My ancestors were spiritual plant growers, so it's not surprising that I hunt demons every day,

Cui Ying had long suspected that someone had ill intentions.

Upon hearing this, she merely wiped the remaining blood from the Yao Guang sword, sighed softly, and spoke with a coldness as if she were telling someone else's story:

"Today I was chasing a spirit deer in the Phoenix Mountains when I encountered this demonic tiger. After using my sect's secret technique to injure the beast, I left. Who knew that I would be suddenly woken up in the middle of the night by my family's Ta Xue."

"As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw that demonic tiger climbing over my courtyard wall. Fortunately, I had installed a defensive magic array on my house a few days ago, which stopped it for a moment. Later, I injured it and chased it all the way from the village to this forest, where I used my sect's secret technique to kill it again."

As soon as Cui Ying finished speaking, someone in the crowd gasped.

"That was a close call! I was terrified just listening to it!"

"That's right. If something goes wrong, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"..."

"Sect? Everyone in our village knows your family are all independent cultivators. Your father has been stuck at the fourth level of Qi Refining for ten years without any progress. And with your aptitude, which sect would be willing to take you as a disciple?"

Amidst the clamor of discussion, that sinister voice rang out again: "I've noticed you and that Zhu kid have been heading straight into the Phoenix Mountains lately. Could it be that you've stumbled upon some incredible opportunity and don't want to share it with us?"

"Yes, yes, I just heard Aunt Mei say a few days ago that the Cui family made a fortune and sent a lot of things to the Gu family. Could it be that they really discovered some amazing treasure in the Phoenix Mountains!"

Now that you hear what I'm saying, it does seem to make sense.

“The Phoenix Mountain Range is unclaimed. Since the treasure was found in the mountains, doesn’t that mean everyone in our village should have a share!”

"That's right! Cui family girl, don't try to fool us with your sect or anything. Hand over the treasure you obtained!"

As soon as the man finished speaking, Cui Ying spotted a middle-aged man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face in the crowd.

"Chen Laosan!!"

Cui Zhengming, who had finally come to his senses, flew into a rage: "If you dare to spout nonsense again, believe me, I'll kill you!"

"Cui Zhengming!"

The cultivator known as Chen Laosan also roared, finally revealing his true form:

"You're nothing but a spirit plant grower. If you were in the mortal world, you'd just be a peasant farmer. Who gave you the audacity to talk to me like that!"

"Be smart and tell your daughter to hand over the things right now. Otherwise, don't blame me for disregarding our years of friendship as villagers!"

"And dare!!"

At this moment, Cui Zhengming was furious like never before.

With a furious roar through gritted teeth, he stood in front of Cui Ying, holding the Cold Light Crossbow, and confronted Chen Laosan defiantly.

"See if I dare!"

Just as the two were about to clash, Cui Ying stepped out from behind her father, smiled slightly at Chen Laosan, and asked thoughtfully:

"Chen Laosan, is that right?!"

"That's right, it's me!"

When Chen Laosan saw Cui Ying step forward, he couldn't help but scrutinize her a few more times. Seeing that she was not only stunningly beautiful at such a young age, but also possessed an extremely aloof and noble air, he sneered and said:

"The little girl is quite pretty and lucky, but her taste isn't very good."

"That Gu family brat is good-looking but can't cultivate. How can he be as caring as you, Master Chen, a Qi Refining cultivator? Why don't you come with me? I'll teach you the Dual Cultivation Technique, and we can have some fun together."

"hehe."

Instead of being angry, Cui Ying smiled and even nodded, saying, "I did find a treasure in the Phoenix Mountains."

"This little girl is much more sensible than your old man's father!"

The man was overjoyed upon hearing this, and with a sinister grin, he reached out to grab Cui Ying's chest: "Give it to me now."

"Let's see if you have the ability to take it."

As she spoke, Cui Ying narrowed her eyes, and suddenly twirled her Yao Guang sword in a flourish. With a flick of her wrist, a dazzling silver sword aura slashed mercilessly towards the front.

There was a "puff" sound.

Chen Laosan felt a flash of cold light before his eyes, and at the same time, a chill ran down his neck.

He hurriedly tried to look down, but the sprayed red liquid instantly blurred his vision.

Everyone heard Chen Laosan let out a strange cry from his throat, and then he fell straight down.

"what!"

"Chen Laosan is dead! She killed Chen Laosan!!"

Seeing that Chen Laosan died so easily at Cui Ying's hands before he could even scream, the onlookers were in an uproar.

At this moment, Cui Ying stood with her sword on top of the corpse.

Her long hair moved without wind, coldly sweeping across the surroundings, taking in everyone's expressions, before she spoke in a chilling tone:

"The treasure is right here in my hands. If anyone else wants it, I wouldn't mind sending them to keep Chen Laosan company!"

The cultivators present looked at each other in dismay. Chen Laosan was at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and he also practiced a physical technique. Ordinary cultivators at the fifth level of Qi Refining would not be able to defeat him in a short time.

But today, she took their lives as easily as chopping vegetables and peeling melons, which shows that Cui Ying's strength is not as simple as it seems on the surface.

It's even possible that she actually has a powerful sect behind her.

Those cultivators who understood this all took a step back.

If Cui Ying can pretend to be a pig to kill Gale Tiger, she might also be able to send them to their deaths with a single sword strike.

They wouldn't risk offending powerful figures from reclusive sects for a treasure whose authenticity is unknown; it would be like an old man courting death.

Cui Ying, of course, had no idea what these people were thinking, nor did she want to know.

Because she had already achieved her goal of making an example of Chen Laosan to scare others.

If that's the case, then what is there to fear from the other ants!

She looked at the bewildered crowd and said in a low voice:

"Although you are not interested in the treasure, Cui Ying has a favor to ask of you."

"Young friend Cui, you flatter me."

The man was a middle-aged cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining. He was quite respected in the village and had witnessed the changes in the Cui family these past few days. After this incident, he decided to befriend the Cui family.

He raised his arm and shouted:

"We all live in the same village. A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. If anything happens, just let us know, and we'll definitely help if we can. Right, fellow villagers!"

Soon, a response came from the crowd, as if someone else had been standing by and watching.

"Yes, yes, please speak frankly, young friend Cui."

“That’s right. Although my cultivation level is not high, I, Zheng Lei, am still quite strong. Young friend Cui, just say the word and I will not hesitate.”

Seeing the drastic change in everyone's attitude, Cui Ying understood.

She stepped down, casually flicked a fireball that reduced Chen Laosan's corpse to ashes, and then smiled with satisfaction.

"It's nothing major, I just want to ask you fellow Daoists for a helping hand to carry this demon tiger home."

At this point, Cui Ying coughed lightly, clutching her chest: "I am not very capable to have troubled you all, but I will certainly reward you with generous gifts afterward."

"Oh, so that's what happened!"

"Young friend Cui, you're too kind. It's just a matter of going the same way anyway. Asking for payment would be a disrespect to us."

“I, Zheng Lei, have no shortage of strength. Leave this to me.”

With the burly man who called himself Zheng Lei taking the lead, the other cultivators also gathered around, picked up the white giant tiger from the ground, and headed back.

"Wow, I have to say, this beast is quite heavy."

"Of course, I've lived for over thirty years and this is the first time I've ever seen a tiger demon."

"Don't tell me you haven't seen it, Brother Xie. In all my years as a demon hunter, I've only seen it twice. The first time was with Old Lei from the next village. That day, I was scared half to death. You have to understand, Old Lei is a demon hunter at the seventh level of Qi Refining, yet he was completely powerless against that golden-winged tiger."

"Is the Elder Lei you mentioned, Fellow Daoist Luo, the Elder Lei Hao from the neighboring Stone Ridge Village? I heard that Elder Lei's eldest son later hired a team of skilled demon hunters at great expense to go into the mountains, but not only did they fail to rescue Elder Lei, they almost lost their lives in the jaws of a demon tiger. It was truly a loss of spirit stones and the death of a father!"