Indeed, there was something he had read back in those days at the Jade Clouds Sect Library. At that time, it seemed he had had so few worries--spending his days reading fervently to learn this world's lore, training hard, and eating well in the dining hall. If only things were still like that...
Well, it wasn't the time to reminisce.
Thinking hard, there was one passage in particular that Qiu Yunru could recall. It was from some something-or-other book on Demonic Deities. These beings, rather than being purely demons or purely gods, existed as something in-between. It was suspected that, perhaps, both gods and demons originated from these creatures.
The passage had gone something like this:
"In tens of thousands of years of the cultivation world, little has come to be known about Demonic Deities. Reports of their existence and habits have come to us from the Demon Realm through the collaboration of noble demon historians, but we have little access to direct study. The largest concern of the cultivation world in regards to these creatures is, indeed, the threat they pose to order. It is said that such creatures feed on blood and flesh; however, based on certain reports, it is believed that they made feed on emotion itself. It may be the fear in blood and flesh that sates them. Such a theory begs the question of whether other emotions might satisfy their eldritch hungers as well..."
It wasn't a sure escape, but what choice did he have?
Either the Bloodred Maw was one of those Demonic Deities that fed on emotion, or it wasn't! If it wasn't...Well, he didn't have a plan for that. He didn't have a plan at all! One could say that Qiu Yunru was completely fucked.
He cleared his throat, feeling a scratching at the back of it from the dry, searing air. "Well." He croaked, giving a weak smile. "I have some stories you might enjoy."
Below, those obsidian puddles gurgled and popped with curiosity. The terrible face of the Maw blinked slowly, its lips curling with curiosity.
"STORIES? HOW QUAINT. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE MY HUNGER HAS BEEN SATED BY A STORY." A loud snort echoed from its craggy lips, causing rocks to tumble all around.