Chapter 113: Corpse‑Killing Demon (Part One)

Currently, Wei Yuning sells mainly moon‑beast sauce to the Hundred Alliance Trade Guild, occasionally some weapons and armor in small, easy‑to‑carry quantities; each time a cold‑faced guard of the Snow Sect leader comes to collect the goods.

Around the Sun‑Hidden period, Wei Yuning finished today's cultivation.

Mei Xuan had already left Feng He Garden; midway through cultivation, the steward of Red Plum Villa came to find her, saying he needed to go to the entrance of the Half‑Mountain Annex to meet someone.

Although the person left, the lingering scenery of the Plum Snow Sublime Realm still remained; after several days of integration, Wei Yuning's plant realm Cold Winter Mode has begun to show effect, no longer requiring massive spirit energy as before. In Cold Winter Mode, the golden giant pine visualization object of the unseen‑headed divine dragon can materialize into the real plant realm.

This is the main reason Wei Yuning is so fond of Cold Winter Mode. Because this massive pine, compared with other plants in the plant realm, is almost indestructible, it can effectively solve the problem of insufficient attack power when the plant realm is overcrowded.

While Wei Yuning was deep in thought, a flash of white light streaked before him.

He opened the flying‑bird messenger; inside came Master Cheng Xin's voice with a special rhythm: "What's going on with the Cloud Hidden Sect? Why are there demonic creatures everywhere? Demon‑purifying fellow cultivator, I'm coming to the Secret Medicine Pavilion to find you!"

Wei Yuning was startled and doubtful, thinking: "Could Senior Brother Qing Yun really be true?" Last night, before transferring to a sea vessel at Black Water Port, he had received a flying‑bird messenger from Qing Yun stating that the Stabbing Demon Sect's recent condition was abnormal, showing signs of insane demonic corruption, and urging him to stay put and not go out.

He hurried to the Secret Medicine Pavilion, waiting for Cheng Xin.

In less than the time of half an incense stick, the handsome tall Master Cheng Xin swaggered in with a "model walk".

Ting Feng Pavilion is not the food‑selling Liu Yun Pavilion; after Sun‑Hidden, most shops close, and only a few phosphorescent stone lamps remain lit in the narrow streets.

Wei Yuning did not enter the Secret Medicine Pavilion, waiting at the doorway. Their meeting style was a bit like a secret rendezvous of lovers or covert agents.

"Demon‑purifying fellow cultivator!"

"Master Cheng Xin, leave here first!"

The two left Ting Feng Pavilion, went to Liu Yun Pavilion, found a restaurant, ordered some snacks casually, then entered a private room; only then did Wei Yuning relax. The restaurant, called "Cloud Comes Moon Born", is owned by a formation master from the Refining Hall; each private room is sealed with a separating formation array to prevent eavesdropping, making it popular with many merchants.

Cheng Xin looked around the room with satisfaction, sat down and sighed: "What a shock—outside the Cloud Hidden Sect's mountain gate there are at least a dozen demonic mortals; I almost thought I'd walked into a demon cave!"

"Master, what exactly is happening?" Wei Yuning asked.

"Demon‑purifying fellow cultivator, look at this!" Cheng Xin handed over a round disc, smooth, made of translucent jade, etched with strange intricate patterns.

In the northeast corner of the jade disc, a massive black cloud of mist appeared, eerily strange.

"What is this?"

"It's a Demon‑Seeking Mirror, able to detect nearby demonic creatures. However, it generally only senses within three zhang!" Cheng Xin said gravely.

Wei Yuning's face changed: "You're saying there are demonic cultivators right beside us?"

Cheng Xin shook his head, took back the Demon‑Seeking Mirror, pointed at the black mist and said: "Another possibility: within a hundred li there is a great demon lord, and it will show its direction. Think, what's in the northeast?"

Wei Yuning's face changed again: "The demon cave of Valley of Shadows!"

"Exactly! Recently I went to Black Water Temple on the south coast of Bi Yi Island, met a senior from the Ming Kong Realm sect, but unfortunately he couldn't subdue a mid‑level peak demon monster. After hearing my situation, he offered to give the benefactor a Demon‑Seeking Mirror, not to eradicate demons but hoping you can avoid this calamity," Cheng Xin said.

"What should I do now?" Wei Yuning asked.

"The Demon‑Seeking Mirror can point out the demon lord's location; if you see the black inside turn dark red, the demon lord is within ten li of you. At that moment you must flee quickly, the faster the better!" Master Cheng Xin handed the Demon‑Seeking Mirror again, speaking earnestly.

"Thank you, Master!" Wei Yuning took the mirror and thanked.

"Fine, although the benefactor's thoughts are tangled and has no affinity with my Buddha, I see your aura is all white‑gold‑green, a righteous qi; if it weren't for that, I wouldn't bother with you!" Master Cheng Xin said bluntly.

"…Master, coming this time, is there not a method to deal with the Stabbing Demon Sect at all?" Wei Yuning asked, dissatisfied.

The relationship between the Stabbing Demon Sect and the Cloud Hidden Sect is unusually complex; in a sense it is a mutually‑utilitarian relationship. Because the Stabbing Demon Sect has always been able to maintain a relatively rational relationship with the Cloud Hidden Sect's higher‑ups, even when they coveted Wei Yuning's body they still kept the promise not to enter the protective mountain formation.

But one thing is very strange: why did the Stabbing Demon Sect suddenly go mad?

If, as Qing Yun said, the Stabbing Demon Sect has already gone insane, the protective mountain formation may not be able to block its entry. At this point, Wei Yuning cannot just wait for death; he must flee.

"Benefactor, the Buddha says: 'No, no!'" Monks love to play word games.

"Alright, I'll find an inn for the Master to stay first!" Wei Yuning said.

"Benefactor, no need; if it weren't for delivering your message, I have already been exorcising demons outside the mountain gate. Time is urgent; after we finish eating we'll leave, and if luck holds we might get a few demon pearls. This trip has cost me a lot of expenses!" Master Cheng Xin said with concern.

"You're going to kill the demon lord?"

"Of course! Strictly speaking, these demonic villagers are not demon lords; they are the lowest‑grade corpse demons, lower than shadow demons. Whether I can obtain demon pearls depends on their degree of corruption, which is a matter of luck." Cheng Xin smiled lightly, as if heading to a countryside night camp.

"Great! Master, you eat here first, I'll be right back." Wei Yuning left without waiting for Cheng Xin's reply.

After about the time of one incense stick, while Master Cheng Xin was growing impatient, Wei Yuning finally returned. If no one had paid for the meal, Cheng Xin would have stopped waiting long ago.

"Master, let's go!"

"You're coming too?" Cheng Xin asked curiously.

"Yeah, you kill the demon lord, I'll film you!" Wei Yuning exclaimed excitedly.

"Film? What do you mean?" Cheng Xin touched his bald head, looking puzzled.

"I have a Retaining Image Stone; I want to capture your heroic stance while slaying the demon lord!" Wei Yuning said cheerfully. Although Master Cheng Xin is bald, he is strikingly handsome, not at all inferior to a drama lead.