As Huang Huihong explained, the few people finally understood what was going on.
Simply put, their demonic sect was living a miserable life, and they weren't even considered a mid-tier force in Ge City anymore.
Moreover, their already meager membership was dwindling through death, desertion, and escape, bringing them to the brink of disbandment.
Naturally, they had no qualification to compete for the upcoming Evil Flame Secret Realm.
The cause of all this dated back to an incident several years ago…
At that time, their great leader had accidentally entered the Evil Flame Secret Realm once and discovered a Black Soul Grass within.
Black Soul Grass was a supreme cultivation resource for demonic cultivators and a miraculous healing medicine for ordinary cultivators.
Seeing such a treasure, they naturally wouldn't let it go. The great leader immediately intended to pick it.
Suddenly, a formidable demonic beast appeared and violently thrashed the great leader…
If not for gritting his teeth and sacrificing his life-bound magical artifact in the end, the great leader would likely not have had a chance to escape.
Although he managed to get out later, his condition was far from optimistic.
As the name suggests, a life-bound magical artifact is closely connected to its owner.
The damage to his life-bound magical artifact further weakened the great leader's already severely injured body.
He became feeble shortly after returning and was still confined to his room.
If not for the second leader helping him sustain his life daily, the great leader would have probably not survived until now.
The great leader's only hope was the soon-to-be-opened Evil Flame Secret Realm.
"So you intend to have us help you obtain that Black Soul Grass?" Ye Fan muttered after listening.
"We are no longer qualified to compete for the secret realm," Huang Huihong sighed. "Now, we can only hope to cure our great leader's injuries; we dare not ask for anything more…"
"Since you already know that she is like you," Ye Fan pointed at the little demon girl. "Why do you still think we would cooperate with you? Wouldn't it be better to keep the Black Soul Grass for yourselves after obtaining it?"
"Fellow Daoist, you jest," Huang Huihong looked at the little demon girl. "Hongying and the others have witnessed Miss Ling'er's actions several times before. We had always speculated that Miss Ling'er's cultivation level was at least at my tier."
"However, upon seeing her now, I realize my estimation was too conservative," Huang Huihong said with emotion. "Miss Ling'er's cultivation is likely at least at the Void Refining stage. While Black Soul Grass is extremely beneficial to demonic cultivators, it is hardly significant for someone at the Void Refining stage like Ling'er."
Ye Fan nodded.
If the little demon girl was truly at the Out-of-Body stage or above, then the Black Soul Grass would indeed be of little use to her.
The reason Ye Fan used the word "if" was because…
He suddenly realized that he had never actually known the little demon girl's cultivation level…
After all, in this life, he only intended to be a lazy salted fish who didn't cultivate, so he naturally hadn't paid attention to matters like the little demon girl's cultivation level.
However, since Huang Huihong had brought it up, Ye Fan casually asked.
"By the way, what is your cultivation level now?"
Huang Huihong: ???
Little Demon Girl: …
You only remember to ask me now, do you have any regard for me at all?
How infuriating…
"I don't know," the little demon girl said dejectedly. "It should… perhaps… probably… might… be considered the Out-of-Body stage for human cultivators…"
This time, everyone was stunned!
What kind of nonsense is not knowing one's own cultivation level?
"I don't quite know how to describe the specific situation…" the little demon girl explained. "Perhaps I will only know when I encounter an opponent of equal strength in the future."
Ye Fan knew that what the little demon girl said was true.
After all, the little demon girl had no reason or need to lie to him.
Speaking of which, that crazy old man who sealed the little demon girl back then was quite something, wasn't he?
He managed to synthesize a supposedly Out-of-Body stage expert like the little demon girl in a laboratory; this was not something ordinary cultivators could achieve.
It must be known that the little demon girl's cultivation and strength were equivalent, unlike others who relied on pills to boost their power.
Ye Fan subconsciously recalled in his mind.
He knew a few methods for turning an ordinary human rookie into a demonic expert.
However, those that could be implemented were definitely not within the capabilities of ordinary cultivators.
Even cultivators at the Tribulation Passing stage couldn't achieve this!
In that case, the origins of that crazy old man were worth investigating.
…
While Ye Fan was pondering these matters casually, Huang Huihong and the Hongying sisters were almost scared to death…
They thought that the Void Refining stage was already terrifying, but now you're telling us it's the Out-of-Body stage?
We're not that close yet, no need to scare us like this!
"If you want our help, you must show some sincerity," Ye Fan said with a slight smile after recovering from his shock. "After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch."
"Naturally," Huang Huihong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and then took something out of his ring. "I wonder if this item can satisfy the two seniors…"
It was an irregularly shaped piece of metal, about the size of a soybean. Its fractured surface appeared to be naturally formed.
Ye Fan immediately recognized what it was.
Soul Devouring Meteorite Iron!
A specialty metal from the demon realm!
Soul Devouring Meteorite Iron was an extremely rare treasure for demonic cultivators, and it possessed growth attributes!
The longer it was used, the more powerful it became!
Its upper limit was roughly enough for the little demon girl to reach the equivalent of the human Tribulation Passing stage.
Speaking of which, the little demon girl never seemed to have her own weapon, and Ye Fan happened to have a way to handle Soul Devouring Meteorite Iron…
"What is this thing?" the little demon girl picked up the Soul Devouring Meteorite Iron curiously. "It seems to resonate with the demonic energy within me; it feels very comfortable…"
"Actually, I don't know what this thing is either," Huang Huihong quickly explained. "Our great leader obtained it accidentally. Carrying it with him can increase his cultivation speed."
Ye Fan almost burst out laughing on the spot.
To treat Soul Devouring Meteorite Iron as a cultivation pill, you really came up with that idea!
While Soul Devouring Meteorite Iron did have some effect, compared to its true purpose…
It was incomparable!
Not even close!
"It doesn't seem to be anything special," the little demon girl muttered, unconvinced.
She could indeed feel that the Soul Devouring Meteorite Iron made her demonic energy flow smoother, but it was nowhere comparable to the black energy in Ye Fan's contract space.
If the cultivation boost from Soul Devouring Meteorite Iron was 1, then the black energy in the contract space was at least 100 to start with!
"This…" Huang Huihong was instantly dumbfounded.
They don't even want something that accelerates cultivation; are these seniors so capricious now…?
If the other party refused, then he would truly have no other options…
"Since you are friends with Hongying and the others, we will help you with this matter," Ye Fan gestured.
The little demon girl's eyes immediately lit up, and she shoved the Soul Devouring Meteorite Iron into her ring!
Ye Fan, the salted fish, suddenly being so proactive; this must be a good thing!
Huang Huihong was once again bewildered.
Why…
Did it feel like they were at a disadvantage…?