Chapter Ninety: Do You Understand How to Make Money

The entrance to the Demon Realm lay at the Abyss of Heaven’s Rift. Ten thousand years ago, the war between the immortals and demons ended with the demons’ crushing defeat. At that time, the cultivation world marshaled all its power to drive the surviving demons into the fissure of the abyss, intending to annihilate them once and for all. Yet unexpectedly, the demons proved exceptionally resilient. Over tens of thousands of years, they managed to grow their numbers, modeling rules and systems after the mortal world, and eventually established thirteen demon cities, thriving generation after generation in the barren and frigid depths of the abyss.

That great war between the immortals and demons nearly wiped out the demon race, but it also cost the cultivation world dearly. For ten thousand years, neither side possessed the strength to wage war again. A delicate balance persisted between the two, each harboring hatred and contempt for the other, yet both tacitly avoiding open conflict.

However, as the demons’ power swelled, the violence etched into their very blood became ever harder to suppress. The abyss was ultimately too small, unable to contain the growing ambitions of the demon race or their thirst for human blood.

This led to a frenzy of internal competition within the Demon Realm. What, you dare step onto the arena without even the strength of a human Nascent Soul cultivator? To covet the position of city lord without at least the power of Integration stage? That’s a sure path to death.

Moreover, this time the city lord was to be selected in the Demon Realm’s main city, guaranteeing a storm of bloodshed.

Even 007 wanted to advise her host not to court death. If you were human, perhaps it would be different—but you don’t even have any cultivation. Aren’t you just offering yourself up as food? One moment on the stage, the next you’re just meat at the demons’ lips.

But if this host ever listened to its warnings, she wouldn’t be called Xu Nuo.

Xu Nuo signed up without hesitation. Using a special artifact to mask her aura as an ordinary mortal, and with her face well-concealed, the demon registering her barely batted an eye.

The Demon Realm was known for its freedom and lack of regulation from the Immortal Alliance. Many beast clans, spirit beasts, and even wanted human cultivators sought refuge here. The Demon Realm was universally acknowledged as the perfect place to hide.

Naturally, there was no shortage of thrill-seekers entering the city lord competition. The demons welcomed all challengers. As long as one’s strength could subdue the demon race, identity and race were of no consequence.

Xu Nuo completed her registration smoothly and wandered the city streets, taking in the local customs. Even walking the length of a single street, she witnessed several fights breaking out at the slightest provocation.

The patrolling demon soldiers hardly intervened, usually only watching with indifference, or calling out a half-hearted warning. The demons passing by looked on as if enjoying a show, displaying no sense of morality whatsoever.

It was clear that in every visible aspect—architecture, clothing, customs—the demons’ world was coarser than that of humans. Outwardly, the demons did not appear drastically different from humans, except for their fiercer features and the presence of unusual limbs—beast ears, tails, and the like.

Yet unlike the beastfolk depicted in comics or films, the demons here were of a wholly different aesthetic. Not one among the crowds could be said to fit human standards of beauty; they evoked only thoughts of wild beasts and monsters.

After a while, Xu Nuo abandoned her hope of admiring handsome and adorable demon youths with beast ears and tails. She couldn’t help but complain, “Little Seven, do you guys understand anything about making money? Such a great concept, and you waste it by making the demon race’s beastly features so hideous.”

007 sounded aggrieved: “We followed the original setting. Most demons are just… not easy on the eyes. Only a few female demons—the ones who are heroines—are…”

007 abruptly fell silent.

But Xu Nuo had already understood.

“What do you mean by that?”

She was angry.

“This is supposed to be a romance game, meant for girls like me, and you only give us beautiful women, not handsome men?”

007: “I was wrong.”

“How about this, tell me where those beautiful demon girls are, and I’ll forgive you.”