Chapter 18: Named Xuanmo

Of course Song Xuanqing was a god.

He simply lacked an official appointment.

The black cat's answer wasn't entirely wrong, and Song Xuanqing didn't bother pressing the matter further. He changed the subject.

"What is your current cultivation level?"

At the mention of cultivation, unmistakable delight spread across the black cat's fluffy face.

"Thanks to your blessing, my lord, this little demon has already reached the Mid Body Tempering Stage. When I first encountered you, I was still at the Early Body Tempering Stage!"

Cultivation was no easy path for demon beasts, especially the weaker ones. Without proper Cultivation Techniques, without cultivation resources, and with mediocre innate talent to boot — they had nothing going for them.

In short, they had nothing at all.

And yet, in the mere two or three days since the black cat had encountered Song Xuanqing, the benefits she had received from him had allowed her to leap an entire minor realm. This alone had nearly convinced her to follow him for good.

She was a little demon beast just starting out on the path of cultivation — with nothing to her name. Without a Fortuitous Encounter, her future was practically written in stone.

But now, a Fortuitous Encounter stood right before her!

It was none other than the gleaming idol of Lord Xuanqing!

The "gleaming" part was entirely a filter the black cat had applied herself, but in her heart, Song Xuanqing's image shone brilliantly.

Song Xuanqing wasn't familiar with demon beast cultivation realms, but he could guess that the black cat's "Body Tempering Stage" was roughly equivalent to the human Martial Master's Body Tempering Stage.

Just a little over five Incense Value, and it had directly pushed the black cat up an entire minor realm?

Was the conversion rate between Incense Value and cultivation really that high?

Song Xuanqing thought it over. It was probably because the black cat's current cultivation level was still quite low.

And besides, perhaps the black cat had already been close to the Mid Body Tempering Stage before.

"Tell this god about the cultivation realm divisions of your demon beast kind," Song Xuanqing said evenly.

He had already learned about human Martial Masters' cultivation — might as well learn about demon beasts' while he was at it.

The black cat was, naturally, utterly obedient.

"This little demon's cultivation is low and weak, so I don't actually know all that much about demon beast cultivation realms. Please don't hold it against me, my lord."

"In truth, demon beast cultivation realms largely correspond to human ones — the paths and names are simply different. For demon beasts, there is the Body Tempering Stage, the Bone Refinement Stage, the Spirit Gathering Stage, the Demon Core Stage, and the Transformation Stage."

"Both the Body Tempering Stage and the Bone Refinement Stage involve tempering flesh, blood, and bone, and refining true energy — since we demon beasts place great importance on physical strength."

"The Spirit Gathering Stage seems similar to the corresponding human cultivation stage. The Demon Core Stage involves condensing a demon core and gaining various Divine Arts. And the Transformation Stage is said to allow one to take on human form."

"Though this is all just what this little demon has heard. If anything is inaccurate, please don't hold it against me, my lord."

Though the black cat's explanation was rough, Song Xuanqing now had a general picture.

He observed the black cat's current aura for a moment, then asked with mild curiosity.

"Little cat demon — how long have you been cultivating?"

At that question, the black cat looked a little embarrassed.

"This little demon has an ordinary bloodline. I only awakened spiritual intelligence at the age of two, and stumbled into cultivation in a daze. I've been cultivating for three years since then — five years old in total."

Song Xuanqing raised an eyebrow. He had no real frame of reference for that cultivation speed.

He had only transmigrated recently, and from the very first time he had acted, he had already possessed power comparable to the Spirit Gathering Stage.

This made Song Xuanqing involuntarily look down on the first two cultivation realms.

Though he was well aware that he himself was a special case and could not serve as a point of comparison.

"How does your speed — reaching the Mid Body Tempering Stage in nearly three years — compare among your demon beast kind?"

The black cat grew even more embarrassed, her head drooping.

"Please don't mock me, my lord. My speed is naturally considered slow among demon beasts. Those with powerful bloodlines, excellent innate talent, and treasures to aid their cultivation can reach the mid to late Bone Refinement Stage in three years."

"For ordinary little demons like me, cultivation is hard. Reaching the Mid Body Tempering Stage in three years isn't even that bad — five years to reach it is perfectly normal. Some little demons even eat humans to speed up their cultivation, but this little demon is timid and has no interest in that."

"Fortunately, most demon beasts have long lifespans. Cultivation may be slow, but it's not a dead end. You just cultivate steadily, and in your daily life you avoid the great demons who eat lesser ones and the human Martial Masters who hunt demon beasts — and it's manageable enough."

"Besides, if not for the cultivation treasure my lord bestowed upon me, I wouldn't know how much longer it would have taken me to break through to the Mid Body Tempering Stage."

Song Xuanqing rubbed his nose. In this world, demons and evil spirits ran rampant, and ordinary people lived in constant fear.

Yet even among demons, there were hierarchies — big fish eating small fish.

After finishing her account, the black cat raised her head and looked at the idol on the altar, unable to suppress her curiosity.

"My lord, may this little demon ask — what exactly was that wondrous treasure you gave me?"

Song Xuanqing was silent for a moment before replying, "That was an Incense Elixir condensed from this god's Divine Arts."

Confusion surfaced in the black cat's round pupils. "An Incense Elixir?"

"Indeed. This Incense Elixir is formless — it was condensed by this god at the cost of my own cultivation, using my Divine Arts. And it is not easy to condense. It is only because I saw your wholehearted sincerity that I bestowed such a treasure upon you!"

The black cat had no reason to doubt Song Xuanqing's words, for the boost the Incense Value had given her was genuinely substantial.

Moreover, the black cat was well aware of her own low cultivation. That such a powerful existence as Song Xuanqing would take her on as a subordinate was already looking upon her with great favor.

The black cat's eyes fluttered, and she let out a series of sincere meows.

"Please rest assured, my lord. This little demon will absolutely not betray your trust — I will cultivate diligently!"

"...Very well. Cultivate well," said Song Xuanqing.

"Meow meow meow!" said the black cat.

"Mm. You are a good cat. From now on, come to my temple every evening when there is nothing pressing. If something comes up, I will send for you with tasks — and I won't make you work for nothing."

"Understood, my lord!"

Song Xuanqing thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you have a name?"

He couldn't very well keep calling her "little cat demon" forever.

The black cat scratched her ear. "This little demon is a wild cat of the mountains. I have no name."

"Then this god shall give you one. What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, the black cat's face lit up with joy. "My lord wishes to bestow a name upon me — that is wonderful!"

She had once heard that in ancient times, those given names by gods were considered to have received an immense blessing.

With the black cat watching in eager anticipation, Song Xuanqing stroked his chin and slowly spoke.

"Mm... then you shall be called Xuanmo. Both 'xuan' and 'mo' carry the meaning of black — and you are jet-black as ink from head to tail, so the name suits you well."

The black cat stared with wide, bewildered eyes.

She didn't fully understand the meaning of the characters "xuan" and "mo," but she knew that the god before her was named Xuanqing.

His name contained the character "xuan."

And the name the god had given her also contained "xuan."

Did this mean... the god acknowledged her?

At that thought, the black cat broke into a wide, beaming smile.

"The name my lord has bestowed is the finest of all. From now on, this little demon shall be called Xuanmo!"

* * *

After Song Xuanqing sent the black cat away, Old Doctor Song and Song Bo did not immediately rise to their feet.

Fearing they might offend the divine, the two remained kneeling for a while longer before finally bowing in the direction of Xuanqing Temple.

"Please do not blame us, Lord Xuanqing. This old one had no intention of disturbing you. We only wish to go take a look at the situation — please do not hold it against us."

With that, the two rose and slowly made their way toward Xuanqing Temple, torches in hand.

By the light of the flames, Old Doctor Song and his son Song Bo quickly took in the scene before the temple.

Mu Tong and Mu Nan lay dead on the ground, their corpses in a ghastly state.

Even the experienced Old Doctor Song was startled by the sight — to say nothing of Song Bo.

Song Bo grabbed his father's arm, trembling.

"Father! Two... two dead bodies!"

Old Doctor Song gave him an irritated kick.

"It's just two corpses — what's there to make such a fuss about! And besides, these two were wicked cultivators. Lord Xuanqing killed them to protect us. Good riddance to them!"

Song Bo's body still shook, and he couldn't bring himself to look at the two bodies on the ground.

"Then Father... what do we do now?"

Old Doctor Song glanced at the corpses, then at Xuanqing Temple, and after a moment's thought, said firmly.

"It's deep into the night now — we shouldn't disturb Lord Xuanqing any further. Bo'er, you and I will stand watch here. When dawn comes, we'll go find the Village Chief to discuss what to do with these two bodies."

Song Bo's eyes went wide, a look of panic on his face.

"Wh-what? Father... you mean we're going to stand guard next to these two corpses until morning?"

He glanced down at the bodies on the ground, and happened to meet Mu Tong's wide-open, unseeing eyes — and nearly jumped out of his skin.

Old Doctor Song brooked no argument. "What else would we do? We've already troubled Lord Xuanqing enough tonight. You want to go wake up a crowd of people and bring them to Xuanqing Temple in the middle of the night, disturbing Lord Xuanqing further?"

Song Bo shrank into himself. "We'll... we'll stand watch until dawn!"