Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!

After the Demon Race took control of the Wilderness World, they adhered to ancient traditions for a long time. Whether they were Demon Cultivators or Demon Beasts, all carnivores hunted only from species listed in their diet, and only enough to eat, never overhunting or abusing.

Thus, those species, whether they awakened intelligence to become Demon Cultivators or not, could thrive and reproduce in peace.

Aside from those who met natural disasters or were hunted to death, others survived well, forming increasingly large and prosperous groups.

With a certain population base, qualitative changes could occur, and on this land rich with Spiritual Energy and beautiful scenery, numerous powerful Demon Cultivators quickly emerged.

The more Demon Cultivators there were, the more remote the hope for the Human Race to reclaim the Wilderness World became.

Thus, the Cloud Concealment Sect secretly launched a series of actions to split the internal interests of the Demon Race.

This included, but was not limited to, collaborating with Alchemists to modify and innovate Pill Formulas, making the Demon Core an expensive resource not limited to certain species, but available to all Demon Cultivators and Demon Beasts.

"Take the simplest example: according to the ancient traditions of the Demon Race, a mouse's only natural predator was a cat catching to fill its stomach, so naturally, the numbers consumed weren't high.

But with Elixirs made from Demon Cores that could increase Cultivation or heal wounds, any creature, whether a mouse's predator or not, would join in for profit and engage in mass killing.

Thus, the Demon Race gradually divided into two statuses, Hunters and Prey."

Xie Chenyuan explained the strategy of the elders patiently, somewhat proudly, "Demon Beasts attained distinctions of varying levels, and they began to build cities according to guidance, taking it as an honor to reside in a city with their kin.

Desires for power, authority, and wealth and other greed drove the division of the Demon Race into gradually solidified classes.

The most intelligent guidance from the elders was that once the new world order formed, even if all Demon Cultivators realized it was a conspiracy, they would be unable to stop it and could only be propelled by profit and desire into continued fighting."

"It's a classic case of 'If you don't do it, someone else will!'" Jiang Yuan was quite impressed with the large-scale strategy set by the Cloud Concealment Sect's elders.

Looking at the current industry chain of Carefree City's slaughter and sale of Demon Cores and related products, without their secret guidance and instigation, the Demon Beasts would have overrun the world to catastrophic levels, and the Wilderness World might have already been in chaos.

"With clear classes, a constant crisis exists. After all, nobody wants to become prey; they only want to stand at the top as a Hunter, and to maintain family or group status requires painstaking efforts in nurturing the new generation."

Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking to himself, isn't this exactly what they mean by competition?

The elders' move is indeed a killer move!

Sure enough, Xie Chenyuan, with a smile on his lips, continued, "But the shortcomings of family forces born from kin are obvious. They cannot, like a Sect, open their doors widely to accept and cultivate talents diligently passed down through generations.

Worried that outsiders would split family resources, and to ensure they wouldn't be ousted and become prey, these prestigious families residing in cities rack their brains to climb up, yet some families' descendants are unmotivated, inevitably resorting to extreme measures to maintain their status."

He sipped his Spirit Tea in one go, lowering his voice, "A few days ago, there was a scandal in Carefree City, suppressed by the City Lord and various other families with ulterior motives.

This northern city used to have the Shen Family, who once reigned supreme in the city, even having designated territories outside Carefree City for their subordinate clans to inhabit.

But things didn't go as planned. After the original Patriarch of the Shen Family failed his promotion and was struck to ashes by a Thunder Tribulation, a streak of losses followed, resulting in a serious disconnect. Apart from an old ancestor with little remaining Lifespan, none in the vast family could shoulder important responsibilities.

To ensure his descendants would be untroubled after his death and dissolution of the way, that old ancestor intended to cultivate a Guardian Beast for the family—selecting a new generation with strong Demon Beast bodies incapable of awakening and transforming from the clan, specially feeding them with Earth Treasures.

Following the path of sanctification through the flesh, this required no cultivation talent or awakening transformation. As long as the body was strong enough and combat power frightening, and easy to control, it could ensure no one dared to bully the family.

In the beginning, everything went well; the Demon Beast indeed showed potential to become a Guardian Beast after careful nurturing over a hundred years.

But the Shen Family's old ancestor, with limited Lifespan, grew anxious, hastily seeking out a trace of Power of Flood Dragon Bloodline for it to refine at great cost, hoping it would subdue other watchful families before his death."

Finally reaching the crux, Bai Yunqi sat up immediately, ears perked with interest.

That's the Power of Flood Dragon Bloodline! If one could obtain and refine it smoothly, transforming into a Dragon in the future would be much easier.

"The old ancestor of the Shen Family had envisioned it splendidly, but the family, in its decline, could not bear great fortune. After the Demon Beast devoured the Power of Flood Dragon Bloodline, it couldn't refine it, instead, it stirred primitive ferocity, becoming violent and bloodthirsty."

Xie Chenyuan sighed, "Unable to calm its boiling blood, the Demon Beast grew increasingly frenzied, sneaking out under the cover of night in the Wilderness to find villages and devour commoners.

At first, the Shen Family managed to control it, but as summer approached and the Wilderness descended into ever-changing locales, coincidentally drowning in a vast sea beneath Carefree City, the Demon Beast had to go through great lengths to eat humans.

On the brink of losing control, the Shen Family's old ancestor stealthily lured Loose Cultivators to feed it, hoping fervently that it would refine the Bloodline Power and regain sanity to protect the family long-term.

However, during a banquet where the City Lord entertained various families, as the glasses were swapped, the Demon Beast unexpectedly went rogue, rushing into the hall attempting to tear apart the City Lord's thirteen-year-old daughter!

While the rescue was in action, the enraged Demon Beast injured others, devouring two Demon Cultivators whole before fleeing. The Shen Family's old ancestor, severely wounded while fending off the beast, soon died, and the remaining useless family members were unable to support, with the vast family industries swiftly carved up after losing the tree's support.

The City Lord collaborated to suppress the matter in hopes of capturing the runaway Demon Beast to obtain that precious Bloodline Power."

Finally clarifying the story, he looked intently at Jiang Yuan and said gravely, "I learned the inside story using the Cloud Concealment Sect's Secret Technique, I also know that currently, the City Lord's Mansion and families have dispatched Demon Cultivators far and wide to search but found nothing.

Most importantly—I have a Secret Technique to track down that Demon Beast!"

"Then hurry up and find it, or it'll be too late!" Qingniao, relishing Spirit Tea cup after cup, listened to the gossip with great delight, aroused with interest, "Can we start now?"

Xie Chenyuan visibly showed slight embarrassment, facing the reincarnated elder's expectant gaze, hesitating, "This matter cannot be rushed; I need some time to ascertain its location. Moreover, as the Shen Family specialized in the rare Thunder Element Technique, the Demon Beast is skilled in it, so to ensure safety, we must plan carefully."

Thunder Element Technique?!

Jiang Yuan's eyes sparkled, "So the Shen Family's Thunder Element Technique can be snagged as well?"

He cast his gaze at Yun Mo, who had yet to react, "Great! If we can snag one or two Thunder Element Techniques... By the way, if the hunt is successful, what exactly does Fellow Daoist Xie require from that Demon Beast?"

Ah? The show's barely started, and they're already preparing to divvy up?

Xie Chenyuan suddenly felt a bit guilty; originally learning the secret and telling Miss Hu to relay the message was an attempt to seize another opportunity to get closer to Senior Jiang.

Now he seemed to have bitten off more than he could chew; if he couldn't find it, wouldn't he be humiliated?