A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

Ji Zuodao actually hates insects.

That's not entirely true, after all, he still has a sleepy bug inside him that's always dozing off.

What he truly couldn't stand was the dense, overwhelming swarm of insects.

This problem dates back to my childhood.

Once, Dog snatched the candied hawthorn that he had just licked.

How could Ji Zuodao suffer such a loss?

He immediately bought a new one, carefully applied the sleeping potion and croton powder he had concocted, and quietly slipped it into Dog's food bowl.

Despite all the planning, no one expected that the second master chef, that shameless old man, would actually happen to be strolling by and, with quick eyes and hands, snatch away that extra "feast."

The consequences were predictable.

Enraged, the second master picked up Ji Zuodao, who was not even as tall as the stove at the time, and threw him directly into the Ten Thousand Insect Cave in the back mountain, where he specially cultivated Gu worms.

The insects, however, received orders but didn't actually bite.

But the sensation of thousands upon thousands of cold, slippery insects of various shapes crawling rustlingly across his body, face, and even his ear canals...

That chilling terror, where every inch of skin seemed to scream, left an extremely deep psychological scar on young Ji Zuodao.

From that day on, Ji Zuodao made a deep grudge in his heart.

While he was diligently cultivating, he secretly vowed: When I grow up and my cultivation is sufficient, I will make that old man taste this flavor too!

This "insect-free smoke" was one of the precious gifts he prepared for his second master after years of painstaking research and hard work.

Ordinary Gu worms would instantly freeze and die upon encountering this smoke; it was truly deadly.

Unfortunately, it was somewhat ineffective against the natal Gu Kings that his second master had nurtured with various rare herbs and even his own blood essence.

Well, in recent years, Master Er's most treasured Gu worms have all become heavy smokers.

If I don't take a couple of sips every day, I feel listless and unwell.

For this, the second master often glared and scolded him.

However, the things covering this villa inside and out...

Ji Zuodao squinted, sensing the thin yet chilling insect scent in the air, a cold sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

What kind of high-class stuff is this that dares to pollute the house I've set my sights on?

He's really good at dealing with these junk items; he's got it all figured out.

Ji Zuodao took out the jade pipe he had taken from Yunniang, twirled it between his fingers, and the lustrous green color flowed in the night.

This Hehuan Sect, as expected of someone who makes money through shady means, certainly has a substantial fortune.

Even the pipe is a meticulously crafted magical artifact.

It can amplify the smoke, lock in spiritual energy, and evenly, continuously and thoroughly spread the smoke from the user's breath.

Otherwise, how could those few puffs of dispersing spirit smoke in the Drunken Dream Pavilion have allowed dozens of Qi cultivators to fall victim to the spell without them even noticing?

Tsk, thinking of his second master's worn-out copper pipe that had been with him for most of his life and was almost covered in a patina, Ji Zuodao felt a little ashamed.

However, before heading down the mountain, he thoughtfully gave his precious pole a thorough cleaning—

I polished it hard with a whetstone until it was so shiny it could be used as a mirror.

Master Er must have been moved to tears when he received this act of filial piety.

Shake your head and shake off these inappropriate thoughts.

Ji Zuodao took out a small oil paper packet from his pocket, picked out some dark brown tobacco with a pungent and spicy smell, and carefully filled the jade pipe.

With a flick of the fingertips, a wisp of pale blue flame ignites, lighting the tobacco.

He squinted and took a deep, deep breath.

"call--"

As he exhaled deeply, the delicate runes engraved on the jade pipe lit up one by one, emitting a warm, spiritual glow.

A thick, dark gray smoke with a strong, pungent medicinal smell billowed out of the pipe!

The smoke did not drift randomly, but rather, under the influence of the magical artifact, it condensed and churned as if it had a life of its own.

Then, like a gray tide bursting its banks, it swept over the quiet villa in front of them!

Wherever the smoke passed, a series of extremely faint yet chilling crackling sounds echoed in the air.

Thick, fog-like smoke quickly enveloped the entire villa.

Carved wooden doors, white walls and black tiles, meticulously trimmed vegetation... all the outlines become blurred and distorted in the smoke.

This elegant courtyard seemed to have transformed into a large pot slowly boiling with a thick, gray broth.

Meanwhile, the ingredients in the pot are silently disappearing.

The main hall of the villa.

The air was filled with the scent of expensive agarwood and the woman's unique sweet body fragrance, creating a luxurious and languid atmosphere.

Lin Yue, the Holy Maiden of the Hehuan Sect, was leaning back on the sofa.

She wore a light, sheer crimson dress, her figure breathtakingly beautiful.

Her eyes were shimmering with moisture, and her gaze possessed a captivating charm.

At this moment, however, her eyes were filled with undisguised, almost obsessive affection as she gazed intently at the man by the window.

The man was tall and thin, dressed in indigo blue traditional Miao clothing, with intricate and ancient insect and bird patterns embroidered in dark silk thread on the sleeves and lapels.

He had his back to Lin Yue and faced the heavy night outside the window, so only his cold, hard profile could be seen.

"Brother Yan, don't worry, the Bliss Pill has already made its way in the upper circles of Jinghai."

Lin Yue's voice was soft and melodious, with a hint of elation as if she were seeking credit.

"Yunniang's side has been quite efficient. Several prominent scions of noble families and two minor officials with some real power in government departments have already been put to use, and... they can't do without them."

She chuckled softly, her fingertips twirling a strand of her long hair.

"Before long, these people, along with the resources and connections behind them, will all be at our disposal. At that time, whatever you want to do will definitely succeed."

Shi Yan didn't turn around, but nodded almost imperceptibly, his voice low and carrying a distinctive, slightly stiff Mandarin accent:

"Hmm. The cultivation progress of the Soul-Eating Gu King needs to be accelerated. The quality of the bait determines the potential of the Gu King. The few medicinal residues that Yunniang sent were damaged and useless."

"Okay, my dear Yan-ge."

Lin Yue got up from the soft couch, her bare white feet moving like a lazy cat behind Shi Yan. She stretched out her slender arms, wanting to wrap them around his waist from behind, her tone carrying a coquettish complaint.

"All you care about is your Gu. Since we arrived in Jinghai, you haven't spent any time with me properly."

Shi Yan's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment. Just as Lin Yue's arm was about to touch him, he slightly turned his body to avoid the intimate contact, but his tone softened:

"With great things yet to be accomplished, how can I indulge in personal feelings? Yue'er, be patient a little longer. Once I, the Gu King, have achieved great success and control the hidden power in Jinghai, I will give you whatever you desire."

If it were an ordinary woman, she would have already felt displeased by such obvious perfunctory treatment and avoidance.

But Lin Yue is a hopelessly infatuated person.

Hearing that Shi Yan had not completely refused and had even made a promise for the "future," she was not angry at all; instead, her eyes showed even more affection.

Her cheeks flushed, and she stared intently at the man's cold profile, feeling that even the way he avoided her was exceptionally masculine.

"Brother Yan, I believe you. I'll listen to whatever you say."

She responded obediently, took a half step back, and continued to gaze intently at him.

Shi Yan felt a slight sense of relief and turned his gaze back to the window.

The Gu worms he left in the courtyard and throughout the buildings were his carefully cultivated eyes and ears, connected to his mind and spirit.

However, just as he was about to give Lin Yue more details about selecting the "bait"—

"Buzz..."

A faint yet sharp stinging sensation suddenly came from his mental connection with the Gu worm!

Then, it was as if countless thin threads were snapped at the same time!

The connection between him and the hundreds of Gu worms on the villa's exterior walls and among the plants in the courtyard rapidly weakened, blurred, and then... within less than a breath.

Cut off all ties completely!

A dead silence!