The courtyard was quiet and secluded.
The stone tables and benches were all crafted from high-quality jade.
"This Lu family is treating you like a protective talisman."
The boy stopped in his tracks and turned his head, looking at the young girl leaning against the door frame with her eyes closed, resting her mind.
"Actually, given your situation, if you had just explained it to the Lu Clan, they wouldn't necessarily dare to harbor resentment against you... They might even still give you the Golden Body Technique. Why bother taking the fall for them?"
For no reason at all, you'll have to face an unknown number of powerful enemies coveting from the shadows.
If it's just Cultivators who come, that's one thing.
But if another demon like Demon Emperor Crimson Heaven comes... within the same realm, demons are inherently more difficult to deal with than human Cultivators, with their strange innate divine abilities.
Furthermore.
Even if you win.
Aside from a pile of carcass and flesh, how is that as profitable as killing people and looting their goods?
Not all demons carry several Magic Treasures with them like Demon Emperor Crimson Heaven... Jiang Yuechu slowly opened her eyes, her expression calm.
"Why not block it?"
To others, slaying demons is a thankless task that requires great effort.
But to Jiang Yuechu... demons have long Lifespans, and their Dao Cultivation is far beyond what human Cultivators can compare to.
What's more, those demon souls can be confined within her body and refined with the Great Black Heaven Body Forging Scripture, and their demonic essence can be absorbed through the Myriad Demon Swallowing Heaven Method.
She wished that all who came were demons.
Like those human Cultivators... even if killed, an Ascending the Tower stage only has a thousand years of Dao Cultivation... it's not as cost-effective as a single demon in the Dianmo Realm.
Thinking of this.
Jiang Yuechu shook her head, her voice cold: "I came here seeking the technique, and since the Lu family is so tactful, it's not out of the question to help them guard for a few days."
Wang Ziyu finally sighed upon hearing this.
After so many days.
He had long since understood that this girl was very strong-willed; once she made a decision, it was useless for others to say more.
He stopped speaking and simply found a stone bench to sit on, focusing his mind and spirit, unsure of what he was thinking.
Beside them, Running Ox had heard their conversation loud and clear.
He muttered to himself.
This little Daoist isn't even as smart as I am... he probably still hasn't figured it out.
He could see it clearly.
This Jinx—how was she being used as a protective talisman?
She was clearly enjoying herself.
Taking advantage of this rare moment of peace.
After some thought, Jiang Yuechu finally took out several Magic Treasures she had obtained from Demon Emperor Crimson Heaven from the hanxu bag at her waist and placed them on the stone table.
A golden seal and nine Flying Swords.
Without their master's activation, their radiance was restrained, looking no different from ordinary objects.
"You are well-traveled and knowledgeable. Take a look at these two items and see where they come from."
Jiang Yuechu glanced at the boy sitting upright beside her.
Her thinking was simple.
She knew nothing about Magic Treasures.
While this old fellow was still around, having him take a look was better than fumbling in the dark... If they were useful, she'd keep them; if not, she might as well melt them down.
Wang Ziyu opened his eyes and reached out somewhat impatiently to pick them up.
He thought they were just ordinary Magic Treasures, nothing worth noting.
But when a Flying Sword entered his hand and his fingertips brushed over the fine patterns on the blade.
The impatience on the boy's face gradually froze.
He turned the Flying Sword over, brought it close to his eyes, and examined it meticulously.
His brows furrowed tighter and tighter.
"Something's not right..."
Wang Ziyu muttered to himself and then beckoned the golden seal into his hand.
He turned it over and over, examining it for a long while.
The expression on his face shifted from initial confusion to solemnity.
Finally, it even held a faint trace of shock and suspicion.
"This style... this is the handiwork of a Grotto-Heaven..."
Having said that.
He suddenly looked up at Running Ox, who was still looking around.
"Is your Ten Thousand Demon Great Marsh so bold now? You even dare to strike at people from a Grotto-Heaven?"
"Moo?!"
Running Ox was startled by the sudden questioning and hurriedly waved his hands, his black face turning a liverish purple.
"Little Daoist, you can't just talk nonsense... Our Lord established rules long ago. The demons of the Great Marsh are most wary of conflicting with Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands. Usually, unless there's a reason, they won't even step half a foot out of the Great Marsh's territory."
"Even if people from a Grotto-Heaven come knocking, we try to persuade them and send them off with kind words. Only when there's no other choice are we allowed to fight back..."
At this point.
Running Ox's face also showed helplessness.
But for some reason, the Lord hasn't shown his face in years... Nowadays, those Great Demon Emperors probably haven't cared about these rules for a long time... Wang Ziyu curled his lip, looking disdainful.
"Why are you being so evasive? So what if it's someone from a Grotto-Heaven? This item doesn't belong to my Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven, so why would I stand up for others?"
Hearing this, Running Ox gave a sheepish smile and didn't dare say more.
Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow. Ignoring the black ox, she turned her gaze to the boy.
"Which Dao Lineage? Can you recognize it?"
Wang Ziyu nodded, picking up the dull Flying Sword again and lightly running his fingertip along the spine of the blade.
"The blade is heavy, and its spiritual resonance is restrained. If I'm not mistaken..."
The boy narrowed his eyes, his tone certain.
"It should be from the Zhenxing Hanhong lineage."
"This lineage is ranked among the Twenty-Five Orthodoxies, and its dojo is far away in the central region of the Eastern Domain. Logically, its Disciples should never appear here on the edge of the Great Marsh..."
At this point, a sneer appeared on Wang Ziyu's face.
"That beast probably also knew their Dao Lineage was far away and beyond their reach, which is why it dared to strike so boldly, killing and looting."
He tossed the Flying Sword back onto the table, looked at the calm young girl, and said in a low voice.
"However, if you intend to use this, you should be extra careful."
"Although Cultivators of the Hanhong lineage rarely appear here, if word gets to them, they might just make a special trip."
"Even if you seized it from a demon, using it so recklessly would still be a provocation to the Grotto-Heaven."
Hearing this.
Jiang Yuechu curled her lip.
They weren't strong enough and got killed, and now that their things are out in the world, others aren't allowed to use them?
Truly stingy.
Still, having risks is always a hassle.
Thinking of this, the girl had already reached a decision.
In that case, it would be better to just melt them into her body and be done with it once and for all.
Just as she was about to find a quiet room to carefully plan her future course of action.
Outside the courtyard, a Disciple of the Lu Clan suddenly approached with hurried steps.
The Disciple did not dare to enter the courtyard, only bowing outside the gate, his respectful expression tinged with hesitation.
"Miss, there is a Cultivator who insists on meeting you."
"We were going to drive him away, but he said... he said he knows you, and... and has agreed to your conditions."
Since she was a distinguished guest of the Lu family, they didn't dare to take the initiative and let unknown people in to disturb her.
As the words fell.
Wang Ziyu's brow furrowed.
That Pill Cultivator who ran the stall!
Agreed to the conditions? Doesn't that mean... Wang Ziyu's heart skipped a beat.
With this girl's temper, is she really going to take a trip to that Spiritual Mountain?!
No!
This absolutely cannot happen!
Just as he was about to speak up and dissuade her.
He saw the figure in black robes just calmly lift her eyelids.
"Let him in."