Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 85 The scariest place

Hearing Mo Ci describe it so seriously, Chen Ye couldn't help but ask, "Master, do you know how powerful the Red-banded Serpent is?"

Mo Ci said smugly, "You really think your master knows nothing? I've lived for hundreds of years. The inheritance I received is even related to the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect."

"Huh? We're the remnants of the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect?"

Chen Ye was shocked. Had they really targeted his own ancestor in the fight against demons?

"Ahem, you can't say that. Back in my day... um..."

Mo Ci's stammering made Chen Ye quite anxious, and he hurriedly urged, "Master, just say it."

Mo Ci said awkwardly, "Back then, I killed a member of the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect and stole his scriptures and treasures."

Chen Ye: ...

It turns out it was a case of the wicked eating the wicked.

That's quite normal. When a ruthless villain gets angry, he'll even kill his own people. It's not surprising at all.

But Chen Ye thought something was wrong and asked, "Wait a minute, Master, you always say you're a ruthless killer. Why are you so nervous about killing a demon? Is there something you're having trouble telling me?"

"That's not important! I'm not here to reminisce about past glories; I'm talking about the Red-banded Serpent. Do you know how terrifying this thing is?"

When Chen Ye heard his master change the subject, he knew there must be something wrong.

However, Mo Ci is right; now is not the time to gossip.

Chen Ye asked, "When I saw it, I felt that the red snake was very hard, and even sword energy could not cut it."

"The Crimson Serpent of this Demonic Sect is a variant that has been cultivated for many years. Its bone armor is so thick that even flying swords cannot damage it. Back then, even the Qinghe Sword Sect had a headache with it. However, precisely because of this thick bone armor, most Crimson Serpents cannot fly and are not very fast."

Chen Ye said, "They sound pretty easy to deal with."

Mo Ci sneered, "If it were just thick-skinned, how could the Red-banded Snake be so feared? The Red-banded Snake's true power lies in its venom."

Chen Ye asked, "Is it the kind of deadly poison that kills instantly upon contact with blood?"

"No, killing people alone is nothing. This poison won't be fatal, but those bitten by the Crimson Serpent will become puppets controlled by the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect. Do you think that among so many demonic sects back then, only the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect created White Bone Valley? Why did this sect have so many human sacrifices that they couldn't use them all and could just throw them away at will?"
"Because they don't need to put in the same effort as other demonic sects to raise human animals. Just let the red snake bite them, and within a few days the person will become an obedient puppet. They can kill people when told to, commit suicide when told to, or even chop off their own hands and feet and feed them to the dogs."

Chen Ye felt a chill run down his spine after hearing this.

He was almost bitten by a red-banded snake before.

"Why didn't Miss Mo and Miss Su know about such a powerful beast? Didn't the methods of the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect leave any records?"

Mo Ci pondered and said, "This is what I think is the most dangerous place. It's not surprising that the younger generation doesn't know the power of the Crimson Serpent, after all, this thing has been gone for thousands of years. But the old guys from the five major sects can't possibly not know. They suffered a great loss when they wiped out the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect back then. Many righteous cultivators suddenly betrayed them because they were accidentally ambushed by the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect."

Chen Ye understood Mo Ci's words and continued, "There are only two explanations: either there are remnants of the Demonic Sect within the five major sects, and their numbers are enormous and their power is immense, thus suppressing this matter; or they are aware of the situation and are just waiting for these remnants of the Crimson Serpent Demonic Sect to emerge. I think it should be the second one."

The Demonic Sect has been destroyed for so many years. Even if there are traitors among the five major sects, it is unlikely that they could suppress such a big matter.

Chen Ye guessed that those old guys were deliberately being vague to test the skills of these younger generation members, and also to lure the snake out of its hole.

Mo Ci scoffed, "Heh, no matter how many years have passed, it's always the same old tricks."

Chen Ye agreed with Mo Ci's statement this time as well.

The Hundred Seas Valley is mostly populated by independent cultivators. If the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect really causes trouble, those independent cultivators will definitely be the ones who suffer. Who knows how many people will be turned into puppets by the Crimson Serpent? How many people will have to die to survive?

If the five major sects had known about this beforehand and had simply stood by and watched those demons harm people, they would have been far too cruel.

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Ye said to Mo Ci, "However, there is still one thing that doesn't make sense."

Mo Ci asked, "What doesn't make sense?"

Chen Ye explained, "Naturally, it's the Qinghe Sword Sect. Given their character and reputation, if they knew that the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect had been revived, they would have mobilized all their sword immortals to completely annihilate these demons. They would never do something like using rogue cultivators as bait."

Hearing Chen Ye say this, Mo Ci, who usually looked down on righteous sects, had no way to refute him.

Whether they are righteous cultivators, rogue cultivators, or even demons, they can always trust the integrity of the Qinghe Sword Sect. The Qinghe Sword Sect would never resort to such cruel methods, nor would it tolerate such a thing happening.

But judging from Su Chunyi's previous behavior, she seems to be completely unaware of this.

Chen Ye began to worry.

He had just discussed this matter with Mo Suixin not long ago. The rules of the Qinghe Sword Sect were set by the sect leader, Zhang Qi, and this sword immortal could ascend to immortality at any time. Could it be that before he even ascends, the Qinghe Sword Sect has already begun to change?

This is even scarier than the red-banded snake.

However, Chen Ye quickly put aside this unnecessary worry.

If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up; a mere cultivator who has just condensed his Qi Sea doesn't need to worry about such things. Chen Ye just wants to quickly inform Fu Lu Shou and the other two, and then go to the Qinghe Sword Sect's headquarters for secluded cultivation.

Forget about the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect, let the five righteous sects deal with their own headaches.

Chen Ye covered his face with the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and urged Black Whirlwind to fly faster. Soon they returned to the cave of Fu Lu Shou and the others.

The three of them usually drank tea and chatted in the flower garden. When they saw Chen Ye return, they all got up to greet him.

Chen Ye jumped off Black Whirlwind and said to the three of them briefly, "I have found out about the matter you entrusted to me. The Incense Burning Sect does indeed sell Vajra Powder, but it will be auctioned, and the price will probably not be less than 50,000 Azure Pearls."

Upon hearing this, the three of them immediately changed their expressions.

Chang Shou sighed and said with a helpless expression, "Fifty thousand... The three of us brothers have worked hard for half our lives and have only saved less than thirty thousand Azure Pearls. It seems that we are destined to miss out on this Vajra Powder."

Chen Ye felt helpless about this, after all, he only had a little over a thousand Azure Pearls left, and even if he gave them all away, it would be a drop in the ocean.

Besides, the Vajra Powder is so precious that he can't keep bothering Mo Suixin to give it to him for free.

Today it's Changshou who needs the Vajra Powder to break through, tomorrow it might be Houlu, and the day after tomorrow it's Lü Fusheng's turn. He can't always shamelessly beg Mo Suixin to give him medicine every time.

The saying "help in an emergency, but not in a state of poverty" illustrates this principle.

However, without the help of the Vajra Powder, Changshou's days are probably numbered.

The life of a solitary cultivator is inherently difficult; one can only rely on oneself for everything, with no one else to depend on.

After discussing this matter, Chen Ye reminded them, "The three of you must be careful these days and prepare plenty of snake repellent. Red-banded snakes roam Hundred Seas Valley, and these creatures are extremely dangerous..."

Chen Ye told the three of them everything he knew, but judging from their expressions, they seemed to have lost interest in the threat of the Crimson Serpent.

"If the three of you need anything, you can find me at the Qinghe Sword Sect's headquarters."

Chen Ye left behind the remaining Azure Pearls, and without waiting for their refusal, he rode away on Black Whirlwind.

After Chen Ye left, the three men, Fu Lu Shou, remained silent.

Chang Shou sighed and said, "Brothers, I'm going out for a walk."

Lu Fusheng quickly said, "Brother Chang, Brother Chen just said that there are red-banded snakes in the valley that can harm people, so don't go alone."

Chang Shou shook his head and said, "I'm going to Qingyunfang for a drink."

After saying this, Changshou threw out his magic weapon, which flew into the sky.

Lu Fusheng wanted to give chase, but Hou Lu grabbed him.

Hou Lu advised, "Let him be. Even if someone lives to be over a hundred, not everyone can take life and death lightly. Brother Chang wants to have a good drink by himself today, so let's not disturb him."

"But that red-banded snake..."

Hou Lu said, "If we can be attacked by the Red Serpent in Qingyunfang, then where in Hundred Seas Valley is there any safe place?"

Lu Fusheng thought about it and realized that it made sense.

Although the gathering has not yet taken place, there are still quite a few cultivators in Qingyunfang.

The three brothers weren't very skilled in cultivation, so it would be safer for them to go to a crowded place instead of staying together.

"Alas, there is great terror between life and death."

The two were moved by their own reflections, and then returned to their cave to cultivate themselves in seclusion.

Although I don't know if I can endure the time when I need to refine my body with Qi and Sha, cultivation is always the only way out.

As the sun sets in the west, the afterglow paints the sky a vibrant orange-red.

Chang Shou's figure slowly emerged in the twilight as he staggered into the flowerbed. Judging from his flushed face, he was clearly quite drunk.

But Chang Shou seemed not to have had enough. Holding a wine jar in each hand, he shouted at Wanfu Cave, "Fusheng, Houlu, come out here! We're tired of drinking tea all the time. Today, Qingyunfang has a new and fragrant peach blossom wine. We must drink until we're drunk!"

His voice echoed through the valley, but Wanfu Cave remained deathly silent, with no response coming for a long time.

Chang Shou rubbed his drunken eyes and staggered toward the cave, calling out the names of Lü Fusheng and Hou Lu.

As Chang Shou's figure was swallowed up by the cave, his voice also came to an abrupt end.

Only the hissing of venomous snakes could be heard in the darkness.

(End of this chapter)