Chapter 2258: Turning Harm into Treasure, the Ability of a Great State

The giant nodded, took off the sack from his shoulder, and waited for the spellcaster to disperse the wind pillar on the spot before shouting at the newly released pink mist, "Collect!"

The sack instantly burst with strong suction, gulping down the pink mist in big mouthfuls.

At most four or five breaths, the pink mist would be sucked dry.

But just then, something in the mist suddenly darted outward to avoid being sucked into the magical artifact.

Zhu Xiuer had long been waiting nearby, sharp-eyed and quick-handed, and directly snatched it with a net bag.

Everyone saw that it was also a small centipede, but pitch-black all over, inconspicuous in the night.

"You think shrinking your true form will make me unable to recognize you?" Zhu Xiuer shook the net bag, "Naive!"

This small centipede is the main body of the centipede demon; the sturdy shell is merely used to confuse enemies. Earlier, upon seeing Zhu Xiuer, it had wanted to flee, so it hid in the pink mist, waiting for the mist to dissipate so it could escape easily.

Who knew the opponent's magic was one step higher!

"Late again!" Zhu Xiuer said to the Mao Ling giant, "This is your third time being late—do you want another scolding from the Emperor?"

"No, no, don't report to the Emperor!" The Mao Ling giant shoved his axe back into his waist, waved his hands repeatedly, his rough face showing rare panic, "Next time I'll be on time, next time for sure!"

Commander Chen stepped forward and bowed: "Thank you, two, three immortals, for your help in capturing the bandit!"

"This isn't a bandit, but a great thief." Zhu Xiuer stored the wriggling cocoon against her abdomen, then turned to the approaching Sun Hongye, "Fortunately you provided the crucial clue, otherwise this scoundrel might really have escaped."

Sun Hongye asked curiously: "Upon hearing 'red eyes,' you immediately knew its true form?"

"That's a trait of the Tianwu." Zhu Xiuer said, "In Jiuyou's hand is a flute made from a Tianwu bone joint, which he blows every few days—I've seen those red eyes so often I'm tired of them."

Having guessed the thief in the warehouse was a Tianwu, Zhu Xiuer could act with purpose.

"This guy also has a nice nickname: 'Peach Blossom Immortal.' Because the poisonous mist it releases is very beautiful in daylight and its toxicity is controllable. Creatures entering the Peach Blossom Mist feel nothing at first, only collapsing into sleep after prolonged activity." The Spider Queen recited familiarly, "This fellow is quite cunning; the mist has many wonderful uses. If not for the garrison's spiritual power and formations being able to counter the Peach Mist, our battle today wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

This Tianwu is quite scheming—first using poisonous scorpions as vanguard to lure the garrison into opening the warehouse to check inventory, then taking the chance to sneak in from behind;

Upon seeing Zhu Xiuer appear, realizing it couldn't defeat the garrison + Spider Queen combo, it again hid its true form in the pink mist, preparing to flee at a moment's notice.

"When this scoundrel first entered the world, it ravaged the first two mines, committing all manner of evil, nearly eating half a mine's worth of living people. Later, realizing it was wrong, it dared not eat people again like that."

Pu Hua also asked: "What cultivation level is this Tianwu?"

"One step below immortal-demons." Zhu Xiuer said, "Whether immortal-demon or immortal, few directly emerge from ancient seclusion to the present, because so few can persist that long. Everyone chooses to emerge when spiritual energy is abundant, quickly hoarding profound crystals and various supplies, preparing for the next seclusion."

Pu Hua nodded: "The Awakening of Insects period."

"Yes, so every Awakening of Insects period, the human world sees the most accidents." How do immortals and immortal-demons hoard supplies? Of course they don't politely negotiate with people. Everyone believes in the principle that heavenly treasures and earthly riches belong to the virtuous—what's yours is mine, and what's mine remains mine.

"But in the past few Awakening of Insects periods, the human realms haven't been this strong. So when the great Tianwu demon emerged, it still tried to use its old tricks, which no longer work." Zhu Xiuer pointed to the cocoon below her abdomen, "It has been eating people and raiding mines everywhere, disturbing people's peace. The Yuan Si has thus tasked me with handling it. Well, since I've caught it, I must bring it back for interrogation."

Pu Hua immediately said: "I'll go with the Spider Immortal."

Zhu Xiuer had no objection.

Sun Hongye, listening nearby, suddenly asked: "When did this Tianwu demon appear and cause trouble?"

"About twenty days ago."

"These mines and profound crystal warehouses are quite scattered, right? In just twenty days, it managed to scout all locations and successfully rob them." Sun Hongye said, "This Tianwu is quite clever—smarter than humans."

Everyone exchanged glances, the Mao Ye giant rumbled: "You say that, and it really is clever—I couldn't have thought of that."

Its elder brother, namely the little dwarf, immediately reached out and gave it a thump on the head: "Blockhead, what they mean is that the Tianwu has accomplices behind it, not acting alone!"

"Hmm, reasonable, no wonder it's someone who used to follow Jiuyou." Zhu Xiuer glanced at Sun Hongye, "I'll interrogate it thoroughly."

After this commotion, there was still an hour and a half until dawn.

Sun Hongye hurried back to catch up on sleep.

He was also curious about the Mao Ling giant, and Pu Hua told him: this Mao Ling giant is a disaster that came down from the mountains two years ago, bringing misfortune wherever it goes. They are also outliers among the Mao Ye giants, born as conjoined twins, later separated by a master, resulting in their cultivation of the Heart-United Dao, emphasizing brotherly unity and strength that cuts gold, so he had himself reattached. Normally, the elder brother parasitizes the younger brother; in battle, they can split into two—one slow, one fast, one strong, one skillful—different combat techniques but shared intent, and can even unleash joint divine powers, making them very difficult opponents.

At that time, the Emperor and Zhu Xiuer happened to be out, passing by Mao Ling, when the Emperor personally subdued it and brought it into his service.

Over the past five years, the number of great demons and immortal-demons subdued by Cang Yan like this has not been small.

Turning harm into treasure, the ability of a great state.

The chaos at the mine naturally alarmed the town's residents; in the night, many were startled awake, most coming out to look on. Until the troops arrived to report that the rioting demon had been captured, with no excitement left to watch, people then returned home to rest.

The small tavern on the mountain cliff tonight had a customer sitting by the window drinking, drinking for two hours straight.

As a commercial town, Tong Yue Zhen having night drinkers is perfectly normal, but this customer is exceptionally handsome, making the owner reluctantly give up sleep, preferring to bear dark circles just to glance at him twice more.

In the mine, catching demons, he still sat motionless, not going out to join the fun, only occasionally glancing toward the mine direction.

But just as this commotion had just subsided, he stood up, settled the bill, and left.

Ten li east of Tong Yue Mountain's mountain road, there stands a rotting wooden house, nearly swallowed by creeping plants.

Before dawn, this ruined house saw a hat-wearing man come out, often standing by the roadside looking left and right, as if waiting for someone.

This time he came out again, the person he was waiting for didn't appear, but he saw a stranger walking along the mountain path, hands behind his back.

Calling it a mountain road is misleading—it's more like an animal trail, a path trodden by beasts, overgrown with weeds, easy to trip on. But the person approaching has a visage more beautiful than a beauty's, his green clothes though not luxurious, yet spotless.