Yāo (Demons)
Animals, plants, and even inanimate objects like lakes or mountains which somehow gain sentience and the ability to cultivate are called Demons. As one can imagine, Demons are the most abundant type of cultivator in all of Maha, much less the singular planet of Maailma.
Basic Information
Anatomy
All demons have two forms, a human form they gain in lower stages of Cultivation and their true form which resembles their origins. Their human form is often either very handsome or beautiful, even by human standards, and can (but don't always) have aspects of their origin showing through such as a dragon's scales or a tigers claws - though all demons can manifest parts of their true form as they wish. Their true form, in contrast is how they really look but are often more monstrous than mundane versions of their species - for example, a Yāo formed by an awakened rose would often be extremely large with poisonous thorns along its vines with a scent that can bewilder those whom smell it.
Biological Traits
In comparison to their mortal counterparts Yāo are generally much larger, a wolf demon is obviously different than a normal wolf even when in its true form. Like most other Cultivators, Yāo reproduce slowly compared to mortals of their kind - though this is only by comparison since most Demons reproduce far faster than other kinds of Cultivators. They possess extremely powerful bodies and naturally long lifespans in comparison to other races but reach adulthood and have estimated lifespans in a similar manner to their mundane cousins (a tree demon would mature slowly but live an extremely long time in comparison to a cat demon for example).
Genetics and Reproduction
Usually Yāo mate with members of their own sub-species, wolf demons with wolf demons for example, but this is more tradition than genetic since all cultivators can reproduce with each other - even across categories such as "Demon" and "Devil". With this tradition in place, however, it isn't rare to find a powerful Yāo to have a very large number of children of the same kind under their command in a manner similar to how Humans organize into clans based on bloodline.
Ecology and Habitats
Yāo is the most diverse category of Cultivator and thus their habitats vary greatly, reflecting their original forms. Aquatic Yāo such as Jiao, Fish, Turtle, etc prefer lakes, rivers, or even oceans while jungle Yāo like Monkeys prefer the trees and ariel Yāo are rulers of the skies.
Dietary Needs and Habits
What Yāo eat and their habits greatly depends on the demon in question, after all they technically need to eat very rarely after cultivating and don't need to at all at higher levels of Cultivation. Demons are more likely to give into their desires however, eating included and carnivorous Demons often greatly enjoy hunting, trapping, or even raising prey to feast on.
Biological Cycle
After cultivating Yāo don't need to follow the same instinctual changes to the environment like their mortal counterparts, but most still due out of habit. A bear demon will usually still hibernate despite not being affected by winter and migrational forms of Yāo will usually lead transitory existences and plant-based demons rarely leave their territory at all.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Yāo live by the rule of the jungle more than any other race of Cultivators, the strong rule over the weak - though whether or not they do so cruelly depends more upon their original race than the fact that they're Demons. Beyond that Yāo social structure depends more upon their sub-race than the fact they're Demons, creatures like wolves, dogs, or monkeys are highly sociable while others like sharks, spiders, or eagles tend to be more loners in nature.
Domestication
Despite their power, Yāo are often kept as pets and mounts by more powerful Cultivators. Often this is an insult, especially to more powerful Demons, but occasionally Yāo willingly become such servants for illustrious persons.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Every Yāo has a core within their body called hé, the equivalent to a Human Dantians. These hé contain the essence and Cultivation of Yāo and are often consumed by other Cultivators to increase their own Cultivation or are used to refine various treasures from alchemical pills to powerful weapons. In addition the rest of a Yāo's body is also a treasure due to the fact the race almost always refines their already powerful bodies during their cultivation methods making great ingredients for such treasures as well as being a great base for various forms of puppets.
Facial characteristics
Though all Cultivators are either beautiful or handsome due to the purification and refinement of heavenly energies perfecting them as they grow more powerful through Cultivation, Yāo hold an exotic kind of beauty due to the fact they oft display features of their true forms while in a human form such as scales, feathers, and fur or snake-eye pupils, cat ears, or wolf tails.
Average Intelligence
All Cultivators possess at least human-level intelligence, Yāo included. That said, the level of an individual demon's intellect varies greatly and like everything else depends on their original form - monkey demons are more clever than others while dragons are extremely wise and a bovine demon will be slow and easily angered in comparison.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
As Cultivators all Yāo have great perception but their original forms greatly influence such, for example a wolf demon would have much a greater sense of smell than most other Yāo, much less a Human (even one who cultivates). Likewise they also have Divine Sense which further improves their perception of the world around them, however their insights into the mysteries therein fall short to even the nearly extinct Human species.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Since all things can become Demons, it should be no surprise that many parasitic species such as fleas, louse, mosquitos, and the like also can awaken their ability to Cultivate and likewise will attach themselves to other Yāo who match their normal hosts. Such relationships can be utterly parasitic or mutually beneficial, such relationships are complicated and depend on both the sub-races involved and the relationships between the Yāo in question.
Average Physique
Yāo are the most naturally physically powerful of all Cultivators. Even without Divine Abilities a Demon can easily rival the average Human Cultivator who has a Natural Physique.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Yāo tend to keep coloration similar to their original forms, a Tiger Demon will oft have stripped patterns upon their skin for example. Such things are more a matter of taste than a requirement, however.
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