"Sister Yuerong, Young Master Wang makes sense. I also felt that Senior Brother Mo's gaze was peculiar earlier, as if he harbors a secret that mustn't be disclosed..."

Xia Yuerong gravely nodded and said, "Even so, we must still go. The Demon Race endangers humanity, committing heinous sins. It's our indefeasible duty as cultivators to eliminate the Demon Race..."

"Sister Yuerong, are you... are you not afraid of dying..." Xia Xueyan said anxiously.

"What if it isn't as we suspect? What if, when Senior Brother Mo returns to the sect, he reports us? Then we would be in a terrible situation..." Xia Yuerong's cold gaze fixed on Wang Xiaoqiang, "Moreover, can Young Master Wang be certain that our Senior Brother Mo really is one of the Demon Species..."

Wang Xiaoqiang replied, "I can't be one hundred percent certain, but I'm sure that there's something off about your Senior Brother Mo. If you two really want to go, could you consider bringing me along? Although my cultivation base isn't high, I could at least add some courage to the effort..."

"Great, with Young Master Wang joining us, we will have an extra hand and needn't be so frightened," Xia Xueyan said happily.

Xia Yuerong's cold, beautiful eyes stared tightly at Wang Xiaoqiang, as if trying to see through him. After a long while, she turned away and said, "Alright."

It was evident she still harbored doubts about Wang Xiaoqiang, but there were no other options.

After the trio had eaten, Wang Xiaoqiang went to settle the bill.

He had a large quantity of Demon Crystals in his Sumeru Ring, which were as good as money in the Immortal Realm and could buy just about anything, even paying for meals.

Seeing Wang Xiaoqiang voluntarily paying the bill, Xia Xueyan said to Xia Yuerong with delight, "Sister Yuerong, this Young Master Wang is really generous, much more so than Senior Brother Mo..."

"We see the face, not the heart. We'd better still be cautious of him," Xia Yuerong said prudently.

"Mmm," Xia Xueyan nodded, visibly looking up to Xia Yuerong for guidance.

After settling the bill, Wang Xiaoqiang left the restaurant with the two women, and the three soared into the sky together, heading west.

The three flew side by side, curiously enough, with the two women flanking Wang Xiaoqiang, one on the left and one on the right.

Though Wang Xiaoqiang's body wasn't touching the two women, he was close enough to catch the fragrant scent emanating from them, which was quite pleasant.

"Young Master Wang, have you ever seen a member of the Demon Race?" Xia Yuerong asked tentatively.

"I encountered someone named the Yin-Yang Immortal Lord," Wang Xiaoqiang said flatly.

"What, the Yin-Yang Demon Lord? When did you meet him?" The two women seemed familiar with the Yin-Yang Demon Lord, and the mere mention of his name seemed to unsettle them.

"Not long ago," Wang Xiaoqiang replied, surprised by the strong reaction of the two women, and thus he disclosed the true situation.

"Then, did you have any conflict with the Yin-Yang Demon Lord?"

"Of course, he said I was in his way, wanted to kill me, and then I..."

"Then what happened?" The two women grew even more anxious, their breathing accelerating.

Wang Xiaoqiang said, "We fought, and the Yin-Yang Demon Lord was entangled by someone from the Chiba Clan. As to whether he's dead or alive, I don't know."

"The Chiba Clan, huh. Now the Chiba Clan is in trouble. The Yin-Yang Demon Lord is the grandson of the North Sea Demon King. Whoever lays a hand on him will suffer retribution. If the Chiba Clan killed the Yin-Yang Demon Lord, the entire Chiba Clan might be annihilated..."

"Annihilation is a minor issue. It's likely that anyone connected to the Chiba Clan would end up dead."

Wang Xiaoqiang doubted this and said, "Is the North Sea Demon King really that formidable?"

"Haha, Young Master Wang probably hasn't ventured much into the Martial World," Xia Xueyan chuckled.

"Er, I rarely venture out, but I often go into the mountains to hunt demon beasts," Wang Xiaoqiang pretended and then pondered, "Hey, what do you think is the relationship between the Demon Race and demon beasts?"

"The fundamental difference between the Demon Race and demon beasts is that the Demon Race consists of humans who have cultivated particularly sinister cultivation techniques, becoming half-demon, half-human beings, whereas demon beasts are animals that have cultivated and obtained demonic power.

The Demon Race is more ferocious than demon beasts. There are minor demons, great demons, demon soldiers, demon generals—who hold a higher position within the Demon Race and some even possess their own territories like feudal lords, rarely leaving their lands... Above the demon general, there is the Demon King, whose power is comparable to an Immortal Venerable, and sometimes even stronger. For example, the North Sea Demon King is a formidable entity. It's said that even three Immortal Venerables couldn't subdue him. Above the Demon King, there is the Demon God, an even higher being. There are very few of them in the whole Immortal Realm, and only an Immortal Emperor can handle a Demon God..."

As Xia Yuerong continued speaking, Wang Xiaoqiang caught a rich, enduring fragrance wafting from one side, lingering at his nose.

Suddenly, the sound of Xia Xueyan gently chewing came.

"Er..." Wang Xiaoqiang turned his head to see.

Under the moonlight, he saw her holding a small pink porcelain bottle, pouring out pill-sized, fiery red pills from it, and popping them directly into her sweet cherry lips, chewing slowly, savoring the flavor deliciously.

"Young Master Wang, I am eating pills. Would you like some?" Xia Xueyan asked with a smile. As she spoke, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted from her breath, intoxicatingly.

"This... Miss Xia, what kind of pills are you eating?" Wang Xiaoqiang wondered internally. The disciples from Medicine God Valley really were different, casually popping pills as if they were candy.

"Uncle, this is the 'Mind Cleansing Pill.' It purifies the mind. After taking it, it clears the impurities from one's willpower. A single 'Mind Cleansing Pill' can keep the mind free from stray thoughts for several hours. Many disciples from various sects come to our Medicine King Valley to procure 'Mind Cleansing Pills' for comprehending spell techniques, and even for breakthroughs during cultivation," Xia Xueyan explained articulately. "Young Master Wang, I refined these 'Mind Cleansing Pills' myself. The potency is quite decent, just passable... Would you care to try a few?"

"Such... such a valuable pill... and you... you're just eating it casually?" Wang Xiaoqiang was astounded.

"Young Master Wang, give me your hand." Xia Xueyan shook the small pink porcelain bottle, making a rattling sound.

Wang Xiaoqiang, trembling, reached out his hand. Xia Xueyan, without stinting, poured out six or seven Mind Cleansing Pills and smiled, "Young Master Wang, try these first."

"Okay… okay… thank you, thank you; then I won't be polite…" Wang Xiaoqiang turned around, picked up a Mind Cleansing Pill from his palm, and put it in his mouth.

After chewing a few times, in an instant, a refreshing and brisk taste permeated his mouth. The pleasure was beyond words. The next moment, that mint-like refreshment surged straight to his crown, truly cleansing his mind and nourishing his spirit.

"Amazing medicine! Truly amazing medicine!" Wang Xiaoqiang repeatedly praised in his heart and then popped another Mind Cleansing Pill into his mouth.

Having taken two Mind Cleansing Pills, Wang Xiaoqiang's mind felt increasingly refreshed. With every breath, a fragrant breeze came and went, making him feel clear-headed and exhilarated, as if he could ascend above the clouds.

"We're here." Xi Yuerong turned back and smiled at Wang Xiaoqiang before flying downward with agile movements.

"Young Master Wang, it's time to go down…" Xia Xueyan also flew downwards.

The three of them flew down and walked side by side toward the small town under the night sky.

From a distance, they saw a figure standing at the entrance to the small town.

Under the moonlight, it was clear—it was Senior Brother Mo.

Senior Brother Mo stood there stiffly like a zombie, his side face pale under the bleak moonlight, forming a very eerie arc at the corner of his mouth.

"You've arrived," spoke Senior Brother Mo with a chilling tone, "Who is this young man?"

"This is Young Master Wang, an elite disciple of the Five Spirit Sect," Xia Xueyan introduced.

Senior Brother Mo stared deeply at Wang Xiaoqiang for a moment, a cold flash in his eyes, but then he ignored him and simply waved his hand, "Follow me."

The place they were at was an entrance to a small town.

The tall stone stele at the entrance of this small town was covered with moss, eroded by wind, frost, rain, and snow such that it was mottled, and it seemed many years since it had been maintained. The content inscribed on the stone stele was indiscernible.

On a bald, twisted old tree, several crows perched, cawing in a way that sent shivers down one's spine.

The town was eerily silent, conveying a desolate, barren artistic conception.

Even a slight breath could detect a faint scent of blood and a rotten, moldy smell emanating from the direction of the town.

There were no human voices, not even the crowing of roosters or barking of dogs.

In such an odd environment and atmosphere, Xi Yuerong and Xia Xueyan couldn't help but hold each other's hands, trembling, their eyes filled with amazement and confusion. Xi Yuerong steadied her spirit and frowned, "Senior Brother Mo, this place… seems to be a desolate town, filled with strangeness everywhere."

"Heh… There are many Demon Species here, but don't worry, with me here, you'll be fine," Senior Brother Mo said indifferently, the corner of his mouth revealing a deeply sarcastic and cryptic arc. "Sister Yuerong, Sister Xueyan, did you think that training was about pleasure, about visiting places of luxury and bustle? Alright, let's enter the town. First, we'll rest at the town's inn, have some warming drinks, and then tomorrow, we'll fight demons."

After saying this, Senior Brother Mo walked straight into the town with his hands clasped behind him.

The two women exchanged glances, shocked.

A few moments later, Xi Yuerong gathered her courage, "Xueyan, let's go in too. Senior Brother Mo is right, training is indeed filled with thorns; it's not about seeking pleasure."

"Yes." Xia Xueyan nodded firmly.

The two young women, holding hands, nervously followed behind Senior Brother Mo.

Wang Xiaoqiang silently walked up and walked shoulder to shoulder with the two women.

"Young Master Wang… do you feel that there's something strange about this town…" Xia Xueyan asked softly.

Suddenly…

"Ah? I think I stepped on something…" Xia Xueyan paused mid-step, bending down to look instinctively.

Then…

"Ah!"

She let out a sharp scream and quickly drew back her feet.

Soon, Xi Yuerong also exclaimed and pulled Xia Xueyan a few steps away.

Wang Xiaoqiang looked around and saw that Xia Xueyan had stepped on a skull. Not far in front of the skull was another ghostly white skeleton…

"Zzt"—a purple-striped long snake slithered out from the hollow eye sockets of the skeleton.

"Senior Brother Mo... this town..." Xi Yuerong called out to Senior Brother Mo, who was briskly walking ahead, clearly dissatisfied.

"Alright, no need to complain," Senior Brother Mo cut off Xi Yuerong, "At the end of this street, there's an inn where we can rest."

Following where Senior Brother Mo pointed, at the very end of the long street, a faint yellow light did indeed shine, but ominously, it seemed to be the only lit place in the entire town! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is the greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com.)

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