Chapter 110: Skin Demon

There were many similarities between this place and the arena.

Zora leaned against the wooden railing, staring at the scuffle on the circular platform below. The cheering and heckling of the crowd, the battles that necessitated the death of one person to end, the status determined by the number of victories—yet always remaining a head lower than the nobility. All of these were just like the arena.

People came and went in the surroundings; some even felt a long-lost sense of peace, their faces showing relaxation. In the Demon Realm, danger lurked everywhere, but arriving at this Heaven-Opening Stage made things a tiny bit safer; at least within the Beast Stage, the word "rules" still held a fragile presence.

This was where it differed from the arena. In the arena, people could not leave; they could only enter. It was more akin to being raised in captivity, with far more constraints—like humans raising a heap of crickets for fighting to make money, they were those captive crickets. Without a point of comparison, there was naturally no way to know which was truly safer; they lived in constant trepidation.

Next, she needed to fight through the arena step by step. It would be best to get a clear sense of the current strength of the average demonic cultivator in the Demon Realm, then climb to a height sufficient to join the Immortal-Slaying Pavilion. It was said that the qualification to join the Pavilion was obtained through the Beast Stage, but no one knew the specific method—it was likely just that whoever had the highest number of victories joined.

The girl stood here alone, her eyes like brilliant glass, seemingly untouched by suffering, still filled with innocence. She was out of place with her surroundings, yet no one rashly approached; everyone had their own business, coming and going in haste.

Here, no manner of dress was strange, so when a person wearing a gray cloak walked by, no one looked twice. Only a small section of a jade-white chin was revealed, her lip color deep and vivid. Her aimless pace faltered for a moment when she saw the girl by the railing. The girl's aura was a rarity in the Demon Realm—clean, pure white, a supreme delicacy.

The gray-robed person seemed to be observing. An instant later, they doubled back imperceptibly and turned into the depths of the circular corridor.

The scale of the Beast Stage was even larger than what was visible. Aside from the central circular platform and the encircling layers of corridors, there were countless intricate wooden paths beyond. There wasn't just this one competition platform; this was only the tip of the iceberg, a glimpse into the wealth of the Immortal-Slaying Pavilion.

Just as Zora was about to return and prepare for her first match, a person suddenly appeared at the railing beside her, elbows resting lightly upon it. As they approached, a wave of fragrance drifted over, quite alluring.

"Looks like you're a newcomer."

Zora looked over. The newcomer was a youth who appeared roughly her age, yet his attire was exceptionally bold. Tight-fitting garments only covered his chest, leaving his arms and abdomen exposed, though his legs were properly covered. His features leaned toward the feminine, with long, upward-slanting eyes slightly narrowed—a beauty that blurred the line between male and female.

If Vane was a beautiful, unsheathed sword, then he was a flower blooming in a river, covered in silt.

Zora said nothing, meeting his gaze expressionlessly.

"My name is Shui Xianzhi." The person didn't feel awkward; instead, his smile deepened. He leaned his back against the railing to look at her. Along with the strange fragrance, his appearance attracted the passing crowd, who couldn't help but steal a glance.

Zora was somewhat confused. "Are you participating in the Beast Stage competition?"

Shui Xianzhi smiled radiantly. "Correct. If there's anything you need to know, I can clear up your confusion, Miss."

Ordinary words were spoken by him with a thousand twists and turns, the ending notes like hooks. He leaned in closer to Zora, a trace of pleasure rippling in his narrowed eyes. The fragrance grew heavier, attracting almost everyone within ten steps to glance over.

Her eyes didn't blink—round and wide, she just looked up at him. She was impossibly calm.

A sliver of oddity crossed Shui Xianzhi’s mind, but then he heard a cold voice speak before he could.

"I didn't know the Beast Stage started taking in demons."

—

When did he get so close!?

Shui Xianzhi’s heart jolted, and he looked over immediately.

A youth in black stood beside Zora with his arms crossed, his expression freezing. He seemed to scan Shui Xianzhi once, a faint smile touching the corners of his lips. Because of the frightening chill in his eyes, that light smile appeared exceptionally mocking and filled with gloom.

Vane tilted his head slightly. Even though he suppressed it somewhat, a portion of his malicious, thick, and dense jealousy still spilled out. His words were slow.

"Even if the Beast Stage is lenient and lets you in, it's a lapse of judgment. Aren't demons the greatest tonic for demonic cultivators? A single bite of a demon's blood and bone can boost a demonic cultivator's cultivation."

Shui Xianzhi instinctively straightened up and took a step back. He was unable to see through the fact that these two were orthodox cultivators; thanks to Zora and Vane’s disguise, in the eyes of most in the Demon Realm, they were just two ordinary demonic cultivators.

How did this person know his identity? Clearly, even demonic cultivators in the Fusion stage couldn't see through his disguise—!

Shui Xianzhi was filled with alarm and uncertainty, terrified that his identity would be exposed and he would be dismembered and eaten alive on the spot by demonic cultivators. His body was tense, no longer possessing the subtle allure from before.

Vane, instead, relaxed. He only felt that the scent in the air was foul beyond belief, and a sliver of guilt struggled out of his dark emotions. Guilt toward Zora—letting her smell this scent meant he hadn't fulfilled his duty.

Zora completely ignored the tense atmosphere. She was still staring at Shui Xianzhi. Hearing this, she frowned slightly, looking confused. Now that her servant had arrived, she finally asked her question.

"This place even accommodates demons?"

Vane no longer looked at him, his gaze lowered to Zora. "He must have hidden his identity."

Zora: "Demons can actually have human forms."

Vane heard that she was purely curious. His eyes held a smile, finally dispersing some of his jealousy. "Yes. Some demons eventually find opportunities to transform into humans."

Zora: "Demonic cultivators eat demons? Then after he becomes human, does his meat taste like human meat too?"

Vane pondered. "Apologies, I don't know either." He paused, glanced at the demon, and smiled gently. "Perhaps when this demon is swallowed into someone else's stomach, we can ask that demonic cultivator how it felt."

At this moment, he had completely shed the skin of an orthodox cultivator from the sect. Vane's eyes curved slightly; he had thoroughly returned to his Demon Realm state. Remarks that would surely be rebuked as cold-blooded and cruel in the cultivation world were uttered with ease.

Zora looked at the beautiful youth with novelty, scanning him from top to bottom. Her clear, almond eyes were still innocent, yet Shui Xianzhi was frozen in place. He finally understood her gaze, and his heart turned cold.

She was as innocent as a child playing with ants—snapping the head off a doll yet still able to be angry. Since the beginning, she had treated him like a dead object, looking at him as she looked at the slaughter on the circular stage—impartially. Once she saw through his demonic essence, she had zero empathy, even if his outward form was human. She seemed completely unaffected by his appearance.

People of the Demon Realm are usually filled with filth; they ought to have negative emotions. Resentment, contempt, anger, suspicion—but the girl before him was different. Some people fake innocence, which he could see through, but she was not faking; that was why she had become his next target.

Only now did he realize that she was indeed a person of the Demon Realm, yet because of that uniqueness, she was separated from the ordinary people of the realm, creating a strong sense of contradiction.

These two stood together like a match made in heaven. Even the blue-and-white hem of her dress and the edge of his black robes were lightly entwined. The youth’s features were like a sharp sword; by her side, he seemed to have become the scabbard, born for the sword that was this girl.

One person watched him curiously, with no killing intent. The other was smiling, seemingly chatting with her to keep her happy and answer her doubts. Yet, they brought a surge of imminent crisis to Shui Xianzhi. He fled immediately, fearing he would be a step too late.

Vane did not pursue him. Their words hadn't been heard by anyone else, so no one paid further attention to this side. He withdrew his expression; when he looked at her again, it was the same as usual.

"It should be a Skin Demon of the Demon Realm."

Zora instinctively associated: "Skinning others and wearing their skin on themselves?"

"No," Vane smiled, as if finding her guess about skinning quite interesting. "Their skin is made from demonic Qi, making it sturdier. 'Skin Demon' refers to how they transform into their true form when their prey is aroused, slipping under the prey's skin and thrumming inside the body. From a distance, it looks like the skin itself is dancing."

Zora imagined it—she couldn't. She lost interest and returned to the narrow room first.

Vane followed her. Once inside, his expression relaxed. "I bought osmanthus cakes and some snacks."

Zora only then noticed that a storage bag was hanging from his waist again. She didn't know where it came from.

"I want them," Zora said directly.

Vane handed her the osmanthus cakes. Watching Zora nibble on them, the smile on his lips grew more genuine. He watched her, all negative emotions melting away, becoming a harmless person, a harmless dog, just watching her.

Zora was halfway through when she noticed his gaze. She hadn't cared much at first, but as she ate, she felt something strange in her heart. This time, she didn't choose to cover his eyes.

"Why are you looking at me?"

Vane found an excuse: "Seeing if the osmanthus cakes satisfy you."

Zora’s thoughts immediately followed his lead. she actually thought about it for a moment and gave an evaluation: "They're okay."

This seemed to be a high evaluation to him; the youth’s brows were filled with a smile, quite delighted.

They went to the arena. The Heaven-Opening Stage had countless platforms, large and small. Newcomers like Zora only needed to fight once on a cramped stage. She took a number, parted from Vane, and headed to the small circular platform.

There was also a basement level here—dark and narrow. The stages were crowded together, separated by iron bars. Upon entering, it felt like being in a boiling sea; the noise was deafening. Some people were like savages, wrapped only in animal skins, killing people on the stage. No nobility came here to watch; it was chaotic and filthy.

Zora didn't exert any effort. She didn't even use her spiritual power, killing five people while in a daze. If they tried to kill her, she killed them by instinct. If the opponent had no killing intent and was very timid, they might actually survive. Because currently, she only needed the opponent to be unable to move to achieve victory.

Zora originally thought she would recall the past, but this venue was too small; she couldn't find the right atmosphere.

As evening approached, she wiped the blood from her face and ignored the venue, which had grown silent at some unknown point, walking out with her usual expression. After she left, a voice as soft as a mosquito finally spoke: "...Killing so many people, what level of demonic cultivator is she?"

There were no Nascent Soul or higher demonic cultivators here, so naturally, no one could see through her disguise. In the cramped, enclosed basement, countless platforms were stained with blood and corpses were everywhere. Only one spot attracted countless wary gazes. Compared to other places where only a few corpses lay, the corpses there had piled up, quickly covering a corner of the basement entirely.

The crowd had no sympathy; this was a matter of life and death. Those who had been thinking of kidnapping Zora when she first arrived completely dropped the idea. Here, only a layer of the fear typical of bullies filled the silent air.

I hope my opponent tomorrow isn't that person.

Everyone thought the same.

After Shui Xianzhi fled, he did not leave the Beast Stage. The demonic cultivators guarding the entrance were not mere decorations; there was a high probability they would discover his identity. He couldn't take the risk. Although he didn't know how he had managed to sneak in successfully, luck wouldn't stay with him forever.

...Besides, he was truly too hungry. Demonic Qi—he needed more demonic Qi!

At the mere thought of that black-clad youth’s expression, Shui Xianzhi shivered. He didn't even dare to recall the girl's face, out of self-preservation; it was a warning. The youth's cultivation must be much higher than his; sooner or later, he would come to eat him bite by bite!

The true form beneath the skin began to fluctuate uneasily. Shui Xianzhi trembled. He needed more demonic Qi.

His pupils suddenly turned completely black, throbbing slightly before returning to normal. He stood up and looked out from the window of the room. A demonic cultivator with low cultivation happened to pass by. Allured by the fragrance, he stole a glance. Seeing the demon's human disguise, he immediately grew interested. Whether for keeping as a slave or selling the meat and blood, there was value.

The demonic cultivator revealed an ugly smile. He revealed a pure, innocent smile in return. Another prey had taken the bait.

...

Night, in a remote corridor.

The silence was absolute. Few people came out at night at the Beast Stage; everyone kept their doors and windows shut. After all, anyone could be the murderer who harms them.

A rustling sound of gnawing echoed eerily, followed by the abrupt thud of a body bouncing on the wooden floor.

The demonic cultivator who had harbored ill intent during the day now lay on the ground with his eyes wide. Beneath his skin, it was like waves on a sea—rising and falling as if countless tiny fists were inside him, constantly hitting the flesh. Occasionally, the demonic cultivator would jerk abruptly, like a fish on land.

His mouth was stretched to its widest, the jaw dislocated. Inside the mouth were not human teeth or a tongue, but a black mass of intertwined, surging fibers like a bundle of yarn. A closer look revealed it was countless thin black snakes entwined, even peeking out from the edges of his eye sockets.

Suddenly, the demonic cultivator was as if punctured; he deflated rapidly, eventually becoming a wrinkled sheet of skin. As if pierced by countless needles, small black holes abruptly appeared on the surface of the skin. Countless black, strip-like living things crawled out, entwining in mid-air. Soon, Shui Xianzhi’s form appeared.

The dense black spots on the dead man's skin vanished in an instant. Shui Xianzhi was filled with demonic Qi. For a moment, he actually forgot the crushing fear the black-clad youth had given him, slowly letting out a breath.

The Beast Stage was truly wonderful. Few people walked the corridors at night; he could eat people at will and had never been discovered. Having lurked here for so long, even if a demonic cultivator came out, he could detect them immediately. Many were no longer a match for him. A gathering place for countless low-level demonic cultivators was simply a demon's dinner plate. Demons and demonic cultivators were prey to each other—whoever was weaker was the meat to be eaten.

Suddenly, a faint sound of footsteps rang out. Just one step, as if deliberately drawing his attention.

Shui Xianzhi turned his head immediately. In a moment of excessive relaxation, he forgot to disguise himself; his neck turned a full half-circle, his face rotating straight to his back.

At the end of this corridor, two people were standing. He didn't know how long they had been watching. Given their strength, they shouldn't have been discovered, yet the youth had let him notice on purpose. It was the person from the daytime.

In his terror, Shui Xianzhi grew fierce and rushed forward, intending to risk everything. But before he could take a single step, he was pinned down by an invisible pressure.

Wh-what is this...!

"Ugh...!"

The massive gap in strength was like a vast chasm; there was no resisting, only endless terror. Shui Xianzhi couldn't maintain his human form. The skin split open, and a mass of black-threaded living things wriggled in panic.

In the dim corridor, the two youths watched like they were watching a play, their eyes holding no ripple. If one watched for long enough, anyone would fear those two pairs of eyes.

He was terrified, thinking his life would end here. He was even more afraid of their gaze—that silent, emotionless observation, as if he were some insignificant mayfly not worth mentioning. it only made him feel incomparable cowardice.

But Vane did not kill the demon. He looked down and said to Zora, "This is when a Skin Demon eats people." His tone held a smile, as if he were introducing some item.

The immense dread surged. The demon wanted to roar, but found he couldn't make a sound; fear was strangling him.

Zora didn't find it interesting. She was far from being as pathologically bloodthirsty as Vane. Nearby was a human skin and a demon being crushed into submission; she moved her gaze away without much interest and covered her mouth to let out a yawn.

"It's time for bed."

"Yes. Shall we head back?"

"Mhm..." She was used to being drowsy. Not having time to walk back, she climbed onto his back and closed her eyes to sleep.

After the two departed silently, the demon still couldn't maintain its human form. It saw the casual glance the youth gave as he turned his head; his eyes were clearly smiling, yet the black pupils were heavy and wouldn't let in any light. The pressure seemed to linger—that tip of the iceberg made it feel like an ant facing a surging wave; it could only tremble, without a shred of thought to resist.

...What level of cultivation does he have? What kind of demonic path does he follow?

Shui Xianzhi had spent enough time among people to understand many human things.

After waiting for a moment, he was barely able to recover. He only then realized that the youth detested that he had once targeted the girl. An emotion common among people of the Demon Realm. Hatred, jealousy, detestation—the expansion of unconstrained emotion is terrifying. Only in the Demon Realm are people truly free.

He could have killed it, but he chose not to. He lightly chose long-term torture; he didn't even need to lift a finger—the mental oppression alone was enough to make it flee everywhere, isolated, helpless, living in constant fear.

No one would doubt that Vane was a person of the Demon Realm. He was clearly the best seed nurtured by the Demon Realm—a seed whose nature could never be uprooted.