Becoming a leader of the immortal path begins with sowing the seeds of inner demons.

late at night.

In the room where Zhou Jiangyuan was in seclusion.

Steam rose from the roof.

Lu Ming sat properly on the embroidered stool with her hands on her knees, looking like a quiet and refined young lady from a well-to-do family, while secretly looking around the room.

The house was large, with neat blue bricks paving the floor, and the beams and pillars were made of fine wood. There was even a storage room and a kitchen, but there were no superfluous decorations.

Besides the bed and table, there was only a futon and a bookshelf.

It looks exactly like Lu Ming's room at the Xundao Temple.

Just as Lu Ming was wondering, Zhou Jiangyuan came over carrying a blue and white porcelain soup bowl and placed it in front of Lu Ming. It was a bowl of thick soup with white glutinous rice floating on it.

Zhou Jiangyuan said gently, "This soup contains jujubes and polygonatum, which can nourish blood and yin."

You overthink things, which easily upsets your mind.

Drinking a bowl of this will help me sleep better at night.

Lu Ming thanked her, and seeing that Zhou Jiangyuan had also filled a bowl, he watched her drink it before taking a small sip himself.

The taste was indeed excellent, sweet but not cloying, leaving a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth. I never knew Zhou Jiangyuan had such good skills.

But isn't she being a little too good to herself?

After all, she was just a companion to the Zhou family, a servant. Even if she was more talented and prettier, shouldn't the relationship between the two of them have warmed up so quickly?

"Is it good?" Zhou Jiangyuan sat opposite Lu Ming, resting her chin on her hand with a faint smile on her lips.

"It's delicious, thank you for your hospitality, sister." Lu Ming put down the bowl and smiled sweetly.

Looking at the almost empty sweet soup in front of Lu Ming, Zhou Jiangyuan's eyes flashed with surprise, but he said calmly, "Have you been getting used to living in the manor these past few days?"

Was the food to your liking?

Lu Ming noticed the change in Zhou Jiangyuan's eyes and felt uneasy. He immediately used his aura-gazing technique to look at her.

But I couldn't see anything!

Lu Ming was shocked and almost lost control of his expression.

Zhou Yunting is a cultivator who has just entered the Qi Refining stage, while Chai Yan is a cultivator who has reached the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage... I can tell the difference between their cultivation levels!

Zhou Jiangyuan, whom the two considered a cultivation genius, couldn't even see through her cultivation level?!

She's a Nascent Soul cultivator?!

A Nascent Soul cultivator was sitting opposite him?!

"Why are you sweating? Is it too hot in the room?" Zhou Jiangyuan said, taking out an embroidered handkerchief from his bosom and handing it to him.

Lu Ming forcibly suppressed his inner unease, steadily took the handkerchief, dabbed it on his forehead, and tried his best to keep his voice from revealing fear, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, sister. I've had this constitution since I was a child, and I can't stand the heat."

"Then have some more sweet soup." Zhou Jiangyuan pushed the bowl towards Lu Ming. "When cultivating, you need to replenish your energy in time, otherwise you will waste your essence and energy and easily develop internal heat, which will dry up your body."

If you don't mind, I'll ask my father to find a senior from the Jade Flower Sect to take a look at you.

Zhou Jiangyuan's face was full of concern, but in Lu Ming's eyes, it contained a kind of unspeakable intimidation.

Since the other party had already put it that way, Lu Ming knew that refusing again would only cause dissatisfaction.

Since the other party did not immediately kill, it proves that there is still room for maneuver.

Thinking of this, Lu Ming steeled his heart, picked up the soup bowl, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp, startling Zhou Jiangyuan.

"Why are you drinking so fast? No one's going to take it from you. Such a beautiful woman, why are you eating so inelegantly?"

"Drink more if you like; I thought it wasn't to your taste."

Zhou Jiangyuan smiled and added another bowl for Lu Ming, cupping her face in her hands and looking at him expectantly.

Lu Ming glanced at the soup bowl, then at Zhou Jiangyuan, sighed silently, poured the sweet soup back into the basin, and drank it straight from the basin!

Zhou Jiangyuan was stunned. By the time she came to her senses, Lu Ming had already placed the empty bowl on the table, wiped his mouth vigorously, let out a burp, and said sweetly, "Thank you for your hospitality, sister."

"You... this... isn't it to your liking?" Zhou Jiangyuan pointed at the basin, looking surprised and uncertain.

"I was suddenly hungry and ate a little too quickly, please forgive me, sister."

"But it was a potted plant..."

"Those who cultivate themselves inevitably have a larger appetite," Lu Ming said with a silly grin.

Zhou Jiangyuan suddenly chuckled, pointed at Lu Ming, and covered her mouth happily, saying, "My father really found me a good younger sister. You're quite an interesting person."

"I'm lucky to have met my sister."

"You're so eloquent!" Zhou Jiangyuan gave Lu Ming a reproachful look, her tone becoming increasingly familiar. "To tell you the truth, I only asked for a study companion because I didn't want my father to bother me."

My father didn't have much talent in cultivation. He only managed to enter the Qi Refining stage thanks to the elixirs bestowed upon him by a master from the Jade Flower Sect, and that was the end of his life.

He was busy with business and didn't understand the ways of the cultivation world at all. He really thought that he could recruit a genius who entered the Dao on his own at the age of fourteen by using spirit stones.

I didn't expect you to come.

To be honest, I was just lucky.

"Hey, can you tell me about your past? I'd like to hear it..."

Zhou Jiangyuan asked curiously, and Lu Ming could only bite the bullet and make something up.

To his surprise, Zhou Jiangyuan listened very attentively, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling with an inexplicable light, occasionally asking for details with a smile, like a young girl full of beautiful longing for everything.

This was completely different from the increasingly tense atmosphere he had imagined.

Isn't it a case of "upper part repairing, lower part repairing"?

How did it turn into a private bedroom chat?

But Zhou Jiangyuan pressed on, and Lu Ming didn't dare to stop. The two chatted for an unknown amount of time before Zhou Jiangyuan suddenly clapped her hands in satisfaction and laughed, "You really are an interesting little sister. I'm almost reluctant to part with you."

However, those who cultivate themselves should not be greedy for completeness.

"Sister Lin, let's end it here."

The voice was gentle, but it had an indescribable eeriness about it when it reached Lu Ming's ears.

His smile vanished abruptly as images of rebirth, possession, evil spirits, and souls returning to the body flashed uncontrollably through his mind.

But the next second, he thought of the Record of Inner Demons, instantly regained his composure, and felt full of confidence.

Possession?

Lu Ming sneered inwardly, silently removing the sweet soup enveloped by the moonlight from his stomach. He quietly pressed his hands against the edge of the table, preparing to take advantage of the chaos to try and bump into the other person.

Even if the opponent possesses the strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator, he is not prepared to sit idly by and wait for death!

When it comes to other things, Lu Ming knows his own limitations.

But when it comes to possession... he had never heard of a demon leader being successfully possessed!

The outcome remains to be seen!

Just then, Zhou Jiangyuan suddenly grabbed Lu Ming's hand!

The soft touch made Lu Ming's eyes light up.

The old man actually delivered himself to our door?

Perfect, then... no, wait!

Lu Ming abruptly stopped swallowing the sweet soup and looked at the person opposite him with a puzzled expression.

Zhou Jiangyuan neither sneered nor felt smug.

She remained seated, her features unchanged, yet she appeared utterly alone, like a weed growing at the base of a wall.

However, the look in her eyes as she gazed at Lu Ming carried a hint of relaxation and relief.

"Thank you," Zhou Jiangyuan said softly and sincerely. "I haven't had such a pleasant conversation with someone in a long time."

"...Gurgle gurgle?"

"What?" Zhou Jiangyuan looked up in confusion.

"It's nothing." Lu Ming patted his chest forcefully, then hesitated and asked, "What did my sister just say?"

"I said thank you." Zhou Jiangyuan smiled gently and tapped Lu Ming's smooth forehead with her finger. "It's getting late, go back and rest."

I'll talk to you again next time.

Lu Ming didn't come to his senses until he left the house. He turned around, stared at the closed door, touched the spot on his forehead where he had been touched, and looked completely bewildered.

This isn't right... Am I just overthinking things?

After returning to his room, Lu Ming weighed the options carefully and finally decided to strike first.

Now that things have come to this, the seed of inner demons has already entered Zhou Jiangyuan's sea of ​​consciousness. If the other party discovers this, there will be no turning back.

Most importantly, one should not entrust one's life to the whims of others.

This is a matter of great importance, worth taking a gamble on!

Thinking of this, Lu Ming's eyes became incredibly firm. After taking a deep breath to calm himself, he immersed his consciousness into the Heart Demon Record.