Having cultivated myself into an immortal, all I want to do is raise female disciples.

Fan Luokui nodded. "That's what it means to sever desires."

"That's really stupid." Zhang Ruoxue sneered, her eyes full of coldness. "They might as well just become nuns and enter the Buddhist order. Besides, someone who can sever all ties with the mortal world so easily is probably not a good person."

Her words offended many powerful sects, especially since many giants in the cultivation world in the Desolate Heaven Domain still use the method of severing desires.

If the disciples from these major sects heard this, Zhang Ruoxue would probably be in for a good scolding.

Fan Luo Kui originally wanted to warn her senior sister Zhang not to say such sharp words when she was out and about, but after thinking about it carefully, she realized that even she couldn't just sever her desires. Anyone who could so easily discard their emotions could hardly be considered human.

Of course, those Buddhist monks who have seen through the illusions of the mortal world are an exception.

Zhang Ruoxue's former sect, Lei Yu Sect, was one of the two major sects in Jinglin City, but it had never implemented the policy of severing desires.

This was certainly not because the sect leader of Lei Yu Sect was enlightened, but because Lei Yu Sect was still just a sect in Jinglin City, not a major sect in the Lantian Empire. He needed to take care of those disciples who were selected from the villages and had outstanding talents.

Zhang Ruoxue is one of them.

"Ugh……"

Fan Luokui sighed, casually brushed aside the intertwined branches blocking her way, and gazed at Zhang Ruoxue's back.

To be honest, I don't know this Senior Sister Zhang very well. The few times I've had contact with her was last night's farce that made her shudder just thinking about it.

It's unclear whether this Senior Sister Zhang would be more friendly towards others.

She couldn't possibly act like a sadist towards her own family, laughing while secretly plotting to torment them, could she?

click-

However, before Fan Luokui could come up with an answer, her steps suddenly stopped as she stepped on a broken tree branch.

"what happened?"

Zhang Ruoxue turned around somewhat bewildered and looked at Fan Luokui, whose brows were deeply furrowed.

It wasn't that something suddenly happened to Fan Luokui, but rather that her cultivation level was far superior to Zhang Ruoxue's, resulting in a broader and more refined perception.

She sensed something unusual.

Fan Luokui stretched out her hand and pointed diagonally forward. As her white sleeves rose, they revealed the girl's fair armpits.

"Senior Sister Zhang, is Jingyuan Village, which you mentioned, in that direction?"

Zhang Ruoxue followed Fan Luokui's finger and looked in the direction Fan Luokui was pointing, a hint of surprise flashing across her face. "That's right, but how did you know..."

"There was a very... indescribable feeling coming from that direction. I can't quite put my finger on it, but in short, it wasn't a pleasant smell."

Just as Fan Luokui said, she clearly sensed a unique aura. It was a mass gathered in mid-air, as oppressive as dark clouds, and at the same time, it was like a viscous liquid emitting an astonishingly foul odor.

She had never seen anything like this before.

Even Fan Luo Kui, who had been enforcing the law in the Northern Ice Palace for many years, had never seen such strange fluctuations in aura. Logically speaking, if demons were rampaging, the aura would be filled with the bloody and dark stench of slaughter; if demonic cultivators were attacking, the aura would be the aura of corrupt spiritual energy.

But now... that aura seems to be a combination of the two, mixed with some strange things.

After staring intently for a while, Fan Luokui still couldn't quite grasp the situation. If she wanted to find out the truth, she and Zhang Ruoxue would have to go to Jingyuan Village.

Zhang Ruoxue's expression was grave. She believed that Fan Luokui had no reason to lie to her at this time. If there really was a strange and eerie aura spreading in Jingyuan Village, it might prove that the village where she grew up...

They are in grave danger!

Without giving it much thought, images of her younger brother, parents, and family flashed through her mind. Zhang Ruoxue immediately activated her spiritual energy and circulated her spiritual root. The moment she exerted force with her legs, she was launched like a cannonball.

"Senior Sister Zhang!"

Fan Luokui exclaimed in surprise. She tried to stop Zhang Ruoxue, but it was too late.

She twitched the corners of her mouth. She hadn't had a chance to tell Zhang Ruoxue that the aura was quite powerful. If it was an enemy, it was definitely not an ordinary person. At this time, they should go back to the courtyard and wait for Yunping to return before making a decision.

But how could Zhang Ruoxue wait three days? Now that the village that raised her might be suffering persecution, how could she stand idly by?

Three days. In three days, the entire village might be wiped out!

"Ugh……"

Fan Luo Kui let out a long breath. She could understand why her senior sister looked so anxious, but she was already used to the way the trial team operated.

"Now we can only follow along, and we must make sure that nothing goes wrong with Senior Sister Zhang."

She glanced again at the unusual and eerie aura gathering in the direction of the village, her heart tightened, and she dared not hesitate any longer. She gently gripped the scabbard at her waist, activated her cultivation, and quickly chased after Zhang Ruoxue in the direction she had gone.

Hopefully, the owner of that aura won't target Senior Sister Zhang yet.

21. Exactly the same

Jingyuan Village.

Fan Luokui's speed was no slower than Zhang Ruoxue's. On the contrary, due to the difference in their cultivation levels, Fan Luokui could catch up with the former in about half a minute.

However, Jingyuan Village was quite close to the two of them, and with Fan Luokui's speed, they could arrive in just a few breaths.

- Om!

Just as they had sensed in the dense forest, the closer they got to Jingyuan Village, the stronger the thick, foul, and ever-expanding dark odor became, almost to the point of obscuring their vision.

Suppressing her displeasure and repression, Fan Luokui transformed into a streak of crimson and white light, swiftly leaping over the small hill ridge in front of her.

Soon, the small village came into view.

Strangely, despite the terrifying, filthy, and malevolent aura gathering above Jingyuan Village, there was not a trace of blood in the air when one actually looked around.

what happened?

This is completely illogical.

Fan Luokui had originally prepared herself for a bloody and brutal scene of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, but she did not expect that Jingyuan Village would still appear simple and plain.

The wooden houses are arranged in an orderly fashion. Although the thatch on top is a bit withered, it still provides shelter from the rain. An old man sits comfortably in a chair in the village, squinting as he watches children play on the dirt road.

Everything was so peaceful and calm.

For a moment, Fan Luokui almost thought there was something wrong with her senses. She looked up blankly and gazed upwards.

……

Nothing at all.

Yes, at that very moment, she regained her senses, but the nauseating smell and the terrifying oppressive atmosphere were gone.

To prevent her senses from being blocked, she deliberately expanded the range.

However, everything was as usual; she could even sense 356 life forms within the village. Some of these life forms burned brightly, some were fragile, some were weak and insignificant, and some were vast and immense.

She still has all her senses, but why...?

"Junior Sister Luo Kui..."

Just as Fan Luokui was puzzled, Zhang Ruoxue's voice suddenly rang out.

Only then did she realize that her senior sister Zhang had somehow appeared behind her.

Zhang Ruoxue stood there with a solemn expression. Although her hometown, the village that had raised her for more than ten years, was right in front of her, she dared not take a single step.

"Senior Sister Zhang..." Fan Luokui quickly walked up to Zhang Ruoxue and scanned her body with her divine sense, "You didn't run into anyone, did you?"

“No.” Zhang Ruoxue shook her head and pointed to the sky. “The aura you mentioned just now… seems to have disappeared.”

"You noticed too?!"

Fan Luokui was startled; it turned out that she wasn't the only one who suddenly couldn't sense that aura.

If it were just her problem, there could be other reasons to explain it, but if Zhang Ruoxue is in the same boat as her...

That would be troublesome.

Zhang Ruoxue reached out and pried off a piece of dead tree trunk from the side, rubbing it slightly with her fair fingertips. "When I approached Jingyuan Village, I sensed that aura... but after I arrived here, that unpleasant feeling disappeared."

"Did the owner of that aura leave?"

"I don't know." Zhang Ruoxue shook her head. "It's also possible that there's some kind of special magic array nearby that's hiding that aura."

Fan Luokui's eyes suddenly sharpened. As the former captain who had worked in the trial team for so many years, she could sense that there was definitely something fishy about this matter.

Moreover... it's probably not just a minor problem.

The best decision right now is to retreat directly back to the courtyard house. If they do encounter any unknown individuals, it would be best to let the old rogue handle it.

Rushing in rashly could lead to unimaginable consequences.

but--

Fan Luokui helplessly turned her gaze to Zhang Ruoxue. Judging from the determination and worry in this senior sister's eyes, she would definitely not leave like this.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, if Senior Sister Ye hadn't caused this trouble, they wouldn't have discovered the anomaly in Jingyuan Village.

But if we don't return to Jingyuan Village, the people in that village are very likely to...

It should be noted that some demonic cultivators who live in seclusion use extremely cruel methods. They usually do not target righteous cultivators because the chances of being caught are too high, and it is common for them to be hunted down by the entire enemy family.

Over time, they turned their attention to these unprotected villages.

Although the souls of mortals are not enough for them to consume, even a mosquito's leg is still meat, and it can still be used in emergencies.

"So, what do we do?" Fan Luo Kui already knew the answer in her heart, but she still couldn't help asking, "Should we go in despite the risks...?"

"If we don't go in and take a look, we won't know what exactly happened in Jingyuan Village."

Zhang Ruoxue's tone was calm, yet extremely firm.

"Besides, my parents and younger brother are also in the village. I can't just leave them behind."

"Hmm... I guessed your answer, but Senior Sister Zhang... you're more persistent than I imagined."

Zhang Ruoxue smiled and shook her head, correcting her, "It's not about being stubborn. I just don't want to be like those people who try to sever their desires. I can't do that."

"Too."

Fan Luokui gripped the scabbard tightly, her expression still cold, but lacking a hint of indifference.

Seeing Fan Luo Kui's appearance, Zhang Ruoxue hesitated for a moment before asking, "Junior Sister Luo Kui, are you coming in with me?"

"Otherwise, do I have any other choice?" Fan Luokui's answer was clear and rigid. "You are my senior sister. It would be against etiquette for me to leave my senior sister behind and go back alone."

"It's all about etiquette again..."

Zhang Ruoxue slapped her forehead. She really disliked people who followed rigid rules. Back then, she had directly defied the entire Lei Yu Sect. From this perspective, she and Fan Luokui really didn't get along.