Seal the Three Gates

Master Qiao glared at Xu Yuan with eyes more venomous than an old locust's.

The old locust released its front legs, which had been clasped behind its back, and pointed at Xu Yuan. It said to Master Qiao, "I've found the person for you. I told you long ago, no one in these mountains is better at finding things than my family."

Then it chuckled sinisterly, "But the previous price won't do anymore. You saw it yourself, this brat killed so many of my good offspring. Three heads of blood food is the least I can ask for."

Xu Yuan gritted his teeth and questioned Master Qiao, "You're colluding with the strange!"

In the first few days after arriving in Qihetan Town, a question had surfaced in Xu Yuan's mind: How could Master Qiao protect the town?

After all, Master Qiao was merely a Nine Streams Literary Cultivator, even if he was a strong one among them.

Any strange being with a bit of power in Ghost Witch Mountain could defeat Master Qiao.

Yet, over the years, although there were occasional incidents of strange beings harming people in the town, it had remained relatively peaceful.

Qihetan Town was located at a crucial point on the official road. Master Qiao controlled the town and earned hundreds of thousands of yuan annually!

Master Qiao gritted his teeth and asked the old locust, "How many do you want?"

"Three hundred heads."

"Impossible!" Master Qiao refused without hesitation. "Where am I supposed to find three hundred living people for you? If so many people disappear inexplicably, the authorities will investigate thoroughly."

The old locust's antennae twitched. "This isn't just my demand. That Water Monster that appeared earlier also made a move—it's not cheap to get it to act! Two hundred of these three hundred heads are for it."

Master Qiao's hatred for Xu Yuan stemmed precisely from this.

The price of capturing Xu Yuan was too high, he couldn't afford it. But if he didn't pay, the old locust would definitely not let him leave, and he would become blood food.

The old locust cackled, "Why don't you go discuss it with that Water Monster yourself?"

Master Qiao's imposing aura deflated.

That thing was sinister, mad, and impossible to communicate with. If he went to negotiate with it, it might lose its temper and eat him first.

There were many similar strange beings in Ghost Witch Mountain, and Master Qiao always negotiated through "intermediaries" like the old locust.

"Getting it to act was to save your offspring, this money shouldn't be on me."

As soon as Master Qiao spoke, the old locust's expression immediately turned grim. "Are you trying to renege on your debt, you old geezer?"

All the locusts around them turned their unfriendly gazes towards Master Qiao.

Cold sweat broke out on Master Qiao's forehead. "One hundred and fifty. That's my limit. Any more, and if you don't kill me, the authorities will!"

The old locust drew circles in the air with its antennae. "Three hundred heads of blood food, and I'll also introduce you to those few people in Guanghuo Street!"

A sharp glint flashed in Master Qiao's eyes, but he still said helplessly, "I really can't get that many..."

"I can allow you to pay in two installments. Give me a hundred and fifty heads first, and another hundred and fifty a month later," the old locust said. "This is my absolute bottom line!"

Master Qiao was tempted and probed, "Then the matter of Guanghuo Street..."

"I keep my word!"

"Fine!" Master Qiao gritted his teeth and agreed.

The old locust smiled happily and pointed its front legs at Xu Yuan. "You can take the person."

Master Qiao approached Xu Yuan and coldly took out three calligraphic scrolls from his sleeve. Each scroll was written in a different font, with the character "Seal".

Master Qiao waved his hand, and the three scrolls rose into the air without wind and burned without fire. The three "Seal" characters were imprinted on Xu Yuan in mid-air.

Xu Yuan immediately felt unable to move, and even his "Inner Fire" was sealed.

Master Qiao grabbed Xu Yuan, slung him over his shoulder, and sped away with the wind beneath his feet.

After leaving the old locust's territory, Master Qiao roughly threw Xu Yuan to the ground and said hatefully, "Half a month ago, Xu Linshi brought you to me, and I actually thought she wanted to get rid of her unwanted stepson!

Hmph, it's laughable that I thought you were a blood food delivered to my doorstep back then, planning to send you into the mountains after a few months!"

Over the years, young men and women working in Qihetan Town had often inexplicably died in Ghost Witch Mountain.

The townspeople all believed it was the work of strange beings, unaware that Master Qiao had arranged for them to be sent into the mountains as food for the strange beings.

His methods could fool the ignorant and naive townspeople, but they couldn't fool Saint Aunt.

That was why Saint Aunt said his ambition to become "Headman" was a pipe dream.

Xu Yuan fell to the ground, his forehead hitting a stone, and immediately began to bleed. His cheek was also scraped by the mud and sand.

However, Xu Yuan showed no signs of dejection. His eyes darted around, and he glanced faintly at Master Qiao.

Master Qiao keenly caught that look and snorted, "Not convinced? All your abilities are sealed."

Master Qiao recalled the tragically deceased accountant Liu and gritted his teeth. "This time, I won't let you escape, no matter what!"

"Up to now, you've exhibited two types of power: Pill Cultivator and Law Cultivator." Master Qiao had eyes and ears everywhere in Qihetan Town; he could later find out what methods Xu Yuan had used in front of others.

"I always err on the side of caution when assessing enemies. I'll add the so-called Fate Cultivator to your abilities. The powers of the three major schools, isn't that enough? Those three scrolls just now correspond to one school each!"

Master Qiao sat down on a rock opposite Xu Yuan, nudged Xu Yuan's face with his toe, leaving a clear footprint on Xu Yuan's face with his mud-covered shoe sole.

Xu Yuan shifted from a side-lying position to lying on his back, making it convenient for Master Qiao to interrogate him.

"Tell me the truth, how did you encounter the June Bug? If you do, I might spare your life out of my great benevolence."

Xu Yuan's eyes flickered, indicating to Master Qiao that he could not speak.

Master Qiao snorted coldly, "If you try anything funny, I'll have no choice but to break all your hands and feet. You're a smart one, why suffer through that physical pain?"

Xu Yuan's eyes showed submission. Master Qiao raised his hand, and a character for "Seal" detached slightly from Xu Yuan's body.

Xu Yuan could move again.

"Speak."

Xu Yuan hesitated for a moment, seemingly resigned to his fate, "When I came here, Stepmother gave me a small bamboo cage and some old rice. These things were used to catch June Bugs."

Master Qiao frowned deeply, "A bamboo cage? Rice? Did you catch any?"

"I caught them. I ate them."

Master Qiao asked, "Where's the bamboo cage?"

"In my embrace." As Xu Yuan spoke, he took out the small bamboo cage from his tattered clothes, cupped it in his palm, and offered it to Master Qiao, saying, "Look, it's this one."

Master Qiao reached out to take it. The moment his fingers were about to touch the bamboo cage, it suddenly opened and rapidly moved along his fingers, swallowing his entire palm.

The bamboo strips were like fangs, and the bamboo cage was like a gluttonous maw.

After swallowing Master Qiao's entire palm, it quickly consumed his whole arm.

Master Qiao was greatly shocked, "Artisan Cultivator!"

How could this little brat possess so many kinds of power?!

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