The young girl was on her first official date, so nervous she could hardly manage. Originally, she had planned the day's itinerary according to the eighteen charms taught by her mother, and confidently named the plan "Luo Qingyao's Thousand Layer Strategy."

First, wear a beautiful outfit, preferably veiled, to display the silhouette subtly.

Then, apply makeup... Men don't like heavy makeup, so just a touch of powder to give a gentle, refined appearance.

When speaking, the voice should be sweet, with a hint of delicacy, but controlled so as not to seem contrived.

While walking, take small steps lightly. There's no need to deliberately sway the hips, but the curve of the waist must be shown. Ideally, there should be some incidental physical contact, such as accidentally brushing the back of the hand or fingertips grazing the chest...

A woman's neck, collarbone, ankle, and fingers are exposed and can exude charm most directly, so these areas must be carefully dressed up. You can wear beautiful tortoiseshell adornments, a necklace around the neck, and a jade anklet...

She had planned out all sorts of content.

But, when she realized it was her first official date with Senior Brother. Facing Fan Wubing squarely, all of "Luo Qingyao's Thousand Layer Strategy" was forgotten, her face turning almost purple, unable to utter a single word.

In short... she was at a loss, completely unsure what one does on a date.

In the end, it was still up to Fan Wubing to take the lead.

Dating a young girl, there wasn't much to play around with.

At Luo Qingyao's age, she likely enjoyed strolling down the streets, browsing small stalls, picking out beautiful clothes, listening to tunes, and watching shadow puppets. As long as you keep her entertained, she'd be content and cheerful along the way.

When the two had spent a satisfying day together, standing by Zhaoxing Lake, with the night breeze blowing and under the night lights, Luo Qingyao suddenly realized,

"Why are you so skilled, Senior Brother?! Have you dated other girls?! And, even though this is my domain, why are you the one taking the lead?!"

"Tsk, she's having an episode again."

While Luo Qingyao was ready to reclaim her domain, a sudden, piercing shattering noise tore apart the serene and peaceful night.

Soon followed by an upstanding shout,

"Monster, prepare to die!"

Amidst the lakeside crowd, a young man in an ordinary shirt abruptly drew his sword, the sword's ringing exploded, dragging out an arc, reflecting off the lake surface, like a crescent moon. He charged upwards, stepping onto a flower boat leaning by the shore, leaping towards another flower boat leaving the shoreline. He swung his sword sideways, the cold white Sword Qi whistling, slicing open the cabin of the flower boat.

At the moment the cabin was exposed, glaring crimson, along with a pungent bloody stench, spilled out.

In this grotesque scene, there was a man with a pierced chest, and an extremely beautiful woman. The woman was clutching the man's heart, and yet the man's face showed an expression of ecstasy, as if caught in a rapture of passionate chaos.

Seeing their pleasure disrupted, the woman immediately tore off her metaphorical disguise, literally.

Revealing her true form, a monster covered in fish scales, thin blood lines slowly seeping between the scales.

Sword Qi landed on its scales, emitting a metallic clang.

The young swordsman didn't waste any time, immediately striking out a second burst of Sword Qi. The monster used the heart-stripped man as a shield, instantly exploding into a bloody mist, the mist carried by the surging Sword Qi, spreading in all directions, quickly forming a miniature blood rain.

At this moment, the surrounding crowd came to their senses, hurriedly screaming as they ran away.

Fan Wubing and Luo Qingyao also retreated to the side. He looked at the Covered Scale Demon, eyebrows twitched,

"It's that Lake Demon that's been preying on mortals in Zhaoxing Lake! After all this time, it still hasn't been subdued?"

Eternal Immortal Sect did have commissions for slaying Lake Demons.

Luo Qingyao asked,

"Is it the Lake Demon that tricked you, Senior Brother?"

"Hmm."

"I will go kill it now!" Luo Qingyao was about to move forward to slay the demon.

Fan Wubing held her back,

"Don't be impulsive. Look at the Sect Token on the waist of that young swordsman. He's a disciple of Eternal Immortal Sect, likely took the commission. And currently, we don't know the Lake Demon's strength, let's watch first."

Luo Qingyao analyzed,

"That man has a grand sword stance, his Sword Qi is stable, his physique robust, obviously a swordsman who's practiced from a young age. In contrast, the Lake Demon's aura is faint, probably not an equal match. Furthermore, typically among monsters, if we consider what they fear most, formidable swordsmen are among the top."

"You're so knowledgeable?"

"Of course, I'm your Junior Sister!"

Fan Wubing was not idle either, using Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill to feel the vital energy ahead.

The direct feeling was indeed as Luo Qingyao said. The young swordsman's Qi was abundant and robust. Judging from the vitality energy, he should be at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. While the Lake Demon was much weaker, seemingly only recently transformed into a monster.

But... is there something wrong?

The Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill's perception of Qi is comprehensive, better than the ordinary cultivator's soul sensing. The evolved skill is even more powerful.

Fan Wubing faintly noticed a hint of special Qi hovering over the lake surface. Very subtle, very gentle, almost undetectable. But once noticed, it becomes impossible to ignore. Because this Qi, compared to the monster's Qi, is far too... authentic and righteous!

The fight ahead quickly unfolded, the Lake Demon could not withstand five moves from the young swordsman, soon having its shoulder cleaved open by a burst of Sword Qi.

The young swordsman then tossed down the Demon-Binding Rope, binding the Lake Demon tightly with its last breath, rendering it completely immobile.

"It's over. That Lake Demon was quite weak..." Luo Qingyao said.

Fan Wubing questioned,

"If it's so weak, why hasn't it been subdued until now?"

Luo Qingyao was also puzzled,

"Perhaps no disciples took the commission."

The reason was rather flimsy.

Fan Wubing wasn't relaxing his vigilance, focusing the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill to observe the peculiar "authentic and righteous" Qi lingering over the lake surface.

In front, the young swordsman landed on the boat, bending down to capture the monster.

In the split second he bent over, his vision almost entirely compressed onto the boat's surface, the special Qi hovering over the lake surface suddenly shifted from subtle to intense. A wave of heat rose, simultaneously, golden brilliance shone upwards from beneath the lake surface.

Upon seeing such golden brilliance, Fan Wubing's Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill became unusually active.

"Qi," this unique and unparalleled "Qi" is...

Incense, Divine Dao incense?

In the Cultivation Realm, there exists a very obscure yet indispensable path. This path, not innate, given by immortals.

Known as,

"Divine Dao."

Those who practice Divine Dao are called Incense Fire Gods. Because the path is created by immortals, they cannot absorb immortal energy, acquire innate creation, ingest the essence of sun and moon, but can gain transformation from the mortal world. So long as someone offers incense, they can draw from mortal incense, growing continuously.

In present times, the Divine Dao is overseen by "Confucian Family." Divine Dao cultivators, most previously monsters, including beasts, spirits, ghosts, and resentful apparitions.

Once, a Great Scholar said "No discrimination in education," thus accepting the divine creation, giving monsters legitimate status, granting them Divine Dao identities, so they might protect the populace, to earn incense, nurturing themselves.

In some respects, Incense Fire Gods are essentially officially recognized monsters.

This is one of "Confucian" methods for maintaining stability in the Cultivation Realm, to prevent excessive chaos in human-monster conflicts.

Fan Wubing thought, so the lake contains an Incense Fire God, presumably here to seize recognition, acquire divine creation.

But the next moment, developments left him stunned.

Because, the Incense Fire God brilliance emerging from below the lake was not aimed at the Lake Demon, but at the young swordsman!

Oh no!

Fan Wubing suddenly exclaimed,

"Senior Brother, dodge quickly!"

However, it was too late. It happened so suddenly. Even a vigilant person like Fan Wubing didn't expect the Incense Fire God was working with the Lake Demon, intending to harm the young swordsman.

The Incense Fire God brilliance coalesced into a sharp spike, piercing from behind, simultaneously through the young swordsman's forehead Purple Mansion and abdominal Dantian.

Blood, scattered over Zhaoxing Lake.

Yet the Incense Fire God's assault did not cease, subsequently targeting Fan Wubing and Luo Qingyao.

This was to,

wipe out witnesses!

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