Chu Liang

"Hello, my name is Chu Liang."

A youth in silk robes with cuffed sleeves sat upright in his chair. He was lean, with hair framing his shoulders, fair skin, and clear, bright eyes. He possessed a somewhat boyish face and a charming smile as he introduced himself in a gentle voice.

"Greetings, Young Master Chu. This one is called Yi Nianhong."

Opposite him sat a delicate woman with golden hairpins and a cloud-like bun, her face as rosy as peach blossoms. She covered her mouth with a sleeve to hide a light laugh, revealing a pair of sparkling eyes.

Between them sat a table laden with a sumptuous feast, rich in both color and aroma. They were in an elegantly furnished, brightly lit pavilion, where screens were painted with landscapes and red silk curtains hung low.

"Your name, Miss, sounds... very elegant," Chu Liang said with a smile.

"Is this your first time in a place like this, Young Master?" Yi Nianhong asked softly, observing his demeanor.

"Indeed," Chu Liang nodded. "My elders never allowed me to come before, saying I was still too young..."

"How old are you, Young Master?" Yi Nianhong immediately asked.

"Seventeen," Chu Liang replied.

"That's not so young. You should have come to try it out for yourself long ago," Yi Nianhong chuckled. "Once you've tried it, you won't be a child anymore."

"I... actually, I've tried it often before, but only near my home, and they were all quite small..." Chu Liang laughed sheepishly. "Meeting someone as grand as you is truly a first."

"Hehe," the woman's gaze grew lingering. "Youths never know the value of a big sister..."

Chu Liang said earnestly, "If I lack experience later, I hope you will be patient, Miss. I also hope you will... cooperate fully. Thank you in advance."

"Don't worry, why be so polite?" Yi Nianhong lifted her slender hand, poured a cup of wine, and pushed it toward Chu Liang. "Big sister guarantees you an experience that will send you to the Nine Heavens."

"Uh..." Chu Liang blinked. "I believe that's my line. I guarantee I'll send you to the Nine Heavens."

"Hmph," Yi Nianhong's alluring eyes rolled. "The little one has quite a big mouth. Are you that confident in your skills?"

"My skills... perhaps my training isn't quite there yet, but I can try to make up for it with tools," Chu Liang said.

"Oh? You use tools?" Yi Nianhong raised an eyebrow. "I couldn't tell you were such a serious-looking person who knew how to play. What did you bring? Take it out and let me see."

"Very well, let us begin early then." Chu Liang nodded, reached to his waist, and pulled out an object, slamming it onto the table with a heavy clatter.

It was actually half a golden brick, shimmering with flowing light, clearly no ordinary object.

The woman's expression shifted. "I really don't know how to use this... if you want to play something perverted, I won't accompany you."

"Hmm..." Chu Liang pondered for a moment, then suddenly pointed behind the woman. "What is that?"

"What?" Yi Nianhong turned to look.

The gentle youth opposite her suddenly lunged, snatched the brick from the table, and smashed it into the back of the woman's head!

Bang.

As the brick struck, a ripple of golden light expanded, and immediately after, black mist erupted from the spot where she had been hit!

"Ah—" Yi Nianhong clutched the back of her head in agony, letting out a shrill, monstrous shriek. "You... you tricked me!"

She shrieked as she scrambled backward, and the black mist spread from the back of her head like a fountain, reeking of demonic energy! Her form shifted, and she suddenly transformed into a giant spider a full ten feet long! On the spider's abdomen was a human face—the very face of Yi Nianhong. But the peach-blossom beauty was gone, replaced only by ferocity and rage.

This seemingly harmless young man had struck with such malice; the spider demon's fury was visibly intense.

With one brick, her true form was laid bare!

Chu Liang had already put away the golden brick and faced the terrifying monster calmly, smiling, "I didn't trick you. It really is my first time coming to exorcise a demon on my own."

"Hiss—" The giant spider roared repeatedly. "Where did this brat come from? I'll tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

"I am a disciple of the Shushan Sect. Someone reported to Shushan that a demon was wreaking havoc here, running a brothel and harming lives. I received orders from the mountain gate specifically to slay demons and eliminate evil!" Chu Liang's voice rang out with conviction.

"Shushan disciple?" Hearing this, the spider demon was struck with fear. As one of the Nine Heavens of the current immortal sects, even if the Shushan Sect had declined slightly in recent years, its long-standing prestige could still make ordinary demons tremble!

It opened its mouth and spat out a mass of red light, which transformed into a giant web in mid-air, casting it over Chu Liang. Meanwhile, it turned its body, all eight legs pushing off at once, and darted toward the door, attempting to flee.

Unfortunately, its diversionary tactic was useless. Chu Liang darted aside, dodging the web, while his left hand formed a sword seal, and he shouted clearly: "Sword Control Technique! Appear!"

A flash of light erupted from his left wrist; the bracelet he wore suddenly transformed into a streak of light, and with a metallic clang, it became a flying sword!

Swish—

With a single strike, the giant spider had nowhere to hide and was pierced through by the sword light on the spot.

"Ah!" The giant spider let out a miserable cry and collapsed. With a loud boom, it crashed through to the first floor, shattering the floorboards and revealing a pile of ghastly white bones beneath.

It was clear how many lives had been lost here.

Faintly, a golden light invisible to ordinary eyes drifted from the spider demon's corpse and flowed into Chu Liang's body.

He retracted his sword with satisfaction, and the flying sword transformed back into a bracelet on his wrist.

The dust had settled.

Only then did he let out a long breath.

It was indeed Chu Liang's first time... taking a solo mission down the mountain to exorcise a demon. Though he had appeared calm, he had actually been quite nervous inside.

Although this spider demon's cultivation wasn't high, it was skilled in illusions and difficult to identify in human form. If not for accurate intelligence and the unique treasure in his hand, Chu Liang might not have dealt with it so easily.

After the battle, Chu Liang did not rush to leave. Instead, he sat down on the spot, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

His consciousness sank, arriving within a dark space. It was empty and vast, with only a towering white pagoda standing ahead.

Nine stories high with six corners, it stood imposingly, its surface covered in intricate, obscure inscriptions and illustrations, ancient and solemn.

Chu Liang walked into the white pagoda and saw that the interior was filled with iron cells featuring vertical black bars; it was like a prison! There were countless cells, one after another, but they were all empty, save for one.

Inside that iron cell was a golden phantom, which, by the looks of it, appeared to be a large spider...

The iron cell had no door, only a wall with a red character for "Refine" imprinted upon it. Chu Liang stepped forward and pressed it lightly.

BOOM—

A flash of red light erupted, and the golden phantom vanished instantly.

In its place, a cluster of white radiance drifted out from the iron cell.

That was right; every time Chu Liang slew a demon, a phantom would appear within this pagoda. Refining these phantoms granted him treasures... as if they were rewards for slaying demons and eliminating devils.

Chu Liang reached out to catch the white light. As the radiance faded, he found a bundle of red rope in his hand, and a sensation bloomed within his mind.

[Demon-Binding Rope]:

When activated with true energy during combat, the Demon-Binding Rope will automatically bind the enemy in a tight tortoise-shell knot. While stripping the enemy of their combat capability, it can also shatter their psychological defenses and even unlock their hidden personalities; its power is immense.

Hahahaha, finally starting a new book! I'm posting three chapters on the first day and two chapters every day after that. On Qidian, early readership is extremely important, so for those interested, please try not to hoard chapters. Feel free to drop by, add it to your library, comment, and vote. Thank you all!

(My vacation ended amidst forty-plus days of lockdown; it's truly tragic. Now, besides thinking about what to write every day, I also have to worry about what to eat... Plus, the current policy is that if one person in a building tests positive, the entire building might be hauled off to quarantine. I live in fear every day; it's just too difficult. But even in such hardship, I will still strive to spread laughter and love to you all.)