Helping a Fellow Daoist Raise His Realm!

Whoosh~

The pungent corpse stench rushing into his face drove Xie Jinhuan back several steps. Only after the smell had dispersed a little did he approach to investigate.

By the gentle autumn sunlight, he could see that the opening led into an artificially enlarged cavern, no less than sixty feet across.

The cavern was filled with foul sewage, soaking at least a hundred livestock carcasses whose shapes were already barely recognizable. Countless worms could be seen writhing among them.

The surrounding rock walls were also densely covered in blood-red markings. At the top was an image of a ghost-faced rakshasa painted in blood, with three heads, six arms, a bloody face, and protruding fangs. Its six hands connected to the markings, which converged on the corpse pit below, making it look like a ravenous fiend drawing out the blood and departed souls of living beings.

Even an amateur like Xie Jinhuan knew that such a Lovecraftian scene had to be some kind of sinister ritual. He frowned and asked:

"Is this the Witch Cult's handiwork?"

The stench made Lin Wanyi's eyes sting. She had to cover her mouth and nose with her sleeve as she examined the evil deity overhead.

"No. The Witch Cult mostly worships ancestral witches, some with human faces and serpentine bodies. They've never worshipped an evil deity like this. This looks more like a Demon Path cultivator's lair."

Ye Hongshang, floating nearby, nodded as well.

"Judging by the traces, this person cultivates both witchcraft and the Demon Path. His witchcraft has reached the third grade, but he hasn't dabbled in the Demon Path for long. He's probably growing Mad Corpse Flowers to control large numbers of people for a 'blood sacrifice' to strengthen his physique."

The Demon Path's method of cultivation was to "plunder all living beings to fatten oneself." Put simply, blood sacrifice meant using special methods to seize other people's flesh, blood, vital essence, and even souls. It could also be understood as harvesting others to replenish oneself.

Realizing that the Demon Bandit behind this cultivated both witchcraft and the Demon Path, and had already reached the third grade, Xie Jinhuan could not help feeling tempted.

After all, although a third-grade sinister cultivator was worlds apart from a transcendent-grade demon, he would still count as a formidable bandit in peaceful times. With a little "extra oil and vinegar," pinning the blame for Purple Emblem Mountain's demonic aura on him should not be difficult.

With that thought, Xie Jinhuan carefully surveyed the cavern. He noticed a recess dug into the edge, with a few miscellaneous objects placed inside. It was probably a resting spot. He leaped over the corpse pit to inspect it, looking for a way to frame the culprit.

The recess held a meditation cushion, a lampstand, and other items, along with a casually discarded book.

Xie Jinhuan picked it up and leafed through it. The title was Springtime Allure. It contained all sorts of erotic anecdotes and strange tales, accompanied by lifelike illustrations overflowing with naked carnal desire. It seemed to have been used to pass the time.

Lin Wanyi followed cautiously behind him. Noticing Xie Jinhuan's grave expression, she glanced at it too.

And was greeted with a rear-alley flower arrangement...

?!

Lin Wanyi froze, then her eyes widened and her face flushed crimson. She hurriedly turned away.

"These degenerates are simply... You're still looking?!"

Xie Jinhuan knitted his brows and considered it carefully.

"Springtime Allure was originally written by a renowned author of the previous dynasty. Bookshops everywhere have reprinted it. This copy has a fine binding and exquisite illustrations. It definitely wasn't printed by some little workshop. Do you know where it came from?"

Red-faced, Lin Wanyi stole a thoroughly disgusted glance, then hurriedly averted her eyes again.

"It looks like a book from the Stillness Literature Studio, near Danyang Academy. But they only sell respectable books there. Why would they sell something like this?"

"It's not some forbidden book. It gives a comprehensive account of the previous dynasty's customs and daily life, and the artwork practically penetrates the paper, showing every last hair. It has considerable scholarly value..."

Lin Wanyi knew you could see every hair. How could a young woman like her possibly discuss erotic illustrations with him? She urged him:

"If you want to study it, buy your own copy. This one isn't clean. That Demon Path cultivator might have used it to pleasure himself."

Flap~

Xie Jinhuan flung the book aside as though fleeing snakes and scorpions, then began searching for other useful clues.

?

His action left not only Lin Wanyi looking astonished, but even the red-robed ghost standing before him let out a derisive laugh.

"Oh my~ And here I thought you really were looking for clues."

Xie Jinhuan acted as though nothing had happened and carefully searched the cavern. Finding no clues he could exploit, he felt that pinning the blame on this man would not be easy. He quietly looked toward his ghost wife to see whether she had any good ideas.

Ye Hongshang understood. With the red umbrella resting on her shoulder, she surveyed the cavern.

"This person's cultivation is too low. It would be hard for the Yamen to mistake him for the source of Purple Emblem Mountain's demonic aura. But I can help raise his realm a little."

As she spoke, Ye Hongshang began logging in!

Lin Wanyi was carefully examining some medicine bottles. Yet, whether because the cavern's sinister corpse energy was too heavy or otherwise, she had only been there a short while before dizziness struck and icy currents began darting wildly through her chest and abdomen.

"Ugh..."

She staggered.

Xie Jinhuan hurriedly caught Lin Wanyi and asked a question he already knew the answer to:

"Miss Lin, what's wrong?"

"I... I think I'm having another episode..."

Lin Wanyi was a little bewildered. She tried to suppress the dizziness, but it only grew worse. Before she had said more than a few words, her gaze began to lose focus.

Perhaps afraid that Xie Jinhuan would touch and kiss her out here in the wilderness, she gritted her teeth before fainting.

"I... I have powerful backing! My lineage is from Missing... Missing Moon Manor..."

The Nightly Great Succubus's assessment had been very accurate. Lin Wanyi was indeed susceptible to sinister possession. Before she could finish, her body went completely limp and collapsed into his arms.

Xie Jinhuan had heard of Missing Moon Manor. In plain terms, it was one of the Gu Poison Sect's three giants and a member of the Southern Border Witch Alliance's council of elders.

Having been banished by the righteous path, the Southern Border Wasteland was the Gu Poison Sect's last stronghold. Provoking Missing Moon Manor was equivalent to provoking the entire Southern Border Witch Alliance. Someone of his stature certainly could not contend with them.

Still, he had not intended to do anything to Lin Wanyi. He was checking whether she had fainted when the stunning beauty lying limp in his arms suddenly sprang upright again.

Whoosh~

Although her appearance had not changed, her gentle, poised demeanor underwent an earth-shaking transformation. Her presence seemed to shoot up to sixteen feet tall in an instant!

Xie Jinhuan was still not quite accustomed to this change. He carefully studied her expression, and only after confirming that his ghost wife had possessed her did he ask:

"How are you going to raise this Demon Bandit's realm?"

Ye Hongshang pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on her nose with one hand. Carrying herself like a domineering female CEO, she raised her eyes to inspect the surrounding bloodstains.

"When Demon Path cultivators plunder the vital essence of living beings, bloody baleful intent spills everywhere, leaving traces on the corpses and in their lairs. Different levels of mastery naturally leave different traces.

"This Demon Bandit's methods aren't particularly sophisticated. I'll alter the traces for him, so Danyang's experts will know at a glance that a great demon at transcendent grade or above did this."

As she spoke, Ye Hongshang stepped back and knelt, resting her full, rounded bottom on her calves. She spread her hands and gazed upward, looking like a witch praying to a deity.

Xie Jinhuan crouched beside her to watch. Soon, he noticed a sinister wind rising inside the cavern.

Whoosh, whoosh~

Two ghostly green flames rose from Ye Hongshang's outstretched pale palms. They gave off no warmth whatsoever, and even made the cavern feel colder and more sinister.

Xie Jinhuan knew no Daoist Divine Abilities. The sight made him rather envious.

"What's that? Bone Spirit Cold Flame?"

"Ghostfire refined by the Witch Cult. It can burn the soul. Those struck by it usually have no external injuries, but display the spasms of someone being burned alive."

After explaining, Ye Hongshang brought her hands together, cupping the flames.

"Whether for blood sacrifice or refining poison, an offering is required. Put your hand in."

"Huh?"

Xie Jinhuan frowned. "Sacrifice one of my hands?"

"You'd still have Madam Left, wouldn't you? Hurry up."

Xie Jinhuan had no desire to become Yang Guo, but his ghost wife seemed to be joking. After some thought, he reached into the surging green flames.

Whoosh~

The moment he touched the ghostly green flames, he felt as though he had plunged into a blazing inferno. Burning pain reached deep into his soul.

"Hiss..."

Seeing Xie Jinhuan endure the intense pain without instinctively pulling his hand back, Ye Hongshang looked quite surprised.

"Not bad. Like a real man. Bear with it a little. Once we're done, big sister will give you some candy."

Xie Jinhuan clenched his teeth, sweat already running down him.

"You'd better give it to me yourself. Don't be generous with someone else's body."

"Heh~"

As they spoke, Xie Jinhuan felt something inside him burning and boiling, then flowing endlessly outward.

Blood mist gradually seeped from his right hand, drifting in every direction and merging into the cavern's existing blood markings. It spread upward, slowly altering their original patterns.

Xie Jinhuan felt as though he were losing a tremendous amount of blood. Enduring the agony scorching his soul, he looked around.

"Are you sure this will work?"

"As long as Danyang's experts have any discernment, they'll recognize that this method of refining living beings has reached transcendent immortal mastery! Danyang is only so big. Two heaven-reaching demons can't just appear at once. Afterward, they'll definitely go after these Demon Bandits."

Xie Jinhuan nodded, half convinced, then asked doubtfully:

"Didn't you forget your cultivation methods? How do you know the Demon Path's blood sacrifice methods? Or does Lin Wanyi already know them?"

Ye Hongshang's gaze turned haughty. "My realm speaks for itself. For trifling tricks like this, I can copy the tiger from the cat and improvise something. Faking traces isn't actual cultivation. It doesn't require Lin Wanyi to have much cultivation."

"Oh... Could you hurry up? I'm about to be drained dry."

Blood sacrifice broke down a living being's flesh and blood, extracting the essence within to nourish oneself.

If this continued, Xie Jinhuan really would be squeezed into medicinal dregs without a single drop left.

Ye Hongshang said nothing more. As the blood mist spread upward, it gathered again at the cavern's ceiling, gradually condensing into a bead of blood that fell back onto the point between her brows.

Drip~

The scene looked like a mortal sacrificing living beings to an evil deity, with the deity bestowing something in return.

But watching from beside her, Xie Jinhuan felt it looked more like distilling liquor.

Because forcibly harvesting someone caused too much harm, Ye Hongshang used his blood as a catalyst and quickly stopped after leaving clear traces inside the cavern.

"Done."

Although it had lasted only a short while, even Xie Jinhuan's lips had lost their color. He felt as though ten buxom, thick-bottomed MILFs had taken turns riding him for an entire day and night. He reckoned it would take several days to recover.

Xie Jinhuan withdrew his right hand and rubbed it, looking around.

"How do we explain this to Lin Wanyi later?"

?

Afraid Lin Wanyi would notice, Xie Jinhuan did not dare squeeze her. He lifted her into his arms, leaped across the corpse pit, and laid her beside the pool, holding her wrist as he pretended to regulate her energy channels...