The fiery crimson sword light circled once above the four of them before retracting into his arm. Qin Xi looked at Venerable Songfeng and said calmly, "Venerable Songfeng, here, you cannot exert your full strength."
He did not attack, but his intent to demonstrate power was unmistakable.
Venerable Songfeng did not speak, nor did he act. Though he was irascible and quick to anger, he was not foolish. The reason he had managed to live well until now despite incurring the enmity of so many Nascent Soul cultivators in Tianji was partly due to his formidable strength, but also because he was sufficiently clever. He knew perfectly well when he could gain an advantage and when to back off.
The Breath of the White Tiger suppressed his demonic energy. Only after cultivating the Origin Demon Great Art and reaching the Nascent Soul stage had he dared to come here, and it was only after advancing to the mid-stage that he could move about normally. Here, at most, he could only exert seventy percent of his combat power.
And those juniors had, without exception, all formed their Nascent Souls. Qin Shoujing, in particular, had already advanced to the mid-stage.
Moreover, there was that old hag from Yunzhong watching covetously from the side. If a fight broke out, wouldn't that be exactly what she wanted?
Thinking this, Venerable Songfeng left them with a parting shot: "Hmph! Once this matter is settled, I'll settle accounts with you!"
With that, he also found a corner to rest and recuperate.
Seeing this, the four of them secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although each of them had formed their Nascent Souls, facing the number one cultivator of Tianji who had accumulated prestige for centuries, their hearts were still quite apprehensive. If they really had to face him, they might not necessarily lose. At the very least, Qin Xi felt that if he could unleash the Bow of the Vermilion Bird, even if Venerable Songfeng managed to withstand it, he would be severely injured.
Seeing the situation, Mo Tiange quietly handed a bottle of medicinal pills to Nie Wushang: "Quick, heal your injuries."
Nie Wushang forced a smile and pushed it back: "No need." In principle, healing pills had some effect on demonic cultivators as well, but Origin Demon energy was different. For her, even if she were left with only a breath of life, she could recover as usual.
Just as they were about to rest properly, they suddenly saw someone from another corner walking towards them.
Currently, there were three parties in the sacrificial temple: their group of four, Venerable Songfeng, and the remaining party of Demon Lord Yeshuang and those two demonic cultivators. In terms of strength, the three parties were roughly equal, forming a situation of checks and balances where no one could easily act.
Their group of four could absolutely not reconcile with Venerable Songfeng. As for Demon Lord Yeshuang, although there was no enmity, they dared not trust her.
The one approaching them now was the maidservant Hongxiao.
Stopping a zhang away, Hongxiao bowed: "This lowly servant, Hongxiao, by order of my City Lord, invites you all to come for a discussion."
With Demon Lord Yeshuang present, Hongxiao restrained her emotions and extended the invitation politely.
Qin Xi glanced over there. Demon Lord Yeshuang remained expressionless but gave him a slight nod.
Before he could speak, Jing Xingzhi cut in: "If you want to talk, why not come over here? Why do we have to go over?"
Hongxiao lowered her eyes and said, "My City Lord came here for only one thing. As for other items, she absolutely will not contend with you all. You may rest assured."
As soon as her words fell, Mo Tiange said, "Miss Hongxiao, the first time we met, you almost took my life."
Hearing this, Hongxiao gave an embarrassed smile, unsure of how to respond.
Though she was named a maidservant to Demon Lord Yeshuang, she was practically equivalent to a disciple. Mundane affairs were handled by plenty of people in the City Lord's residence; there was no need for her. She only needed to handle some matters for Demon Lord Yeshuang that were inconvenient for her to deal with personally, and for these matters, the path was usually already paved by others.
Over there, Demon Lord Yeshuang finally came over.
Unlike Miaoying Yuanjun, this late-Nascent Soul great cultivator maintained the appearance of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl—both young and beautiful. If she concealed her cultivation and appeared before others, she would likely be mistaken for a junior who had just set foot on the immortal path.
"Fellow Daoist Mo," Demon Lord Yeshuang's gaze first fell on Mo Tiange. "Since parting at Guixu Sea, I never expected you to have already formed your Nascent Soul."
Mo Tiange smiled slightly. Nie Wushang had told her that her deeds had already spread throughout Yunzhong. Of course, Demon Lord Yeshuang knew she had formed her Nascent Soul; this was merely a polite remark. However, Demon Lord Yeshuang, with the status of a late-Nascent Soul great cultivator, was being so courteous to her. She had to show some face in return.
Standing up, Mo Tiange bowed: "Senior Yeshuang, it has been many years. Your elegance remains unchanged."
"Just an old hag. What elegance is there to speak of?" Demon Lord Yeshuang said indifferently, then looked towards Qin Xi. "Fellow Daoist Qin."
Qin Xi returned the bow: "Fellow Daoist Yeshuang."
Demon Lord Yeshuang swept her gaze over Jing Xingzhi and Nie Wushang and asked, "And how should I address you two?"
Jing Xingzhi grinned and said, "This humble one is Jing Xingzhi. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Yeshuang."
Seeing his frivolous attitude, Tian Xuan, standing to the side, snorted coldly.
Demon Lord Yeshuang, however, acted as if she hadn't noticed and looked towards Nie Wushang.
Nie Wushang, sitting cross-legged within the Spirit Concealment Formation, said, "This humble one is Nie Wushang. I am injured, please forgive my discourtesy."
Under normal circumstances, when a late-Nascent Soul cultivator actively spoke to an early-Nascent Soul cultivator, who wouldn't be overwhelmed with flattered surprise? Nie Wushang's manner could be considered rude.
Demon Lord Yeshuang still didn't mind. She nodded lightly, then pointed to the two people beside her. "This is my disciple, Tian Xuan, and my maidservant, Hongxiao."
After the formalities, Demon Lord Yeshuang said, "I trust you fellow Daoists don't mind our uninvited presence?"
Qin Xi smiled and said, "How would we dare? If you have any instructions, Fellow Daoist, please speak plainly."
Demon Lord Yeshuang glanced at Venerable Songfeng in the other corner and said, "Instructions are not my place. I merely wish to make things clear with you fellow Daoists. We came here with no intention of making enemies of you."
"Is that so?" Mo Tiange smiled, her gaze sweeping over Tian Xuan and Hongxiao.
Demon Lord Yeshuang understood her meaning but said, "You fellow Daoists have some discord with that Fellow Daoist Songfeng. Presumably, you also do not wish to come into conflict with us, correct?"
Mo Tiange withdrew her gaze and said nothing.
Demon Lord Yeshuang was a late-Nascent Soul cultivator. She did not lower herself to explain to them but forcefully stated this.
Mo Tiange knew she was not wrong. However, showing weakness too easily would put them at a disadvantage in the subsequent discussion.
Qin Xi let out a light laugh and spoke: "What Fellow Daoist says is reasonable. It seems you think so as well?"
Demon Lord Yeshuang paused for a moment, giving them a meaningful look. "Correct. We traveled a thousand li to come here, not to fight."
Qin Xi nodded and said, "Since that is the case, Fellow Daoist, if you have any plans, please speak frankly."
Demon Lord Yeshuang said, "We came here for only one thing. As long as you fellow Daoists do not contend with us for it, we will absolutely not become your enemies."
They had already heard this from Hongxiao. Qin Xi smiled: "If it has nothing to do with us, we naturally will not contend for it."
He did not close off all possibilities. There were some things they could give up, and some they could not.
"It should have nothing to do with you." The corners of Yeshuang's lips lifted slightly, revealing an expression that resembled a smile. She was truly a very beautiful woman. Despite being a demonic cultivator, she possessed a demeanor as clear and cold as snow.
"Additionally," Demon Lord Yeshuang paused and looked towards Venerable Songfeng, "I wonder what you fellow Daoists think of those Ghost Cultivators?"
Mo Tiange's gaze also turned towards Venerable Songfeng. They were conversing here without deploying a soundproofing barrier, so Venerable Songfeng must have heard everything clearly. Yet, he showed no reaction at all, simply remaining as a mass of black cloud, curled up in the corner recuperating.
Qin Xi pondered for a moment and asked, "May I ask, how many Ghost Cultivators besieged you, and what were their cultivation levels?"
Demon Lord Yeshuang tilted her head to glance at Tian Xuan, who then said, "Over twenty people. There were two late-Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivators." His face was expressionless, a faint light seeming to flicker on his pale blue skin.
Mo Tiange's brows furrowed: "Calculated that way, doesn't that mean they mobilized forty Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivators?"
Hearing this number, Jing Xingzhi also frowned: "What exactly is the origin of this Ghost City? How can it conceal so many Ghost Cultivators?"
Forty Nascent Soul cultivators—this was an astonishing number even in Yunzhong. The entire Yunzhong region only had about a hundred or so Nascent Soul cultivators. This Ghost City, merely to exterminate them, had dispatched forty Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivators. How many must there be in total? At the very least, half again as many?
"Don't you people in Tianji even know this Ghost City exists here?" Tian Xuan said. His tone carried doubt and disdain, making it quite unpleasant to hear.
Though Mo Tiange disliked his tone, she still replied calmly: "Tianji is different from Yunzhong. In Tianji, cultivators are almost entirely concentrated in Kunwu. The Extreme West Desert has neither spiritual lands nor spiritual objects, so naturally, no cultivators set foot here."
Tian Xuan snorted upon hearing this and did not reply further.
Qin Xi continued: "Forty Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivators, and there may be other Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivators within the Ghost City. If they block the exit, with only the eight of us, we simply cannot contend against them."
"Fellow Daoist Qin is correct," Demon Lord Yeshuang once again glanced towards Venerable Songfeng. "In such a situation, if we each go our own way, we can only be trapped here."
Qin Xi smiled upon hearing this: "Fellow Daoist Yeshuang's meaning is..."
"Naturally, to join forces to get out."
The black cloud finally stirred, and Venerable Songfeng's voice came from within: "Old hag, no need to test me. Of course, this old man does not wish to be trapped here."
Demon Lord Yeshuang's eyebrow twitched, her voice carrying a hint of amusement: "This seat wasn't speaking to you."
"Hmph!" Venerable Songfeng snorted coldly. "Since that's the case, don't blame this old man for not helping."
Demon Lord Yeshuang didn't care in the slightest. If he didn't help, they couldn't get out. It would be strange if he truly didn't help.
Qin Xi glanced at Venerable Songfeng and said, "Forget about all the Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivators in the Ghost City. Just the forty Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivators that have already appeared are more than we can handle. How do we get out?"
Demon Lord Yeshuang said, "Where there's a will, there's a way. Whether we can get out or not cannot be concluded at this moment."
Qin Xi exchanged a look with Mo Tiange and said, "Does Fellow Daoist already have an idea?"
"Correct." Demon Lord Yeshuang turned to look at Hongxiao. "This maidservant of mine possesses a peculiar secret art that can be used to investigate."
Mo Tiange was taken aback and asked, "You can enter the Ghost City?"
Receiving Demon Lord Yeshuang's signal, Hongxiao said, "Yes. This lowly servant has a secret art that allows the primordial spirit to leave the body, enabling one to infiltrate the Ghost City."
"Primordial spirit leaving the body?" Mo Tiange and the others were astonished. Even Nie Wushang, who was meditating to heal her injuries, opened her eyes.
For them, Nascent Soul cultivators, the primordial spirit had initially gained some power, but they were still far, far from being able to leave the body. Even a Deity Transformation cultivator could not achieve primordial spirit leaving the body. Such a secret art was unheard of.
Mo Tiange grew vigilant in her heart. This Hongxiao, though her strength was ordinary, possessed such a secret art and should not be underestimated.