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

Cui Ying stayed at home for three days. In her spare time from cultivating, she found that although the little iron-eating beast's magic power had not recovered, it got along well with the family. So she also thought about going into the Phoenix Mountain Range again.

The construction of the new residence on Fengxi Ridge is in full swing and has already taken shape, but it is still short of a thousand spirit stones needed for the later stages, and the three magical artifacts proposed by the Gu family are still nowhere to be found.

In addition, Cui Ying also remembered the last time someone asked her to buy various kinds of spirit whips.

She was able to leave Thundercloud City with more than two thousand spirit stones with ease, thanks in large part to Lei Yujing.

Moreover, Lei Yujing herself is a half-step Foundation Establishment cultivator, deeply loved by the Lei family patriarch, and also in charge of the Martial Arts Hall.

From any perspective, they are worth befriending.

More importantly, on her way to Jade Bamboo Peak with Xue Changye, she discovered several areas where spiritual herbs and plants grew. However, because Xue Changye was with her, she didn't alert them.

So she found Zhu Chaoyun and prepared to go into the Phoenix Mountain Range to hunt demons the next day.

The brilliant sunset painted the sky with a touch of orange-red on the boy's cheeks.

"Master Cui Ying, I still haven't broken through to the third level of Qi Refining. Why don't you go find Fellow Daoist Xue?"

Walking along the edge of the field, Zhu Chaoyun knew that Cui Ying had asked him to prepare for the demon hunt, and his eyes were filled with joy.

Cui Ying raised her arm and gently stroked the rice stalks, her smile more relaxed and radiant than the setting sun behind her:

"Do you think I'll be teaming up with Xue Changye and the others to hunt demons from now on?"

Having his thoughts exposed, Zhu Chaoyun scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, grinned, and chuckled awkwardly without saying a word.

Cui Ying paused for a moment, then explained:

"Xue Changye asked me to hunt demons, but it was just a test on my behalf, on behalf of the demon hunters in the village, for me, my family, and the sect behind me. Beyond that, it was more about using cooperation."

As Cui Ying spoke, she recalled how Xue Changye had been making small talk the whole day, which seemed a bit odd, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it and was too lazy to think about it too much.

"Ah, that kid is really wicked!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chaoyun's expression showed some surprise, followed by indignation as he said:

"Luckily you quit halfway through that day, so he didn't get the better of you. By the way, how did you answer all those questions he asked?"

Cui Ying used her spiritual energy to cut a bunch of spirit rice, roasted it with flames to bring out its aroma, husked it, and shared it with Zhu Chaoyun before slowly replying:

"These aren't anything shameful, so of course we'll just say it! It's just that Xue Changye doesn't quite believe it."

"Third Sister, what are you doing there? It's getting late, I'm going home first, you can catch up slowly by yourself."

In the distance, Cui Zhengming's figure appeared opposite the spirit field. After scanning his surroundings, he called out to the boy and girl standing by the edge of the field.

Zhu Chaoyun was startled and instinctively covered her mouth.

"Whether they believe it or not, we didn't lie. The Heavenly Lord saw it all."

After Cui Zhengming had walked away, she mumbled something indistinctly, then tiptoed and imitated Cui Ying, using her magic to cut off a nearly ripe ear of spirit rice. She then popped it into her mouth, a satisfied look on her face as she comforted Cui Ying.

"That's how all the rogue cultivators in the village are—kind on the outside but wicked on the inside, they can't stand seeing others do well. If Xue Changye calls you in the future, just ignore him."

"Row."

Cui Ying nodded slightly, gently brushed the husks of the spirit rice off her skirt, and smiled with her eyes lowered:

"My dad has gone far away, and I'm going home too. Remember to come to my house early tomorrow."

She didn't genuinely want to team up with Xue Changye when she agreed to go into the mountains to hunt demons that day.

It's more of an attitude; since my rebirth, the changes in my family have been getting bigger and bigger every day.

Rather than letting these people speculate and cause trouble, it's better to take this opportunity to demonstrate our strength and solidify the illusion that we have a powerful sect supporting us.

Although Cui Ying believed that the rogue cultivators in the village were not worth fearing, she now had a weakness and had to consider things more carefully.

Since she had already done what she wanted to do, and Xue Changye's temperament didn't suit her taste, there was no need to cooperate any further.

The Cui family's small courtyard.

After returning from her family's spiritual field, Cui Ying went to her mother and told her about going into the mountains to hunt demons the next day.

By the way, she wants to eat stir-fried snow frog with sour hawthorn berries tonight, with extra spice.

"Tsk~ You've got sharp eyes even though you're standing far away. Your dad only caught four snow frogs today. He just told me to keep them and catch more to cook together next time. But now, they're not going to stay."

Upon hearing this, Wang Rong first glared at her reproachfully, then pondered before continuing:

"Then I'll make you some scallion and minced meat steamed buns, and cook some spirit rice porridge and put it in a bamboo tube so you can take it with you on the road tomorrow."

After saying that, she rolled up her sleeves and got busy without looking up.

Seeing that she couldn't get involved, Cui Ying smiled and turned to go back to her room. She had barely stepped across the threshold when she saw her second sister, Cui Lin, offering her a handful of fresh bamboo leaves.

"Here, little cutie, there's more, eat slowly."

The little iron-eating beast sitting on Cui Ying's bed wiggled its round, chubby waist and quickly snatched the bamboo leaves to hug. Cui Yan, who was next to it, took the opportunity to pat its chubby head.

Cui Yue, standing nearby, had one hand on the chubby shoulder of the little iron-eating beast and was skillfully feeding the little guy a bamboo shoot that was thicker than her own arm.

Cui Ying was speechless. The little iron beast had stayed at her house for three days and had completely won over the hearts of everyone in the family, young and old.

He's very docile when it's time to eat, but this only applies to those close to the Cui family.

But once it finishes eating, it immediately turns hostile and won't allow anyone to get close.

Of course, Cui Ying is an exception.

I don't know if it's because Cui Ying was the first cultivator to show it kindness, or because it gets to drink a bowl of Hundred Flower Honey Water with Ta Xue and Little Golden Scorpion every night.

The little iron beast clung to Cui Ying with unusual affection.

During the day, when Cui Ying wasn't cultivating, it would cling to her arms and legs, stubbornly refusing to let her leave.

When the night is quiet, it will climb from its little nest onto the bed and lie sprawled on Cui Ying's chest, fast asleep.

Several times, Cui Ying wanted to swear, and even considered throwing it back to Yuzhu Peak overnight.

But in the end, he gave up the idea.

Therefore, Cui Ying was extremely annoyed by the little iron beast and even became indifferent to it, avoiding it at home.

After all, the Little Iron-Eating Beast is a demon beast, and it will eventually have to return to the Phoenix Mountain Range.

If, due to its closeness with them these days, it gradually loses its innate ferocity and wariness towards cultivators, it would be a fatal threat to it.

Cui Ying rescued it and treated its injuries, naturally not wanting the little iron-eating beast to end up like this.

The difficulty was that Cui Ying couldn't stop her family from liking the little iron beast.

Even a strict person like her mother would often steal a moment from her busy schedule to cut down spirit bamboo and bring it back to feed it, taking the opportunity to get close to it.

Cui Ying could stop Cui Yue and Cui Yan, but she couldn't stop her second sister, her mother, or her father.

Fortunately, she wasn't fighting alone.

Ta Xue and Little Golden Scorpion at home seem to really hate Little Iron Eater. The three of them often meet up and fight when I'm not around.

Both Ta Xue and Little Golden Scorpion are at the second level of Qi Refining. Although they won't gain the upper hand against Little Iron-Eating Beast, which is at the fourth level of Qi Refining but has no magic power, they won't suffer a great loss either.

Cui Ying, wanting to avoid seeing or being bothered, waited until the three guys returned in a disheveled state after the battle was over before casually instructing Cui Yue to prepare three bowls of wildflower honey to feed and soothe them.

Thinking of this, Cui Ying realized that Ta Xue and Little Golden Scorpion were not in the room again.

"Ah"

After she communicated with the little golden scorpion using her divine sense, she learned that the two of them had actually entered the Phoenix Mountain Range together, each seeking out equally powerful demonic beasts to hone their cultivation.

"He's even more ambitious than his master."

Cui Ying withdrew her divine sense, feeling somewhat amused and exasperated.