Old Daoist Qiu

As if sensing Su Jie's scrutiny, Yu Wenxian looked over with a smile and said, "Junior Disciple Su, why do you keep staring at me? Could it be you want to spend a lovely night with me?"

Su Jie shivered and quickly waved his hands. "Senior Disciple Yu is joking. I am insignificant, how could I dare to presume to be worthy of Senior Disciple's high status? If people knew, wouldn't I be drowned by the spittle of your followers and admirers?"

"Heh, you're quite an interesting person."

Yu Wenxian chuckled and pursed her lips. Her large breasts jiggled with an astonishing curve, yet not a single disciple dared to steal a glance.

"Someone, come here! We're about to depart, and you're still so unobservant. Do you want me to walk to see Master? Not even a newcomer is as sensible as you."

Her smile vanished, and Yu Wenxian snorted coldly. Several male disciples, their faces filled with alarm, rushed out and knelt at Yu Wenxian's feet.

Lightly stepping, Yu Wenxian sat cross-legged on their backs, as if riding horses. She let the disciples beneath her crawl on all fours, carrying her forward.

Su Jie breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he wasn't targeted by that female demon.

He then looked at the male disciples beneath Yu Wenxian, acting like oxen and horses. These were the unlucky ones who had succumbed to lust and fallen into her trap.

Yu Wenxian refined a special kind of mother-child love Gu worm. Once a male disciple couldn't resist temptation and engaged in illicit relations, the love Gu worm would enter their vital spot, burrow into their heart, and lie dormant, controlled by Yu Wenxian's mother Gu.

At Yu Wenxian's command, the infected would suffer the torment of a thousand insects gnawing at their hearts, leaving them no choice but to obey her will and become slaves, serving her like oxen and horses.

Many newcomers, unaware of this, would encounter Yu Wenxian and think their luck had turned for the better, only to be controlled by her for the rest of their lives after falling into her trap.

Su Jie truly did not want to provoke such a ruthless person.

"Is everyone here? Follow me to meet Master."

Pei Haibing's face was cold, as if everyone owed him a fortune.

The group traveled several miles, arriving at a large courtyard with a high gate on the mountainside.

Several willow trees were planted in front of the courtyard gate, their branches like hair, swaying freely.

Knock, knock!

Pei Haibing stepped forward and knocked on the door.

The gate opened automatically, revealing a luxurious interior. The courtyard was complete with pavilions, corridors, gazebos, ponds, and rockeries. The walls of each building were adorned with exquisite bas-reliefs. It was hard to imagine such a lavish courtyard hidden deep in the mountains.

Upon entering, everyone's expression turned solemn. They stepped into the courtyard, and even Yu Wenxian immediately stood up from the disciples' backs and tidied her attire.

Many servants were busy in the courtyard. Upon seeing the group of disciples, they all greeted them. These were slaves bought from the Black Market. Besides cleaning and managing the courtyard, they could also be used as resources for practicing Devil cultivation when human resources were scarce.

In addition, some figures with dim, cloudy eyes and distended bellies stood out conspicuously, like guards on duty. Regardless of gender, these individuals had bellies as large as those in their tenth month of pregnancy.

These were not living people but insect slaves, refined by cultivators.

Their bellies were filled with various small Gu worms, and their bodies served as the mother nests for these worms.

Because they were cultivators, their flesh and blood were rich in Spiritual Energy molecules. The Gu worms nurtured in this environment were of higher quality and were more bloodthirsty and violent.

In essence, these people were already dead, their bodies driven only by instinct. If an enemy appeared, their entire flesh and blood would transform into nourishment for the Gu worms, hatching them into large and small Gu worms, forming a terrifying sea of insects.

Su Jie dared not look further and lowered his head, continuing to advance.

After walking another hundred meters, in front of a lotus pond, Su Jie finally saw Old Daoist Qiu.

He was a man in purple robes, appearing somewhat thin, around seventy years old. His eyes were cold, vertical pupils like those of a snake. He was currently holding a jade cup and scattering bait into the pond, seemingly feeding fish.

However, upon closer inspection, it was clearly not fish food but human eyeballs, freshly gouged out, still bloody.

Before the eyeballs thrown into the pond could sink, several massive shadows darted beneath the water, devouring them ferociously, sending water splashing.

"Master, I've brought everyone here. Please address them."

Quickly stepping up beside Old Daoist Qiu, Pei Haibing bowed respectfully and reported.

"Hmm, you're quite punctual."

A hoarse voice came as Old Daoist Qiu slowly turned around.

"We wouldn't dare to be negligent in serving you, Elder."

Yu Wenxian on the side chimed in sweetly, while the other disciples dared not interject.

"Since everyone is here, I have something to tell you."

Old Daoist Qiu put down his jade cup, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked at everyone. "Yesterday, the Earth Vein Taint erupted, causing the Strange Ghost magnetic field in this area to become unstable, resulting in daytime predation. Today, after the sect's assembly, the Sect Master has made a decision. To protect Insect Valley, the Black Market, the Blood Marrow Stone Mine, and the main transportation routes, a Mountain Guard Patrol Team will be established starting today. Disciples with Cultivation at the Spirit Infusion second layer or above must participate. They will form groups of three, patrolling the mountains day and night to protect the spiritual paths and ensure the safety of trade routes."

What!

Upon hearing this, the disciples cried out in shock. Many outer disciples' faces turned extremely grim.

The power of the Strange Ghosts was something ordinary disciples could hardly resist. Even a team of three would be in a perilous situation.

However, no one dared to voice any objection.

Just thinking about the insect slaves they saw in the courtyard was enough to imagine the cruelty of Old Daoist Qiu's methods. The disciples could not defy the sect's decision.

Su Jie remained silent. Although he wanted to lie low and focus on his Cultivation, it was still a sect resolution. He could only grit his teeth and participate in such a collective action.

However, Peng Shiwen, standing beside him, had a gloomy expression, his face as dark and purple as an eggplant frostbitten by frost.

"Our lineage's Mountain Guard team will be formed in ten days. You will choose your own team members. Do not disappoint me."

Old Daoist Qiu retrieved his fish food, his expression indifferent.

All the disciples looked towards Pei Haibing and Yu Wenxian, their minds racing with different thoughts, each beginning to calculate their savings.

"Alright, you can all leave now. Go back and prepare yourselves properly."

Old Daoist Qiu dismissed everyone. As soon as the disciples left the courtyard, they immediately surrounded Pei Haibing and Yu Wenxian.

"Senior Brother Pei, this is Spiritual Tea I bought from Green Peak Pavilion. Please try it and tell me what you think."

"Senior Sister Yu, this Golden Jade Blood Hairpin is a Spiritual Item I obtained by chance. It can accelerate the gathering of spiritual energy and aid cultivation. It's perfect for a beauty like you."

The disciples scrambled to surround the two, vying to curry favor with them. After all, Pei Haibing and Yu Wenxian were inner disciples. If they could join their team, their safety would naturally increase greatly.

Su Jie did not join in. Putting aside whether he had enough money, he had too many secrets. He worried that if he stayed with the inner disciples, any slip-up might be noticed by them.