Mother and Daughter, One Person, Peddler Tricks for Treasure

"The Dayuan Dynasty today is like an incomparably huge slaughterhouse, an incomparably vast field of leeks."

"As a small pig, a small leek, where can I escape to?"

Ge Xian's expression was a little unsightly, and he came up with a metaphor in his heart.

Fortunately, he was not someone who didn't know how to adapt.

On the contrary, as soon as he discovered that the path ahead was blocked and full of danger, this fellow quickly thought of other paths in his heart, and in an instant, he determined the one that was most beneficial to him.

He turned his head to look outside the doorway, in the direction of Sunset Mountain.

It was also dawn at this time, and it was the day of the "Guǐ Wǔ Competition" and "Martial Arts Competition for Marriage."

The originally closed Ancient Tomb Sect stronghold was opening, and Guǐ Wǔ Cultivators who had rushed from all over the world were swarming inside.

Among them were major sects like Shaolin Temple, Wudang Sect, Beggar Sect, and Ming Cult, as well as obscure small sects like Five Tiger Gate and Zombie Gate. The momentum was such that it was rare in decades.

Ge Xian had previously wondered why the news had spread so quickly that even the Guǐ Wǔ sects in the Western Regions knew about it.

Now he knew the truth: the Eternal Life Cult, an evil cult that could contend with the [Myriad Laws Sect], was spreading the word, so it was naturally astonishingly fast.

"Whether to escape or not is not a good idea, so it is difficult to choose."

"But one thing is definitely very good for me, and that is... selling information."

"Now that I know these high-level intelligence secrets, I should sell them one by one and get the benefits first."

"If I delay for a day, and the Eternal Life Cult launches its plot, my information will be worthless."

"Liu Futong, Zhang Shicheng, Zhu Hongwu, the Political Investigation Department, and others are all wealthy and powerful forces. If I provide such priceless information, won't the resources and treasures I can exchange for be extraordinary as well?"

"Now that the Guǐ Wǔ Competition is about to begin, Monk Faxian, Shi Er, Yang Bi, Fei Zhong, and others are also on the mountain to join the fun. It's perfect to gather them together, saving me the trouble of running around to each of them."

As his thoughts flickered, the joy on Ge Huolang's face could no longer be concealed.

Once he made up his mind, he hesitated no longer.

Ge Xian then said to the Fox Woman Qiu Niang:

"Return to Willow Oriole Alley and cover for me. Do not leave the slightest trace."

"Yes, Master."

The Fox Woman replied obediently, then immediately resumed her seductive demeanor, without any sign of abnormality, and returned to Willow Oriole Alley on her own.

As for Ge Xian, he thought for a moment, quickly drew some ugly Skin Sacs to prepare, and then stuffed all the strange items he had obtained before, such as the Buddhist beads, the staff, the jade pot, the Secret Manual, and the [Lord She Treasure Pouch], into the depths of his peddler's pole.

He then picked up the broom with the seven-colored ribbon tied to it. He was about to ask, but remembered that the Pretty Young Woman had said that no matter where he went, he should take her with him.

She then hung her soul residence on the peddler's pole, lifted it, and left the small courtyard, heading towards Sunset Mountain.

Clearly, this fellow's idea was to carry all his worldly possessions on his back, and flee immediately if the situation turned unfavorable.

Sunset Mountain was bustling with people.

Ge Xian followed hundreds of Guǐ Wǔ Cultivators, most of them of low caliber, up the mountain.

In retrospect, this was his first time entering the mountain. Although he had previously witnessed the Ancient Tomb Sect Leader Li Wa lead her disciples in attacking the mountain and dividing the spoils of a White Snake demon, he had only watched from afar, his attention fully focused on Li Wa, who was as peerless and otherworldly as a mortal woman.

He hadn't noticed the many buildings within Sunset Mountain at all.

It turned out that besides Leifeng Pagoda, the mountain also housed many pavilions, towers, palaces, and temples. Most of them were relics from the Song Dynasty, judging from these structures, one could tell how prosperous the incense offerings must have been in this area during that era.

Although it had been abandoned for many years, and after the demon mist sealed the mountain, some mutated beasts, evil spirits, and mountain sprites had occupied it, causing havoc.

But the spiritual energy still remained. In the past few days, the Ancient Tomb Sect had cleaned it up, restoring much of its former glory, causing the Guǐ Wǔ Cultivators to praise repeatedly, saying that the Ancient Tomb Sect Leader Li had a sharp eye to quickly find such a good location to relocate their sect.

The Martial Arts Competition for Marriage and the Guǐ Wǔ Convention were both held on the large flat ground outside Leifeng Pagoda on the mountain peak, so everyone headed in that direction.

To avoid attracting attention, Ge Xian blended into the crowd with ordinary steps.

Along the way, he overheard many noisy conversations among the Guǐ Wǔ Cultivators.

"Tsk, tsk, so lively. A grand event of this scale hasn't happened in decades. It's my great fortune to be able to participate as a nobody like myself."

"It's all thanks to Sect Leader Li Wa. If she were truly willing to reveal the Mortal Transformation Secret Technique, she would be the greatest person in the history of the Guǐ Wǔ martial arts world."

"It's bound to happen. We martial artists have always been far inferior to those 'spiritual cultivators' for many years, unable to hold our heads up. If we can break through the limit of mortal transformation, even if we're still far from equal, at least we'll have some hope."

"Alas, if one could cultivate immortality, who would want to practice martial arts? I've never awakened any talent. If I hadn't luckily joined the Giant Flood Dragon Gate and learned the Giant Flood Dragon Palm, I'd still be a fisherman making a living, and might have already been swallowed by some fish or shrimp monster."

"Guǐ Wǔ cultivation doesn't require exceptional talent, but the price is also high. I practice the Eagle Claw Skill, and now both my hands have been transplanted with the claws of mutated eagles. Their power is not insignificant, but I suffer torment every day. I've also developed vicious habits like eating carrion, sleeping in the wild, and favoring female eagles. I'm becoming more immersed in it day by day. Perhaps in a while, I won't be myself anymore."

"If Sect Leader Li isn't lying, Guǐ Wǔ will surely be revived. Perhaps then, various Guǐ Wǔ cultivation methods with smaller costs will appear, benefiting humanity."

"Speaking of which, have any of you seen Sect Leader Li's daughter? I heard her name is Li Su. She's incredibly beautiful, with skin like ice and bones like jade, stunningly radiant. Every young hero who has seen her has fallen for her."

"She's even better than a mother-in-law!"

"Shameless! Everyone, stay away from him, lest you get splashed with his blood."

As Ge Xian listened to these conversations, he also kept observing these Guǐ Wǔ Cultivators.

Although they all possessed extraordinary strength, most were of low caliber, only slightly more formidable than ordinary mortals.

Almost every one of them appeared "incomplete," either through transplantation or by having grown some organs or foreign bodies that did not belong to humans.

Their moods seemed off, either overly excited or excessively haggard, both signs of a short lifespan.

However, at this moment, each of them held hope, their eyes shining with brilliance. When speaking of the "Ancient Tomb Sect" and "Li Wa," they did so with immense reverence. Anyone who dared to speak ill of them, even to question them, at this juncture would face a siege from the assembled cultivators.

Some cultivators, perhaps with vicious habits like foul mouths or a short temper, couldn't hold back. The luckier ones were merely severely injured, while the unlucky ones were killed on the spot.

Ge Xian watched, sighing inwardly.

"So-called Guǐ Wǔ!"

"Is actually the cultivation method that humans without Awakened Talent have explored through various means since ancient times."

"Under the guise of martial arts, they chase after those who cultivate immortality."

"But alas, their innate foundation is insufficient, and their Dao Path is arduous. They can never break through the upper limit of the Mortal Transformation Realm. No matter how talented they are, they will only reach the Foundation Establishment Realm until death. You must know that Foundation Establishment is merely the beginning in the Cultivation World."

"These Guǐ Wǔ Cultivators desperately need that hope. Even though many of them are intelligent and have difficulty guessing, they suppress it now, not uttering a word, their hearts filled with hope that Li Wa's promise is true."

"Unfortunately, the Mortal Transformation method is not only untrue, but it is also a great disaster that could destroy them."

The closer they got to the mountain peak, the more fervent the atmosphere became.

When these Guǐ Wǔ Cultivators from all corners of the land gathered on the large training ground and saw the stunning mother and daughter in white on the stage, the commotion and screams reached their climax.

Ge Xian was among them, and at this moment, he was also watching the mother and daughter on the stage intently.

Were they beautiful?

Indeed, they were beautiful.

Li Wa, who had supposedly entered the Mortal Transformation Realm, would not make one think of a "human woman" at this moment. One would only see her as a jade-like Goddess, wishing to kneel and worship her.

Beside her stood a maiden of sixteen, also in white. Not only did she have skin like jade and bones like ice, but she was also stunningly beautiful. The aura of spiritual essence emanating from her could actually contend with Li Wa, drawing at least half of the crowd's gazes.

Exclamations rose and fell.

Ge Xian clearly saw the young heroes he had robbed earlier, from the Beggar Sect, Mount Hua, Qingcheng, and others, all trying to conceal their swallowing motions. The admiration and greed in their eyes, however, could not be hidden at all.

The next moment, Li Wa's clear and cold voice echoed again, its content completely igniting the atmosphere of Sunset Mountain.

"Fellow Daoists!"

"Today, we will first hold a Martial Arts Competition for Marriage. All the talented young men from various families can come on stage to compete. As long as you can defeat, or gain the approval of my daughter, Li Su, you will become my daughter Li Wa's son-in-law."

"Of course, women are also welcome. My daughter does not discriminate based on gender."

"Furthermore, I wish to let you all know that she has cultivated the Jade Maiden Immortal Scripture to the realm of perfection. If you can cultivate with her, you will not only gain great benefits but will also be able to enter the Mortal Transformation Realm together in the future."

"Fellow cultivators, please don't be anxious. The marriage recruitment will conclude, and then the Guǐ Wǔ Tournament will commence. I will immediately fulfill my promise and make the Mortal Transformation Secret Technique public."

"Li Wa only hopes for the revival of Guǐ Wǔ. After today, I hope many more Mortal Transformation cultivators will emerge."

After she finished speaking.

The entire Sunset Mountain seemed to be boiling with heat.

The clamor and cheers even reached Qiantang County in the distance.

At this moment, even if "Li Wa" declared herself the leader of the Guǐ Wǔ Alliance and demanded all Guǐ Wǔ cultivators to obey her, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Amidst such a fervent atmosphere, only Ge Xian couldn't bring himself to smile.

His perception seemed to have glimpsed another horrifying truth:

"What Li Wa, Li Su?"

"This mother and daughter are clearly the same person."

"The Qi energy hidden deep within their bodies is exactly the same."

"What kind of game is this?"

"Are cultivators from the Eternal Life Cult all this monstrous?"

Ge Xian trembled, his mind's alarm bells ringing furiously. He couldn't help but recall the scene he witnessed earlier when Lu Hualong and the Eternal Life Cult cultivators were performing, those half-human, half-snake, slimy flesh monsters, and that song of desire.

Could this pair of so-called mother and daughter, who captivated everyone, be similar in appearance once they shed their skin sacs?

While Ge Huolang was filled with trepidation, the martial competition had already begun.

The young heroes of the martial world, unable to suppress their desires, scrambled onto the stage.

Seeing "Li Su" as an icy maiden, they subconsciously thought she wasn't very powerful. However, the young heroes were quickly dealt a blow. The first dozen or so young talents were almost all defeated in a single exchange, sent tumbling off the stage in two or three moves.

It wasn't until Zhuang Hongshi, Duan Feihong, Guo Qingyu, and other talents stepped onto the stage that the matches became more evenly contested.

Although no one had yet defeated her, these individuals seemed to be given preferential treatment. When they were knocked off the stage, they were also gifted a healing spiritual pill.

It was called a Jade Bee Pill from an ancient tomb. It looked crystal clear like snow and exuded an exotic fragrance. The recipients swallowed it without hesitation.

After witnessing this scene, Ge Xian couldn't help but tremble again.

His Supernatural Perception, combined with the "Outer Sky Gray Eye" he now possessed, allowed him to unexpectedly see through the contents of the Jade Bee Pill. It was filled with incredibly tiny, entirely pink "flesh eggs" covered in claws.

Even a mere glance filled Ge Xian with a profoundly ominous feeling.

He was almost certain that the young heroes who consumed the Jade Bee Pill would, in the future, lose control of themselves and become Li Su's slaves.

"What a trap, how shameless."

"Gan Lin Niang's... If I can foil this conspiracy and transaction, it won't be a wasted trip for this peddler to come here."

As thoughts flashed, Ge Xian also began to act.

He first concentrated and sensed, quickly learning the locations of Monk Faxian, Shi Er, Yang Bi, and Fei Zhong.

Quite fortunately, they were all on the mountain, and far apart from each other.

Ge Xian first found a hidden spot to place his peddler's pole, then put on his skin sac. While everyone was watching the martial arts competition, he quietly squeezed next to a red-robed monk, who was precisely Monk Faxian, who hailed from the [Maitreya Cult] and was associating with Liu Futong.

The Maitreya Cult was not a proper Buddhist sect, and this Monk Faxian was also an improper monk who frequented brothels.

At this moment, he wasn't looking at the stunningly beautiful Li Su on the stage, but was staring intently, lecherously, at the eight-foot-tall Li Wa sitting in the VIP seats above.

He kept swallowing as he watched, muttering to himself:

"What a beauty, what a stunner."

"But why does she always give me a dangerous and disgusting feeling? I'm not new to older women..."

As soon as Ge Xian arrived, he heard these lewd words from the lustful monk.

His expression darkened, and he immediately waved the wrist wearing prayer beads in front of him.

Seeing that the monk's gaze was drawn over, before he could speak, Ge Xian sent a telepathic message:

"Master Faxian, I am Ge Xian."

"Don't stare too much at Li Wa, the sect leader of the Ancient Tomb Sect. This woman is actually the daughter of the [Spirit Desire Great Priest] of the Eternal Life Cult, and she is already a Mortal Transformation Realm cultivator. If she detects you, Master, you might be in danger."

"Hiss!"

Ge Huolang's explosive intelligence immediately made Monk Faxian's head buzz, and he instantly lowered his head.

Judging from the look of panic that instantly appeared on his face, the terms Eternal Life Cult and Spirit Desire Great Priest were extremely terrifying.

As expected, the next moment he also heard a telepathic message:

"Brother Ge, what did you say? This woman is one of those freaks from the Eternal Life Cult?"

"Do you have proof? Why would the daughter of an Eternal Life Cult priest pretend to be a Guǐ Wǔ Cultivator here?"

If it were at any other time, in any other place.

With this level of intelligence, he, Ge Huolang, would surely have leveraged it to sell at a high price.

But this time, he planned to use a different approach.

Without any concealment, he revealed all the secrets he had spied.

And so!

Next, Ge Xian saw Monk Faxian's expression change from terror to shock, then to disbelief, and finally, in a moment of stunned silence, it suddenly turned to ecstasy.

"Good, good, good!"

"Although this intelligence is terrifying, it is clearly also an opportunity. While there is still time, if this humble monk makes arrangements, I will surely be able to thwart the Eternal Life Cult's plans and make this arrogant Evil God Dharma Lineage suffer a great loss. Perhaps, by extension, I can even bring down that old bastard Yelü Tianzheng. Wonderful, truly wonderful."

"Brother Ge, you have made another great contribution. I never imagined you could spy out such a major secret. It seems you are not only astonishingly talented but also possess superior wisdom and a meticulous mind. This humble monk is not your equal."

"When we return to Bozhou, I will request a commendation for you."

"Until then, remember to stay close to me. Once the perverted women of the Eternal Life Cult initiate their ritualistic training, Sunset Mountain will immediately turn into a living hell. You have not yet entered the Dao and could perish at any moment."

As Monk Faxian was excitedly transmitting these thoughts.

Ge Xian's anxious reply immediately entered his ears:

"Master Faxian, you just do as you must."

"But I cannot follow you for the time being. To be frank, I have already fallen in love with a 'Fox Woman.' It was she who risked her life to steal this information and give it to me. I am worried about your safety and rushed here to inform you. I haven't had time to return to Qiantang County to rescue her yet."

"Now I must go back to save her. After I rescue her, I can take her to Bozhou first, and then we can meet up. I will rely on your introduction."

With these words spoken, no one could refute them.

Especially since this fellow couldn't resist adding a little something at this moment, greatly increasing his persuasiveness.

Monk Faxian pondered for only two or three breaths before he couldn't help but cast an admiring gaze at Ge Xian. While fumbling through his belongings, he transmitted:

"I never expected Brother Ge to be such a passionate man."

"Since that is the case, how can this humble monk not fulfill your wish."

"You have made such a great contribution, and you will naturally receive many benefits upon returning to Bozhou. This humble monk cannot repay you immediately."

"However, it is not difficult to provide you with some miraculous treasures to save your life, protect you, and aid in your escape and journey."