Painting of the Nine Immortals

“Monster?”

Ling Xian laughed, “You are a demon yourself and you are respected by so many people. Yet you see me as a monster?”

“Aren’t you?”

The demon glared at Ling Xian. “You have threatened me time after time. If I disobey, you would use the Demon Defending Monument to repress me. Doesn’t that make you a monster?”

“Well, based on the way you are telling it… it does sound like I am one.” Ling Xian smiled.

F*ck you!

It was obviously the truth!

The demon cursed beneath his breath but did not dare to display any trace of unpleasantness, “Speak. What do you need me to do?”

“Can’t I just simply want to chat with you?” Ling Xian raised an eyebrow.

“Stop joking around. Do you really think I am that easy to lie to?”

The demon was speaking softly, “Though you and I have gone through a crisis together, we were merely making a deal. Plus, if you really just wanted to catch up with me, then you wouldn’t have repressed me so quickly just now.”

“Not bad.”

Ling Xian nodded and flapped around his sleeve. Two white jade teacups materialized. Following that, fresh water and Petals of Enlightenment filled the cup. Instantly, aromatic scent began to dissipate throughout the air.

“The Tea of Enlightenment… great stuff.” The demon’s eyes brightened.

“Please, demon.”

Ling Xian extended his left hand and invited him to drink.

At this, the demon didn’t decline. He held up a white jade teacup and sipped the tea. He couldn’t help but show enjoyment on his face.

Ling Xian picked up a teacup as well and sipped the tea. He grinned, “You are right. It’s just that I really wanted to be friends with you. No matter what, we have gone through hardships together.”

“If that’s the case, then vow to the heavens that you will never use the Demon Defending Monument to suppress me ever again. Then, I will believe you.” The demon was full of anticipation as he stared at Ling Xian.

“That won’t do.”

Ling Xian grinned slightly. “If I vow that right now, you will kill me right away.”

“Then what friendship are we talking about! You are a liar, a big liar!” The demon was full of hatred and anger. If it weren’t for the existence of the Demon Defending Monument, he would have violently left.

Ling Xian shook his head and laughed before erasing all traces of the smile off his face, “Alright, I won’t beat around anymore. I have something else I want to ask you about.”

“Don’t! Though we are no enemies, the tie between us have been cut. There is no reason for me to help you anymore.” The demon was at the peak of his anger and declined right away.

“You rejected me so crisply, hurting my feelings. If you keep on doing this, I won’t be able to stop myself from using the Demon Defending Monument.”

Ling Xian once again grinned and the black monument above his head shone with enough light to press down on all heavens and earth.

At once, the demon shuddered and fear poured out of his eyes.

At this, Ling Xian revealed a victorious smile, “What about now? Are you still going to reject me?”

Reject you my @ss!

You used the Demon Defending Monument to threaten me yet again!

“Aye, honestly speaking… if you didn’t have the Demon Defending Monument, I would have skinned you, ripped out your muscles, shredded you into sausage form, and made steamed buns out of you. I would’ve eaten you by now.”

The demon exhaled deeply. The root of his teeth itched from hatred.

“Sadly, there are no ‘ifs’. The monument is under my possession. It also just so happens that I know how to awaken it and how to use it.”

Ling Xian’s expression was still calm. He was not at all affected by what the demon had said.

He had the Demon Defending Monument for one. Even if he didn’t, he had no reason to fear the demon’s threats.

“Yeah. There are no ‘ifs’.”

The demon sighed, “Speak. What did you do now?”

“I didn’t do anything. I am merely trying to prepare myself just in case.”

Ling Xian shook his head. “I need to take something from the Shang Qing Sect and I might get caught. Though the probability of that is low.”

“The Shang Qing Sect?”

The demon’s expression changed. “You sure know how to cause trouble. You dare to try and take advantage of the Shang Qing Sect. You sure do not fear death. But why must you drag me into it?”

“You are a demon who once ruled everyone as a cultivator of the fifth level. You are afraid of the Shang Qing Sect?” Ling Xian frowned. He didn’t think the demon would react like this.

“Like you said… that was before.”

The demon bitterly chuckled. “Plus, even if I am still of the fifth level, I wouldn’t want to provoke a force as powerful as the Shang Qing Sect.”

“Is the Shang Qing Sect that powerful? Even a fifth level cultivator wouldn’t dare to provoke it?” Ling Xian’s frown deepened.

“The Shang Qing Sect is one of the giants of Yuezhou and has existed for an eternity. There is no way they have no fifth level cultivators. Plus, I know some secrets others don’t. The Shang Qing Sect has its own secret technique that could summon the spirits of the dead. They are terrifying.”

The demon’s expression was serious. “So I suggest that you do not provoke the Shang Qing Sect.”

“Summon the spirits of the dead?”

Ling Xian’s brows were locked tightly together. He knew that the Shang Qing Sect would have fifth leveled cultivators, but he never knew of this technique. He was, however, certain that the demon wouldn’t lie to him.

In other words, if he were caught by the Shang Qing Sect, then he would find himself in a serious crisis!

This changed his expression and he felt an unprecedented amount of pressure.

“Aye, give it up. Though I am not sure what you want to take, I do know that if the Shang Qing Sect finds out, nobody will be able to save you.”

The demon sighed and wished that Ling Xian would give up. Because then, he wouldn’t need to risk himself.

Sadly, he was disappointed yet again.

“No, I cannot give up.”

Ling Xian’s expression was serious. The fortune he was talking about affected the power distribution in the future and was related to whether or not he was able to step onto the Path of Endeavoring. Therefore, despite the fact that he was going to go up against a powerful character, he didn’t want to give up.

Plus, if he plans this well enough, he shouldn’t get caught.

“You!”

The demon was a little surprised, but after seeing Ling Xian’s steady expression, he chocked back the words he wanted to say. Though he hasn’t known Ling Xian for long, he knew very well how stubborn this young man was.

If it were something he set his mind on, he wouldn’t easily change it.

“There is no need to talk me out of it. As long as I plan this well, the Shang Qing Sect won’t find out.”

Ling Xian shook his head and looked at the demon seriously. “I am not asking you to do this with me. I am merely asking you to lend a helping hand if I get myself in trouble.”

“You mean… if you get caught, you want me to stop some powerhouses for you?” The demon frowned.

“That’s right.” Ling Xian nodded, “Just like last time. You just have to stop them and give me some time.”

“But this time, the opponents aren’t of the same level as last time.” The demon sighed a long sigh. As powerful as he was, he didn’t want to offend such a scary character.

“I wonder if the demon is willing to venture out to the dragon cave with me?” The corner of Ling Xian’s lips curled up. His confidence had returned.

This unparalleled temperament of his shocked even the demon himself.

He looked at the smiling young man and bitterly said, “Is rejecting an option?”

“No.”

Ling Xian teasingly chuckled. “If you decline, I will trap you right now.”

“Might as well. I have once ruled the world and nobody was an opponent of mine. Why should I be afraid of the Shang Qing Sect?” The demon proudly smiled. Terrifying Qi poured out of him and shook up everything around him.

Ling Xian revealed how surprised he was at this. He didn’t expect the demon to be so strong. What the demon said next however, made him speechless.

“Alright. I am somewhat afraid.”

The demon almost collapsed and cried out with a puppy face, “Ling Xian, please plan this well. Do not get caught by the Shang Qing Sect.”

“You are scared before you the fight… demon… you…” Ling Xian shook his head with a bitter smile. He wasn’t sure what to say.

“You think I want to be afraid? It’s the Shang Qing Sect after all! They are one of the beasts in Yuezhou!”

The demon exhaled again, “Let’s make something clear. You have to vow to Heavens that if I help you this time, you cannot use the Demon Defending Monument against me ever again.”

“Not a problem.”

Ling Xian smiled brightly, now he was certain that the demon was his to manipulate, it was time to plan it all out.

“Make your promise now. Do it fast so I can enjoy my days in relaxation.” The demon rushed.

Ling Xian nodded softly and his expression turned serious. Then, he held up three fingers and pointed to the sky. He then vowed.

The content was basically that if the demon helps him out now, then he will never threaten the demon with the monument ever again.

After he vowed, the sky darkened right away. Immediately, thunder and lightning echoed throughout the area, indicating that the promise was in effect.

Any party that breaks the promise would be punished by God and would be blown to smithereens.

“Not bad, not bad. Now I don’t need to worry about you cheating.”

The demon smiled in satisfaction. The rock in his heart finally dropped. However, when he remembered how he was going to go up against someone as powerful as the Shang Qing Sect, cloud invaded his mind.

He could only silently pray that Ling Xian’s plan was seamless and that he won’t be caught by the Shang Qing Sect.

Ling Xian was praying too. After hearing what the demon had to say, he had to re-evaluate the capabilities of the Shang Qing Sect. The result of his evaluation was that if he were caught by the Sect, then he was for sure dead without even the probability of escaping.

The fortune, however, was an important matter. He had to get his hands on it. Therefore, he had to make sure his plan was flawless and perfect.

“The demon alone isn’t enough. I have to fight to get the mysterious man inside the volcano as well.”

Ling Xian thought to himself, “Though I am not too sure what cultivation level that man is, for him to be able to stop the Shang Qing Sect’s elders and for him to survive inside the volcano for so long means he has some abilities.”

“Then it’s decided. Let me go back to the Shang Qing Sect first to save that man. It will be my repayment to him for helping me with my inner demon last time.”

Ling Xian made up his mind and straightened up. “Demon, let us go. It’s time for us to move.”

“It’s time already? I mean, we are now ants on the same string. You have to tell me the truth at least. What’s the probability of you succeeding?”

The demon gawked at Ling Xian and was having high hopes for hearing some good news from him.

“I am 99% percent sure that I won’t be found out by the Shang Qing Sect. But if I do get caught, then you two better pray that I can reincarnate into a good family.”

Ling Xian smiled faintly, his expression remained nonchalant.

There are many things in life that people wouldn’t do if they knew the risk. That fortune however, was something he had to pursue.

Perhaps he was stubborn, perhaps he was stupid, but he could not give up.

Of course, if he does something that he knows will kill him, then he obviously wouldn’t do it. The reason why he was going to do it was because he had some confidence.

“I feel like I have boarded a pirate ship…”

The demon revealed a sad face. “Ling Xian, can you not just let me go? I have more than 100 concubines. If I die, what are they going to do?”

“I can’t do that. Since you have boarded the ship, then accompany me to the land.”

Ling Xian’s smile never lessened. As he peered towards the direction of the Shang Qing Sect, he mumbled, “Don’t worry, I will not let this pirate ship sink to the bottom of the sea.”