Chapter 950: You Also Deserve?

Old Bull simply stood there, his crimson eyes fixed on the immortal cultivator who had just spoken out of turn. A fierce, ominous aura naturally emanated from him, causing those with weaker cultivation to feel their hearts pound. Aze, watching, turned pale and struggled to breathe. The immortal cultivator, targeted by Old Bull's stare, also looked grim, feeling a chill in his heart even as he remained on guard.

“Hahahahahaha... hahahahaha... You spineless wimp!”

Old Bull burst into laughter. Nearby, Lu Shan Jun reached out, grabbed his sleeve, and yanked him back into his seat, causing his body to hit the table in front with a loud bang.

“Brother Bei, the immortal brew is potent, and this brutish bull has had too much. Please forgive his rudeness!”

Lu Shan Jun remained seated and cupped his hands towards Beimou, apologizing on Old Bull's behalf. Everyone knew Lu Wu and Niu Batian were close brothers.

Beimou, interrupted by the scene, managed only a strained smile. Yet, he still had to show respect to Lu Wu. Moreover, both Lu Wu and Niu Batian were formidable, fearsome demons. Even without considering their promising future, they wielded terrifying power in the present. Thus, despite his displeasure, Beimou returned the greeting with a smile.

“Brother Lu Wu, please don't mention it. Brother Niu simply had a bit too much to drink and acted out due to the alcohol. It's nothing serious. Fellow Daoists, please don't take it to heart. It's only natural for some incidents to occur at a gathering like this.”

Lian Ping'er frowned slightly, surprised that such a scene could unfold in the hall, especially with someone of Beimou's esteemed status present.

“Aunt Ning... are they really old acquaintances of Mr. Ji? Just now, that man...”

Aze felt that Niu Batian really didn't resemble an immortal cultivator. Those crimson eyes and soul-piercing, fierce gaze made Aze's heart pound like a drum. This wasn't due to timidity on Aze's part, but an instinctive bodily warning, urging him to keep his distance from the man.

Lian Ping'er offered Aze a gentle smile.

“Aze, Ji Yuan has always acted without restraint, treating all sentient beings equally. Even the fiercest individuals possess a gentle side. The ghosts and deities of the underworld, for instance, though often monstrous in appearance, are mostly virtuous and benevolent gods. This is the very principle.”

“Hmm... Thank you for clarifying, Auntie.”

Niu Batian resumed drinking, but upon hearing Lian Ping'er's words, he couldn't suppress his smile.

“Hehehehe, hahahahaha, that's right, that's right, I'm also a virtuous and benevolent being, hehehe, don't be scared, little Daoist!”

That laugh sent shivers down Aze's spine and ignited a spark of anger in Lian Ping'er's heart. Fortunately, even in his brutishness, the bull seemed to know his limits, and after his laughter subsided, he said nothing more.

Beimou was about to resume what he had been doing when Lu Shan Jun's telepathic message suddenly reached his ears.

“Brother Beimou, may I have a word with you in private?”

Beimou frowned, looking at Lu Wu. Seeing a slight nod from him, he could only offer a brief apology to Lian Ping'er before rising. Lu Shan Jun then rose as well.

Lian Ping'er, however, was not anxious. Aze was already in Beimou's presence; there was no turning back now.

Lu Shan Jun and Beimou did not converse inside the cave dwelling. Instead, at Lu Wu's request, they emerged from the sea and returned to the reef.

Amidst the sound of surging waves, Beimou patiently inquired.

“Can you speak now, Brother Lu Wu?”

Lu Shan Jun turned his head to look at Beimou.

“Brother Bei, can't you see that Lian Ping'er is using us? What kind of person is Mr. Ji? If Lian Ping'er brings someone he values here, and you make a move, it could leave a lasting problem. Mr. Ji might even track you down. Besides, this woman's intentions are peculiar; I don't trust her at all.”

“Hahahahaha... Brother Lu Wu, how could I not know? But we are also using each other. This Aze, with his deep demonic roots yet clear mind, is truly rare. If I can refine him into a clone, or intensify his demonic thoughts, the moment he becomes a demon, he will be no ordinary lesser demon, and certainly a great asset.”

Lu Shan Jun sneered.

“Hmph, hmph, I fear something will go wrong before anything is even accomplished. She clearly summoned us, yet she herself arrived late. Her words sound pleasant, but her attitude is not one of cooperation at all. She clearly sees herself as a leader, treating us as mere pawns.”

“Brother Lu Wu, don't overthink it. Those who achieve great things don't get caught up in minor details. It doesn't matter if Lian Ping'er is disliked; the powerful figures behind her are the true focus of our collaboration. We just need to be prepared.”

Lu Shan Jun looked up at the bright spot on the distant horizon, which was where the Profound Heart Manor's flying boat was drawing in starlight. At that moment, his heart suddenly gave a slight jolt. He noticed the starlight appeared to be disturbed, and he could almost sense a familiar aura.

‘Wind, it's the wind, like that blowing from Ju'an Pavilion.’

Lu Shan Jun's gaze briefly flickered to the distance, then he spoke again.

“Since you think so, I will say no more. However, if Lian Ping'er makes any dangerous moves, I will certainly devour her.”

“Hahahahaha, rest assured, Brother Lu, she won't be able to cause any trouble. Let's go inside. As you said, we've waited long enough; we shouldn't dawdle anymore.”

Lu Shan Jun let out a soft breath, his expression somewhat calmer, and gestured with a hand.

“Yes, Brother Beimou, please.”

“Brother Lu, please!”

The two re-entered the sea and returned to the cave dwelling. However, about ten breaths later, several hundred zhang away from the original reef, a phantom slowly formed. This vengeful spirit then transformed into a faint, lingering light and drifted away.

Outside the Profound Heart Manor's flying boat, Ying Ruoli stood in the air holding a fan. With a single wave of her fan, she had just dispersed all the gathered starlight, clearly revealing the entire boat's aura. Unfortunately, she did not detect the auras of the woman or Aze.

“Isn't this a bit excessive, fellow Daoist? If you don't provide a proper reason, it could lead to ill will!”

The cultivators of Profound Heart Manor on the flying boat glared coldly at the woman hovering in the air, not recognizing her as Ying Ruoli, the true dragon.

Ying Ruoli had not notified Profound Heart Manor before fanning, intending to take them by surprise. However, she was disappointed not to find the person she sought. So, she looked down at the flying boat, where a large group of people were also gazing up at the woman in the sky.

“Fellow Daoists of Profound Heart Manor, I did not intend to disturb you. I have merely been pursuing a villain, who appears to have been hiding aboard this boat.”

“Hmph, well, did you find them, fellow Daoist?”

The steward of Profound Heart Manor secretly circulated his magic power. They were not to be trifled with. Even if this female cultivator appeared to possess extraordinary treasures, they were standing on an immortal boat—an incredible treasure in itself and a symbol of Profound Heart Manor's dignity. There was no reason to fear the other party.

“I haven't found them. I was just about to ask you all, fellow Daoists, since there's no immortal port here, if anyone disembarked midway? I will compensate you for this disturbance tonight.”

As she spoke, the Dragon Lady flicked her sleeve, and a small cauldron flew out. Not sensing any hostility, the Profound Heart Manor cultivators hesitated but did not try to stop it, allowing the small cauldron to pass through the flying boat's restrictions and land on the deck.

“Five Elements Water Essence!”

This small cauldron was filled with condensed Five Elements essence, looking like a miniature lake surging with waves.

“Nine thousand jin of Water Element Essence, as a small token of apology. I hope the fellow Daoists of Profound Heart Manor will accept it.”

*Gasp*... Nine thousand jin?

The steward True Man on the Profound Heart Manor's flying boat had originally intended to utter some harsh words, but he found it truly difficult to maintain a fierce demeanor in front of this small cauldron.

“Oh, and this cauldron is also a Qiankun treasure, gifted to Profound Heart Manor. I hope all fellow Daoists can enlighten me: did you see any particularly unusual individuals, specifically a man and a woman, with the man appearing to show signs of demonic possession?”

The steward of Profound Heart Manor was slightly startled. Seizing the convenient opportunity, he turned to look at the Four-Eared Beast beside him.

“Fellow Daoist Four-Ears?”

The Four-Eared Beast's body was slightly stiff; it only now returned to its senses and replied.

“The person you inquired about was indeed on the boat. They left the boat around the first half of the night, heading west.”

West?

Ying Ruoli sighed softly. The other party's aura was indeed thoroughly concealed.

“Thank you for the information. I'll take my leave.”

Ying Ruoli bowed, turned, and flew west. After she had flown a considerable distance, over a dozen flood dragons appeared and followed her; previously, she had not wanted to appear overly aggressive.

The Four-Eared Beast, meanwhile, gently exhaled, appearing somewhat weary.

“Fellow Daoist Four-Ears, what's wrong?”

Four-Ears looked at the person beside him.

“Steward True Man, that woman is no ordinary fellow Daoist. I faintly heard the roars of tens of thousands of dragons around her, making my four ears tremble. She is likely an ancient dragon with astonishing cultivation; otherwise, how could she command the might of ten thousand dragons?”

Upon hearing this, the people of Profound Heart Manor looked at each other, their astonishment mixed with a hint of relief.

Meanwhile, the Dragon Lady was extremely displeased. After all, it was impossible to search the sea endlessly. However, shortly after flying out, her heart suddenly stirred, and she looked towards the distant sea.

A ghost? No, a vengeful spirit!

On the sea surface, the vengeful spirit had been lingering. Upon seeing someone flying in the sky, it immediately plunged into the sea.

“My Lady.”

“Yes, I saw it. Let's go.”

The Dragon Lady and her companions followed the vengeful spirit as it dove underwater. They did not employ any water-controlling techniques, yet the water currents automatically moved according to the Dragon Lady's will, allowing them to travel extremely fast beneath the surface.

At some point, the vengeful spirit suddenly disappeared, but they no longer cared about it.

The Dragon Lady squinted, looking towards a certain spot on the seabed. Behind her, the dragons lined up in a row, each with an unfriendly gaze.

“My Lady, it seems this is the place.” “Is it a trap?”

“Hmph, we'll know soon enough.”

The Dragon Lady stepped forward, and the water parted before her. The dragons followed, as a faint spiritual light formed on the folding fan in the Dragon Lady's hand.

The next moment, with a wave of her folding fan, a stream of water surged forward, silently parting the cave dwelling's barrier.

Inside the water mansion, Lu Shan Jun and Beimou had only just returned. Coincidentally, an immortal cultivator was speaking to Lian Ping'er in a tone that did not seem very friendly.

“I didn't expect today's affair to be orchestrated by Mr. Ji's Dao-companion, Immortal Ning. I hear some people praise Mr. Ji as the foremost swordsman under heaven. I wonder when you might invite Mr. Ji to give us a lecture?”

Lu Shan Jun looked at Old Bull, who gave an innocent look, indicating he had not instigated it. It seemed the other party simply disliked Lian Ping'er.

“Oh? Uncle Ji's Dao-companion?”

A female voice drifted in from outside. Almost as the voice grew closer, a figure appeared at the entrance of the main hall.

Beimou's pupils constricted slightly; he hadn't even noticed the approaching figure. But in the next instant, before anyone in the hall could react, the woman seemingly teleported to stand directly in front of Lian Ping'er, almost within arm's reach, leaving the latter slightly stunned.

“I...”

Lian Ping'er had barely uttered a word when her eyes seemed to catch the newcomer's hand lifting slightly. In her peripheral vision, a white afterimage already appeared.

“Slap—”

It was as if a dragon's tail, weighing a thousand jin, had swept across one side of her face. The pain couldn't even keep pace with the tearing sensation in her face and neck. Lian Ping'er had no time to react; she was struck by the Dragon Lady's slap, turning into an afterimage, and slammed heavily into the hall wall a dozen zhang away.

“Boom...”

Only then did the Dragon Lady utter the remaining words.

“You... are you even worthy?”