Chapter 210 Cultivation Path A (Part 4) Path A's combat power is maxed out...
Emerging from the valley, beyond the dense forest, the outline of Shanshui Village gradually came into view.
When the villagers heard from Changyu that Song Ce had returned, they were initially surprised. Then, the village chief gathered all the villagers to wait at the village entrance. After all, he was now an "immortal," his status different from before; he was no longer the skinny, small boy who needed the villagers' help.
Before long, the villagers saw a figure slowly approaching in the dim light.
The newcomer was dressed in plain, spotless clothes, and exuded a faint aura of otherworldly grace. He was a completely different person from the thin, frail boy he had left the village.
The village chief led everyone forward quickly, their eyes filled with tears as they prepared to kneel in respect. Unexpectedly, Song Ce raised his right hand slightly, and the villagers could no longer kneel down.
Witnessing such divine power firsthand, the villagers were extremely excited. An aunt who usually took good care of Song Ce rushed forward, choking back tears, and said, "Is that Ce-ge'er? You...you've come back to see us?"
Song Ce quickly stepped forward to help his aunt up, and said gently, "Yes, Aunt, I came down the mountain this time to deal with that monster in the mountain."
The crowd was taken aback for a moment, then started arguing.
"See what I told you? Since Ce was chosen by the immortal master to be his disciple, he can naturally foresee the troubles that will befall our village!"
"Yes! We've watched Ce-ge grow up since he was little, he definitely won't abandon us!"
"That's right! That's right!"
Seeing the villagers arguing endlessly, the village chief couldn't help but scold them, "Alright! Stop arguing! Xiao Ce, luckily the monster didn't have time to cause trouble. Now that Chang Yu has been cured by you, only Liu boy is left! Alas, ever since he came back from the mountains, he has locked himself in his room, and his parents are so worried that their hair has turned white!"
As soon as the village chief finished speaking, the aunt couldn't hold back anymore and cried, "This child was the most promising person in our village, how could he have such a miserable life..."
Song Ce offered a few words of comfort, then said, "I'll go check on him."
"Hey! Hey!"
Fearing that having so many people would hinder Song Ce's magic, the village chief immediately sent everyone home, leaving only a few respected elders to guide him to Liu You's house.
"Old Liu, are you home?"
Soon, the courtyard gate was opened from the inside, and Liu You's father, Liu Dazhuang, saw everyone coming and sighed as he greeted them, "Village Chief, you've arrived."
"Old Liu! How's young You feeling?"
Liu Dazhuang wiped his face, his voice slightly choked with emotion, and said, "It's still the same old story. This child only knows how to eat now, he can't even speak properly. When he gets angry, he yells and screams at us old folks, sigh..."
As soon as the group entered the courtyard, Liu You's mother, Madam Qian, curtsied. Upon recognizing the newcomers, she exclaimed, "Is that...Xiao Ce? You're back?"
"Third Aunt, I'm back. I came to see Liu You."
Madam Qian nodded, having no interest in reminiscing, and with red eyes, pushed open the door to the west bedroom. Instantly, a thick, demonic aura rushed out.
Song Ce set up a protective barrier for the village chief and his group, then looked at the sallow-faced young man lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) – it was Liu You. His eyes were closed, his brows were furrowed, his chest was rising and falling slightly, and a faint aura of death surrounded him.
Hearing the noise at the door, Liu You suddenly opened his eyes. His once gentle and clear eyes were now a ghostly green, and a strange smile slowly crept onto his lips.
"Oh, I never expected that such a small village like Shanshui would actually hide a Qi Refining stage cultivator."
Song Ce's gaze was calm as a still pool as he said indifferently, "You parasitic vine demon, you have quite the audacity to possess a mortal's body and drain the life force of the living."
Upon hearing this, "Liu You" suddenly chuckled and said sarcastically, "You little cultivator have quite the eye! I wonder which noble disciple you are who stood up for justice? Let me tell you the truth! This body may be weak, but it contains a trace of Wenqu merit! Once I refine it completely, it will help me break through!"
After the parasitic vine demon finished speaking, it suddenly pounced down from the kang (a heated brick bed), its ten fingers bent like hooks, carrying a putrid demonic aura as it aimed straight at Song Ce's face.
Unexpectedly, when he struck out with his palm, the little cultivator in front of him did not move at all, nor did he even make a move to fight back. He just stood there quietly watching him.
The parasitic vine demon crashed to the ground, bared its teeth, and got up. Its green eyes were fixed on Song Ce, and it made a strange hoarse sound in its throat: "Interesting. No wonder you're so fearless, daring to meddle in my business!"
As soon as it finished speaking, it flung out several jet-black vines from its sleeve, twisting and coiling as they stabbed straight toward Song Ce's chest.
Song Ce's expression remained unchanged, and he gently raised his finger.
In an instant, an invisible golden barrier unfolded before him. The vines that collided with it were like moths to a flame, instantly turning into wisps of black smoke and dissipating into the air without leaving a trace.
The parasitic vine demon staggered back two steps, genuinely feeling a sense of fear.
"You...you're not even at the Qi Refining stage! Who are you? Who exactly are you?"
"Who I am is not important." Song Ce landed slowly, his gaze calm to the point of being gentle. "What is important is that you should leave."
"Leave? No! No! I finally managed to snatch this body, what... what are you going to do?"
A hint of madness flashed in the eyes of the parasitic vine demon. Just as it assumed the hand seal posture, a cold and clear voice suddenly rang in its ears: "I will do my utmost to send you on your way."
"No...no! No!!"
Song Ce said no more, condensed a huge amount of spiritual power in his palm, and slapped Liu You hard on the forehead.
"Roar! Roar!! Roar!!!"
The parasitic vine demon struggled frantically, and the illusory black shadow of the vines grew several feet in size, crackling and snapping.
How is that possible?
How is that possible?
The spiritual power of this little cultivator in front of me is clearly only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, so how can he be more powerful than the Eastern Realm Demon Lord whom I have had the good fortune to meet?
It seemed to sense the threat of death and suddenly cried out in a shrill voice, "You filthy cultivator, you can't kill me! I am transformed from a thousand-year-old spirit vine! I can help you cultivate! No! If I die, this body will die with me! You call yourselves a righteous sect, are you just going to watch this mortal die?"
"With me here, he won't die, but you might not be so lucky."
Song Ce walked slowly closer and snapped his fingers. The black shadow of the parasitic vine demon behind him shrank rapidly, and its original pitch-black color gradually turned gray until it finally lost all vitality.
He turned to look at Liu You's physical body on the bed and immediately set up a spirit-nurturing array suitable for mortals in the room.
As Liu You's soul merged with his, his complexion gradually returned to normal, and his breathing became steady. After doing all this, Song Ce turned around and removed the barrier outside the door.
The village chief and others outside the door were already pacing anxiously, but the next second, the door creaked open by itself.
Song Ce came out of the house with a gentle smile on his face and said to everyone, "Alright, the demon has been eliminated, and Liu You will wake up in a while."
Upon hearing this, Liu Dazhuang cried out in surprise, and Madam Qian kept wiping away her tears, "Thank you, Immortal! Thank you, Immortal!"
Seeing everyone's excited expressions, Song Ce gently gave them a few instructions before heading to several forests around Shanshui Village to investigate thoroughly. After confirming that there were no more monsters, he set up a protective formation.
After doing all this, he didn't linger any longer and boarded the white jade flying boat, leaving Shanshui Village, thus fulfilling the original owner's connection with this small village.
However, as soon as Song Ce returned to the Yuheng Sect, he was stopped by Mu Qingdai, who was guarding the sect gate.
"Senior Brother Song, please wait!"
"Junior Sister Mu, is something the matter?"
Mu Qingdai smiled gently and said in a low voice, "Last time, Senior Brother was on important business, and Qingdai did not want to disturb you. Today, we are fortunate to meet again. I wonder if Senior Brother would be willing to travel together again?"
From these brief encounters, Mu Qingdai had her eye on this rather capable young man. A young cultivator with such rapid advancement and exceptional talent was destined for the inner sect. If she could capture him before he entered the inner sect, would she ever lack cultivation techniques and elixirs again?
Although she was born into a family of cultivators, her parents were only from a collateral branch and their natural talents were mediocre. She had to do everything she could to find a way out for herself, otherwise, when all the family's resources were poured into the main family's disciples, she would inevitably become a pawn in a marriage alliance, arbitrarily betrothed to some cultivator from a powerful family in exchange for the family's benefits.
Rather than waiting to die, she might as well take the initiative. Song Ce, a lone but exceptionally talented disciple of a sect, was precisely the best springboard for her. She didn't need to give him her true feelings; she only needed to offer him just the right amount of affection when he was young and insignificant. When he rose to prominence in the future, she could then reap countless benefits from that relationship.
Even if he doesn't become a powerful figure, it doesn't matter. He's never been the only target I've set my sights on.
...
As Mu Qingdai was pondering, she heard the young man in front of her speak calmly: "I appreciate Junior Sister Mu's kindness, but I have just returned to the sect and have important matters to attend to." His voice was quite calm, revealing little emotion. "I'm afraid I will have to disappoint Junior Sister Mu."
Mu Qingdai's smile froze for a moment, then relaxed again, her fingertips gently twisting the corner of her sleeve: "Senior Brother Song, do you find Qingdai bothersome?"
Her eyes were lowered, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath them. Her tone carried just the right amount of grievance and confusion, "Ever since I first met Senior Brother Song, Qingdai has always wanted to ask him some questions about cultivation. I thought that meeting you today was fate, but I never expected that you, Senior Brother..."
Song Ce frowned slightly and said frankly, "Junior Sister Mu and I are both newly initiated disciples. If you have any doubts, it would be safer to consult the elders."
Mu Qingdai: "...???"
She clenched her fists tightly and forced a smile, saying, "Senior Brother Song is right. Qingdai didn't think things through."
Mu Qingdai suppressed her anger, maintaining a gentle and demure demeanor. "It's just that the elders are very busy, and I am of dull talent. How could I dare to bother them with such trivial matters?"
She tilted her head slightly, the jewelry at her temples swaying gently with her movement. "Don't you think so, Senior Brother Song?"
Song Ce remained unmoved by her feigned coquettishness. Having experienced multiple worlds, he was no fool. The undisguised ambition in Mu Qingdai's eyes had already betrayed her impure intentions.
“The key to cultivation lies in diligent contemplation and self-enlightenment. Instead of seeking answers everywhere, Junior Sister Mu, you should spend more time meditating and cultivating.” After saying this, Song Ce nodded slightly, walked past Mu Qingdai, and slowly headed towards his residence.
As Mu Qingdai watched his departing figure, the gentle smile on her face finally vanished completely, replaced by a cold expression.
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Author's note: [Keep it up!]
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