127 An Old Flame

The Chu Kui is a wondrous flower of ancient times. It is not only capable of cleansing the soul and tempering the spirit but can also augment a cultivator’s divine sense and elevate the power of their spirit. Treasures that aid in the cultivation of the soul and divine sense are exceedingly rare in the East Sea cultivation world. Pang Yue had heard of the Chu Kui even when he was with the Demon Talisman Sect.

"I should go and take a look at Bull Demon Island!"

With a flicker of thought, Pang Yue commanded his sword puppet to transform into a streak of sword light and soar into the heavens. The puppet’s escape light was remarkably swift, and following the map, it soon arrived above Bull Demon Island. The island was covered in towering ancient trees, with dense forests like a giant carpet draped over the land. Thousands of minor demons with meager cultivation remained unaware that their master had perished, still living their days in carefree ignorance.

The sword puppet circled the island silently and quickly located a towering flowering tree. The tree grew in the heart of the dense forest, quite peculiar in appearance. Its gnarled branches twisted like dragons, and it was covered in pure white, bowl-sized flowers that resembled lotuses yet were not quite so. The flowers swayed without a breeze, emitting an exotic fragrance. It was indeed the legendary Chu Kui!

Three minor demons were lounging beneath the tree, dozing as they guarded it. The sword puppet flicked a finger, releasing a silent streak of sword light that dispatched the three demons. Then, with a swift turn, the light dug up the entire Chu Kui tree, roots and soil alike, and swept it into a storage bag.

The sword puppet paused to sense its surroundings for a moment before flying toward the center of the island. It transformed into a thread-thin streak of sword light, slipping past the perception of the various demon cultivators to enter a magnificent cave dwelling. The cave was intricate, with numerous halls and chambers. After a quick search, the puppet found the treasury.

A black iron gate stood deep within the cave, its protective spiritual glow dimmed as if it had already been breached. The sword puppet entered to find piles of spirit stones and rare treasures. At a glance, there were over eight million spirit stones—likely the entirety of the Bull Demon King’s fortune. Alongside them lay many other rare materials that Pang Yue did not recognize.

Beside the pile of spirit stones lay the massive carcass of a bird! It was covered in cyan feathers, with countless silver talismans shimmering upon them, radiating an aura of profound, mysterious lightning.

The sword puppet stepped forward to examine it closely and immediately recognized the creature’s origin: a Thunder Peng! A beast of the primordial era! It was rumored that a certain Demon Emperor of the Primordial Spirit level on Myriad Demon Island was, in its true form, a Thunder Peng.

"I wonder what connection there is between the two?" Pang Yue pondered for a moment, a thought crossing his mind. "If I use the secret technique I obtained in the Heavenly Demon Illusion to have my two Cold Serpents devour this bird, there is a chance their bloodlines will mutate. Then, I could pass on the supernatural ability of the Ice Soul Lightning Gang to them!"

He quickly sketched out a cultivation plan for the two Cold Serpents in his mind. If they could master the Ice Soul Lightning Gang, their strength would increase dramatically, rivaling the true disciples of any sect! Furthermore, the Ice Soul Lightning Gang could be cultivated all the way to the Golden Core and even the Primordial Spirit realm. Given the inherent talents of the Cold Serpents, this technique might yield miraculous results. The sword puppet waved its hand, collected the Thunder Peng’s carcass, and departed gracefully. Though he felt a twinge of curiosity as to why the Bull Demon King’s treasury held the body of a Thunder Peng, he did not dwell on it.

...

Hundreds of thousands of miles away from Bull Demon Island, a mountain stood majestically in the sea. On the southern cliff face, a rock carving depicted thousands of lifelike demons bowing in worship to the sun in the sky. At the summit lay a lake of about a hundred acres, its surface as smooth and clear as a mirror. In the distance, the water reflected the drifting clouds, resembling shimmering silver mist.

Beside the lake, flowers and strangely shaped rocks were scattered. One rock, only a few feet high but spanning several acres, jutted into the water. It was covered in emerald bamboo, and within the grove stood a jade table and stools, with a zither resting on the table and incense burning before it. The scene was serene and ethereal.

A stunningly beautiful young woman, appearing to be seventeen or eighteen, sat before the table, playing the zither for her own amusement. She wore a light, translucent gauze dress with a silk sash at her waist, a jade-green shawl draped over her shoulders, and her feet were bare, showing snow-white skin. She possessed a unique, otherworldly grace that seemed etched into her very bones.

Suddenly, the sound of wind and rain echoed from the sky. The girl looked up to see a black dragon, several dozen feet long, approaching from the clouds. Its head was as large as a mountain, adorned with three horns, and its whiskers were over a yard long, resembling steel needles. Its golden eyes, as large as turnips, bulged and shone with a piercing light.

The girl rested her fingers on the zither strings, smiled sweetly, and rose to meet it in the air. "So it is Uncle Mo who has come. Wan'er failed to welcome you in time!"

The black dragon shifted its form, transforming into a stoic, bearded middle-aged man. He said in a deep voice, "The Master has arrangements for you and has sent me to assist you." With that, he produced a talismanic decree and handed it over.

The girl took the decree, scanned it with her divine sense, and frowned slightly. "Who is so bold as to have killed Junior Brother Bai?"

The middle-aged man replied, "The Master used a blood-tracking technique to discern that Young Master Bai’s bloodline has not vanished, but has regained vitality in some form. He wants us to bring that bloodline back."

The girl nodded and smiled. "Among the humans, there are indeed secret arts capable of grafting and refining our demon bloodline. Very well, it has been a long time since I left; I shall go for a stroll."

The middle-aged man shifted back into his dragon form and rumbled, "Climb on, Wan'er."

"Then I shall trouble you, Uncle Mo." The girl smiled, leaped onto the black dragon's back, and sat gently. With a long roar, the black dragon soared into the sky and vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

...

Above a desolate island, a colorful cloud drifted slowly. Dozens of young men and women descended, all possessing an air of transcendent elegance. They crowded around a beautiful young woman of about twenty-three or twenty-four as they arrived on the island.

The young men were dressed in magnificent Taoist robes, while the women wore light yellow palace gowns. Regardless of gender, each carried a long-handled, duck-billed flower hoe with a handle of red bamboo and a head of purple jade, and a vintage, hexagonal, shallow-bottomed flower basket slung over their shoulders.

The beautiful woman in the center was radiant, her hair styled in elegant clouds, her appearance breathtaking. Her figure was slender and graceful, her waist curves tight yet voluptuous, and the fullness of her bosom added to her charm. She cast a spell, probed the area for a moment, and smiled faintly. "It is correct; the Ziyuan flower is indeed on this island. Go and harvest it."

The youths responded in unison, summoned their flight lights, and flew into the island, laughing and chatting as they searched for the Ziyuan flowers. The woman conjured a small, flower-adorned pavilion and stepped inside.

The interior was an exquisite bedchamber, complete with a jade bed, embroidered quilts, and pillows—every amenity was provided. The air was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus and orchids, warm, sweet, and intoxicating. The woman sat on the jade bed, her beautiful eyes like pools of water. Recalling the past, her cheeks flushed a soft red. She murmured softly, "This place is not far from the Heavenly Sword Sect. I wonder where that rascal is now?"