Chapter 2377: The Aloof Sword Cultivator and His Natal Sword Spirit 21

In front of the main hall of No-come Peak.

Ling Xu True Person's face was flushed with red light; he personally welcomed Liu Qingcheng back.

At this moment, Liu Qingcheng bore no resemblance to his sorry state on Reflection Cliff; his visage shone with vitality.

Yet Yun Che, standing at his side, sent a shock through everyone who saw him.

After only a few days apart, this once majestic senior brother seemed to have had his essence drained; his whole body exuded listlessness and weakness.

His once clear gaze grew cloudy, as if veiled by an inescapable gloom.

Jin Chen stood half a step behind Xie Qingmo, taking in all of this.

He leaned slightly, bringing his mouth to Xie Qingmo's ear, whispering with a breath only the two could hear.

"Xie Qingmo, do you know the dual‑cultivation evil art that uses a person as a cauldron?"

Xie Qingmo nodded, his gaze turning to Yun Che, his brow slightly furrowed.

Jin Chen, unable to hide his schadenfreude, said, "Your senior brother is about to be sucked dry."

Xing Yan and the others also noticed Yun Che's abnormality.

Xing Yan's eyes were full of fear, Lan Yi covered her mouth in disbelief, and Shi Yan's face showed honest worry and confusion.

They tried to step forward to show concern, but were rebuffed by Yun Che's cloudy, impatient gaze.

"Senior brother," Xie Qingmo said, "your condition is not good."

"It's just… I've been training too diligently lately; I'm a bit tired."

Yun Che's voice was dry and hoarse, carrying an irrepressible weariness as he looked at Xie Qingmo.

"Qingmo, Qingcheng… has received heavy punishment, and now has gained an immortal affinity, which is a blessing for the sect. You… do not always target him."

He completely forgot his own dire state at the moment, and also forgot Liu Qingcheng's previous killing intent toward Xie Qingmo.

Jin Chen's gaze swept over, and he said, "You say that again?"

Yun Che choked, not daring to speak further.

Xie Qingmo silently watched Yun Che, watching the unfamiliar cloudiness and blinded obstinacy in his eyes.

In those clear, cold eyes, the affection for his fellow sect brother ultimately sank into silence.

He let out a barely audible sigh, "……"

Forget it.

Rotten wood cannot be carved; a deep illness cannot be cured.

This last time, he has given a chance.

Xie Qingmo turned, his gaze sweeping over the worried junior brothers and sisters behind him, and said, "You, follow me."

Behind No-come Peak, in a secluded spot.

"Liu Qingcheng," Xie Qingmo got straight to the point, "there is something abnormal about him."

"Not only does he have the ability to bewitch hearts and minds, he can also… secretly draw others' spiritual power and cultivation, making it his own."

Xing Yan, hearing this, was shocked to the point of gritting his teeth, "It's… no wonder, I used to feel as if my heart was bewitched by a ghost! Whenever I got near him, I felt uneasy, yet I never thought deeply about it."

He recalled his past blind protection of Liu Qingcheng and his gradually weakening body, and felt a chill.

Lan Yi's face turned pale, and she anxiously asked, "Then… what about the senior brother?"

Shi Yan scratched his head, honest and slightly confused, and said, "…I think, senior brother, he seems rather… willing?"

Jin Chen agreed, "That is absolutely correct."

Yun Che's infatuated, obedient demeanor doesn't look like he's being forced.

Xing Yan thought of a more terrifying possibility, "…then… what about the master?"

Ling Xu True Person's unprincipled favoritism and protection of Liu Qingcheng, upon reflection now…

Thinking about it carefully is extremely terrifying.

Xie Qingmo silently rubbed his forehead.

Everyone: "……"

Jin Chen leaned lazily against the pillar beside him, upon hearing this full of schadenfreude, he spoke lazily, his words not shocking enough to die.

"What else can be done? Congratulations to you all."

"Congratulations for what?" Xing Yan wondered.

Jin Chen: "Having both a senior sister-in-law and a mistress at the same time."

Xie Qingmo closed his eyes.

Lan Yi, anxious to the point of desperation, said, "We must think of a way; we cannot let Liu Qingcheng continue to wreak havoc like this, or… we should go report to the Sect Leader?"

Xie Qingmo shook his head, his gaze calm, and said, "The Sect Leader already made an exception due to the immortal affinity; based merely on speculation, without evidence, it's hard to be believed."

"Moreover, Liu Qingcheng's methods are strange; acting rashly might startle the snake."

He pondered briefly, "Go to the Scripture Pavilion. Look through all records concerning forbidden arts, cauldron evil techniques, etc. Xing Yan, you have personal experience of spiritual power loss; come with me and Jin Chen."

"Lan Yi, Shi Yan," Xie Qingmo looked at them, "You two, secretly keep watch on Liu Qingcheng and the senior brother's every move, especially note whom they contact, where they go, any abnormal spiritual power fluctuations or secretive behavior, and immediately send word to me."

"Remember, your own safety comes first; you must never get too close, and must never let him notice!"

"Yes." Everyone replied in unison.

Lan Yi and Shi Yan exchanged a glance, then quickly turned and left.

Jin Chen tugged at Xie Qingmo's sleeve, "Xie Qingmo, ask me."

Xie Qingmo looked puzzled, "What?"

Jin Chen: "Ask me, I know what's going on."

Xie Qingmo: "……"

Xie Qingmo looked at Jin Chen in astonishment, "How would you know… also, you are an ancient sword, you have seen much."

He grasped Jin Chen's hand, eyes full of expectation, "You say."

【Wait a moment, about the Heavenly Dao's luck being too strong…… how would you like to say?】 Ling Gun Gun promptly grabbed the Host's love‑struck mind.

Jin Chen fell silent.

Jin Chen wanted to speak but held back.

Jin Chen: "Actually, Liu Qingcheng is a demon."

Xing Yan drew a deep breath, already firmly convinced, "So it's the demon clan!"

Xie Qingmo couldn't help but be dazed for a moment, "But why, when he was injured before, he never leaked a trace of demonic aura?"

Jin Chen thought, "He needs... protection."

Jin Chen pointed at the sky.

Then thunder rumbled.

Jin Chen spoke confidently, "Look."

Xie Qingmo realized, "So that's how it is."

Xing Yan fumed, "Heaven's Dao is unfair!"

Jin Chen also said: "If you want to stop Liu Qingcheng, better to start from the root."

Xing Yan was no longer angry, somewhat terrified, "The Sword Spirit's meaning is to destroy this……"

He also pointed upward.

Jin Chen: "... Your idea is very dangerous."

Ling Gun Gun leaned against Jin Chen's ear, muttering, 【Host Host, I've thought of a good plan.】

Jin Chen: 【Explain in detail.】

【We also have a Protagonist Halo Weakening Card.】 Ling Gun Gun promoted, 【If you cooperate and draw…… oh no, not that, use the starter lucky bag you snatched together, for the Main God to use, maybe it can destroy the protagonist's luck.】

The Host earns points by using a lucky bag, and helping the boss guard the advanced lucky bag gets tasty food.

Big profit!

Jin Chen clicked his tongue, playing with Xie Qingmo's fingers, "Xie Qingmo, let's first go to the library to have a look."

【???】 Ling Gun Gun shoved the big crying expression in front of Jin Chen's eyes.

Jin Chen waved his hand, ignoring it, "Go."

Xie Qingmo naturally listened to him; Xing Yan's probing gaze moved back and forth between the person and the sword spirit, suddenly enlightened, he patted his forehead and followed.

As it turns out, everything in the storybook is true!

Having just left Wu Lai Peak, the little pink ball crawled out of the spirit beast bag, trembling as it stretched its head eastward, as if sensing something.

The contracted Xie Qingmo also could have a premonition.

"Jin Chen, wait a moment."

Xie Qingmo stopped his steps, looked eastward, "That side seems to have demonic aura."

【Oh! It appeared, the protagonist's demon clan opportunity, the second furnace cauldron, the Demon King!】

Ling Gun Gun excited.