"…So much meat, it would be such a waste to burn it." Bal looked at the dead Spider Demon and couldn't help but sigh, "If it were given to people to eat, how many could avoid starvation?"
She turned her gaze to Kikyo beside her, only to see Kikyo using her slender hand to press on the severed spider leg, purifying its evil aura with spiritual power.
The severed spider leg visibly emitted black smoke, continuously shrinking in size like melting ice.
Soon, it became the size of a palm.
"Youkai… meat cannot be consumed by humans."
Kikyo stood up and shook her head, handing the purified spider leg to Bal, explaining seriously.
"If Youkai meat is forcibly eaten, it will cause symptoms like poisoning, and if one is unlucky, it will lead directly to death."
"…That's truly a pity."
Bal raised her hand to take the spider leg Kikyo handed her, and with a slight grip, the spider leg vanished into thin air.
And this was her system's storage function.
To be honest, her system… had many abilities, some of which could be said to be very thoughtful.
To be honest, she even suspected… the person who designed this system.
Was she perhaps… also a transmigrator in the past?
"Even Youkai… are not advised to cannibalize their own kind." Kikyo said with a serious expression, admonishing Bal, "Although it will increase your strength much faster, your personality will also become irritable and bloodthirsty."
She was somewhat worried that Bal wanted to take a shortcut. Although Youkai devouring each other was a very common phenomenon in the Youkai Realm.
However, that was not an easy path to follow, and only those Youkai with poor bloodlines would embark on this path.
And most Youkai who took this path did not end well.
It could be said that they were extremely likely to… die suddenly along the way.
"It's okay, I already have a suitable path." Bal raised her hand to embrace Kikyo's arm, a gentle smile appearing on her face, "Besides, I don't want Kikyo to dislike me."
"…I… don't dislike Bal."
Kikyo was momentarily flustered by the sudden intimate gesture, then quickly regained her composure with her excellent psychological fortitude.
"However, we have already collected enough materials, so it's time to find a swordsmith to forge the demon blade."
Her voice was as calm and serene as ever.
However, this was only natural; as a priestess, if she were to panic, others would also feel shaken. So, she was already accustomed to… maintaining composure and tranquility.
"Hmm, let's go."
Bal smiled gently, gripping Kikyo's hand more tightly. Then, she suddenly realized something.
Why could she naturally act intimately with Kikyo?
"Bal, what's wrong?"
Kikyo looked at Bal beside her strangely. She felt Bal's delicate body stiffen slightly, and she suddenly became nervous.
However, there didn't seem to be any danger nearby.
"Nothing, just remembered… something."
Bal's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly shook her head. She couldn't possibly say that it was her first time holding a girl's arm and she felt very excited and shy, could she?
"…"
Kikyo was slightly silent, choosing not to press the matter.
Actually, she didn't dislike such intimate behavior.
Due to her naturally powerful spiritual energy, she bore heavy responsibilities, and her life was a constant battle against numerous Youkai.
This also meant she had no connection with ordinary human life.
Therefore, she unexpectedly cherished Bal, who could easily be close to her.
Perhaps this was why, even knowing Bal had many problems,
She still didn't send Bal out of Maple Village.
*
On the other side.
Outside Maple Village.
A group of Youkai carried thick, round logs and large rocks, like construction workers, efficiently transporting them to the hillside.
A rough outline of a shrine was already faintly visible.
"So fast! Is this the power of a Demon?!"
Xiao Feng stood at the entrance of the shrine, watching the long line of Demons transporting materials. Building a shrine would normally take a long time, but with the help of the Demons' power, the time was incredibly shortened.
"Hmph… Is this the power of a Demon?" The Tiger-head Demon appeared out of nowhere, his voice filled with arrogance. "Humans have no way to contend with Demons in terms of power!"
"…"
Xiao Feng glanced at the arrogant Tiger-head Demon, then said with a hint of defiance:
"Then do you have the guts to fight Kikyo?"
"I said it's power… there's no way to contend!" The Tiger-head Demon said righteously. Then, he turned his back to Xiao Feng and struck a bodybuilding pose, his back muscles bulging and twisting like a ferocious ghost face, highlighting a strong sense of power and oppression.
"Leaving aside spiritual power, humans are very weak in pure strength!"
"…"
Xiao Feng watched this scene in silence, her small body trembling.
Seeing this, the Tiger-head Demon thought Xiao Feng was intimidated by his muscles and was about to show a smug smile to comfort her.
However.
"…So… disgusting."
Xiao Feng couldn't help but whisper, instinctively crossing her hands and rubbing the goosebumps on her arms.
She didn't know why she felt this way. Logically speaking… the Tiger-head Demon's muscles were handsome, but compared to a muscular body, she preferred the soft and fragrant bodies of Kikyo and Lord Baal.
In short, she couldn't appreciate… the beauty of muscles.
"…"
The Tiger-head Demon looked at Xiao Feng's expression of disgust, politely suppressed, and immediately turned ashen.
Could it be that he misunderstood human women?
Didn't they say that human women liked muscular men like him the most?
Or was it that his muscles weren't strong enough now?
"Um… are you okay?"
Xiao Feng looked at the ashen Tiger-head Demon, raised her hand and gently poked his body, but found that the Tiger-head Demon didn't react at all.
It seemed her unconscious words were too much of a blow to him… no, to a Demon.
"Actually, your muscles are very handsome!"
She raised her hand to scratch her cheek, comforting the Tiger-head Demon.
"If it's just a pure strength competition, even Kikyo probably wouldn't be able to beat you guys."
It was not an exaggeration. Although Kikyo's physical fitness was very good, it was still within the human realm.
Without using spiritual power to enhance herself, she indeed had no way to defeat a Demon.
However, if she used spiritual power… that would be another matter.
"…Ah… really?"
The Tiger-head Demon came back to his senses upon hearing this, no longer maintaining his ashen state, and gave Xiao Feng a forced smile.
"Little one, I'm going to move bricks now."
With that, he walked away without hesitation.
He had originally wanted to befriend Xiao Feng, but he didn't expect this little one to be so difficult to get along with.
So he might as well go move more bricks.
He would try to build the shrine before Lord Baal returned, and then give Lord Baal a surprise.
As for continuing to expand the territory… that was already done.
Originally, it would have taken at least ten days to half a month.
However, the stories of Lord Baal and Miko Kikyo slaughtering various Demons during their travels spread, and those forces that had originally intended to resist.
They simply chickened out.
They either surrendered or left the area.
In any case, the territory was conquered.