Category: Mistaken Era

Chapter 25

Although this half-way master and disciple pair agreed to take a walk after the meal to aid digestion, Cui Xiao Xiao was anxious and wished she could fly to the valley in an instant. Naturally, her footsteps were hurried.

Wei Jie was a bit puzzled and asked, “Is the thing you lost very important? You seem to be in a great hurry.”

Cui Xiao Xiao tugged at the chain connecting the two of them, urging Wei Jie to walk faster, and said in a tight voice, “Of course it’s important…”

Since she was sent to this era more than two hundred years ago by the statue of Zhu Jiuyin, her fate of ten calamities had reached its peak, and almost everything was going against her.

It didn’t matter if she was unlucky, but she absolutely could not implicate her master!

With this thought, her footsteps became even faster.

Suddenly, an arm stretched out to her slender waist, and then her entire body was lifted up by Wei Jie with one hand. The next moment, she heard the wind whistling in her ears. Wei Jie had actually picked her up and started running through the grass.

Xiao Xiao knew that Wei Jie at this time had not yet mastered the demonic arts, but she didn’t expect his movement technique to be so impressive.

She asked Wei Jie, distracted, if this was also self-taught.

Wei Jie explained, “I unintentionally saved a powerful expert, and he taught me the chant. After pondering for a few days, I mastered it.”

Xiao Xiao recalled that her master, Tang Youshu, had once mentioned that before Wei Jie was too deep into the demonic path, he had many acquaintances and learned many exotic techniques. His own comprehension ability was unmatched, and he integrated them into his own style.

If he hadn’t become a demon back then and had found a famous master, his cultivation achievements might not be underestimated. Within a hundred years, even ascending to immortality might not have been difficult.

Just looking at his current skills and cultivation, he was much better than her. She couldn’t really teach Wei Jie anything. His taking her as his master seemed to be more out of boredom and amusement.

While she was distracted, Wei Jie had already brought Xiao Xiao back to the valley where he had slain the snake.

At this time, the sky was getting dark, and the corpse of that big snake was still lying there motionless. The pungent and foul smell of snake blood permeated everywhere.

But strangely, even though it was such a large, rotten corpse, it did not attract other animals to gnaw on it. In this valley, there wasn’t even the sound of insects at night.

Xiao Xiao guessed that the snake venom of the Broken Soul Snake was too domineering, so even after its death, its lingering power remained, causing other snakes and insects to avoid it.

But that corpse-eating beast was another sinister existence. It ate all rotten flesh in the human world. The more poisonous and rotten the corpse, the more it liked it.

When there wasn’t enough rotten flesh, it would attract evil spirits and demons to create slaughter, piling up rotten corpses for it to enjoy.

With such a strong stench, why hadn’t it attracted the corpse-eating beast yet? And where was Master Tang Youshu? Did he unintentionally enter this valley as in the original trajectory?

At this moment, Xiao Xiao noticed that Wei Jie was staring intently at the snake’s belly, so she also looked over in the direction of Wei Jie’s gaze.

Although the valley was dark at this time, Xiao Xiao’s eyes were different from ordinary people’s. She immediately saw the abnormality of the snake’s belly.

It turned out that the snake’s belly looked bulging and seemed to be breathing, rising and falling in the dark night.

Did this snake… come back to life?

No! There was something in its belly!

Xiao Xiao quickly exchanged glances with Wei Jie. Wei Jie silently drew out his whip, and Xiao Xiao took out the water-transforming talisman from her bosom.

Just then, the snake’s belly bulged again, and an animal the size of a thin dog crawled out from the ruptured snake belly. It looked like a dog but wasn’t a dog, with a big head and a small body, and a large mouth full of fangs.

At this time, it was covered in sticky snake blood from head to toe. It licked the blood at the corner of its mouth while staring intently at Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie.

When it raised its nose to sniff the scent of the two people carried by the wind, its eyes seemed to burst with frenzied joy, as if seeing two pieces of excellent meat.

Just as Wei Jie swung his whip to strike it, it suddenly jumped into the stream beside it, rolled around, washed off the blood on its body, and became more transparent. It quickly disappeared from sight.

Xiao Xiao knew that this dog-like thing that could turn invisible was the corpse-eating beast! It indeed came, attracted by the big snake’s body, just like in the original timeline.

But… where was Master?

As the corpse-eating beast vanished, Xiao Xiao’s hair stood on end. She knew that the beast had not left but was hiding in some corner, eyeing her and Wei Jie like a tiger watching its prey.

Thinking of this, she casually raised the water-transforming talisman, conjuring a stream of water that formed a circular ring, encircling herself and Wei Jie. She then let the water ring gradually expand outward in all directions.

Perhaps it was because survival was too difficult in this era two hundred years ago, requiring back-to-back life-or-death situations. Xiao Xiao found that her ability to control water had become much more stable, and she could easily let the water ring move steadily.

Wei Jie couldn’t help but look down at his little master with approval and said in a low voice, “This water-controlling trick is not bad. When there’s time, I’ll have to ask Master to give me some pointers…”

If he weren’t the future Great Demon King, just based on this sweet little mouth, any master would have to teach him wholeheartedly!

Unfortunately, Xiao Xiao now only wanted to rescue her future benefactor and then break this damned Soul Locking Shackle, staying far away from the Great Demon King.

As for her and Wei Jie’s master-disciple relationship, which was as fragile as paper, she didn’t need to take it seriously at all.

At this moment, the water flow in the southeast corner was suddenly cut off by something. Under the impact of the water flow, the invisible corpse-eating beast that had been trying to approach the two finally showed itself!

That beast also seemed to feel that these two people were troublesome and needed some help. It bared its teeth and suddenly raised its head, howling and making a hissing sound.

The next moment, the ground cracked, and a plume of dark yellow smoke emerged. Then the smoke gradually gathered into the shape of the dead two-headed snake and coiled around the corpse-eating beast.

When the smoke swirled for a moment, the size of the corpse-eating beast suddenly increased several times, and its head gradually split into two.

Xiao Xiao gasped. She finally understood why the old matriarch of the Wei Family said that this corpse-eating beast would cause living beings to suffer.

It turned out that it not only gnawed on rotten flesh but also took possession of the soul power of the corpses and absorbed the power of the souls.

If this evil creature were allowed to wreak havoc in the human world, after devouring countless souls, how terrifying would the accumulated soul power be!

Although the beast had the soul of the Broken Soul Snake to enhance it, it did not rush towards the connected duo recklessly. Instead, like a cunning wolf, it wagged its snake-like long tail, crisscrossing its steps, moving back and forth, observing the two, as if slowly looking for flaws.

At this moment, a rustling sound suddenly came from the cliff, followed by a scream. Then, a person fell from high up on the mountainside.

That person was still holding a torch in his hand. When he fell, by some coincidence, the torch was thrown onto the corpse-eating beast.

The corpse-eating beast was burned by the fire and howled in pain. Then it shook its two heads and rushed straight towards the person who had fallen.

In the firelight, Xiao Xiao saw that the person seemed to be a fair-skinned scholar, wearing a scholar’s distinctive blue headband and holding a hoe for picking herbs in his hand.

This person was completely different from the master in Xiao Xiao’s memory.

After all, when Tang Youshu met Xiao Xiao, he was already over two hundred and twenty years old, with white hair and eyebrows, and a face full of walnut-like wrinkles. It was impossible to imagine what he looked like when he was young.

But the timing of this scholar’s fall was similar to that of Master Tang Youshu back then. Xiao Xiao immediately determined that the person who came was her benefactor.

Seeing the corpse-eating beast pouncing on the scholar, Xiao Xiao anxiously manipulated the water flow to act as a whip and fiercely lashed at the corpse-eating beast.

Perhaps it was because of her anxiety. This time, when Xiao Xiao was circulating her energy, she felt the qi from her dantian flowing through her meridians and condensing in her hand. The controlled water flow actually froze inch by inch.

In the end, an ice crystal longsword condensed in Xiao Xiao’s hand and fiercely struck one of the dog heads of the corpse-eating beast.

Success! She actually mastered the Ice Condensing Technique!

Xiao Xiao had no time to be happy. The corpse-eating beast, after being attacked, howled in pain and turned around to pounce on her and Wei Jie again.

Wei Jie and Xiao Xiao, this pair of half-way master and disciple, had no tacit understanding. One went left, and the other went right, each preparing to dodge. But being connected by that damned chain, neither of them managed to dodge and collided with each other again.

At this critical moment, Wei Jie finally used the Wei Family’s ultimate technique for capturing demons – the Beast Roar!

He opened his mouth and suddenly let out a low roar at the corpse-eating beast. That sound actually caused the snake soul coiled around the corpse-eating beast to dissipate like smoke.

Unfortunately, Wei Jie’s true qi cultivation was not enough, and the effect could not last long. In just a moment, the snake soul coiled around it again.

But that moment of preparation time was enough.

Seeing that the two heads of the corpse-eating beast were clearly biting towards her and Wei Jie, Xiao Xiao condensed an ice dagger in her hand again and fiercely stabbed it into the beast’s mouth.

And Wei Jie inserted the handle of the whip into the mouth of the corpse-eating beast.

At this juncture, Xiao Xiao saw Wei Jie actually hugging one of the beast’s heads with his arms. She steeled her heart and also imitated his posture, hugging the other beast head, twisting her hand to immobilize it.

At this moment, Wei Jie shouted at the scholar sitting on the ground, “Hey! Come over here!”

The scholar had been sitting on the ground in a daze, seemingly unable to come back to his senses. Only when he heard Wei Jie’s shout did he tremblingly get up.

“Lend me your mouth. Spit some yang qi into this beast’s mouth!” The corpse-eating beast had an addiction to eating rotten things but feared yang qi. Wei Jie knew this point, so he instructed as such.

Huh? The scholar seemed to be dumbfounded upon hearing it.

Wei Jie held the beast’s neck with force and shouted, “Hurry up! Otherwise, once it breaks free, it will kill us. By then, we will all become its meal!”

Hearing him say this, the scholar immediately perked up, mustered endless courage, and boldly stretched his neck to forcefully spit a few mouthfuls of breath into the beast’s mouth that was pried open by the whip.

Strangely, the beast seemed to be so nauseated by the scholar’s breath that it actually rolled its eyes in disgust. Then with a burst of strength, it broke free from Wei Jie and Cui Xiao Xiao. Like being drunk, it lay on the ground and started vomiting loudly.

As a result, the Broken Soul Snake meat it had just eaten was completely vomited out.

The corpse-eating beast, which couldn’t stop vomiting, quickly shrank like a deflated bag. With a swing of Wei Jie’s whip, its neck was tied up.

This corpse-eating beast only liked to eat rotten things and could not be tainted by human yang qi. After the soul power of the Broken Soul Snake dissipated, it turned into the appearance of a pug again. It didn’t turn invisible anymore and just raised its huge head, wagging its tail at Wei Jie in a fawning manner.

At this moment, Wei Jie heard Cui Xiao Xiao asking anxiously beside him, “How is it? Are you hurt?”

It could be heard that her voice was even tearful, truly filled with heartfelt anxiety.

Wei Jie knew that she must have been worried when he protected her just now.

He couldn’t help but smile and was about to turn around to tell Xiao Xiao that he was fine.

But when he turned his head, he saw that his master’s little face was full of heartache. She quickly ran towards that white-faced scholar who had been sitting on the ground in a daze…

Wei Jie was locked together with her and could only be dragged along by her with a long face.

Xiao Xiao rushed to the scholar’s side and helped the still dizzy scholar up. After confirming that he was only frightened and not seriously injured, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked softly, “May I ask… what is your esteemed surname, sir?”

The scholar had been sitting in a daze on a large rock since he fell, watching an amazing battle between humans and beasts. He was also forced to pass qi mouth-to-mouth to this ferocious monster. For a while, he was in a trance and couldn’t come back to his senses.

It wasn’t until Xiao Xiao dragged Wei Jie over and inquired about his well-being that he slowly wiped his sweaty forehead and cupped his hands in salute, “This humble one’s surname is Tang, given name Youshu. May I ask for the names of you two heroes?”

Hearing the scholar state his name as “Tang Youshu,” Xiao Xiao’s heart that had been in suspense finally settled down.

Thank the gods of all directions! She had finally arrived in time to save her master!

It’s just that her current master looked gentle and fair, pure and clean, seeming to overflow with a youthful aura, vastly different from the white-haired and wise old man in her memory.

But looking at his soft and jade-like gaze, it was exactly the same as the old man in her memory!

Xiao Xiao never thought that in her life, she would have the fortune to see her master again!

In an instant, she was overwhelmed with emotions. Her eyes unknowingly became moist. She respectfully helped Tang Youshu up and said softly to him, “Master… Mr. Tang, you really scared me to death just now…”

At this moment, a lazy voice came from the side, “The situation just now wouldn’t have killed anyone. If it weren’t for me, at most, you would have been eaten by the corpse-eating beast. Then your souls would not be able to ascend and would always be controlled by it.”

Wei Jie added unhurriedly from the side. Looking at his expression, he seemed to regret not seeing the exciting scene of people being eaten.

That Mr. Tang was quite responsive and quickly cupped his hands in salute, “This great hero’s skills are remarkable, well-versed in the way of capturing beasts. At a glance, he is no ordinary person! I have been visiting famous mountains and great rivers, wanting to find an immortal master. I didn’t expect to encounter a great person here…”

Saying this, Tang Youshu was so excited that he trembled. He knelt on the ground with a thud, “If the great hero doesn’t mind, I am willing to take the great hero as my master and learn the skills of subduing demons and eliminating monsters from you!”

Obviously, Wei Jie’s calm and bravery just now had moved the young scholar’s aspiration to improve himself, wanting to take him as his master.

These words were almost identical to what Tang Youshu said when he first met Wei Jie back then.

It’s just that this time, the Great Demon King Wei looked him up and down with a picky gaze and then mockingly said, “You don’t seem to have good aptitude and are not suited for cultivation. You’d better go elsewhere to seek a famous master!”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao was instantly stunned.

Because according to the memoir in her master’s secret manual, when Wei Jie accepted disciples back then, he did say that her master’s aptitude was not good. However, in appreciation of Tang Youshu risking his life to fight the corpse-eating beast for him, he still made an exception and accepted him.

But now, because of her appearance disrupting the course of events, Wei Jie was not in a desperate and helpless situation, and Master Tang Youshu’s merit of risking his life to save him was greatly reduced. Given Wei Jie’s temperament, he definitely would not accept a stranger as his disciple for no reason…

Seeing Tang Youshu’s disappointed and sad expression after being rejected, Xiao Xiao also felt quite uncomfortable.

Because she knew how much her master admired this demonic master of his.

He once said that he had no regrets in this life about taking Wei Jie as his master!

Thinking of this, Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but pull Wei Jie aside and whispered on behalf of her master, “…Since he sincerely wants to take you as his master, why don’t you accept him?”

Wei Jie was using his whip to lead the corpse-eating beast. Out of boredom, he kicked its butt with his foot. Hearing Xiao Xiao’s words, he half-raised his sword-like eyebrows. His pair of purple eyes seemed to be smiling yet not smiling as he inquired, “You are quite chivalrous, treating that scholar so well… Didn’t you say you dropped something in the valley? How come I don’t see you looking for it, but instead, you are inquiring about that scholar’s well-being? Could it be… that you lost a lover?”

What kind of nonsense is this! It’s simply an insult to the master and an unfilial act!

Xiao Xiao widened her eyes and said, “Bah! What lover! I feel a sense of familiarity with Mr. Tang at first sight. Looking at him, I feel that he is kind-hearted, like a father!”

Wei Jie nodded in sudden realization upon hearing this and turned his head to ask the young man who was still kneeling on the ground and refusing to get up, “Mr. Tang, how old are you this year?”

Tang Youshu quickly replied respectfully, “I am sixteen this year!”

Oh, so this father is actually a year younger than Sect Master Cui!

Wei Jie turned his head and glared at his master with a sidelong glance, silently accusing his master of recognizing the young as the old, which was really shameless!

Alright, Cui Xiao Xiao also couldn’t explain to Wei Jie this spontaneous father-daughter affection that far surpassed age limitations.

She cleared her throat and said to Tang Youshu, “Mr. Tang, there will be plenty of time in the future. You have seen too few sects now, so you think he is an exceptional talent. Perhaps in the future, you will meet a master more suitable for you… You will definitely have great achievements!”

These words obviously couldn’t comfort the hurt heart of the young Tang Youshu. He looked at Wei Jie in disappointment, his lips trembling, and even the corners of his eyes were moist.

Xiao Xiao couldn’t bear to see this. If she went back more than two hundred years and let her master feel heartbroken and sad, wouldn’t that be unfilial!

She pursed her lips and glared at her unruly disciple, “It’s just accepting a disciple! I, as the grand-master, agree! You can accept him for now! We’re taking this talent for our Talisman Sect!”

Wei Jie sneered and sized up Tang Youshu, who looked like a scrawny chicken. He gladly said, “Hurry up and thank your grand-master. Come, first kowtow to her!”

Tang Youshu looked at Cui Xiao Xiao in disbelief and quietly confirmed with Wei Jie, “This lady… is your master?”

Seeing Wei Jie nod, Tang Youshu immediately perked up and kowtowed to his grand-master, “Grand-master above, please accept this disciple’s bow!”

How could Cui Xiao Xiao dare to accept this life-shortening bow? She ran over and held his arm, “Our Talisman Sect is not particular about formalities and doesn’t follow these grand etiquette routines. You can just call me Xiao Xiao normally. There’s no need to call me grand-master!”

Huh? How can one be so disrespectful? Tang Youshu immediately shook his head like a rattle drum and repeatedly said, “How can this be done?”

But Wei Jie disrespectfully interjected, “Oh, not particular about formalities! Not bad… Xiao Xiao, see if the corpse-eating beast scratched my back.”

Cui Xiao Xiao didn’t want the Demon King to address her so intimately. She glared at him coldly and said, “You have to call me Master! Don’t call me by my name!”

Chapter 24

Actually, Wei Jie did subtly remind Cui Xiao Xiao under the table at first.

Considering that she had helped him burn the Golden Core, he couldn’t just watch the little beauty ruin her stomach.

But after seeing her eat a whole shrimp and still remain unharmed, he couldn’t be bothered to remind her anymore.

Wei Jie was also very curious about what background this so-called master of his had. Why did she seem so strangely out of place everywhere?

At that time, he had been drinking alone on the hillside for a long time when this girl seemed to appear out of nowhere and suddenly barged into his sight.

Could she really be a demon in disguise trying to sneak into the forbidden area of the Wei Family, as his grandmother suspected?

Wei Jie watched with interest, waiting to see what kind of demon his master was transformed from.

However, Cui Xiao Xiao was not as leisurely and relaxed. When people eat their fill, blood tends to flow to the stomach, and the brain also becomes drowsy and muddled.

Originally, it was a time to let out a belch and relax, but she had a knife placed at her neck instead.

Cui Xiao Xiao once again lamented that this era two hundred years ago was not a place for people to stay. Seeing her disciple Jie’er’s carefree demeanor of watching the show, Xiao Xiao knew she couldn’t count on him.

Her sluggish brain was forced to start clicking and whirring as she slumped in the chair, trying hard to think of a countermeasure.

But she had long been through the wringer and had been surrounded in street corners with her adoptive father countless times. Staying calm in chaos was a necessary tool for walking the jianghu.

When the knife was at her neck, no matter how flustered Xiao Xiao was in her heart, she still looked as calm and composed as ever on the surface.

Such a pretense actually made the Wei Family matriarch quite appreciative. She thought: If she wasn’t a demon, she really had the style of my younger days!

Xiao Xiao had also made up her mind: First, she couldn’t tell the whole truth. Otherwise, would she say that she had accidentally crossed over from two hundred years later? Then go on to describe in detail how this eldest grandson of the Wei Family became a demon king who brought calamity to the world and caused living beings to suffer, and then persuade the Wei Family to eliminate the harm for the world and kill him as soon as possible?

Hmm… Even Cui Xiao Xiao felt that this reality was too bizarre and would easily make people unable to accept it, leading to misunderstandings and endangering herself.

Since the truth was not good to tell, she had to embellish it a little, half true and half false.

Thinking of this, Cui Xiao Xiao said softly, “Because I was unwilling to marry the young pavilion master of Soaring Cloud Pavilion, I was framed by him and possessed by a Demon Bead, suffering the torture of yin poison day after day. Old Ancestor, if you kill me, so be it. Although I haven’t become a demon, I’ve been suffering. If I die, I can at least be spared a lot of pain… It’s just that I still have disciples waiting for me to return to the Talisman Sect. If I’m not there, won’t the sect’s inheritance be hopeless… Jie’er, your master’s mantle will depend on you from now on. Don’t worry, your master won’t blame your family for indiscriminately killing the innocent… After I die, you can chop off your master’s hand and free yourself.”

As she said this, she turned her head to look at her beloved disciple who was leisurely drinking wine on the side. Under the table, she tightly gripped the hand that was shackled together, her slender fingers desperately scratching his palm.

Damn unfilial disciple, he was actually watching the show so gleefully beside her!

Even considering their previous bond of going through life and death together, he shouldn’t be standing by idly like this. At the very least, a guest is a guest. Is this how the Wei Family treats their guests?

If it weren’t for the pain in his palm, just looking at his master’s slightly reddened eyes and her attitude of being tired of the mortal world, Wei Jie would have really thought she was upright and willing to die alone!

But before he could speak up to plead for mercy, his second uncle Wei Jingfeng beside him glared at him angrily, “It’s all because of you causing trouble. Without knowing her background, you took her as your master. Do you want to bring disaster to the Wei Family again?”

When Wei Jingfeng finished speaking, the elders of the Wei Family sitting beside him also unanimously glared at Wei Jie angrily. It was obvious that they also believed that this half-demon child who suddenly returned after leaving a few years ago wouldn’t bring anything good.

Wei Jie was already used to it. In the Wei Family, he had always been an oddity. Except for his grandmother, everyone regarded him as a fierce beast.

From this perspective, this girl who was desperately scratching his palm for help seemed to be cuter than the so-called relatives. If she was a demon, wouldn’t she be a perfect match for him, the half-demon disciple?

With a rebellious backbone, he stretched out his long arm and poured the remaining liquid in his cup into the flower bush beside him. Without even looking at his second uncle, he only said to his grandmother, “Whether she is human or demon has nothing to do with the Wei Family. I have already paid respects to my father. It’s time to leave. Since she is my master, naturally she won’t stay here either. Grandmother, take care!”

After saying that, he stood up, swung his arm, and brought up a gust of true qi, instantly shaking off the swords placed on Xiao Xiao’s neck.

Then, taking advantage of Xiao Xiao scratching his palm, he grabbed her delicate hand and pulled her to leave.

Caught off guard, Xiao Xiao stumbled as she was pulled by the tall man, crashing into his embrace.

Wei Jie looked lean, but he was actually all muscle. Xiao Xiao’s nose tip even hurt a bit from the impact.

“Stop right there!” The Wei Family matriarch called out to Wei Jie.

Then, the old matriarch slowly stood up, leaning on that gold crutch that was two heads taller than herself. She took short steps and came to Cui Xiao Xiao.

When she raised her hand, her wrinkled palm glowed with a faint silver light. When her palm approached Cui Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao’s exposed arm seemed to become transparent under the old woman’s palm light, even revealing the blood vessels and meridians hidden under her skin.

It seemed that this old matriarch had a unique ability. Her palm light could illuminate the meridians of the human body, which was truly amazing.

The old woman moved her palm unhurriedly. Even the parts of Xiao Xiao covered by clothes seemed to be thoroughly examined by her.

Finally, she slowly put down her palm, and the light in her palm scattered and disappeared like fireflies. Then she said, “Hmm… You didn’t lie, girl. There is indeed a Demon Bead lurking in your body… It seems to have fallen into deep sleep and is harmless for now, but if it stays in your body for too long, with your current cultivation, I’m afraid you won’t be able to suppress it and will be controlled by it… How did you come across this Demon Bead? I’ve lived for so long, but how come I’ve never sensed such a sinister Demon Bead causing chaos in the mortal world?”

Cui Xiao Xiao thought: Of course you don’t know. This Demon Bead was personally refined by your eldest grandson. No wonder it’s so evil!

But since the misunderstanding was cleared, she quickly said, “Old Ancestor, do you know of any way to force this Demon Bead out?”

The old matriarch squinted her eyes and stared at Xiao Xiao for a while, then smiled slightly and said, “Young lady, you haven’t told the whole truth, so this old body can’t help you for now… Just now, when I observed your meridians, the yin poison toxicity of that Demon Bead is not small. It has already spread to your entire body. Probably every twelve hours, you will have an attack. I have a few pills here that can suppress the toxicity. If you trust me, you can take them and see if they can temporarily prolong the onset of the toxicity.”

This old lady was not tall, seemingly weighed down by her shrewdness. She was very astute and immediately saw that Xiao Xiao’s words were reserved.

Cui Xiao Xiao knew that her half-true and half-false words couldn’t convince the old lady, but her willingness to give her medicine to suppress the toxicity indicated that she wouldn’t treat her as a demon for the time being.

So she quickly took the pills and sincerely thanked the old matriarch.

At this moment, the old matriarch turned around and waved her hand, ordering someone to bring over an inch-long, black and shiny coffin nail. She solemnly handed it to Wei Jie.

“Ah Jie, now that you are bound to her, you have the responsibility to monitor her. If she becomes a demon, remember the responsibility of the Wei Family to subdue demons and eliminate monsters. Don’t hesitate. You must immediately drive this soul-slaying nail into her Baihui acupoint. You mustn’t be soft-hearted!”

Xiao Xiao stared at that long coffin nail in shock, not knowing for a moment whether she should be angry with this shriveled old woman. After all, she had just kindly given her pills to take.

But discussing how to kill her in front of her, the person involved, wasn’t it a bit impolite?

However, after the Wei Family matriarch handed over the weapon, she smiled at her kindly, as if making up for the lack of etiquette.

Cui Xiao Xiao could only sigh in admiration and smile back at her, instructing her obedient disciple Jie’er to quickly put away the coffin nail. If it got dirty, it wouldn’t be good to use in the future.

But what the old lady really wanted to emphasize to Wei Jie was not as simple as killing his master to prove his way.

Seeing Wei Jie take the coffin nail, she continued in a gentle voice, “After all, your surname is Wei, and you have the responsibility of the Wei Family on your shoulders… A few days ago, a corpse-eating beast escaped. You take after your father and are best at capturing these exotic beasts. If you can help your second uncle catch it, I won’t have to worry anymore.”

When Wei Jie heard “corpse-eating beast,” he couldn’t help but glance at Wei Jingfeng and raised his eyebrows, “Impossible! The current head of the Wei Family has always been cautious and much more loyal to his duties than my father. Under his watch, how could a corpse-eating beast escape from the underworld?”

His words were obviously sarcastic, angering Wei Jingfeng so much that he widened his eyes again. But before he could scold him, he was interrupted by the Wei Family matriarch again.

She tapped Wei Jie’s forehead with her crutch and then said, “You, child! Can’t you see that your second uncle has a sharp tongue but a soft heart? Yet you always hold a grudge against him. I heard that you single-handedly killed the Broken Soul Snake in the deep valley. You indeed have your father’s demeanor back then… I thought, if you stayed and helped your second uncle find the corpse-eating beast sooner, you could also avoid a disaster for the living beings… Child, are you willing?”

Actually, the Wei Family matriarch didn’t really lack people to help. She just hoped that these uncle and nephew could work together and bury the hatchet. In her view, Jie’er was also grown up now. If the uncle and nephew could join hands and work together, resolving past misunderstandings, wouldn’t that be great?

Before Wei Jie could answer, Wei Jingfeng had already interjected, “Mother, there’s no need to use him for such a small matter. Your son will catch that beast as soon as possible. Let him leave if he wants to!”

The old matriarch couldn’t help but sigh: Because of the death of the eldest son, Wei Jingfeng inevitably held a grudge against that female demon, and by extension, he was also not very kind to this child. His discipline towards him was stricter than others.

When Ah Jie was young, it was fine. He didn’t understand anything. But when he grew up, he somehow learned about his own background and left Qilao Mountain in a fit of anger due to his second uncle’s strict punishment.

In a blink of an eye, seven years had passed. This little rascal had even changed his surname, clearly wanting to break ties with the Wei Family.

Wei Jingfeng was also holding a grudge in his heart and was even more unwilling to ask his nephew for help, letting the Wei Family matriarch’s persuasion fall on deaf ears.

Hearing Wei Jingfeng’s words, the corner of Wei Jie’s mouth curled up slightly. After paying respects to his grandmother again, he pulled Xiao Xiao and left without looking back.

Now it seemed that Wei Jie and his second uncle were still incompatible, mutually disgusted with each other.

The old matriarch sighed slightly, but her gaze couldn’t help but fall on the slender back beside her grandson.

That child Jie’er had always had a rebellious temperament and couldn’t get along with anyone. How come today, he seemed to be quite compatible with that Cui Xiao Xiao?

Could it be… that he, with a body full of rebellious bones, really took a young girl as his master?

As for Cui Xiao Xiao, who was being dragged along by Wei Jie, she was thinking about the “corpse-eating beast” mentioned in her master’s secret manual.

This creature was a fierce beast from the underworld. It liked to eat rotten things and could turn invisible, not easily noticed by people.

Wherever it went, it would attract all kinds of evil and treacherous beings due to its own yin energy, causing a disaster for the living beings in that area, and it would be able to feast to its heart’s content, lying in a pile of corpses and eating happily.

Back then, after Wei Jie was poisoned by the snake, he was resisting the toxicity in a cave. But the corpse of the Broken Soul Snake attracted the corpse-eating beast that had just escaped from the underworld.

Cui Xiao Xiao’s master, Tang Youshu, happened to be picking herbs in the valley of Qilao Mountain and saw the corpse-eating beast attacking Wei Jie, who was meditating.

He righteously stepped forward, wanting to help Wei Jie drive away the corpse-eating beast, but he was injured by it and almost died.

Fortunately, at that time, Wei Jie had already overcome most of the snake poison and took action to repel the corpse-eating beast. Wei Jie appreciated Tang Youshu’s help and later took him as his disciple…

Thinking of this, Cui Xiao Xiao shuddered – she thought of a fatal matter.

Now that the situation had changed and the big snake was dead, Wei Jie was not in the valley.

If that corpse-eating beast still behaved like it did more than two hundred years ago, attracted by the corpse of the Broken Soul Snake to devour the snake meat, wouldn’t Master Tang Youshu encounter it alone?

At this time, her master was still an ordinary person with little cultivation. In this case, wouldn’t the odds be against him!

It was a small matter that she unintentionally changed Wei Jie’s fate, but if she caused the death of her master, even if she hit a dead end, it would be difficult to atone for her sins!

Thinking of this, Cui Xiao Xiao hurriedly tugged at Wei Jie and said, “The old matriarch pleaded with you like this. How can you refuse? Time is of the essence. Let’s join hands as master and disciple and go find the corpse-eating beast together!”

Wei Jie raised his eyebrows and looked at her, thinking she was too chivalrous. One should know that the Wei Family had just held a knife to her neck a moment ago, yet at this moment, she was helping the Wei Family persuade him to help?

Thinking of this, Wei Jie raised his hand to scratch his head and said lazily, “They clearly said they don’t need me. Why bother making a fool of myself?”

He didn’t use his free hand to scratch his head, but the one shackled to Xiao Xiao.

As a result, Xiao Xiao, who was too short, was lifted up and had to jump to avoid dislocating her hand.

With one hand raised high, she was forced to hang on Wei Jie’s body and could only pound his hard chest with her hand, “Hey, can’t you use your other hand to scratch your head?”

Wei Jie laughed, revealing his pointed tiger teeth, and looked down at Xiao Xiao’s slightly flushed face with great pleasure.

No wonder that young pavilion master of Soaring Cloud Pavilion wanted to kidnap her. Although she looked only delicate and beautiful at first glance, not a seductive beauty, her big eyes that sparkled like autumn water and stars, and her perky nose, were all very pleasant to look at.

Especially when she glared at people, her lips slightly pouted, which was quite cute. Particularly when she was pretending to be polite to his grandmother just now, she was so slick that it made one want to pinch her face…

Xiao Xiao didn’t know what was going on in the mind of her beloved disciple. Now she only had one thing on her mind – to persuade Wei Jie to rush to the valley to save her master.

They were chained together and couldn’t be separated. If Wei Jie didn’t go, Cui Xiao Xiao couldn’t leave either.

Seeing that he had no intention of helping the Wei Family, Cui Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious. Just then, Wei Jie very naturally pulled her up, wanting to continue walking down the mountain.

Cui Xiao Xiao couldn’t take it anymore. She broke free from Wei Jie’s grip and said with a straight face, “Men and women should not have physical contact. How can you casually hold a girl’s hand?”

Wei Jie looked at the nail marks on his palm that hadn’t disappeared yet, then held his palm in front of Xiao Xiao, letting his master take a good look to see if these marks were from inappropriate physical contact.

Cui Xiao Xiao knew what he meant. Now she had no time to dwell on who had taken advantage of whom, so she quickly said in a deliberately gentle voice, “Good disciple, your master won’t be harsh on you anymore. But your master dropped something in that valley. It may have been lost when fighting the Broken Soul Snake. This thing is also important. I have to go back and find it!”

Wei Jie smiled as he watched his master’s face change like the weather. He then raised his head to sniff the wind blowing around them and said lazily, “Alright, I ate too much just now. It’s just right to take a walk to disperse the food…”

Chapter 23

After saying those words, Qin Lingxiao led the disciples of Soaring Cloud Pavilion down the mountain first.

Since the appearance of Cui Xiao Xiao disrupted the original trajectory of two hundred years ago and Wei Jie missed the opportunity to be poisoned by the Broken Soul Snake, Wei Jie would not amount to much in this life.

When Qin Lingxiao’s soul traversed back two hundred years and woke up, he found that the Demon Bead in his hand had already disappeared.

He had to hurry back and find that Demon Bead. Besides, he had the opportunity to live again. As long as he grasped it well, his cultivation might even surpass Wei Jie’s from two hundred years ago. It all depended on how he utilized these opportunities.

As for Cui Xiao Xiao, this dead girl repeatedly rejected his goodwill. She was really a stinky stone in the cesspit!

She wouldn’t yield? Fine, she probably didn’t know the power of the Soul Locking Shackles yet. Let her suffer!

He wanted to see if she would beg him to unlock the Soul Locking Shackles the next time they met…

When Cui Xiao Xiao saw him leave as soon as he said it, she shouted, “Hey! How can you leave just like that? At least leave the key behind!”

Unfortunately, Young Pavilion Master Qin left with an ethereal bearing. In the blink of an eye, he was gone without a trace.

The other three major sects saw that the leading Soaring Cloud Pavilion had left, so it was a bit boring for them to stay.

Some of those who wanted to save face left leisurely after throwing some vicious words at the head of the Wei Family.

When those outsiders were gone, Cui Xiao Xiao also planned to sneak away. But as soon as she moved, the shackles connecting her with Wei Jie rattled.

Cui Xiao Xiao remembered that she was under the Gold Consuming Curse and might be able to melt this chain that occasionally flashed silver.

But when she reached out to touch it, the silver chain didn’t budge at all. Moreover, when her hand touched the iron chain, she could feel the flow of energy in the chain, as if it were a living thing. It seemed to be made of no ordinary metal.

When Wei Jie tried to chop it with his sword, there was a clang, and his broken sword actually snapped.

Cui Xiao Xiao’s head ached again.

Damn Qin Lingxiao, he knew this thing was not easy to unlock, yet he shackled her together with the Great Demon King Wei. What was he thinking!

Seeing that it couldn’t be solved for the time being, Wei Jie tugged at Xiao Xiao’s arm and said, “Let’s leave here first.”

But before they could leave, they were stopped by the head of the Wei Family, Wei Jingfeng.

The burly man who looked like a Guardian King first glared fiercely at Wei Jie, then scrutinized Cui Xiao Xiao up and down sternly, and then spoke with dissatisfaction, “I heard just now, you… are Wei Jie’s master?”

Wei Jie intercepted before Xiao Xiao could speak, blocking in front of his second uncle, his face cold, “Today is my father’s memorial day. I just came to pay respects to my father. We’ll leave now and not disturb your peace.”

Wei Jingfeng seemed to be angered by this bastard child of the Wei Family. He widened his eyes and said in a deep voice, “Bastard, is this how you talk to your elders! If it weren’t for your grandmother asking me to save you, you should have been beaten badly by the Four Great Sects…”

Before he could finish his scolding, a trembling call came from the hillside, “Ah Jie, is that you who have come back? Grandmother misses you so much…”

A few sturdy middle-aged women were carrying a soft sedan chair, stepping on the grass and rushing over.

When the soft sedan chair was set down, an old woman who was only four feet tall jumped down from the sedan chair like a jumping bean.

This old woman had a head full of white frost, barely tying her hair in a bun at the back of her head. Her face was full of wrinkles, and her teeth seemed to have all fallen out.

She was short, but she wielded a phoenix-headed gold crutch that was even taller than her. Her movements were so agile that she looked like a dwarf performing on the street, quite ridiculous.

When the Guardian King Wei Jingling saw her, he quickly walked over, bent his tall waist, and respectfully called out to the short old woman, “Mother, I’m here. Why did you come?”

Cui Xiao Xiao watched from the side, dumbfounded – this short woman was actually Wei Jingfeng’s mother? How did she give birth to such a tall son like a Guardian King?

However, Wei Jingfeng called her mother, so this old woman was Wei Jie’s grandmother?

In the story of the Demon King that Cui Xiao Xiao knew before, there seemed to be no part where the Demon King acknowledged his relatives. The Wei Family had always distanced themselves from Wei Jie and never acknowledged that he had the surname “Wei”!

But why did the Wei Family come forward to help today, driving away the pursuers from the Four Great Sects for Wei Jie?

Very quickly, Cui Xiao Xiao learned the answer from the mouth of this old ancestor of the Wei Family.

The grandmother of the Wei Family tearfully asked Wei Jie to squat down, touched his long hair and cheeks, and checked that he was unharmed before she felt at ease. She then turned to Cui Xiao Xiao, who was also squatting beside them, and said, “Young lady, I heard what you said just now. Everyone says that Ah Jie has gone astray and steals things everywhere. I never believed he was that bad, but today it has been proven true. Just as you said, if someone takes his mother’s things without asking, what’s wrong with him taking them back? To be honest, it’s the incompetence of the elders of my Wei Family, allowing this child to be bullied by outsiders!”

Saying this, the old ancestor of the Wei Family seemed to recall her long-deceased eldest son again. With tears in her old eyes, she stroked her grandson Jie’er’s face over and over.

Xiao Xiao, who was locked together with Wei Jie, was also forced to squat down with Wei Jie earlier to listen to the short grandmother’s head-patting lecture.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao suddenly realized.

Just now, when she criticized the Four Great Sects for calling a deer a horse and defended Wei Jie, clearing his name of stealing without reason, that’s when the Wei Family stepped forward to help this renamed bastard child…

Oh no, it was because of her again that the past had changed!

For a moment, Cui Xiao Xiao had a feeling that something was going terribly wrong… How was Wei Jie’s path to demonhood getting more and more deviated? Could it be that she would really end up like Qin Lingxiao said, meeting a bad end for interfering with the heavenly secrets?

And at this moment, the old grandmother carefully looked Cui Xiao Xiao up and down with a smile, and then said, “Since you are locked together with my grandson, come to the Wei residence first and see if there is a way to unlock it.”

When the old grandmother spoke, even the head of the Wei Family had to obey. Although Wei Jingfeng didn’t seem very happy to let Wei Jie up the mountain, he could only stand aside and let the grandmother and grandson reunite.

As the newly appointed master of the prodigal son of the Wei Family, Cui Xiao Xiao also received a proper and polite reception from the Wei Family.

Cui Xiao Xiao knew that the Gold Consuming Curse was still on her body and she still couldn’t touch gold or silver. Now that she was alone, without the help of her fellow disciples, eating was a big problem.

Since she could freeload on the Wei Family’s food, she might as well eat her fill first before anything else.

Wei Jie was unwilling to have any ties with the Wei Family and always had a cold look towards his second uncle.

But he seemed unable to be ruthless towards that dwarf matriarch, and could only please the old lady first and sit in the Wei residence for a while.

When it was time to eat, Wei Jie was a bit surprised by his master’s good appetite. He saw that Xiao Xiao’s small face was buried in a big bowl.

If he remembered correctly, she should have already eaten three bowls.

It seemed that even with one hand forced to be shackled to his, it did not affect this girl’s appetite.

Cui Xiao Xiao had been eating in the wild on this journey. Although she had a few full meals in Fei County, they were just ordinary home-cooked meals.

She had always been cautious and didn’t start eating at first. Only when she saw the Wei Family grandmother eating did she pick up her chopsticks and start.

But to be cautious, she initially picked a lot of dishes for Wei Jie, letting him taste them for poison first.

But in the eyes of others, it was truly a virtuous master and a filial disciple, a harmonious sight.

After feeling at ease, Xiao Xiao could enjoy the delicacies with peace of mind.

The dishes of the Wei Family were made with unknown precious ingredients. The shrimp served were as long as forearms, and the fish were big-bellied and fresh, making Xiao Xiao’s appetite soar. No matter how much she ate, she couldn’t get enough.

The man beside her seemed to be kicking her leg under the table because of her unrefined eating. She felt irritated just looking at Wei Jie. After glaring back at him, she continued to fill her stomach first.

After finishing the third bowl, she slowly leaned back in her chair, thinking: No matter what, she couldn’t become a hunger ghost in this era two hundred years ago!

The dwarf grandmother actually liked Xiao Xiao’s informality. She had someone bring out some fruits after the meal, then squinted her eyes hidden in wrinkles and said with a smile, “My Demon Subduing Wei Family has always inherited the responsibility of guarding the underworld. Because we shuttle between the two realms and traverse between yin and yang, we must adjust our own yin energy. The ingredients we eat are also a bit special. All members of the Wei Family have to eat extremely yin things from a young age to adapt bit by bit. Like the fish and shrimp you ate just now, young lady, they were nurtured in the River of Forgetfulness near Fengdu. Ordinary people would vomit incessantly and even faint after eating a few bites. But you ate so much without any reaction… It seems that your divine powers are truly extraordinary!”

Saying this, the old woman slightly raised her head, and the eyes hidden in wrinkles suddenly burst with a sharp light, “Young lady, I sensed early on that you have a faint demonic aura. I wonder what’s going on?”

When she finished speaking, the kindly smile of an elder on the old woman’s face had long disappeared, and the murderous aura in her eyes made people afraid to look directly at her.

Although she was just a four-foot-tall old woman, at this moment, her aura felt like a Chihuahua transforming into a lioness.

Cui Xiao Xiao smacked her lips and finally understood why Wei Jie had been kicking her leg under the table.

The food of the Wei Family was really not easy to put in one’s mouth!

As soon as the old woman’s words fell, the Wei Family guards around them also drew their swords and held them at Cui Xiao Xiao’s neck.

The Wei Family guarded Qilao Mountain, suppressing thousands of demons and monsters from the underworld. If a demon sneaked in and lifted the seal guarded by the Wei Family, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Although the current head of the Wei Family was Wei Jingfeng, the actual person in charge was this shriveled old matriarch.

She had sensed early on the unusual demonic aura on this girl. That’s why she had someone bring the fish and shrimp nourished by the waters of the River of Forgetfulness to test this girl.

This test indeed revealed something strange! She actually didn’t fear the yin coldness and ate so much in one go!

At such a young age, what a pity for her clever appearance. She had already become a demon! What exactly was the background of this little girl who called herself the Sect Master of Lingshan Talisman Sect?

Wei Jie beside her leisurely drank a cup of wine. When Cui Xiao Xiao glared at him with big eyes, he even infuriatingly raised his cup to her and then drank the fine wine again with a tilt of his neck.

It couldn’t be blamed on him. He had almost kicked her shoes off earlier, but he still couldn’t stop her from feasting.

Chapter 22

 

At this moment, Xiao Xiao didn’t have time to care about the strange look in “Jie’er’s” eyes. Taking advantage of the shock caused by the cowhide drum she just set up, she wanted to strike while the iron was hot and persuade the Four Great Sects to retreat.

 

After all, they had already taken back the Golden Core, and Wei Jie had not yet become the Demon Lord, so there wasn’t enough public outrage. Except for Qin Lingxiao, whose soul had traversed back, probably no one would insist on killing someone for stealing the Golden Core.

 

As soon as she spoke, it indeed shifted everyone’s attention.

 

Seeing that Cui Xiao Xiao’s words had taken effect, the other elders cast strange glances, silently accusing Soaring Cloud Pavilion of sitting idly by.

 

Qin Lingxiao sneered in his heart once again: This Cui Xiao Xiao, so many cunning tricks! She was trying to divert trouble and provoke everyone’s dissatisfaction with Soaring Cloud Pavilion.

 

But the other three sects were really just a bunch of rabble, completely useless! If it were two hundred years later, he wouldn’t need the help of these people at all. He alone could deal with the Wei Jie in front of him.

 

As for the other three sects’ dissatisfaction with Soaring Cloud Pavilion, Qin Lingxiao didn’t take it to heart either. He was used to being the lord who looked down on the world, and had long been accustomed to looking down on all living beings. He couldn’t learn to be cautious and please others everywhere.

 

So, despite the strange looks from the other cultivation sects, Qin Lingxiao maintained his usual coldness, his expression indifferent, standing there steadily without saying a word.

 

Now, his calm demeanor made the other elders even angrier, thinking: The young pavilion master of Soaring Cloud Pavilion is actually such a cunning fellow, used to ordering others around!

 

Thinking of this, the other elders also called back their disciples and stopped fighting. After all, their own old weaknesses had been exposed one by one. If they continued fighting, who knows what other ways to break through that Sect Master Cui of the Talisman Sect could see.

 

They had to hurry back and repair the loopholes in their own techniques. Otherwise, if their enemies took advantage of them, the consequences would be unimaginable.

 

The elder of Ebony Peak was the first to say, “Sect Master Cui, since you said you will properly discipline your disciple, let’s stop here for today. The Golden Core has been retrieved. We shouldn’t waste time here. After all, there are still sect affairs waiting for everyone. Come, let’s divide the Golden Core and each return!”

 

Upon hearing this, Cui Xiao Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that she had finally passed this hurdle…

 

But before she could catch her breath, her obedient disciple Jie’er suddenly swung the long whip around his waist. With a snap, the whip actually attacked from a tricky angle, wrapping around the cloth bag in the hands of the Ebony Peak elder.

 

The cloth bag flew into the air and happened to fall into Cui Xiao Xiao’s hands.

 

Wei Jie’s force was very strong, and the cloth bag was also ripped apart. The Golden Cores rolled out from the torn cloth bag and touched Cui Xiao Xiao’s palm…

 

The power of the Gold Consuming Curse was still there. The Golden Cores instantly turned to ashes, blown everywhere by the wind…

 

Wei Jie originally wanted to snatch back the Golden Cores to threaten and force everyone to retreat, so they could leave smoothly.

 

Unfortunately, the cloth bag fell into Cui Xiao Xiao’s hands. He never expected that his half-way master was so righteous. She used some technique to directly grind the Golden Cores to ashes, eliminating future troubles.

 

He couldn’t help but give Xiao Xiao a thumbs up – worthy of being his master, doing things thoroughly, leaving no way out!

 

Now, the orthodox cultivators who were ready to leave with dignity all widened their eyes, wishing they could strangle this damned master-disciple pair to death.

 

Cui Xiao Xiao was also dumbfounded, smiling awkwardly at everyone, “Um… this… actually I didn’t do it on purpose. Please listen to my explanation…”

 

This batch of Golden Cores was related to the cultivation advancement of the powerful experts in the major sects, the result of ten years of painstaking effort. They were actually turned to ashes by that Sect Master Cui of some Talisman Sect. It was really infuriating!

 

At this moment, Qin Lingxiao gave his attendant beside him a look without any expression.

 

Now was the perfect opportunity. Many orthodox cultivation sect disciples had gathered, and Cui Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie were one more unrestrained than the other.

 

Now that they had provoked public outrage, as long as they were attacked with full force, Wei Jie would either die or be severely injured.

 

Since the Broken Soul Snake was already dead, Wei Jie no longer had the fortune to become a demon.

 

Cui Xiao Xiao thought that only she could see the flaws of other sects? Just now, Qin Lingxiao had imperceptibly observed Wei Jie’s moves and also saw that his cultivation was insufficient and his true qi was hard to sustain.

 

This former master of his was indeed a natural genius. Just relying on unorthodox methods, he was already not to be underestimated. It’s a pity that his cultivation was insufficient and hard to continue!

 

This time, he wouldn’t even give Wei Jie a chance to become a demon. Let Wei Jie die among the common people, weak and powerless…

 

The disciples of Soaring Cloud Pavilion looked at Qin Lingxiao and immediately understood when they saw the young pavilion master’s signaling gaze. They provocatively wanted to rush towards Wei Jie again.

 

The head of the Demon Subduing Wei Family, Wei Jingfeng, did not move. Two identical girls suddenly jumped out from behind him. They looked like a pair of twins.

 

They were also wearing silver armor, but in their hands… were long, coffin nail-like spikes.

 

When they jumped in front of Wei Jie, blocking the disciples of Soaring Cloud Pavilion who pounced over, the twins’ identical faces were expressionless, their eyes even a little hollow, exuding an indescribable eeriness.

 

How could those few disciples take a little girl seriously? Seeing them coming to block, they immediately circulated their qi, ready to shake off the two little girls. Wonderful Immortal Mountain and Soaring Cloud Pavilion had always gotten along well. Seeing Soaring Cloud Pavilion take action, the disciples of Wonderful Immortal Mountain also set up qi shields to assist.

 

The qi gathering technique of Wonderful Immortal Mountain was to collect the qi of surrounding living beings and make it their own. So their qi shields were unmatched in the world. The qi flow in the void twisted and quickly formed qi shields, ramming straight towards the two little girls.

 

Just when everyone thought the two little girls would definitely be blown away, the two little girls acted at the same time, leaping into the air.

 

They raised the coffin nails in their hands and stabbed towards the qi shields. At the same time, their other empty hands grabbed in the void, and half a black, muscular ghost claw suddenly appeared in their hands.

 

The ferocious ghost claw moved its black, sharp claws, then clenched into a fist, like a hammer, letting the little girl swing it and smash it towards the coffin nail.

 

With two sharp, ear-piercing “clang” sounds, the coffin nails were actually hammered into the qi shields by the hammer-like ghost claws.

 

The originally formless qi shields actually showed obvious cracks. In the gaps, crimson blood even flowed out. Where the cracks opened, it was like opening the gates of the underworld. It seemed like countless wronged souls were wailing and crying…

 

The wailing and the lingering impact sounds mixed together, making everyone cover their ears and retreat continuously.

 

The disciples of Soaring Cloud Pavilion still wanted to show off. They raised their qi swords and were about to stab. The two little girls raised the ghost claws in their hands again in unison and attacked their faces with the coffin nails.

 

Those few Soaring Cloud Pavilion disciples were hit squarely. The next moment, their souls were visibly knocked out of their physical bodies, leaving only their dumb, wooden bodies, maintaining their original postures without moving…

 

Fortunately, the elder of Wonderful Immortal Mountain knew a little about ghost and god arts. He hurriedly rushed over and pressed their soul-returning acupoints while silently chanting incantations to guide their departed souls back.

 

The next moment, these few disciples with separated souls woke up pale-faced and sweating all over, but they collapsed to the ground trembling like a sieve, powerless.

 

The elder of Ebony Peak Qi Sect saw this and his face greatly changed. He said in a low voice, “This… could it be the Ghost Summoning Technique of the Wei Family!”

 

As the Demon Subduing Wei Family guarding the border between the living and the dead, their signature skill was the ability to control ghosts, strip bones and souls, and reverse yin and yang.

 

These two little girls were young, but their Ghost Summoning Technique was already so impressive. The strength of the other members of the Wei Family was even more not to be underestimated.

 

If they really pushed this family to desperation, they could do anything. They only needed to open the gates of the underworld to overturn the world and make the living beings of the nine states suffer.

 

Wei Jingfeng let the two little girls take action, also intending to sound a warning. Now, no one dared to look down on the Wei Family and casually challenge them.

 

Back then, with his elder brother’s matter, the Wei Family was indeed in the wrong. As a family of demon subduing for generations, every generation’s head carried a heavy responsibility. But his elder brother was bewitched by the female demon and nearly caused a catastrophe.

 

Fortunately, he finally remembered the responsibility of the Wei Family members and was willing to atone with his death. Regarding this, the Wei Family members could only acquiesce and not interfere.

 

But the Four Great Sects actually thought that forcing Wei Jingling to death was their own accomplishment! Did they think the Wei Family members closed their doors and didn’t come out because they feared the power of the Four Great Sects?

 

Now that the Four Great Sects were stepping on their faces and provoking them again, if they didn’t show them some severity, they would really think the Wei Family members were just tomb keepers.

 

Of course, not everyone in the Four Great Sects was ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. For example, the elder of Ebony Peak knew the reason why the Wei Family members were not to be provoked.

 

Seeing that Soaring Cloud Pavilion and Wonderful Immortal Mountain had been slapped in the face, the elder of Ebony Peak came out to smooth things over, “These junior disciples don’t recognize the head of the Wei Family. Please forgive them. Since you have come out to vouch for him, we should naturally forgive Wei Jie once. We just hope that he will mend his ways in the future and not commit crimes again… Young Pavilion Master Qin, now that things have come to this, we should each return. After all, Qilao Mountain is the intersection of yin and yang. Too much killing may disrupt the balance of yin and yang, which is really inappropriate.”

 

Qin Lingxiao, having experienced a hundred years, had personally experienced the disaster of the gates of the underworld nearly opening back then. He just didn’t expect the Wei Family to be so unfathomable.

 

If such a Wei Family was silently wiped out in one night back then, the consequences of the gates of the underworld opening were unimaginable…

 

But after the gates of the underworld opened back then, it seemed to have only massacred the entire Wei Family. After Wei Jie was killed, phoenixes circled and cried mournfully at the Phoenix Pool, releasing heavenly fire and burning a hundred miles around Qilao Mountain. The opened gates of the underworld also closed as a result.

 

Although some demons and monsters escaped, Qin Lingxiao led the Four Sword Sects to subdue demons and eliminate monsters everywhere, gradually exterminating them.

 

And it also accumulated countless prestige for his world’s number one sword sect.

 

But now thinking carefully, the gates of the underworld were suddenly opened and closed abruptly that year.

 

During this period, it seemed that only Wei Jie alone went up Qilao Mountain. What happened was only known to him alone.

 

Now, not only he had crossed back two hundred years, but Cui Xiao Xiao was also the biggest variable.

 

Cui Xiao Xiao actually took in Wei Jie as a disciple. This was really like a mouse taking a cat as its master, not wanting to live!

 

Moreover, in his previous memory, when Wei Jie was chased to the foot of Qilao Mountain by the Four Great Sects for stealing the Golden Core, the Wei Family members never showed up from beginning to end, letting the people of the Four Great Sects beat Wei Jie off the cliff!

 

Why was there such a big change this time when time flowed backwards for the same event? Qin Lingxiao really disliked the feeling that the current state of affairs was not under his control.

 

Thinking of this, Qin Lingxiao made up his mind to take away Cui Xiao Xiao, the biggest variable. He absolutely couldn’t let her stay by Wei Jie’s side.

 

But looking at her appearance, she was getting along with the demon quite well. It seemed she wouldn’t leave with him.

 

Thinking of this, while everyone’s attention was on the Demon Subduing Wei Family members, he suddenly leapt up, approached Xiao Xiao, and at the same time, a pair of black iron chain shackles appeared in his hand. One end of it snapped and locked onto one of Cui Xiao Xiao’s wrists.

 

These shackles had some tricks. They were called Soul Locking Shackles. As the name implies, once locked, without the spiritual key, one would be locked to death. No blade could chop them open.

 

These chains were usually used to lock demons. Qin Lingxiao was afraid that Cui Xiao Xiao would not be willing to go with him, so after locking Cui Xiao Xiao, he planned to lock the other end to his own wrist.

 

But before he could lock it, Wei Jie pulled Xiao Xiao again, helping her stretch out her hand to block. As a result, during the grappling and exchanging of moves, Qin Lingxiao made a mistake while blocking and locked the other end onto Wei Jie’s wrist…

 

When Wei Jie pulled Cui Xiao Xiao back, Xiao Xiao was dumbfounded seeing the shackles connecting her and Wei Jie. She turned to Qin Lingxiao and said, “What are you trying to do? Why did you lock me and him together?”

 

Qin Lingxiao’s Yintang acupoint also turned a little black. He could only grit his teeth and say, “If you come with me, I will unlock the shackles. Otherwise, you can only sever your own arm to be separated from him.”

 

Cui Xiao Xiao found that Sect Master Qin doesn’t know how to speak without threatening others. Before she could answer, Wei Jie said, “Why is the gentleman so obsessed with my master? For what reason?”

 

Qin Lingxiao snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, “The Wei Family may have protected you, but they didn’t protect this woman. She stole something important from me and hasn’t returned it yet. This is a personal grudge between me and her. The gentleman has no right to interfere!”

 

Cui Xiao Xiao was so angry that she almost laughed at Qin Lingxiao’s words. In this reverse flow of two hundred years, Sect Master Qin’s appearance had become more childish, but how did his skin become thicker?

 

What did she steal from him? Could it be that Demon Bead?

 

But Wei Jie looked at Qin Lingxiao coldly and said, “My master said that someone shameless wanted to forcibly marry her. I think… could it be the gentleman, using the name of capturing thieves to do the deed of kidnapping a beauty?”

 

Xiao Xiao was also infuriated to death. She even casually replied, “Jie’er, this… you saw through it too?”

 

Qin Lingxiao’s handsome face turned red with anger again. He never thought that in just a moment after returning to two hundred years ago, Cui Xiao Xiao would even have the spare time to talk about this matter with the demon.

 

Were she and Wei Jie intimate friends separated for two hundred years? They talked about everything!

 

But it was a fact that he had proposed to Cui Xiao Xiao before. The proud self-esteem of the former number one sword sect in the world would not allow Qin Lingxiao to lie in front of Cui Xiao Xiao.

Wei Jie was just saying it casually, but seeing this young man from Lingyun Pavilion getting angry with a cold and solemn face but not refuting, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

He couldn’t help but size up this young man, thinking: How old is this kid? He’s actually thinking about getting married? Lingyun Pavilion is used to producing wine sacks and rice bags who are confused by lust, but this so-called young pavilion master is too outrageous!

Qin Lingxiao saw the look in Wei Jie’s eyes as he sized him up, as if looking at a scoundrel, making him even more stifled and intolerable.

The two, who originally had a master-disciple relationship, were now staring at each other in this chaotic two hundred years ago, seeming unable to continue their ill-fated master-disciple relationship this time…

Cui Xiao Xiao took this opportunity to purse her cherry lips in front of the Four Great Sects and said loudly to Qin Lingxiao, “Listen well, I will not marry you. Give up and don’t pester me anymore!”

As soon as these words came out, everyone was surprised in their hearts! Especially the female disciples present. Who doesn’t know that the young pavilion master of Lingyun Pavilion is gentle and refined, a young master like a banished immortal?

Unexpectedly, in private, he would also pester a woman relentlessly…

Qin Lingxiao’s cheeks were now flushed red with anger, really looking like a young man whose courtship was rejected.

He knew that with the Wei Family backing them, he couldn’t capture these two and temporarily couldn’t take Cui Xiao Xiao away. He didn’t need to get into a verbal dispute with them here.

He said to Cui Xiao Xiao with a gloomy face, “Fine, since you love being with him so much, I’ll grant your wish. If you regret it, don’t come crying to me! You’re on your own! Remember, those who leak heavenly secrets will not have a good end!”

 

Chapter 21

Xiao Xiao regretted it. She shouldn’t have returned the Golden Core to Wei Jie without knowing the reason behind it.

If it were anyone else, they would never let their mother’s painful and bloody tears become a nourishing delicacy in someone else’s mouth!

Xiao Xiao knew that at this moment, she should have drawn a clear line with Wei Jie early on, but when she looked at him, she seemed to see an unknown pain in his seemingly calm purple eyes.

Xiao Xiao, who lost her parents early just like Wei Jie, still didn’t succumb to reason. Her mouth automatically made the decision, and she slowly said, “I don’t know if you asked for permission or just took it without asking when you used someone’s mother’s blood to refine pills. If it was a gift from someone, but they changed their mind and wanted it back, even if you’re in the right, there’s no need to call for violence. But if you took it without asking, it’s stealing.”

She raised her head and asked her disciple loudly, “Is your mother willing to give her blood to the people of the Four Great Sects for pill refinement?”

Wei Jie didn’t expect his little master to be so bold, daring to say such irrelevant words to confront the people of the Four Great Sects.

He looked at Cui Xiao Xiao with a hint of laughter in his eyes and said lightly, “The enemy who forced my husband to death is irreconcilable. How could there be any reason to give it to them?”

Cui Xiao Xiao nodded and said, “You see, they are unwilling to give it, but considering your hard work in refining pills, they still returned the Golden Core. Such a righteous person, and you famous orthodox sects still want to label them as thieves? What kind of reasoning is this? Do you want the world to know that you are thieves?”

This… The people of the Four Great Sects were so angry that they almost rolled their eyes.

A demon woman’s blood, just take it if you want. Why do you need to ask her permission?

Do you need to go to the pig pen and ask the fat pig if it’s willing to be slaughtered every time before eating pork?

This wild chicken Sect Master is obviously trying to stand up for her wayward disciple.

Some people were already angry from being drenched in the rain, and after hearing Cui Xiao Xiao’s forceful words of reason, they became furious: Such a demon-born scourge, everyone should kill them. Why waste words with them!

So, except for Soaring Cloud Pavilion, the disciples of the other three major cultivation sects angrily surrounded them, ready to capture this pair of thieving master and disciple together!

Cui Xiao Xiao found that no matter how many hundreds of years apart, some orthodox sects are the same, unreasonable and barbaric. As long as they consider themselves righteous, they can shout and kill anything they don’t like.

Before being beaten by them, Xiao Xiao quickly whispered an apology to Wei Jie. She didn’t know the story behind the Golden Core. If she had known earlier, she would never have handed it over to the people of the Four Great Sects.

Wei Jie looked at Xiao Xiao with some surprise. This little girl was actually very clever. She should have guessed his intention of deliberately calling her master loudly was to drag her into troubled waters.

Unexpectedly, she just said the reason for stealing the Golden Core, but she seemed to empathize with him very much, with tears in the corners of her eyes, and even spoke up for him, offending the Four Great Sects…

From this perspective, the little girl’s brain was actually not very bright… Since she was foolish, she shouldn’t be beaten anymore. Otherwise, he was afraid that she would be sold in the future and even help others count the silver.

Thinking of this, Wei Jie swung his whip again, blocking the attackers once more. While blocking, he whispered to Xiao Xiao, “Find a chance and escape!”

If it wasn’t for the urgency of the situation, Xiao Xiao would have been amused by this guy. If he hadn’t stopped her just now, shouting “Master, don’t be afraid”, she would have fled long ago!

However, it seems that her refutation of the Four Great Sects’ words on his behalf just now has awakened this demon’s conscience, and he no longer intends to drag her along to be beaten.

Because of Wei Jie’s obstruction, Xiao Xiao successfully retreated and leisurely moved behind Wei Jie, away from the attacking crowd.

But seeing more and more people attacking Wei Jie, Xiao Xiao hesitated – should she just leave him alone here? Would he be beaten off the cliff again?

This time, there is no Broken Soul Snake waiting for him. He might die from serious injuries at the bottom of the cliff.

Although this demon will eventually die, if he dies too soon, how can she find the statue of Zhu Jiuyin? How will she return to two hundred years later then?

As she was thinking, she saw Wei Jie turn his head in the crowd, staring at her and silently mouthing, “Why aren’t you leaving quickly!”

This guy, he still has the time to care about her… Xiao Xiao had been wandering the streets since she was a child, acting on her own nature. It was precisely because of Wei Jie’s look back that she made up her mind not to abandon Wei Jie and run away alone.

No matter what, he is also the respected master of her master Tang Youshu, so he counts as half a grand-master to her!

Grand-master, your disciple will save you for a while…

Of course, even if Xiao Xiao was righteously charging ahead, she would never personally take action. Because she was clear about her current strength. Although she could transform water into talismans, she couldn’t continuously fight against the various cultivators.

However, back then, although these Four Great Sects were mighty and powerful, they all ended up being defeated by Wei Jie.

No matter how powerful the techniques are, there will be weaknesses and flaws. If you know where the flaws are, it will be much easier to confront them.

Coincidentally, Wei Jie had thoroughly studied these Four Great Sects that were a thorn in his side back then, and her master Tang Youshu had recorded the weaknesses and flaws of the Four Great Sects summarized by Wei Jie in that thick autobiographical secret manual.

Xiao Xiao had glanced over it before, but these Four Great Sects were all perished sects, so naturally, she didn’t pay much attention to it.

At this critical moment, it seems that the book indeed contains a golden house!

Xiao Xiao touched the secret manual wrapped in oiled paper in her bosom, took it out leisurely, and read two pages – okay! Enough to use!

When she raised her head again to examine the moves of those attacking disciples, there were indeed loopholes everywhere, simply unable to withstand a single blow.

After all, the ones fighting were disciples of the various sects with low cultivation. The flaws of the sects appeared even more obvious.

Although the young Wei Jie’s movements were agile, he was cultivating unorthodox methods after all and hadn’t fully developed yet. At this time, his body had been cut by Qi swords and Qi knives in many places, bleeding profusely.

Xiao Xiao knew he couldn’t hold on for long and immediately reminded loudly, “Pay attention to the area between the Dihu and Xuanmu acupoints on the faces of the disciples of the Sect of the Heavenly Heart. That’s where they breathe and circulate Qi. Once that area bulges, it’s when the Thunderbolt Palm is about to strike… Also, don’t directly clash with the Qi knives of Ebony Peak. The force of these Qi knives has three stages. Those disciples have poor coordination between the second and third stages. As long as you dodge one stage, you can find an opening to disrupt their rhythm! Ah, the Qi shield of Wonderful Immortal Mountain! Don’t bother with them. This defensive style of fighting, just wait until their Qi is exhausted and the shield is thin before attacking.”

At this time, the ones attacking Wei Jie were precisely the disciples of the three major sects: Sect of the Heavenly Heart, Ebony Peak, and Wonderful Immortal Mountain.

As for the disciples of Soaring Cloud Pavilion, they were constantly stopped by Qin Lingxiao, who let them not join the fight for now, watch from the sidelines, and only go for the final blow at the end.

Wei Jie listened to Cui Xiao Xiao’s reminder. It was truly a few words that awakened him from a dream. He also changed his strategy accordingly.

He was born clever and was able to draw inferences from one example. During the fight, he comprehended the points Xiao Xiao mentioned.

So he switched from whip to sword, holding that broken sword according to Xiao Xiao’s instructions, avoiding their sharp edges and finding the breathing flaws of those people, attacking leisurely.

His Qi wasn’t strong, and the true Qi wrapped around his swinging sword wasn’t powerful enough, but starting from the flaws of the various sects, it was like using a bamboo pole to lift a thousand-pound iron ball, using just a clever force. His movements were as graceful as a fluttering spring swallow.

However, when Wei Jie gradually broke through the opponents’ offense and defense, he was secretly surprised in his heart – his little master had actually broken through the exquisite attacks of the three major sects in an instant… How did she have this ability?

During a break in the fight, he couldn’t help but glance at Cui Xiao Xiao in astonishment.

Xiao Xiao received his gaze, not feeling guilty at all, only putting her hands behind her back with a nonchalant demeanor, putting on the appearance of a transcendent sage.

Grand-master, it is you who summarized it well. Disciple Xiao Xiao is truly unworthy of receiving it!

Wei Jie had no time to look at his little master’s nonchalant and sage-like appearance. He turned his head and concentrated on continuing to break through the attacks of the three major sects.

Soon, the situation of many people attacking one person began to turn around. The disciples of the Sect of the Heavenly Heart and Ebony Peak were knocked down by Wei Jie one after another.

As for the Qi shield of Wonderful Immortal Mountain, although it was indestructible, Wei Jie listened to Xiao Xiao’s reminder and didn’t engage at all. Without the support of the two attacking sects, Sect of the Heavenly Heart and Ebony Peak, the Qi shield of Wonderful Immortal Mountain disciples had no use and moved around in the crowd like stupid cows.

Not to mention the disciples of the three major sects who were fighting felt perplexed, even the elders of the three major sects who were watching from the sidelines were secretly alarmed. They all ignored their disciples being beaten and unanimously looked towards that lively young girl commanding Wei Jie.

At this time, Cui Xiao Xiao was still imitating the usual posture of her master Tang Youshu, letting the wind blow her ponytail, hands behind her back, expression calm, gaze slightly lowered, like a true Immortal who had attained the Dao, composed and unperturbed.

The little girl actually portrayed the bearing of a generation of a major sect’s grandmaster, looking unfathomable.

Even if someone wanted to launch a sneak attack on her, they had to consider: This Sect Master Cui is so good at commanding her disciple in a fight, so how formidable must her own skills be?

As the elders of the sects, they naturally knew the weaknesses and flaws of their own sects. However, these flaws were mostly well hidden in the flamboyant Qi circulation techniques. Unless one had profound cultivation or was a senior elder of the sect, they absolutely couldn’t see through them.

But this little girl who appeared out of nowhere, how did she understand them so clearly, and even clearly stated the way to break through them, word by word?

Looking at her young age, could it be that she really had discerning eyes? Did she come up with a countermeasure in just a moment?

Lingshan Talisman Sect? What kind of sect is this, hiding a crouching tiger and a hidden dragon?

At this point, the few elders looked at each other and became more and more alarmed. They firmly remembered the name of Lingshan Talisman Sect in their hearts, planning to send someone to investigate after returning, to see what was behind this previously unknown sect, and who this Cui Xiao Xiao, who popped out of nowhere, really was!

As for Cui Xiao Xiao, although she appeared nonchalant like a sage on the surface, her heart was actually boiling: How should this situation be concluded in a dignified manner?

She could see that although Wei Jie was coping well, his internal Qi was limited at this time before he became a demon, making it difficult to sustain for too long. If the Four Great Sects continued to attack in waves, Wei Jie would eventually be defeated.

Moreover… that Soaring Cloud Pavilion had been refraining from action the whole time! Thinking of this, she saw Qin Lingxiao glaring at her gloomily with one glance and had an idea in her heart.

Taking advantage of Wei Jie knocking down the last disciple of the Wonderful Immortal Mountain whose Qi shield was depleted, she cleared her throat and said, “Young Pavilion Master Qin, you instigated the disciples of the other three major sects to charge ahead, but you led your own disciples to watch from the sidelines. It’s a bit unfair, isn’t it? The saying goes, all cultivators in the world are one family. My Lingshan Talisman Sect is an upright sect. If my disciple made a mistake, I will naturally discipline him. Is there anything that must be resolved with weapons? Um… Jie’er, quickly retreat. Allow me to have a good chat with the elders.”

She knew very well in her heart that even if Wei Jie was more powerful now, he was no match for the disciples of the Four Great Sects. It was just that now he had found their flaws and suppressed those people.

If the elders and people from Soaring Cloud Pavilion also took action, Wei Jie wouldn’t be able to withstand it with his current strength.

So after the martial attack, it was time for the civil path.

She first had to point out Qin Lingxiao’s ulterior motive, and then have a good chat with the Four Great Sects.

However, Wei Jie raised his eyebrows high – this “Jie’er”, the little girl called it quite smoothly!

Chapter 20

Cui Xiaoxiao was unaware of Qin Lingxiao’s thoughts. When he asked if she wanted to return, she simply replied, “Of course I want to go back. Do you know where the divine statue of Zhi Jiuyin is?”

The seal on the statue was placed by her master Tang Youshu back then, but her master had never left any information about the statue. Since Qin Lingxiao had also traveled back, everything could be easily resolved if he could obtain the statue and they could reactivate it together.

However, Qin Lingxiao said, “That statue was originally found by Wei Jie. How would I know its whereabouts?”

Upon hearing this, Cui Xiaoxiao felt a pang of disappointment, thinking: Does this mean I have to wait until Wei Jie finds Zhi Jiuyin before I can return?

At that moment, someone came towards them, shouting in anguish, “It’s terrible! That demonic Wei Jie used some method to fill the valley with poisonous gas. The people who went down the cliff to chase after him have all been poisoned and fallen unconscious!”

Earlier, when Cui Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie had been battling the Soul-Devouring Giant Serpent in the valley, the commotion had attracted the attention of the disciples from the four major sects on the mountain.

After Cui Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie left the valley, some people channeled their inner energy to jump down the cliff. Unfortunately, the poisonous miasma from the Soul-Devouring Serpent’s venom had not dissipated, causing these people to be poisoned and collapse.

Those standing on the cliff saw this from afar and dared not descend, instead attributing the poisoning of their fellow disciples to that half-demonic Wei Jie.

Upon hearing the report, Cui Xiaoxiao instinctively wanted to explain and use the snake bile from her water pouch to detoxify those people.

However, as soon as she started speaking, that person glared at her and shouted, “It’s her! I saw her following that bastard Wei Jie and even helping him escape. Clearly, they’re in cahoots! Young Pavilion Master Qin, quickly apprehend this demoness before she flees!”

Seeing the disaster being pinned on her, Cui Xiaoxiao remained calm, as she had already devised an escape plan. She swiftly explained, “It seems there has been a misunderstanding. Hidden beneath the cliff is the Soul-Devouring Giant Serpent, and it was its poisonous miasma that incapacitated your fellow disciples… As for the lost spirit pills, I have retrieved them for you. Here, let me return them.”

As she spoke, she took out the cloth bag she had taken and tossed it to an elderly man in black robes, “Sir, please check, the spirit pills are all inside. Let this return the property to its rightful owner. Moreover, my encounter with the pill thief was merely by chance. I have no further involvement, so I shall take my leave…”

At that moment, a black figure resembling a soaring dragon leapt out from the crowd, extending its long arms in an attempt to snatch the bag of spirit pills from Cui Xiaoxiao’s hands.

Unfortunately, it was a step too late, as Cui Xiaoxiao had already thrown the bag to the people from the four sects.

It turned out that Wei Jie had noticed the cloth bag had somehow ended up in Cui Xiaoxiao’s possession. Seeing her return the spirit pills without consulting him first greatly displeased him.

Fueled by anger, Wei Jie’s expression grew increasingly cold. The tall man in a black robe, with his hair fluttering in the wind, shot a sidelong glance, his faint purple pupils flickering with an enchanting light. His thin lips beneath his high nose were slightly pursed, accentuating the alluring charm of his handsome jaw.

Cui Xiaoxiao felt somewhat guilty under his glare and averted her gaze.

However, upon reflection, those spirit pills were stolen goods, and she had merely returned them to their rightful owners. What was wrong with that? She defiantly glared back at Wei Jie.

Yet this handsome man was like the waters of West Lake – even his anger and resentment were intoxicating. Even with a cold, piercing gaze, his handsomeness was overwhelming. If one stared too long, they might lose self-control.

Truly a descendant of the Demonic Seductress, his eyes brimmed with a captivating charm that could bewitch the world.

Xiaoxiao found herself faltering, hastily averting her gaze and silently reciting the mind-clearing incantation taught by her master.

However, she was not the only one nearly mesmerized by the demonic allure. Many female disciples from the four sects with insufficient mental discipline gaped at Wei Jie, seemingly unable to divert their eyes. Even some men appeared dazed as they stared at him…

Before Cui Xiaoxiao could regain her composure from the spellbinding masculine charm, Wei Jie suddenly dropped his angry expression. Taking a few steps forward, he grabbed Cui Xiaoxiao’s hand and loudly proclaimed, “Master, I don’t blame you. You must have feared them and had no choice but to return the spirit pills. Don’t be afraid, your disciple will rescue you!”

After speaking, he surveyed the surrounding disciples and deliberately raised his voice, “This is my master, Wei Jie! Let’s see who dares bully her!”

Seeing his father’s killer from long ago reappear before his eyes, Qin Lingxiao was seething with hatred, his teeth practically aching. Until he heard Wei Jie call Cui Xiaoxiao “master”, he couldn’t believe it and glared back at her in disbelief.

She hadn’t mentioned taking Wei Jie as a disciple earlier! She must be insane to accept such a demonic person as her disciple!

Cui Xiaoxiao never expected Wei Jie to suddenly change tactics, clinging to her like a helpless infant and shamelessly calling her “master” in front of the four major sects.

For a moment, she was caught off guard by Wei Jie’s underhanded ploy.

At this point, the people from the other three major sects who had been fighting Wei Jie rushed over, exclaiming in disbelief, “This little girl is your master? Is there really a sect in this world that dares accept you, Wei Jie? Speak up and let us learn of this!”

Wei Jie glanced at Cui Xiaoxiao, resenting how she had silently stolen his spirit pills, and enunciated each word, “My master is the sect leader of the Numinous Mountain Talisman Sect – Cui Xiaoxiao!”

Upon hearing this, the others were stunned before erupting into raucous laughter, “What kind of dog fart Talisman Sect is that? Never even heard of it! Isn’t that just a sect you established yourself, Wei Jie? And she’s your master? Just some little girl?”

Wave after wave of laughter filled the air, with many people laughing uncontrollably.

This was understandable, as two hundred years ago, Tang Youshu had not yet accepted Wei Jie as a disciple, let alone established the Numinous Mountain Talisman Sect independently.

To randomly claim a sect’s existence was akin to a dog or cat erecting a grand banner!

Amidst the mocking laughter, Cui Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly, “Master, I have disgraced you, bringing shame even two hundred years into the past!”

That damn Wei Jie, revealing her sect at this moment was practically defaming the Numinous Mountain Talisman Sect! Even if she vehemently denied it now, people would likely not believe her.

As the sect leader of the Talisman Sect, how could she allow others to ridicule her sect? After sighing, she resolved to display some divine abilities. She casually took out a water-summoning talisman and, with a snap of her fingers, summoned a torrential downpour over the heads of those doubled over in laughter.

This bizarre and sudden heavy rain immediately drenched the crowd, forcing them to cease their raucous laughter.

Such effortless control over summoning rain required a certain level of cultivation. Yet this young lady had accomplished it with ease. Could a Numinous Mountain Talisman Sect have truly emerged without anyone’s knowledge?

Before the founding of the Spirit Mountain Talisman Sect by Tang Youshu, the art of talisman refinement was never considered a prestigious path, and there were no renowned figures in this field.

When Cui Xiaoxiao displayed her mastery of the Water Summoning Art, it was enough to intimidate the Four Great Sects from two hundred years ago.

“If you all have had your laugh, then listen to me,” Xiaoxiao snapped her fingers again, stopping the sudden “downpour.”

She spoke loudly, “My disciple has been unruly and committed a transgression. On his behalf, I apologize to you all. However, I have already returned the Golden Dan to him. I implore you great ones to be magnanimous and pardon him this one time. Or else, let me know how much silver you require, and I will make sure this child Wei Jie finds a way to compensate you all!”

In this situation, where she was clearly outnumbered, and now inexplicably bound to this demon, even if she claimed not to know him, no one would believe her.

Bearing in mind that he had saved her life in the valley, Cui Xiaoxiao hardened herself and tried to smooth things over for Wei Jie, persuading the Four Great Sects to back off. If everyone remained amicable, she could also make a graceful exit.

It would be best if this Wei fellow showed some sense and didn’t bite the hand that fed him!

Wei Jie, however, seemed rather oblivious. Dissatisfied with Cui Xiaoxiao’s submissive tone, he was about to speak when his newfound Shifu pinched him hard on the waist.

The small red mole at the corner of the young Shifu’s eye seemed ready to drip blood as she glared at Wei Jie, clearly warning, “If you dare say another word, I’ll feed you snake venom and send you to the heavens!”

Unfortunately, her charming appearance and wide, round eyes only added a touch of girlish cuteness to her intimidation.

Wei Jie glanced at her sideways, his arched brows furrowed as if contemplating some mischievous scheme, but he refrained from speaking further.

As for the elderly Xuan cultivator, he was an elder of the second-greatest sect after Lingyun Pavilion, the Demonic Wood Peak Qisect.

He never expected this so-called Talisman Sect Master to openly admit Wei Jie’s theft and unhesitatingly return the Golden Dan.

The old man clutched his wet beard, thinking that since she had confessed, further accusations would be pointless…However, how did this little girl summon rain? Without a change of clothes, what would they do?

Just as the Demonic Wood Peak Elder was about to compromise and hurry back to change and drink, Qin Lingxiao spoke in a gloomy tone, “If a thief is caught, returning the loot is expected. But if we don’t severely punish them, won’t people mistake us and think the Four Great Sects’ Dan Rooms are open to all?”

Hearing this, the other three sects immediately chimed in angrily, demanding severe punishment for Wei Jie and his master who enabled his misdeeds.

Cui Xiaoxiao realized that Qin Lingxiao was deliberately stirring trouble.

If it was just about taunting Wei Jie, Xiaoxiao could remain a spectator and not intervene in others’ affairs.

But now that Wei Jie represented the Spirit Mountain Talisman Sect, Xiaoxiao couldn’t stand by and watch her sect’s reputation plummet into the cesspool of two centuries ago. She had to try and salvage it.

Clearing her throat, she quietly asked Wei Jie, “Why did you steal their Golden Dan when you had nothing better to do?”

Wei Jie lowered his long lashes and looked at her, seemingly amused that someone was defending him. He honestly answered, “They refined this batch of Golden Dan using my mother’s blood as an ingredient…”

Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao instantly understood, for she had read about precious materials used in talisman refinement and pill concoction in her master’s secret manuals.

Wei Jie’s birth mother was a Femme Fatale. These beings could invert the minds of mortals and bewitch the human realm with their charm. Their youthful, ageless blood had the power to preserve one’s prime.

Throughout history, emperors secretly sent people to hunt Femme Fatales and obtain their blood to achieve longevity and preserve their youth.

For cultivators, if they could acquire a Femme Fatale’s blood to refine pills, the potency of the Golden Dan would be significantly enhanced.

Years ago, when the Four Great Sects besieged Elder Mountain and killed Wei Jinglin, it was said that the fleeing Femme Fatale appeared, weeping bitterly as she watched Wei Jinglin’s blood spill, her tears of grief staining the forest.

At that time, the Four Great Sects wished to capture the Femme Fatale alive and flay her for her precious skin and blood. Alas, she managed to escape.

However, the Femme Fatale’s tears of blood scattered in the forest were collected by the Four Great Sects’ people, who hastily began refining pills with it.

Such a precious ingredient naturally called for refining the once-in-a-decade Golden Dan. Little did they expect that before they could even start the furnace after the ten-year period, Wei Jie appeared and stole the Golden Dan clean.

After hearing Wei Jie’s explanation, Cui Xiaoxiao felt a twinge of guilt.

Her original plan was to return the loot to appease the Four Great Sects’ anger, then rebuke Wei Jie’s misconduct in the name of the master, expel him from the Talisman Sect in front of the four sects, and sever all ties with him cleanly.

As for any future misdeeds committed by Wei Jie, it would no longer concern her or the Spirit Mountain Talisman Sect.

But she never expected that Wei Jie’s reason for stealing the Golden Dan was out of filial piety!

Chapter 19

No! How did this Qin Lingxiao appear more youthful, completely unlike his previously captured mature look in his twenties or thirties?

It was as if the Sect Leader Qin had cultivated some rejuvenation technique, making him seem much younger?

Cui Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but widen her eyes, staring at the young Qin Lingxiao before her as her mind raced.

However, she immediately recalled that Qin Lingxiao was said to be the young pavilion master of the Lingyun Pavilion that was destroyed by Wei Jie back then.  

It was to avenge the extermination of his sect that he had concealed his identity and joined Wei Jie’s sect as a disciple.

After killing Wei Jie, he reverted to using his original name Qin Lingxiao. But the Lingyun Pavilion had long been destroyed, so Qin Lingxiao simply established a new sect, becoming the founding patriarch of what is now the Nine Mystic Sword Sect.

The current Qin Lingxiao should still be the carefree young pavilion master of the Lingyun Pavilion, unaware of life’s hardships.

His current cultivation base was not high, hence his forehead lacked the imprint of the eight-petal lotus. His appearance exuded youthful immaturity, though he already cut a tall and slender figure as a handsome young man.

However, his bright and elegant looks paled in comparison to Wei Jie’s bewitching masculine charm.

Cui Xiaoxiao had originally thought this Qin Lingxiao shouldn’t recognize her. But when her gaze met the young Qin Lingxiao’s, she immediately sensed something was amiss.

Because when Qin Lingxiao saw that the people emerging were Wei Jie and Cui Xiaoxiao, his pupils involuntarily constricted sharply, as if greatly shocked.

Moreover, the way he looked at Cui Xiaoxiao did not seem like a first encounter.  

When he spoke, he addressed Cui Xiaoxiao directly: “How did you end up here?…And you even brought him out?”

Originally, when the ancient divine statue absorbed the power of the two demon pearls, it had also drawn in Cui Xiaoxiao and Qin Lingxiao, who each possessed one of the demon pearls.

However, Qin Lingxiao was in his elemental spirit form back then, so when he was sent back two hundred years, his elemental spirit lacked a physical body to reside in and naturally attached itself to his younger self.

The current Qin Lingxiao outwardly appeared as a youth, but inwardly contained the weathered soul of the great Sect Leader Qin who had experienced two hundred years.

Initially, when Qin Lingxiao first returned two hundred years ago, he was greatly shocked as well.

But upon seeing the familiar palaces and halls of his former Lingyun Pavilion, along with his once well-known loved ones, Qin Lingxiao pondered and suddenly felt it wasn’t so bad.  

Ever since he rose to fame, he had been overshadowed by Wei Jie’s presence.

Even after becoming the paramount figure of the Sword Sect, there were those who whispered behind his back, saying that without absorbing Wei Jie’s powers, he would have been a nobody, nothing more than a treacherous disciple who killed his master and ancestors.

This time, by returning two hundred years, although he had lost the cultivation of a hundred years, he could start anew and surely avoid all regrets, achieving even greater and more perfect attainments through his own efforts.

Moreover, this time he would absolutely not allow Wei Jie to rise to prominence and exterminate the entire Lingyun Pavilion.  

Events unfolded just as they had before – he led his disciples to Elder Mountain to intercept Wei Jie in his father’s name.

Back then, the young and frivolous Qin Lingxiao had underestimated the unknown Wei Jie, even leaving midway to hunt a black flood dragon in the Misty Origin River to collect dragon oil for his mother’s pill refinement.  

As a result, the disciples sent to apprehend the spirit pill thief were heavily injured by Wei Jie, who was ultimately knocked off the cliff. However, this granted Wei Jie a fortuitous opportunity to cultivate an unmatched demonic art.

When Wei Jie emerged from seclusion, he allied with the Demonic Fox Clan and steadily grew his power, amassing forces to establish the Demonic Sect. His first act of vengeance was to single-handedly strike against the Lingyun Pavilion, destroying the centuries-old cultivating sect overnight.

Thinking of this made Qin Lingxiao’s teeth itch with hatred. This time, on his second go-around, he would keep Wei Jie firmly trampled in the dust, never allowing him a chance to rise!

So this time, Qin Lingxiao did not frivolously go hunt the black flood dragon. Instead, he personally led his men to Elder Mountain.

Earlier, while the other three sects dispatched disciples to encircle and attack Wei Jie, Qin Lingxiao had the Lingyun disciples stand by at the mountain’s base.

For he was well aware that even if everyone went up, it would only result in mutual losses against Wei Jie.

Moreover, in that battle, the Lingyun Pavilion would lose its four most powerful disciples, leaving it defenseless against Wei Jie’s massacre thirty years later.

Therefore, this repetition of past events saw Qin Lingxiao only posting guards at the mountain’s base, waiting for the clashing sides to exhaust each other. Once Wei Jie fell off the cliff and was poisoned in the serpent’s den, he would lead his men into the valley and easily finish off Wei Jie with a single sword while he battled the venom.  

However, all these plans were disrupted when he saw Cui Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie emerge unharmed from the valley.

No matter how Qin Lingxiao calculated, he never expected Cui Xiaoxiao to also travel back two hundred years, and to even mingle with Wei Jie, seemingly disrupting the course of events by allowing Wei Jie to leave the valley safely.

What was going on? Could Cui Xiaoxiao’s presence have made the Soul-Devouring Serpent disappear as well?

It was in extreme shock that Qin Lingxiao had uttered those words.

Once he spoke, Cui Xiaoxiao immediately guessed that this young Qin Lingxiao must recognize her!

Qin Lingxiao must have, like her, been sent back two hundred years by the ancient mysterious statue.

The Wei Jie standing beside Cui Xiaoxiao looked at Qin Lingxiao. Although he didn’t recognize this youth, judging by his attire, he should be from the Lingyun Pavilion.

Seeing the way the young man stared intently at Cui Xiaoxiao, it seemed there was quite a grievance between them…

Thus, Wei Jie’s long eyes narrowed slightly as he scrutinized the two, asking Xiaoxiao in a low voice: “What’s going on? Do you know someone from the Lingyun Pavilion?”

A myriad of emotions swirled within Cui Xiaoxiao as she looked at the two men awaiting her response, momentarily unsure of how to explain.

However, before Xiaoxiao could answer, the people from the other three major sects saw Wei Jie and rushed over, shouting: “Thief, where are you running?”

Wei Jie drew his sword to engage them, while Xiaoxiao swiftly retreated and sprinted down the mountain.  

Qin Lingxiao ignored Wei Jie and directly gave chase after Cui Xiaoxiao, seizing her wrist and saying sternly: “What have you done? I’m asking you, why don’t you answer?”

Cui Xiaoxiao glanced at Wei Jie, who was preoccupied, then grabbed Qin Lingxiao’s collar and said through gritted teeth: “I should be asking you! If you hadn’t pulled some stunt, how could I have ended up in this godforsaken place?”

Qin Lingxiao’s nose nearly bumped into hers, his face reddening with anger. He dragged her around the mountain bend and, once they were far from the fighting crowd, said sternly: “Did you happen to obtain the divine statue of Zhi Jiuyin?”

Zhi Jiuyin, also called Shi Long, was the mountain deity of the ancient Zhong Mountain. The Classic of Mountains and Seas records it as having a half-human, half-serpent appearance, its opening eyes bringing daylight and closing eyes bringing night. 

It was the ancient deity that controlled the yin-yang and darkness of time.

Cui Xiaoxiao immediately thought of the statue she and her fellow disciples had found in the cave…Could that be the Zhi Jiuyin that Qin Lingxiao spoke of?

Seeing Cui Xiaoxiao not deny it, Qin Lingxiao was convinced it was so. 

He glared angrily at Cui Xiaoxiao: “This is all your doing, you actually broke the seal on Zhi Jiuyin. I shouldn’t have entrusted that inept Tang Youshu with dealing with the divine statue in the first place…Now with the heavens and earth inverted, returning us to two hundred years ago, if Wei Jie seizes this opportunity to commit even greater massacres, it will be the calamity you have brought upon us!”

Faced with this blame flung at her, Cui Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes – she couldn’t have accomplished this “great deed” alone, the great Sect Leader Qin played an integral part too!

She shook off Qin Lingxiao’s hand and studied his much younger face: “Little brother, speak more respectfully to your sister! If your disciples hadn’t tried to capture me, how could we have touched that statue’s mechanism and been sent here? Instead of interrogating me, you should be thinking about how to get us back quickly!”

It had been a long time since Qin Lingxiao was mocked in such a manner. Seeing this rude girl address him as “brother”, his youthful lips pursed into a line, intending to properly discipline her!

However, in their earlier tussle, Qin Lingxiao had sensed that his current inner energy was not much higher than this dead girl’s.   

Damn it, after all this was two hundred years ago, and Qin Lingxiao’s current body was far too shallow in inner energy. Even with his mastery of energy cultivation and spirit pill refinement, it would take time and opportunities to improve.

However, this also meant he no longer had to endure the backlash of his demonic nature. This sense of unfettered lightness was something Qin Lingxiao hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Qin Lingxiao swiftly weighed the pros and cons, and felt that redoing this journey was better.

As for this Cui Xiaoxiao, she didn’t belong in this era and was an existence that defied the laws of nature. Of course she was eager to return…

With this thought, Qin Lingxiao let out a cold laugh. He couldn’t allow this variable to run amok. He would first take her back to the Lingyun Pavilion and imprison her in the rear mountain. If she was sensible, after he killed Wei Jie, he might find an opportunity to send her back. However, before then, he absolutely could not allow Cui Xiaoxiao to reveal heavenly secrets and disrupt his plans.

Qin Lingxiao suddenly reached out to grab Cui Xiaoxiao’s wrist and seal her acupoint to render her unconscious. If it were the Qin Lingxiao from two hundred years ago, he wouldn’t even need to move, a flick of his finger could pierce her accupoints with his energy needles.

But now, as soon as Qin Lingxiao raised his hand, Cui Xiaoxiao sensed it.

Over these past few days of sitting in meditation, she had been contending with the demonic pearl within her, rapidly accumulating energy in her dantian. Earlier in the valley, due to being poisoned by the serpent’s venom, she had again used her dantian’s energy to expel the poison, so her inner power was currently surging.

Although Qin Lingxiao’s movements were swift, to Xiaoxiao’s eyes they appeared slowed down. After a few bouts of exchanging blows, Xiaoxiao realized the great Sect Leader Qin could no longer unleash his seven flying swords whirling overhead!

She parried swiftly and decisively kicked towards Qin Lingxiao’s abdomen.

Qin Lingxiao dodged, finally managing to grab Cui Xiaoxiao’s ankle, then seized her shoulder, gritting his teeth: “Do you still want to go back or not?”

Cui Xiaoxiao looked at Qin Lingxiao’s slightly reddened face, feeling that while his current cultivation was low, he exuded a more human quality, unlike the transcendent deity aura of two hundred years later who held all under heaven in his grasp.

If Qin Lingxiao also wanted to return, then everything could be negotiated. So Xiaoxiao told him to release her first, and they could calmly discuss a solution.

Qin Lingxiao also knew he could not subdue Xiaoxiao for now, so he stopped fighting and listened as she briefly recounted her encounter with Wei Jie.

As Cui Xiaoxiao spoke, Qin Lingxiao understood: Since Wei Jie had avoided being injured and bitten by the serpent due to Cui Xiaoxiao’s involvement, that was for the best!

On the path of cultivation, lacking either innate talent or fortuitous opportunities doomed one to failure.  

This time, Wei Jie had missed the opportunity to become demonic, so he could not become the paramount demonic lord, much less have the ability to single-handedly strike against the Lingyun Pavilion!

With his memories of two hundred years of cultivation, everything would come naturally. Given time and by following the proper steps, he could still achieve transcendence through his status as the young pavilion master of the Lingyun Pavilion.

This time, even if he personally slew Wei Jie, no one could accuse him of being a treacherous disciple who killed his master and ancestors to usurp his position!

Chapter 18

However, after careful recollection, Cui Xiaoxiao gradually understood: The severely injured Demon Lord Wei Jie, who was originally supposed to engage in a decisive battle with the four major sects, managed to escape without fighting due to her obstruction.

Moreover, when the two of them fell, their excessive weight caused the egg in the pit to shatter, prematurely attracting the Soul-Devouring Twin-Headed Serpent.

Then, with her assistance, Wei Jie was able to calmly prepare and, aided by the Soul-Settling Talisman, effortlessly kill the Soul-Devouring Serpent without being affected by its venom.

This… didn’t she unintentionally change the events that occurred two hundred years ago?

If he wasn’t bitten, how could he have been poisoned, and how could he have cultivated the divine skill to counteract the demonic nature, eventually leading to his soul being scattered by his disciple Qin Lingxiao’s attack? How could Master Tang Youshu have become heartbroken, left, and established the Talisman Sect?

How would these altered events unfold?

Cui Xiaoxiao closed her eyes in anguish, seemingly having inadvertently disrupted Wei Jie’s path to becoming a demon.

She didn’t know how the heavens would punish her, this person who interfered with the laws of nature. Would it rain down a million thunderbolts, zapping her into shreds?

However, Wei Jie misunderstood Cui Xiaoxiao’s pained expression, thinking she regretted taking him as a disciple.

Thus, he slowly straightened his body, lowered his gaze towards the distressed young girl, and coldly sneered, nonchalantly mocking her: “What? Is the master regretting taking me as a disciple?”

As he spoke these words, his enchanting, profound eyes contained a smile, yet it wasn’t a genuine one, reflecting more of a cold indifference towards the cruelty of the world.

When Cui Xiaoxiao raised her head to look at his jade-carved, handsome face, she felt a chill in her heart. She thought: If she didn’t investigate thoroughly, taking in this demonic thing would be an utter misfortune for the Talisman Sect!

However, if she were to retract her acceptance now, this fellow might harbor resentment.

Although she didn’t care much about his origins, she was deeply concerned about his future infamy and absolutely couldn’t allow his evil deeds to tarnish the name of the Numinous Mountain Talisman Sect.

But to drive away this evil disciple, she needed to be tactful and withdraw gradually, not abruptly severing ties. After all, this person would become the future Demon Lord, extremely sinister.

Currently alone, she was likely no match for this Demon Lord who single-handedly slew the Soul-Devouring Serpent.

With this thought, Cui Xiaoxiao blinked, took a deep breath, and smiled unconvincingly: “How could that be? You possess remarkable talents and are undoubtedly a rare genius. Good, you will… surely achieve great things in the future! Your master is truly fortunate to have taken you as a disciple!”

Upon hearing this, Wei Jie suddenly fell silent, widening his handsome eyes and silently staring at Xiaoxiao.

He could tell that this young lady was being somewhat insincere, but he didn’t know why she didn’t immediately retract her acceptance. Didn’t she realize that once tainted, she would face endless troubles?

In fact, his earlier request to become her disciple was not sincere. His single-knee kneel was merely a superficial ritual, purely intended to tease this ignorant little girl.

Once she learned of his origins, she would naturally regret her decision and make an unsightly attempt to disassociate herself from him.

This wasn’t a problem, as he had endured enough disdainful looks since childhood to become indifferent. He merely saw it as a way to amuse and entertain himself.

But he never expected this little girl, who claimed to be the sect leader of the Numinous Mountain Talisman Sect, to defy convention and stubbornly refuse to immediately disown him as her disciple…

Fine, since he was idly bored anyway, he might as well indulge his new “master” for a while.

With this thought, Wei Jie slowly smiled, bowed to Xiaoxiao, and said: “I too am fortunate to have joined your sect!”

As for Cui Xiaoxiao, after flattering her new senior disciple with empty praises, her heart was burning with anxiety.

After all, she didn’t know how to return to two hundred years ago, and she had interfered with the laws of nature, unaware of the potential consequences.

However, what perplexed Cui Xiaoxiao even more was Wei Jie himself—this notorious Demon Lord from the legends didn’t seem as despicable as depicted. At the very least, during the crisis when the strange serpent attacked, he didn’t abandon her and flee alone.

As Cui Xiaoxiao pondered with a troubled mind, she heard Wei Jie casually ask: “Master, I still don’t know your name. You’re… sixteen years old this year, right?”

Cui Xiaoxiao let out a slight sigh, thinking to herself: “They didn’t know each other’s identity and happily took each other as master and disciple. She and Wei Jie were truly unique!”

However, what did this young man mean? ‘Sixteen years old this year’? Was he belittling his master for being too young and inexperienced?

She shot him a sidelong glance: “My name is Cui Xiaoxiao, and I’m seventeen this year… I don’t know how old I’ll be next year…”

May the heavens protect her and allow her to safely pass through this calamity; otherwise, next year would bring not a birthday but a memorial day.

“Oh…” Wei Jie heard his master’s incoherent words and slowly raised his head, his eyes beneath his sword-like brows seeming to glimmer faintly. He extended his long fingers, slowly calculating, and asked with a probing tone: “Seventeen… a good age. The master is actually two years younger than me… so you were born in the year of Guichou(Ox)… a Yin year. Master, when is your birthday?”

Cui Xiaoxiao’s gaze fixed on his inquisitive look, and she slowly smiled: “Why? Does the disciple also practice fortune-telling? Are you trying to see if the master’s birthday is auspicious or not?”

Her extremely Yin birthday in the past two hundred years would be an ominous talisman, and she would never reveal it to this Demon Lord!

Seeing that she didn’t answer but instead asked a question, Wei Jie didn’t mind too much. He merely smiled faintly and said: “I was just wondering about the master’s birthday so I don’t miss the opportunity to wish you well in the future… There’s no need to calculate the master’s fortune, as it must be good. At least, after meeting the master, I seem to have encountered continuous good luck, always able to turn danger into safety…”

Cui Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement: “It seems my destiny is indeed compatible with yours, disciple…”

Wei Jie had a demonic and ominous beauty, but when he smiled, the corners of his mouth revealed sharp canine teeth, making him look like an eighteen or nineteen-year-old young man.

If she hadn’t time-traveled from two hundred years ago, Cui Xiaoxiao would never have imagined that this man, smiling so innocently, would become the notorious Demon Lord who would make people tremble in fear years later.

The master and disciple smiled warmly at each other.

Cui Xiaoxiao stood up, intending to take advantage of this harmonious atmosphere to lecture her disciple about the profound master-disciple bond, which she likened to a chance encounter, before parting ways.

She wanted to bid farewell to her disciple and let the obedient young man cultivate independently in the future. She was not from two hundred years ago, and if she remained by Wei Jie’s side for too long, she might interfere with too many laws of nature. It would be better for them to separate temporarily.

However, at that moment, they heard human voices calling out from above their heads: “There was some commotion down there earlier. Wei Jie must be hiding in the valley below. Come on, let’s hurry down and take a look!”

It seemed that after searching fruitlessly, the four major sects heard the sounds of combat coming from the valley below and decided to investigate.  

Upon hearing these voices, Wei Jie said to Xiaoxiao: “We should leave quickly, or we won’t be able to escape.”

However…Cui Xiaoxiao looked at the serpent’s corpse lying on the ground and had a sudden thought: “I’ve heard that the venom of this ancient giant serpent has miraculous effects. Why don’t we collect some to bring with us? It might prove useful in the future!”

According to the original course of events, Wei Jie had to be poisoned in order to undergo demonic tranformation and become the Demon Monarch. So if he was bitten by the snake venom, everything could revert seamlessly and all would be well in the world!

She could also rid herself of the suspicion of interfering with the laws of nature and calmly find a way to return to two hundred years later.

So she wanted to lure Wei Jie into going near the snake’s head again to see if there was an opportunity to get things back on track.

Unfortunately, her newly accepted disciple was no fool. After looking at the snake’s head, he rejected the idea: “The snake has just died, and its body is not yet stiff. Taking its venom now may not be advisable…”

Cui Xiaoxiao didn’t really expect to easily deceive the great Demon Lord. She dejectedly stood up, pondering her next move.

Wei Jie had been observing his master’s face the entire time. Seeing the disappointment on her pitiful little face…

He pondered for a moment, then untied his wine gourd and suddenly walked towards the male serpent’s head. Cui Xiaoxiao’s spirits lifted as she silently cheered for the snake’s head: “Come on! Don’t die completely, go! Bite him fiercely!”

As if sensing Sect Leader Cui’s calls, just as Wei Jie used his sword to pry open the snake’s mouth, its dazed pupils seemed to regain focus, emitting a murderous aura as it suddenly opened its jaws wide and viciously bit towards Wei Jie’s extended arm.

Fortunately, Wei Jie was quick-handed, immediately withdrawing his arm. He then picked up a large rock nearby and repeatedly smashed it forcefully against the serpent’s head.

Soon, the snake’s head lay motionless. He then continued to pry its jaws open with his bare hands, using his sword to prop it open and the gourd to extract the venom dripping from its venomous fangs.

Cui Xiaoxiao held her breath in anticipation, hoping for a miracle that would allow the not-yet-dead snake’s head to bite Wei Jie, putting everything back on the right track.

But Wei Jie’s strength seemed extraordinarily great as he used his sword to prop open the snake’s mouth, effortlessly collecting the venom without incident.

After obtaining the venom, he handed the gourd to Cui Xiaoxiao: “Here!”

Cui Xiaoxiao was dazed, not understanding Wei Jie’s intentions.

Wei Jie pursed his lips: “Wasn’t the master eager to have it? I took some for you. Keep it safe, but be careful not to accidentally ingest the venom, or even the highest heavenly immortals couldn’t save you.”

So he had misunderstood that Cui Xiaoxiao wanted the snake venom, which prompted him to risk himself and personally collect it for her.

Cui Xiaoxiao felt her cheeks flush. She had exhausted so many schemes in hopes that Wei Jie would be bitten by the venomous serpent, only for him to filially risk himself simply because his master desired it…

Ever since her adoptive father and master, she couldn’t recall anyone treating her so kindly.

Yet now, for no apparent reason, she owed Wei Jie a favor.

In this situation, hoping for her disciple to be bitten by the snake would be outright cruel.

Fortunately, she had the venom in hand and could use it to poison him a few drops at any time, allowing Wei Jie’s path to becoming a demon to resume its proper course.

For now, she could only take it one step at a time. She would wait for Wei Jie to reveal his true ugly nature, allowing her to revert the Demon Lord to his original form without any guilt…

The path Wei Jie took to lead her away followed the route where the Soul-Devouring Serpent had come, along an upturned earthen path that seemed to extend to the mouth of the valley.

After walking for a while, they seemed to enter a winding, secluded path, causing one to lose their sense of direction.

However, Wei Jie appeared quite adept at discerning directions, always able to find inconspicuous paths through the exceptionally dense foliage.

Cui Xiaoxiao was perplexed as to why he was so familiar with the area.

Wei Jie candidly explained: “…I lived on Elder Mountain for a few years as a child, so I’m naturally familiar with it.”

Upon hearing this, Cui Xiaoxiao was infuriated: “So you knew there was a Soul-Devouring Serpent in the valley below, yet you still jumped down?”

As Wei Jie cleared the thorny branches blocking their path, he nonchalantly smiled: “I said I wouldn’t jump, but you insisted on jumping, Master. To preserve the green mountains and forests, I had no choice but to give it a try.”

Listen to that – it became the master’s fault again.

Observing the tall man walking ahead, Cui Xiaoxiao became increasingly vexed: Befitting of someone destined to become a Demon Lord, he was truly cunning! Despite knowing those people were pursuing him, he didn’t reveal it. And despite knowing about the serpent in the valley, he didn’t warn her, intending to use her as a shield. How vile!

No, she had to be on guard against him. With the pursuers from the four major sects outside, at the very least, she needed to keep an escape route open for herself… With this thought, Xiaoxiao’s gaze fell upon the cloth bag containing spirit pills tied to his waist.

Nonchalantly catching up to him, in the blink of an eye, she deftly transferred the bag into her own embrace…

Thanks to Wei Jie’s familiarity with the route, it didn’t take long for them to exit the valley, leaving their pursuers far behind.

Those from the four major sects seemed to deeply resent the thief who stole the spirit pills, dispatching people not only to pursue them up the mountain but also to stand guard below.

So when Wei Jie and Cui Xiaoxiao emerged together from the ravine, someone immediately blocked their path.

“Wei Jie! Where do you think you’re going?”

Cui Xiaoxiao looked up and saw that the four major sects wore white, azure, black, and grey robes respectively, with a group of white-robed people standing at the forefront.

Judging by their cold gazes, these white-robed people’s attire… was identical to that of the Nine Mystic Sword Sect two hundred years later. No wonder she had mistaken them earlier as pursuers from the Nine Mystic Sword Sect.

However… the one leading these white-robed people at the front… wasn’t that Qin Lingxiao?

Mistaken Era – Chapter 17  

It belatedly dawned on Xiaoxiao – he knew that creature would be venomous, yet he didn’t warn her, which was rather… unbecoming of him. 

But in the end, he did step in to save her, so she should still thank him.

At this moment, however, the purple-eyed man said, “Miss, please forgive me…”  

Saying this, he picked up the still mostly immobilized Cui Xiaoxiao and submerged her in the clear water to help dissipate the venom more quickly.

Fortunately, she had only inhaled the serpent’s toxic mist. If directly bitten and the venom entered her bloodstream, it would have been much harder to treat.

The burning sting Cui Xiaoxiao felt earlier subsided significantly once immersed in the water.

Once able to move, she swam toward the deeper pooled area where the streams converged, using the water to rinse off residual toxic mist and egg fluids from her body.  

However, this thorough rinse left her clothes soaked through, clinging to her skin… She looked up to find the young man was still watching her, so she couldn’t help but say, “Sir, could you please turn around?”

The man raised an eyebrow, slowly turning away as he sat on a large boulder sharpening his sword. He also took an outer garment from his bundle and tossed it behind him to Cui Xiaoxiao.

During this, he continually examined the Soul-Sealing Talisman Xiaoxiao had used, his long fingers slowly tracing back and forth along the intricate lines of the talisman script.

Those long, powerful fingers moved with an almost hypnotic quality that left Cui Xiaoxiao’s mouth feeling inexplicably dry as she watched.

Not wanting to look at him further, Xiaoxiao emerged from the stream, silently chanting an incantation to shake the water from her body. Seeing her tattered outer jacket was no longer wearable after being torn by the bushes, she put on the garment the man had given her.

Seeing him still examining her talisman, she casually asked, “What’s that? Are you also interested in talismans? Oh right, since you also cultivate, which path do you practice?”

The man seemed to gauge that she had finished dressing, only then slightly turning his head, his face in profile as thin lips curved in self-mockery. “I practice an unorthodox path, having never joined any formal sect… Besides, in this vast world, there may be no one willing to accept me as a disciple.”  

Xiaoxiao disliked his self-deprecating tone, so she casually asked further, “How so? Is it because you lack virtuous conduct, which is why no one would accept you?”

It was only then that the man finally looked directly at Xiaoxiao – this skinny young lady now wearing his oversized outer garment, constantly rolling up the too-long sleeves looking like a little girl trying on adult clothes…

A slight but sincere smile played on his lips, yet he stated in an even tone, “My origins are inauspicious, and my bloodline is impure. Reputable sects would never accept someone like me…”

Seeing the faint purple luminance in his eyes, Cui Xiaoxiao guessed he likely had some foreignblood lineage. From this perspective, he was also from humble roots, not unlike her own drifter childhood.

Except her luck was a bit better in the end, encountering her master Tang Youshu who guided her onto the righteous path of cultivation.

Recalling her master’s kindness in taking her in, Cui Xiaoxiao felt rather pensive as she half-jokingly, half-consolingly said, “What does a lowly birth matter? Since ancient times, the path to immortality makes no class distinctions. If one attains the Dao, even dogs and chickens can ascend to heaven. Your skills seem quite good, and you don’t lack talent either. How can you be so self-deprecating? If no one else will accept you, then just take me as your master and join my Linshan Talisman Sect!”

Hearing this, a glimmer of surprise seemed to flicker in the man’s eyes. After a slight pause, he self-mockingly said, “If your master saw someone like me, he likely wouldn’t dare accept me either…”

Cui Xiaoxiao rarely had such an opportunity to show off – as the head of her sect, she did have the prerogative to freely accept disciples.

“My master has long since ascended. It is I who now oversees the Linshan Talisman Sect. If you take me as your master, I will accept you and make you a third-generation senior disciple!”

Cui Xiaoxiao’s keen eyes had already spotted the glint of gold within the man’s bundled pouch, filling her with a tinge of envy at his apparent wealth.  

Her master’s Gold Dissipation Curse had yet to be resolved, and now she found herself stranded in this forsaken place with no idea when she could reunite with her senior martial brothers.

If she could recruit a disciple untroubled by a Gold Curse and lacking no material wealth, that would truly be an auspicious blessing!

Xiaoxiao had promised her master to reform and stop her thieving ways. But if a disciple made offerings, she could rightly accept and make use of them.

However, Xiaoxiao didn’t truly harbor fantasies of actually taking this man as a disciple. Her intuition told her this man was anything but simple, and his skills likely surpassed her own. How could he possibly randomly take her as his master? After all, the Talisman Sect was quite unrenowned and incapable of nurturing great talents.

Her offer of accepting him as a disciple was merely a flippant remark.

Yet this exceptionally handsome man seemed to take Xiaoxiao’s words seriously. His purple eyes partially obscured by loose strands of black hair, one couldn’t tell what he was thinking before he finally looked up with a smile toward Xiaoxiao.

“Since the Linshan Talisman Sect is willing to take in someone as destitute as myself, how can I fail to recognize such grace? In that case, I accept you as my master. Please allow your disciple to pay respects…”

Saying this, he truly knelt down on one knee and bowed three times toward Cui Xiaoxiao.

Though Xiaoxiao had casually joked about taking him as a disciple, more to console the man over his uncertain future prospects, she never expected he would respond so earnestly by immediately kowtowing in acceptance.

She had intended to take it back, but the man had already risen and was respectfully addressing her as “Master.”

…Well, taking on a new disciple didn’t cost any money, so what was there to lose? If the Talisman Sect wished to expand, it needed to branch out. 

This man’s skills were decent. Once her three senior martial brothers reached the rank to take their own disciples, there would be someone to carry on their heroic deeds of hunting rabbits and fowl!

Thinking this, Cui Xiaoxiao let out an awkward laugh before offering some customary words of encouragement, then casually asked, “Oh right, I don’t know this disciple’s name yet!”  

The young man also smiled at his new young master as he enunciated each word clearly, “Your disciple’s surname is Wei, given name Jie!”

Cui Xiaoxiao had been about to compliment how resounding and auspicious such a name would be for revitalizing the Talisman Sect. But the smile gradually froze on her face.

“Wei… Jie? What exact ‘Wei’ and ‘Jie’ characters are those?”

Her new Talisman Sect disciple casually picked up a branch and wrote out his full name in the sand by the stream.

It was remarkably good calligraphy! The vigorous and unrestrained strokes flowed like soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes, exhibiting an unconventional forcefulness.

Thus, the large characters “Wei Jie” struck directly into Cui Xiaoxiao’s eyes.

After a long silence, she asked gravely, “Why… did you take that name?”

He clearly had cultivation foundations and was no ordinary mortal! Yet all cultivators would avoid carelessly uttering the names of infamous villains. So how could he just happen to have the same name as Wei Jie the Demon Lord?

Hearing Xiaoxiao’s question, the man calmly said, “One cannot discard the name given by one’s father. ‘Jie’ means ‘the inability to attain what one covets.’ I was forced to come to the mortal realm against my will. To my parents, I was their unfulfilled obsession.”

Cui Xiaoxiao’s mind was buzzing, her thoughts rapidly jumping between this verdant mountain, the sudden appearance of the Sinbream Serpent, and this man who also went by “Wei Jie”, growing increasingly muddled.

Everything about this place seemed to exude an endless sense of bizarreness.  

She hesitantly asked again, “May I ask, who is your respected father?”

Wei Jie looked directly into his young master’s large eyes and slowly said, “He was the head of the renowned Demon-Quelling Wei Clan in past times – Wei Jingling!”

Cui Xiaoxiao gasped and stepped back two paces. 

The handsome man finally revealed a sinister smile as he continued, “As for my mother… If you’ve seen the stone stele on the mountain, young lady, you should know she was a Demonic Fox. I am a half-demon, born of a human and a fox spirit! Being a demonic descendant unfit to bear the Wei surname, I took the ‘Wei’ character comprised of ‘demon’ and altered my surname accordingly…”

He spoke with an obvious intention to shock this young lady who had so rashly dared to accept him as a disciple, his lips curved in a mocking smile as he waited for her horrified reaction.

After all, his mother was the dreaded Demonic Fox that all righteous cultivators sought to exterminate without mercy. And his father was a criminal condemned by the orthodox sects.  

Whoever accepted such a disciple would be inviting the downfall of their entire sect!

When he agreed to take her as master earlier, it was really just to see her flustered response in this moment of revelation. He wondered what excuse she would use to hastily distance herself from him.

Though he didn’t usually find amusement in such trivial matters, for some reason today he felt compelled to tease this strange young lady who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

He had originally thought she was from a rival sect sent to lure him into a trap, so he pretended to fall for it to see what schemes she had planned.

But later he realized this young lady was genuinely unaware of what lurked in the valley, looking so pitiful when poisoned.  

She was simply an ignorant young lady lacking insight. His rebuke would prevent her from recklessly declaring herself a sect leader and indiscriminately accepting disciples everywhere she went.

But instead of the expected flustered reaction, the young lady stared at him for a long while before asking a completely unrelated question – “May I ask, what is the current year’s regnal era name?”

After Wei Jie answered, Cui Xiaoxiao fell silent, using her fingers to calculate for a while. Then she said in despair, “You said… this is really Elder Mountain? But why are there so many trees here?”

Even if she had mistakenly accepted the wrong disciple, the young lady’s reaction was too bizarre!

Wei Jie didn’t know why she was asking such things. The mocking smile faded from his face as he wondered if she had been so frightened that she had lost her senses and began raving nonsensically. 

He had no idea that his new master’s mind was currently a raging storm of turmoil.

She… she felt a sense of temporal dislocation. This man didn’t seem to be lying or joking, but what exactly was going on here?  

Just as Cui Xiaoxiao was utterly perplexed, a voice suddenly rang in her ears, “My my, you really are something, actually managing to activate the Zhu Jiuyin divine statue. But… how did you end up sending yourself to this time period? Don’t you know that according to your birth destiny, going back two hundred years means you’ll definitely die by his hands? Ah, how fascinating, hahaha!”

Cui Xiaoxiao knew this was the demonic bead within her body speaking to her. Though her blood lineage suppressed the bead’s malicious nature, preventing it from possessing her to commit evil deeds, after being nourished by the serpent venom earlier, it had apparently regained some vitality to rouse from its slumber and idly converse with her.

After saying this, the demonic bead seemed to exhaust its spiritual energy as it let out a lazy yawn before sinking back into dormancy, no longer speaking.

But Cui Xiaoxiao was left utterly shaken. What did it mean – had she really traveled over two hundred years into the past because of that ominous avatar statue? And she was fated to die by someone’s hands here?

Being extremely intelligent, Cui Xiaoxiao carefully analyzed the demonic bead’s words while recounting all the strange events since encountering this man. She finally realized the truth with dawning horror, her breath catching in her throat!

If this really was Elder Mountain over two centuries ago, then the abundance of lush vegetation was because the trees had not yet been incinerated by the Phoenix’s celestial flames.

Then this whip-wielding man who could shake boulders… was none other than the once-human Wei Jie before he became the Demon Lord!

That’s right! According to legends, the not-yet-demonic Wei Jie had come to Elder Mountain and shattered the Four Great Sect’s merit steles…

The more Cui Xiaoxiao thought about it, the more her head pounded. Feeling drained, she asked the man who had been watching her silently, “Those people pursuing us up the mountain earlier… who were they?” 

Wei Jie lazily replied, “Looked like disciples from the Four Great Sects.”

Cui Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, “So… they weren’t actually chasing after me, but coming for you! Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Wei Jie arched an eyebrow as he calmly explained, “But Master, you truly are a beauty like a pristine lotus blossom. How was I to know if any of those many men harbored amorous intentions toward you?”

Faced with this flippant scoundrel, Xiaoxiao could only rub her temples in exasperation before asking, “What did you do to make them chase you like that?”

The man smiled lazily, “Nothing much, just stole some of their spirit-strengthening pellets to replenish my energy… Master, would you like a few to vent your vexations?” 

Saying this, he untied his cloth bundle. To Xiaoxiao’s surprise, instead of gold she had assumed from the glinting light, it was filled with shimmering golden spirit pellets – he had clearly plundered all of the Four Great Sects’ treasuries!

Alright, with his statement, Cui Xiaoxiao could finally align the sequence of events.

Her master’s secret annals had mentioned that before Wei Jie became infamous, he was surrounded by disciples of the Four Sects on Elder Mountain after stealing their spirit pellets.

With his foundations still unstable at the time, he was forced off a cliff during the ambush and ended up in the Sinbream Serpent’s den. Gravely wounded from battling the giant serpent and poisoned, this marked the start of his path towards demonic depravity!

But now, what situation was this? Why had the course of events deviated so drastically from what originally occurred?

Mistaken Era – Chapter 16

These eggs, each as big as an elongated pumpkin, made it impossible to tell what kind of animal they belonged to. 

Just as she was about to turn and speak to the man, she froze, unable to make a sound.

During the earlier cliff jump, the black veil on the man’s face had also been blown open by the wind.

She had originally thought this man was unwilling to show his face because of an unsightly appearance. 

But now, looking at him, it turned out that she was the one encountering a beauty today.

If Qin Lingxiao’s type could be described as boldly handsome in a righteous way, then the man before her possessed an enchanting demonic handsomeness.

Before witnessing such an appearance, it was truly hard to imagine there could be such a bewitchingly handsome man in this world!

Especially those long eyes of his that occasionally shimmered with a faint purple light, complemented unexpectedly harmoniously by his high-bridged nose and thin lips. The depths of those eyes seemed capable of devouring one’s soul, unknowingly luring one into being immersed within them…

However, the man didn’t seem to enjoy being stared at. Under Cui Xiaoxiao’s entranced gaze, his expression grew increasingly cold as he deliberately turned his face away, then slowly said, “What’s the matter? Is there something wrong with my face?”

Cui Xiaoxiao finally snapped out of her daze, forcibly shifting her eyes away from that impossibly handsome face.  

Having witnessed too many ugly things in the world from a young age, she naturally knew that good looks, for either men or women born into lowly situations, were seldom a blessing.

It seemed this man must have previously suffered from the burden of an outstanding appearance, which was why he was unwilling to show his true face.

She had no need to bring up his uncomfortable past by rashly praising his handsomeness.

Thinking this, she calmly said, “Hmm… your face is a bit smudged with dirt. You can wipe it off later. Oh no, it seems we’ve crashed into some animal’s eggs. We should get away from here quickly.”

This man didn’t seem to expect Cui Xiaoxiao to regain her senses so quickly, nor for her to avoid falling into an entranced state like others did upon first seeing his appearance. So he was slightly stunned, wiping his face with his shirt as he said, “We’re both covered in egg fluids. The owner of these eggs will track us by following the scent. I’m afraid it’s too late to leave now…”

The egg fluid carried a sweet, pungent odor that was quite potent and impossible to mask. Looking at these massive eggs, Cui Xiaoxiao’s eyelids began twitching ominously. 

She quickly took off her outer jacket stained with egg fluid and tossed it aside, raising her head to scan their surroundings. Her innate supernatural eyes soon discovered that something seemed to be surging toward them from underground in the northeast corner of the valley.

Such an earthly undulation was truly a sight to behold. But Cui Xiaoxiao had already guessed that whatever was rapidly approaching from belowground must be the owner of the eggs – she just didn’t know what creature could lay eggs of such massive size!

Thinking this, she turned to the man and said, “Should we… go back up?”

The man’s lips curved into a meaningful smile as he casually glanced down at Xiaoxiao and said, “Miss went to so much trouble luring me here. If we just leave, wouldn’t that be a pity?”

He was clearly implying something, but Cui Xiaoxiao didn’t understand what he meant.  

She didn’t have time to ponder it deeply now. After weighing the pros and cons, she said solemnly, “There are pursuers up on the cliff, and a fierce beast here. But beasts are easier to deal with than people. Let’s hide here quietly… When that creature shows itself, I’ll use a Soul-Sealing Talisman to subdue it…”

Finished speaking, she took out several Soul-Sealing Talismans that her senior martial sister had drawn for her – previously, members of the Talisman Sect had relied on hunting to earn a difficult living.

These Soul-Sealing Talismans were exceptionally effective for hunting. No matter how fast a rabbit ran, as long as it touched the talisman laid on the ground, it would immediately freeze in place, allowing one to calmly wait for the prey to come to them for an easy meal.

Now, Cui Xiaoxiao planned to use the same method. She arranged the Soul-Sealing Talismans around the shattered pile of large eggs, then burrowed into the dense tangle of vines, using fallen leaves to conceal her body.

Her plan was to temporarily hide here. When the creature came to check on the eggs and was entrapped by the talisman’s effects, she would then emerge to finish it off.

She just didn’t know what kind of exotic beast it was. If simply roasted, would the meat be tender and delicious enough…?

That man had been idly sitting by the whole time, watching Xiaoxiao bustle about making arrangements like a busy little sparrow, completely indifferent. 

Finally, he did put in some work, getting up to go to a stream and wash off the egg fluid from his body. Then he searched around and fixed his gaze on a trifoliate plant. 

He plucked some leaves, rolled them into two small balls, and stuffed them into his nostrils.  

The surface of the stream also began to ripple slightly. The man looked down at the rippling stream water, slowly standing up to face the rapidly approaching mound of earth from the distant valley, his expression becoming quite solemn.

Cui Xiaoxiao, hidden behind the green screen, stole another furtive glance at the man’s bewitching appearance.

After all, once they escaped this danger, she would have to part ways with this chivalrous gentleman. She might as well take another look, as she might not have a chance to see such a good-looking person again.

At that moment, the rumbling sounds from underground grew increasingly close.

Cui Xiaoxiao glanced over in a daze, and with an explosive sound, two massive snake heads suddenly burst forth from below the ground!

As the two enormous snake heads bounced high into the air, Cui Xiaoxiao’s eyes grew wider and wider.

This snake… had two connected large heads on a single body!

In Cui Xiaoxiao’s memory, she had heard tales of such a snake before. What was it called? That’s right! The Sinbream Snake that emerged from the Sinbream Snake Den atop Elder Mountain two hundred years ago.

The Sinbream Snake was a hermaphrodite, and these two snake heads – one was oval-shaped, likely the female snake’s head, while the other became triangular in anger upon seeing the shattered eggs, obviously the male snake’s head.  

Oh no! How could she have encountered the legendary monster snake?

Her only hope now was that those Soul-Sealing Talismans would work and subdue this ancient serpent of myth.

The man had remained unmoving, so the two-headed giant snake naturally attacked him first, standing by the stream.  

The massive snake body lifted into the air, jaws gaping wide as it suddenly released a greenish mist carrying an indescribable serpentine stench that instantly filled the entire valley.

Cui Xiaoxiao only got a brief whiff before inwardly exclaiming, “Not good!”

So this was how the snake attacked its prey – first immobilizing them by dousing them in a toxic mist before devouring them at its leisure.

Now the entire valley was filled with the serpent’s venom. Cui Xiaoxiao had inadvertently inhaled some and immediately felt her legs go weak, tumbling out from behind the green screen.

Due to the steep terrain, she rolled rapidly downhill, ending up right in front of the two-headed snake – as if sacrificing herself to feed the serpent and shield the man from disaster.

This handsome stranger seemed touched, raising his voice to say, “Miss, there’s no need to be so rash! I can handle this alone, don’t rush forward!”  

If Cui Xiaoxiao could speak through the numbness from the venom coursing through her body, she would curse up a storm!

Was she really fated to perish tragically here because of her Ten Wounds Birthmark?

There was no time to ponder further, as the giant snake had already picked up the lingering scent of egg fluid on her body. Enraged, it glared with four blazing lantern-like eyes, baring baring its ferocious serrated fangs as it lunged viciously toward her.

Though her body was paralyzed, Cui Xiaoxiao caught a glimpse of the nearby stream in her peripheral vision and quickly began chanting the Water Manipulation Incantation inwardly. 

Perhaps being in a life-threatening situation could better stimulate her latent abilities, or maybe her previous sparring with the Sword Sect disciple had made her more proficient in using the Water Manipulation Incantation. This time, without much effort, Cui Xiaoxiao redirected two streams of water shooting directly toward the two terrifying snake heads.

The two massive snake heads were blasted backward by the water, buying Xiaoxiao a brief opportunity.

She circulated her dantian’s inner energy, trying to suppress the serpent venom within her body. But unexpectedly, it felt as if her dantian’s energy was being drained away, leaving an empty void. At the same time, the demonic bead’s venom, which had already flared up once before, showed signs of resurgence.  

Cui Xiaoxiao realized that the demonic bead within her seemed to have been nourished, its previously dormant malice growing increasingly potent.

She immediately guessed the reason – although this bead was a condensation of impurities refined by Wei Jie years ago, its origins were from the venom of this two-headed serpent.

Now that she had accidentally inhaled the serpent’s toxic mist, the demonic bead received nourishment. If it accumulated enough power, it might just break through the restraints of her Yin Blood lineage and seize control of her consciousness…

It was a case of misfortune compounding misfortune in quick succession.

As her dantian’s energy gradually depleted, the water streams she controlled also shrank. The two-headed snake was repeatedly blasted back by the water, growing increasingly enraged.

Once the water’s force weakened, the two massive snake heads shook off the droplets before viciously charging forward again, shrouded in a toxic green mist.

At this critical juncture, Cui Xiaoxiao’s waist was bound by a black whip that yanked her to the man’s side.

After pulling Cui Xiaoxiao over, the young man propped her up against a large boulder. He then leapt toward the two-headed serpent, his agile movements indicating he was completely unaffected by the toxic mist.   

Cui Xiaoxiao focused her gaze on his nose – no wonder the serpent’s venom had no effect on him. Earlier, he had stuffed some unknown grass into his nostrils, apparently acting as a filter against the toxins…

She watched as he drew his rusty, battered sword. While agilely leaping about, he flicked his wrist, slashing rapidly toward the snake’s heads.

Though his movements were swift, the giant serpent reacted with incredible speed as well. The two snake heads dodged left and right with agility while continuing to spew dense green mists that gradually enveloped the entire valley.   

Left with no way to avoid it, Cui Xiaoxiao could only hold her breath and focus her inner energy to suppress the surging demonic toxins within her body.

By now, the giant snake had slithered to the edge of the shattered egg pit. As it moved, its underbelly dragged across the Soul-Sealing Talismans Cui Xiaoxiao had previously laid on the ground.

Her senior martial sister’s talismans did prove effective! The serpent froze motionless like a wooden chicken after being immobilized by the talisman’s power.

But in the blink of an eye, the talisman’s effects seemed to wear off as the giant snake began flicking its tongue once more.

However, the man seized that momentary opportunity. Two streaks of light flashed as the two snake heads were nearly simultaneously severed, spraying crimson blood everywhere…

After decapitating the snake, the man approached its still twitching abdomen, slicing it open to retrieve a large mottled-green serpent gall bladder that he held over his shoulder. He then came over to Cui Xiaoxiao.

Cutting open the gall bladder, he used his own water canteen to collect some of the bile fluid, passing it to her and saying, “The taste is quite foul, but it’s an excellent antidote for serpent venom. Best to drink it down in one gulp.”

Saying this, he offered the canteen right up to Cui Xiaoxiao. By now, the serpent venom was coursing through every part of her body, being greedily consumed by the demonic bead hidden somewhere within.

Knowing there was no time to hesitate, Cui Xiaoxiao immediately drank down the bile fluid the man had passed her. 

This chivalrous gentleman was right – the serpent gall did indeed work. In no time at all, Cui Xiaoxiao felt the numbness leaving her fingertips, and even the piercing pain from the demonic bead’s venom flaring up had greatly subsided.

After drinking another mouthful of the intensely bitter gall bile, Cui Xiaoxiao finally felt some relief, though her legs still wouldn’t move.

Seeing the grass balls the man had stuffed into his nose, she suddenly wondered: how did this stranger foresee that the approaching creature would spew toxins?