Yinlan City, Part 16

Ye Mingshi and Bayin broke through the seal and entered the old locust tree.

This was the Abyssal Void’s usual assembly base.

They thought that since they couldn’t find the leader’s whereabouts, they might as well search here directly; perhaps they would discover some clues.

The space inside the locust tree was not small. Going further in, Ye Mingshi encountered another restriction, and its level was even higher than the one at the entrance, indicating there was indeed something inside.

This restriction was drawn with demonic energy, making it almost impossible for righteous cultivators to break, but it was not an issue for high-level demons.

Ye Mingshi used the same method, corroding the restriction with demonic blood. Inside, a study-like room appeared. Needless to say, this was the leader’s office.

She went in first, and after confirming there was no danger, she called Bayin to follow.

Bayin curiously looked at the books displayed on the bookshelf. She was literate and could vaguely recognize the titles: Game Theory, Undercurrents, Wolf Pack Rules, Laws of Leadership, How to Train an Undercover Agent, The Way of the Workplace 1: How to Build Good Relations with Your Boss, The Way of the Workplace 2: How to Make Your Subordinates Your Dogs, The Way of the Workplace 3: How to Become an Excellent Leader.

Although she was still young and couldn’t quite understand what these books were about, Bayin could still feel the resentment and bitterness lingering on these books, probably because the people who read them were too eager to improve.

The desk was very clean, with only a brush and a draft document.

The brush was a second-tier jade talisman brush, also a good item.

Ye Mingshi first put it into her storage bag before carefully picking up the document on the desk to read it.

It was a performance review report.

Fifty percent of the report flattered the superior, thirty percent subtly hinted at his own efforts and hardships, ten percent implicitly attacked colleagues for being uncommitted and disloyal to the Abyssal Void, and only the remaining ten percent mentioned actual business.

Ye Mingshi’s mouth twitched. She searched for important information amidst a pile of flashy, purely nonsensical flattery aimed at pleasing the leader.

“The location of the demonic bone is estimated to be within the Myriad Beast Forest, but the exact location is yet unknown. Based on the frequency and scope of the beast tide’s riots, it is estimated to be deep within the forest… It has been tested once in the Inner Subsidiary City and once on the beast tide front lines. The demonic bone is affected by blood sacrifice; this method is feasible… We plan to use the lives of the entire Yinlan City as blood food, and with the resentment and vengeful souls generated by the blood sacrifice, fully stimulate the precise location of the demonic bone.”

“So that’s it. Using the entire city as blood food is indeed something demonic cultivators would do.” Ye Mingshi mused, “But how would this leader escape after the deed is done?”

Demonic cultivators were cruel, but only to the lives of others. For their own lives, they were extremely precious.

Ye Mingshi stopped that thought and continued to turn the page, “Your subordinate believes that Yinlan City Lord Yan Chi has already noticed the demonic bone’s rampage and is currently heading to the Myriad Beast Forest to retrieve the demonic bone personally. Taking advantage of her absence, your subordinate intends to replace Yan Yan and completely control the Yan family garrison. Your subordinate has been lurking within the Yan family army for over thirty years for this purpose, with a sixty percent certainty of success. If that fails, there are other trusted subordinates prepared to poison the Yan family army, incorporating them all into the blood sacrifice.”

The Yan family and the Abyssal Void both wanted to retrieve the demonic bone. Ye Mingshi frowned deeply. She alone couldn’t deal with these two forces. How could she bypass them to obtain the demonic bone?

Since the demonic cult leader was an undercover agent in the Yan family army, she would first use the Yan family army’s hand to deal with the demonic cult.

But if the demonic cult was gone, there would be no way to trigger the blood sacrifice and find the demonic bone.

She actually didn’t care about the lives of anyone outside her sect, but her master told her that if she was to be human, she had to act like one.

Blood sacrifice was the way of the demon race and would only push her further and further away from being human; she couldn’t do that.

If blood sacrifice was absolutely necessary to find the demonic bone, a cold glint flashed in Ye Mingshi’s eyes. Then she would use the entire demonic cult for the blood sacrifice.

The blood of cultivators was inherently more valuable than that of mortals.

With over two hundred people in the demonic cult, this sacrifice wouldn’t be small, and might indeed be enough to stimulate the demonic bone.

And she didn’t necessarily have to obtain the demonic bone.

She only needed the demonic bone to clear the demonic energy in her body.

With the information she held, she might be able to negotiate with the Yan family and have them lend her the demonic bone for a while.

After all, Yan Chi was already in the depths of the Myriad Beast Forest.

It was impossible for a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like her to contend with a Transform Spirit stage cultivator. Moreover, the Sword School also sent people to support the Yan family.

Ye Mingshi thought for a moment and decided to first use the Yan family’s hand to eliminate the demonic cult.

“I must first identify the undercover demonic cult leader,” Ye Mingshi muttered to herself. “Only by finding him can I continue negotiations.”

She looked at Bayin, “You go back and wait for me. I’m going to the Yan family army.”

Bayin disagreed. She said anxiously, “I want to go with you.”

Ye Mingshi raised an eyebrow, “Normally it would be fine, but this is a special situation. What would a child like you do with me? It’s too dangerous.”

Bayin looked at her with some concern. She was a precocious child who understood the warmth and coldness of human relationships here.

She hesitated, then finally spoke, “It’s not like that, big sister. It’s not me who’s in danger; you are.”

She was a child who grew up in Yinlan City, whose background everyone knew. She wouldn’t be in much danger. As for Ye Mingshi—

Ye Mingshi, under Bayin’s gaze, touched the scales that had spread to her forehead, and fell silent for a moment.

Having spent too long with Bayin, she had almost forgotten that in the eyes of others, she was always a demon.

And a demon coming forward to accuse another high-ranking military official of being a demonic cultivator spy would indeed sound rather ridiculous.

“It’s fine as long as I don’t get discovered, right?” Ye Mingshi shrugged. “Besides, you’re just a child; they won’t listen to you. They’ll just think I’ve used some trick to bewitch your mind.”

Bayin, however, was unusually firm. “I don’t care. You can’t leave me behind. You have to take me with you. I’ll be useful.”

The newcomer was cloaked in black, obscuring their true face.

The newcomer wore the coarse clothes of a kitchen staff, their face utterly plain.

The moment Su Qing and Blood Thorns’ eyes met, they both knew the other was not an easy opponent.

The opponent’s figure was ethereal, their strikes likely lethal. In a narrow encounter, holding back was the most forbidden thing. Su Qing gripped Man Qing Sword tightly, her spiritual energy rapidly circulating throughout her body.

After the Binding Immortal Rope was forced back by Man Qing Sword’s sword qi, it returned to Blood Thorns’ hand.

Being in enemy territory, one could not linger too long; a swift decisive battle was the top priority.

Fortunately, the opponent was in early Foundation Establishment, and she had never failed in a battle against someone at early Foundation Establishment.

Blood Thorns thought: ‘Kill her.’

Su Qing looked up: ‘Keep her alive.’

Both sides attacked almost simultaneously.

Su Qing first threw out a sword qi.

Blood Thorns brought out a defensive artifact to block the surging sword qi.

Her eyes narrowed, and with a flick of her sleeve, she tossed out a poison pill, which flew directly towards Su Qing’s face.

The moment the poison pill touched the air, it instantly erupted into billows of yellow-green poisonous mist, corroding the tables, chairs, and carpet it passed into puddles of charred acid.

Su Qing’s eyes trembled slightly. Such a familiar poison.

The poison-wielding demonic cultivator she encountered on Pure Water Island seemed to use this same poison.

Back then, all she could do was channel spiritual energy through her body and rely on her natural poison resistance to endure it.

But now, after these few years of cultivation, she had other methods.

The sword moved with her will.

Man Qing Sword’s blade drew a blazing silver arc, trembling all over, and positioned itself horizontally in front of her.

“Blocking with a sword?” Blood Thorns raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you afraid of it being corroded too?”

Before she finished speaking, Su Qing flicked the blade of Man Qing Sword with her knuckles. With a resounding clang, countless sword shadows and flowing lights surged from Man Qing Sword’s body.

The sword qi roared and swirled like a tornado, forcefully pushing back the poison gas and, using sword qi to control the wind, attacked Blood Thorns.

Blood Thorns frowned. Three pitch-black tokens first appeared on her chest.

Following her command, they hid within the poisonous mist and rapidly flew towards Su Qing’s eyes, heart, and lower limbs, as if to nail them down.

A large fan floated up again from her left hand. This fan, named “Wind Comes,” was a second-tier top-grade artifact. The fan’s surface turned, pushing away the encroaching poisonous gas.

Seeing the sharp tokens about to hit her, Su Qing unhurriedly held her sword upright in front of her.

The advantage of a heavy sword was fully demonstrated at this moment; it didn’t need to move at all, its sturdy frame alone completely blocked the three tokens.

That she could block them didn’t surprise Blood Thorns.

But these three tokens of hers were called Black Cloud Tokens, made from the most refined dragon head spiritual ore.

Dragon head spiritual ore was a third-tier low-grade spiritual ore; generally, Foundation Establishment cultivators’ weapons couldn’t withstand it.

Blood Thorns curved her lips, “This sword is about to break.”

“That won’t happen,” Su Qing knew Man Qing Sword very well; it only got hungry.

She had recently been feeding Man Qing Sword second-tier top-grade spiritual ore.

Now, suddenly encountering higher-grade spiritual ore, Man Qing Sword was probably about to have its appetite awakened.

The three tokens successively struck Man Qing Sword, making it clang.

The tokens emitted an extremely terrifying black light, seemingly wanting to penetrate the heavy sword, but no matter how the black light burned, the token tips could not advance another millimeter.

Blood Thorns saw the situation was not right and wanted to recall the Black Cloud Tokens, but she saw the silver-white heavy sword flip over, forcefully suppressing the three tokens, making her unable to succeed in manipulating them for a moment.

When she finally gripped the Black Cloud Tokens in her hand again, she found that the tips and surface of the tokens had been partially corroded.

Before Blood Thorns could figure out why, she saw that Su Qing, this time, no longer chose to release sword qi from a distance. Instead, she gripped her sword with both hands, passed through the poisonous mist, and charged at her again.

Her face changed dramatically, “You’re asking for death!”

The poisonous mist brushed over Su Qing’s body, sizzling and burning her clothes, but it was utterly unable to harm her solid skin.

After body refinement in the Inner Subsidiary City’s poisonous fog, her poison resistance was considerably higher than when she was on Pure Water Island.

The Binding Immortal Rope seemed to have eyes as it struck again, skillfully bypassing the sword in her hand like a giant python.

One part tightly coiled around her waist and abdomen, while another silently spread at her feet, attempting to bite her ankle.

It was precisely at times like this that one must not panic.

Su Qing remembered her senior sister’s teaching: first observe the movements, discern the trajectory of their spiritual energy, then strike to kill.

Her eyes fell on Blood Thorns’ feet. There, due to an unavoidable, desperate retreat from Su Qing’s sudden attack, her steps faltered.

Found it.

Su Qing abruptly gathered her qi and launched herself, her feet seemingly having eyes, skillfully avoiding the Binding Immortal Rope. Man Qing Sword hummed, appearing beneath her feet.

She pressed her toes hard on the sword’s body, and her entire being leaped out like an arrow released from a bowstring.

She was very poor and didn’t have the endless weapons and killing moves like Blood Thorns.

Her only official weapon was Man Qing Sword itself. But besides being a sword cultivator, she was also a body cultivator, and for body cultivators, the most powerful weapon was their body.

Su Qing flew forward, grabbing Blood Thorns by the neck and shoulder, heavily pinning her to the ground.

Blood Thorns had never imagined that as a cultivator, she would one day be pinned to the ground and beaten; it was an utter disgrace.

The arms clamped around her neck and waist were like steel and iron; she couldn’t struggle. Because the two were extremely close, some killing moves couldn’t be used. She turned her face, suddenly exposing her snow-white cheek to Su Qing, where a dazzling, blood-red thorn flower was tattooed.

Su Qing finally saw her true face, but at this critical moment, she had no other thoughts than to tightly hold Blood Thorns’ flailing limbs.

She used her divine sense to summon Man Qing Sword from behind her. Su Qing was just about to call her sword—

She saw dozens of blood-red thorns suddenly grow from the side of the demonic cultivator’s face.

The sharp points curved like barbs, extremely sharp, easily capable of drawing a string of blood beads.

At this moment, these thorns burst forth, fiercely coiling around Su Qing’s neck, trying to pierce her skin and draw her flesh and blood.

This blood-red thorn flower was a demonic grass cultivated by Blood Thorns, feeding on flesh and blood.

Just to satisfy its appetite, Blood Thorns had to kill dozens of people every month.

Therefore, this thorn grass was of no low grade, already at third-tier mid-grade, comparable to a mid-Golden Core cultivator.

“You brought this upon yourself!”

The thorn flower swiftly grazed Su Qing’s skin, attempting to create an opening and burrow in.

To its surprise, it failed to break the skin in one go.

It stubbornly tried again, still only managing to break the skin and cause redness and swelling. The opponent’s skin barrier remained unbroken; it couldn’t find an opening to burrow and parasitize.

Su Qing felt her entire body’s skin swelling and throbbing painfully, but she was extremely accustomed to enduring pain and did not get distracted.

Finally, at this moment, Man Qing Sword, at her call, flashed and rushed over.

“Split Sword!”

This enormous heavy sword, enveloped by her divine sense, glowed with silver light and instantly split into five parts.

The heavy sword divided into five, and with an irresistible force, directly stabbed into Blood Thorns’ four limbs and the side of her neck.

Blood Thorns glimpsed the five light swords hurtling towards her from over Su Qing’s shoulder.

Her eyes widened, her black-red pupils constricting into tight black dots.

She no longer held back, forcefully raising all her spiritual energy. With a “bang,” she blasted Su Qing away.

At this moment, the sword tips were already before her eyes.

She only had time to summon the artifacts she had at hand to block.

The Binding Immortal Rope flew up, deflecting the silver swords aimed at her left arm and left leg.

The three Black Cloud Tokens simultaneously flew up, deflecting the silver sword coming for her neck.

The silver sword was forcibly twisted off course, heading straight for the thick wooden pillar in the middle of the tent, actually splitting the pillar in two with one strike.

The tent “swished” and collapsed, snow and fur pressing down together.

As for the silver swords aimed at her right leg and right arm, they were unavoidable.

Her right arm, due to the interference of the Wind Comes fan, only sustained a deep graze, but her right leg was directly pierced.

Blood Thorns grunted in pain.

In the brief moment before the fur and snow completely fell, the split sword that had just shattered the wooden pillar was now back in Su Qing’s hand.

She deftly executed a backhanded sword flourish, sending a fierce sword qi directly at Blood Thorns’ waist-level storage bag. Su Qing herself, carried by the sword qi, lunged forward with her sword.

First, be wary of sneak attacks, then take advantage of the enemy’s weakness to strike the killing blow.

Su Qing silently recited this phrase.

She often carried a heavy sword, so when she used a light sword, it felt too light, making her steps much faster.

At this moment, outside the tent, chaotic footsteps sounded.

It seemed the commotion here had aroused the suspicion of the patrol army.

Blood Thorns dared not linger.

She gritted her teeth and summoned an extremely expensive teleportation talisman, tearing it open with spiritual energy.

Instantly, black spatial fluctuations enveloped her, swallowing her whole.

Blood Thorns vanished from the spot in an instant, leaving only a pool of blood, three Black Cloud Tokens, a shattered Wind Comes fan, and a ball of wildly writhing thorn demonic grass on the ground, proving her presence.

Su Qing felt some regret that she couldn’t keep her person or storage bag, but having these things wasn’t bad. Demonic cultivators always had deep pockets.

The Black Cloud Tokens could be fed to Man Qing Sword.

She could sell or use the Wind Comes fan herself.

As for this thorn flower, she didn’t know if it was poisonous or simply incredibly damaging.

The skin where Su Qing had been stung by it was abnormally swollen and painful.

Good, it hurt a lot. She could keep it to refine her body.

The tent had completely collapsed, and the fur hung down, covering everyone inside.

Fearing a fire, Su Qing extinguished the brazier. She used her sword to cut an opening, first throwing out the other soldiers who had been knocked down by Blood Thorns, then dragging out the immobile Commander Zhang, who was the demonic cult leader.

The demonic cult leader was still putting up a final resistance.

He mumbled something, implying that if Su Qing let her go this time, he would yield his position as leader to her, supporting her as the new leader of the Abyssal Void.

Although he now suspected Su Qing had a problem, that was a Dao Heart Vow, a Dao Heart Vow that was 100% effective once spoken.

And when Su Qing made her Dao Heart Vow, she only swore loyalty to the Abyssal Void and to live and die with it; she didn’t mention him at all.

Therefore, the demonic cult leader strongly suspected that Su Qing was extremely loyal to the Abyssal Void, and therefore particularly disliked him as leader, wishing to replace him.

Loyalty was important, he cursed inwardly in despair, but too much loyalty could also ruin things.

Su Qing had no time for him. These demonic cult members spoke in circles, and their minds were even more devious. It was best not to give them a chance to speak.

“Save your strength; save it for interrogation.”

When she walked out, the area outside the tent was brightly lit. Yan Yan had already arrived, and her personal guards, all holding torches, had solemn expressions.

Yan Yan’s gaze swept over the limp Commander Zhang, then she first asked Su Qing, “Are you alright? Are you injured?”

She looked at the red and swollen marks on Su Qing’s neck and face, and instructed a personal guard, “Fetch the Spirit Jade Salve.”

“Go heal your wounds first,” she said, her gaze already bloodshot when looking at the traitor. “I’ll handle the rest.”

“These minor injuries are nothing,” Su Qing shook her head, “My companion is still inside; I’m worried.”

“Good, then come with me.”

The personal guard brought the Spirit Jade Salve and respectfully handed it to Su Qing. After this battle, the Yan family army would no longer say that the Sword School members were just playing house here.

They were true women, true Batals.

This Spirit Jade Salve was made from third-tier spiritual plant, Blood-Transforming Spirit Jade Grass.

The salve was reddish-brown and extremely precious.

Yan Yan was very generous, directly giving Su Qing a large jar. Su Qing accepted it, but didn’t use it.

Such minor injuries needed to heal naturally to achieve the body-refining effect.

In the interrogation room.

Commander Zhang was bound to the Binding God Locks and the Spirit-Severing Stone Pillars.

The equipment here was extremely complete. The moment he was tied up, he knew he had no possibility of escape on his own.

One of the most loyal disciples of the Abyssal Void, who was undercover here, had already betrayed him.

Now, the demonic cult leader could only secretly place his hopes on the other most loyal disciple of the Abyssal Void.

But unfortunately, he didn’t yet know that the other most loyal disciple was inside his body.

Su Qing was calling him, “Xiaocao, come out.”

The demonic cult leader clearly felt that with her call, the vibrant green blade of grass in his dantian trembled, as if it wanted to drill out of his body.

‘How could this be? If it breaks out of his body, taking his Golden Core with it, wouldn’t his cultivation be completely crippled?’

Thinking of this, the demonic cult leader was anxious and angry, shocked and fearful.

But his entire body was controlled by this inconspicuous grass, completely unable to move. He could only watch helplessly as this grass broke out of his body.

The blade of grass flew into Su Qing’s hands, its leaves trembling weakly.

Yan Yan exclaimed in surprise, “This is?”

Su Qing didn’t state it directly.

Xiaocao was too powerful; he would likely be coveted because, to some people, he was too useful and too easy to use. She wanted to bring out a bigger backer to protect him.

“He is from the depths of the back mountain, a life by the side of a divine being.”

The two words “divine being” immediately made Yan Yan understand Xiaocao’s origin and she dared not look at him again.

Since a life by a divine being could not be seen, the demonic cult leader could still be seen.

Although the other party’s appearance was ordinary, Yan Yan now very much wanted to interrogate him thoroughly.

Su Qing greeted Yan Yan, then held the trembling grass in her hands and walked to the back room.

She asked softly, “Why aren’t you changing back? Are you uncomfortable somewhere? I knew it, drilling into someone else’s body, all bloody, must be unpleasant.”

She thought for a moment and pulled out a cloak from her storage bag, wrapping it around the grass.

Xiaocao still made no move. Su Qing waited a while longer, worried. Then the grass leaves emitted a soft white light, and her hand felt heavy. A person suddenly appeared in her arms.

He hadn’t grown since entering the Sword School, still maintaining a youthful physique, very thin, not heavy at all.

By weight alone, Su Qing could carry at least ten Xiaocaos with one hand.

Su Qing’s worries were unnecessary; the person was clothed. It was true, when Xiaocao transformed into a blade of grass, he was also clothed, so he shouldn’t be unclothed when transforming back.

But his condition seemed not good. His dark eyelashes trembled gently, his amber eyes had no focus, staring ahead blankly.

Su Qing raised her hand and checked the temperature of Xiaocao’s forehead; it was very cool.

It was then, when she leaned closer, that she discovered a faint dark purple hue in his eyes.

This thing—could it be demonic energy?

‘Could it have been brought out from the demonic cult leader?’ Su Qing placed her hand on Xiaocao’s dantian, instinctively channeling her pure spiritual energy into his body, chasing after that trace of demonic energy.

Her spiritual energy flowed like a gentle stream, slowly moving along Xiaocao’s meridians, through his limbs and bones.

Wherever the spiritual energy flowed, Jiang Xiaocao’s skin correspondingly trembled slightly, and his body temperature gradually rose, returning to a normal level.

It was working.

Su Qing calmed her mind and meticulously searched for the trace of demonic energy.

Everyone’s spiritual energy was unique, just like blood. Even if the blood type was the same, it was never as familiar as one’s own internal energy.

Fortunately, Jiang Xiaocao was completely unguarded against Su Qing’s spiritual energy, readily allowing her spiritual energy to wander through his body.

Su Qing then successfully tracked down that trace of demonic energy in his sea of consciousness.

That demonic energy was like a wisp of dark purplish-gray smoke, carrying an ominous aura, silently entrenched in Xiaocao’s body, emitting a heavy evil presence.

As soon as her spiritual energy approached, that demonic energy, like a startled bird, retreated everywhere, trying to escape. Su Qing naturally wouldn’t let it run wild inside Jiang Xiaocao.

It was already unclean; what if it made Xiaocao sick?

She drove her spiritual energy from all directions to surround it.

The moment her pure, clear wood spiritual energy bit into the grayish-purple spiritual energy, that small jade-like object inside her body suddenly emitted a white light, as if activated, gushing out more spiritual energy, and began to tear at that wisp of demonic energy even more fiercely, until it was completely devoured.

After Su Qing used her spiritual energy to completely consume the demonic energy within Jiang Xiaocao’s body and untangled his chaotic, knotted spiritual veins, slowly returning it to her own body, she was surprised to find that she had actually upgraded from Foundation Establishment Layer 1 to Foundation Establishment Layer 2.

For human cultivators, such pure demonic energy was not easy to cultivate; it was the result of the demonic cult leader’s hard work over these past few years.

Precisely because demonic energy was rare, demons were born powerful, leading countless human cultivators to worship them.

What Su Qing never expected was that this demonic energy could actually supplement her?

She thought for a moment, guessing that it was probably the effect of the jade-like object in her dantian. This thing could convert demonic energy into pure spiritual energy.

But she didn’t bother to dwell on it too much.

She looked down at Xiaocao in front of her; he was staring blankly at her.

Because she had been in a hurry to treat him, they were now extremely close, able to feel each other’s body temperature.

Su Qing snapped back to reality and only then clearly saw Xiaocao’s face.

Her initial intention was to observe Xiaocao’s expression, to see if he was still uncomfortable, but truthfully, the first thing she saw was Xiaocao’s face.

His eyebrows, eyes, nose, and mouth were all exquisitely beautiful, as if grown from the essence of heaven and earth.

Yet, no matter how she looked at it, it always seemed so ordinary, so common, so unremarkable.

It was true; everyone loved to appreciate exotic flowers and rare herbs.

This was by no means a negative comment.

It was just that perhaps few people appreciated how an ordinary blade of grass, found everywhere, looked.

But Su Qing now genuinely felt: ‘Who said this grass was ordinary? This grass is excellent!’

‘He looks good, and he, no, the grass is good. There’s nothing bad about it.’

Xiaocao clutched the cloak around him, his slender eyelashes trembling as he looked at her and smiled.

He said with great certainty, and a little pride, “Although you didn’t speak, I know you’re praising me.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Su Qing nodded. “I am indeed praising you.”

“Because I did well?”

“Because you’re very good to me,” Su Qing said seriously. “You indeed did very well today, but I won’t let you put yourself in danger like this again. At least when I’m around, unless it’s a critical moment, you’re not allowed to do this anymore.”

If the opponent had demonic energy, Xiaocao would be infected with it.

If the opponent was poisoned, would Xiaocao, entering their body, also come out with poison? What if the opponent had parasitic worms?

Today was a stroke of luck; she could solve this problem.

But what about other times? Outside the body, with the power of the earth protecting him, Xiaocao, as a plant cultivator, was immortal.

Even if injured temporarily, he could quickly recover. But if his true form entered the opponent’s body, he could easily become the opponent’s nourishment or be imprisoned by their body.

He was such a capable little grass, and this was a cultivation world where anything was possible. Who could gamble on that possibility?

“Why?” Xiaocao asked, blinking his eyes in confusion. “Am I not useful?”

But he had clearly entered the demonic cult leader’s body, making everything go smoothly.

Although the sensation of demonic energy entering his body was very painful, after all, he was transformed from a supreme spirit grass.

The demonic energy was like a pollutant to him, corroding him very uncomfortably.

And he had also seen many of the leader’s memories, which were not good things, making him feel unwell.

But no matter what, his move worked, and it helped Su Qing, which was good. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about the demonic cult members anymore.

“You’re not a tool, so you don’t need to talk about being useful or not. I’m just a little worried.”

Su Qing carefully explained her considerations to him, telling him all her worries.

Xiaocao was the type to be easily persuaded if something made sense, especially what Su Qing told him, so he accepted it very quickly.

And Su Qing was worried about him.

The feeling of being worried about was very strange, it swelled within him, a little sour, but more so a little happy, a little content.

He nodded readily, “Okay, I understand. I won’t use this trick again.”

With the urgent matters here resolved, Su Qing and Jiang Xiaocao decided to go meet the demonic cult leader and see if Yan Yan had interrogated anything out of him.

Xiaocao recounted to Su Qing the leader’s memories he had seen, which mostly consisted of rhetoric for flattering superiors and exploiting subordinates.

Some of those words, coming from such a pure little grass, sounded a bit greasy, making Su Qing frown.

When Yan Yan saw Su Qing and the seemingly cold-immune cultivator beside her, still dressed, especially with a brazier already lit indoors, and still happily draped in a cloak without letting go—this very ordinary plant cultivator—even though it was time for serious matters, she couldn’t help but lose focus for a moment.

This… there weren’t many entertainment activities in Yinlan City.

In this icy and snowy place, everyone was very bored. When bored, they loved to chat, and gossip spread quickly.

Therefore, she wasn’t entirely unaware of her nephew Yan Jin’s thoughts. It should be said that the Yan family members mostly knew a little…

In any case, setting everything else aside, judging solely by looks, Yan Jin should still have a chance, right?

Right?