Because I Like It

The demon gods were dazed and confused, as if lost in a thick mist. They shifted their gaze from Bai Mang and looked in unison at the High Priest.

As steady as ever, the High Priest uttered only two words.

"Continue."

Swish, swish, swish...

The demon gods simultaneously fixed their eyes back on the youth.

Xu Xian did not keep them in suspense. It was merely a fragmented scroll, and he was only providing a simple summary; he wasn’t afraid they would actually learn it. With a solemn expression, he said:

"This primordial demon art is called 'Starry Divination'. It deals with the shifting of stars, the rise and fall of all things, the passage of a thousand years in a single thought. By connecting one's divine sense with the star sea, one can measure the fortune of a land for a millennium and deduce the prosperity or decline of a race—whether it is auspicious, calamitous, good, or evil..."

"This particular scroll is a Calamity Scroll. That is to say, it can only measure ill omens but cannot deduce auspicious ones. To put it simply, even if one learns it, they can only predict the tribulations that might occur in the future..."

Xu Xian’s explanation sounded profound yet concise.

In short, this method used the alignment of stars to predict the future, but it could only see the bad and not the good.

Those present naturally understood.

Furthermore, their hearts became even more unsettled. Looking at them, it was clear that most of them now believed him.

Many suddenly realized something. No wonder—no wonder the future of the demon race deduced by the High Priest over the last few thousand years had always been pessimistic.

It wasn't that their luck was necessarily poor or that a great catastrophe was definitely coming; it was simply that she could only deduce ill omens and could not predict auspicious times.

Of course, out of rationality and objectivity, they turned their gaze toward the High Priest once more, seeking confirmation.

The High Priest remained indifferent at first.

He was right.

He was right about everything.

Once might be a coincidence, twice luck, but three times?

Things that only she knew were being described by this youth without the slightest error. No matter how cautious or guarded she was, she had to admit that the Bai Mang before her truly recognized the primordial demon script.

This ray of light was no illusion.

Suddenly, she smiled and began to clap.

"Clap, clap, clap!"

The demon gods were still somewhat in the dark.

The High Priest smiled and said, "Good, well said. He is correct."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, their expressions replaced by excitement and agitation.

The Small Priest quickly asked, her tone significantly friendlier and more eager than before, "Bai Mang, there isn't just one kind of primordial demon script. Do you truly recognize all of them?"

Xu Xian gave a slight smile. "Without being humble, I can understand 10,086 types of similar demon scripts."

He gave a very specific number.

The Purple Demon slammed his hand on the long table with a loud bang, laughing heartily. "Hahaha, excellent!"

Xu Xian's heart skipped a beat as he looked at the stone table with a twinge of pain.

He felt secretly relieved that it hadn't been smashed to pieces.

The demon gods became very excited; some of the more straightforward ones were as giddy as children.

Even the composed ones were secretly thrilled.

They talked among themselves, boldly claiming things like the demon race was saved and that the heavens were blessing the demon race.

Listening to them, Xu Xian just wanted to say that they were celebrating a bit too early.

After the initial burst of excitement, they wanted Xu Xian to translate the primordial demon arts for them.

They wanted to use him to uncover the lost history of the demon race and recreate its former glory.

Xu Xian, of course, did not refuse, but he didn't immediately agree either. Instead, he said:

"I can translate them for you. However, I can't work for free."

With the technique in his hands, he had to be a bit arrogant.

There had to be benefits.

Furthermore, only by doing this could he dispel their lingering doubts.

As Xu Xian expected, the demon gods were not angry when he raised conditions. On the contrary, they accepted it readily; it was only logical.

It would have been more abnormal if he hadn't asked for anything.

"Haha, we naturally won't let you work for nothing. Speak, what do you want? For the future of the demon race, nothing is off-limits!"

"Right, feel free to ask."

They were very straightforward, but Xu Xian still looked toward the High Priest. Among these people, the only one he thought might not slaughter the donkey once the work was done was likely her.

The High Priest smiled faintly. "Since everyone has spoken, you may simply state your requests."

Xu Xian got straight to the point, holding up three fingers and waving them. "Three conditions. If you can agree to them, I will translate for you."

"Speak!"

"Don't dally."

Xu Xian said, "First, I want a residence near the Nether Pool. The kind where I can see the entire Nether Pool just by opening a window. Also, I cannot be disturbed. After all, translating demon scripts requires a quiet environment, wouldn't you agree?"

The demon gods readily agreed.

"No problem. You can pick any courtyard along the river, even those within the Ten Great Demon God Palaces."

Xu Xian continued with his second condition. "Second, each of you demon god lords can choose one primordial demon art from the Demon Dao Pavilion. I guarantee to translate them for you within a month. However, I can only translate one for each of you at first."

The demon gods' eyes darkened slightly.

Xu Xian quickly explained, "I have to consider my own safety. If I translate all the primordial demon arts in the Demon Dao Pavilion at once, I'll be useless. When that time comes, if you decide to slaughter the donkey once the grinding is done, I won't have any power to resist."

He seemed quite afraid of death.

Very cautious.

The demon gods discussed it among themselves and gave their tacit consent. This was a temporary compromise. Bai Mang wasn't stupid; his original intention for revealing his knowledge of the primordial demon script was to save his own life.

It was reasonable.

Besides, he was in the Nether Capital under their very noses; what kind of trouble could he possibly cause?

A pig could be slaughtered immediately, fattened up and slaughtered later, or even kept until the New Year.

"Agreed!"

"State the last one..."

That they would agree was within his expectations. The requests Xu Xian made weren't excessive.

He remained unfazed, though this third condition was a bit difficult to voice.

Xu Xian stroked the square stone table, unable to part with it. The High Priest's brow twitched as a bad premonition entered her mind.

Xu Xian said, "I said you can't let me work for free. You have to pay me."

Pay him?

After a brief silence, the demon gods burst into laughter.

"Haha!"

Money was the most useless, least valuable thing in their eyes.

Moreover, they were secretly glad Bai Mang was greedy. People who were greedy for wealth or lust were the easiest to control.

The Small Priest said with a beaming smile, "How much do you want? Name a figure."

Seeing how straightforward they were, Xu Xian struck while the iron was hot. "Fine, then I'll say it. I don't want money. Just give me this table as payment. I've taken a fancy to this thing."

The High Priest's cheek twitched. It was just as she thought.

Everyone's laughter came to an abrupt halt, their eyes blank.

He wanted this table?

He really dared to ask.

"What did you say?"

Xu Xian took a firm stance, crossing his arms. "If you don't give it to me, I won't do it."

Some swallowed their saliva, some stared wide-eyed, and others' mouths twitched.

This wasn't just ordinary greed.

He had set his sights on the property of the Demon God Hall.

It seemed he had planned this from the moment he entered. No wonder his eyes had been glowing when he looked at this table.

The High Priest couldn't help but ask, "Why do you insist on this table?"

Xu Xian built up his emotions, caressing the tabletop with deep affection.

"Because I like it!"