When we first met at the Dao Asking Conference, Sheng Xi wasn't like this.
While they may be unrestrained and dissolute, at least they wouldn't so readily discard the inviolable principles of the righteous path.
Sheng Xi smiled at him as usual, acting as if he didn't care about anyone. "What's there to ask? The path of demonic cultivation is faster, why wouldn't I choose the faster shortcut?"
“There is no possibility of ascension for demonic cultivators unless you can find a way to be reborn,” Ji Mofan said. “You must have been struck by lightning to make such a choice, sacrificing all your immortal destiny to obtain this shortcut.”
Sheng Xi's expression was particularly sour, and he looked left and right as if he was unwilling to go into details.
Ji Mofan had no intention of reopening old wounds, but if Sheng Xi was determined to drag him down into the demonic path, he could no longer remain indifferent.
"Fine, fine, I'll tell you the truth. Don't look at me like I'm a lost teenager." Sheng Xi finally couldn't take it anymore and raised her hand to press down.
“I’m clearly much older than you,” he muttered.
"But your current behavior seems even more childish than my junior brother's," Ji Mofan commented.
He said this casually, and he didn't specifically mean Li Geyue.
As the chief disciple of the Yuncang Sword Sect, he has countless junior brothers in Yuncang Mountain.
However, Sheng Xi clearly misunderstood, her eyebrows almost standing on end in anger. "You're comparing that piece of trash to me? His Golden Core cultivation was built up with some unknown rare and precious materials, as hollow as a playboy who spends his days in brothels."
Ji Mofan's eyebrows twitched. "You've recently clashed with him?"
Sheng Xi was exceptionally talented and had always looked down on those aristocratic scions who relied on their family's accumulated wealth to ascend to immortality. Naturally, he disdained associating with people like Li Geyue.
After all, even Li Jinchu hadn't received many kind words from him.
But Sheng Xi just mentioned that his attitude was too familiar.
Sheng Xi crossed her arms and rolled her eyes very bluntly, "It's a mission issued by the Mercenary Guild. Someone wants to harm him."
"...He's only been in the Demon Realm for half a month, who would have ill intentions towards him?" Ji Mo Fan frowned and muttered to himself.
Sheng Xi scoffed, "You really care that much about his safety? Have you completely forgotten how he treated you back in the Sword Sect?"
Ji Mo Fan Tong Sheng was not familiar with him, and Li Ge Yue would naturally only have nodding acquaintances with him.
However, given Sheng Xi's personality, he would find a reason to criticize even a passing dog, so Li Geyue naturally couldn't escape being scolded.
I know a little about how they used to get along.
Ji Mofan didn't mean that. The reason Li Geyue was being targeted might be partly because he openly presented the Demon Lord with a congratulatory gift that the Demon Lord cared about, thus arousing the jealousy of others.
On the other hand, it might also be because of the things that Ji Mofan asked him to investigate.
If we can find the person behind the missions assigned by the Mercenary Guild, we might be able to follow the clues and uncover the truth about Wang Shu, or even the Demon Lord's disappearance.
However, these things cannot be discussed with Sheng Xi for the time being, as Ji Mo Fan does not know whether this person is an enemy or a friend.
"He's my junior brother, after all. We've spent over four years together day and night," he said vaguely, picking out the things he could say.
Sheng Xi's face was full of disappointment and frustration at his disappointing appearance.
However, their relationship wasn't close enough for him to repeatedly offer advice, so Sheng Xi did nothing more than feel displeased.
“If it weren’t for your decent talent, do you think I would have said another word to a potato like you?” he said.
"Tell me the 'truth' you were about to tell me," Ji Mofan said, steer the conversation back to the main point.
Sheng Xi took a deep breath. "I've come to the Demon Realm to find someone."
Ji Mo Fan promptly revealed a puzzled expression.
In the cultivation world, cultivators occasionally fall into the demonic path. Very few manage to escape the pursuit of the various sects of the immortals and successfully hide in the demonic realm. Nine times out of ten, they are all highly powerful individuals, and each time they do so, they cause a great uproar in the cultivation world.
However, before and after Sheng Xi's "fall," Ji Mo Fan had not heard of such rumors.
“I know what you’re thinking. The missing person isn’t a demonic cultivator.” Sheng Xi shook her head, clearing up the question that Ji Mo Fan hadn’t voiced. “What’s missing is a puppet.”
This time, Ji Mofan's expression of confusion was much more genuine. "What?"
Sheng Xi seemed somewhat embarrassed to speak, but under Ji Mofan's gaze, she reluctantly took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and slowly opened her mouth.
"You should know my background."
Ji Mofan nodded. "Your hometown was destroyed because of the invasion of demonic beasts. Fortunately, the disciples of Chaoming Palace arrived in time and dealt with the horde of demonic beasts that were causing trouble."
"They found you sleeping in a pool of blood, clutching a chipped woodcutter's knife, but most of the blood wasn't yours; it was from the corpse of the monster next to you."
At the time, Sheng Xi was only ten years old. Relying solely on his mortal body, fueled by hatred and fear, he forcefully unleashed the potential of his spiritual root and smashed the monster's head with a woodcutter's knife that had no connection to immortality.
Chao Mingdian thus recognized his potential and brought him back to the sect for further education, which led to his later emergence as the exceptionally talented genius Sheng Xi.
"Actually, part of this rumor is just me bragging." Sheng Xi lowered his head for the first time in front of Ji Mo Fan, scratching the back of his head. "Back then, Chao Ming Palace took back not only me, but also a puppet."
"Although it is true that I killed a demon beast with a wood-chopping knife, if it weren't for that puppet, I would never have been able to hold on until the disciples of Chaoming Palace arrived. I would have been devoured by the demon while unconscious."
"That puppet is also my only surviving 'family member'."
Ji Mo Fan frowned and fell silent. He felt a flash of inspiration in his mind, and with a thought, he used his spiritual power to scoop something out of the ruins.
Although it was blackened by smoke, crafted artifacts are not easily destroyed by fire, so this Qiankun bag is still usable.
Originally, since it was an alchemist's item, Ji Mofan didn't even want to touch it.
However, because of Sheng Xi's strange words and actions, he still used his divine sense to probe inside and fished out the puppet from the messy clutter.
The little puppet, which had been badly beaten by Ji Mofan in the battle, sat blankly on the ground, with traces of demonic energy still seeping from the cracks on its body.
"You're not talking about this puppet, are you?" Looking at the frostbite marks still remaining on the puppet's blade, Ji Mofan felt a little guilty, which was unusual for him.
Sheng Xi didn't say anything, but quietly walked over and gently poked the puppet's head.
Although the little puppet was dull, it still gave Sheng Xi a tiny reaction after receiving the fresh demonic energy.
He blinked and gently nudged Sheng Xi's outstretched hand in front of him.
Ji Mofan's furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
He didn't trust Sheng Xi much, but the products of weapon crafting don't lie.
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