spies in the Demon Sect have sent word. Mo Qi is a person of great importance to the Demon Sect now. Not only has he taken the Young Sect Leader as his disciple, but he’s also on brotherly terms with that scoundrel Xiao Zhengheng."

"Xiao Zhengheng personally issued an order: seeing Mo Qi is the same as seeing him."

Qin Hai’s expression flickered. "With the Demon Sect protecting him, doesn’t that mean we have no chance to settle the score with that kid?"

The men fell silent.

Unless they mobilized the entire North District to declare war on the Demon Sect, they would have no way of getting to Mo Qi as long as he remained holed up in the Desperate Mountain Range.

Launching a war between districts was clearly out of the question.

Never mind that the other Sub-Palaces would never agree; they would have no way of answering to the Immortal Realm.

"Are we just going to let it slide?" Gu Weitian said, unwilling to accept it.

"Let it slide?" Feng Gong sneered. "Of course we can’t just let it slide!"

"What’s your plan?"

"We can wait until Mo Qi’s restaurant opens to deal with him. Before that, let’s straighten out Yunfeng City. Since the Demon Sect has gotten involved, we’ll make them pay a price!"

That day, a grand formation sealed the entirety of Yunfeng City, and a bloody purge began.

To the frustration of Feng Gong and the others, however, the Demon Sect seemed to have been prepared. Aside from a few insignificant figures, all other key personnel involved had long since vanished.

Although many died in the purge, they were all small fry, their deaths inconsequential.

And so, their hatred and resentment for Mo Qi grew even more intense.

This was especially true for He Jincheng. The Ancestor had given him an ultimatum: if he could not retrieve the Void Spirit Flash Flame, he was not to return to the He Family.

Now, he had returned empty-handed. Although the Ancestor hadn’t truly held him accountable, thanks to the pleading of many clan elders, his prestige within the family had already hit rock bottom.

It was unlikely he would be able to hold on to the position of Patriarch for much longer.

’Mo Qi, don’t think you can rest easy just because you’ve latched onto a powerful backer like the Demon Sect. Just you wait! You will take full responsibility for Jinbo’s death!’

...

"ACHOO~"

In the Desperate Mountain Range, inside Uncle Niu’s Kitchen God restaurant, Mo Qi sneezed and rubbed his nose. "Who’s cursing my name behind my back?"

The Pig Emperor, nudging a few Medicinal Pills nearby, chuckled. "Perhaps someone’s just thinking of you?"

Mo Qi paused, and several figures who warmed his heart surfaced in his mind.

Niu Kexin, Liu Ruyan, Liu Hui, Jin Sanpang, Qian Duoduo, Li Yuanhao, Wu Bainian, Li Xuemiao...

’I wonder how they’re all doing.’

The Pig Emperor scooped up a Medicinal Pill and stuffed it into its mouth. It chewed with its eyes squinted in blissful enjoyment.

It spoke while eating, "Mo the kid, since you’ve chosen this path, you have to have faith in them. Don’t worry, they’ll be fine."

Mo Qi nodded and focused his mind. "Pig Emperor," he asked, "you heard what that old fellow Ku Mu said earlier. What do you know about the ’Evil Demons’?"

The Pig Emperor stopped eating the Medicinal Pill.

"Mo the kid, what are your thoughts on the concept of ’race’?"

"Race?" Mo Qi was taken aback for a moment. "Similar biological makeup, different life forms... Every race ought to have its own unique cultural heritage and spiritual faith."

The Pig Emperor nodded. "Then would you believe that there are races whose culture is ’slaughter,’ whose faith is ’invasion,’ and whose purpose is ’cruelty’?"

Mo Qi was stunned. ’Is there really such a twisted race?’

Wait!

’Could it be...’

Mo Qi’s eyes widened. "Pig Emperor, you don’t mean... the ’Evil Demons,’ do you?"

The Pig Emperor gave a wry smile. "Yes. The Evil Demons are not native to this continent. No one knows where they came from, but their presence is always accompanied by invasion, slaughter, and bloodshed."

"They don’t distinguish between good and evil, and they have no scruples. Whether it’s Cultivators or mortals, adults or infants, anyone they encounter is killed without exception."

"Many years ago, the sudden appearance of the Evil Demons brought catastrophic losses to this continent. Countless lives were lost. It was truly a time of bodies piled like mountains and rivers flowing with blood."

"Later, the entire continent united. After many years of brutal warfare, they finally, painstakingly, managed to wipe out the Evil Demons."

"I just never thought that after countless sacrifices, there would still be survivors. It seems it won’t be long before the Evil Demons return in force."

"You’ve been branded with the Evil Demon Mark. They’ll find you sooner or later, so the only path to survival left for you is..."

Mo Qi cut in, "To rapidly increase my strength through Cultivation?"

The Pig Emperor rolled its eyes. "Are you living in a dream? No matter how fast you cultivate, can you reach the Peak of the continent in just a few years?"

Mo Qi was at a loss for words. ’In just a few years, it would be an achievement just to become an Immortal, let alone reach the continent’s Peak.’

"Then what’s this only path to survival you’re talking about?"

The Pig Emperor replied, "To cling to a powerful protector like Elder Ku Mu, of course!"

"Right now, only he can protect you!"

Mo Qi rubbed his brow. ’The Pig Emperor’s suggestion is the most reliable and simplest option right now.’

But Mo Qi wasn’t the type to entrust his life to someone else.

"The Demon Spirit Battlefield opens in one year, and the trials there will last for fifty years!"

"I don’t think the Evil Demons can get to me during that time. Fifty years is enough time to get a lot done. Even if I can’t confront them head-on by then, I can at least find a way to conceal the aura of this mark."

The Pig Emperor remained noncommittal, only offering a reminder, "Never underestimate the Evil Demons. They’re bloodthirsty, but not brainless. And their combat strength is terrifyingly high."

"I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t so simple. There must be something else hidden behind the Evil Demons’ resurgence."

Mo Qi patted the Pig Emperor’s head and chuckled. "Don’t overthink it. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. And if the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up. For now, let’s just focus on the task at hand."

At this, the Pig Emperor shot Mo Qi a glance. "You’re planning to make a move against those families in Yunfeng City?"

"You know me best." Mo Qi chuckled. "Gu Weitian, He Jincheng, Qin Hai, and Feng Gong... since they dared to send assassins after me, wouldn’t it be rude if I didn’t return the favor?"

"But this needs to be handled slowly. The restaurant’s opening needs time for the hype to build. Plus, I’ve made some recent progress with my Creation Golden Body Technique, and I need to stockpile a massive amount of Cultivation Resources!"