Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

He accurately grasped the key point—

The minor sects in the north are weak, and Zhaixinglou (Star-Picking Pavilion) wants to deal with them but has no reason to do so. They need a force that is not obviously related to Zhaixinglou to get involved in the conflict and reorganize the northern territory.

Hu Sanlang's eyes flashed slightly. It seemed that this was Fellow Daoist Gu's true purpose.

I just don't know... if they'll just discard us once they've served their purpose.

This matter still needs to be discussed with Rong Zhao.

The most urgent matter is what needs to be done this evening," he continued, asking.

"How did this person manage to claim several nearby mountains as his own territory?"

“My Illusion Butterfly Mountain is also located on the Ghost Sorrow Mountain Range, yet I have never noticed anything unusual.”

Gu Yiguan stood up and walked into the courtyard.

Since this morning, she has sensed a vibrant energy surging through the area.

"In the third month of summer, decaying grass transforms into fireflies, which shine brightly in the moonlight. There is a folk legend that fireflies and cicadas are born from decaying grass."

"In the demon realm, this is not just a rumor, but also a life-saving secret technique after one has exhausted their cultivation."

"It is extremely difficult for such beings to transform into human form, requiring the essence of heaven and earth to be gathered together. Therefore, when faced with life-or-death dangers, they can rely on their connection with heaven and earth to disperse their cultivation in the mountains, forests, and grassy areas."

"To put it simply, this kind of demon can be reborn as a mountain spirit."

"The mountain is her essence, and she is the spirit of the mountain."

The unusual activity this morning was her true spirit taking shape and emerging from the mountain.

Although it is stronger, it now has a physical form.

Only in this way can it be completely eradicated; otherwise, the formless entity cannot be eliminated.

If this were the territory of the Star-Picking Tower, Gu Yiguan would take advantage of her not yet becoming a true spirit to chisel rocks and move mountains. Although it would be more troublesome, it would minimize the risks.

"What are you thinking?"

Ruan Ayao's voice came, and she walked towards Gu Yiguan, continuing:

"You've been silent ever since that night. What's on your mind?"

Gu Yiguan looked up at her and replied in a calm tone:

"I said a lot, and you were right there, didn't you hear me?"

"You know I'm asking you my innermost thoughts, but you just give me platitudes. How boring."

Hu Sanlang, who was standing to the side, was completely confused.

I just feel like Ruan Ayao might have some misunderstanding about her.

This man wasn't silent or preoccupied at all; just moments ago he was engaging in cryptic exchanges, exchanging favors with him, speaking eloquently and persuasively...

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The sect leader of the Seven Illusions of Star Point is the mountain spirit of the Ghost Sorrow Mountains.

Zhu Wuyao was unaware of this matter.

She had only guessed that the strangeness of the Ghost Sorrow Mountains was related to her.

It wasn't that Gu Yiguan was unwilling to tell him.

Instead, they were worried that if they told Zhu Wuyao about it, he would be shocked and unwilling to continue acting in a shameful manner, which might lead to other unforeseen events.

Since things are peaceful for now, it's best not to disrupt that peace.

So much so that——

Even now, Zhu Wuyao still believes he has completely fooled the mysterious woman and is plotting to betray her on the battlefield.

As a diviner, before a great battle, one must diligently cast a divination to examine the surrounding terrain and see if there are any places that can be used for advantage.

I thought that if divination didn't work, I could make up for it with my intelligence.

It's a pity that she had such cascading black hair, but wasn't an exceptionally intelligent person.

The anxiety before the great battle actually calmed her down, allowing her to sort out the events of her journey south.

Tongzhou.

As she traveled south, she heard about this place from passersby.

As a buffer zone between Juque and Taibai, major sects and minor sects, righteous path and rogue cultivators, and human race and demon race, it seems that all conflicts come to an abrupt end here.

Like the Ghostly Sorrow Mountains, the turbulent sea surges up, only to crash heavily against the cliffs, appearing remarkably silent no matter how turbulent it is.

Or perhaps they become more restrained.

Zhu Wuyao went through many roundabout ways.

She hid here and there, and then turned around and fought back from elsewhere. Tongzhou was not her hometown, but there were many things related to her there.

This subtle connection is like a magnet, drawing her into the vicinity and keeping her there, whether actively or passively.

The time for our reunion is drawing near.

Such a premonition is clear enough that it doesn't even require the spiritual perception of a divination practitioner.

Just as she was adjusting her breathing.

The outside world fell silent for a moment.

Those disciples who were practicing, chatting, or chopping wood and building houses all stopped at the same time, and all the noise instantly fell silent.

Immediately afterwards, a commotion of footsteps could be heard.

Although he had spent a few days with these "fellow Daoists," the scene, which was both normal and slightly eerie, still made Zhu Wuyao instinctively uncomfortable.

The group walked towards the mountain gate.

Zhu Wuyao withdrew her divine sense, opened her eyes, and knew that Senior Sister Gu and the others had arrived.

Just as I stepped out the door, before I even got close to the mountain gate, I heard shouts of challenge in the distance:

"The leader of the Seven Illusions Sect of Star Pointing, come out and greet me!"

"Release Wu Guihong, a prominent figure in our righteous path!"

"You monstrous creature! You actually used the Blood Corrosion Curse to manipulate cultivators and control their minds. Such actions have angered both heaven and man. How can we tolerate you!"

That's Luo Budao's voice.

As expected of a storyteller, his words were truly melodious and rhythmic.

It's likely that they sent it to challenge them because the others were concerned about saving face and didn't want to lose face...

Luo Budao, however, felt extremely powerful!

"Who's making such a racket!"

A cultivator stepped forward, fearless and solemn, confronting the crowd openly. He sized up Luo Budao and said:

“Fellow Daoist, there are indeed demons in my sect, but they are upright and righteous, and will not tolerate slander from others.”

"Moreover, fellow Daoist, you are a demon yourself, so why include yourself in this insult?"

Luo Budao straightened his chest and said:

"I am different from you. Although I am a demon, I have a kind heart. I am a disciple of the demon dao of Tongzhou, a very famous figure in Tongzhou!"

"You heretical cultivators, how can you compare to me!"

Although it was a demon that had transformed into a human, it had not fully learned human manners and still retained the simple-mindedness, recklessness, and smugness of a beast. In particular, mules are creatures that are not known for their intelligence.

It eagerly challenged others who would avoid it.

It should be noted that the Blood Erosion Curse is of unknown origin.

Being the first to step forward could very well lead to being tricked.

Everyone watched quietly, and no one offered any advice to the little demon.

Zhu Wuyao quickly realized that if Luo Budao was the one being tested, then she knew something was wrong and was about to step forward.

At that moment, a Taoist-looking cultivator stepped out from the Seven Illusions of Star Pointing Sect and spoke—

"apprentice!"

The middle-aged Taoist priest was somewhat similar in demeanor to Luo Budao; both were somewhat irresponsible and unserious, and spoke in a pretentious manner, giving off the air of a charlatan.

He pushed through the crowd, took two steps forward, forced out two tears, and said:

"My good apprentice, you've grown so much!"

"These inhuman cultivators, each one of them is sanctimonious but does nothing human, and they actually sent you, a little demon with shallow cultivation, to lead the charge!"

"If I weren't here, you might have been sold off without even knowing it!"

The Taoist priest raised his sleeve and wiped away his tears.

Luo Budao stood there, stunned, staring at the Taoist priest before him, his familiar scoundrel-like appearance, speechless for a moment.

"Hmph! These inhuman cultivators, they used to act all high and mighty like they owned the place, but now that we need them, they all stand aside! When it really matters, you have to rely on me!"

The scene before my eyes overlapped with a familiar image from my memory.