Chapter 6 Treasure Hunt 3 What difficulty is there in dealing with mere demons? ...
Zhao Desheng shook his head, "Immortal, you don't know this, although there have been no monsters in this mountain for more than ten years, there have been quite a few wild animals, but there are no snakes."
Zhao Bo and another martial artist at the third level of Body Refinement, Hu Tianyuan, echoed, "Indeed, we've never seen a snake every time we patrol the mountain."
How could it cause its own kind to give way? And how could its deterrent effect be maintained for so many years...?
Xiang Yuquan's heart sank slightly, fearing that the snake that had once descended upon Huiling Mountain was a powerful demon with profound cultivation.
“Village chief, to be honest, we discovered a strong demonic aura in the mountains. That wild boar demon is just a small fry; the great demon it serves is extremely powerful.”
Xiang Yuquan's expression was grim. "This demonic aura is extremely malevolent. It is a wicked monster that has committed many evil deeds. If any villagers step into the mountains, they may be harmed by this evil demon."
"What?!" Zhao Desheng was shocked and immediately tried to kneel down, "Please, Immortal Master, save my life!"
"Hey! Don't!" Zuo Qiuxu quickly caught him, then secretly glanced at his senior brother.
Brother Xiang usually looks all smiles, but I never expected him to be so good at scaring people. If it weren't for the fact that he had killed that wild boar beast three days ago, he would have believed it.
Xiang Yuquan looked troubled. "It's not that we don't want to help, but even with the combined strength of my fellow disciples, we can't subdue that great demon. We only managed to escape because it wasn't in the mountains today."
Hearing that even the two immortal masters could not subdue the evil demon, Zhao Desheng's white hair at his temples was soaked with sweat. With tears in his eyes, he said mournfully, "Immortal masters, Xiahe Village only has three martial artists and no immortals. It is really difficult to resist the great demon!"
"We are willing to assist the immortal in vanquishing the demon!"
Bo and Hu Tianyuan also clasped their hands in supplication, saying that they had lived in Xiahe Village for generations, and now that the village was in trouble, they would risk their lives to protect it.
The two cultivators didn't mention any treasures at all. Xu Xing, who was listening silently, felt that something was wrong. She held her breath and quietly brought up the skill panel in her mind.
After the panel appeared, Xu Xing subtly observed Xiang Yuquan and Zuo Qiuxu's expressions. Seeing that they showed no abnormalities, she breathed a sigh of relief, presumably because the life skills panel that only existed in her mind would not be noticed by cultivators.
Xu Xing opened the treasure-hunting compass and saw that the pointer was still pointing deep into the mountains. He was surprised to find that the treasure was indeed still there.
Just now, Xiang Yuquan clearly told her that the treasure was not yet mature and that he was worried that it would bring trouble in the future. Now, he told the village chief that a great demon was appearing. Xu Xing did not know whether it was true or not, but he always felt that their words were... somewhat exaggerated.
What exactly are they trying to do?
Although she had her doubts, Xu Xing knew that she had no say in this situation, so she decided to wait and see. If things went wrong, she would then tell the village chief.
"Very well! When mortals are in trouble, cultivators, who possess the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, should help them."
Xiang Yuquan sighed softly, “Everyone, please don’t worry. I will send a message to my senior brother in the sect and ask him to take action to subdue the evil demon.”
Zhao Desheng was initially filled with gratitude, but then, as if remembering something, he hesitated for a moment before cautiously saying, "Even the two immortals combined couldn't defeat this great demon. I wonder what your senior brother..."
Zuoqiu Xu said proudly, "Senior Brother Shen is a sword cultivator, a genius of unparalleled talent, with unmatched swordsmanship. What difficulty could he possibly have in dealing with mere demons?"
"This is a matter of great importance. Before the demon is eliminated, please instruct the villagers not to enter the deep mountains, lest they be harmed by the demon." Xiang Yuquan instructed, "It is best for the martial artists to stay in the village during this period and not go out. If anything happens, they can take care of everyone."
"Rest assured, Immortal Master!"
"I will do as you say, Immortal Master! I will definitely take good care of everyone and not let them hinder your demon-slaying!"
Zhao Desheng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, thankful that two immortals had happened to pass by and discovered the monster's tracks; otherwise, if unsuspecting villagers had gone into the mountains, they might never have returned...
Xiahe Village is predominantly inhabited by people with the surname Zhao. While the village isn't large, for centuries the neighbors have lived in harmony, like one big family. If something were to happen to the village under his leadership, Zhao Desheng would have no face to meet his ancestors.
Xiang Yuquan stood up to take his leave, saying, "Since that's the case, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll come back to inform the village chief after my senior brother has eliminated the demon."
Zhao Desheng hurriedly said, "Immortal Master, please wait! It's getting late. Why don't you two stay at my humble abode tonight?"
"No need to trouble yourself. Little Sister Xu's house is close to Huiling Mountain. We can just meditate at her doorstep for the night."
Zuo Qiuxu was impatient. He had long been fed up with his senior brother's polite words in an attempt to appease the villagers.
Xu Xing's home?
Those two small houses have been neglected for the past two years and are now in a terrible state of disrepair. How could an immortal live in such a place?
Zhao Desheng wanted to persuade them to stay, but the two didn't give him a chance at all. With a flick of their sleeves, the door opened by itself. When he turned around, he saw that the two immortals had already led Xu Xing back to a distance of ten feet.
Since the immortal had taken a liking to Xu Xing, Zhao Desheng dared not utter a word to the immortal, lest he incur his annoyance.
He turned to Xu Xing with a kind expression, "Xu Xu, is your family's food supplies running low? Since the immortal is staying at your house temporarily, you have done a good job for the village, and the village should reward you."
"Abo! Go quickly!"
Zhao Bo reacted quickly, immediately went into the kitchen, and took out a bag of grain.
Xu Xing's eyes lit up. She never expected that coming with this cultivator would yield so much food, enough to feed her for a long time!
She licked her lips, hesitated for only a moment, and then completely put the thought of refusing out of her mind; she was just too hungry.
"Thank you, village chief."
Xu Xing stepped forward and was about to reach out to take the grain when Zhao Bo hid it behind his back.
Zhao Desheng smiled and said, "You're too small to carry it, let your Uncle Abo take it home for you."
In this way, if the immortal sees that Xu Xing's house is dilapidated and changes his mind, Zhao Bo can take the opportunity to invite them back.
"No need, no need, this little bit of weight is nothing. Alright, let's go!"
With a flick of his hand, Zuo Qiuxu stored the bag of grain in his storage ring, and also collected the stinking carcass of the wild boar in the yard.
Such things are not suitable to remain in the mortal realm.
"..."
As the flying sword soared into the sky, Zhao Bo, who had thought he could also experience the thrill of flying on a sword, looked at his empty hands and then at his father.
"well--"
Zhao Desheng sighed and waved his hand, "Alright, alright! I don't need to tell you how to treat Xu Xing from now on, do I? Also, give some advice to everyone in the village, especially that kid Zhao Youming! Don't cause me any trouble! If he angers the Immortal, I won't let him off the hook!"
Zhao Bo comforted him, "Father, after all, Xu Xing is also from Xiahe Village. If the Immortal Master really takes a liking to her, it's a good thing for us. If she could be with Xiao Jia..."
His only son, Zhao Jia, is twelve years old this year. His aptitude has been tested, but he did not inherit his martial arts talent, which has always been a regret in Zhao Bo's heart.
Zhao Desheng's expression shifted, then he hesitated, "Let's wait and see. She's still too young."
The return journey was much faster than the trip to the village chief's house, which further convinced Xu Xing that the two men had only tried to help him in front of the villagers.
After arriving home, Zuoqiu Xu put the bag of grain into Xu Xing's hut.
Once inside the small house, he realized just how simple it was. Before embarking on his path to immortality, Zuo Qiuxu was the son of a wealthy merchant, and he always had the best food, lodging, and other necessities. Even when he later went down the mountain to train and endured wind and rain, it was still much better than living in such a place.
I thought of Xu Xing, a little girl living all alone in a small house near the back of the mountain, perhaps even hearing the roars of wild animals at night.
Zuo Qiuxu felt very sorry for her. He rummaged through his storage bag, but unfortunately he had stopped eating after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Now, apart from a few bottles of fasting pills and some monster legs, there was no other food in his storage bag.
A mortal should never eat the flesh of a demon beast. After thinking it over, Zuo Qiuxu secretly placed two bottles of fasting pills in a hidden spot by the stove.
Under the eaves, Xiang Yuquan had already sat down to meditate. He himself did not care about comfort, but he knew Zuo Qiuxu's character, so he specially placed a soft cushion next to him.
Sure enough, Zuoqiu Xu came out of the house and saw it, and immediately beamed with joy.
"We've put the food in for you. Go to sleep and don't worry about us."
Seeing that Xu Xing didn't move, Xiang Yuquan looked up at her and said, "Ask whatever you want."
Xu Xing whispered, "The immortal just told me that there are treasures in the mountains and that he was worried that the treasures would bring trouble. Why didn't you tell the village chief?"
"And... are there really powerful demons in the mountains?"
Xiang Yuquan smiled slightly, "Yes and no."
He and Zuoqiu Xu did not find any trace of the monster in the mountains. The wild boar that was released to intimidate the villagers was killed by them a few days ago when they passed by other mountains.
What they discovered on Huiling Mountain was a medicinal herb called Seven-Leaf Lingzhi.
This medicine can cure all poisons, and the seven-leaf Ganoderma lucidum that reaches the sixth level can even cure the poison in a cultivator's body.
The path to immortality is long and arduous, and who can do without the aid of elixirs? All elixirs refined by cultivators contain toxicity, and consuming them over time can cause many problems. Therefore, herbs that can alleviate toxicity are extremely precious, let alone a treasure like the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi that can completely remove toxicity.
The seven-leaf Ganoderma lucidum in Huiling Mountain is actually a seventh-order plant, and it will mature in three years.
Such high-grade spiritual herbs are rare even in the Jade Cloud Sect, but the two brothers had no way to take them away.
Firstly, because the seven-leaf Ganoderma is very special, if it is picked before it matures, its efficacy will be greatly reduced. Although it still has the effect of detoxification, it cannot cure the poisoning of pills. Secondly, because a barrier was set up around the seven-leaf Ganoderma.
However, for some reason, the barrier suddenly seemed to dissipate, and a trace of the spiritual energy of the Ganoderma lucidum dissipated, which was then discovered by Zuo Qiuxu who was passing by.
The seven-leaf Ganoderma is a symbiotic herb of the snake race. Its birthplace is often frequented by large snakes, so it usually grows in the snake race's gathering places in the demon realm and is rarely seen in the human realm.
Considering the name of the mountain and the village chief's words, Xiang Yuquan guessed that the snake clan was the one who left the seven-leaf lingzhi. Although he didn't know why it hadn't returned for so many years, the snake clan would probably come back to retrieve it when the seven-leaf lingzhi matured.
Since the item already had an owner and was not yet ready, the two thought for a moment and decided not to take it with them.
However, the barrier is gradually dissolving. If it disappears completely, the aroma of the Ganoderma will be exposed. If it is picked by other cultivators, that's fine. But if it is accidentally obtained by a mortal who comes up the mountain or damaged by wild animals, the owner of the medicinal herb may take his anger out on the local residents, affecting innocent people.
The two were only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and their cultivation was insufficient. However, their senior brother Shen Du, who had come down the mountain with them this time, was a peak Foundation Establishment sword cultivator. If Senior Brother Shen Du could reinforce the barrier, the aura of the Ganoderma lucidum could be hidden. They would only need to wait for the great demon to come and take away the Ganoderma lucidum three years later, and then Xiahe Village would have no more worries...
After listening, Xu Xing's last trace of doubt disappeared.
She hadn't expected these two young cultivators to be so considerate of the people of Xiahe Village, whom she had never met before.
She thought that cultivators wouldn't care about the lives of mortals in order to obtain treasures, but not only were they willing to give up the treasures, they were also worried that mortals would incur the wrath of powerful demons, so they wanted to set up a barrier here.
"We are deeply grateful for the noble righteousness of the immortal sage."
Xu Xing spoke sincerely.
Zuo Qiuxu wrinkled his nose and said disdainfully, "Why are you acting like that old village elder, all fussy and indecisive? It was just a small favor, no need for all the thanks!"
Xiang Yuquan said, "There's no need to explain the reasons to the villagers. The reason for pretending that there is a great demon is simply to keep the villagers away from Huiling Mountain before the barrier is completed, so as to avoid any accidents."
Xiang Yuquan's words were vague, but Xu Xing understood his meaning. Human hearts are unpredictable. If the villagers knew there were treasures on the mountain, some might be tempted to take the risk. After all, spiritual herbs are valuable not only to cultivators but also to martial artists.
"It's late, young lady, please go back to your room and rest."
After speaking, Xiang Yuquan closed his eyes and sat down to meditate, saying no more.
Xu Xing went back to the house, touched her empty stomach, and went to the kitchen to check on the new bag of grain she had received.
The village chief was quite generous. At a glance, she saw that besides coarse grains, there was also a lot of refined rice and flour inside. For a normal seven or eight-year-old child, it would be enough to last for two months.
With food supplies in hand, Xu Xing was in a good mood. She had never been full since she transmigrated.
She knew she still had to eat frugally with the food, but she couldn't resist cooking a meal first to experience what it felt like to be full.
but……
Xu Xing peeked outside the door and saw Xiang Yuquan meditating quietly, while Zuo Qiuxu was asleep on the futon.
Immortals shouldn't need to eat these things, right?
Xu Xing thought for a moment and decided to prepare enough for two people. Regardless of whether Xiang Yuquan would eat it or not, she should ask out of politeness, especially since they were the saviors of Xiahe Village.
If she doesn't eat it, she'll save it for herself to eat tomorrow; it won't spoil in this weather.
After lighting the fire, steam soon rose from the pot. Xu Xing hummed a song, picked up his chopsticks, and stirred the food, feeling quite pleased with himself.
Almost there, almost there! We'll be full soon!
Outside, Zuoqiu Xu sniffed, groggily waking from his sleep. "What smells so good?"
A note from the author:
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