First Meeting with the Demoness

Li Xiaoyu frowned and immediately held his breath.

But he knew that the Charm Heart Technique of the Joyous Union Sect did not rely solely on fragrance; it was, to a greater extent, a form of mental attack.

Sure enough, the next moment, he felt a wave of bewitching mental energy surging into his sea of consciousness like a tide.

Countless illusions instantly appeared before his eyes.

There were stunning beauties throwing themselves into his arms; endless wealth piled up like mountains before him; and supreme power beckoning him forward.

These were the deepest desires hidden within the human heart.

Once one sank into them, their spirit would be lost, leaving them at the mercy of the opponent.

Li Xiaoyu's mind wavered for an instant.

He felt his body grow feverish, and his Daoist heart began to falter.

What a formidable charm technique!

Sensing the danger, he hurriedly circulated the Taiji Profound Clarity Path mental cultivation method to keep his mind clear and composed.

However, Jin Ping'er's charm technique was clearly a top-tier method of its kind.

That bewitching power was pervasive, making his meager resistance appear pale and powerless.

His consciousness was on the verge of sinking completely.

Just at this critical juncture!

"Hum."

An extremely faint vibration emanated from the Immortal-Slaying Gourd at his waist.

Immediately following, a cool, pure aura flowed out from the gourd, surging through his limbs and bones, and rushing straight to his crown.

It was like having a basin of ice water poured over one's head in the sweltering heat of summer.

Li Xiaoyu shuddered, instantly snapping awake from the boundless illusions.

All the illusions before his eyes receded like a tide.

The world regained its clarity.

Jin Ping'er had already walked up to him and was now less than three feet away.

With a triumphant smile on her face, she extended a slender finger, about to tap his brow.

She assumed Li Xiaoyu had already fallen for her trap.

However, what she saw were eyes that were clear, calm, and filled with mockery.

Jin Ping'er's smile froze on her face.

"You didn't fall for it?!"

She exclaimed in surprise.

How could this be?

Her Charm Heart Technique was a secret, non-transferable art of the Joyous Union Sect, and almost no one of the same rank could withstand it.

Even those righteous elders with profound cultivation would lose their composure for a moment if caught off guard.

Yet, this Qingyun disciple at the fourth level of the Jade Purity Realm was completely unscathed?

She hadn't even sensed any signs of resistance from him.

It was as if her charm technique were merely a gentle breeze brushing past him, as if it didn't exist at all.

This completely overturned her understanding and filled her with an unprecedented sense of frustration.

Watching her shocked expression, Li Xiaoyu felt a secret sense of relief.

If the Immortal-Slaying Gourd hadn't automatically protected its master at the critical moment, he likely would have truly fallen here today.

Li Xiaoyu took a step back, putting distance between himself and Jin Ping'er.

"Miss Jin, there is no need to display such meager tricks and make a fool of yourself."

His voice grew three degrees colder.

"I will say it again: my affairs have nothing to do with you. If you continue to pester me, do not blame me for being merciless with my sword!"

The Autumn Water Sword on his back let out a clear, resonant hum, and a sharp sword intent soared into the sky.

Awed by his sword intent, Jin Ping'er involuntarily took two steps back.

She looked at the young man whose aura had drastically changed, her eyes filled with doubt and uncertainty.

She truly could not fathom how he had broken her charm technique.

Did he possess some rare treasure that countered charm arts?

Her gaze fell upon the wine gourd at Li Xiaoyu's waist.

Was it this thing?

It looked so unremarkable.

"Hmph, ungrateful!"

Jin Ping'er's expression shifted several times before she finally let out a cold snort.

She knew that using force was definitely not an option.

This Li Xiaoyu was far more mysterious and difficult to deal with than she had imagined.

"Fine, since Young Master Li wishes to go to his death alone, then this concubine shall not keep you company."

Her eyes rolled as a plan formed in her mind.

"However, I must warn you: the things inside that cave are no ordinary monsters. There is a vast number of them, and they appear to have been kept in captivity by someone."

Having said that, she did not linger, turning into a streak of purple light and darting into the distance, quickly vanishing into the night.

Yet, her voice drifted back from afar.

"Young Master Li, we shall meet again very soon, hee hee."

Li Xiaoyu watched the direction in which she had departed, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Kept in captivity?"

The information in Jin Ping'er's final remark was immense.

If that were truly the case, then a massive conspiracy lay behind this entire affair.

And Jin Ping'er seemed to know something about it.

Her departure just now was less of a surrender and more of a strategic retreat, intended to make him enter first and scout the path.

"Demoness, truly a demoness."

Li Xiaoyu sneered.

However, he did not shrink back because of this.

On the contrary, an even deeper interest stirred within him.

He wanted to see exactly what kind of monsters and demons were hidden inside this small Nameless Cave.

He hesitated no longer, identified his direction, and with a movement of his body, he sped toward the Nameless Cave outside the city.

The Nameless Cave was located in a rocky ridge ten miles outside the city.

The entrance was small, obscured by clusters of waist-high weeds, making it appear extremely hidden.

Before he even drew near, Li Xiaoyu could smell a thick stench of blood and rot wafting out from the cave.

Scattered on the ground around the entrance were the skeletons of some animals, and even a few tattered scraps of fabric—evidently from human clothing.

With a grave expression, Li Xiaoyu unslung the Autumn Water Sword from his back, gripped it in his hand, and cautiously stepped into the cave.

The interior of the cave was dark and damp.

The passage was narrow, wide enough for only one person to pass, and it twisted and turned like a labyrinth.

The scent of blood in the air grew increasingly heavy, enough to make one feel nauseated.

Li Xiaoyu channeled a wisp of pure spiritual energy into his eyes, and his vision instantly became much clearer.

The cave walls were covered in scratches, and the floor was coated in a layer of sticky, dark red sludge.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

Suddenly, a dense chorus of shrieks erupted from the darkness ahead.

Immediately following, a sea of blood-red light points ignited in the dark!

They were eyes!

Countless pairs of blood-red eyes!

The next moment, a black tide surged out from the darkness, sweeping toward Li Xiaoyu like a tidal wave.

It was a swarm of black-furred giant rats, each larger than a house cat!

Their fangs were bared, their eyes were blood-red, and they radiated an aura of violence and bloodlust.

Bloodthirsty Demonic Rats!

The name flashed through Li Xiaoyu's mind in an instant.

These were a common low-level demonic creature used by the Demon Sect for blood sacrifices or as cannon fodder.

Although their individual strength was not high, they reproduced at an incredible rate, were fearless in the face of death, and existed in such vast numbers that they were extremely troublesome.

It seemed that what Jin Ping'er said about them being kept in captivity was no lie.

Facing this endless tide of rats, Li Xiaoyu did not change his expression.

He flicked his wrist, and the Autumn Water Sword danced, forming a blossom of steel.

"Clear Wind Dissipates Evil!"

He let out a low shout, unleashing a foundational sword technique of the Green Cloud Sect.

Clear streaks of sword light wove together before him, forming an impenetrable web of blades.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft!"

The dozens of Bloodthirsty Demonic Rats charging at the front were instantly shredded into pieces by the sword light.

Foul-smelling blood splattered everywhere.

Yet, these demonic rats knew nothing of fear.

The deaths of their companions only served to further incite their ferocity.