Devils and Fairies

On the mountaintop, Ning Jing leaned against a tree with her eyes half-closed, a faint smile on her face. At the merchant guild, she had to face all sorts of people every day and maintain a professional smile at all times. It was truly exhausting. Yet she had no choice. Some people were born with their fates already set in stone.

But in the next instant, Ning Jing suddenly opened her eyes, astonishment filling them. She discovered that Xiao Yan had vanished beyond the range of her soul-force detection. How was that possible? Ning Jing was at the lower Immortal Spirit Realm, while her soul force stood at the peak of the Emperor Tier. Her soul force was dozens of times stronger than Xiao Yan's, yet Xiao Yan had disappeared under such circumstances. How could she not be shocked?

Moreover, Xiao Yan had gone in search of that battle skill and had already entered the depths of the Beast Zone. He could very well be dealt with by any Magic Beast he encountered.

A trace of worry appeared on Ning Jing's face. Even she herself could not explain why she was so concerned about Xiao Yan. But one thing was certain—it definitely was not because Xiao Yan owed her one billion Spirit Coins. Perhaps it was because of Xiao Wanqing. After all, he was the person she had pinned her hopes on.

Ning Jing once more extended her soul force toward the direction where Xiao Yan had last been detected, but she still could not find him. It was not entirely without discovery, however, because she found a small yet rather strange place. Her soul force could not probe it at all. Perhaps Xiao Yan was there.

Ning Jing said curiously, "There is actually such a place in Spirit Prefecture. How strange. I'll go take a look."

A somewhat disheveled figure fled out of the forest and arrived at a small clearing. There was roughly a dozen square meters of grass here. At its far end stood an enormous boulder, covered in weeds, as though it had weathered countless years.

Xiao Yan did not think much of it. He sat down where he was and began recovering his strength. After being chased and hunted by Magic Beasts all the way here, his black robe was soaked in blood—some from the Magic Beasts, some his own. His black hair was a complete mess, and there was even a streak of blood on his handsome face. Fortunately, he had not been disfigured.

However, Xiao Yan discovered that his soul force had failed here. Beyond what his eyes could see, he could sense nothing at all. It was exceedingly bizarre.

Xiao Yan had no mind to care about that now. He had to seize the time to recover his strength. Otherwise, if he encountered another Magic Beast, he might truly lose his life this time. Xiao Yan did not believe his luck would be this good every single time.

Xiao Yan did not know that while he was recovering his strength, a beautiful woman not far away was glaring furiously at the blank world before her.

There seemed to be a special barrier here. Those outside could not see the scene within, those inside could not see the scene outside, and even soul force could not detect anything inside.

"What kind of damned place is this? Why can Xiao Yan enter, while I can't?" Ning Jing said helplessly. Her strength far surpassed Xiao Yan's, yet whenever she tried to enter, a powerful force would send her flying back out.

In the end, she tried to force her way through with her formidable strength, only to be injured by the recoil. Ning Jing could only wait outside in frustration and anxiety, while growing more and more interested in Xiao Yan.

There were no more than four possible reasons why Xiao Yan could enter while she could not. First, Xiao Yan was weak, and the strength of those entering this place was restricted. Second, Xiao Yan possessed Heavenly Fire, and Heavenly Fire was the token required to enter; otherwise, no matter how powerful one was, they could not enter. Third, only men could enter here, and she could not because she was a woman. Fourth, this place allowed only one person inside. Xiao Yan had already entered, so naturally she could not.

Devils and Fairies

"What a lucky brat," Ning Jing said enviously.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Yan finally opened his eyes again and looked around at everything in confusion. A faint unease rose in his heart.

Xiao Yan walked before the huge boulder and examined it carefully. Finding nothing unusual, he prepared to leave.

"Human, release this half-immortal at once. This half-immortal can grant you one wish." Just as Xiao Yan was leaving, an angry voice entered his ears. The moment Xiao Yan heard those words, he could not help but shudder.

Words like "devil," "demon," and "fisherman" surfaced in Xiao Yan's mind. Wasn't that what the devil said to the fisherman? In the end, the fisherman had been frightened half to death by the devil. Yet now someone was saying the same thing to him. Could World-Creation Continent have devils too? But he was not a fisherman. Why had it found him?

Although Xiao Yan was curious, he continued walking outward.

"Human, there is a fairy outside. If you go out, you will surely be eaten. Help this half-immortal obediently, and this half-immortal will naturally take you out." The voice sounded again, carrying a hint of threat.

A fairy? This world actually had fairies? A fox fairy, a pipa fairy, or a snake fairy? Ah, no, that was not right. He could not say that. Cai Lin and the others were Magic Beasts, not fairies. Were fairies beautiful? Xiao Yan wanted to go take a look, but he felt he should be more careful. Fairies were very powerful.

"Fairy my ass. As if I'd believe you. Even if there is a fairy, I'm not afraid. Don't try to fool me with stories meant for children," Xiao Yan said to the surrounding empty space.

"This half-immortal ranks last in my clan, so I have no younger sister. Human, since you can enter this place, you must possess Heavenly Fire or Heavenly Water. How about we make a deal?" That strange voice sounded again.

"What deal?" Xiao Yan tried to locate where the voice came from, but could not find it no matter what. The only possibility was the boulder, but how could a stone speak? Unless... Xiao Yan's eyes gleamed.

"Release this half-immortal, and this half-immortal will give you a fortune. How about it?" The voice sounded again.

"No interest. I regard money as dung." Xiao Yan's unease gradually faded, but inwardly, he wondered what this thing was and how it had ended up here.

"Human, then how about this half-immortal gives you three medicinal formulas and a fifth-grade medicinal pill?" the voice continued shouting.

"No interest. Has that fairy left yet? I'm starving to death," Xiao Yan said.

"Human, greed without end will bring retribution. This half-immortal's medicinal formulas can allow you humans to stop eating every day, and this half-immortal's fifth-grade medicinal pill can instantly raise your strength to the Emperor King Realm with a solid foundation. How about it?" the voice said.

"Really? But I still don't believe you." Xiao Yan was somewhat tempted. Below the Battle Immortal Realm, the stronger one became, the less food one needed. Yet most people were in the Emperor Spirit Realm. If there truly was a medicinal pill that allowed people to go without food and had no side effects, then... But Xiao Yan was not blinded by the profit before him.

"Human, this half-immortal hates you to death. Tell me, what will make you willing to help this half-immortal?"

"I want you..."