Category: Mistaken Era

Mistaken Era – Chapter 5

At that moment, Cui Xiaoxiao asked junior brother Ayi to deliver a barrel of smoke water to Qin Lingxiao who had charged ahead.

“Sect Leader Qin, pour this water onto that cocoon shell, it may be able to prevent this demonic creature from being born!” Little Xiao shouted loudly.

Qin Lingxiao knew this demonic creature was bizarre and demonic. Cui Xiaoxiao’s method was excellent, but perhaps angered by her earlier insult to the disciples of the Sword Sect, he did not reach out to take the smoke water. Instead, he manifested a sword air blade with his hands again and flew up, preparing to cut open the cocoon shell.

This time, when Qin Lingxiao’s sword air blade struck the cocoon, the previously quiet and motionless cocoon rapidly extended a jet-black demonic claw, not fearing the sword’s light at all. It grasped Qin Lingxiao’s sword air blade. At the same time, demonic silk threads surged out from the cocoon again, tightly binding the nearby Qin Lingxiao.

This time, the water mist true qi armor was completely ineffective. Qin Lingxiao was quickly “submerged” within the fine silk threads.

Cui Xiaoxiao said in a tense voice, “Oh no…”

If she wasn’t mistaken, this demonic creature was truly cunning. Previously when Qin Lingxiao could shatter the demonic silk, it was clearly this demonic creature feigning weakness to lure the enemy.

Just like a hibernating bear waking up ravenously hungry, wanting to have a hearty meal, this demonic creature likely also wanted to fill its empty stomach after breaking out of the cocoon.

Ordinary mortal flesh and blood could no longer satisfy its appetite, while a cultivator like Qin Lingxiao would be the perfect supplement.

So it had intentionally feigned weakness earlier to lure Qin Lingxiao closer to the cocoon, and then suddenly attacked, intending to devour Qin Lingxiao in one fell swoop.

Ayi hurriedly threw the barrel of water directly at the creature.

However, the demon had already emerged its head from the cocoon, revealing a face that was neither human nor insect-like. Even though the smoke water made the monster recoil and roar in disgust, it could not stop it from dragging Qin Lingxiao.

Ayi was too close, and his legs were also bound by the demonic silk threads. He fell to the ground and was rapidly pulled towards the creature.

This sudden turn of events terrified the young man, causing him to shout loudly as he flung out the yellow talisman papers from his arms like they were worthless. The transformed eagles, rabbits and sparrows flew about, but were powerless to turn the tide.

Ji Wuqi wanted to rescue his junior brother, but his whole body was scorched, and the slightest movement brought unbearable pain. Meanwhile, the second senior sister Jiang Nanmu was so frightened that she stood at a distance, unsure of what to do.

At this critical juncture, Cui Xiaoxiao felt the toilet paper in her pocket. She quickly took out a sheet, bit her finger to draw blood, and drew a talisman on the paper before sticking it to the back of her loyal elderly dog. She gave the dog another talisman to hold in its mouth and instructed, “Jixiang, stick this talisman onto that giant bug!”

Her master had once said her blood was special, and using it to make talismans could better concentrate her intent. She had painstakingly studied the talisman scripts overnight, and with the reinforcement of her blood, victory or defeat rested on this move!

Perhaps due to the urgency, it unlocked her cultivation channels. After being marked with the talisman, the old dog’s body suddenly swelled, baring its ferocious fangs as it viciously charged towards the emerging demon.

The demon had its attention focused on its two prey, but the old dog acted too swiftly. Caught off guard, its throat was clamped by the dog’s jaws, and at the same time, the talisman was impaled into the demon’s flesh by the dog’s fangs.

The old dog Jixiang seemed highly excited, refusing to release its death grip as it even mounted the demon’s body, furiously wagging its tail.

The demon’s expression became dazed as it turned its head to nuzzle the biting dog, but it soon regained some clarity and raged, attempting to tear the dog apart.

However, in that moment of the demon’s disorientation, the bound Qin Lingxiao suddenly froze, as if his light had been extinguished. His tall figure instantly turned into icy mist, as though his true qi had been drained away, and he vanished into thin air…

Those sword sect disciples who had flown over to rescue their master were aghast, crying out “Master!”

At that moment, a gale suddenly whipped through the air as a white-robed figure descended from the sky, standing atop a sword light—it was none other than the previously vanished Qin Lingxiao, as if a deity descending from heaven.

The second senior sister Jiang Nanmu was once again captivated by his heroic demeanor, murmuring in an infatuated daze, “The Qin Lingxiao from before…was actually just his true qi manifested into a false body? How formidable!”

Cui Xiaoxiao also realized why she had sensed a hazy aura around the earlier Qin Lingxiao—it was not his true qi protecting his body, but a false form he had projected…

This was the false body illusory technique that only great cultivators who had formed their Golden Dan could use, requiring immense true qi to sustain and equally tremendous concentration to control.

Though cunning, the demon had simply ensnared Qin Lingxiao’s false body!

The real Qin Lingxiao who appeared did not use a sword light, but instead drew a rusted old sword embedded with black gemstones. With a swing of his arm, he fiercely struck down towards the emerging demon.

Cui Xiaoxiao had originally planned to douse the demon with smoke water to prevent its emergence from the cocoon, and then subdue and capture it alive.

Seeing Qin Lingxiao’s lethal strike, she urgently shouted, “Sect Leader Qin, please show restraint…!”

But how could Qin Lingxiao listen to her? His rusted old sword had already stabbed into the demon, causing the black cocoon to burst open.

With her keen eyesight, Cui Xiaoxiao noticed that the hilt of the sword Qin Lingxiao wielded was carved with a blooming nine-petaled lotus flower. She didn’t know if it was due to the rust, but the lotus appeared not red, but an ominous jet-black color…

She had no time to ponder this as she swiftly turned her gaze to the fallen demon.

Since it did not fully shed its skin, the demon’s lower half remained in insect form. Unable to withstand Qin Lingxiao’s sword qi, its belly exploded as it was forced out of the cocoon while shrieking, lying on the ground and gasping for breath.

Qin Lingxiao ignored the dying demon, only waving his sleeve to disperse the splattered insect fluids as he strode forward. Amidst the pool of fluids, he found a lychee-sized pearl.

The pearl initially emitted a dim glow, but as soon as Qin Lingxiao grasped it, it quickly turned a dull charcoal color within moments.

A wrathful look flashed across Qin Lingxiao’s handsome face as he glared at Cui Xiaoxiao and demanded, “What kind of talisman did you use? Why did it turn out like this?”

Cui Xiaoxiao bent down to pet her dog Jixiang, who had run back, removing her own blood talisman from its body. She casually said, “It’s just a common beginner’s exorcism talisman…Sect Leader Qin, even though I helped you, there’s no need to be so courteous!”

It was obvious the girl spoke in jest – Sect Leader Qin’s tone towards her was anything but courteous!

Qin Lingxiao’s senior disciple Jiang Zheng angrily said, “My master journeyed from afar to subdue this demon, yet you, an outsider, have defiled the demon pearl. What punishment do you deserve!”

Cui Xiaoxiao laughed derisively at the Sword Sect disciple’s words, “I only used a common exorcism talisman. It was your master’s sword that slew the demon. To say I was the cause is giving me too much credit. Could it be your master’s sword was not properly cleaned, causing the rust contamination?”

Qin Lingxiao seemed disinclined to let others examine his rusted sword closely. He swiftly sheathed it, wrapped it in a white cloth, and handed it to the black-robed woman beside him.

Then, after frowning at the tainted demon pearl again, he placed it into his robe’s pocket.

Finally, Qin Lingxiao lifted his gaze to glare at the talisman in Cui Xiaoxiao’s hand.

It did not seem to be made with cinnabar ink, but rather…with blood as the medium.

Cui Xiaoxiao’s fingers were still bleeding. Qin Lingxiao took a light sniff, and his face abruptly changed drastically. Had it not been for the beautiful woman supporting him, he might have charged towards Cui Xiaoxiao right then. Covering his nose, he suddenly asked, “What are your birth details?”

Cui Xiaoxiao flashed a sweet smile, the beauty mark beside her eye becoming even more vibrant red. She suddenly stepped closer to Qin Lingxiao, as if to tell him something intimate.

Xiaoxiao replied in the most respectful tone, “Why should my birth details concern you?”

The seemingly mild-tempered girl suddenly became defiant, catching people off guard.

Especially for someone like Qin Lingxiao, who was highly revered in the cultivation world, it had been a long time since he was slighted publicly like this.

Qin Lingxiao’s handsome eyes narrowed slightly, scenting the faint bloody smell in the air. Steadying himself, he stated assuredly, “If I’m not mistaken, your birth characters show you have the rare all-yin destiny…Those with such a fate go against their parents and have shallow kinship ties…You must be an orphaned girl, aren’t you?”

The mocking smile on Cui Xiaoxiao’s face completely vanished now.

Because Qin Lingxiao was right – anyone who understood destiny would shake their heads upon seeing her birth details.

She was a posthumous child originally born to a relatively well-off merchant family. Her literate mother and father, who sold calligraphy and paintings, lived harmoniously together.

But when she was still in her mother’s womb, her father met with an accident and was robbed and killed on his way home from a business trip.

After Xiaoxiao’s birth, the family’s fortunes declined and her mother could barely make ends meet, pawning household items day by day.

Her mother later contracted consumption and wasted away from the illness.

Her uncle, who had always looked down on her older sister, sought help from an itinerant daoist priest, who said Cui Xiaoxiao’s fate was extremely inauspicious – one of the rare “Ten Injuries” destiny.

The so-called “Ten Injuries” refer to injuring the father, mother, siblings, spouse, sons, daughters, marriages, wealth, lifespan and luck.

Keeping a girl with such an extremely yin, injurious fate at home would not only harm relatives, but even if forced to stay, this girl would lead a life of solitary suffering.

At the time, the uncle was so frightened upon hearing this that he viewed his young niece Cui Xiaoxiao as a ferocious man-eating beast.

In the end, the ignorant uncle actually persuaded Xiaoxiao’s mother to sell the young girl as a servant maid in the neighboring county for just two taels of silver.

The young Xiaoxiao clung to her mother, unwilling to let go, but her weeping mother stuffed the family’s last steamed bun into her arms before coldly pushing her out the door.

When the young Xiaoxiao was thrown onto the horse carriage, all she had was the crushed bun and her beloved pet puppy Jixiang that insisted on squeezing aboard.

It bared its teeth fiercely, protectively huddling close to little Xiaoxiao.

And just like that, the girl and dog were sold to a wealthy household in the county town.

Perhaps it really was Xiaoxiao’s ill-fated destiny, as just days after she was bought, the wealthy household suffered an arson attack by a gang of bandits who broke in to loot and pillage. By a twist of fate, Cui Xiaoxiao was again abducted by the bandits.

She was nearly sold into a brothel, but luckily an elderly bandit with a remaining conscience saved young Xiaoxiao. This old thief had lost his only daughter when younger, and seeing how much Xiaoxiao resembled her, he felt a pang of pity and secretly took her on the run, adopting her.

From then on, Cui Xiaoxiao followed that old thief down the path of deception and trickery, wandering for over nine years until she encountered the previous sect leader of the Spirit Mountain Talisman Sect, Tang Youshu.

Now, Cui Xiaoxiao had blossomed into a young lady, while her loyal companion Jixiang had grown into an elderly dog nearing the end of its life.

But the wound in her heart seemed to never have fully scabbed over despite the passing years.

And now, for some unknown reason, Qin Lingxiao had suddenly guessed the deeply buried secret of Cui Xiaoxiao’s birth details she was so reluctant to disclose.

Hearing her words, everyone turned to look, yet saw no abnormalities within the courtyard’s tangled silk barriers.

However, Cui Xiaoxiao suddenly turned and rushed back towards the main entrance gate, shouting loudly: “Run! It’s about to emerge from its cocoon!”

At the same time, the gate seemed to be manipulated by silk threads, slamming shut on its own accord.

Then, a tearing, ripping sound erupted from the depths of the farm’s residences, as if something was bursting open.

Everyone immediately tensed, while the Talisman Sect disciples hurriedly sought cover behind water vats, wood piles, or anything providing concealment.

Jiang Nanmu and Junior Brother A Yi hid behind stacked silkworm trays. But as she steadied herself to search for Junior Sect Master Cui Xiaoxiao, Jiang Nanmu was shocked to find Xiaoxiao had positioned herself directly behind that elegant Sword Sect disciple.

This Cui Xiaoxiao! Did she actually think the Sword Sect disciple would protect her? That youth had ruthlessly struck down his own sect mates – he’d likely use her as a human shield before long!

The elegant female cultivator beside the disciple also seemed taken aback by Cui Xiaoxiao’s sudden intrusion behind them, instinctively raising a delicate brow as if about to wave her sleeves and qi to forcibly push Xiaoxiao away.

But at that moment, Cui Xiaoxiao spoke up: “Sect Master Qin, have you ever raised silkworm babies before?”

The handsome male disciple and his female companion both froze, clearly not expecting this flirtatious woman to address him as “Sect Master Qin.” They couldn’t help glancing over at her in surprise.

Cui Xiaoxiao smiled faintly at the youth with the unblemished brow: “The masking powder on your forehead isn’t very seamless. Across the heavens, the only one who could possess eight red lotus mark lines would seem to be the Nine Profundities’ Sect Master Qin Lingxiao…”

The tall, elegant male lowered his gaze coolly towards Xiaoxiao: “Masking powder? I used a concealing technique – even peers of similar cultivation shouldn’t be able to see through it…just how did you discern the flaw?”

This…Xiaoxiao could not explain.

At eight years old, she had suffered a high fever that left her eyes imbued with powers of supernatural insight upon recovery.

Previously wandering the jianghu, she mostly used this ability to help her adoptive father identify wealthy marks ripe for fleecing.

Earlier at the county yatemen, Cui Xiaoxiao immediately spotted the eight crimson lines twisted into a lotus seal hidden on this youth’s brow.

As Second Senior Sister Jiang Nanmu mentioned, those red lines represented the Sword Sect’s cultivation levels – more lines signified deeper attainments.

Possessing the full eight lines meant this person’s powers transcended mortality, having broken through eight tribulations and standing just one final passage away from immortal ascension.

The reason Cui Xiaoxiao considered withdrawing was recognizing this disciple as the renowned Qin Lingxiao, the Nine Profundities’ sect master.

For such an eminent figure to personally attend to a mere county magistrate’s trifling monster disturbance? It hinted that either Qin was easily bored these days, or there were profound secrets here beyond a minor official’s abilities to handle.

As Ji Wuqi said, for the Talisman Sect’s integrity they could not simply take charity. Since that was the case, Cui Xiaoxiao could only now resign herself to giving her life alongside these great cultivators.

However…Cui Xiaoxiao glanced at Qin Lingxiao again, feeling there was something different about his aura compared to earlier, though she couldn’t pinpoint what.

With no time to ponder further, Cui Xiaoxiao eyed the ominous giant cocoon deep within the woven silk barricades. Taking a deep breath, she continued to Qin Lingxiao: “Those who have raised silkworms know—when the larvae are molting their skins, you cannot manually assist or their lives will be forfeit. This demonic beast is currently undergoing its own metamorphosis. We cannot wait for it to fully emerge, or we may miss our chance to interrupt and cripple its transformation.”

Hearing her explanation, Qin Lingxiao immediately understood her meaning.

It seemed the demonic entity was rapidly gaining strength. Even with him present, subduing it would require tremendous effort.

If Cui Xiaoxiao’s speculation was accurate, disrupting its molting process may be the only chance to expose an exploitable weakness.

With that thought, Qin Lingxiao sprang forward towards the dense web of silk strands. Cui Xiaoxiao quickly retreated to shelter behind a nearby water vat.

As Qin Lingxiao’s form flashed closer to the courtyard’s depths, countless strange threads lashed out to intercept him.

Knowing his sword qi could not touch them, Qin Lingxiao withdrew, snagging a long branch with a flick of his fingers before rapidly whirling it to entangle the attacking silk strands.

At this moment, Ji Wuqi emerged to flaunt his own abilities, retrieving a fire talisman with intent to incinerate the encroaching silk threads. Seeing his plan, Cui Xiaoxiao immediately shouted: “Hold, do not ignite the flames!”

Alas, her warning came too late – Ji Wuqi had already activated the talisman’s yellowed script, conjuring dazzling tongues of fire billowing towards the silk.

The Talisman Sect’s arts were not mere illusory tricks. For a senior disciple like Ji Wuqi who rigorously trained within the sect for years, channeling the five elemental energies through talisman scripts to invoke water and fire techniques was child’s play.

So the inferno Ji Wuqi summoned was of truest flames. Yet when meeting those peculiar silk strands, the fire’s scorching heat was greedily absorbed. In an instant, those threads transformed into millions of “fire lines” ensnaring Ji Wuqi’s body.

Seeing their senior trapped in raging flames quickly burning away his robes, Jiang Nanmu and A Yi rushed forward to rescue him. But those threads, despite lacking visible combustion, still drained spiritual energies – rendering them impossible to directly touch.

As Ji Wuqi became engulfed in the blazing inferno, screaming in agony, the frantic Jiang Nanmu flung all caution aside, reaching out to pull the burning silk lines away with her bare hands.

It was then that Cui Xiaoxiao stuck her head out from behind the water vat and shouted sharply: “Wait!”

As she spoke, she flung a paper packet from her robes into the adjacent vat, using a ladle to stir its contents before rapidly dousing the burning, shrieking Ji Wuqi with a scoop of liquid.

Where the liquid met the threads, the raging fires immediately extinguished, the silk retracting and wilting away.

Nearly immolated, Ji Wuqi felt an immense relief wash over him despite his scorched, stinging body.

Yet the Talisman disciples could scarcely believe Cui Xiaoxiao had repelled the demonic silk with just a few ladles of water.

Finished entangling the obstructing threads, Qin Lingxiao turned to ask: “What did you put in that water?”

Cui Xiaoxiao scooped another ladle of water and poured it over several of her fellow disciples, then replied, “It’s powder made from grinding water-pipe tobacco leaves.”

It turned out that earlier, when eating, Cui Xiaoxiao had chatted for a while with the gatekeeper, inquiring in detail about the people and events related to the demonic silkworm incident at the silkworm farm.

Among those who stood night watch, not everyone had fallen victim to the evil deed. One of them was actually the gatekeeper’s cousin, originally keeping watch alongside the two assailants who were killed. However, that night, he alone survived.

It was said that at the time, thousands upon thousands of silkworm threads suddenly descended from the rafters, entangling several people. But the threads wrapping around the cousin became fewer and fewer. Later, when those few were dragged away alive, only the cousin broke free from the threads and escaped.

Perhaps terrified by the ordeal, the cousin later contracted lung disease and coughed incessantly, appearing to be on his last breaths.

However, according to the physician, the cousin’s illness had little to do with the demonic entity, but rather stemmed from his pipe-smoking habit – he never parted with his water pipe, and even his teeth had turned yellow from the smoke. The lung disease had taken root long ago.

The casual remark sparked an idea in Cui Xiaoxiao’s mind – could it be that the demon disliked the smell of smoke?

So she specifically asked the gatekeeper for a bag of water-pipe tobacco leaves. Not only did she grind them into powder and keep them in her pocket, but before coming here, she also smoked the leaves to imbue her clothes with the scent.

When entering the courtyard earlier, those silkworm threads attacked the Sword Sect disciples several times, yet never approached Cui Xiaoxiao, seeming to confirm her speculation.

Now it proved effective, barely saving the life of her senior martial brother Ji Wuqi.

After hearing her explanation, the few disciples from the Talisman Sect finally understood the reasoning behind this junior martial sister’s earlier actions.

No one else felt too awkward, but Ji Wuqi felt quite embarrassed, wanting to thank this trickster girl yet unable to open his mouth.

But for now, no one cared about his unease. Having learned of the demon’s aversion to smoke, the remaining Sword Sect disciples rushed over, trying to snatch Cui Xiaoxiao’s ladle to splashwater on themselves.

However, Cui Xiaoxiao raised the ladle and glanced at these disciples scornfully, “The prestigious Nine Profundities Sword Sect, relying not on your sword auras to subdue demons, but resorting to the same methods as our lowly side-path cultivation? If word gets out, it’ll make you seem so debased!”

During the day, they had mocked the Talisman Sect and their master – she remembered it all well!

Saying this, Cui Xiaoxiao looked at Qin Lingxiao and asked with a provoking smile, “Sect Master Qin, don’t you agree?”

Qin Lingxiao did not speak, only coldly watching his disappointing disciples, then glancing at Cui Xiaoxiao. His gaze darkened slightly as he leapt forward, speeding towards the depths of the silkworm farm.

The extraordinarily beautiful woman keeping pace beside Qin Lingxiao had not uttered a word. But when Qin Lingxiao looked at Cui Xiaoxiao, she also glared fiercely at the young girl, seeming to harbor some hostility.

However, Cui Xiaoxiao’s attention was focused solely on the advancing Qin Lingxiao.

As the founding patriarch of the Nine Profundities Sword Sect, his cultivation far surpassed those of the other disciples. When he dashed forward, a mist-like true qi armor enveloped his body.

Though the demonic threads tried to entangle Qin Lingxiao, upon touching that misty true qi armor, they rapidly froze into ice. Qin Lingxiao manifested a sword with his hand and, with a forceful wave, shattered those demonic threads.

This display of power greatly shocked the Talisman Sect disciples.

It was well known that Qin Lingxiao had once killed his own demonic master out of a sense of righteousness, while also absorbing the master’s supreme cultivation. It was said that the demon Wei Jie had practiced the Demonic Path’s Heart Devouring Great Technique, which required extinguishing all human emotions to succeed.

However, Qin Lingxiao, as Wei Jie’s prized disciple, was able to absorb most of his master’s power while using his self-created Orthodox Sword Dharma to resolve the demonic technique’s karmic backlash.

Strictly speaking though, a large portion of Qin Lingxiao’s cultivation was derived from the top-tier Demonic Path, which was perhaps why he could neutralize the threat of the demonic threads.

Not allowing others to ponder further, Qin Lingxiao had already shattered most of the demonic threads in the depths of the silkworm farm. Under the dim moonlight, a huge black cocoon was revealed on the rafters above the building.

This black cocoon was slowly wriggling, its rough surface cracking open a crevice – just as Cui Xiaoxiao had anticipated, the demonic chrysalis was indeed starting to molt.

Qin Lingxiao narrowed his eyes slightly, realizing that the young matriarch of the lowly Talisman Sect seemed to have some insight. After all, when the demonic threads were entangling everyone earlier, how could she be the first to know the cocoon was about to hatch?

So no matter how earnestly Cui Xiaoxiao studied now, it was just temporary clutching at straws – completely futile!

After their meal, the three senior martial siblings did not accompany the sect master in studying, instead retiring to the adjacent guest rooms to rest.

Once out of the dining hall, Ji Wuqi immediately began complaining: “Our brilliant master, why did he inexplicably make the mistake of passing the Talisman Sect leadership to that freshly-joined little con artist girl on his deathbed?”

Originally, as they followed their master roaming the foot of Spirit Mountain, they encountered a father and daughter claiming to be refugees. The man insisted on selling his daughter as a maid to their master – in reality a pair of thieves plotting to rob them once asleep.

Not only that, the elderly male swindler was utterly vile. Seeing their master was wary and his repeated attempts failing, the brazen villain even tried poisoning their tea to kill the master and disciples.

Fortunately, the female swindler’s conscience was not entirely lost, and she secretly spilled the poisoned tea.

After unmasking their schemes, their master subdued the two yet still gifted them his entire fortune of wealth, truly “purchasing” this Cui Xiaoxiao girl. Despite her repeated attempts to flee and myriad misdeeds, the master never mistreated her harshly.

Ji Wuqi could understand their master wanting to reform the world by transforming a female bandit disciple. But passing the sect leadership to this petty thief girl was utterly baffling.

Recalling her defiant sass-mouthing and lies when first joining, Ji Wuqi felt outraged.

If tonight proved dangerous, so much the better! It would properly teach this con artist girl that the Talisman Sectmaster position was no role for just any dog or cat to assume. If she got scared away entirely, that would be most satisfying!

Second Senior Sister Jiang Nanmu did kindly bring an oil lamp for the diligent junior sect master, as dusk was falling and the lighting growing dim.

“Junior Sect Master Sister, you need not worry too much. With the three of us here, there’s no need for you to take any risks yourself.”

Cui Xiaoxiao looked up at her consistently kindhearted senior with a slight smile, before abruptly changing topics: “How old is the leader of the Nine Profundities Sword Sect? What does he look like?”

Jiang Nanmu hesitated before replying, “That personage rarely shows himself, reportedly constantly secluded in disciplined cultivation within his sect’s grounds. It’s said he is just a few years away from breaking through to immortal ascension. As for his appearance…I’ve truly never seen him before.”

Though her own master Tang Youshu was once a fellow disciple under that Qin Lingxiao, strictly speaking Qin was like an honorary martial uncle to her.

However, after Qin Lingxiao slew his demonic master Wei Jie to attain his current lofty powers, most of the former demon lord’s sect dispersed their separate ways, cutting ties long ago.

Xiaoxiao nodded pensively: “I noticed those Sword Sect disciples all had red lotus line markings on their foreheads…I wonder what the significance of eight red lines would signify in their sect?”

As Jiang Nanmu lit the oil lamp for her, she casually remarked: “Those lotus brand patterns represent their sword qi attainment levels. To have eight red lines across the heavens likely only belongs to the Nine Profundities’ founding patriarch Qin Lingxiao…”

Cui Xiaoxiao nodded in realization, not inquiring further. By now, night had fully fallen, and in their casual chat the two failed to notice several silkworms crawling onto the roof beams, slowly spinning cocoons around the dimly lit room…

After a satisfying meal, it was time to work off that generosity!

When the night watchman drumbeats sounded the wee hours, the Talisman Sect cultivators were prepared, led by a local officer to the afflicted silkworm farm in the county outskirts.

Their guiding officer grumbled along the way: “I said long ago this place is cursed. These farms spanning a hundred li originally all belonged to the Bai family in the east. But alas, the Bais had no heirs, falling severely ill one after another until their line went extinct. Some say it was retribution, since their family business specialized in boiling silk cocoons, with all that killing of life…”

He eyed the disciples warily before continuing, “You see, now that the Jin family has taken up this trade, their farm is plagued by imps too! It’s all because they failed to revere the Silk Sprite…”

Always a conversationalist, Cui Xiaoxiao had also heard local lore about the farm from the county gatekeepers during the day. With interest, she asked: “I also heard the final Bai family matriarch was once pregnant but supposedly unfaithful to wifely virtues, so she was captured and drowned in a well?”

The officer looked at this Taoist nun admiringly. “You only just arrived in Fei County yet understand so clearly – truly possessing divine insights! However…from what I heard, she was not drowned but confined to a shed and burned alive…”

Cui Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened with intrigue. “Such an event truly occurred?”

Energized, the officer lowered his voice conspiratorially: “Common folk don’t know the full story! It was said that Madam Bai was having an affair, and the child in her womb did not belong to the Bai family…”

He paused dramatically before continuing, “Aiya, the shed where she was locked also stored drying tobacco leaves. Who knows how it ignited, but the stench took three days to dissipate! In those dry conditions, fires could start from anything. But here’s the strange part – according to the Bai servants, no remains were found in the ashes of that shed…”

By the time their idle chatter concluded, they had reached the silkworm farm.

The main gates were tightly shut, the courtyard’s surrounding mulberry trees casting an eerie, windy pall in the faint moonlight.

As they pushed open the sealed entrance, a swarm of moths suddenly erupted outwards, drawn to their lantern lights – clearly the abandoned silkworms had already metamorphosed into pupae in the caretakers’ absence.

The sight of swarming insects instinctively disgusted Second Senior Sister Jiang Nanmu, who couldn’t help covering her face with a shriek.

However, Ji Wuqi swiftly produced a talisman slip, muttering an incantation before manifesting flames from his palms to incinerate the entire moth swarm to ashes.

Cui Xiaoxiao couldn’t help praising: “Senior Martial Brother, you can actually summon real flames!”

Hearing this, Ji Wuqi felt quite proud. Unlike the illusory tricks of their junior martial brother A Yi, Ji Wuqi had joined the sect the longest and skillfully mastered control over the elemental forces of water and fire – no mere deceptive stunts!

Amidst the faint aroma of singed silkworm pupae, Cui Xiaoxiao narrowed her large eyes, as if spotting something in the blazing flames just now.

Yet when she brought it up, the others all claimed to have seen nothing. Ji Wuqi rudely scoffed, “If you’re scared, then don’t come in – stop putting on airs and saying spooky stuff!”

With that, he took the lead striding forward into the farm.

But after just a few steps, Ji Wuqi’s footsteps halted, for the path ahead was obstructed by woven layers of sticky silk like a series of barricades, impassable underfoot.

At that moment, a voice came from behind: “It seems you’re simply deaf to dissuasion, blindly coming to throw away your lives. You truly don’t know your own insignificance!”

The Talisman cultivators turned to see the white-robed Nine Profundities disciples had returned.

This time, they were still resplendently garbed, yet faintly emanating a pale white glow in the pitch darkness – the luminous Tian Gang aura radiated from their dantians, capable of not only illumination but warding off blade attacks.

Such high cultivation levels were truly enviable. Even the most junior Nine Profundities disciples with just two lotus lines could become elite cultivators in other minor sects!

Cui Xiaoxiao scanned the disciples, once again spotting that disciple with the unmarked, pristine brow. But this time, he had a fresh-faced young lady in tight black robes accompanying him, likely also a female cultivator.

The leading senior disciple Jiang Zheng disdained even glancing at the lowly Talisman Sect, retrieving a luopan compass to quickly scan their surroundings according to the yin-yang fish rotations before instructing: “This place is indeed thick with demonic miasma. Stay sharp everyone and quickly locate the foul beast’s hiding spot. But be cautious – we must avoid harming what’s…you understand.”

After speaking, the Sword Sect disciples scattered like celestial immortals.

Their bodies sheathed in translucent force-fields, they gracefully wielded spirit swords to slash away the obstructing silk, swiftly advancing into the farm’s inner courtyard.

Ji Wuqi felt indignant at the Sword Sect’s showy display.

As the current strongest among the Talisman Sect’s senior disciples, Ji Wuqi immediately circulated his inner energies, trying to manifest his own luminous aura.

Unfortunately, having overeaten at dinner, this slightest exertion caused him to loudly pass gas with a string of raucous farts echoing across the courtyard…

The three senior martial siblings showed excellent coordination by immediately spacing apart, a momentary fracture in their unshakable sect bond as they subconsciously distanced themselves from their flatulent elder.

As Ji Wuqi flushed crimson in embarrassment, the Nine Profundities disciples were already displaying divine skills – their white robes billowing as they moved with ethereal grace, effortlessly unleashing sword qi to rend away the ensnaring white silk strands crisscrossing the yard.

As the least capable present, Cui Xiaoxiao could only helplessly watch from the sidelines. But as she observed, her delicate brows furrowed before she suddenly called out: “Quickly, hold your swords! Do not cut any further!”

Alas, her words carried no weight, and the Sword Sect cultivators continued flitting about unheeded.

However, one of their disciples – that same elegantly handsome youth with the unmarked brow – soon echoed Cui Xiaoxiao’s cry: “Everyone, halt!”

It seemed this sword cultivator’s voice held some authority, as the others immediately froze their motions.

Yet as they tried retracting their spirit swords, they suddenly found the blades ensnared by countless hairline strands, faintly glimmering with an eerie luminescence as if absorbing their own projected spiritual energies.

For those disciples who had already sheathed their spirit blades, those glowing silk filaments unexpectedly whipped into their bodies along with the returning sword auras. Those cultivators’ eyes bulged as they shrieked in anguish, their skin rapidly withering like drought-parched soil as their essence was drained.

The remaining disciples quickly tried slashing away the essence-absorbing strands, but they only multiplied with each cut, rapidly enveloping their spirit swords in layers reminiscent of silkworm cocoons.

Soon the silk threads also coiled around their arms, exhibiting signs of their own energies being leeched.

The unmarked Sword Sect disciple suddenly extended his palm, expelling thousands of Tian Gang(Heavenly Dao) energy needles to pierce into those ensnared disciples’ bodies.

As the needles struck, those disciples deflated like punctured balloons, eyes rolling back as they collapsed unconscious. The entwined spirit threads, no longer sensing their spiritual energies, loosened and fell away.

Watching disciples dropping all around, the leading senior Jiang Zheng anguished: “Master…you’ve sealed away their entire sword qi cultivation!”

The elegant unmarked disciple responded: “It seems this demonic beast subsists on the spiritual energies of cultivators. If their martial auras weren’t suppressed, not only would their lives be in peril, but the beast would become even harder to handle once gorged on those energies…After returning, giving them Consolidating Qi spirit pills can gradually replenish their depleted inner reserves.”

“That’s uncertain – your method may have crippled their entire cultivation foundations! Even with spirit pills, they’ll likely never reach the Yuan Ying(Nascent Soul) or Golden Core realms!” From the sidelines, Ji Wuqi had clearly witnessed it all and immediately mocked the ruthless actions against his own sect mates.

Upon Ji Wuqi’s disdainful rebuke, the handsome unmarked disciple slowly turned his piercing gaze upon him, his eyes like needles that seemed to jam the rest of Ji Wuqi’s intended insults back down his throat.

The leading senior disciple also seemed offended at an outsider criticizing his sect mates, angrily drawing his sword to chastise the loud-mouthed Ji Wuqi.

But at this moment, Cui Xiaoxiao steadily watched ahead, softly observing: “It’s too late…the demonic beast has already gorged itself…”

Such insulting words slandering their master Tang Youshu were too harsh!

The Talisman Sect’s disciples could no longer keep composed faces. Ji Wuqi grit his teeth, ready to argue with them.

But at that moment, one of the Sword Sect disciples with two curved lotus lines on his forehead immediately stepped forward. He extended his index and middle fingers, manifesting a sword qi that lashed out towards the falcon perched on the roof beam.

Accompanied by a shrill cry, the falcon instantly vanished, leaving only a yellow talisman paper fluttering down.

As the county magistrate reached for his hat, it was neatly back atop his head, as if it had never been snatched away…

“Hmph, the so-called Spirit Mountain Talisman Sect? Nothing but petty deceptive tricks, far from qualifying as true cultivation!” The youth scoffed as he withdrew his sword qi.

In the path of cultivation, refining pills and practicing inner qi is considered the supreme method. Like the Sword Sect using qi to wield swords, it requires extremely high innate talent and fortuitous opportunities.

The middle-tier path involves things like gathering herbs to compound pills. If one luckily obtains immortal connections, they may ascend in a single step.

As for talisman scripting and similar lower practices, they are merely side-paths barely making a living – although visually flashy, they cannot enter the highest realms of true cultivation.

In the past century, while other major sects have produced cultivators ascending to immortality, the Talisman Sect has never had anyone reach full attainment.

For this minor Talisman Sect to now brazenly dismiss the Nine Profundities disciples is simply outrageous.

Originally ignorant of such matters, Cui Xiaoxiao now understood that the sect she inherited was not even worthy enough to carry the prestigious sects’ shoes.

However, she did not get angry. Even though the other party insulted her sect, she simply blinked her brilliant large eyes, silently observing those few disciples.

Seeing the two sides at an impasse, the county magistrate hurriedly tried to mediate: “You are all dragons and phoenixes among the younger generation. It is a blessing to have you grace our humble county! Why not stay, and whichever party resolves the demonic disturbance at the silkworm farm shall be greatly rewarded by this official. What do you say?”

The senior Nine Profundities disciple Jiang Zheng coldly laughed, “We subdue demons only under our sect leader’s command, not for some paltry reward. It’s just that your notice has attracted too many deviant cultivators. To avoid further complications…this official need not send anyone, leave it fully to my Nine Profundities Sect. But if anyone remains oblivious, don’t blame me for not issuing a warning first – dying to demonic forces is far less comfortable than a natural death!”

His final words were clearly directed at the Talisman Sect disciples.

The county magistrate was rendered speechless, unable to save face, and cowered under the imposing aura of these sword cultivators. He turned towards the Spirit Mountain group again.

Lacking the lofty dignity of the Nine Profundities, Cui Xiaoxiao immediately said, “We don’t need gold or silver. For demon subjugation in service of the people…however…if the official could provide us some hearty meals, my fellow disciples and I would be immensely grateful!”

With their late master’s troublesome curse still unbroken, even piles of gold and silver would be useless. Some fulfilling meals would be more practical.

Hearing this, the county magistrate felt he had found a way out and his face beamed with smiles, finding these Talisman Sect cultivators more likable than those arrogant Sword Sect scions.

The leading Sword Sect disciple, seeing these deviant cultivators could not be disciplined, spared no more words and snorted before turning to lead his people away with a flick of their sleeves.

Perhaps due to their overwhelming aura, as they passed by it seemed to whip up a sweeping wind, their long sleeves fluttering elegantly as their robes trailed blossoming patterns – the disheveled Talisman Sect group instinctively stepped back.

However, Cui Xiaoxiao remained unmoving, her large eyes fixated on one of the Sword Sect disciples.

Her second senior martial sister Jiang Nanmu also followed her gaze – towards a tall, broad-shouldered young man with black hair cascading over his shoulders, clad in a white robe.

As this youth in pristine white with a jade-like topknot passed by, one couldn’t help but be drawn to his handsome sword-like brows and beautiful eyes.

Truly a stunning youth! No wonder Cui Xiaoxiao, a girl of budding beauty, couldn’t resist staring at him.

Yet unlike the other Sword Sect disciples displaying curved lotus line patterns on their foreheads, this elegant young man’s brow was smooth and unmarked, likely signifying he was a new novice disciple without much cultivation base.

Though Jiang Nanmu prided herself on not being tempted by appearances, she still joined her junior sister in admiring that beauty until he departed from sight.

It was said the Nine Profundities gathered the greatest talents in the world – seeing them in person, it seemed undoubtedly true.

After the Sword Sect disciples departed, Cui Xiaoxiao and her group shamelessly stayed behind to first enjoy a hearty meal.

Thus, the four disciples plus one dog accepted the county magistrate’s hospitality and entered the official dining hall for their first hot meal in several days.

Halfway through eating however, it seemed another distinguished guest had arrived at the county office. They saw a merchant-dressed middle-aged man walking in cheerfully, accompanied by the county magistrate.

This guest appeared to be of high status, as the county magistrate respectfully greeted him with bows.

According to gossiping kitchen servants, the man’s surname was Jin, given name Youde – the largest local silkworm trader with silkworm farms and mulberry fields spanning a hundred li around. He also owned many banks and teahouses.

The farm afflicted by demonic disturbances naturally belonged to him as well.

With this incident severely impacting his business, as other traders refused to purchase his stock, Jin Youde paid a personal visit while escorted by the magistrate to assess if these demon-dispelling cultivators possessed true abilities.

Ji Wuqi took the lead, brushing past Cui Xiaoxiao to greet the merchant Jin directly.

Though conversing with the senior disciple, Jin’s gaze couldn’t help wandering over to the two ladies at the dining table, eventually settling his sights on Cui Xiaoxiao.

Tsk tsk, what an enchanting beauty!

Though this young lady only wore simple linen robes, sitting upright at the table, a rouge-red mole at the corner of her eye made one’s gaze linger.

Even without makeup, one could tell her features were crisp and alluring, pure like a freshly blossomed lotus. If she changed into thin silks, pinned up her hair loosely and swayed her willow waist by candlelight, she would exude an entirely different charm…

As Jin Youde’s gaze deepened with implications, Cui Xiaoxiao did not avoid his eyes, simply chewing her meal while coolly returning his look.

Observing this exchange of flirtatious glances between man and woman, Ji Wuqi couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. It seemed their new sect leader, if she descended into mundane attractions, could likely make a living peddling her pretty face.

Finally, after pleasantries were exchanged, the merchant Jin took his lingering looks and followed the county magistrate out.

Cui Xiaoxiao also seemed flustered by the wealthy merchant’s advances. Though the visitor had left, she was still curious about Jin Youde’s background.

When Ji Wuqi looked up again, Cui Xiaoxiao had brought her bowl to squat by the entrance, eating while casually chatting with the gatehouse guards.

Her petite stature made even more frail from recent wanderings, combined with her youthful beauty, easily aroused men’s protective instincts. So after just a few words, the guards were happily divulging all to the young lady.

They explained that the afflicted silkworm farm had shown no prior abnormalities until two months ago, when a night-shift worker mysteriously vanished without a trace. Initially, it was assumed the youth had snuck off for pleasure-seeking.

Yet after five days with no return, a sweeper maid happened to glance up and spotted a pale, bulbous mass clinging to the roof beams.

Taking a closer look, she fainted in horror – for enveloped in those giant “silkworm cocoons” was a pallid human face vaguely visible through the silk fibers.

The cocooned victim was that missing worker, but by the time villagers discovered him, some demonic beast had entirely drained his body, leaving behind only withered skin and bones without a drop of blood.

When the county office received the report and sent personnel to guard the premises, another two officers and a night-watch assistant were also ensnared by roof beams, suffering equally grotesque fates. Only one managed a narrow escape before dying of fright soon after.

News then quickly spread about a “sentient silk sprite” lurking there. Beyond the sealed farm, all shops and businesses shut down across town and villages as panicked residents could only scatter talisman ashes around their homes for exorcism before barricading themselves indoors, awaiting officials to resolve the crisis.

Upholding the ethereal grace of a sect master, Cui Xiaoxiao simply listened with a slight smile as the gatekeeper finished recounting the tale. At some point, their chat had turned to other matters as she even requested a pouch of tobacco from the pipe-smoking guard.

Ji Wuqi despised this bad habit of hers – always taking advantage through trickery no matter where she went. Swindling even lowly gatekeepers was utterly shameless!

Once Cui Xiaoxiao could pry no more information, she downed her last mouthful of rice before rejoining her three fellow disciples in hushed tones: “This mission seems too daunting. We should likely withdraw after this meal…”

Unable to stand the new sect master’s lowly, swindling conduct, Ji Wuqi slammed down his utensils and glared. “You think we’re the same as you – just some street hustler? Since we’ve accepted this task and eaten their food, we cannot back down even if it means death!”

Second Senior Sister Jiang Nanmu and Junior Brother A Yi both gave affirmative nods in solemn agreement.

Among the cultivation sects, theirs was the most disreputable, looked down upon by other orthodox practitioners.

Yet as the last flickering torch-bearers of the Talisman Sect’s lineage, they had to uphold the integrity of their school.

Cui Xiaoxiao pondered their resolute expressions before pursing her lips. “Very well, if you all insist, then we shall make an attempt tonight…”

With that, she retrieved a dilapidated, coverless book from her robes to review some verbal incantations and cultivation formulas, flipping through the pages intently.

This battered tome was the esoteric manual their late founder Tang Youshu had bequeathed to Cui Xiaoxiao on his deathbed.

The other three disciples showed no interest in this so-called “secret manual.”

Though their master proclaimed it contained the Talisman Sect’s supreme, esoteric teachings only inherited by each sect leader…

When Ji Wuqi and the others had initially become disciples, earning Tang Youshu’s favor allowed them to “exceptionally” browse the book’s contents once.

Beyond some basic entry-level talisman scripts and spells from Spirit Mountain, most of it simply recounted Tang Youshu’s personal hardships pioneering the sect after leaving his own diabolical master Wei Jie.

Perhaps fearing his feats and legacy would be forgotten after death, their departing master took it upon himself to author this chronicle, repackaged as a “secret manual” that all disciples were obligated to study.

As for attaining even higher levels of cultivation after joining the sect…the old master had said that further progress depended entirely on one’s personal talents and aptitude.

To be fair, he made a valid point. Talismans were merely vessels to amplify the innate abilities of the talisman cultivator.

The same talisman script would yield completely different effects in the hands of people with disparate aptitudes.

In Ji Wuqi’s view, for someone like the totally uncultivated Cui Xiaoxiao, even holding one of their master’s hand-drawn spirit talismans would be as useless as toilet paper.

Fei County was considered one of the more prosperous counties under the Great Qi dynasty’s rule over the past hundred years. This place was renowned for its silk production, with merchants constantly coming and going.

However, recently the rural roads surrounding the county town had become eerily quiet, without even a stray dog begging for scraps in sight.

Upon entering the county, every household’s doors were tightly shut, and wineries and teahouses had their doors barred, with only a few tattered cloth banners listlessly hanging under the scorching April sun despite the windless day.

The streets that should have been filled with the aroma of wine were so silent, inevitably leaving visitors deeply disappointed and those who had gone three days and nights without food plunged into despair.

Four beggars, accompanied by a mangy old dog, wandered into the market street.

This group eyed the closed doors suspiciously as they walked down the deserted street. There seemed to be shadows moving behind the doors, yet no one came out, and a pungent smell of sulfur permeated the air.

Occasionally, these outsiders would knock on a door, hoping for some porridge or water, but were met only with rude rebuffs laced with an inexplicable fear.

A scrawny youth exclaimed desperately, “Sect Leader Sister! You said we could beg for some rice here? But this place is like a ghost town, without even a bowl of dishwater!”

After days without food or water, the youth’s raspy voice sounded coarse and feeble, evoking pity from any listener.

Upon hearing him, the two older men and women dejectedly sat down on the ground, unwilling to take another step forward.

At that moment, the short-statured figure standing beside the youth slowly removed the hood of her cloak, revealing a head of jet-black hair tied in a ponytail and a pair of bright, animated eyes with a charming red mole at the corner.

This cloaked figure was a beautiful young woman in her prime, but hunger had thinned her face, making her large, distinct black and white eyes appear even bigger, and her once rosy complexion now had a sickly pallor.

She feigned a lighthearted tone, “Have you all forgotten what our master said on his deathbed? Fasting greatly benefits cultivators. Eating too many grains will only increase our mortal bones and pollute our spiritual meridians. Now that we’ve fasted for three days, I’m starting to understand what the old master meant. I truly feel lighter on my feet and a sense of transcendence with each breath.”

Hearing the young lady’s useless encouragement, the youth’s legs went weak and he knelt on the ground in despair, “Sect Leader, are you sure continuing like this will help us achieve immortality, and not just starve us to death by the roadside?”

The young lady nodded firmly, “Of course not! Our Lingshan Talisman Sect is no mere empty reputation. How could we starve just from missing a few meals?”

No sooner had she finished speaking than a thunderous rumbling erupted from her belly, the sound clinging to the mortal realm, clearly indicating she was ravenously hungry.

Seeing the meaningful looks from her three fellow disciples, Cui Xiaoxiao calmly smiled, relying on the skills she had cultivated from a young age as a con artist, “Did you hear that? That was the sound of my intestines separating from the mortal realm. I’m just a step away from enlightenment…”

The thirty-year-old man sitting on the ground sneered and turned to the old dog lying by Cui Xiaoxiao’s feet, growling, “I don’t have your cultivation level, Sect Leader! If it comes to it, let’s roast this old mutt!”

Hearing this, the newly appointed leader of the Ling Sect, Cui Xiaoxiao, raised her cloak to shield her long-time canine companion and glared at the burly man with widened eyes, saying sternly, “You dare!”

The dog named Auspicious poked his head out from under the cloak, baring his teeth menacingly at the man, his wrinkled eyes brimming with killing intent, without making a sound.

As the fellow disciples were about to come to blows, the woman sitting beside the burly man was drawn to a notice by the roadside. Crawling over to read it, she exclaimed excitedly, “Hey, there’s a meal discount! Come take a look!”

Setting aside their quarrel, the group gathered around to see – it was a notice posted by the county office.

The notice stated that an evil specter had appeared at the county’s silkworm farm, with the silkworm farmers dying unnaturally one after another. Even the staff sent to keep night watch met cruel fates. The county magistrate was now recruiting extraordinary individuals to stand night watch at the farm and solve this mysterious case.

Normally, upon hearing of such an ominous case, most people would flee. However, as disciples of the Lingshan Talisman Sect, exorcising evil spirits was part of their duties.

Seeing the generous reward listed on the notice, if they took on this task, they could eat and drink well for over a month.

However, Cui Xiaoxiao looked pensive, hesitating to respond.

The burly man named Ji Wuqi, who had suggested killing the dog earlier, gave Cui Xiaoxiao a meaningful look and said, “Cui Xiaoxiao, don’t tell me…you’re afraid and don’t dare take this job?”

Cui Xiaoxiao didn’t reply, simply staring at the notice with her large, distinct black and white eyes.

Meanwhile, the tall woman beside them spoke up in a low voice to Ji Wuqi, “Elder Martial Brother, you can’t be rude to the Younger Sister Sect Leader. Although she hasn’t been in the sect long, Master appointed her as the inheritor of the Lingshan Talisman Sect on his deathbed. We all vowed to follow her…”

After listening to the words of Second Martial Sister Jiang Nanmu, Ji Wuqi finally fell silent with resentment, no longer making mocking remarks.

However, he was not convinced in his heart—he was clearly the most outstanding disciple favored by their master, yet he never expected that before his master’s demise, he would suddenly take on Cui Xiaoxiao, that little trickster from the jianghu, as his final indoor disciple. Furthermore, he had passed down to her the secret manual recording the sect’s esoteric cultivation methods, as well as the position of sect leader.

Looking at her pretentious manner! She had probably already been scared witless by the notice, and didn’t dare accept the task, right?

Indeed, Cui Xiaoxiao had only recently succeeded the position of sect leader, and had no real cultivation foundation, just some wandering cultivator. How could she possess the ability to subdue demons and dispel evil spirits?

But at this moment, Cui Xiaoxiao confidently removed the notice and said, “Let’s go eat a hearty meal at the county office first!”

Ji Wuqi rudely asked, “What ability do you have to dare take on this task?”

As long as it wasn’t about cooking dog meat, Cui Xiaoxiao always maintained an amiable expression. Even facing the eldest senior brother’s rudeness, she simply smiled and said, “I may not be capable, but you three are all highly skilled. Since that’s the case, why couldn’t you remove the notice?”

No matter what, it was still daytime now, and there was still some time before going to guard the silkworm farm at night. The county magistrate should at least provide a hearty meal for these extraordinary guests first, right?

The other people also felt this made sense.

To explain, their pitiful state was a “gift” from their late master. Before his demise, in order to test the unity of the new sect leader and fellow disciples, he had actually placed a curse on them: any gold, silver, or purchased food they handled themselves would instantly turn to ash.

Their master said that if they wanted to eat, they could only leave the mountain to go on a journey of cultivation practice and accept food bestowed by others.

As for when the curse would be lifted, the old master did not provide a clear indication before passing away to the Pure Lands.

He clearly did this to prevent them from lingering on the Spirit Mountain, forcing them to descend and temper themselves.

After exhausting the birds and beasts on Spirit Mountain to fill their bellies, the few of them had no choice but to follow their master’s dying instructions and leave the mountain to cultivate, beg for food to satisfy their hunger, and ponder how to break the curse along the way.

Unfortunately, they did not encounter any tasks, nor catch any birds or beasts to eat during their journey.

The few of them were too proud to shamelessly fight with real beggars over scraps, nearly starving to death from their master’s curse.

These past few days, they could only endure by eating wild vegetables and mountain fruits.

When they arrived at the county office, the county magistrate looked down at these few who claimed to be cultivators from the Spirit Mountain Talisman Sect with some disdain. He spoke, “It seems the times are hard if even beggars can’t get by through begging. But going a little hungry is still better than an unnatural death. If you want to scam for food and drink, you’d best be on your way! This task is not easy to take on…”

Cui Xiaoxiao turned to examine her fellow disciples – disheveled and covered in dirt, indeed not much different from beggars. No wonder the county magistrate didn’t take them seriously.

Seeing a few constables rudely trying to drive them out, Cui Xiaoxiao instructed the youngest boy, “Ayi, show them a little skill!”

Angered by the constables’ disrespect, Ayi didn’t hold back. He simply pulled a corner of his robe, bit his finger to draw some blood, and sloppily drew a talisman on the cloth. With a wave of his hand, it turned into a streak of fire, burning the cloth to ash that scattered into the sky.

The remaining ashes unexpectedly coalesced into form, transforming into a soaring falcon that let out a piercing screech as it swooped towards the county magistrate sitting on the dais, snatching his official hat up onto the roof beams.

This sudden event happened in the blink of an eye, leaving everyone in the county office gaping in shock.

Ayi also puffed out his chest proudly.

After the stunned county magistrate regained his senses, he hurried around the hall table with an excited expression and cupped his hands respectfully towards Cui Xiaoxiao, “Venerable cultivator , my ignorant eyes failed to see your divine talents. Please forgive my disrespect! With your assistance, the demonic forces at the silkworm farm will surely be eradicated…”

“That’s not necessarily so!”

Before the Talisman Sect could fully bask in the county magistrate’s flattery, someone suddenly poured cold water on it.

Cui Xiaoxiao turned to look and her eyes lit up. She saw a group of handsome young men in white gauzy robes walking in from the office entrance.

Leading them was a tall, well-proportioned man with four red lines twisting into a lotus mark on his forehead.

The dozen or so people behind him had either three or two red lotus lines on their foreheads as well.

Watching this group in billowing white robes glide across the ground without seeming to disturb a speck of dust exuded an ethereal aura.

After noticing the lotus marks on their foreheads, Jiang Nanmu couldn’t help but murmur, “These people…could they be disciples of the Nine Profundities Sword Sect?”

The newcomer glanced disdainfully at the “beggars” from the Talisman Sect before coldly addressing the county magistrate, “I am a disciple of the Nine Profundities Sword Sect, sent here under my sect leader’s orders to subdue the demonic forces.”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Ji Wuqi and the others changed.

The Nine Profundities Sword Sect had quite the reputation – one could not avoid mentioning their founder and sect leader Qin Lingxiao.

What cultivator had not heard of the Nine Profundities’ foremost sword master Qin Lingxiao?

This heaven-blessed prodigy had once sworn brotherhood under the demon lord Wei Jie. Persevering as his master descended into demonic practices, Qin determinedly slew Wei Jie when he went insane from evil arts, simultaneously absorbing nearly a century of the demon lord’s cultivation, exponentially increasing his own power.

By now, Qin Lingxiao has probably already refined his Dan and attained the Yuan Ying realm, just steps away from breaking through tribulation to ascend to immortality.

The Nine Profundities Sword Sect that Qin Lingxiao single-handedly established is furthermore the paramount sect among all cultivation sects, with countless disciples under its glorious banner.

Never did they expect that so many eminent cultivators from such a prestigious sect would suddenly appear in this small Fei County town – it was almost unbelievable.

That ignorant county magistrate failed to recognize their formidable status. Despite witnessing the “talon snatching official hat” technique from the Spirit Mountain Talisman disciples, he did not believe these Sword Sect disciples possessed any more outstanding abilities.

Cui Xiaoxiao had only recently become the Talisman Sect’s sect master within the past month. Before being taken in by their late master Tang Youshu, she was merely a street hustler skilled at trickery in the mortal world, completely ignorant of the ways of cultivation.

Though Qin Lingxiao’s name carried great weight, the similarly ignorant Cui Xiaoxiao heard the speaker’s words and her first thought was – these people want to snatch our mission!

So she pursed her cherry lips and apologetically said to the Nine Profundities disciples, “There is an order to things. This mission was accepted by us of the Spirit Mountain Talisman Sect first. You all should look elsewhere for tasks.”

However, the Nine Profundities disciples couldn’t help but erupt into scornful laughter.

The leading disciple, Jiang Zheng, disdainfully appraised the slender girl before him and couldn’t resist mocking, “Outrageous! A mere deviant sect dares to compare itself to my preeminent Nine Profundities Sword Sect? Laughable! You think we’ve come to vie for some trivial task like you all?”

The disciple beside him also sneered coldly, “Your so-called master Tang Youshu was once a fellow disciple under our sect leader. What kind of dog sect is this ‘Talisman Sect’? An obscure talisman cultivator actually dared to establish his own sect? And he ultimately died pathetically on Spirit Mountain! You’d best scram before causing more embarrassment!”