Chapter 452: Two Old Foxes and One Big Sucker

Since following Shen Yi, Zhang Laifu's fighting style had, more or less, been influenced by his master.

The instant the catfish was split open by the palm-blade.

It plunged its head straight into the catfish's body, fished out a demon core, and stared at its master with wide eyes as if waiting for praise.

"…"

Shen Yi hurriedly adjusted his breathing, forcibly suppressing the corrosion of the pill-poison.

Even the fingertips hidden within his sleeves trembled slightly.

He cast a helpless glance at Zhang Laifu.

After all, it was used to swallowing demon cores whole. Although he knew this thing had been transformed from the suppression stone, pulling a demon core out of a dog's mouth was still a bit much for him psychologically.

"Let's head back."

Shen Yi took the demon core and tucked both it and the corpse into the thumb-ring within his sleeve.

Only then did he descend toward the ground below.

The golden flames covering his body dispersed and faded, streaming back into the Golden Phoenix within him.

He raised his gaze toward Tucheng.

He saw that Zhang Laifu had already neatly arranged the remaining three aquatic corpses.

After several bouts of fighting, his methods had clearly improved.

But then again, considering his realm was close to the fifth layer of Return-to-Void… it seemed fairly normal. It was just that he had always been so slow and sloppy before, making the contrast all the more striking.

He collected those three corpses as well, casually.

Shen Yi strode toward Tucheng.

"Ah…"

Lady Baohua Xianzi parted her lips slightly, staring dazedly at the figure walking toward her.

She had actually seen many powerful cultivators take action. Within her sect there were plenty of elders and senior brothers whose cultivation far surpassed hers, but when they cast their arts, they usually maintained a refined, gentlemanly style, stopping at just the right point.

Someone like Shen Yi—so clean and decisive, so steeped in bloody slaughter—was a first for her.

When that skyful of golden flames had scattered.

The killing aura on the young man had vanished in an instant, without a trace, and he had returned to that quiet, gentle appearance from before.

"The item."

It was only when Shen Yi extended his palm toward her.

That Lady Baohua Xianzi came back to her senses, and said somewhat sheepishly, "Thank you, for helping me keep my secret."

Even in a situation like the one just now, Shen Yi had never spoken the name "Lady Baohua Dan" aloud—he had clearly seen what she was worried about.

He looked so quiet and unassuming, yet his thoughts were so considerate and delicate.

"I didn't bring it with me when I left. I'll give it to you once I'm back at the sect. Trust me!"

As she spoke, she seemed to come to some decision, and brought her red lips close to Shen Yi's ear: "I'm from Baohua Sect's Xian…"

Before she could finish, a long, slender hand had already pressed against her face and pushed her away without mercy.

"Not interested. I only want the pill."

Shen Yi glanced at her indifferently. Some things were best left understood without being said; listening to everything would only bring unnecessary trouble.

A famous figure like this was like cow dung in a swarm of flies.

Getting close carelessly would do nothing but leave a stink on one's hands.

"I know…"

Lady Baohua Xianzi drooped her arms dejectedly, and said helplessly, "I just wanted to tell you—could you help me think of a way? You look like you have plenty of experience."

"I don't want to watch them die, but I don't dare cause trouble for my master either."

"She's been very good to me, and she's a lonely old woman with no family. At her age, I can't very well drag her out to fight others again."

Clearly, even with her scant experience, she had roughly grasped how complicated the situation here was.

There were actually Return-to-Void mid-stage aquatic demons eyeing Xiao Family Fortress.

Yet they hadn't seized the chance while Baohua Sect was still reacting to wipe them out in one stroke.

Surrounding without slaughtering.

It was more as if they had received some order, stationed at Xiao Family Fortress, guarding something.

But these aquatic demons bore no clear identifying marks.

The unknown was all the more worrying.

"I-I've got a way!"

Just then, a cushion came staggering back through the air.

Zhang Ye leapt down from the air, first casting Shen Yi a fearful yet admiring glance, before turning his gaze toward the Baohua Sect fairy.

"Senior Bicui, what you actually want is just to save people—you're not really going up against them head-on. I can find a place to relocate these people for you, it's just that the price is a bit steep."

"That's not a problem." Lady Baohua Xianzi's face brightened.

As the future heir of the Sect Master, a half-step into late-stage Return-to-Void cultivator, what she lacked least was heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

"Aside from the price, you'll also have to wipe out the aquatic demons stationed here under the guise of a loose cultivator. The job has to be clean!" Zhang Ye was greedy for money, but he also feared death.

Had he not witnessed Shen Yi's strength and methods, he would never have come wading into this muddy water.

Hearing this, Lady Baohua Xianzi froze for a moment, then turned her teary eyes toward Shen Yi, and said in a soft, wheedling voice: "Daoist Brother Shen… this little sister still has one more…"

"Anyone above the realm I just fought, I won't take them on."

Shen Yi couldn't even be bothered to look at her, and said flatly: "Same price as before, but you can substitute other heavenly materials and earthly treasures."

Hearing this, Lady Baohua Xianzi's little face went pale.

She did have a decent amount of personal wealth, but no matter how you looked at it, she was still just a personal disciple.

She hesitated for an instant, then clenched her teeth tightly: "Mm!"

She added quickly: "If there's anything you can't handle, I'll take care of it—you just run for your life."

Worrying about causing trouble for her master was one thing, but she was still a Baohua Xianzi… if all else failed, she could go to Yu Nanhong's Seven Sons and plead for mercy—who didn't have a powerful ally behind them?

The elders of Tianjian Sect adored her.

They had always wanted to introduce her to their disciples.

Either way, the words were already out—no matter how impossible it might be.

"I'll take care of it right away, Young Master."

Hearing this, Master Zhang appeared tense, but inside he was overjoyed, barely holding back a laugh.

Indeed! It really was her!

It was like a pie falling from the sky—just stepping out for a walk, and he stumbled upon the future greatest patron of the Baohua Sect.

Judging by the other's nervous demeanor, it was clearly due to inexperience.

Even Master Zhang could tell: the aquatic forces here might be powerful, but they had some urgent reason preventing them from appearing in person.

With Baohua Xianzi here, today may not be as dangerous as it seemed.

Thinking of this, he glanced at Shen Yi beside him—his expression was calm, as if he understood nothing at all.

Hmm, only Shen Qianbei could do this—his business acumen was something I'd spend a lifetime learning.

"…"

Shen Yi stepped away from the two and headed toward Tucheng.

He silently counted his gains.

Adding the two Dragon Palace aquatic beings he had slain on the boat, there were two Return Void Layer Two, four Return Void Layer Three, and one Return Void Layer Four—totaling 320,000 years—and over a dozen Transformation of Spirit Realm beings.

Together, they yielded a terrifying 570,000 years of demonic lifespan.

【Remaining demonic lifespan: 756,000 years】

Even if all were condensed into third-rank or higher Town Stones, accounting for average consumption of demonic essence, it would be enough for exactly ten.

The most absurd part was that, so far, he had not drawn a single bit of trouble upon himself.

Someone else was delivering heavenly treasures while shouldering all responsibility—and was ready to step in and cover his back at any moment.

I must admit, cultivators from the outside are quite impressive.

(End of Chapter)