"Me a demon? I haven't even seen a demon my whole life." Ming Li said without care.

"Your core is red right? The spirit asked.

Ming Li was shocked when he heard this, So he inquired "How did you know that? You didn't ask to read my memory."

"Yes I didn't read your memory because you seem interesting and you have the aura of another water spirit. Also, I only guessed because demons have a red core at beginners level. That's the most basic difference between humans and demons."

Ming Li's eyes went wide and said. "It just turned red recently when I ate some fruit. That doesn't make me a demon."

"If you say so. But natural energy seem to stay away from you like it would to a demon. You can try absorbing demonic energy. Maybe that will make things clearer" The spirit then moved away and disappeared at the river.

Ming Li was now in a better condition, but he was still slightly bleeding and weak from blood loss.

He was in a daze thinking bout what the spirit said. When he came back to his senses, he tried to sense natural energy and study it for a while.

For some reason it was really staying away from him, but he can still absorb it and use it for his skills, however he always fails to refine it properly. He has noticed this back then, but he thought it was just his lack of talent.

He then tried to sense demonic energy that the spirit told him, but he failed to even detect any of it. He tried several times and still detected nothing.

"River Spirit are you still there? Can you tell me about demonic energy?" The spirit then appeared at the surface of the river and said "There is no demonic energy here since this place is just rich in natural and spiritual energy, which we spirits absorb. You can find demonic energy a bit further in the forest. It may not be abundant but I'm sure there are some. Humans can't normally feel demonic energy or even spiritual energy. But you seem different, maybe you'll be able to do it."

Are one of my parents actually a demon. Ming Li thought then he asked "Are half demons like me?"

The spirit shook its head and said "No.. I have seen some half demons throughout the years, None of them are like you. Half demons always have a body of a demon and a core of a demon. Also, being a demon, they cannot utilize natural energy like you."

"Thank you river spirit. I will be on my way now. There are people after me, I hope we meet again" Ming Li bowed and left

So it was really because of that weird fruit. Ming Li thought and he stood up and decided to go deep in the forest.

Deep in the forest, he continuously used his senses to find demonic energy. He continued to walk deep in the forest for several hours until he saw an old tree. The tree was a bit different, it emanated a strong death aura and the ground below it was dark and without much grass. The leaves were dry as if the tree itself was dying. He saw the same type of trees not far away located at various spots. 

Actually, it was not his first time seeing this type of tree. It was not common to see one in the forest, but sometimes you will eventually run into one. Dying trees experience these changes, so this was a common phenomenon Ming Li was familiar with.

But at the moment that he was focusing his attention on the tree, He felt an energy swirling near it. The energy felt like it would devour him. His hair stood on one end and chills ran through his body. 

"Is this demonic energy? It feels dangerous and cold. Should I really absorb that thing?"

Ming Li's eyes went wide as he remembered something. "I suddenly remembered stories that demons eat humans to get stronger. Will I consume humans too? That would be totally disgusting!"

Ming Li became hesitant on trying to refine demonic energy because of the thought of him turning into a demon.

But soon he gathered up his courage and decided to do it. He sat crossed legged near the tree where the concentration of demonic energy was abundant.

He started to absorb the demonic energy like he would for natural energy. Instantly, he sucked the energy like a vacuum. His eyes slowly turned black as energy ravaged inside him. He contained the energy within his core and refined it. Sweats poured at his forehead as time passed by slowly. 

When the demonic energy near the tree was depleted, he suddenly opened his eyes. It was not black but instead it was glowing bright gold. He felt better and his wounds stopped bleeding. His breathing was calm as a lake and his core felt full of vigor.

"So this is how demonic energy feels like! the energy is wild and hard to suppress but it is basically the same as natural energy."

He stood up and smiled as he looked at the remaining trees with a bit of demonic energy at the surrounding and said "I'll squeeze this place dry!" 

He madly refined demonic energy from the forest. Chilling aura surrounded Ming Li as he absorbed vast amount of demonic energy.

Natural energy was not even being affected by his absorption of demonic energy. The natural energy stayed tranquil but the demonic energy raged and filled his core.

He lost track of time and even forgot about the fact that he was being pursued. He could not sense anything aside from demonic energy, all his focus was put into refining. The energy he was emitting soared and his skin felt ice cold. Every breath he took created a fog which will make someone think that Ming Li was locked in a freezing room. 

When he felt that the demonic energy was getting thinner, he absorbed more at astonishing speed trying to scoop out every last bit of demonic energy he can get. After a while, he opened his eyes and energy surged from it. Below him, the ground caved in and energy swirled from him. The swirling energy sounded like the screams of countless souls. It was sinister and dark, and when the energy reached its peak, it exploded! Boom!