Translator: CinderTL
"You've heard of me?" Xu Sanyan asked, slightly curious. He hadn't expected his reputation to spread so quickly, reaching even the Zuoqiu Clan, located over ten thousand li away, in such a short time.
Zuoqiu Hui nodded silently. Beside her, Zuoqiu Xin couldn't understand why her Third Sister was suddenly acting so deferential. Even if he was the holy son of the demonic sect, they were the Huai Lake Seven Heroes, renowned throughout the land!
Besides, it's two against one—we have the advantage!
Xu Sanyan, unaware of their thoughts, was more interested in his public image. "What do people say about me? Could you tell me?"
Zuoqiu Hui, unsure of his temperament, knew it was best to flatter him. After a moment's thought, she replied, "People say the Holy Son possesses extraordinary strength and unparalleled talent, a genius on par with Fang Qingge and Jingyi."
Xu Sanyan recalled those two figures and nodded silently. They were indeed formidable opponents; he wasn't entirely confident he could defeat them in a direct confrontation.
Zuoqiu Xin was completely bewildered. Why is Third Sister suddenly sucking up to him?
"Sister, if we join forces, we might not need to fear..."
"Fourth Sister, silence!"
Zuoqiu Hui quickly stopped her sister's reckless behavior, bowing apologetically to Xu Sanyan. "My younger sister speaks without thinking. I hope the Holy Son will forgive her."
She didn't believe they stood a chance against Xu Sanyan even if they joined forces. In her eyes, his strength was at least on par with the Luo Family Siblings. Even if all seven of the Huai Lake Seven Heroes attacked together, the outcome would be uncertain, let alone with just the two of them.
Xu Sanyan waved his hand magnanimously. He had always been more lenient toward beautiful women, especially those as intelligent and attractive as Zuoqiu Hui.
Of course, this leniency only extended as long as it didn't compromise his own interests.
"It's no matter. Your sister has a point. If you two joined forces, you might indeed have a chance to slay this demon lord and uphold the righteous dao."
Xu Sanyan cared little that the world labeled him a demon lord. To him, the concepts of "righteous" and "demonic" were meaningless; only strength mattered.
Zuoqiu Hui's heart tightened. Forcing a stiff smile, she said, "The Holy Son jests. My sister and I came here only to gain experience and broaden our horizons. We have no intention of opposing you."
"Heh..."
Xu Sanyan chuckled softly, ignoring them as he retrieved the mother-child stone to check on his subordinates' situation.
With the exception of a few individuals who hadn't replied, everyone else had found a hiding place and should be able to survive the night without incident.
Among those who hadn't responded was Xiang Tan.
At that moment, south of the city, beneath the massive chinese crabapple tree, a shadowy figure drifted aimlessly. It was vaguely discernible as a woman, her head covered by a crimson veil and her slender figure draped in a scarlet qipao. As the hem of her dress swayed, glimpses of her long, shapely legs were revealed, her alluring form sparking the imagination.
Yet her size was unnerving—over three meters tall, earning her the title of "Eight-Foot Madam" in the World of Immortal Cultivation.
On the three-story pavilion nearby, Xiang Tan lay prone, her hands clamped tightly over her mouth. Her eyes remained fixed on the crabapple tree, while her peripheral vision tracked the female ghost. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Half an hour earlier, Xiang Tan had been accompanied by Yang An, another inner sect disciple from Crimson Dragon Mountain with a Peak Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation level.
When Xu Sanyan sent the message instructing everyone to gather beneath the crabapple tree, Yang An, who was nearby, arrived first and waited there with Xiang Tan.
As night deepened, a sudden gust of yin wind swept through, and the female ghost materialized. Yang An's gaze locked with the ghost's, his body stiffened, and he began moving toward her against his will.
Xiang Tan watched helplessly as the female ghost embraced Yang An, gradually turning him into a mummified corpse, completely unable to resist.
Don't meet her eyes!
Xiang Tan's heart pounded with fear, yet she dared not rise and flee. She could only observe the female ghost's movements from the corner of her eye, afraid to look directly at it but equally terrified of losing sight of it entirely.
When she was still mortal, she had been deathly afraid of spiders. Once, a spider the size of a fist had crawled into her room, scaring her half to death. She frantically searched for something to crush it with, but when she turned back with a wooden stick in hand, she discovered...
The spider had vanished!
The next moment, she found it clinging to her trouser leg, its repulsive compound eyes staring directly at her...
Ever since then, she had developed this peculiar habit: the more frightened she was, the more she had to look. As long as the creature remained in her field of vision, she could manage, but once it disappeared, there was no telling where it might reappear next.
She was terrified that the female ghost might suddenly materialize above her, silently watching her...
What to do? What to do?!
Cold sweat beaded on Xiang Tan's forehead. She sensed that the female ghost had already noticed her. Every so often, it would abruptly halt, turning to face her directly. Even through the red veil, she could feel its gaze piercing through her!
The child stone in her hand radiated a gentle warmth. She knew it was a message from Xu Sanyan, but she didn't dare look.
Xu Sanyan frowned slightly as he held the mother stone. Xiang Tan is dead?
The message sank like a stone into the sea, receiving no response. Perhaps she was in danger and had no time to reply.
Bang!
A muffled crash echoed from the end of the street. Xu Sanyan looked up to see a figure fleeing frantically from a corpse demon. Behind the fleeing figure, a massive, ape-like beast charged on all fours, smashing through any obstacles in its path.
Zuoqiu Hui stared at the fleeing figure, her beautiful eyes widening slightly. "Huan Xi'er?" she murmured, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Xu Sanyan's gaze followed the approaching figure. The man's flamboyant crimson robes were torn to shreds, hanging in tatters around his body. Two skyward-pointing topknots adorned his head, and a large gold hoop dangled from his left ear, creating a bizarre and incongruous appearance.
"The one from Shangyin Mountain?" Xu Sanyan recalled. This man was quite famous, ranked alongside Mo Xianxian as one of Shangyin Mountain's twin prodigies, his strength rivaling that of Qi Liang and others.
"Yes, the adopted son of the Dragon-Taming Daoist from Shangyin Mountain," Zuoqiu Hui confirmed, revealing the man's origins.
The Dragon-Taming Daoist held a position on Shangyin Mountain equivalent to that of the Mad Daoist, and their cultivation level was also at the void harmony realm.
"You stupid thing! Why are you chasing me so relentlessly? Do you want to eat shit or something?" Huan Xi'er roared, tearing off his shoe and hurling it at the corpse demon. With a leap, he dove into the pavilion on the other side.
The corpse demon pursued relentlessly, its massive body crashing through the pavilion, vanishing into a cloud of dust and smoke.
Xu Sanyan smirked. "Is he... not quite right in the head?"
"Well... he's a bit odd. Officially, he's the Dragon-Taming Daoist's adopted son, but in reality..." Zuoqiu Hui glanced up slightly. "He's the child of the Dragon-Taming Daoist and his own elder sister. Incest... you know how that goes."
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow. "That's... quite scandalous."
Zuoqiu Hui pouted and wrinkled her nose. "You bet! Rumor has it the Dragon-Taming Daoist didn't just have an affair with his sister—there are even whispers about him and some of the elders in the family..."
"Tell me more," Xu Sanyan said with a grin, clearly intrigued by the gossip.
"The Dragon-Taming Daoist's second aunt was also the previous generation's Holy Daughter of Shangyin Mountain. She was stunningly beautiful, no less so than Mo Xianxian. But because she fell in love with the Dragon-Taming Daoist, she voluntarily gave up her position as Holy Daughter. The scandal caused quite a stir back then. Haven't you heard of it, Holy Son?"
Xu Sanyan shook his head, his curiosity piqued. "And what about the Dragon-Taming Daoist's mother...?"
(End of the Chapter)
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