New Neighbor

This worked too?

A flicker of joy surfaced on Lu Li's face.

From now on, he could directly cultivate the Purple Haze Sun-Refining Scripture, then have the Blood-Devouring Heaven-Swallowing Art devour it, indirectly cultivating demonic arts.

Not only would this let his demonic cultivation advance at breakneck speed.

He would not need to drink blood either!

Naturally, he would not develop some bloodthirsty quirk and turn into a vampire like Bat King Wei.

"Looks like the incompatibility between righteous and evil cultivation arts, like fire and water, has its benefits too!"

As Lu Li pondered this, he began cultivating the Purple Haze Sun-Refining Scripture.

However, before long, a streak of blood-red light tore through the air from afar and stopped thirty zhang outside the pavilion.

It was a white-robed young man of about twenty-one or twenty-two.

He wore golden boots, stood tall and slender, and had handsome features. A white jade crown bound his hair, while a sunny smile hung on his face.

He looked like a righteous cultivator, naturally inspiring goodwill.

His realm... should have been the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Thanks to the restriction formation, Lu Li could clearly see outside, but those outside could not see Lu Li standing there without a stitch on.

"Is Junior Brother home?"

At that moment, the white-robed youth cupped his hands toward the pavilion and called out, "I am your Eighth Senior Brother, surnamed Bai, given name Jinfei. I came to make friends with Junior Brother."

Eighth Senior Brother?

Lu Li's gaze darkened slightly. His eyes shifted as he called back, "Senior Brother, please wait a moment."

He promptly put on his clothes, grabbed the jade pendant, and poured spiritual power into it.

Buzz.

With a trembling hum, the pavilion's restriction formation withdrew.

Lu Li cupped his hands toward the white-robed youth in the sky. "Senior Brother, you have honored me with your presence. I failed to greet you from afar; please forgive my discourtesy."

"Haha, we are fellow disciples. Why stand on ceremony... hm?"

The white-robed youth named Bai Jinfei had been smiling politely, but when his gaze fell on Lu Li, he suddenly cried out in surprise. "Junior Brother, you are only at Qi Refinement Level One?"

"Is there something wrong with that?"

Lu Li asked calmly.

"Nothing wrong. But for Junior Brother to pass Master's test and be accepted as a Core Disciple despite such cultivation, you must certainly possess extraordinary talents!"

An expression of astonishment and admiration appeared on Bai Jinfei's face.

"You flatter me, Senior Brother. Please come down."

Lu Li replied without arrogance or humility.

"Fine."

Bai Jinfei nodded with a smile.

Then, he drifted down beside Lu Li.

Every gesture and word of his carried refined manners, like those of a young nobleman.

He did not resemble the Core Disciple of a Demon Sect elder in the slightest.

"Please do not take offense, Senior Brother. I only just moved in, and I have not even prepared tables or chairs, much less fine tea or wine. Forgive my poor hospitality."

Lu Li looked around. Seeing that there was not a single table or chair nearby, he explained.

"Haha, no need for formalities. I already guessed as much. Before your Fifth Senior Brother left, he took everything away with him and left nothing behind."

Bai Jinfei shook his head with a light laugh.

"Fifth Senior Brother?"

Lu Li raised a brow.

"He was the former owner of this Star Gazing Tower. Unfortunately, he has already fallen. Master accepted thirteen disciples in total. Now, only Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Brother, Sixth Senior Sister, and I remain. The rest are either dead or missing."

Bai Jinfei sighed emotionally.

"..."

Lu Li fell silent.

It seemed the risks of becoming Ghost Demon True Person's disciple were truly enormous!

"Junior Brother, look. That magnificent, glittering cave residence is mine. The White Jade Ice Palace not far from yours belongs to Second Senior Sister. That Blue Stone Great Hall in the distance belongs to Eldest Senior Brother..."

As Bai Jinfei spoke, he raised a hand and pointed.

Second Senior Sister?

Lu Li glanced at the distant White Jade Ice Palace.

It was a palace half carved from white jade and half sculpted from ice, quite unusual in appearance.

The moment one approached, a bone-piercing chill assailed them.

"Among those still in the sect, there are only me and Second Senior Sister. Now, there is also you, Junior Brother. By the way, I still do not know your honored name?"

Bai Jinfei asked with a smile.

"Lu Li. I have no father or mother. Fortunately, Master favored me and accepted me as a Core Disciple."

Lu Li answered simply.

He did not know the character of the man before him, so naturally he did not wish to reveal too much.

"Haha, Junior Brother, there is no need to be so wary. Though this is the Ghost Sect, and disciples killing one another is commonplace, once one becomes a Core Disciple, one becomes a seed of the sect's inheritance and is protected by sect rules. Whoever harms another without cause must pay with their life. In this regard, we are even more serious than righteous sects."

Bai Jinfei seemed to notice Lu Li's vigilance and explained with a smile.

"I see. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

Lu Li acted as if he believed him and cupped his hands in thanks.

Yet inwardly, he still did not believe a word.

"There is no helping it. Our Demon Sect is jointly suppressed by the Daoist Sect and the Buddhist Sect. We are holed up in this godforsaken place, Ten Thousand Demon Mountain, unable even to leave. If we do not find ways to grow stronger, our sect will be wiped out sooner or later."

Bai Jinfei shook his head and sighed.

There was indeed some sense in those words.

"Forget it. These matters are not for small fry like us to worry about. Junior Brother, do you need any help right now?"

Bai Jinfei asked with narrowed, smiling eyes.

"Senior Brother means...?"

Lu Li frowned slightly.

The vigilance in his heart instantly rose to its peak.

"Hehehe, Junior Brother Lu, you should be short on funds right now, shouldn't you?" Bai Jinfei asked with a grin.

"Indeed."

Lu Li nodded.

All he possessed now were twenty-two Low-grade Spirit Stones.

And a Ghost Raising Tower.

At that moment, Bai Jinfei continued, "Junior Brother, what cultivation consumes most is Spirit Stones. If you do not have any, I can lend you some!"

"Oh? Senior Brother is so kind-hearted? Impossible. Could it be that Senior Brother has taken a fancy to something on my person...?"

Lu Li vaguely guessed something.

"Junior Brother has misunderstood. We are fellow disciples; how could I covet Junior Brother's belongings? It is merely that if you are truly short on funds and urgently need money, I can lend you Spirit Stones without interest. But you will still need to write a collateralized promissory note."

By the end, Bai Jinfei's eyes had narrowed into slits, like a fox wagging its tail.

"A collateralized promissory note?"

Lu Li's expression turned cool.

"Yes. You only need to state that if Junior Brother cannot repay in the future, or if something happens to you, the treasures on your person will belong to me. Of course, aside from Spirit Stones, if Junior Brother wants other magical artifacts, demonic arts, Spirit Ghosts, heavenly treasures, or even peerless beauties... hehehe, this Senior Brother can get them all for you!"

By the end, Bai Jinfei wore the knowing smile of a man.

So he was a profiteering swindler!

A hint of disdain arose in Lu Li's heart, but none showed on his face. He merely cupped his hands and shook his head. "I appreciate Senior Brother's good intentions. For now, I have nothing I urgently need."

"Hm? You are eighteen, brimming with vigor, and you do not even want women? Could it be that you... like husbands?"

Bai Jinfei was somewhat surprised.

"Not that."

Lu Li shook his head and said calmly, "I am a hero of the wilds."

"Hiss!"

The instant Bai Jinfei heard that, he understood. He sucked in a cold breath. "Junior Brother, a snake demon capable of taking human form is at least a Golden Core great demon. I cannot get you one of those! Hm? Junior Brother, you are not serious, are you?"

By then, he could also tell that Lu Li was talking nonsense.

Lu Li smiled without explaining.

"Haha, Junior Brother, you truly are interesting. Would you like to visit my cave residence? I have excellent spirit fruits and fine wine there, as well as many beauties with exceptional talents."

Bai Jinfei invited him with a smile.

"Thank you for the kind offer, Senior Brother, but I have not yet completed today's cultivation lessons. I will not be going."

Lu Li shook his head in refusal.

"All right, then. We can talk another time."

Bai Jinfei saw Lu Li's aloofness and did not mind. He waved a hand, then soared into the sky. After a few flashes, he returned to his magnificent, glittering palace.

Once he had left, Lu Li immediately activated the restriction formation, shrouding the pavilion and blocking all prying eyes.

His expression abruptly turned cold.

This group of senior brothers and sisters was probably no better than they looked.

He still needed to cultivate first!

Thus, Lu Li skillfully stripped off his clothes and threw himself wholeheartedly into cultivation.