Chapter 95: Hell in the Pot (Part 4): The Colossal Beast Part 2

Mu Qian Tan seemed oblivious to these abnormalities, her back straight and proper. She said flatly, “I heard this place was lively and came to play around casually. I didn’t plan to do anything, yet I still disturbed you.”

A calculating glint appeared in Qi Xiaoxiao’s three eyes. “For a noble guest like an immortal, This Venerable would insist on inviting you up. It wouldn’t do to let you feel slighted. But the title Immortal Wang Lan sounds so unfamiliar—dare I ask which immortal sect you hail from?”

Normally, those who had touched the threshold of cultivation were called little immortals, immortals, or immortal maidens, but the standard for “upper immortal” was very high. Those bearing the title were generally top names in the Immortal Realm. For example, mentioning Ximeng Immortal meant Tianyu Sect’s leader Panxiang Yin; mentioning Yao’e Immortal meant the infamous hall master of Azure Palace, Mu Qian Tan. Just the name told who and from where.

But Immortal Wang Lan was extremely unfamiliar—who was she? Unknown!

This name was something Mu Qian Tan had made up on the spot, so naturally it didn’t exist. She said, “Just a lone cultivator, no sect affiliation. Friends call me upper immortal out of courtesy.”

The corner of Xiaoxian’s lips hooked faintly, intentionally or not. “Is that so.”

Mu Qian Tan stared back without politeness. “Yes.”

Xiaoxian shifted into a more comfortable position, gold coins clattering down from under her feet. “Don’t blame This Venerable for wanting clarity. Many upper immortals are powerful but unreasonable. This Venerable worries about unpleasant incidents, so better to guard against them beforehand.”

The “many upper immortals” probably referred to Panxiang Yin and Qin Shuang, who had come demanding answers over the Original Host’s infant village incident. Mu Qian Tan originally thought it wasn’t strange for the Original Host to do such a thing, but seeing this Xiaoxian’s guardedness toward other upper immortals, there was likely more to the story.

Qi Xiaoxiao gazed at her, her slender fingers tapping the rim of her teacup one by one. Mu Qian Tan heard an extremely faint clink. Her eyes slid downward—it was a small crack at the base of the teacup before her.

Her expression unchanged, she also lifted her hand to grip the teacup, pressing with spiritual power to stop the crack from widening further. But she felt an explosive force bursting outward from within. She applied more spiritual power to suppress it, the two forces clashing.

This was Qi Xiaoxiao secretly testing her strength.

She knew it, but the others didn’t—they only saw her holding the cup without drinking. Shang Shan had been parched with thirst since earlier, so she picked up her teacup too. Seeing this, Tan Que pinched a pastry from the dish to eat. Mu Qian Tan said, “The mouth that eats another’s food is short, the hand that receives is weak. Haven’t I taught you not to casually accept others’ things? Easy to eat, hard to return the favor.”

The pastry dropped from Tan Que’s hand in fright, and Shang Shan immediately set down her tea. Both knew full well that Yao’e Immortal had never taught them, but they still tacitly refrained from moving.

Who knew what was added inside? Without even this bit of caution. Mu Qian Tan cursed inwardly and poured more spiritual power into her hand.

The two forces continued vying. Whether Qi Xiaoxiao had gauged her strength or not, Mu Qian Tan had measured this Pot Immortal’s. As the final mortal-side dungeon for the protagonists, though it bore the immortal label and had some power, it was truly no match compared to her, an upper immortal.

With that in mind, Mu Qian Tan yielded a step, pretending her stamina faltered. The teacup exploded in her palm, water splashing everywhere—wetting her front and face, with a few crystalline droplets hanging on her lashes, adding a touch of jade-like allure.

The two beside her were also startled. Tan Que protected Lingdang’s soul and flew into the sky, while Shang Shan anxiously grabbed the woman’s hand that held the teacup, checking if her palm had been cut by the fragments. Mu Qian Tan closed her fingers and flicked her hand away. She raised her gaze and said, “The water was a bit too hot.”

She put down the fishhook, letting the fish think it could eat the bait without harm. Once the fish struck and revealed its weakness, she could capture it instead. This way, she could seize their so-called gods right in front of the loyal citizens of Pot City.

Qi Xiaoxiao instructed, “Give her a new cup.”

Several little immortals hurried over. Some swept up the fragments, some placed a cup, and some poured tea. Soon, only a cup of steaming tea remained on the table.

It was still hot.

As if the threat had been eliminated, Qi Xiaoxiao visibly relaxed. She turned to the side and said, “That little immortal, you used a protective talisman to summon this venerable, claiming you wanted to help with demon exorcism, but it was just a summon evil array you drew yourself. What is the meaning of this? Do you have other matters to discuss with this venerable?”

Mu Qian Tan turned her head to look at Shang Shan.

This mysterious pot immortal was merely afraid that some force capable of challenging her had arrived in Pot City, so she invited them up to test the waters. Her other goal was that fine porcelain bottle.

Shang Shan felt it through her sleeve. After a long moment, she finally asked, “Have you lost something?”

Qi Xiaoxiao said, “Oh? That depends on what it is.”

Shang Shan said, “A fragment…”

A fragment of soul, but her mouth seemed sealed; she couldn’t utter the words. Her mind kept flashing to the moment the clay little demons were instantly killed. Demons born from clay belonged to living instruments and were extremely difficult to achieve the righteous fruit, yet they had perished just like that… And this was because of her.

Moreover, this Xiao Xian gave her a very bad feeling. Shang Shan didn’t want to mention that a ghost resembling her was wandering the mortal world. As she hesitated, she sensed the bottle in her hand trembling—not with excitement, but with… fear!

No!

Shang Shan decisively tucked the bottle away and asked, “I want to know, where did those little demons I summoned with the summon evil array come from?”

She kept asking this question, her intuition telling her it was crucial. It felt like getting the so-called correct answer would untangle her chaotic thoughts.

Qi Xiaoxiao said, “Dingxiang should have already answered you.”

Shang Shan said, “No, there is no hell.”

Qi Xiaoxiao asked, “Why are you so certain there isn’t? Have you seen it?”

“No.”

“Then why deny the existence of something you haven’t seen and don’t understand?”

Shang Shan choked for a moment. “My intuition.”

Qi Xiaoxiao sighed like an elder. “Only children say such things. Besides, who cares where demons come from?”

Shang Shan said, “No one cares?”

Qi Xiaoxiao said, “Of course. An enemy is an enemy. There’s no need for extra concern; just eliminate them.”

Shang Shan stood up. “What if they are good demons?”

Qi Xiaoxiao smiled, but it was somewhat chilling. “There are no good demons. All demons are guilty.”

Shang Shan said, “But there are bad immortals among immortals. Why can’t there be good demons among demons? And in this world, humans harm each other far more anyway.”

To be precise, the disasters the Porcelain Pot Three Venerables brought to the people of Pot City were far heavier than those from mere demons!

Qi Xiaoxiao fell silent for a moment before asking, “What are you trying to say?”

Shang Shan didn’t even know what she wanted to say. She paused, unable to sort out her thoughts, feeling a splitting headache. Mu Qian Tan also stood up, patted the dampness from her clothes with the back of her hand, and cupped her hands. “Thank you for the invitation, Xiao Xian. We still have companions below. We’ve been out too long; they’ll worry if we don’t return.”

The six-foot hole at their feet and the sky above had already darkened. It was time to go back.

Qi Xiaoxiao’s gaze lingered on Shang Shan’s sleeve, as if she had seen the fine porcelain bottle there, but she merely said to the side, “Send the immortal guests back.”

Dingxiang acknowledged the order and led them back the same way she had brought them, obeying Qi Xiaoxiao’s every word.

Night deepened. After sending them off, Dingxiang returned through the formation. Shang Shan was still dazed. Mu Qian Tan took out a square cloth to wipe the water droplets from her face, glanced at the stone stele, and turned. “Let’s go, back to Playdream Pavilion.”

They descended the mountain and returned to their room. After running around all day, they were all quite exhausted. Mu Qian Tan sat on the edge of the bed for a bit, then leaned against the headboard to rest her mind. She knew the night was far from over and there was still much to do, so she could only seize this moment to rest.

Shang Shan sat on the floor and took out the small porcelain bottle. “Don’t worry. I will definitely help you find your friend. It’s just that we’ve run into some issues right now. Let me sort it out.”

Little Baldy said, “I don’t even know what to say. Thank you so much.”

Shang Shan smiled. “No need! It’s fine.”

After saying that, she fell silent, took out the broken clay shard, and planned to recover her energy tomorrow before drawing the formation again. Perhaps she could summon other clay little demons. Since she couldn’t get answers, she would protect the little demons while trying to figure it out herself.

She gripped the broken clay shard tightly and suddenly recalled the strange emotion that had flowed from the lone eye of the little demon yesterday when Little Immortal had captured it. Shang Shan hadn’t noticed it then, but now she felt that it had something to say.

Tan Que was so tired she lay on the floor unwilling to move. The three of them and one soul rested quietly for a while when a knock sounded at the door.

Shang Shan opened the door. It was Qiu Shui. She carried two full trays of snacks and fruit, her small face gentle. “You’re finally back. I knocked three times.”

Shang Shan pulled the door open wider, took the trays, and felt her empty stomach growl. This was a godsend. She thanked her repeatedly. “Thank you so much! Come in, Sister Qiu. Let’s eat together.”

Qiu Shui said, “No need, you all…”

Before she finished speaking, she abruptly stopped, as if hearing something amiss. Everyone inside the room became alert at the same time.

The sound grew louder—earth-shaking tremors, screams, roars, the floor vibrating beneath their feet.

Shang Shan twitched her ears, her face turning solemn. She carefully set down the trays and rushed to the window, flinging it open. She saw a colossal giant beast, wider than the street, charging from the end of the street with a roar!