Chapter 9: Smashing the Demon

New moon night, outside Luofu City at the Demon Well.

Dark clouds surged like tides, and mist from all directions rolled in like galloping horses, enveloping the wilderness in the blink of an eye.

The sky brimmed with roiling black clouds, oppressively overcast. Bolts of lightning danced within them like frenzied golden serpents, dazzling the eyes.

A few breaths later, a massive thunderbolt crashed down, its rumbling roar shaking the heavens.

Under the glare of that thunderous lightning, a torrent of demonic energy erupted from the ancient well.

One black and one yellow strand of long smoke shot out from the well. The moment they hit the ground, they swelled violently, instantly transforming into an ugly, grotesque Double-Headed Giant Demon.

A “Jie jie” cackle seeped through the thunderous booms. The giant demon sucked in a sharp breath, its ghostly fire-like gaze locking onto Luofu Immortal City, brimming with vitality—prime bloodfood for it—

But before the giant demon could take a step, a brilliant azure sword beam streaked out. The sword shadow coiled like a massive kun fish, instantly generating a swirling torrent. Amid the watery glow, countless silver rays burst forth like lightning, slicing off one of the giant demon’s heads in a flash.

The giant demon let out a shrill roar, its eerie eyes fixing tightly on the two figures emerging from the mist.

Zhan Yujie led the way.

Yan Zhichuan followed behind.

Sword light splashed about, and Yan Zhichuan yelped before instinctively ducking behind Zhan Yujie.

She had studied knowledge about the Demon Sect back at the sect. Those who fell to demonic paths sometimes retained human form, while others abandoned their shells to become demon creatures. The Double-Headed Giant Demon before them was one such demon creature.

Zhan Yujie remained utterly composed.

This trip down the mountain hardly counted as true training. The demon had been sealed for centuries, its realm fallen to Golden Core, its strength drained by the formation array. Dealing with it was effortless.

Its roar was chilling, sure—but it could only frighten the ignorant.

Even while battling the giant demon, Zhan Yujie had the leisure to glance at Yan Zhichuan.

Good. Not scared enough to close her eyes. She can still be of use.

The splashing sword qi mercilessly sheared off the giant demon’s head and limbs, leaving only a bleeding, pillar-like torso that writhed and rolled on the ground like a squirming meat tumor.

Yan Zhichuan wasn’t really afraid.

But it was disgusting.

Why doesn’t Sis just finish it with one sword? Let’s wrap this up and leave already.

Just as Yan Zhichuan could barely hold back from urging her on, Zhan Yujie’s voice rang out.

“Junior Sister Yan, go. Use Cauldron Art: Smash.”

Yan Zhichuan stared at her in a daze.

Zhan Yujie gave her a push.

Even on the brink of death, the giant demon fixated on bloodfood. Seeing the utterly powerless Yan Zhichuan, it couldn’t suppress the savagery deep in its soul. Limbless as it was, it rolled furiously toward her.

Yan Zhichuan: “!”

The Heavenly Dao System flapped its wings rapidly, shifting to a better vantage point to spectate.

It stole a glance at Zhan Yujie’s status: still “Benevolent.” Excellent. The Bodhisattva must be tempering Yan Zhichuan.

Surely not personal revenge?

Yan Zhichuan: “Ahhh?!”

Her legs couldn’t match the speed of that meat tumor’s rolling. Every time she tried to flee back to Zhan Yujie’s side, sword qi shoved her away.

All I wanted was to complete the task. Why the sacrifice?

Grief welled up from Yan Zhichuan’s heart, and with it came strength.

She swung the Medicine God Cauldron in her hands, smashing wildly at the bloodied, mangled giant demon.

A long while later, Zhan Yujie’s voice came: “Enough.”

The giant demon was deader than dead.

Yan Zhichuan flung the Medicine God Cauldron aside. Her mind had been poisoned; everything she saw was blood-red.

Once her vision cleared, she lunged at the only other person nearby, wiping filthy blood on Zhan Yujie’s robes while sobbing “Wuwuwu.”

A vein throbbed on Zhan Yujie’s forehead, but she didn’t yank her leg free from Yan Zhichuan’s grasp.

She raised a hand; her dharma sword hummed.

A few breaths later, she forced the drawn sword back into its sheath.

Bending down, she grabbed Yan Zhichuan by the collar and hauled her up.

A faint smile, light as a breeze, played at her lips. “How was it?”

Yan Zhichuan’s eyes were vacant.

“Xiao Tian, did she fall to the demonic path?” she thought.

Fall to the demonic path? This is punishing evil and upholding justice! The Heavenly Dao System gloated gleefully. “Nope, she’s still plenty benevolent.”

Yan Zhichuan gathered her wits, mentally tallying up a grudge.

She cast the Cleansing Body Incantation, sweeping away the filth from the demon creature. Looking up at the smiling Zhan Yujie, she bluffed stubbornly: “A mere demon creature. Nothing special.”

She glanced at the demon again.

Yan Zhichuan still wanted to retch.

She turned to Zhan Yujie. “Heading back to Nine Abyss?”

She had originally planned to borrow Zhan Yujie’s protection to tour all of Luofu Immortal City.

But she had no Pill Jade, and Zhan Yujie was terrifying. Better to return to the sect early for safety.

As for the Heavenly Dao System’s task? They hadn’t run into it this time. Next time, then.

Zhan Yujie said: “Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll head to Jade Dragon Canyon for some stone.”

Jade Dragon Canyon lay east of Luofu Immortal City—a detour on the way.

“For stones? Forging a sword?” Yan Zhichuan asked curiously.

Zhan Yujie’s dharma sword was a spirit treasure called Dao Is Not Outside the Body, one that grew with her cultivation.

Zhan Yujie replied flatly: “Liu Yanqing needs it.”

Yan Zhichuan went on alert!

She wanted to slack off, but Liu Yanqing’s shadow loomed again. Inescapable?

Liu Yanqing was already in Luofu Immortal City—why not mine it herself? There must be a scheme.

“Xiao Tian!” Yan Zhichuan called the system.

The Heavenly Dao System rummaged around. “There’s a natural Blessed Land beneath Jade Dragon Canyon, dense with Yuan Qi that suppresses Dao arts. While Zhan Yujie gathers stones there, Zhu Feng will cry for help from the cave, luring her in.”

Two lone women trapped in an inescapable secret realm— Yan Zhichuan shivered. Zhan Yujie’s purity was in peril.

Best not to go, but per the system, they’d circle back to that pivotal node eventually—maybe even more dangerously. Better to unblock than dam the flow.

“But if I tag along, won’t I fall into the cave too? What about my purity?” Yan Zhichuan asked.

The Shennong Hundred Medicines Scripture has a Foundation Establishment Stage Dao Pill called Ladder Cloud Pill. Take it, and you can leap three meters high without using spiritual power.

There’s also Impurity-Breaking Pill to dispel the effects of aphrodisiacs like Harmony Powder.

Yan Zhichuan: “…” So I’m all mapped out?

No Dao script lesson tonight? Straight to the Silent Land to learn those recipes?

Yan Zhichuan frowned miserably. “But we have no money.”

What then? She couldn’t even take pills out from the system space.

Buying herbs cost money!

The Heavenly Dao System was helpless: “Figure it out yourself.”

Yan Zhichuan rubbed her eyes.

She glanced at Zhan Yujie meditating on a rock. Who am I working this hard for? Tomorrow, maxing out her reputation meter should be fine, right?

The next day, dawn broke in the east.

Yan Zhichuan opened her eyes amid the whistling of swords.

Graceful as a startled swan, lithe as a soaring dragon.

Disturbing my sleep? Grudge noted!

Her grudge from last night burned brighter with her ears disturbed. Yan Zhichuan felt utterly justified.

“Senior Sister, I want to hit Luofu Immortal City to buy some herbs.”

Zhan Yujie eyed Yan Zhichuan and said, “Sure.”

Like gathering stones, escorting Yan Zhichuan to a pill shop was no trouble; she wouldn’t refuse.

The pill shop had opened early, but business was dead—only a few sparrows chirping away.

Yan Zhichuan haggled with the shopkeeper while Zhan Yujie waited outside, sword in arms.

About the time it took to burn one incense stick later, Yan Zhichuan emerged beaming.

Zhan Yujie’s reputation was handy.

When she mentioned buying on credit, the shopkeeper’s face turned ass-long.

But at “Nine Abyss Sect’s Zhan Yujie,” he beamed and even tossed in extra herbs.

“Ready to go?” Zhan Yujie asked.

Yan Zhichuan nodded, delightedly trailing behind her.

She’d refine pills while Zhan Yujie dug stones. Before leaving, her masters had enhanced the Medicine God Cauldron to mask the Dao Pill manifestation phenomena.

“Junior Sister, got any more Pill Jade?” Zhan Yujie asked again.

She’d heard Yan Zhichuan always beelined for bookshops in towns. Not this time?

The demon was handled; a bit of whimsy from her junior sister was fine.

Yan Zhichuan coughed.

She looked at Zhan Yujie sheepishly, eyes sparkling innocently. “Senior Sister Zhan, I bought on your tab. You… don’t mind, right?”

Better to invest in herself than let a white-eyed wolf have it.

As the Heavenly Dao’s daughter, she’d be rich and noble someday. She’d have meat; Senior Sister Zhan would get hot soup!

Zhan Yujie stiffened, hand instinctively pressing her sword hilt.

Junior sister from the same sect. Can’t kill her.

She exhaled sharply, feigning calm. “I don’t mind.”