Chapter 151 – The Demon Emerges! The Evil Path Runs Rampant, the Dao Rises a Foot, Evil Rises Ten!
"Ahao, why don't we go back and admit our mistake to master? After all, we're not capable of much."
Outside the town.
Aqiang wore a bitter expression, trying to persuade Ahao to return and apologize to Mamadi. Perhaps, given their past service, Mamadi might take them back.
At first, Aqiang had felt leaving would be better, but only if Ren Zhuzhu left with them. Having a beauty along might lead to something, and her wealthy family meant they would at least survive.
Thinking this way, leaving Mamadi had seemed fine—until Ren Zhuzhu chose not to come. Now, Aqiang regretted it. If he had known, he would have swallowed his pride earlier. Following Ahao now, with no skills, the idea of "gold hunting" was absurd.
"Heh, you think he'll let us back? He already kicked us out, and this time we botched the job."
Ahao's face showed a cold smile. "And you still want to slave away for him? We were lucky this time. If he had that guy's ability, things wouldn't have turned out like this."
The "guy" in Ahao's mouth was naturally Renji. He clearly saw the gap between Renji and Mamadi. More importantly, Renji was a sect master with status and three beautiful female disciples. If only he had been Renji's disciple…
The thought made Ahao uncomfortable. Why had he met Mamadi first instead of Renji?
"Don't say that. At least master gave us food. With no skills, how can we hunt gold?"
Aqiang still felt some gratitude toward Mamadi, though he disliked following him. Timid and afraid of death, his experience corpse-herding had left him with a shadow in his heart.
But in this world, without skill, even eating was hard.
"What are you afraid of? You think we two grown men can't find food?"
Ahao spoke carelessly, as if life without Mamadi would be no problem.
Seeing Aqiang about to speak again, a trace of displeasure crossed Ahao's face. This man had no backbone at all.
Still, deep down, Ahao was also uneasy. He knew well he had no real plan.
"To get rich isn't just about corpse-herding. If you're willing to take risks, there are plenty of ways to make money."
A hoarse voice interrupted them. Ahao turned to see a withered old man staring at them coldly, his gaze fixed on Ahao—this one was a suitable seedling.
"Old man, are you a ghost? Not a sound out of you!"
Aqiang stared in shock; the old man's sudden appearance had startled him. Did he really walk without a sound?
"You're a Daoist too?"
Standing beside the old man made Ahao uneasy. As a trained fighter, he could sense anyone approaching—except Renji. This old man was the same: utterly silent.
"You have a sharp eye, young man."
The man gave a sinister smile. "How about following me? I can give you money, beauties, whatever you want."
"What would I have to do?"
Ahao wasn't foolish. No one gave something for nothing. Still, he weighed the offer—he wanted money and women, but lacked the ability. He had hoped to deceive Ren Zhuzhu into giving him everything, but her cousin had ruined the plan.
"You need do nothing else. Your foundation suits my Dao techniques well. Interested?"
"What Dao techniques?"
"The Evil Path."
The old man spoke without hesitation, glancing between them.
"I think I'll pass," Aqiang said, face changing instantly. He wanted nothing to do with such a thing. Pulling at Ahao to leave, he found Ahao unmoving.
"Do you know the Divine Firmament Sect? Compared to its sect master, who's stronger—you or him?"
Ahao's eyes locked on the old man. He admitted he was tempted. Leaving now meant achieving nothing. He couldn't accept that.
Why could Renji, about his age, live like a winner, while he was driven out before several women by Mamadi like a beaten dog? He refused to accept it.
"That guy is strong. I'm no match for him, but I have a whole group behind me. We're planning to deal with him. If you want beauties, he has a few lovely female disciples…"
The old man's words stoked Ahao's dark desires. Yes—Ren Zhuzhu was now Renji's disciple, along with Ren Qingqing and Ren Tingting, all stunning beauties.
"You really can teach me?"
Ahao already knew his answer but feared being tricked.
"Heh, I'm far stronger than your unreliable master."
As he spoke, a purple-black flame ignited in his palm. Even at a distance, it felt as if it could burn the soul.
This convinced Ahao. With no other way forward, he could only follow the old man.
"I agree."
Both turned to look at Aqiang. Faced with their stares, Aqiang swallowed hard.
"If you don't want to agree, you can leave," the old man said pleasantly. Relieved, Aqiang looked at Ahao. "Sorry, Ahao, but I'm not suited for this path."
"Mm."
Ahao's eager smile faded. He had hoped Aqiang would come, at least as a friend.
"Then I'll be off."
Aqiang turned to go, unwilling to stay a moment longer.
"Wait, Aqiang."
Hearing Ahao call, Aqiang felt a surge of joy, thinking Ahao meant to leave with him.
But as he turned, a sharp dagger pierced his body. His smile froze.
Eyes wide in disbelief, he looked down at the blade, then painfully up at Ahao. "Why, Ahao?"
"Sorry, Aqiang, I can't let you go."
A trace of pain crossed Ahao's face as the old man looked on with amusement and satisfaction.
Aqiang wondered if Ahao feared he would tell master. Blood gushed as Ahao pulled the dagger free. Aqiang's eyes stared wide as he fell to the ground, dying in unwillingness.
"Draw out his soul, or a Daoist might discover what happened before his death," the old man reminded. He was pleased—Ahao was a naturally cruel little devil, killing his own companion without hesitation.
"This…"
"What? You've killed him; don't grow soft now."
"No! I just can't. Please, master, destroy his soul directly. Scatter it so no one knows."
Ahao gritted his teeth, hating his last shred of kindness. Since he had chosen this road, he must cast it aside—especially after Aqiang had abandoned him first.
"Very good, child. You're perfect for my Dao techniques."
The old man cast the purple-black flame onto Aqiang's body. Strangely, his flesh was unharmed, but his soul burned away without end.
Ah!
What a beautiful sound!
The old man's eyes were nearly crazed—he loved the wailing of souls.
"Ahao, may you die a terrible death!"
Aqiang's soul flashed with resentment. He had never imagined that the man who had just called him brother would, in the next moment, refuse even to spare his soul.
"Heh, the one doomed to a terrible death is you, isn't it?"
Ahao sneered coldly. His last trace of guilt was completely crushed by those words.
"Come, Ahao. I'll take you to a good place."
The old man waved his hand, signaling Ahao to follow. Since he had decided to take Ahao as a disciple, the next step was to bring him somewhere important.
"Old man, who's this?"
In a gathering place of black-robed figures, the old man entered with Ahao. Many eyes lit up—his abundant yang energy would make excellent food for ghosts and corpses.
Those stares unsettled Ahao, and a seed of fear grew in his heart. Was this old man bringing him here to die?
"Heh, don't joke like that. This is my disciple!"
The old man's sinister smile drew surprise from those around him. He had actually taken a disciple?
"Everyone… hello, I am—"
"No need for courtesy. We don't stand on such ceremony!"
The old man cut him off. Their Evil Path was nothing like those so-called righteous sects—no reason to be polite.
"Bring me all the souls we've collected lately, especially the souls of great evildoers. I'm going to begin his transformation."
"Hey, hey, this brat might not survive it!"
Though they said so, their tones were laced with schadenfreude. To them, this new disciple looked more like a test subject.
Hearing their words and seeing their eyes, Ahao's unease deepened.
"Ahao, I'll be direct. If you want to catch up to the other party through normal cultivation, it's impossible. You can only take another route.
"You have an evil heart, but you started too late. I'll need to temper your body with corpse poison and strengthen your soul with the souls of great evildoers.
"I've also prepared various treasures for you. It's a nine-deaths-one-life ordeal, but if you succeed, you'll have unmatched talent, a powerful body and soul, and the ability to leap forward in strength. This is the price for what you desire."
Ahao had talent for cultivation and a nature suited to the Evil Path, but he had started late, and the old man was dissatisfied with his current state. He intended to forge a true demon to stand against Renji.
"These are great supplements—blood from ninety-nine virgin boys and girls, corpse poison, the heavenly menses of an extreme yin woman, the souls of great evildoers, and the essences of various monster corpses. Your master is treating you well… if you survive."
The others were curious to see if Ahao would succeed. After all, it wouldn't be their lives on the line. What kind of monster could be made from such materials?
"I'll do it!"
Ahao gritted his teeth, recalling the scene of Renji killing Nintendo. His soul trembled. If he wanted it all, he had to defeat Renji.
Surpassing him through ordinary means was impossible, so when the old man proposed this, Ahao hesitated only briefly before agreeing.
Just wait—he wouldn't stop at Ren Zhuzhu. He would have Ren Tingting and Ren Qingqing as well.
"Good, good, my fine disciple!"
The old man's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Since Ahao had agreed, the rest would be easy. This time, he would create a super-monster.
"Is this Aqiang's body?"
In a grove outside Renjia Town, Mamadi stared in shock at Aqiang's corpse. They had only just parted ways, and now he was dead?
But where was Ahao?
"His soul is gone… was it the Evil Path?"
Renji removed his hand from Aqiang's forehead, a trace of curiosity in his eyes.
"What a twist of fate," Uncle Jiu sighed. Who would have thought the man expelled from his master's door would now be dead?
Looking at Aqiang's unclosed eyes, he felt a pang of sorrow. Though Aqiang's conduct was lacking, it did not warrant death.
"He was stabbed to death, but why was his soul taken?"
Renji pointed at the wound—obviously caused by a blade. But if his soul was gone, the Evil Path was involved. Yet why would they kill with a blade?
"Master, Ahao is missing too."
Ren Zhuzhu looked around but saw no sign of Ahao. By rights, they should have left together.
"Two possibilities—either Ahao and Aqiang parted ways, or Ahao was taken by the Evil Path," Uncle Jiu guessed.
It seemed only one was likely.
"That's too tragic," Ren Tingting muttered. Having learned the Evil Path's methods, she had sworn she would rather die than fall into their hands.
Compared to that, Aqiang might have been luckier, dying with one strike. What tortures awaited Ahao now were beyond imagining.
"Could it be Ahao killed Aqiang?"
"Impossible!"
Mamadi shook his head repeatedly at Renji's words. To him, while Ahao was unruly, he could never do such a thing.
There was no conflict of interest between them—why would Ahao kill Aqiang? It made no sense.
"Daoist friend, I think it's unlikely too. He was probably captured. These days, the Evil Path is so mad they even dare to steal souls from the underworld," Uncle Jiu said.
Renji said no more. If that was what they believed, so be it. For him, either outcome changed little—it only meant one more possible enemy later.
When Ahao had left earlier, Renji had already seen his ambition.
But ambition unmatched by strength was useless.
For now, Renji's interest lay in his remaining lottery draws—two chances left. He was eager to see what he might get.
A blessed grotto-heaven and the Samadhi True Fire had been truly useful.
(End of chapter)
Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 8 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 64 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/anish_44