All of the protagonist's Daoist partners are mine!

The black hole quickly shrank to a point and eventually disappeared.

Thus concludes tonight's demon-hunting operation. It ended in a complete victory for the demon lord.

"As expected of the chosen one, you managed to survive this." Xing Moxie murmured, looking at the spot where the black hole disappeared. He then grabbed Ge Zhan's body, which had lost its primordial spirit: "Fortunately, I've got the top-grade earth spirit root."

Then he looked at the unconscious Yan Lingyun and licked his lips.

After a whole night of hard work and so many days of scheming, I can finally reap the rewards of my hard work.

"Congratulations, Lord Demon Lord, on your resounding victory." The Stargazing Saintess walked over, holding the barrier core.

Zhu Heming immediately rushed to protect An Suxin.

Xing Moxie gave the wary, loyal dog a crooked smile and dismissed it, saying, "I keep my word. You may leave now."

Zhu Heming frowned slightly. Was this demon really so straightforward that he didn't even remind him not to leak out what happened tonight?

He immediately realized that the devil had no need to give any instructions.

Because if they leave tonight, they'll be in the same boat. And as long as the Great Sun Saintess is alive, their betrayal tonight will not be able to be concealed.

Judging from the demon's appearance, he didn't seem to intend to kill Yan Lingyun. This could be considered a way to keep them quiet.

After figuring this out, Zhu Heming didn't say a word. While marveling at the demon's cunning, he took the Star Gazing Saintess and ran away.

……

I don't know how much time passed.

"Master!" Yan Lingyun woke up with a startled cry.

She just had a very long dream, a dream about the little things she did in her past life with her master and mother.

Although it was a dream, I was still deeply moved when I woke up, and my eyes were wet with tears without me even realizing it.

Then, her face darkened as she realized that her cultivation had been sealed and her clothes had been stripped down to just the innermost layer of semi-transparent gauze.

She was also bound to a bed in a very shameful position, lying face up at a 45-degree angle with her limbs spread out.

The situation is definitely not good.

Yan Lingyun struggled a few times, making the bed creak. The ropes binding her were just ordinary magical artifacts; if she still possessed cultivation, she could break them immediately.

"Oh, you're awake?" A red figure circled around from behind and appeared in front of Yan Lingyun.

Yan Lingyun glared at her angrily: "Xiao Linglong! You, you actually aided and abetted the evildoer, colluding with the devil. How can you do this to your sworn brother!"

When Yan Lingyun woke up, she knew she had fallen into the clutches of evil. So she wasn't too surprised to see Xiao Linglong.

Xiao Linglong crossed her arms and looked down at her: "You're so energetic, it seems you won't faint too soon?"

"what?"

"You'd better hold on a little longer. If you faint too early, I'll be the one suffering in the middle of the night." A mischievous smile appeared on Xiao Linglong's lips.

Yan Lingyun didn't understand her meaning at first, but a bad feeling quickly arose in her heart.

Chapter 143: 60 Young Master Xiao is the man who could become my mother.

Yan Lingyun looked around and found herself in an old, ancient temple. The Great Sun Immortal Sect's mark was visible on the dusty dome, indicating that it was probably an abandoned part of the sect.

Then, recalling that during the earlier operational meeting, An Suxin suggested a transport route and ambush location that included an abandoned dojo.

Yan Lingyun thought to herself... Sure enough, the Star Gazing Saintess had already colluded with the demon back then.

Suddenly, the spiritual energy around the dojo began to surge wildly towards the center. The fluctuations of earth-attribute spiritual energy were the most intense, causing the ground around the dojo to faintly crack.

Is someone absorbing a large amount of earth elemental energy?

It seems to be the owner of a top-grade earth elemental root.

Who is cultivating? Yan Lingyun glanced at Xiao Linglong and, seeing her calm expression, immediately understood what was going on.

It seems that Ge Zhan, who possessed a top-grade earth elemental root, has perished. Not only did he die, but his elemental root was also taken away.

Upon reflection, it made sense. With his defeat, the Nine Heavens Dragon-Trapping Lock had lost its effectiveness. Even with a wisp of his remnant soul aiding him, how could he possibly be a match for the Demon Lord and Zhu Heming?

A moment later, the earth elemental storm subsided.

The gray-robed figure sitting cross-legged in the center of the dojo exhaled a breath of turbid air. His long black hair swayed wildly with the aftershocks of spiritual energy. He slightly opened his eyes, and two ruthless scarlet points flashed in the narrowed slits of his eyes.

"Top-grade earth elemental root, fusion complete."

Xing Moxie spoke calmly. He had only just fused with the spiritual root, yet it had already stirred up such a powerful wave of spiritual energy. If he were to use it for formal cultivation, it would undoubtedly be even more extraordinary.

He had previously replenished his five elemental spiritual roots by hunting righteous cultivators.

Those who possess top-grade spiritual roots but haven't reached the Golden Core stage are usually the darlings of major sects. Before they truly mature, they are generally nurtured in a greenhouse within the sect. Capturing them is extremely difficult.

Therefore, until the final battle broke out, he was unable to possess a top-grade spiritual root of the five elements that could rival Xiao Fan.

"Hmph, it's fortunate that Ge Zhan, a chosen one of destiny, has never liked being kept at home, even if it means going on adventures alone. That's why I got such a good deal."

Although I really wanted to continue cultivating like this, to experience the benefits brought by the top-grade earth spiritual root, and to practice the high-grade earth attribute cultivation technique that I had acquired before but had not mastered.

However, one should enjoy life to the fullest when things are going well, lest one's fame and achievements be wasted.

Having finally caught that pretty girl Yan Lingyun, she should be awake by now.

……

Xing Moxie changed into some easy-to-remove clothes, and came to Yan Lingyun with her storage ring in hand.

The Great Sun Saintess's long, pale golden hair was spread out, like strands of smooth golden silk laid flat on a scroll. Her limbs were bound and spread out by magical artifacts, and especially when viewed from the front, her seductive movements and proud, delicate body were enough to make any man's blood boil.

Beautiful. Absolutely stunning.

Her beautiful face, noble status, and unapproachable personality are even more of a plus.

The noble Great Sun Saintess is a pinnacle existence that even ordinary disciples of immortal sects might never witness in their entire lives. Such an extraordinary woman, even if she finds a Daoist partner in the future, would never display such a vulnerable and submissive demeanor.

Now that he's tied up like this, his cultivation sealed, and placed on the bed, who can say this isn't his only chance in this lifetime?

Yan Lingyun was much more rational than Xiao Linglong. Even in this predicament, she didn't make a scene, which made Xing Moxie think even more highly of her.

Xing Moxie approached with an aggressive gaze, as if scrutinizing prey: "Pretty girl, why don't you cry a little? Don't you think I'm scary? Don't you have any idea what's going to happen next?"

Yan Lingyun glared at him, using anger to mask her fear: "Hmph. Being inferior in skill, one becomes the prey. This is common in the cultivation world, it's just that it happened to me today."

"Oh ho. This pretty girl has quite a personality." Xing Moxie and Xiao Linglong exchanged a smile.

If he hadn't been tied up, this statement might have sounded somewhat complimentary; now it just sounds like pure mockery.

Do you know where you went wrong?

Yan Lingyun looked directly at him: "Your methods are good, but tonight's plan is still superior. If you hadn't disturbed my Dao heart with those baseless lies, the outcome would have been uncertain."

Yan Lingyun had already made a self-criticism.

Was it the sudden betrayal of the Stargazing Saintess? Or the strange restriction that suddenly appeared on the Luo God Spear? Neither. It was her mindset that caused her defeat. She firmly believed this.

"Utter nonsense? Oh, you mean my relationship with Rong?"

"Shut up! You're not allowed to call her by her name!"

"What? You don't believe me? I might be your father."

"If you were my father, would you have tied me up like this?" Yan Lingyun struggled a few times, her current posture clearly designed to facilitate her filthy acts.

Unless this demon is some kind of terrifying ghost father.

She now deeply regrets how she could have listened to the demon's flawed statements and let such nonsense cloud her judgment.

"Hmm, it seems you're much more awake than before. But what about the restrictions on the Luo Divine Spear? Surely I didn't carve them there myself?"

"Hmph, who knows what methods you used. Besides, your master died by your hand. Who knows if you forced her to do something she didn't want to do before she died, like what you're doing now? Despicable and vile."

Yan Lingyun firmly believed that the restriction must have been forced upon Xuan Yuanrong by the demon lord.

Otherwise, her beloved master and mother would never have left behind such a harmful scheme to harm her.

"Your imagination is quite accurate." Xing Moxie wasn't in a hurry to explain the past, but instead moved closer again and slapped the mattress next to her face.

Even though Yan Lingyun tried her best to remain calm, she was still afraid when she felt her chastity was in danger. Instinctively, her body stiffened and she closed her eyes.

"Oh ho? So even you, my pretty little girl, can be scared." Xing Moxie playfully pinched her chin.

How could she not be afraid? Even though she was a powerful cultivator at the Fusion Realm, she was still a novice when it came to matters of love and sex.

In Yan Lingyun's future plans, the first step should be for the Great Sun Immortal Sect and the Profound Heaven Immortal Sect to formally establish a friendship relationship, and she will hand it over after she and Xiao Fan officially get married.

It should never be in a place like this, at a time like this, and the target should definitely not be this wicked demon!

She hated herself for her immaturity and for failing at the last hurdle. Her heart was bleeding.

The moment Yan Lingyun felt the hard, demonic spear pressed against the city gate, her delicate body trembled uncontrollably.

She did not answer the demon's question, but instead slightly opened her eyes, her ever-resolute and calm eyes now misty with tears.

With her last ounce of strength, she managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Young Master Xiao will definitely kill you, he will definitely avenge me..."

"How interesting. The other women are one thing. But from my observation, your heart only belongs to Xuan Yuanrong. There shouldn't be room for another Xiao Fan. What's so attractive about that kind of fool who has no charm and is involved with a bunch of women in name only?"

Yan Lingyun was furious: "I won't allow you to say that about him! You have no idea how gentle Young Master Xiao is, how much he inspires me. Only when I'm with him can I briefly find the time I spent with my master... Young Master Xiao is the man who could be my mother!"

"Pfft—" Xiao Linglong spat out a mouthful of tea.

Wait a minute? You, Yan Lingyun, I treat you like a sister-in-law, but you want to be my niece?

What an outrageous statement! Xing Moxie immediately replied to the old man's phone, "What nonsense! You're such a mama's girl, you've gone crazy! Watch me correct you properly for Rong! Hah!"

The demonic spear blasted into the city gates!

Chapter 144: 61 Injection, Memory

With her cultivation already sealed, how could Yan Lingyun withstand such a direct attack that reached her very essence?

war!

With a single blow, just one blow, Yan Lingyun didn't even have time to scream before her eyes rolled back, her delicate body arched, and her consciousness vanished.

"Ha, is that all? Great Sun Saintess, your resilience truly disappoints me. Wake up!"

Hah! Another attack, no less powerful than the previous one, blasted Yan Lingyun's consciousness back from the depths of the sky.

"what!"

This time she finally felt pain, far surpassing the pain of all the previous life-or-death battles, a pain comparable to the pain she felt upon hearing the news of Xuan Yuanrong's death!

Only at this moment did the proud Holy Maiden of the Great Sun truly recognize the fact that she had been defeated.

Her fighting spirit, her anger, her strategies, and her delusion that even when trapped in the clutches of the demon, she would still try to outmaneuver him and find a way to escape, all shattered with this decisive blow.

Her pride and nobility became sacrifices offered to the devil.

Xiao Linglong wasn't idle either; she was holding a high-grade image-recording crystal and excitedly recording videos from the sidelines.

"Haha, as expected of a top-grade image crystal, with super high resolution and super long recording time. Luckily I had the foresight, otherwise I would have missed the moment when the lofty Great Sun Saintess fell to the mortal world."

"No, no taking pictures! Move it away, move it away!" Yan Lingyun desperately turned her head away, trying not to let her face be photographed.

If the scene of her defeat to the demon were recorded, it would be a stain on her life forever, an eternal inner demon.

The more humiliated she felt, the more ecstatic Xiao Linglong became, and she held the image crystal closer and closer to her.

Xiao Linglong pounced and landed next to Yan Lingyun, whispering in her ear with a smile, "I just wanted to see this expression on your face, this disheveled, ethereal look!"

Xiao Linglong didn't like Yan Lingyun; in fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she disliked her.

It's not that they have any deep-seated hatred, they just don't get along. They used to be at odds because of their rivalry over Xiao Fan, and now that Xiao Linglong's love for him is gone, the animosity between her and Yan Lingyun remains.

"I'm going to record your true self today." Xiao Linglong held the crystal above her: "I'll make hundreds of millions of copies later and distribute them free of charge to all cultivators in the world! Hehe!"

Xing Moxie: "..."

Speechless. It's true what they say: "Teach your apprentice and you'll starve."

If you learn this way of making money, what am I supposed to do?

Forget it, let's talk about benefiting all cultivators later and focus on the attack at hand!

Yan Lingyun gritted her teeth, her hatred surging with each leap and turn. There was nothing she could do but use her killing intent and memories of Xuan Yuanrong to hold onto her last vestige of Dao heart.

Soon, she felt a surge of power accumulated from the demon lord's terrifying demonic spear about to erupt within her body.

Even Yan Lingyun knew what this meant. She suddenly snapped back to reality: "No, no! You will be punished! You will definitely be punished! You demon, I will kill you, I will definitely kill you!"

Xing Moxie smiled wickedly: "Good, very energetic. Since that's the case, then I'll be generous this time and give you something even better!"