I Am a Member of the Demonic Cult

Bai Jinfei's palace was not far, situated within a secluded bamboo grove.

Soon, Lu Li arrived before the palace.

It was a highly luxurious structure.

The walls were made of pure gold.

The roof tiles were crafted from jasper.

Under the afternoon sun, they reflected a dazzling radiance.

As he approached, a beautiful young girl guarding the palace gate stepped forward, bowed, and said in a delicate voice, "This servant greets Young Master Lu. Does Young Master Lu have business with my young master?"

This must be Bai Jinfei's maid.

Lu Li nodded. "Yes, please trouble yourself to announce me."

"Please wait a moment, Young Master Lu."

The girl gave a slight nod.

With that, she pulled a small bell from her sleeve and shook it gently three times.

Ring, ring, ring.

The bell's chime was crisp, echoing all around.

Before long, with a low rumble, the red palace doors slowly creaked open. Bai Jinfei stepped out quickly, laughing brightly, "Junior Brother Lu, congratulations, congratulations!"

"Hm? What is there to congratulate me for?"

Lu Li was taken aback.

"Junior Brother has been in closed-door cultivation all month. Now that you have emerged, you must have made a significant breakthrough in your cultivation—isn't that worth a celebration? Wait, Junior Brother, you've broken through to the third level of Qi Refining? Hiss! Such talent, truly terrifying!"

Bai Jinfei exclaimed in wonder.

Why did that sound so sarcastic?

Lu Li frowned slightly and said coldly, "Senior Brother Bai, it took me an entire month to reach the third level of Qi Refining. My cultivation speed is likely among the slowest in the entire Yin Underworld Ghost Sect; there is no need for you to mock me. If you do not welcome me, I shall take my leave."

Having said that, he turned to leave without the slightest hesitation.

Seeing this, Bai Jinfei hurriedly flashed forward to block his path, cupping his hands in apology. "Junior Brother, you've misunderstood. How about this: come inside, and we can drink, enjoy the graceful dances of beauties, and let me explain?"

"...Fine!"

Lu Li pondered for a moment before nodding.

He didn't care much for the drinking.

His main interest was in seeing the beauties to lift his spirits.

"Haha, Junior Brother, please."

Bai Jinfei laughed and led Lu Li into the palace.

Upon entering the main gate, a white jade Wine Pool and Meat Forest shaped like the character "field" immediately came into view.

The pool spanned thirty zhang in both directions, massive in scale.

Thick mist drifted above the water.

Taking a light breath, a heady aroma of wine, mixed with the intoxicating, delicate scent of women, instantly filled his lungs.

Faintly, through the dense white mist, he could see several graceful figures within the pool.

Clap, clap.

At this moment, Bai Jinfei beside him clapped his hands lightly.

A breeze swept through.

The thick mist dispersed.

Suddenly, the twenty or so figures in the pool were revealed to Lu Li.

They were all stunningly beautiful women, charming and alluring, their clothes soaked through and clinging to them like a spring breeze.

Seeing Lu Li, some of the women covered their faces in shyness, diving into the pool like mermaids, while others swayed their bodies slowly as they swam toward him, their eyes captivating and soul-stirring.

"Junior Brother, what do you think of my Wine Pool and Meat Forest?"

Bai Jinfei asked with a smile, a hint of pride showing on his face.

The light in the depths of his eyes was sharp as an arrow, fixed intently on Lu Li's reaction.

An ordinary person would likely have been overwhelmed with excitement at such a gorgeous sight.

However, Lu Li's expression remained calm. He swept his gaze over the beauties and frowned slightly. "Senior Brother's Wine Pool and Meat Forest is alright. However, I have a question."

"Oh? Please speak, Junior Brother Lu." Bai Jinfei was a bit curious.

"Tell me, if they were to secretly relieve themselves or pass gas in the pool, do you think the others would notice? And would the wine in this pool still be fit to drink?"

Lu Li asked with a solemn expression.

"This..."

Bai Jinfei's smile froze on his face.

His eyes widened in shock.

Is that really the point?

I wanted you to look at my stunning beauties! How did you manage to bring up such a mood-killing topic?

The beauties in the pool bit their lips, their faces flushed with shame and indignation.

The atmosphere became incredibly awkward.

Lu Li stopped speaking as well.

Bai Jinfei was merely trying to use this display to intimidate him, create a psychological deterrent, and test his character all at once.

However, to Lu Li, this was just a minor scene; he had long since grown accustomed to such things.

"Ahem, alright, let's not dwell on these trivial matters. Junior Brother Lu, please." Bai Jinfei composed himself and spoke quickly.

"Very well!"

Lu Li stopped fussing over it.

The two then walked past the wine pool and entered the main hall of the palace.

It was a magnificent and resplendent hall, with silver-white stone pillars, jade-carved walls, and depictions of flying celestials, all combined to create an atmosphere of grandeur and elegance.

"Junior Brother Lu, take a seat."

Bai Jinfei sat on the main throne, smiling broadly.

Lu Li did not stand on ceremony and sat directly on the large white jade chair to the upper left.

Clap, clap.

Bai Jinfei clapped his hands again.

Soon, beauties emerged one after another from behind the beaded curtains on both sides of the hall, all dressed in black gauze with gold-trimmed embroidered robes, draped in snow-white veils.

With a flick of their long sleeves, they began to dance gracefully in the hall.

At the same time, the sound of zithers and flutes rose from all around, the rhythm as crisp and pleasant as a flowing mountain stream.

Maids served fragrant tea and spiritual fruits, then stood behind them, slowly fanning them with large jade-handled banana leaf fans.

This setup was the very definition of imperial luxury.

"Junior Brother, try this tea. It was hand-roasted by young maidens from the Cloud Province, and it carries a faint, lingering fragrance." Bai Jinfei raised his teacup, smiling.

"I shall."

Lu Li picked up the jade cup, seemingly about to take a sip, but suddenly thought of something. He set the cup down and asked, "Senior Brother, you still haven't explained what you meant earlier."

"Junior Brother, I was truly praising you just now! You are cultivating the Blood-Devouring Heaven-Swallowing Art, aren't you? To have forced it to the third level within a month without relying on the consumption of any spiritual blood—such talent is absolutely second to none within the sect!"

Bai Jinfei held up a thumb.

"How did you know I didn't consume any spiritual blood, Senior Brother?"

Lu Li countered.

"Haha, Junior Brother, you stay behind closed doors all day and you aren't exactly wealthy. A single portion of spiritual blood costs tens of thousands of spirit stones; how could you possibly afford it? Therefore, you must have relied on your own hard work and forced your cultivation to improve. I truly admire that! This method of cultivation is even more 'righteous' than the righteous path itself! If your cultivation base weren't so low, I would have suspected you were a mole sent by the righteous sects."

Bai Jinfei exclaimed in admiration.

The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart.

Lu Li's heart sank abruptly.

That's right. He was upright, compassionate, didn't go looking for trouble, and followed the path of righteous cultivation. If the Yin Underworld Ghost Sect were to purge moles in the future, wouldn't he be the first one suspected?

If that happened, given the demonic sect's nature of killing the innocent rather than letting a single culprit escape, his fate would be grim!

A single word had awakened the dreamer!

Lu Li suddenly realized the danger, and a chill ran down his spine.

Thank goodness he realized this early!

From now on, he had to act like a member of the demonic sect!

What is a member of the demonic sect?

Lu Li's mind raced, and sixteen characters surfaced in his thoughts.

Follow your heart's desires! I alone am supreme!

Those who oppose me die! Those who submit to me... die all the same!

Thinking of this, Lu Li leaned back slightly in his chair and smiled at Bai Jinfei: "Senior Brother, you shouldn't say things like that. I was brought in by Master himself. If I were a mole for the righteous path, wouldn't that make Master a mole as well?"

Bai Jinfei's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this, and he laughed awkwardly: "Haha, just a joke, Junior Brother. You're taking it too seriously."

"That is not a joke to be made lightly. However, you were right, Senior Brother—my cultivation has been improving too slowly through hard work alone, so I would like to acquire some spiritual blood."

Lu Li didn't mince words and got straight to the point.

"Oh? Is Junior Brother looking to borrow spirit stones to buy spiritual blood?"

Bai Jinfei's eyes lit up.

"No."

Lu Li pulled the Ghost Raising Tower from his robes and slammed it onto the jade table beside him. "I'm here to sell something."

"Sell something? Huh, isn't this the Ghost Raising Tower Master used during his Qi Refining stage? You want to sell it, Junior Brother? Aren't you afraid of Master getting angry?"

Bai Jinfei looked rather surprised.

"Of course not, I wouldn't dare sell Master's Ghost Raising Tower. What I'm selling is the spirit ghost inside." Lu Li channeled his mana, pouring it into the Ghost Raising Tower.

Hum.

The Ghost Raising Tower emitted a ring of golden light, slowly rotating as it drifted upward.

Through the small holes in the tower, one could clearly see a mass of ghost mist shimmering with wisps of golden light, huddled in the corner of the tower.

It was precisely a low-grade spirit ghost.