Demonic Attack

Naturally, what he wanted to ask was related to that secret. The two stood far apart. No one could make out what they were saying; they only saw Lu Wanqian pointing at Yue Qianchou and cursing him, while the latter cowered like a little chick. When the two returned one after the other, Lu Wanqian's expression was ugly, clearly from anger. Yue Qianchou, meanwhile, hung his head in despondency, looking as though he had suffered some enormous injustice. No one could tell what exactly the former had done to the latter.

Actually, it was nothing much. Lu Wanqian had laid his cards on the table and directly demanded Yue Qianchou's secret. Yue Qianchou flatly denied it, insisting there was no secret. He only said that his master had often fed him some pills in the past, and as for what secrets they contained, he truly did not know. He had made up his mind: since they claimed there was a secret, he would pin everything on his dead master. Want to know? Go ask his master.

Ever since learning the truth of that day from Wu Baoru, Lu Wanqian had already labeled Yue Qianchou a shameless rogue. Naturally, he did not believe a word Yue Qianchou said. After questioning him for ages without getting anything useful, Lu Wanqian was so furious he howled and raged. In the end, he even resorted to threats, yet Yue Qianchou still stubbornly insisted that he knew nothing.

Lu Wanqian threw down one sentence: "You won't talk? There will come a day when you obediently spit it out." The two parted on bad terms.

Afterward, he called Gao Shiping aside with a grim face to speak privately. Everyone could tell that something was off about the atmosphere.

His granddaughter, Lu Xia'er, remained carefree. Her large eyes wide, she pestered Yue Qianchou to compose a song for her.

Yue Qianchou swept a glance over Lu Xia'er's already shapely, budding figure and cursed inwardly, What's that old bastard acting so high and mighty for? One day, if he really pisses me off, I'll put his granddaughter in bed and knock her up. Let's see whether he can still swagger then. Outwardly, however, he maintained a dazed, soul-lost appearance and gave a miserable smile. "What song could I compose? Whether I can even survive this year is still unknown."

Qu Ping'er and the others were startled upon hearing this. Lu Xia'er cried out, "Martial Uncle, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong? Isn't it because of the matter between Elder Wu and me?" Yue Qianchou gave a bitter smile and said bleakly, "It's a pity my master died too early, leaving no one to protect me. Having offended Elder Wu, I'm afraid the sect elders all want me dead. Your grandfather came here today on the sect leader's orders to make me confess and submit to punishment."

The crowd looked at one another, secretly thinking, No wonder Elder Lu brought us here today. We thought he really wanted us to broaden our horizons!

"You're talking nonsense! My grandfather isn't that kind of person!" Lu Xia'er defended her grandfather.

"Ah! Nonsense or truth, what meaning does it have for me? What benefit would I gain from lying to you?" Yue Qianchou looked desolate, the bitterness on his face impossible to conceal. The sight left everyone silent.

Then his eyes abruptly blazed with light, and he said with impassioned emotion, "If I, Yue Qianchou, am truly guilty, then as a true man, one man's deeds are one man's burden. Your grandfather need not say a word—I'll smash my head against this place and die, to apologize to all under heaven. But I am innocent. How could I confess to a crime? My master may be dead, but asking me to swallow humiliation and compromise is something I can never do. I would rather die standing than live kneeling!"

His words rang with iron bones and resounding spirit, his bearing righteous and awe-inspiring. Everyone listened with solemn respect. Even Lu Xia'er believed him and lowered her head sadly.

Lu Wanqian and Gao Shiping returned. The former cast Yue Qianchou a cold, mocking glance, while the latter helplessly shook his head slightly at him.

Yue Qianchou looked at Gao Shiping and smiled calmly. "Senior Brother Gao, there's no need for you to feel troubled. I suppose Martial Uncle wants you to add to my burden? It's fine. Just do as you've been told."

Gao Shiping froze, looking somewhat awkward. He then shot Lu Wanqian an embarrassed glance. The latter snorted coldly. "Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

Putting together everything they had seen, everyone became convinced that Yue Qianchou had been telling the truth. It seemed Elder Lu truly intended to make things difficult for this Martial Uncle Yue.

Someone grew anxious. Lu Xia'er immediately stamped her foot and called out to Lu Wanqian, "Grandfather, how can you do such a thing?"

Lu Wanqian glared at her and barked, "What business do adults' affairs have with a child like you? We're leaving." Lu Xia'er refused to comply and threw a loud tantrum, only to be grabbed and hauled away by her grandfather. The disciples also turned into streaks of light and followed after them.

"That old bastard actually dared threaten me! Today, I'll add a few dishes to his table and make his ears lively when he gets back, so he doesn't come all this way for nothing." Yue Qianchou muttered as he watched the group fly away. Though he spoke quietly, he made no attempt to hide his words from the two people beside him.

Shi Xiaotian was no fool either. Combining what his boss had said earlier with what he had just heard, the tragic and heroic look in his eyes instantly turned into dumbfounded shock.

Though Gao Shiping did not know what had happened, he could naturally tell that Yue Qianchou was cursing Lu Wanqian. He could not help admiring Yue Qianchou's boldness—he even dared curse a sect elder. Thinking further, he felt rather pleased. Yue Qianchou dared curse him in front of him, which clearly meant Yue Qianchou did not regard him as an outsider.

"Senior Brother Gao, tell me. How does Great Elder Lu intend to torment me?" Yue Qianchou sneered.

Gao Shiping shook his head with a bitter smile. "Junior Brother, it seems you truly offended the sect leader badly. Elder Lu came here specifically to deliver the sect leader's decree concerning you. He did not say much else, only that starting today, your mining quota is to be doubled. Sigh! You know that I can protect you in other matters, but the extraction quotas are monitored by disciples from several branches. I don't dare show favoritism. I'm afraid that if you fail to complete the task, even I..."

Yue Qianchou waved a hand to cut him off. "Senior Brother, there's no need to say more. I understand. Just do what must be done. Thinking such a trivial matter can stump me is simply childish."

Gao Shiping secretly lamented that, if this happened, his share of the income would probably go down the drain. Those were high-grade Spirit Stones!

Yue Qianchou seemed to see through Gao Shiping's thoughts and smiled. "Senior Brother, don't worry. A matter of one or two stones can't trouble me. Things between us will continue as usual. There is just one matter in which I need to trouble you."

His words subtly made certain things clear. Gao Shiping immediately understood that Yue Qianchou was telling him his share of the high-grade Spirit Stones would not be lacking. His eyes lit up at once, and he patted his chest. "If Junior Brother has no problem, then naturally I have no problem. Just say whatever you need."

Yue Qianchou smiled. He greatly liked people who got to work readily once they had taken the money. He was not afraid of people reaching out for a cut—he was afraid they would refuse it. In a deep voice, he said, "I hope Senior Brother can prepare more food and wine for the two of us to bring into the mine. After all, the mining quota has increased. If we don't eat our fill, that could become a major problem."

"I thought it was something serious. Junior Brother, rest assured, leave it to me," Gao Shiping promised.

Yue Qianchou then said to Shi Xiaotian, "Xiaotian, go get some proper rest now. Build up your strength so you can start work tomorrow."

Gao Shiping also chimed in, "Your name is Shi Xiaotian, right? Follow Junior Brother Yue well. When the time comes, I won't treat you poorly." What a joke! Helping Yue Qianchou do a good job was the same as helping him do a good job, so of course he said that.

Shi Xiaotian nodded and returned to his room without another word. In truth, he was not worried in the slightest. With the place his boss had found, forget doubling the quota—even tripling or quadrupling it could be managed.

After the three went their separate ways, Yue Qianchou lazily lay back in his chair and continued basking in the sun. He was considering a problem now. His conflict with the Qingguang Sect had reached this point, so it seemed impossible for him to stay long-term. But revealing his secret was even more impossible. In this Cultivation World where the strong devoured the weak, it was his trump card for staying alive, something he would never tell anyone. For now, as long as he could remain in the Spirit Stone mine for one more day, he had to grab as much as he possibly could. Once he had enough Spirit Stones, he would pat his butt and leave. If this place would not keep me, another place would; what was there to fear?

The next day, after entering the Spirit Stone mine, Shi Xiaotian noticed that his boss's expression had become much more serious. Once inside, he no longer strolled along at an unhurried pace. Instead, he led Shi Xiaotian directly to the excavation site. Shi Xiaotian secretly found it strange. What was his boss worried about? With so many Spirit Stones, was he afraid they could not complete the quota?

Before they began digging, Yue Qianchou solemnly instructed, "Xiaotian, from today onward, put all your strength into mining mid-grade Spirit Stones. Ignore the low-grade Spirit Stones for now; we'll deal with them later. Do you understand?"

Over the past two days, Shi Xiaotian had come to admire this boss of his to the point of utter devotion. Seeing how seriously his boss spoke, he knew there had to be a reason. He did not ask further questions and nodded heavily.

Yue Qianchou nodded approvingly at him. The two immediately split up and began their blazing excavation campaign.

Within three days, Yue Qianchou made a trip back into the Golden Pearl. Seeing the Spirit Stones piled high in the woods, he still seemed less than satisfied. He understood the saying that one only regrets having too little money when it is needed. Since he had embarked upon the path of cultivation, he had to lay as solid a foundation for the future as possible.

The white fox had already been somewhat displeased by the way he had filled this elegant place with Spirit Stones everywhere. When she saw Yue Qianchou, who rarely showed himself, she had wanted to lecture him a little. Yet seeing the rare seriousness on his face, she realized something might have happened. Just as she was about to ask him about it, that detestable fellow disappeared again.

Gao Shiping got his wish and received another high-grade Spirit Stone. Yue Qianchou and Shi Xiaotian also completed their quota, which left Gao Shiping full of admiration. He lavishly rewarded them with fine wine and good food.

Halfway through the drinking, Gao Shiping stopped and told the two to continue. Yue Qianchou asked curiously, "Senior Brother Gao, you haven't drunk your fill yet. Why have you stopped?"

"The sect will be sending people to transport the Spirit Stones, and I have some arrangements to make. Originally, all the miners were supposed to go work, but you two are exempt. Just drink without worry," Gao Shiping said.

Yue Qianchou nodded and escorted him out. Not long after the food and wine were finished, Gao Shiping returned with a mournful face. The moment they met, he gave a bitter smile. "Junior Brother, I must break my word. The elder leading the team this time is Lu Wanqian—Elder Lu. When he saw you missing from the miners, he gave me a severe scolding and specifically named you to work alongside the other miners. Junior Brother, I'm sorry."

"Damn it! That old undead bastard has locked horns with me." Yue Qianchou rose to his feet and cursed. But there was nothing he could do, so he could only go with Shi Xiaotian and Gao Shiping.

At the entrance of the cave where the Spirit Stones were stored, Lu Wanqian stood before a crowd of miners. When he saw Yue Qianchou arrive, he snorted coldly. His granddaughter had argued with him without end these past few days because of this brat. The dozen or so elders beside him also turned to look. None of them were unfamiliar with Yue Qianchou.

Once everyone had arrived, Lu Wanqian took a small golden dragon from the storage pouch at his waist. He formed hand seals and fired several streaks of white light into the little dragon, then tossed it into the air. The golden dragon radiated a blinding light and grew against the wind. In an instant, an enormous, lifelike dragon descended before the crowd. Lu Wanqian formed another seal, and one giant scale on the dragon's belly folded down, opening a large entrance. The dragon scale happened to form a step leading inside.

Yue Qianchou watched in amazement. Though he had long heard of this transportation artifact, this was his first time seeing one. After a group of miners underwent inspection, they were all driven into the cave. The vast cavern was piled full of bag after bag of Spirit Stones, making Yue Qianchou drool. They were then ordered to carry the bags of Spirit Stones into the dragon's belly.

Shi Xiaotian was determined to stick close to his boss. If his boss carried one bag, he carried one bag. Wherever his boss went, he followed. The space within the dragon's belly was truly enormous. So many miners moved back and forth in an unending stream, carrying bags after bags. No one knew how many bags they had carried; in any case, Yue Qianchou had long lost count.

When they had nearly finished carrying them, the two entered the cave again. It had already become empty, with only two bags left. Yue Qianchou could not be bothered to carry any more, so he casually pulled Shi Xiaotian aside to stand off to one side. Someone else would naturally come carry them. Sure enough, two miners walked directly over and hoisted the bags onto their shoulders.

"Put them down." A familiar voice came from behind them. Yue Qianchou turned his head and saw Lu Wanqian staring at him coldly. He slowly said, "You two carry them out."

Yue Qianchou was speechless. In his heart, he wanted nothing more than to bite Lu Wanqian to death. The two helplessly carried the final two bags of Spirit Stones outside. Lu Wanqian inside then shouted again, "Everyone out. Submit to inspection."

Inside the dragon's belly, the two set down the Spirit Stones. Just as they turned and reached the entrance, a red beam of light suddenly descended from the sky and shot directly into the gathered miners. A thunderous explosion erupted in an instant. Powerful shockwaves mixed with shattered, scattered corpses burst outward in every direction. The two standing at the entrance to the dragon's belly stared dumbly. Before they could react, the shockwave sent them flying back inside.

"The demonic path is attacking! Qingguang Sect disciples, follow me and meet the enemy!" Lu Wanqian's hysterical shout came from outside. The two elders guarding the dragon's belly shot out in an instant.