Chapter 114: Who Will Come?

“Young Master Zhong, the soul incense from the three nearby cities is already in hand. We could actually leave now without lingering any longer,” a woman of gentle beauty whispered, gazing at the purple-gold bowl in Young Master Zhong’s hand.

Zhong’s deep eyes fixed on the swirling mist atop Qingtan Mountain. “I want to see who can slay that mutated centipede spirit that has cultivated for two thousand years.”

“Wasn’t it wounded in its demon soul by the Morning Sun Star Official in the Mist Soul Forest? Killing this injured mutated centipede spirit shouldn’t be difficult,” questioned a young man adorned in a splendid golden moon-patterned robe, his tone filled with doubt.

“Though it lacks powerful magical treasures and a profound bloodline, relying solely on its tribulation-transformed mutation and deep demonic power, its skill at fleeing over two millennia is formidable. Otherwise, how could it have escaped from the razor-sharp jaws of the Morning Sun Star Official?” Zhong’s eyes lowered to the crowd gathered at the foot of Qingtan Mountain, where Cui Dandan descended calmly.

The young man in the golden moon-patterned robe looked up toward the mist-enshrouded peak, puzzled. “Cangqiu, do you mean the one who killed that mutated centipede is still atop the mountain? But such a person would surely master the Five Elements escape technique—perhaps the Earth Escape was already used to flee.”

“The Five Elements of this realm show no disturbance; that person hasn’t employed the Five Elements escape technique yet. However, the metal element is weak here, so this individual’s affinity among the Five Elements should be metal.” Zhong Cangqiu gently swept his hand through the air, as if touching something tangible. His fingers moved slowly, each fingertip entwined with a strand of light.

White, blue, black, red, and yellow.

Among them, the white light was faint.

“Could it be the Ghost Star Official from Evil Sheep Ridge in Nanxi County playing tricks? That Ghost Star Official is also metal-elemental, perhaps begrudging the flourishing soul incense of the Faci Temple,” the young man speculated softly.

“Chenchi, you misunderstand. Although the Ghost Star Official is a sheep demon, it descended from the heavens and finds the soul incense tasteless and worthless. It prefers the incense offerings of the mortal realm,” Zhong Cangqiu said calmly, shaking his head.

Chenchi sighed helplessly. “The celestial star officials vary—some like the Ghost Star Official are greedy and selfish, others like the Morning Sun Star Official fiercely oppose evil. They are truly difficult to predict or sway.”

“Those who can serve us are welcome; those who cannot need not trouble us much,” Zhong Cangqiu said, turning his gaze to Cui Dandan stepping into the crowd.

Cui Dandan did not immediately respond to the calls of her family members. Instead, she looked up at the imposing man astride a fine steed. These people were clearly not from Nanxi County.

The horse beneath him had spirited eyes, glowing with a purple hue and clearly defined pupils—surely a Purple Crow horse from Shanqing Prefecture. Such a steed was beyond the reach of ordinary noble families.

Her gaze then briefly flicked to the pathblocker Yue Yong. Though fields flanked the narrow mountain trail, everyone from the Xu family obediently stood within the path, not daring to step beyond.

“Miss, they bear the Nanhuang Order,” whispered an old man with a stooped back wearing a blue commoner’s robe, approaching Cui Dandan.

As she withdrew her gaze, she glanced once more at the imposing man on the steed, feeling an immense pressure emanating from him. Even the aura reading revealed only a thick golden cloud.

“Chief Guo, what’s going on here?” Cui Dandan finally looked toward the elderly man in the wheelchair. A flicker of emotion passed through her clear eyes before she addressed the old man in blue.

“Early this morning, the patriarch suddenly changed like this. It must have something to do with Master Kongchen of the Faci Temple...” the old man explained softly.

“Master Kongchen is dead. You need not call him Master Kongchen anymore; he was nothing but a mutated centipede spirit. And yet, such a huge demon stands among you, and you remain indifferent?” Cui Dandan interrupted, lifting her eyes to the master who had shed his human skin—Master Huiming—with a voice firm and resolute.

Chief Guo trembled but did not turn back, whispering, “Miss, your peaceful survival until today is all thanks to the patriarch’s maneuvers. No matter how much you despise these demons, do not forget the patriarch saved your life.”

“Chief Guo, that mutated centipede spirit is already dead. It’s precisely because it died that the patriarch turned like this,” Cui Dandan said, pressing her lips together, her eyes unwavering as she looked at Chief Guo.

Her voice was clear and carried fully to the elderly man in the wheelchair.

The old man tried to rise and speak, but his frail arm fell helplessly, his head tilted, and he passed away then and there.

The apricot-yellow banner among the crowd drooped accordingly.

“Miss, why must you be one who forgets her ancestors and betrays her clan? What harm have those demons done to you? They haven’t provoked us in the slightest!” Chief Guo pounded his leg helplessly and looked at Cui Dandan.

Her pale lips bitten to the point of crimson blood trembled, her eyelids flickering, but her voice remained calm. “Who forgets ancestors and betrays their clan? Is it me, or is it you? The patriarch has long been dead. When he introduced this mutated centipede spirit into Faci Temple, the patriarch was already dead.”

“If the patriarch hadn’t brought this mutated centipede spirit in, do you think the demons in Dreamfloating City would be so peaceful? Would Nanxi County be so smooth sailing? Miss, you’re still too young. Without this mutated centipede spirit, do you think there would be no other spider spirits or scorpion spirits?!” Chief Guo sighed heavily.

“Kill one, and another will come,” Cui Dandan said softly, releasing her lips slightly. The fresh crimson blood was like a streak of rouge painted on her mouth.

Chief Guo looked at her, then slowly walked behind the old man in the wheelchair, sighing deeply. “You kill them, but who will guard Dreamfloating City? Who will ensure Nanxi County is not overrun by demons?”

“I will,” Cui Dandan answered firmly.

“Miss, do you know why now only you, the only daughter, and the patriarch remain in the Cui family?” Chief Guo pushed the wheelchair, his voice laden with gravity.

Cui Dandan’s lips trembled.

“Because the master and the young master all died fighting demons...” Chief Guo sighed deeply. “Otherwise, why would the patriarch have sought out this mutated centipede spirit?”

“Your patriarch simply wanted to live longer and sought the demon’s essence to prolong his life. Why cloak it in righteous reasons? It’s just a mere demon. Is it really as exaggerated as you say?” Chenchi, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.

Regarding the demons rampant in the Southern Wilderness Prefecture, Chenchi always considered the rumors alarmist, for he had rarely encountered demons since birth. And even when they appeared, they were easily dealt with.

“A mere demon...” Chief Guo glanced back at Chenchi, who sat adorned in splendid robes atop the Purple Crow horse, and bitterly smiled as he slowly pushed the lifeless patriarch’s wheelchair back into Dreamfloating City.