An Eerie Atmosphere, a Dagger Hidden Behind a Smile

"Oh? What is the cultivation level of your generation's third elder?" Tieguai Li asked curiously upon hearing this.

"The Third Elder's strength is about the same as mine, but his lifespan is much longer. It's estimated that he will become Mahayana Realm expert in just a few years. However, he cannot undergo the tribulation before that, because his physical body has been shattered, turning him into a mortal, leaving only an empty shell. Although this shell can sustain him, if he successfully undergoes the tribulation, this shell will turn to ashes and cease to exist," said the Three Xiaos Ladies.

Tieguai Li nodded. He knew that the Three Xiaos Ladies not lying to him. They couldn't possibly be lying. If they were, it would mean they were confident they could deceive him.

The Three Xiaos Ladies glanced at Tieguai Li, seemingly sensing what he was thinking. She smiled slightly and continued, "Fellow Daoist, where was I?"

"Oh, you mean this group of people from your Three Xiaos Clan were sent by your Three Xiaos Clan to help us deal with the Southern Region Demon Race?" Tieguai Li said somewhat awkwardly, coming back to his senses.

"Indeed, our Three Xiaos Clan has sent people to assist you in fighting against the Demon Race!" Three Xiaos Ladies said with a smile.

"You've come here to fight the Demon Race?" Tieguai Li looked at the Three Xiaos Ladies with some surprise. He doubted his ears. The Three Xiaos Clan, who were so powerful, actually wanted to get involved? Were they just bored and looking for trouble?

"Not bad!" The Three Xiaos Ladies nodded.

"Are you trying to help us?" Tieguai Li asked, somewhat surprised.

"Hehe, I guess so!" the Three Xiaos Ladies said with a smile.

"Since you're helping us fight against the Demon Race of the Southern Region, what do you plan to have me do?" Tieguai Li asked.

"Hehe, actually, we just want to be friends with you. After all, this is the Demon Realm, and Yao Qi is very important to our Demon Race. We Demon Race don't understand your human cultivation methods. If we have the opportunity, we would like to learn from you," said the Three Xiaos Ladies.

"Want to learn?" Tieguai Li was somewhat taken aback. He didn't even know what his own cultivation method was. If the Three Xiaos Ladies wanted to learn, he was afraid he wouldn't even be able to teach them the basics.

"What? Fellow Daoist, are you not welcome?" Seeing Tieguai Li hesitate, the Three Xiaos Ladies asked with some disappointment.

"No, how could I not welcome you? I'd be happy to exchange cultivation methods with you," Tieguai Li hurriedly waved his hand and said.

"Haha, alright, since you agree, then we'll rest in this valley tonight, and I'll take you to find the higher-ups of the Three Xiaos Clan tomorrow," the Three Xiaos Ladies said with a smile.

"Alright!" Tieguai Li nodded.

"No, I disagree." Just then, a voice suddenly rang out.

Tieguai Li turned his head and saw an old woman dressed in purple appear beside the Three Xiaos Ladies.

Tieguai Li was taken aback, somewhat puzzled. What was this woman doing here? Who was she? Judging from her appearance, she seemed to be the master of the Three Xiaos Ladies, but weren't the Three Xiaos Ladies from the Three Xiaos Clan? How could she have another master? Just who was this woman?

"Grandmaster, what brings you here?" The Three Xiaos Ladies said respectfully upon seeing the visitor.

"Hmph, why can't I come? If I didn't come, you'd probably be kidnapped by that brat!" the old woman in purple said coldly.

"Grandmaster, you've misunderstood. I was merely exchanging cultivation methods with this fellow Daoist; I meant nothing else," the Three Xiaos Ladies hurriedly explained.

"Hmph, I can tell you two are in a messy situation. Don't think I don't know," the old woman in purple said angrily to the Three Xiaos Ladies.

"Grandmaster, it's really not like that! Please don't make wild guesses!" Three Xiaos Ladies said anxiously. She didn't want her master to misunderstand Tieguai Li. She and Tieguai Li were really just ordinary friends.

Tieguai Li watched the conversation between the two people and was somewhat surprised. The two people seemed to know each other, and even seemed quite familiar with each other, but he didn't know this old woman in purple at all!

Tieguai Li was somewhat surprised. Who exactly was this old woman in purple? Could she also be from the Three Xiaos Clan? But he had never heard of the Three Xiaos Clan before!

Seeing the anxious expression on the faces of the Three Xiaos Ladies, the old woman in purple said impatiently, "Hmph, I don't care what's between you two, I won't allow you to associate with this boy. If you two want to make a deal, go to the City Lord's Mansion. If there's nothing else, I'll leave now." After saying that, the old woman in purple turned and walked into the cave.

After the old woman in purple left, the Three Xiaos Ladies said to Tieguai Li with some worry, "Fellow Daoist, you see, Master is serious this time. You must not agree to Master's request! Otherwise, I will truly die without a burial place!"

"Is this old woman from the Three Xiaos Clan your master?" Tieguai Li asked doubtfully.

"Indeed, this is the founder of our Three Xiaos Clan, the Purple-Robed Ancestor, and the head of our Three Xiaos Clan's elders. He holds a very prestigious position within our Three Xiaos Clan," said the Three Xiaos Ladies slowly.

"So that's how it is," Tieguai Li said, as if suddenly realizing something.

"By the way, I wonder how good your cultivation method is? Could you show it to us so that the people of the Three Xiaos Clan can see it?" said the Three Xiaos Ladies.

"Hehe, you Three Xiaos Clan want to learn my cultivation method? That's not a problem. However, you have to pay an equal price. How about this, you give me five immortal stones, and I will teach you the cultivation method. Of course, I won't accept your immortal stones. Just give me a drop of blood. How about that?" Tieguai Li said with a smile.

"I have plenty of immortal stones; giving you five hundred immortal stones is no problem. However, as long as you teach us the cultivation methods of the Three Xiaos Clan, I am willing to give you immortal stones, as long as you don't go back on your word!" said the Three Xiaos Ladies.

"Okay, I agree." Tieguai Li nodded.

Immediately, the Three Xiaos Ladies took out a bottle of pills and handed it to Tieguai Li, saying, "This bottle of pills is called Golden Wound Medicine. It is a celestial-grade healing pill. Just apply it to the wound for one day, and it will heal completely."

"Alright, I promise you. As long as you give me five hundred immortal stones, I will immediately teach you the cultivation method. As for your master, you can go and negotiate with him!" Tieguai Li took the wound medicine and said indifferently. He didn't care about these few immortal stones.

Most importantly, there is something else that Tieguai Li is particularly curious about: what is the true purpose of the Three Xiao Ladies? He has never believed that these good deeds are without ulterior motives.

I always felt that this series of fortuitous opportunity had an eerie quality to it.