Chen Yi walked to the black horse's side and circled it a few times.
It really didn't seem like a demon...
Although there was a monster aura, it was too faint, and it came and went intermittently. He had never encountered this situation in the simulations.
But it could talk, and it had acted the whole way, which meant it had intelligence.
That also fit the characteristics of a demon very well.
"Why did you pretend to be a horse to deceive me? If you don't give me a reasonable explanation today, I'll be eating horse meat for dinner tonight!"
The black horse knelt on the ground, trembling.
"Master, spare my life!
This old servant had no choice! If I open my mouth to speak, people will say I'm a demon and want to kill me!
I understood this truth when I was very young.
Fortunately, I am different from other demons. I was born looking exactly like a horse, without any flaws, and I am not disguised.
So I have always pretended to be a horse, working hard without complaint, letting people ride and drive me.
I have never met a master as formidable as you, Master. Just now, when I heard you say you wanted to kill demons, I was terrified for a moment, that's why I begged for mercy..."
Chen Yi stared at this horse.
It was now wearing a very human-like expression. One could see it was truly afraid, and it seemed to be a creature with a very timid nature.
After two months of spending day and night together, Chen Yi hadn't noticed any signs of cultivation in it either.
It just had better endurance than an ordinary horse and was tougher.
Of course, it also ate more.
"Don't call yourself 'old servant' anymore. I don't keep slaves. From now on, you'll be called Black Wind, and you'll continue to be my mount. However, you must not speak in human language in front of others or reveal that you are no ordinary horse."
Black Wind knelt on the ground, slightly raising its eyes as if it couldn't believe it.
This martial artist master, knowing it was a demon, not only didn't kill it but was even willing to keep it.
Every master it had encountered in the past, once they learned it wasn't an ordinary horse, would turn pale with fright, then grab knives or fire, wanting to kill or burn it.
Black Wind didn't know how many times it had narrowly escaped death.
Nor did it know how many times it had experienced the nightmare moment of someone affectionately stroking its horse face one second, saying "this is my beloved horse," only to try to kill it the next.
"Black Wind obeys! I will definitely not fail my master's grace!"
Chen Yi said with some amusement.
"Is not killing you considered grace? Have more confidence, you're a good horse."
Black Wind trembled.
"But I don't understand, are you a horse or a demon?"
"Black Wind gained intelligence while in this beast form, so I should be a demon."
"All demon races can cultivate, can you too?"
He had some understanding of certain characteristics of the demon race.
For example, all demon races can cultivate. They don't have the concept of Bone Structure.
But they have bloodlines.
The stronger the bloodline of a demon race, it doesn't mean they cultivate faster, but rather their combat power is stronger.
In terms of cultivation, demon races basically rely on enduring through their long lives. The higher their realm, the longer they usually live.
But they can't just live, basking in the sun every day won't do. They also have to cultivate diligently and train hard.
The lifespan of demon races is much longer than that of humans.
Toiling hard every day, yet their realm advancement crawls like a tortoise, is somewhat unbearable for many demon races.
That's why so many demons choose to risk entering the Five Regions, waiting for opportunities to eat humans.
Eating humans makes their cultivation progress faster; it's a shortcut.
As for why demons gain cultivation by eating humans, but humans don't by eating humans, Chen Yi currently didn't know.
"Black Wind has never tried cultivation before."
"I'll teach you an External Technique, let's see if you can cultivate it."
The Ten Thousand Souls Banner complained.
"You are human, he is a horse. Even if he is a demon, he can't possibly cultivate human techniques!"
That sounded reasonable.
But Chen Yi felt that Black Wind might not necessarily be a demon, and was clearly not a simple horse either.
There is another type of creature in the Five Regions, called exotic beasts.
They have powerful physiques and bloodlines like the demon race, but lack intelligence. They are usually tamed by martial artists into war pets, mounts, guard beasts, and the like.
Black Wind could talk, so it didn't fit the characteristic of exotic beasts lacking intelligence either.
He might be some special kind of existence, capable of cultivating human techniques.
So, on the return journey, during rest times, Chen Yi taught Black Wind to practice the low-grade External Technique, "Fierce Bull Strength."
This low-grade External Technique, obtained from the Thundering Fist Martial Arts School in the first simulation, although of very low quality, had the advantage of simple essentials.
Black Wind didn't even recognize characters. For his first attempt at cultivation, the expectations couldn't be set too high.
One month later, one man, one horse, and one banner arrived at the banks of the Qing River.
"Going down this river will lead to Baiyun County."
The Qing River was very long, spanning three provinces.
How could riding a horse be as comfortable as traveling by boat?
Chen Yi directly bought a beautiful small painted pleasure boat and sailed down the river. Along the way, he sang songs, admired the scenery, and taught Black Wind how to cultivate.
Perfectly content and at ease.
The only annoying thing was that the Ten Thousand Souls Banner was too talkative.
After learning about Chen Yi's realm and Bone Structure, it once again brought up the "Earth Vein breakthrough theory."
"Still sleeping? At your age, how can you sleep? With a Low-Grade Bone Structure reaching your current realm, thinking you can break through on your own is a fool's dream! Hurry and find an Earth Vein, I'll help you break through!"
"Still eating? Cultivation is like sailing against the current, if you don't break through, others will! They will trample you underfoot and humiliate you to their heart's content! Go find an Earth Vein, defy the heavens and change your fate, right now!"
Chen Yi took out the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, held it in his hand, and placed it on the side of the boat.
"If you keep blabbering, I'll shout three times, 'The Ten Thousand Souls Banner is here, come quickly to uphold justice'."
The Ten Thousand Souls Banner let out an ingratiating laugh.
"Hehe, look at this mess..."
"It's me who needs to break through, not you. Why are you more eager than I am?"
"You are my master! If you become stronger, I can enjoy the shade under the big tree!"
"Is that so?"
Chen Yi looked at this guy with a suspicious gaze.
In the third simulation, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner had followed him for decades.
Apart from having a foul mouth, it didn't have any other major flaws.
Although this guy was full of wicked ideas, he was, after all, an artifact spirit. Since he couldn't bewitch Chen Yi, all that was left was his incessant babbling.
"Little Wan, you better behave. You are not an 'indispensable' existence for me.
I've said it before, if I have to rely on killing to improve, I will definitely choose to kill demons.
Guess what, is there something in this world that might be more useful than you when it comes to killing demons?"
The Ten Thousand Souls Banner was sweating bullets.
Of course it knew.
The Demon Refining Pot!
The Demon Refining Pot is currently sealed by the demon race within the territory of the Great Wastes, in a place called Ten Thousand Demons Lake.
Chen Yi didn't know exactly where that was, nor how far it was from the Five Regions.
That would have to be explored in future simulations.
Suddenly, a wave of demonic aura drifted across the river surface.
"There's a demon."
Black Wind took a step back, wanting to hide in the cabin.
Seeing Chen Yi was still on the deck, it walked back out, its four horse legs trembling as it stood beside Chen Yi.
Chen Yi patted the horse's back, signaling it not to be afraid.
Looking at this demonic aura, Chen Yi felt it looked somewhat familiar.
"Oh... an old acquaintance demon."
Further ahead on the river channel, there was another painted pleasure boat.
That boat was much larger and more luxurious than Chen Yi's, and the sounds of zithers and other string instruments in harmony came from it. Those sitting on it seemed to be either wealthy or noble.
"Splash, splash..."
The calm river surface began to churn with waves.
The small pleasure boat soon began to rock violently from side to side, at risk of capsizing at any moment.
Chen Yi lightly stomped his foot, and the entire boat instantly became as steady as an old dog.
He stomped again, controlling the force perfectly, giving the boat a forward acceleration.
The pleasure boat that had been drifting with the current suddenly shot forward like a speedboat, riding the wind and cleaving the waves!
"Fat-headed fish! Since fate has brought us together again, come into my banner and be my first distinguished guest!"

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