Chapter 58 Demon Battle 1 What if I were a demon?
Yuan Li spoke in a light and casual tone. The demon soldiers under Zhi Yan's command nearby assumed that she was about to give some instructions and did not pay any attention to it.
Meanwhile, Qianqian and Mei Zihan, who were patrolling on the other side, straightened their backs and quietly watched the movements. Chen Du even had his right hand on his waist.
Seeing Li Yuan's wide-eyed stare, Xu Xing shook her head slightly, let out a soft breath, and turned to walk towards Yuan Li as if nothing had happened.
"What are your orders, General Yuan?"
Seeing Yuan Li staring at her without saying a word for a long time, fine beads of sweat slowly seeped from Xu Xing's forehead under his cloak. Had he been discovered?
"I don't have enough demon soldiers under my command. I'll pick a few from you to come with me to find the remnant souls."
Yuan Li finally looked away and pointed out two more people, including Shen Du.
The leading demon soldier's eyes darted around. They had originally thought that the credit for finding the remnant soul would go to Yuan Li and her subordinates, but they hadn't expected to get a share themselves. Secretly pleased, he feigned hesitation for a moment before agreeing, "Please, General Yuan, go and return quickly, otherwise we won't be able to explain ourselves when General Zhi comes back."
As he spoke, he gave Xu Xing a wink, hoping she would take some of the credit.
"..."
Completely bewildered, Xu Xing nodded calmly, exuding confidence, which earned him an approving look from the other party.
Yuan Li left the volcano with the three demon soldiers who were coming and his original five subordinates. Chen Du lagged behind a few steps and gradually walked alongside Xu Xing, who was at the very back.
Xu Xing glanced at them, wanting to ask if they wanted to find an opportunity to make a move. The two of them, along with her several beast pets, had a good chance of winning. However, Chen Du shook his head slightly, intending to see what the demon wanted to do.
Yuan Li, who was walking at the front, suddenly spoke up, "I was injured a few days ago and arrived a few days late. General Zhi Yan, are you dissatisfied?"
This is the territory of the demon soldiers under the command of "Zhi Yan," who has not yet shown himself. Apart from Xu Xing and Shen Du, who infiltrated the area, there is only one Foundation Establishment stage demon.
Upon hearing this, Xu Xing and Shen Du exchanged a glance, remained silent, and then simultaneously looked at the demon.
"..."
The demon looked around and, seeing that the two remained silent, had no choice but to answer himself, "General Yuan was injured in an accident while doing business for the Demon Lord, so General Zhi naturally won't mind."
"Is that so?" Yuan Li suddenly turned around, staring at the demon, and slowly said, "Then why did Zhi Yan leak false information, causing me to be ambushed by demonic beasts and have my old injuries aggravated?"
"I couldn't contact my subordinates and was completely isolated. If I hadn't happened to get two bottles of Qi-replenishing pills, I would have bled to death."
Those few days were the most humiliating for Yuan Li. As a dignified demon general, she had fallen so low that she couldn't even produce a single spirit stone. Zhi Yan had plotted against her in order to seize power. Yuan Li was determined to get revenge!
Two bottles of Qi-boosting pills?
Xu Xing looked up at Yuan Li. Coincidence? Or...?
"You!" The demon finally realized that Yuan Li's visit was ill-intentioned and that she was not trying to share the spoils of the remnant soul with them. He immediately looked at Xu Xing and Shen Du, "We must go back quickly! This woman clearly has ill intentions!"
The two people who were being urged remained motionless.
Yuan Li scoffed, her eyes filled with disdain. She raised her hand and snapped her fingers, and black flames instantly ignited around the demon. In an instant, a Foundation Establishment cultivator was reduced to ashes without leaving a trace.
Seeing her slaughter her own kind, the five demon soldiers stood quietly to the side with their eyes down, as if they hadn't seen anything.
Shen Du frowned slightly. Such cultivation was definitely not just at the Golden Core stage; she must have suppressed her cultivation to enter this realm.
He wasn't confident of victory against this demon, but if he wanted to cover Xu Xing's escape, he might give it a try. With that in mind, Chen Du subtly moved and stood half a step in front of Xu Xing without leaving a trace.
Yuan Li glanced at the two of them and said calmly, "There's no need to be so nervous. If I wanted to, I would have exposed your identities at the volcano just now. That Azure Feather Heavenly Fire Furnace is not so easy to obtain."
She gestured with her chin toward the five silent demon soldiers behind her, "They are all my loyal followers and will not leak any information."
Thinking of the Qi-replenishing pill she had deliberately mentioned earlier, Shen Du guessed what was going on, but he did not let his guard down and said in a deep voice, "General Yuan, what is the meaning of this?"
Yuan Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I have a deal to make. Would you two be interested in hearing about it?"
In the Demon Race, the strong are revered. The Demon Generals under the Demon Lord Qiong Cang are constantly vying for power, and Qiong Cang is happy to see this and never stops it. In his view, only the strong are worthy to be the Demon Lord's subordinates.
In this collaboration with the Tiger Clan, Rong Jun promised a large quantity of high-grade pills and magical artifacts. Alchemists and artifact refiners have always been scarce among the Demon Clan, so they naturally wouldn't refuse such an offer.
As subordinates of Qiong Cang, Yuan Li and Zhi Yan have always been at odds. Zhi Yan, blinded by greed, actually followed the Tiger Clan's lead without question. Qiong Cang, however, knew that the Tiger Clan was ruthless and that he was wary of those who conspired with them. The more cautious and meticulous Yuan Li was his trump card. Unexpectedly, Yuan Li encountered an accident before entering the secret realm and almost failed to even enter. Fortunately, the two Qi-replenishing pills restored some of her magic power, allowing her to summon her subordinates to safety...
"So, while you're outwardly cooperating with the Tiger Clan, your real intention is to find a way to enter the Ruins of Return?"
“Of course, even with the Heavenly Soul Azure Nether Pill, Rong Jun’s body will not easily recover to its peak. The other two races will naturally not sit idly by while the Tiger Clan becomes powerful. If you are willing to cooperate with me, I will naturally ensure your safety in the secret realm. Moreover, I can also help you find clues about the Guixu Secret Realm.”
Yuan Li's expression was open and honest. If it weren't for her dark red eyes and the demonic aura surrounding her, it would be almost impossible to tell that she was a demon.
Although the items Rong Jun gave were good, they were completely incomparable to the Guixu Secret Realm. That was the legacy of a ninth-level alchemist, and it must contain unimaginable magical treasures. Naturally, the demon race would not miss such an opportunity.
Knowing that most cultivators had come for the Guixu Secret Realm, Yuan Li deliberately mentioned it, believing that these two cultivators would never refuse this temptation. However, Xu Xing asked a completely unrelated question after hearing this.
"Was the demon boy who went to buy Qi-replenishing pills that day your younger brother? Where is he now?"
Yuan Li's expression froze. That idiot? Why bring him up?
Although the demon boy saved her, he was a lowly demon who had seen her at her most miserable. How could she let him live? The first thing Yuan Li did after summoning her subordinates was to have the demon soldiers deal with the boy.
However, since most human cultivators are hypocritical, she naturally couldn't say it directly. It was just a fleeting look of disgust before Yuan Li immediately said calmly, "He's not my brother. I met him by chance, but he did save me after all, and I've already given him spirit stones to let him leave."
"I see..."
Xu Xing lowered her eyes, and after a moment, she looked at Chen Du, "Senior brother, I think what General Yuan said makes sense. It will be difficult for the two of us to find clues about the Guixu Secret Realm. Why don't we cooperate with her?"
Yuan Li's lips curled slightly. As expected, no cultivator could resist the allure of the Guixu Secret Realm. She took out a few small bottles.
"The alchemists over there at the volcano are refining the Spirit Purification Pill, which is used to purify the cultivators' spiritual bodies so that it can be used as a material for Rong Jun's alchemy. As long as you find an opportunity to give this to those cultivators who are used as meat medicine, Rong Jun will not be able to refine the pill."
"What is this?" Xu Xing shook the bottle, not opening it rashly, only sensing that it contained some kind of liquid.
"It's just filth extracted from the bodies of magical beasts; the pollution pills are the most effective."
Isn't that demon blood?!
Xu Xing's hand trembled slightly, but thankfully it was hidden under her cloak and no one could tell anything was wrong. She looked at Yuan Li and smiled, "Okay."
Shen Du asked, "But we haven't found the remnant soul. If we go back now, it will be difficult to explain and will arouse suspicion."
"Don't worry, I've already found some clues. You can go back later, and I'll bring the remnant soul with me then."
Yuan Li was vague in his words, and although it was a collaboration, he did not want to reveal the location of the remnant soul.
Xu Xing and Shen Du agreed without further probing.
After Yuan Li left with several demon soldiers, Xu Xing looked back and, sure enough, it was in the direction of the medicinal field…
Xu Xing gripped the bottle containing the demon blood tightly. "Senior brother, she's lying. That demon youth is probably in grave danger."
Knowing that Xu Xing wouldn't genuinely cooperate with the demons, and especially since Yuan Li had produced demon blood, which might be connected to the demon who possessed Zhai Yuzhi back then, Shen Du asked in a low voice, "Are you planning to turn the tables on us?"
"The Tiger Clan and the Demon Clan are treacherous; cooperating with them will only bring trouble. On the contrary, the fellow Daoists of Shuiyun Immortal Capital are trustworthy." Xu Xing sighed, gazing in the direction of the herb field and wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes. "Senior Brother, do you think she can really find the remnant soul?"
Shen Du also knew that the phantom that entered Xu Xing's body was no ordinary person, but he could not confirm whether it was Wei Shengyue. "If it is a remnant soul, then it is not just a wisp."
Xu Xing nodded, took a deep breath, and said, "We still have time. Let's find a place to hide for a while."
If she's going to use the Soul-Severing Poisonous Herb to refine pills to deal with the demons, then don't blame her for using dishonorable methods.
After finding a secluded cave and setting up several barriers, Chen Du stood aside with his sword in hand, quietly watching the figure sitting in front of the Azure Feather Heavenly Fire Furnace.
Xu Xing calmed his mind and adjusted his breathing, feeling the demonic energy around him. If he could mobilize the demonic energy at this moment, he would definitely be able to refine a third-tier pill, and perhaps he could even try for a fourth-tier one.
But this would expose the strange scales on her body.
After only a moment's hesitation, Xu Xing quickly made up his mind. If she really was a demon, the truth would eventually come out.
She lowered her eyes to avoid Chen Du's gaze and tentatively asked, "Senior brother, the Jade Cloud Sect has always rejected other races. What about you? What do you think of the demon race?"
"There are three thousand great paths, but they all lead to the same destination."
Without hesitation, Shen Du stared intently at Xu Xing, his tone firm, “The demon race has those with unwavering faith who strive for goodness, and the human race also has cunning and fickle individuals. There’s no difference; they are all cultivators.”
Xu Xing felt a sense of relief, but hesitated before saying, "Then... if... I mean, if!"
"Hmm, if." A hint of a smile flashed in Shen Du's eyes.
Xu Xing closed his eyes, mustered his courage, and asked, "What if I were a demon?"
After a moment of silence, Xu Xing looked up in a panic when she didn't hear his reply. She saw that the person who had been standing at the cave entrance had somehow moved to her side.
"Senior brother?"
Shen Du leaned forward, supporting himself with his sword. His usually cold expression softened, and he looked directly into Xu Xing's eyes, raising his hand to gently pat her head.
At such close range, Xu Xing saw Shen Du's dark, deep eyes beneath his high, arched eyebrows, his prominent nose, and below that, pale lips, where a faint smile was now playing at the corners.
Xu Xing's eyes were somewhat glazed over. She had always known that her senior brother was very handsome, but she had never seen him this close before. Upon closer inspection, she felt that he was somewhat... somewhat...
Xu Xing couldn't quite put his finger on it, only feeling a slight unease in his chest. Before he could even realize it, the thin lips of the person in front of him opened and said slowly, "Whether you are a demon or a human, you are my junior sister, my 'Celestial Immortal' investor."
Xu Xing's face flushed; actually, the last sentence was completely unnecessary...
She lowered her head, only her reddened ear tips showing, and pushed Chen Du away with both hands against his chest. "I know, I know, Senior Brother, protect me and don't disturb me while I'm refining pills!"
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Author's Note: Thank you (●—●), Watching Stars, Evening Porridge, Stars, Ningbao Ningbao, Su Nianqingcheng, Xiaoyuan oo, Grilled Cold Noodles, and znfish for the nutrient solution, and thank you Xiaoyuan oo, Grilled Cold Noodles, and Yutong for the free tickets!
Thank you everyone! [heart]
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