A moon-bearing lotus seed hung in Song Yan’s palm, and faint moonlight flickered within his hand.

The yellow-robed Dao Child’s suspended figure trembled violently, his pupils constricting, revealing an expression of disbelief.

Even the illusory Demonic Image behind him became somewhat unstable.

"Impossible... This is impossible!"

This sudden scene, and the appearance of that other moon-bearing lotus seed, completely overturned his current thoughts.

"You can’t fool me, this is another lotus seed... Where did you get it from?!"

"Another one?"

Song Yan sounded as if he were listening to a joke: "How could a Cultivator in the Middle Stage of Qi Refining like me find a treasure like the moon-bearing ancient lotus?"

"You yourself know that even if you searched all of Chu, you wouldn’t find a second one!"

The Cultivators stared blankly at this sudden turn of events.

The yellow-robed Dao Child was somewhat agitated; he couldn’t determine if what this kid said was true.

Several years ago, he and another Demonic Cultivator were chased here and accidentally obtained a scroll of records.

It seemed to have been recorded by one of the earliest leaders of the Loose Cultivator Alliance in Linghua Valley.

It mentioned that Linghua Valley was established based on the lotus seeds of the moon-bearing ancient lotus back then.

The ancestors knew that the power of Loose Cultivators was difficult to contend with Sects and Demonic Cultivators, and worried about being coveted and suffering misfortune. That’s why they concealed the existence of the moon-bearing lotus seed under the guise of’Spirit Spring Jade’.

Objects of spiritual eyes are born of heaven and earth, difficult to seize, thus sparing future generations from undue disaster.

The moon-bearing lotus seed possessed immense vitality, making it extremely suitable for Cultivating the Yellow Springs Demonic Technique practiced by the yellow-robed Dao Child, which is why he plotted to seize it.

Buzz... The yellow-robed Dao Child’s expression had already turned somewhat grim.

Ghostly Qi swirled in his palm, gradually dissolving the translucent jade stone, the so-called "Spirit Pearl."

Revealing the appearance of the lotus seed within.

Upon careful examination, the one in his hand, compared to the one in that impudent kid’s hand, indeed had ample spiritual power but lacked vitality, truly resembling a counterfeit.

At this, he already believed it somewhat.

Liang Feng stared blankly at the lotus seed in Song Yan’s palm.

The yellow-robed Dao Child finally couldn’t accept this change, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace, and he roared, "What in the world is going on?!"

Song Yan’s face showed no change in color: "Naturally, it was Senior Cong Yuzhen’s scheme!"

"You wouldn’t actually think these clumsy tricks could escape Senior Cong’s Dharma Eye, would you?"

Cong Yuzhen was slightly startled, but her face remained unperturbed.

Heaven help her, she knew nothing!

Retrieving the moon-bearing lotus seed, Song Yan continued, "Senior Cong had long sensed something was amiss. This time, she merely pretended to let Brother Liang succeed to lure the snake out of its hole..."

"And catch them all in one net!"

He smiled faintly, "You want to know if that lotus seed is fake... It’s very simple."

"This time, if you can escape with your life from Senior Cong’s sword, go back and try it, then you’ll know."

The heavy rain intensified.

A cold glint flashed in her eyes, and the Flying Sword, Chi Yu, had already arrived!

Cong Yuzhen was a very pure person.

She liked sincerity.

She trusted those who were willing to help her.

So she believed what Song Yan said; the lotus seed in the Demonic Cultivator’s hand must be fake.

In that case, she had nothing to worry about.

She formed a Dao Technique seal with her hand, and vast spiritual power surged forth.

She softly uttered: "Rain of Non-Life."

Buzz—

In an instant, the torrential rain suddenly froze, countless raindrops suspended in the air, no longer falling.

The Yellow Springs Dao Child’s heart skipped a beat.

In that very beat, countless raindrops suspended in mid-air suddenly transformed into needle-like spikes, rapidly attacking him.

"Boom!"

Demonic Qi billowed around the yellow-robed figure, and the ten-foot Demonic Image grew to thirteen feet, its aura solidifying somewhat, protecting him within it.

Bang, bang, bang... Continuous sounds, like cold springs striking jade.

This immeasurable spiritual power, and this sky-filling "sword rain," caused everyone on the Linghua Valley side to feel a chill of fear.

The moon-bearing lotus seed in the yellow-robed figure’s hand fell from the air, disappearing into the forest undergrowth.

In an unnoticed corner, Xiao He drifted out from the shadows and gently carried it away in her mouth.

Only at this moment did Song Yan imperceptibly let out a sigh of relief.

What he feared most was that the yellow-robed Demonic Cultivator, in a fit of rage, would destroy this genuine original moon-bearing lotus seed.

With the current situation, he had countless ways to get through it.

"..."

As expected, the Demonic Image’s aura grew weaker and weaker.

However, the "Guest-Retaining Rain" also disappeared at this time.

The yellow-robed Daoist was about to cast a Dao Technique to escape when a water-blue sword light, carrying violent water spiritual power, flew rapidly!

It streaked past the yellow-robed figure’s astonished eyes.

Puff—

Without any hindrance.

It actually killed the yellow-robed figure on the spot!

Even the blood was swept away by that sword light, leaving only a withered, skeletal corpse, like a skeleton, falling to the ground.

"..."

Song Yan watched this scene in disbelief... "A Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivator..."

"Just like that..."

"Dead?"

He looked at Cong Yuzhen with a touch more reverence.

To achieve an ultimate kill, Cong Yuzhen had also exhausted her spiritual power.

She was slightly out of breath at the moment, but still decisive.

She casually took the yellow-robed figure’s qiankun bag and loudly announced to the people below: "Bring Liang Feng and return to Linghua Valley for discussion!"

"Yes, Senior."

Before leaving, Cong Yuzhen’s gaze lingered slightly on Song Yan for a moment.

"You come with me."

...Dozens of miles away.

A mountain village.

A wriggling mass of flesh, carrying wisps of faint yellow mist, was slowly moving in the shadows.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!"

"That woman! That brat! I’ll remember you two!"

It cursed incessantly, the accumulated rage in its heart unable to be vented.

"In the future, when my Yellow Springs Demonic Technique reaches Major Achievement and I rise again, I will make your lives worse than death!!"

"Fortunately, this Venerable One is always cautious and left a Clone here..."

Suddenly, it saw a Mortal boy in the distance, seemingly lost in the forest.

"Heh! Just happened to be in need of a Physical Body..."

"I’ll use you first!"

The yellow-robed Dao Child’s flesh-and-blood Clone slowly moved towards the little boy.

"..."

The little boy had already seen this strange object from afar. In his terror, he merely opened his mouth wide, too scared to make a sound.

He stumbled and fell to the ground.

He watched with wide eyes as the mass of flesh slowly expanded, gradually condensing into the shape of a small person, slowly walking towards him.

"It’s alright... child..."

A hoarse, gloomy voice came from somewhere on this "little person."

"It’s alright..."

The "little person’s" hands were covered in blood, slowly reaching out to the little boy.

"It’s alright..."

The voice stopped abruptly.

A horizontal saber gently rested on the "little person’s" neck.

A cold voice came from behind.

"He’s alright."

Sheng Nian’s face, under the moonlight, appeared exceptionally chiseled.

"You’re in big trouble." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"..."

The horizontal saber moved slightly, about to strike, but then a voice within him spoke.

"Before you kill him, don’t you want to see what he can do?"

"..."

The yellow-robed Dao Child’s flesh-and-blood Clone was now overcome with terror. If it died this time, it would truly be the death of its body and the dissipation of its Dao.

It immediately began to wail for mercy.

"Senior, spare me! Senior, spare... Ugh..."

A large hand had already gripped the "little person’s" head.

Sheng Nian’s eyes were covered with a layer of crimson.

"Soul-Snatching Mind-Capturing Art!"

..."Hmph, this Venerable One thought that in these years, the juniors would have made some progress, but who would have thought each generation is worse than the last..."

"Hey old ghost, this ’Desire Heaven Asura Dharma Body’... sounds very powerful."

"The Foundation of the Asura Path Demonic Technique. Do you think it’s powerful... So-so, it’s not as good as the one this Venerable One imparted to you..."

"Then can I Cultivate both?"

"Hmph, seeking your own death."

"..."

After a moment of silence, that ghostly voice suddenly changed its tone: "However..."

"Speaking of which, if that young fellow countryman of yours can control his Demonic thoughts, this Cultivation Technique... would actually be very suitable for him..."

"Ah... You old ghost, are you really an ancient Demonic Venerable? Why do you always think for him, a Righteous Path Cultivator..."

"Hehe, this Venerable One believes that kid is more suitable to become ’Demonic’ than you."

"..."

"...I’ll transcribe a copy for him then."

"But the name of this Cultivation Technique needs to be changed. If people see such an evil-sounding name, they wouldn’t dare to accept it."

"..."