Have You Perhaps Cultivated Some Forbidden Art?

Xiao Yu's sword-like brows lifted slightly, his robes fluttering in the wind.

Standing atop the Jade Maiden Gourd, he plunged rapidly toward the ground.

His means of flight were certainly inferior to theirs.

Whether in spiritual power, magical artifacts, or methods of attack, aerial combat put him at a disadvantage.

He had to make use of the terrain!

Ma Cuihong raised her hand and threw out three Fireball Talismans, but Xiao Yu ducked behind a tree and successfully neutralized them.

Ma Cuihong threw out more Fireball Talismans, only for them to be blocked by the suddenly charging Puppet Eagle.

One man and one eagle immediately began fighting.

Mei Chunlan raised her hand and summoned her magical sword. Sword light followed her shadow as it stabbed straight toward Xiao Yu behind the tree.

Xiao Yu had initially planned to use the Elysian Union Art and the Thousand Fragrances, Ten Thousand Beauties Painting to defend himself.

But this was a branch of the Hehuan Sect. If others saw that he possessed such divine treasures, they would surely covet them.

In that instant, he released the Eagle Claw Saber and slashed through the air.

Blade and sword collided, and Xiao Yu's Eagle Claw Saber was instantly knocked aside.

Xiao Yu took the chance to break free.

But Ma Cuihong had long been waiting. She threw out three more low-grade Fireball Talismans while releasing a red hairpin.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu hurriedly raised the Jade Maiden Gourd to block.

The Jade Maiden Gourd instantly released layers of azure spiritual light. Even after the Fireball Talismans exploded against it, it remained undamaged.

Ma Cuihong sneered and pointed her sword fingers toward the sky. Within the firelight, the red hairpin abruptly accelerated, moving like a living creature as it circled behind the Jade Maiden Gourd and stabbed directly at Xiao Yu's brow.

No sooner said than done, Xiao Yu suddenly leaned back and fell to the ground.

The hairpin followed close to the ground, slicing off a strand of Xiao Yu's hair.

Xiao Yu could clearly feel the heat radiating from the hairpin.

It was only a step away from his brow.

He hurriedly steadied himself and retreated in the opposite direction, gripping the Eagle Claw Saber in one hand and the Jade Maiden Gourd in the other as he continued to flee.

Ma Cuihong was entangled by the Puppet Eagle and could not break away.

Mei Chunlan, meanwhile, came charging at him again.

"Junior Brother Xiao, I never expected a mere Qi Refining, First Layer cultivator like you to possess such movement techniques. I'm almost reluctant to kill you!"

"How about we discuss this? Become my furnace, enter my magical artifact, and I'll spare your life!"

As Mei Chunlan spoke, she took out an old hand harp. Guided by the sound of the instrument, the vibrating strings released sound waves like blades, slicing apart grass and trees.

The Puppet Eagle suddenly changed direction and clashed with Mei Chunlan.

Xiao Yu's body moved like the wind as he seized the chance to flee.

Just then, Ma Cuihong suddenly rushed up before him and reached out, intending to seize him.

Xiao Yu's gaze darkened. She actually dared to engage him in close combat with her body?

Courting death!!!

Before Ma Cuihong could grab him, Xiao Yu threw a punch, shattering stone and startling heaven!

It was even more powerful than the Eagle Claw Saber. That single punch crippled Ma Cuihong's entire arm.

Blood streamed down as Ma Cuihong's face turned deathly pale with unbearable pain.

Even Xiao Yu could scarcely believe it. His Nine Yang Divine Body was actually this terrifying?

Fear appeared on Ma Cuihong's face as she raised her hand, intending to recall the hairpin to protect herself.

But in the next second, Xiao Yu threw another right hook.

It struck her squarely in the face.

She immediately screamed and covered her face.

Mei Chunlan flew into a rage at the sight. "You've got some nerve!!!"

With that, she charged over with her magical sword in hand.

Before she could get close, Xiao Yu pulled three Fireball Talismans from a storage bag.

Ma Cuihong cried out in panic, "He... he stole my storage bag earlier..."

The moment Mei Chunlan turned her head, six Fireball Talismans came crashing toward her.

With a BOOM—!!!, Mei Chunlan fell to the ground, her face full of unwillingness.

Xiao Yu directly snatched her storage bag and magical sword.

Then he looked toward the other woman.

Ma Cuihong shouted in terror, "Don't... don't come over! You freak!!!"

"What is with that body of yours, comparable to a mid-grade magical artifact... Have you perhaps cultivated some forbidden art?"

"You... you freak!"

Xiao Yu could not be bothered with her nonsense. He directly took out all the remaining Fireball Talismans from her storage bag.

Like dumplings dropping into a pot, he threw them out one after another.

Ma Cuihong wanted to run, but she had already been injured.

She was blown alive to death by the Fireball Talismans.

After putting away her hairpin and storage bag, he raised his hand and dealt with the corpses of the two old women.

He looked around in all directions, then fled the scene as quickly as possible.

After returning to the alchemy room, Xiao Yu's nerves were still taut.

This was his first time fighting opponents above his level, and there had been two of them at once.

Fortunately, the Puppet Eagle had helped restrain them. Otherwise, it really would have been troublesome!

The harvest was plentiful!

After opening the two storage bags, he took stock of the spoils.

A low-grade offensive magical artifact, the Azure Leaf Sword; a low-grade offensive magical artifact, the Crimson Blossom Needle; thirty-two Fireball Talismans; one bottle of Hehuan Powder; fifty-three spirit stones; and one low-grade spirit beast bag.

Xiao Yu looked at the two offensive magical artifacts with some excitement.

These two things were far more powerful than his Eagle Claw Saber.

The magical sword could both attack and defend, and it could even be used as a flying tool—riding a sword through the air!

The other magical artifact, the Crimson Blossom Needle, was fast, small, and nimble. It could not be more suitable as a hidden weapon!

And now he also had consumables like Fireball Talismans, giving him a means of wearing down enemies from afar!

As for this spirit beast bag...

Xiao Yu stroked his chin. "Spirit beasts... There doesn't seem to be anything in particular I want to take in. A humanoid female demon might be a good choice?"

Just then, Li Qingyun approached with tea in her hands, her face sweet and lovely. "Master, please have some tea~"

Xiao Yu nodded slightly, then pulled her into his arms.

Huang Xiang, who had been walking over, felt somewhat awkward upon seeing this.

Xiao Yu glanced sideways at her. "A new elder has arrived in the sect. She told me I can't harm mortals like you! I told her about your situation!"

Li Qingyun panicked upon hearing this. "Is Master sending us away?"

Xiao Yu waved his hand. "You, naturally, I won't send away. After all, you are my woman now!"

"And I think this place of mine doesn't need so many people doing laundry and cooking. I can just use Dust-Cleansing Talismans for the laundry!"

Huang Xiang immediately panicked and hurriedly stepped forward to kneel. "Benefactor, are you sending Mother and me away?"

"I... I can work... Benefactor, please don't drive us away. If we return just like this, the Profound Spirit Sect will definitely capture us!"

"They will certainly take us away and interrogate us. Those bastards will do anything to bring down Benefactor's sect..."

"Xiang'er begs you, Benefactor... We are willing to work!"

Xiao Yu glanced sideways at Li Qingyun in his arms and could not help letting out a breath.

He no longer wanted to believe in any bullshit love, benevolence, righteousness, or morality.

Even a good woman could pose a threat to him.

He had already died once. He could not possibly be stupid again!

Li Qingyun swallowed nervously.

Could he already know that she wanted to escape?

Xiao Yu slowly stood up and raised his hand, sending Li Qingyun outside.

Looking into Zhang Lan's eyes, Xiao Yu spoke softly. "I don't keep idlers here. The sect has rules—I can't lay hands on mortals!"

"Will you leave with your daughter on your own, or what?"

Zhang Lan immediately panicked, her lovely face drained of color. "Ah? How could this be... War never ends. Our home was destroyed by those cultivators, and everyone in our family has died..."

"My daughter and I are alone. We do not even have a place to live if we go outside... Benefactor, please show us mercy. We truly have nowhere to go!"

Xiao Yu pursed his lips. "Mm, that does make things difficult... Sister Zhang, if you want to continue staying here with your daughter, then..."

Zhang Lan sighed helplessly. "Mm... After all, Xiang'er and I both owe our lives to Benefactor."

"Thank you for not abandoning us... Whatever Benefactor desires, this humble woman would not refuse even ten thousand deaths!"

An hour later.

Li Qingyun came looking for him again.

Seeing Zhang Lan, who had just risen and left, Li Qingyun immediately fell to her knees in tears. "Master... Please be magnanimous and let me go..."

"I beg you, Master..."

"I promise I will not reveal Master's affairs. If I break this vow, Qingyun will die ten thousand deaths and never be reborn!!!"