I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 166 Red Flowers in the Deep Alley
As the wind and snow gradually subsided, only the stench of blood and charred remains in the world.

The ground was covered with lingering snow, tinged with a deep red, while the distant mountains stood solemnly, witnessing a cataclysmic disaster.

The once bustling cave is now deserted except for the howling wind that blows across the broken rocks and crumbling walls, its sound echoing in the emptiness.

Xue Xiang watched the giant scene on the horizon slowly dissipate, his killing intent gradually fading. Gazing at the bloodstains in the distance, he felt a profound emptiness in his heart.

After hastily cleaning up the battlefield and collecting a pile of storage treasures, which were too full to fit in his sleeves and waist pouch, he had no choice but to tie them into a bundle and throw it into the cave.

After doing all this, he returned to the cave and silently watched over Zhou Ping.

As the wind whipped up the snow, Xue Xiang felt an overwhelming sense of melancholy.

But the dead cannot be brought back to life, and no matter how hard he could accept it, he had no choice but to accept it.

Right then, he found a place outside the cave with lush flowers and plants, dug a pit, and put Zhou Ping inside.

Xue Xiang didn't take off her storage ring either.

After gazing at Zhou Ping in the deep pit for a long time, Xue Xiang took off his robe and covered her from head to toe.

With a wave of his hand, all the loose soil fell away.

To avoid his descendants digging up his grave, he did not erect a tombstone.

He bowed deeply three times before Zhou Ping's tomb, and was about to leave when suddenly, tender green shoots miraculously sprouted from the loose soil.

It turned out that when the heavenly tribulation descended, Xue Xiang fought against it with all his might.

Even when the divine secret descended, he never focused his mind outside his own body.

Therefore, he was unaware that when the Heavenly Secret descended, it was also frantically poured into Zhou Ping's body.

At that moment, a strange phenomenon suddenly appeared on the ground, and Xue Xiang was overjoyed.

He quickly dug through the soil. He carefully lifted her out, took out a Rejuvenation Pill, and gently put it into her mouth.

After waiting for a long time, Zhou Ping did not respond at all.

Xue Xiang pried open her lips, but the pills wouldn't dissolve.

Xue Xiang frowned and pondered, a thought suddenly flashing through his mind:
Why not try literary talent? Literary talent is one of the fundamental principles of the world.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked up and recited:

"The Jade Palace in the heavens, with twelve towers and five cities."

A sage stroked my head, and bestowed upon me immortality.

As the sound faded, the void suddenly brightened.

Endless literary energy surged from all directions, transforming into a golden river that flowed ceaselessly, guided by Xue Xiang's thoughts, and poured into Zhou Ping's head.

Celestial music seemed to echo between heaven and earth, green plants danced in the wind, and the snow and verdant green intertwined, as if a fairyland had descended to earth.

Zhou Ping suddenly let out a soft moan, her delicate eyelashes trembling slightly.

Suddenly, she slowly opened her eyes, her pupils misty. Then, the medicinal power of the Rejuvenation Pill spread out, and gushing heat flowed into her body.

She slowly rose, muttering in a daze, "Is this... the underworld?"

The next moment, her gaze fell on Xue Xiang, her heart trembled violently, and tears suddenly filled her eyes.

Ignoring everything else, she suddenly threw herself into Xue Xiang's arms.

She hugged him tightly, as if trying to merge herself into his body.

All the rules and regulations of etiquette need not be strictly followed in this underworld.

Zhou Ping was completely absorbed in the moment when she suddenly felt a burning heat on her chest and heard intense breathing around her ears. Her heart skipped a beat, and she realized something was wrong.

In an instant, her face flushed and her heart pounded. She exclaimed in surprise and was about to give in.

Unexpectedly, Xue Xiang's arms were as strong as iron, and he held her tightly.

Their eyes met, their breaths mingling. Suddenly, Xue Xiang lowered his head and gently pecked her full, red lips, as if a pink teardrop had been revealed.

Zhou Ping's face flushed instantly, her head lowered, and she said in a trembling voice, "My lord, please have some self-respect."

"What is more important than self-respect?"

As soon as he started talking, Xue Xiang's Five Finger Mountain became restless.

Zhou Ping had never experienced anything like this before, and suddenly, a dark cloud of red arose, and the sea of ​​clams surged with tides.

Normally, she would never give in so easily.

No matter how much she loved him, years of traditional etiquette had already laid countless traps in her heart.

But the impact of this near-death experience on my mental state is indescribable.

Therefore, she allowed him to cross the line step by step until things got out of control.

"...I...I feel very dizzy, and my internal energy is not flowing smoothly..."

She whispered hurriedly, offering a token resistance, her voice as light as snowflakes in the wind.

Xue Xiang was already on the verge of conflict, and whispered in her ear, "If you clear the blockage, it will be smooth."

A wave of shame washed over her, and her resistance gradually faded. She lowered her head and whispered almost inaudibly, "Go...go into the cave..."

"Not urgent."

"You're mean, I meant the cave."

"Which cave did you think I was referring to, Yuanjun?"

"ah……"

The sky was deep and the snow had just cleared.

The distant mountains, like dark eyebrows, and the surrounding peaks seem to have created a private world for them.

The snow and moonlight intertwine, creating a serene and beautiful scene.

Within the Five Spirits Blessed Land, all was silent, except for the rhythm of heartbeats and breaths, as if heaven and earth held their breath to witness this moment of fusion.

"Teacher, I have a question."

"Ah...don't call me teacher..."

"What's that called?"

"Don't make any noise..."

"Your Highness the Princess."

"what……"

Flowing water and falling petals mark the endless spring; a night of revelry ensues.

The next morning, when Xue Xiang woke up again, Zhou Ping was nowhere to be found.

He was startled, jumped up, and chased after them out of the cave.

The snow outside the cave shone brightly as Zhou Ping bent down to wash the bloodstains on her skirt.

Amidst the rising steam, her silhouette was reflected on the stone wall, her curves exquisite.

Grilled meat and fruit tea were placed on a stone shelf next to her, the flickering firelight making her cheeks slightly flushed.

Xue Xiang quietly approached and gently embraced her from behind.

Zhou Ping, who had noticed Xue Xiang's movements earlier, couldn't help but tremble. She nestled quietly in his arms, as if at this moment, she could abandon everything else.

"Settle down."

Zhou Ping realized that Wuzhishan was about to enter the alley again.

"Was the flow of Qi in your body smooth yesterday, teacher?"

Xue asked in a low voice.

"There's still... a little bit left."

Zhou Ping's jade-like face flushed red, like snow dyed by the sunset.

Xue Xiang's gaze deepened, and he bent down to pick her up.

As the clothes fell away, a beautiful scene once again unfolded in the cave, which was isolated by wind and snow.

The two enjoyed two days of blissful revelry at the Five Spirits Blessed Land, forgetting the mortal world.

On the third day, as dawn broke, the crimson glow that appeared between heaven and earth reminded them that the opening time of the Red House teleportation array had reached its final deadline.

Xue Xiang and Zhou Ping left the cave hand in hand.

After a blizzard, the sky cleared, the earth was crystal clear, the distant mountains looked as if they had been washed clean, and the snow underfoot was knee-deep.

The two walked slowly through the snow, one after the other, their steps light and deliberate, yet they carried a tacit understanding as they journeyed side by side.

Two hours later, the two found a red house located on a hillside.

The red house stands quietly in the woods, its vermilion walls hidden among the cedar trees.

The red house's main door was half-open, and waves of spiritual light emanated from within. Outside the red house, a long queue had formed.

Xue Xiang changed into a faux leather mask and kept a considerable distance from Zhou Ping.

While queuing, the two deliberately avoided each other by seven or eight people.

The teleportation array inside the red house allows for batch teleportation.

After the guards took attendance, Zhou Ping happened to be the last person in Xue Xiangqian's group.

She gently bit her red lips, lowered her brows shyly, and turned to look at Xue Xiang.

The two exchanged a glance, and Xue Xiang nodded slightly.

Zhou Ping led the way into the red house.

Half an incense stick later, Xue Xiang also went in and entered an octagonal formation.

As the light shone, the scenery before my eyes blurred, and when I looked again, I found myself inside an iron house.

Instantly, many people began to emit chaotic lights of various colors, some black, some white, and most blue.

Those whose bodies were glowing all quickly dodged away.

Xue Xiang knew perfectly well that these guys must have stolen other people's storage rings.

Because the storage ring is difficult to unlock, the crystal core hidden inside cannot be taken away immediately.

There is an ironclad rule in the Land of Demons: the crystal cores inside must not be taken out.

Once taken out, it will surely vanish into thin air.

Even if it's stored in a storage ring and taken out, it's still not allowed.

For this reason, Xue Xiang did not bring out all of those storage treasures.

Because he knew that those storage treasures must contain a huge amount of crystal cores.

The loss would be too great if the smoke were carried away and the smoke disappeared.

Therefore, in the vast underground space of the Five Spirit Lands, he found a deep pit and smeared the entire bundle with wet mud.

They stuffed the mud back in, filled the pit again, and waited for the next opportunity to enter and retrieve the treasure.

It's worth mentioning that the little cutie managed to devour a large number of monsters one last time.

It then entered a deep sleep mode, and Xue Xiang and Teacher Zhou fought fiercely for days without waking it up.

Xue Xiang touched the little cutie in his sleeve and strode out of the iron house.

The iron gate of the house suddenly swung open, and a cold wind rushed in.

Xue Xiang quickly chased after them, his gaze sweeping across the vast expanse of white snow, where he saw a group of four people waiting not far away.

The one leading the group was Zhou Ping.

She changed into a plain white dress, the hem of which still bore faint bloodstains, indicating that they had not been completely washed away.

That splash of red was particularly dazzling under the snow's glow.

Beside her stood three Core Formation cultivators, all of whom were Zhou Ping's former subordinates, protecting her at this moment.

The two faced each other across the street.

Zhou Ping's eyes trembled slightly, and she raised her delicate hand to gently cover her face with a white veil.

Her eyes were clear beneath the veil, but she said nothing more. She simply turned slowly with the three of them and walked away into the snow.

Xue Xiang stood there for a moment, feeling a slight pang in his heart, but ultimately failed to catch up.

Back in this world, he is a lowly tenth-rank official, while she is the high and mighty Princess Consort of Yong.

What good would it do to catch up?

He was standing on the street, lost in thought, when a crowd gathered around him.

Those people were dressed in brocade robes, with spirit pouches hanging from their waists, and their words were filled with urgency.

"Young master, do you have any unused magical treasures or resources for sale? Our Ruyi Workshop is willing to buy them at a high price."

"Fellow Daoist, having emerged from this place of demonic affliction, you must have obtained some rare treasures, right? If you are interested in making a sale, the price is up to you."

"........."

The sounds rose and fell, passionate and urgent.

Clearly, these people were eyeing this spot, waiting to make money off treasure hunters.

Xue Xiang ignored the crowd and quickly left. Passing by a street stall, he saw a geography atlas and bought one.

Only then did they realize that this place was the Wengcheng of Chunshui County in Jiannan Prefecture, which was more than two thousand li away from Yong'an City in Canaan County of Canglan Prefecture.

Xue Xiang looked up at the sky and prepared to leave the city immediately to fly back on the magic carpet.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he looked up sharply to the north, only to see a bustling market with a constant stream of pedestrians.

The shouts of vendors, the laughter of children, and the low murmurs of monks negotiating prices blended together without any apparent disturbance.

But he had just clearly sensed someone staring at him from the shadows. This keen insight was one of the benefits of successfully establishing one's foundation.

Not knowing where the danger came from, he naturally refused to leave the city now. Instead, he walked along the street and chose the inn with the tallest archway in the city.

The inn had vermilion beams and green tiles, and a large gilded plaque with the words "Lian Sheng" (meaning "continuous rise") hung at the entrance, exuding an imposing aura.

Seeing his distinguished bearing, the waiter immediately greeted him with a smile and repeatedly addressed him as "sir."

Before long, he was led into a magnificent superior room.

The heavy curtains hung down, the fire in the stove was blazing, and the room was warm as spring.

Once inside, he immediately relaxed.

Having survived the life-or-death ordeal at the Five Spirit Blessed Land, his state of mind was no longer what it used to be.

Returning to the mortal world now, though danger lurks beneath the surface, it hardly stirs any ripples in his heart.

…………

At the same moment, in a private room two miles west of Liansheng Inn, smoke rose from a bronze incense burner, pine branches crackled and sparks flew.

The five people sat in a circle, each with a different expression.

"Fellow Daoist Wu."

Wen Xiang spoke first, his tone heavy, "Can you be certain that person is the traitor Han?"

Wu Meng sat with his hands behind his back, his eyes slightly narrowed. "He's definitely dead."

He spoke each word clearly and firmly, “My eyes only recognize character, not pretense.”

Even if he changed his clothes and disguised himself, he could not escape my gaze once I glanced at him.

Moreover, the red house closest to the Five Spirits Blessed Land is located in the barbican.

If he comes out, he can only do so from here.

As it turns out, we made the right choice in waiting.

Huang Feng said excitedly, "If that's true, he must be carrying countless treasures."

In the battle of heavenly tribulations, this person, relying on both literary talent and astonishing genius, swept across the entire arena single-handedly, reaping such immense gains that it sent chills down one's spine.

Wen Xiang said, "Speaking of the Heavenly Tribulation Battle, we were able to escape unscathed entirely thanks to Brother Wu's quick thinking. I admire you greatly."

It turned out that the group had retreated because Wu Meng had gotten away first.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Wen Xiang followed Wu Meng and retreated.

Although Huang Feng, Liu Wenquan, and Su Beichen were at odds with Wen Xiang, they had all served King Chujiang together.

Since Wen Xiang has already left, there's no reason for them not to.

Unexpectedly, this departure actually saved them from a deadly trap.

Su Beichen exclaimed in admiration, "I still don't understand, Brother Wu, how could you be so certain that the Han traitor would win?"

Wu Meng said, "The traitor Han was able to come up with a wonderful method like palindrome poetry, which no ordinary person could even imagine, to survive the heavenly tribulation."

His high level of literary skill is already evident.

In an environment permeated with intellectual atmosphere at the time, what were the chances of winning by choosing to be an enemy of such a person? It's a matter of degree.

Okay, let's not dwell on the past.

You asked me to find the traitor Han, and I have found him.

Please keep your promises.

Wen Xiang said, "Brother Wu, why are you doing this? We're all working together. If we benefit from it, do you really think you'll be left out?"

Originally, Wen Xiang looked down on Wu Meng the most, and the two sides had a deep-seated grudge.

During the short time he worked under King Chujiang, Wen Xiang witnessed Wu Meng's ability to see through the complexities of the situation.

This time, he retreated with Wumeng and escaped with his life.

Later, with the help of Wumeng, they found Xue Xiang, who had changed his appearance.

Next, the main event is about to begin, but Wu Meng has made it clear beforehand that he is only responsible for finding people.

If you help find the people, you must ask them to fulfill their promise and give you spirit stones.

Huang Feng, Liu Wenquan, and Su Beichen also spoke up to persuade Wu Meng to join the main force.

However, Wu Meng insisted on refusing, even stating that he would leave now if they did not keep their promise.

Left with no other option, everyone had to pay with spirit stones.

Wu Meng accepted the spirit stones, and Wen Xiang said, "Brother Wu, I just don't understand why you would give up such an easy benefit? This place is different from the Demonic Land."

Without ample literary talent to rely on, Han the Thief is nothing more than a mere Foundation Establishment junior.

"There are four of us at the Core Formation stage, I don't know what you're afraid of?"

Wu Meng pointed to the sky, stood up, straightened his clothes, and prepared to leave.

"Heavens? What a joke! We cultivators are already defying the heavens in our pursuit of the Dao. What nonsense are you spouting about the will of heaven?"

"That's right, who knows if it's fate that brought us into this mess with the Han traitor, and that he's going to deliver this fortune to us?"

"Let them go then. With such a cowardly attitude, it's no wonder you haven't formed your core yet."

"........."

Wu Meng refused to cooperate, and the crowd's words gradually became harsh.

Wu Meng remained unfazed, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Good luck, everyone."

As he spoke, he opened the door, ready to leave.

"Wait a minute."

Wen Xiang called out to Wu Meng, "Brother Wu, you and the traitor Han are also blood enemies."

You feel that he is currently riding high on good fortune and is on a winning streak, so you are unwilling to take action against him.

We understand, but you don't need to quit.

Staying to advise won't be a problem, will it?
After we succeed, we'll still share some with you.

Wu Meng was stunned.

"Fellow Daoist Wen, you!"

Before Liu Wenquan could even open his mouth, Huang Feng and Su Beichen silenced him with their eyes.

Both of them were convinced of Wu Meng's abilities.

Wu Meng closed the door, sat back down, touched the worm-like scars on his face, and said in a low voice, "Whether you believe it or not."

The traitor Han is currently riding high on destiny; to be his enemy now is extremely risky.

But if you insist on taking the risk, I am willing to do my part.

Actually, I only have one opinion: no matter how we plan, once we take action, we must focus on one thing: never give the traitor Han a chance to speak, and strike him dead in one blow.

Have any of you read "The Mortal World"?
There's a line in it that I wholeheartedly agree with: "The villain dies from talking too much."

Wen Xiang nodded, "The words may be rough, but the principle is sound; we really shouldn't complicate things."

The four of us will act like eagles hunting rabbits; once we strike, we will use our full strength.

"That's how it should be."

"That's only right."

"........."

The wind howled outside, sweeping past the remaining snow on the eaves.

Wen Xiang and the others were not asleep, and neither was Xue Xiang.

A carved window at the highest point of the Liansheng Inn was half-open. In the lamplight, Xue Xiang was drawing and writing on a piece of paper with a charcoal pencil.

He was taking stock of what he had gained and what he had sacrificed during his journey into the Land of Demons.

pay:

The Elemental Burst Beads, Teleportation Talismans, and Gale Talismans are almost all used up.

The remaining spiritual energy was also mostly consumed.

There were only about ten of the various tonics, including the Rejuvenation Pill, left; they were almost completely depleted.

Besides, all the crystal cores he had acquired were consumed when he attempted to break through to the Qi realm.

The Eight Scenic Spots of Mountains and Rivers Formation has also been decommissioned.

Takeaways:

Having established an unparalleled foundation in Dao, and having cultivated literary energy to the level of sentence-level, a sapling of literary energy has been formed.

With a magic carpet and a boundary seal, one can achieve Heavenly Tempering, resulting in a physical body second only to a Nascent Soul cultivator.

A large number of storage treasures (which were not brought out).

A jade scroll, this item is very important, but its specific function is unknown.

Of course, we also have to take into account the development of the little cutie.

Overall, the achievements were enormous and the results were brilliant.

If you also consider the relationship with Teacher Zhou, then you've really hit the jackpot.

"I miss Teacher Zhou so much."

Xue Xiang looked up at the moon, hoping that Teacher Zhou was also looking at the moon.

Xue Xiang stood by the window of the inn, the moonlight shining on the snow on the eaves, its silvery light cold.

The feeling of being watched grew clearer and clearer.

He blinked, and his Xuan Ye Tong was quietly activated.

In an instant, the light and darkness between heaven and earth seemed to be stripped away, and a layer of dark blue light film covered them.

Every subtle fluctuation was visible to the eye.

Sure enough, a glint of cold light appeared on the branch of a cedar tree opposite.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a strange bird, entirely bluish-white, with bright green eyes that were staring intently at him.

"Spirit pet surveillance..."

Xue Xiang felt a slight chill, but did not make any rash moves.

He didn't know who was behind it all, but he knew that his identity was too conspicuous after coming out of the teleportation room.

Those targeting you could be acquaintances from the Land of Demons, or local bullies.

Xue Xiang glanced at the strange bird, closed the window, and didn't take the matter to heart at all.

Suddenly, after looking around at the interior furnishings, I felt they were too tacky.

He decided to find a different place to sleep and, while he was there, ask his old friend for help.

…………

The sky is high and the clouds are wide, the distant mountains are like dark eyebrows.

The winter snow has melted, and the sky is clear and bright.

Xue Xiang presented the talisman and boarded a carriage belonging to a government-run merchant guild. The carriage's banners fluttered in the wind, their distinctive patterns bearing the imperial mark.

Soldiers escorted them along the way, and the atmosphere was solemn.

The sounds of horses' hooves and carts rumbled together, forming a long, drawn-out melody.

After traveling more than a hundred miles, they parted ways with the convoy when they reached the mouth of the Fengmin River.

Old Zhou, the manager of the trading company, was a shrewd man who insisted on renting a small boat for Xue Xiang.

Xue Xiang dismissed the boatman and sailed alone on the river.

The Minjiang River is a tributary of the Huaihe River system, flowing eastward to the Bohai Sea, its vast expanse of water stretching to the horizon.

Xue Xiang sailed along, enjoying the scenery as he went, in high spirits, and occasionally bursting into song, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Things that don't know whether to live or die."

High above the heavens, Wen Xiang stared coldly at Xue Xiang, his heart filled with murderous intent.

Not far from him, Huang Feng, Liu Wenquan, and Su Beichen followed closely.

They followed Xue Xiang as he left the inn.

Originally, he planned to deal with Xue Xiang once he left the city, but unexpectedly, Xue Xiang hitched a ride with the government-run merchant guild.

Taking action now would be tantamount to making an enemy of the imperial court, going beyond a simple case of murder and robbery. The four men weren't stupid.

Seeing Xue Xiang enter Fengminjiang, the four knew their opportunity had arrived.

Xue Xiang enjoyed the breeze at the bow of the boat for a while, and then went into the cabin after the boat entered the middle of the river.

The four exchanged a glance, remembered Wu Meng's instructions, and attacked simultaneously.

boom!
Four streams of spiritual energy erupted simultaneously, their light waves crisscrossing like four heavenly punishments, all striking Ye Guzhou.

In an instant, wood chips flew everywhere, and a deafening roar shook the heavens.

The cruise ship instantly turned into pieces, crashing against the river, sending mist into the air and waves surging into the sky.

The river surface surged and churned, like a tyrannical dragon turning over.

However, where the ship wrecked, there was no one.

"Could it be that the Han traitor has been blasted to pieces?"

Huang Feng frowned deeply.

Wen Xiang said sternly, "Absolutely impossible. This child has cultivated an unparalleled foundation and survived a tribulation. His physical defense is no less than that of a Nascent Soul cultivator."

Liu Wen's expression changed drastically. "Could he have escaped?"

Wen Xiang's eyes flashed like lightning, and he suddenly shouted, "There!"

Beneath the river's surface, a sleek green figure sped by—it was Xue Xiang!
The four of them leaped at the same time, transforming into a rainbow as they swooped down.

In an instant, they were right in front of them. Everyone activated their abilities, and just as the second attack was about to land, the surface of the Fengmin River exploded.

The waves, as large as mountains, suddenly split apart.

The deep abyss at the bottom of the river surged, and an ancient and terrifying aura shot straight to the heavens.

What followed was a gigantic head, with curved horns and menacing scales.

The Azure Dragon raised its head and spewed forth a torrent of water, as if the sky itself had split open, crushing people's souls.

"dragon……"

Huang Feng lost his voice and turned ashen-faced. He had rushed too fast and was only inches away from the dragon's mouth.

Before the words were even finished, the dragon's mouth opened.

Suddenly, a fierce wind arose where Huang Feng was, and he felt the world darken. His entire body, along with the protective light around him, was swallowed up by the giant mouth!

Before a scream could even escape its lips, the dragon's mouth closed, leaving only a surging mist of blood that was instantly shattered by the towering water mist.

The other three even experienced a brief mental blank.

Whoosh! The dragon's breath swept down, hitting Wen Xiang squarely.

He vaporized on the spot, and his storage ring fell into the water, where it was caught by Xue Xiang the instant it hit the surface.

Su Beichen and Liu Wenquan were terrified and were about to take off.

The giant tail of the Azure Dragon swept across, its sound like thunder.

boom!
Its tail, like a pillar of heaven, crashes down from the sky.

The two hurriedly activated their spiritual energy shields, but were still struck by the attack.

The sound of bones shattering was clearly audible as his body flew through the air and crashed heavily into the river, filling the air with a mist of blood.

It was clear that the two of them were exhaling more than inhaling.

Xue Xiang burst out of the water and bowed to the Azure Dragon.

The Azure Dragon exhaled a heavy breath, released a storage ring, and then disappeared underwater.

Xue Xiang grabbed the storage ring and bowed repeatedly, but Qinglong didn't even give him a glance.

There's nothing I can do. I keep asking the dragon for help, but I don't give him anything in return. No wonder the dragon is in a bad mood.

It turns out that last night, Xue Xiang disliked the inn's environment and went straight to Wenxu Fudi to sleep.

Today he is embarking on a long journey and will have to deal with unknown enemies, so he naturally needs Qinglong to come and protect him.

Qinglong has always regarded the Lord of Mingde Dongxuan as his master, so he naturally obeys his orders.

But when it comes to Xue Xiang, such a weak human, the Azure Dragon is inevitably high and mighty.

"Spare, spare my life..."

Amidst the surging waves, Liu Wenquan stared intently at Xue Xiang's figure, pleading for mercy incessantly.

Xue Xiang stood on the water, his robes fluttering, his gaze as cold as frost. "Isn't it too late to beg for mercy now?"

"Young Master Han, please accept us two as your servants...is that not enough?"

Su Beichen's body was split in half. He was always smarter than Liu Wenquan and knew how to grasp the key points.

Upon hearing this, Xue Xiang was stunned.

Who would refuse two servants at the Core Formation stage?
But then he thought, he probably couldn't control these two people.

Little did Su Beichen know that he had already anticipated this. "Life...death talisman, I, I have one."

"Lao Su!"

Liu Wenquan panicked, "Life and death talismans aren't sold one by one, you definitely have more than one..."

As soon as he uttered the words, tears welled up in his eyes.

I never imagined that one day I would end up in a situation where I'm terrified of having a death warrant planted on me.

"I'll buy it! I'll pay for it!"

Liu Wenquan became so anxious that he started coughing up blood.

"Spend money? Do we even have... money of our own?"

Su Beichen felt relieved; he was about to lose his personal freedom, let alone money.

Before long, two life-and-death talismans floated out from his body.

Xue Xiang had seen this thing at an auction; he could tell at a glance that it was genuine.

At that moment, Xue Xiang took the Life and Death Talisman and crushed it.

A strange light burst forth, and he dripped blood into it, which was then enveloped in the light.

Before long, the blood split into two streams, one into his palm and the other into Su Beichen's brow.

Su Beichen trembled violently, in excruciating pain.

After more than ten breaths, he stopped trembling.

Soon, Xue Xiangxin had a strange thought.

It's as if you can cut something off with just a thought.

Immediately afterwards, Liu Wenquan also completed his vaccination.

Xue Xiang was very generous; once the vaccination was completed, they were considered one of their own.

He took out the few Rejuvenation Pills and Phoenix Five Pills he had and put them into the mouths of the two men.

Once the two had recovered somewhat from their injuries, Xue Xiang took out the magic carpet and helped them up.

“Young master, I’m reporting it. It’s Wu Meng. That scoundrel Wu Meng is trying to make things difficult for you. He should still be in the barracks.”

Liu Wenquan had only recovered slightly when he began to show his loyalty.

Xue Xiang was taken aback. "So it was him."

This person is extremely cunning; it would be a miracle if we went to find him now.

Gentlemen, I have no intention of controlling your lives.

"Ten years. Ten years under my command, and then I'll set you free."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light finally appeared in the eyes of Liu Wenquan and Su Beichen.

No one wants to be controlled by others, and ten years is not a very long time for a cultivator.

"I am willing to die for you, my lord."

The two said in unison.

Xue Xiang waved his hand, "There's no need to talk about dying for someone; there's plenty of time in the future."

By the way, please tell me your real names, and I will have someone check with your registered residence.

Even with the Life and Death Talisman in control, Xue Xiang would not use people of unknown origin.

He knew very well that among those who ventured into the Land of Demons to seek treasure, apart from figures like King Chujiang, Wei Ruyi, and the Four Friends of Zhejiang, few would use their real names and true identities to attract people with their titles.

The two exchanged a glance, each gave their real names, and removed their disguises to reveal their true faces.

The two men's disguise techniques were far more sophisticated than Xue Xiang's imitation leather mask. It was a mysterious potion that, when applied, could not only change skin tone but also alter facial features.

To shed pretense and invigorate one's vital energy, one can achieve this.

The two then revealed their real names.

Liu Wenquan's real name is Wenshan, and Su Beichen's real name is Cheng Bei. They also provided their place of household registration.

After noting it down, Xue Xiang removed his imitation leather mask, revealing his true face. "Let me introduce myself. I am Xue Xiang from Yunmeng."

"Xue Xiang? That name sounds familiar."

Wenshan frowned.

Cheng Bei exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be the famous Autumn Lamenter!"

"It's him. No one else has such poetic talent, and no one else could have imagined such wonderful palindromic poems."

Wenshan let out a strange cry, filled with inexplicable excitement.

Cheng Bei cupped his hands and said, "To be able to serve under the renowned Bei Qiu Ke is something I, Cheng, would never do."

"me too."

Wenshan declared loudly, "Your reputation as a poet is known throughout the country; who can deny it..."

The two began to talk incessantly, their previous grief and indignation completely gone.

(End of this chapter)