In ancient times, they secretly became gods in the deep mountains.

Chapter 21 Fire Boy and Water Boy Search for Demons at Luo Mansion
Zhang Gousheng and several children were last seen on a barren mountain outside Yunwu Town. They were on their way to Peach Blossom Village when they disappeared. Several village women were traveling together, but none of them noticed that the children were missing.

It's impossible for an ordinary person to steal several children, especially seven or eight-year-olds who are still aware of human affairs, without making a sound.

"Demon spirit!"

Fire Boy and Water Boy sensed something was wrong as soon as they arrived at the desolate mountain. The two boys looked at each other and both smelled a faint demonic aura.

However, the demonic aura was too faint, confirming that the demon's lair was not nearby. The two followed the demonic aura and eventually arrived at the residence of Master Luo.

Sure enough, there was a lot of purplish-red demonic energy above Master Luo's house, and a few wisps of golden light of merit could be faintly seen.

“There’s not only one demon, but one of them has seven hundred years of cultivation. We can’t handle it. Water Boy, go and ask the Goddess for advice. I’ll stay here and guard the place.” Fire Boy and Water Boy couldn’t deal with the demon inside.

Shuiwa nodded: "I'll go right away."

"Seven hundred years?"

Given the meager spiritual energy of this world, this demon is considered a powerful demon with considerable cultivation in the mortal realm.

Gu Yuexi overheard their conversation through the water mirror.

She considered coping strategies.

The system notified the host that they could use two magical artifacts to subdue demons.

She opened the system resource library.

A magical artifact capable of dealing with a monster with seven hundred years of cultivation requires more than a thousand faith points.

[Magic treasures are different from talismans and spiritual water. After purchasing a magic treasure, the host can use it personally, and it belongs to the host indefinitely.]

Isn't this her private property?

I checked, and her faith power has increased to 1,500.

The Demon-Binding Rope has 1005 Faith Power.

The Demon-Suppressing Tower has 1,200 Faith Points.

The Demon-Subduing Pearl possesses 1008 Faith Power.

Objects are classified into four categories from basic to supreme: Dharma, Spirit, Dao, and Treasure. The first three are further subdivided into top-grade and upper, middle, and lower grades, while spiritual treasures are divided into innate and acquired types.

She was looking at the most basic ritual implements.

However, low-grade magic weapons can only deal with lesser demons under five hundred years old at most; for demons over five hundred years old, a mid-grade magic weapon is required.

Mid-grade magic artifacts include the Demon-Binding Rope, the Demon-Suppressing Tower, and the Demon-Subduing Pearl. These magic artifacts can be refined and upgraded later.

"Let's use the Demon-Binding Rope."

"Give me a few more Tier 1 Demon-Slaying Talismans with 20 Faith Points each."

After exchanging the items, she received a demon-binding rope about one finger wide and three first-tier demon-slaying talismans.

The Demon-Binding Rope was contained in an exquisitely crafted wooden box, on which mysterious runes were engraved.

She inscribed a divine soul seal on the demon-binding rope, so that even if the rope fell into the hands of someone else, she could recall it at any time.

After obtaining the demon-slaying talisman, she lightly raised her jade finger and infused it with spiritual power. Her fire-type spiritual power was now extremely abundant.

The moment the spiritual energy was injected into the talismans, the three talismans were upgraded by one grade, becoming second-tier talismans. Not to mention seven-hundred-year-old demons, they could even subdue eight- or nine-hundred-year-old demons.

"Your Majesty, Shuiwa requests an audience."

Shuiwa knelt down and replied, "Your Majesty, your disciples have found the aura of the missing children. We can confirm that they are all at Master Luo's residence. However, Master Luo's residence is filled with demonic energy, and there is a seven-hundred-year-old demon that your disciples cannot deal with. Please give us your instructions, Your Majesty."

"These are the Demon-Binding Rope and three Demon-Subduing Talismans. They possess immense spiritual power, so please use them with caution."

"This magical artifact and talisman are more than enough to subdue a demon that has been around for seven hundred years."

"Yes, disciple will go back now and join Fire Boy in subduing the demon."

The water sprite transformed into a drop of water and vanished in a flash.

At the Luo family mansion, Huowa finally met Shuiwa.

"The goddess gave us demon-binding ropes and demon-subduing talismans."

Fire Boy picked up the Demon-Binding Rope, Water Boy held a Demon-Subduing Talisman in each hand, and another was floating above their heads. With their original Qi Refining Level 3 cultivation, they had a good chance of defeating a 700-year-old demon.

"Knock knock." Fire Boy stepped forward and knocked on the door.

The person who opened the door was Luo Zhong, the Luo family's steward. He squinted and asked, "You've come to exchange grain..."

"Eh?"

Luo Zhong asked in surprise, “You…” There were two chubby little children outside the door, a boy and a girl. Although they were dressed in coarse linen clothes, their round little faces and fair, translucent skin made it clear that they were not children from ordinary families.

After three years of drought, are there still children like this?
Luo Zhong was filled with mixed emotions, and he simply closed the door.

It's a monster, it must be a monster!
"Bang!" Huowa braced himself against the vermilion gate with one hand. Despite being a small child, he was strong enough to stop Luo Zhong from closing the gate.

Luo Zhong became even more certain of his thoughts.

Oh my god, we've encountered a monster.

"You're going to other people's homes. Our family consists of the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled; we can't entertain you two."

He spoke politely, but his tone was clearly stiff and flustered.

"Uncle, have there been a lot of children going missing in town lately? Can we get some information from you?"

Huowa stared intently at Luo Zhong.

"I don't know, you should ask someone else!" Luo Zhong said nervously as he closed the door.

Unfortunately, Huowa braced himself against the door with one hand, and his frail body couldn't move it an inch.

“Old man, we are attendants of the Golden Saint Goddess, the spirit of the Golden Saint Mountain Range. The Goddess specifically sent us to find our lost child. Your residence is filled with demonic energy and the aura of a lost child. Please allow us to enter and take a look. This is for the sake of your peace and tranquility,” Shuiwa stepped forward to persuade.

"What Golden Saintess? The Golden Saint Mountain Range is a monster mountain range known to everyone in the Great Xia. I think you are just little monsters sent by a big monster to eat children. My master is kind and benevolent. Why don't you go find the most vicious people instead of coming to the Luo family?"

Luo Zhong couldn't push the door open, and he was so angry that he started swearing.

"Certainly!"

Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Shuiwa pointed at him with one hand.

Luo Zhong felt a chill run through his body and couldn't move. He watched in horror as the two children swaggered into the Luo family home.

He shouted, "Master, Madam, a monster has come in! You must hide!"

Fire Boy and Water Boy glanced at the layout of the house and, based on the demonic aura, determined the location of the demon.

"Back Mountain."

The Luo family mansion was a gift from the late emperor. It is said that the late emperor's mother, the old lady of the Luo family, served as his wet nurse for three years. When she returned to Yunwu Town, the late emperor ordered the construction of this grand mansion, which was once nestled against the mountains and by the water, for her.

Now the vegetation in the house is withered, and the mountains and rivers are dried up.

Fortunately, Luo Zhong was diligent, and the surroundings were kept clean.

"Whose children are you?"

Hearing Luo Zhong shout, the frail old man Luo shakily moved out to see what was happening. He was weak and sickly, and his clothes were shiny from not being washed for three years.

He had the same reaction as Butler Luo when he saw Fire Boy and Water Boy.

Three years of severe drought, with corpses of the starving everywhere, how could there be such a blessed little child!
Inhuman!
Master Luo's heart tightened.

Fire Boy said, "We are the attendants of the Golden Saint Goddess, the spirit of the Golden Saint Mountain Range. I am Fire Boy and she is Water Boy. Several children from Peach Blossom Village went missing near Cloud Mist Town. The Goddess sent us to find them. On our way here, we discovered demonic energy and chased it all the way to your doorstep. We saw a strong demonic energy above your house. There must be a demon haunting your house."

The spirit of the Golden Saint Mountain Range? The Golden Saint Goddess? Her attendant? A monster?
What is this all about?
He's lived for over forty years and has never seen a monster.

And isn't the Golden Saint Mountain Range the infamous Monster Mountain Range?

Where did this mountain spirit come from?
"We're here to catch the demon!" Shuiwa explained his purpose.

Old Master Luo coughed a few times, almost coughing up his lungs: "There are no monsters in my house!"

"Cough cough cough! Cough cough cough! Cough cough... Huff huff..."

Suddenly a gust of wind carrying sand blew over, and Mr. Luo coughed violently. After coughing, he gasped for breath, and a painful expression appeared on his face.

“You are plagued by illness because a demon has drained your life force. If I’m not mistaken, everyone in your family is like that,” Shuiwa said, pointing to his pale face.

Master Luo exclaimed in disbelief, "How could this be? I have been a philanthropist all my life, how could I possibly be harmed by a monster?"

Fire Boy nodded: "So we're here to help you."

"The demonic energy is most concentrated in the mountains behind your house; that demon is definitely hiding there," Huowa said, gazing at the location of the back mountain.

Shuiwa nodded: "Please don't stop it, otherwise the monster will go out and harm people after it has absorbed all the life energy of your family."

Master Luo frowned: "Is there really a monster in my house?"

Shuiwa reminded him, "Have strange things been happening in your house lately?"

Master Luo's face changed drastically as he thought about the troubles his family had suffered over the past year.

(End of this chapter)