In the storage room.

Upon hearing Yang Bolin's words, Ma Ning's expression gradually became a bit solemn.

Emotionally speaking.

The humans of the Damo Realm are no different in appearance from them.

If it's an internal dispute between humans, there's nothing much to say; it's part of civilization's evolution.

But the invasion of non-humanoid beasts naturally evokes a sense of shared hatred against a common enemy.

Watching a large number of similar life forms perish brings sadness, but honestly, Ma Ning and the rabbits weren't saints to that extent.

However, their mood was still somewhat heavy.

The country of Huaxia had experienced the cruelty and suffering eighty years ago when living things were slaughtered, so the rabbits truly did not wish to see such things occurring in the Damo Realm.

Logically speaking.

If the Demon Gate were breached, it would be extremely detrimental to the development of the rabbits.

What the rabbits need to do now is to work hard to push forward progress—this development requires time and relatively stable external conditions.

Not to mention that if the Damo Realm were breached, there might be certain impacts on the homeland as well.

Therefore, both emotionally and rationally, the rabbits did not wish to see the Demon Gate being breached prematurely.

Then Ma Ning thought of something and asked Yang Bolin:

"Shopkeeper Yang, I wonder if the Purple Treasure Pavilion has a way to acquire the beast remains from the Demon Gate?"

Upon hearing about the changes at the Demon Gate from Yang Bolin earlier, the rabbits became interested in the beast remains that couldn't be extracted for materials, as mentioned by him.

Lin Li and others, as researchers, were quite curious about the special attributes of that mysterious energy.

Actually, rabbits and cats are somewhat alike; they feel the urge to explore whenever they encounter something.

Upon hearing Ma Ning's inquiry.

Yang Bolin was initially taken aback, clearly surprised by this request.

However, he quickly nodded and took out a spatial bag from his waist:

"This isn't difficult; I happen to have some beast remains sent from the Demon Gate.

Each battle at the Demon Gate involves tens to hundreds of thousands of beasts attacking together, leaving an endless number of remains on the battlefield.

Many lucky individuals manage to find beast crystals while clearing remote areas of the battlefield and secretly keep them.

From there, they trade them for enough spirit stones and resources and eventually become powerful figures."

While speaking, Yang Bolin inputted his spiritual consciousness to open the spatial bag.

A moment later.

A beast remains appeared on the ground.

It was a beast resembling a vulture, with a wingspan of about four or five meters, and feathers interspersed with black and white.

Yang Bolin pointed to the beast and introduced:

"This is a Black Feather Hawk from the Demon Gate, a very common beast.

The one before us has just entered the first tier and perished under a flying sword."

Ma Ning carefully examined the Black Feather Hawk and then looked at Yang Bolin, feeling somewhat bewildered:

"Shopkeeper Yang, I remember you mentioning that the beasts involved in the changes at the Demon Gate are destroyed by mysterious energy after death?

How come this Black Feather Hawk is so well-preserved?"

Yang Bolin glanced at him and said:

"Indeed, I did say that.

However, Shopkeeper Ma, are you aware that...

The so-called destruction actually comes in two forms.

One is from the outside inward, where all parts turn to ash.

The other form appears intact externally, while in reality...."

As Yang Bolin spoke, he gently waved his hand.

Without a sound, a wind-based spell was cast.

Yang Bolin intentionally controlled the spell, so its power was not strong.

But as the breeze blew through,

The feathers over the entire beast remains scattered like dandelions, untethered.

In a few breaths, all that remained before Ma Ning was.....

A coagulated mass of indistinct flesh and organ slime, and....

A skeleton.

The instant he saw this skeleton, Ma Ning's pupils contracted sharply!

The skeleton matched the Black Feather Hawk in size, but its color was a lusterless black!

Before leaving the Fire Camp, Ma Ning had seen a skeleton identical to this black one——

It was Mo Peidong's remains!

Plus, the frenzied beast attacks on the Demon Gate were no different from the effects of the black spiritual energy?!

Could it be that the changes in the Demon Realm are somehow related to the black spiritual energy?

Ma Ning then took a deep breath, forcibly calming his inner shock.

This might just be an error in his sensitive assumptions; after all, there's no evidence proving any connection between the two skeletons.

Moreover, the black color itself is quite monotonous, theoretically existing as a coincidence.

After all, pure black is not the same concept as colorful black.

Pure black is seen everywhere in life; look down after undoing your pants...

Then sit on the toilet and look at your phone screen in sleep mode?

That's the standard black.

Hmm, anyone thinking improperly should face the wall.

Stepping back.

Maybe the Black Feather Hawk naturally has a black skeleton?

Just like black-boned chickens.

Excessive melanin and black melanin within the body could lead to blackened bones?

To eliminate this possibility, Ma Ning turned to Yang Bolin and asked:

"Shopkeeper Yang, was the Black Feather Hawk's skeleton originally black?"

Yang Bolin gave Ma Ning a peculiar look and explained:

"Of course not.

The Black Feather Hawk's skeleton is a very standard white, and coupled with its ugly appearance, in many places, it's regarded as a symbol of death and misfortune, extremely despised.

In some regions of Damo, the funeral custom involves wearing a segment of the white Black Feather Hawk skeleton on the shoulder when sending off the dead.

What, is there no Black Feather Hawk behind the Celestial Moon Mountain Range?"

Ma Ning shook his head and said:

"I've not really seen these creatures, given the vast expanse of the Celestial Moon Mountain Range.

However, I am aware of a bird called the Shuigui Sun, which is probably similar to the Black Feather Hawk."

Yang Bolin nodded knowingly.

He indeed did not have knowledge about the area behind the Celestial Moon Mountain Range, but Ma Ning made a valid point.

In the vast wilderness, not encountering the Black Feather Hawk in some regions is quite normal.

After all, it's just another beast; some places in Damo, people don't even know to use paper after using the toilet.

Then Ma Ning thought for a moment and tentatively asked:

"Shopkeeper Yang, I'm a bit interested in this mutated beast; could I humbly ask for a piece of skeleton to take back and examine?"

"If Shopkeeper Ma wants it, take the whole remains."

Yang Bolin magnanimously waved his hand, sending this skeleton brought from the frontline to increase credibility without a second thought.

After saying that, he added:

"By the way, Shopkeeper Ma, this skeleton is somewhat toxic.

This poison is not difficult for cultivators to resist.

But it might cause some trouble if touched directly by ordinary people.

So, please be careful while examining it, and don't harm yourself."

Upon hearing this, Ma Ning paused and nodded politely.

That's odd.

The Black Feather Hawk's skeleton is toxic?

But he distinctly remembers that Mo Peidong's skeleton was not toxic.

Could it be he's mistaken?

Perhaps the energy causing the Demon Gate beasts' changes isn't related to black spiritual stones at all?

Of course.

The specific results still require analysis through technical means once returned to the camp.

But regardless, the Demon Gate must be visited.

This place is far too mysterious, and is highly suspected to be linked to the black spiritual energy.

Thinking of this, Ma Ning couldn't help but ask:

"Shopkeeper Yang, may I ask how soon your side plans to visit the Demon Gate again?"

.....

Note:

Updating at midnight, at a speed of 700, proofread for five hours, disrupted my recovering biological clock just to keep a promise

So, give me some monthly votes, everyone; I've already given up my daily routine.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.