Chapter Fifty-Two: A Demon’s Deeds

She asked me if I was crazy, why I was inquiring about such forbidden matters, and why I provoked the Serene Ghost Lord.

It's not like I can die now, right? I stared at her and asked slowly, "Can it be done?"

"In the Moon Shadow Sect, saving... that kind of thing is forbidden. It requires sacrificing a demon's core, and it can only be done if the body is intact. Otherwise, you'll need a rare herb called Ling Xing Grass to preserve the soul beforehand. Also, I'm a ghost, I don't have a demon core!" As she spoke, she seemed very frightened, hugging herself and looking at me with fear.

A demon? The Moon Shadow Sect is full of demons. Finding one who has cultivated well enough to take their core shouldn't be too hard. But it's unclear if Que Han's body is intact. That Ling Xing Grass needs to be secured first.

"Why do you seem so afraid of me?" I glanced sideways at Qian Qian with a faint smile.

She looked up at me and complained, "Creating your body cost me a lot of cultivation. If you seriously start cultivating, you'll surpass me in no time." Her eyes darkened, and she added somewhat forlornly, "Ghosts don't have physical bodies, so cultivating is extremely difficult and slow. With this human body, you'll find it much easier to become a demon."

"Am I still...?" The word "human" stuck in my throat, unable to come out.

"No, you're not. Your consciousness and soul are temporarily living in this human-shaped body. With me around, you can't die. We are now in a symbiotic relationship."

I see. If I want to act, it seems I need to get her out of the way first.

Halfway through, I suddenly stopped and turned to her. "I know the places you mentioned. You can go back now. I want to walk around by myself and think about cultivating as a demon."

"Give me an answer soon. Don't disregard the three months I spent helping you get a human body." Qian Qian gave me a sweet smile, then turned into a wisp of blue smoke and disappeared before my eyes.

Ashes to ashes? The phrase inexplicably came to mind, and I chuckled softly.

Qian Qian mentioned many forbidden areas earlier. I might as well check them one by one; perhaps one of them hides the Ling Xing Grass.

The stealth technique I learned in Qiongyun still worked, helping me avoid unnecessary trouble and successfully evade patrols to enter the nearest forbidden area.

It was a place with nothing but magma and charred, blackened land.

As a forbidden area, I couldn't imagine what treasures it could hold.

Feeling a bit bored, I was about to leave when something began to flow from the dark red rock crevices. The ground beneath my feet became unbearably hot. Looking down, I saw that half of my body had already been burnt beyond recognition.

My legs seemed fixed in the lava, unable to move. If I stayed any longer, my body would be completely destroyed before I could heal.

I immediately conjured an ice blade to sever the connection between my upper and lower body, then used water vapor to protect my upper half as I crawled to the exit. Upon reaching the entrance, I first took out the guarding disciple.

Thanks to the jagged terrain, finding a hiding spot wasn't difficult. By the time my body fully recovered, no one had stumbled upon me.

It was foresight that made me use an ice blade to seal the wound after cutting myself in half; otherwise, I would have left a trail.

It seems that forbidden areas can be just dangerous places, left untouched because they are too troublesome to handle, even for someone like Quanyou.

Clicking my tongue a few times, I rested and prepared to explore the other forbidden areas.

The second area was a place of extreme cold; the third, a land of intense darkness. Next was a place of solid earth and strength. I thought I might find rare herbs in a small paradise but instead found only poisonous plants.

I must have been particularly unlucky. Each venture cost me a life.

"One, two, three, four... five. Two lives left." This time, I targeted the alchemy room next to the Shrine of Divine Mercy.

To my surprise, the place was filled with countless treasures. Besides the Ling Xing Grass, I also obtained a soul-gathering artifact. The audacity of the sect leader to hang such treasures so openly in a small alchemy room!

"Traitor! The sect leader granted you a place to live, and this is how you repay him?"

I glanced back at the panicked Moon Shadow Sect disciple who had sounded the alarm and snorted coldly, "I never intended to stay here long."

"Traitor! Everyone, get her! She's stolen the sect's treasures!"

"Noisy." I stretched out my hand and conjured an ice arrow, piercing the disciple's throat.

Faced with such a bloody scene, the disciples fled in terror, not one daring to confront me.

Aren't they all demons? Why is their resolve so weak? How boring. It's as if I'm the real monster, and they're defenseless humans.

Oh, right, my humanity was taken away.

Riding the wind, I soared over mountains and rivers. Frost crystals formed on my lashes as I beheld the majestic buildings standing amidst the snow.

After many days, Qiongyun Sect looks entirely different from before.

Landing within its boundaries, I found the usual vitality completely gone, as if a great flood had ravaged the area. All that remained was a desolate, snowy landscape and a chilling, lonely deathly aura.

Passing through a few places, I gathered bits and pieces about Qiongyun Sect's situation. However, I hadn't expected Que Lingyun to turn the once greatest sect in the immortal world into this sorry state. It reminded me of the rumors I had heard.

"I heard that the Sect Leader of Qiongyun turned the entire sect's foundation into a frozen land, forcing all disciples to cultivate the extremely cold Jade Bone Body. Many couldn't withstand it and froze to death. After this, Qiongyun is not what it used to be."

"He wants to weed out the weak and keep only the strong with such drastic measures. Using such extreme methods to revive Qiongyun is a fool's dream. They're probably not even as good as Xinghuo Hall now!"

When did a prestigious sect for cultivating immortals get lumped together with the demonic sects by the world? Haha~

I composed myself, not bothering to hide my presence. I walked straight up the mountain path. If Qiongyun now kept only the strong, they'd notice even if I used concealment techniques. Might as well be straightforward.

"Ruoshu Wangchuan, the Six Paths of Reincarnation, Summon the Souls, Return to the Banner." Unfolding the banner before me, I used my magic to activate it. A hazy light formed a circle, gradually enveloping every place.

Pale blue light points drifted from nowhere. I gently tapped them into my palm and stored them in the banner.

I had assumed that even if Que Han's body was destroyed, he would have gone to great lengths to preserve his soul after hearing my taunting words. But it seems he was truly heartless, letting his soul deplete until only these remnants were left.

"Who are you?! Why have you trespassed into Qiongyun Sect!"

This voice was all too familiar, recognizable even if turned to ashes, deeply imprinted in my mind, marked by hatred.

"Long time no see, Lingluo." I turned to face her, idly playing with a lock of hair over my shoulder. "Congratulations on your promotion to elder. My words of congratulations may be a bit late, so let me offer you a grand gift to make up for it."

"Who are you? Do I know you?"

"Yes, you don't know me. But you'll soon know me because I'm the guide to your journey to the Underworld." Without hesitation, I drew the dagger at my waist and slashed at her, each move deadly, giving her no chance to react.

In her panic, she barely parried a few of my strikes, but I left bright red marks on her body. The saltwater I had coated my blade with made her pain unbearable. She cursed angrily, "Madwoman! You're insane! I don't even know you! Why are you so vicious?"

"Didn't I say? It's enough that I know you." I continued my methodical attacks, finding openings to strike. She raised an arm to block and swung me aside, conjuring chains to lash at me.

Creating distance was indeed disadvantageous for me. This body was also getting exhausted. It seemed Lingluo had improved over time.

To break this stalemate, I needed to use Qiongyun Sect's techniques, though that would expose my identity. Maybe mixing some Qiongyun techniques would make it less obvious.

Quickly chanting a spell, I easily deflected her chains and closed the distance, launching attacks from within her weapon's range. She could only struggle helplessly, like fish on a chopping board.

One strike, two strikes, my dagger danced on Lingluo's body. Just as I was about to deliver the final blow, Que Lingyun's voice and a burst of palm force struck my back, sending a cold shiver down my spine, likely breaking my vertebrae.

This wasn't good. Overdoing it had landed me in trouble. Facing Que Lingyun now would end everything. I had to escape.

Nearby, Lingluo screamed hysterically, "Sect Leader! Kill her! Kill her for me!"

Her bloodshot eyes widened, teeth clenched on her purplish-black lips, her face twisted with bulging veins, covered in blood and filth—a terrifying sight.

Wiping blood from my mouth, I sneered at her, "Your hideous appearance is quite a sight. If you could keep this look every day, the disciples wouldn't need talismans to ward off ghosts."

"Kill you... kill you!!" She seemed to lose her mind completely, charging at me recklessly.

Seizing the opportunity, I moved behind her and struck a sleep acupoint, holding the blade to her neck. "Enough for today, I'm bored." Using Lingluo as a shield, Que Lingyun backed off. As I reached the mountain path, I threw her aside.