EHRPS CH207

For the next half-month or so, the Guiqing Sect was unusually bustling.

On the other side. With the system’s help, Jin Liuyi retrieved the Nine Nether Memory-Sealing Mirror from the bottom of the Black Sea. After successfully leaving the floating island, she caught wind of a piece of news— The Guiqing Sect was organizing another Immortal Sect Grand Competition.

The various sects had responded actively and were already bringing large numbers of disciples to the Guiqing Sect. Even Nie Wuhui had emerged from seclusion for this, intending to offer some guidance.

Aside from this, Jin Liuyi could not uncover any news regarding the righteous path’s crusade against Demon Lord Tu Tianba, or any other matters related to the conflict between immortals and demons.

Jin Liuyi pondered for a moment, then spoke silently in her mind: “System, this isn’t right… At a time like this, how could the Guiqing Sect possibly hold another Immortal Sect Grand Competition?” “First, where does this leave the Wondrous Immortal Sect?” “Second…”

This had a bit to do with Jin Liuyi herself. Because she was the only one who had seen the Demon Lord’s true face beneath his disguise, when Jin Liuyi spread the news, she didn’t directly describe Tu Tianba’s appearance. Instead, she used highly specific descriptors.

As long as the righteous sects investigated following these clues, they could easily lock onto the youth using the alias ‘Doctor Tu.’ From her understanding, Tu Tianba was fiery-tempered and straightforward, intolerant of others’ nonsense. If righteous cultivators questioned him, there was absolutely no way he would sit down and talk peacefully…

Once a fight broke out, the situation would spiral out of control. Then, Jin Liuyi could reap the rewards as the fisherman catching both the snipe and the clam.

The ‘Villain Cannon Fodder Counterattack System’ replied quickly, “Host, the Child of Destiny in this world has emerged from seclusion. This is extremely unfavorable for the new round of the Immortal-Demon War.”

Hearing this, Jin Liuyi was somewhat displeased: “Of course I know that!”

The system’s voice remained flat and mechanical as it continued: “Based on this system’s deductions, it is highly likely that the various sects have already discovered Demon Lord Tu Tianba’s identity, holding off on acting immediately and using the Immortal Sect Grand Competition as a cover for a siege…” “The intent is to make the Demon Lord lower his guard.” “This is a prime opportunity for the Host to fish in troubled waters. It is recommended that the Host infiltrate the disciples of ‘Bixiao Workshop’ and hurry to the Guiqing Sect as soon as possible, using the item to unleash the ancient demonic qi within the Demon Lord.”

At this very moment. Jin Liuyi was resting on an island named Golden Silkworm Island, thousands of miles away from the Black Sea. Its climate was unpredictable, far less prosperous and habitable than the towns surrounding the Wondrous Immortal Sect.

On Golden Silkworm Island, a sect named ‘Bixiao Workshop’ had been situated for generations. Rumor had it that the founder of this sect was a descendent of an ancient mighty figure, standing watch over the Black Sea here, sheltering refugees who had fled human wars to this place. Over time, Bixiao Workshop came into being.

Even with the system’s assistance, entering and exiting the Black Sea had cost Jin Liuyi an immense amount of effort. Hearing the system’s analysis, she hesitated, “What if Tu Tianba isn’t at the Guiqing Sect?” “Nie Wuhui is holding down the fort there. If my identity is exposed, wouldn’t I be throwing my life away for nothing? His Untamed sword has no shortage of demonic cultivator souls under it.”

Soon. The system’s inorganic voice sounded again, “Host, please rest assured.” “The inner demons you previously planted in numerous righteous disciples have accumulated enough points for a single exchange of an advanced disguise skill. No one will be able to see through your identity.” “Even if Demon Lord Tu Tianba is not at the Guiqing Sect, the Host can take the opportunity to plant inner demons in even more righteous disciples, earning more points to elevate your own strength…” “This is a plan that kills two birds with one stone. The system will absolutely do its utmost to assist the Host in completing the mission.”

Hearing this, Jin Liuyi felt it made some sense. Speaking of points, a thought crossed her mind and she asked: “I previously exchanged for a one-time [Low-Tier Soul-Refining Demonic Art] for Patriarch Wuxiang and the others. How many points are left now?”

The Cannon Fodder Counterattack System recited a number.

After hearing it, Jin Liuyi frowned, “That’s not right. Why didn’t you count the points for that female disciple from the Xuanxu Sect?” She thought to herself: That woman couldn’t resist the evil thoughts in her heart. The demonic seed broke through the soil early on, there’s absolutely no way the parasitism failed. After all, the Xuanxu Sect was gone.

The system paused, then replied: “There is no miscalculation.” “This system did not acquire the points for that host body. Scans indicate the inner demon seed within her has perished.”

The demonic seed hadn’t perished naturally, but had been refined by a power sharing its exact same origin… It simply didn’t need to tell Jin Liuyi these details.

Jin Liuyi didn’t find it too strange. After all, situations like this had occurred before. Upon the death of the host body, the inner demon seed would perish as well. Alternatively, if a disciple parasitized by the demonic seed successfully suppressed their evil thoughts and prevented the seed from breaking through, such circumstances would also result in Jin Liuyi failing to gain points.

She wore a cold face and spat, “What a waste of effort!”

Little did she know, the entity bound to her soul, disguised as the ‘Villain Cannon Fodder Counterattack System,’ was also secretly harboring furious resentment.

It was not a system. To be precise, it was a wisp of ancient demonic qi consciousness that had escaped from the Soul-Refining Cauldron. During that heavenly lightning tribulation three years ago, Tu Tianba had been provoked. While his soul was turbulent, an unknown power invaded. So, it took advantage of the chaos to flee… During a brief intersection with that unknown power, it caught glimpses of fragmented information, seizing the opportunity to disguise itself as an entity called a ‘system’ and hiding within Jin Liuyi nearby.

Of course. Jin Liuyi had also been seduced by it. Its true goal was to use this demonic cultivator to destroy Tu Tianba’s individual consciousness, fulfilling a grudge tens of thousands of years in the making. Namely: To let demonic qi flood the heavens and earth, letting demons rise while the Dao perishes!

As for the fate of this foolish ‘Host’? What did that have to do with it?

It only knew that it shared the same origin as Tu Tianba and could sense his general direction— Barring any accidents, it was precisely the Guiqing Sect. Therefore, regardless of whether the righteous sects had uncovered Tu Tianba’s disguised identity, Jin Liuyi’s trip would not be in vain.

And it… Would definitely properly ‘assist’ this Host. The bottom of the Black Sea was incredibly treacherous; how could it let her toil for nothing?

After all, the host worked so hard, planting so many inner demon seeds in righteous disciples. As long as the demonic seeds matured, it could refine those righteous disciples and elevate its own power. Hence, the concept of ‘exchanging points for items.’ Furthermore, the righteous sects would never be able to find those missing fallen disciples. Because they had already become its nourishing fertilizer, their flesh and souls digested completely clean.

Thinking of this. The Cannon Fodder Counterattack System simulated an inorganic voice, urging: “When will the Host depart? Bixiao Workshop is very far from the Guiqing Sect, and they have already set off in advance.” “…”

While Jin Liuyi was rushing to the Guiqing Sect with the demonic weapon, many sects had already arrived ahead of time, heading to designated locations to register for the Immortal Sect Grand Competition.

Main Peak, Guest Welcoming Gate. The square paved with cyan jade slabs was vast, like a rippling sea of green. In the four corners stood coiling dragon jade pillars, the dragon heads continuously exhaling milky white spiritual mist.

Tu Tianba surveyed the surrounding scenery. Feeling a sense of déjà vu, he couldn’t help but say with a beaming smile, “But this square is much grander than the small square at the Wondrous Immortal Sect…”

He raised his eyes to look at the man standing before the desk, adding unhurriedly: “Oh, almost forgot, there is a bit of a difference. Back then, you sat behind the desk, and I stood in the array. You were suspicious of me and secretly formed a demon-slaying formation behind my back.”

Xu Que: “…”

In the center of the square. Tu Tianba sat behind the long desk at the registration point. Xu Que stood in front of the desk.

One sitting, one standing, their eyes met. Tu Tianba very appropriately recited a poem: “Alas, alack, truly the winds and waters take turns spinning…”

Hearing this, Xu Que’s eyebrow twitched heavily. As one of the participants in the righteous assembly that day, he knew this Immortal Sect Grand Competition had two purposes. First, it was a cover for Tu Tianba to inspect righteous disciples to see if they had been implanted with inner demons, preventing panic among the disciples. Second, it was to lure the missing Jin Liuyi into walking right into their trap, along with any other demonic cultivators who came to cause trouble.

Because of this, Tu Tianba had to take a position where he could come into contact with everyone. That day, under the youth’s explicit and implicit hints, and out of various considerations, his true identity was known only to those who attended the righteous assembly. To the outside world, he was merely the Guiqing Sect disciple in charge of registration.

Xu Que lowered his eyes, staring at the white-clad youth sitting lazily behind the desk. His gaze shifted slightly, catching sight of the small signboard the other had just pulled from his sleeve— [Excellent medical skills, no charge if not cured]

This small signboard was very crude, made from a few finger-thick pieces of wood and a scrap of coarse cloth. The line of words was written a bit crookedly, with large gaps at the front and getting increasingly cramped towards the back.

Xu Que thought back seriously, recalling from his two probing attempts three years ago, to the recent plummeting from the sky and destruction of the river valley array, to the private voice transmission with Immortal Lord Wuhui… He tried to stay calm.

The next second. He heard several rapid thump-thump sounds, like a string of brisk drumbeats. It was Tu Tianba. He patted the desk, his eyes sparkling, inviting Xu Que to sit down, his tone enthusiastic: “Fellow Daoist Xu, come, come, come. I’m not just in charge of registration, I’m also a medical cultivator with superb skills. Let me see if you have any incurable diseases—” “You mustn’t hide your illness for fear of treatment! What if your previous injuries haven’t fully healed and worsen into a severe injury, leaving you half-paralyzed or something? How will you be a cut-sleeve then?”

After speaking, he let out two very honest-sounding chuckles.

Xu Que: “…” Xu Que’s attempt at calm had failed.

He fell silent for a moment, speaking with well-founded logic: “I came to the Guiqing Sect on the same path as you. Just now, I only went to the mountain gate to pick someone up, I haven’t taken a half-step outside the Guiqing Sect…”

As he finished, Tu Tianba used his index finger to perfunctorily dig his ear, making a show of looking behind him. “Ah? I don’t see anyone?”

Before the words had even settled. Xu Que heard a familiar clinking and clanking sound. Turning his head, he saw Fu Yuesheng poking his head out from behind him. Upon clearly seeing the white-clad youth behind the desk, the expression on his face suddenly became very joyful, “Fellow Daoist Tu, it’s you?!” “That’s wonderful, have you joined the Guiqing Sect? I’m so glad you’re safe, otherwise my heart would never have found peace…”

Tu Tianba paused his movements, glancing at the youth covered in accessories across from him. He found that the joy on his face was genuine, and the excitement in his tone was also genuine.This person… seems to be truly very happy that I didn’t die in the desolate realm back then.

Tu Tianba sat up a bit straighter. Fu Yuesheng looked like a peacock, but his mouth was much more formidable than a peacock’s, chattering non-stop. Tu Tianba couldn’t even find an opening to interject.

Bypassing Xu Que, he plopped down at the desk to register. Seeing the signboard propped up on the desk, he curiously asked Tu Tianba to take a look at him.

Xu Que: “…”

Tu Tianba registered him with a lack of interest, casually glancing at him twice, and said: “Although you suffer from a congenital deficiency, the Life-Extending Shuttle compensated for that. You are very healthy now, but it’s best not to have children, it damages the body.”

As soon as his voice fell. Fu Yuesheng’s expression looked somewhat disappointed.

Xu Que: “…………” What on earth is there to be disappointed about!!

Seeing him wanting to chatter on about something else, Xu Que grabbed him by the collar, pushing him a distance away before saying softly: “You’d better… not get too close to this person.”

Fu Yuesheng was very confused, asking back: “Ah? Why?”

Xu Que fell silent for a moment, picking and choosing a portion of what could be said. “Because he hates me very much, and you’re close to me. Best to avoid him hating the house and its crow.”

Fu Yuesheng stopped in his tracks, even more confused. “Ah? He hates you? I actually think Fellow Daoist Tu seems to like you quite a bit.”

Xu Que also stopped. His perennially unchanging expression cracked a bit, as if he had heard some unbelievable, evil whisper.

Fu Yuesheng read his expression, turned to face him, and spoke with absolute certainty: “I’m not joking, I really think so…!”

Xu Que’s expression was complicated beyond words. “What does he like about me? Does he like that I’m old, like my bad luck, like that I ‘go’ fast?”

Fu Yuesheng thought for a moment and suddenly smiled, “…Likes teasing you, it’s quite fun.”

Having said that, Fu Yuesheng stood at the edge of the square and waved enthusiastically at the white-clad youth behind the desk in the distance, his accessories clinking.

Xu Que unconsciously turned his head to look. They were quite a distance from Tu Tianba, so the youth’s figure was somewhat blurry, appearing and disappearing in the milky white spiritual mist.

Wait a moment. Xu Que saw the youth slowly raise an arm, give a half-hearted wave, and then flop back onto the desk like he had no bones. He buried the lower half of his face in the crook of his arm, his expression even more ethereal than the spiritual mist.

Fu Yuesheng said confidently: “You see, he saved my life and is so friendly to me, how could he hate me?”

Xu Que: “…” What is all this nonsense? I thought I just said Tu Tianba hates ME, right?

Following that, Fu Yuesheng hugged his arm with both hands, raised his upper arm high, and waved it twice as well.

Whoosh! Xu Que saw the youth sit bolt upright, making a very familiar gesture—pointing his index and middle fingers at his own eyes, then turning them to point squarely at Xu Que from afar.

‘I’ll be watching… watching you all the time…’

The next moment. Fu Yuesheng laughed at him, “Your expression is so funny, it’s my first time seeing it.”

As his voice fell. Fu Yuesheng’s expression blanked, then suddenly grew serious, saying softly: “Oh no!”

Xu Que’s expression also turned serious. “What is it?”

Fu Yuesheng said in annoyance: “I forgot to ask Fellow Daoist Tu who his Dao Companion is! Which Immortal Master of the Guiqing Sect is it? I really want to know!”

Xu Que’s gaze drifted toward the direction of Lingzhao Peak.That person…Is presumably regulating his breath and cultivating these few days, right?

While Xu Que pondered, he couldn’t help but look back at the youth in the center of the massive square, only catching the afterimage of him swiftly turning his head back.

“…”

Tu Tianba felt his ears were unclean. His five senses were extraordinarily keen. Not to mention clearly hearing Fu Yuesheng and Xu Que’s conversation, even their inner voice transmissions had nowhere to hide.

So, he heard that Fu Yuesheng say he liked that unlucky old cut-sleeve.

Disgusting, how disgusting!!I’m dirty!My innocence has been slandered out of thin air!

Tu Tianba sat crookedly at the desk, his entire face buried in the crook of his arm, his cheeks slightly warm.See! I’m thoroughly disgusted!!

Fortunately, not many people were entering or leaving the Guiqing Sect at this hour, allowing Tu Tianba to calm down alone until he regained his husbandly true colors of not showing joy or anger.

About two shichen (four hours) passed.

Tu Tianba suddenly sensed a small group of people entering the mountain gate array. Immediately after, an invitation formed of spiritual qi appeared out of thin air on the desk, bearing the striking words—

[Golden Silkworm Island, Bixiao Workshop]