After Ah Miao joined, Tang Xin explained their plan.
The cat demon, who had promised to help, immediately felt a deep sense of regret and silently cursed herself for not running away.
“The Hundred Poisons Hall? The one that’s rumored to be filled with treasures from the demonic path?” Ah Miao said with a bitter expression. “Do you know what kind of place that is and what kind of people we’ll be facing? Taking their stuff is like taking their lives, meow!”
“We don’t necessarily have to confront them head-on,” Lian Xin reassured. “The item is kept in a special chamber within the hall. They might not have taken it out yet.”
“If we can steal it, we will. If not, we’ll figure something out,” Tang Xin said. “It’s dangerous, but not as terrifying as you think.”
Not terrifying?
When they were exploring the cave, she said the same thing, and they ended up getting dizzy from the formation…
Stealing from under a tiger’s nose is dangerous, but first, they need to reach the Hundred Poisons Hall.
Even disregarding the eleven life-and-death crises they’ve faced since the cave collapse, encountering anyone else on the way would be a huge problem.
With the cat demon’s keen senses helping them avoid other cultivators, Tang Xin and the others continued their journey through the Hundred Poisons Mountain Range.
Lian Xin seemed to know the entire terrain of the Hundred Poisons Mountain Range by heart. She could tell them about any special topography or hidden ruins without needing to consult any references.
No wonder the demonic cultivators wanted to capture her. Having such a “navigation NPC” would certainly yield great rewards in the mountains.
“There’s someone ahead,” Ah Miao stopped and warned. “We can’t avoid them.”
Tang Xin signaled to the others, placing one hand behind her back and secretly channeling her true energy.
After a while, they heard a commotion ahead.
“I told you those people were suspicious!”
“How could we know? Can demonic cultivators disguise themselves now?”
“Next time we see someone suspicious, we should attack first and ask questions later. We keep letting people go. Are we here in the Hundred Poisons Mountain Range for sightseeing?”
Several cultivators in identical robes appeared in their view, both men and women.
“They’re disciples of the Clear Water Sect.”
Tang Xin said.
There were quite a few people from the Qingshui Sect this time, but due to the sect’s overall strength, the level of disciples they sent could only be considered mid to lower tier within the Demon-Slaying Alliance.
As they got within striking distance, the disciples of the Qingshui Sect also noticed the people ahead and one by one, they showed expressions of surprise.
If they were righteous cultivators, just knock them out and erase their memories. Although the process might be a bit painful…
“Tang Xin!”
A female cultivator ran over excitedly, her eyes shining.
“I didn’t expect to meet you here! I… I’m a huge fan of yours!”
Uh… Since when did I have fans?
Tang Xin, who was about to place her hand on the female cultivator’s head, changed direction and scratched her own head instead, saying.
“Did I do something worth supporting?”
“You’re powerful, unbound by rules, free-spirited, and unique,” the female cultivator said starry-eyed. “Isn’t that worth supporting?”
“Ahem, junior sister, you shouldn’t be so rude to Daoist Tang,” a male cultivator beside her glanced at the people around and casually asked, “Isn’t Daoist Tang supposed to be teamed up with Daoist Shangguan and Daoist Liu? Why don’t I see the others?”
“We split up.”
Tang Xin said indifferently.
In front of the Demon-Slaying Alliance cultivators, maintaining a cold demeanor was the way to go. Explaining too much would be out of character.
“I see,” the female cultivator looked at her new teammates thoughtfully and said, “I also thought those two were a bit suspicious. Even if they’re not demonic spies, they definitely aren’t good people… Daoist Tang is impressive to have noticed early on!”
“Those two,” the male cultivator added, “uh, half-demons? And I feel like the Daoist beside you looks unfamiliar. Is she from the Demon-Slaying Alliance?”
Why do you talk so much? Can’t you just pretend you didn’t see anything?
Tang Xin’s hand, which was scratching her head, moved forward again, ready to enlighten this person at any moment.
“What do you know?” a Qingshui Sect disciple beside him scolded. “Recognizing half-demons is a sign of Daoist Tang’s benevolence! The Daoist beside him must be from some holy land. Such a pure aura, I’ve only seen it in a few sects that focus on accumulating virtue and doing good deeds!”
“Yeah, yeah! As they say, excellent people attract each other! Look at these two, they’re perfect to be Daoist Tang’s teammates!”
“My bad, my bad, my old habit of being suspicious kicked in again…”
The disciples of Qingshui Sect argued for a while, then turned their attention back to Tang Xin.
“Tang Daoist, where are you heading? Half of the time agreed upon by the elders has passed, and many people have started their return journey.”
“Exorcism,” Tang Xin said expressionlessly, “The demons must be exorcised.”
That expression, that aura, that determined gaze…
“Light of the righteous path!”
“Model of the righteous path!”
“Defender of the righteous path!”
After a round of overwhelming praise, the disciples of Qingshui Sect got up and took their leave.
Everyone in the Demon Extermination Alliance knew that Tang Xin had very strict requirements for her teammates. Even Shangguan Qing’er and Liu Mei couldn’t meet her standards, so naturally, they wouldn’t bother trying.
Seeing the people walk away, Tang Xin finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“A master is indeed a master,” Ah Miao said, “I didn’t realize your influence was this great! I’m glad I chose to follow you!”
“Are the righteous path cultivators so easily convinced nowadays?” Lian Xin asked, puzzled. “I didn’t say or do anything, how did I become the ‘Saintess’ of the holy land?”
“I didn’t tell a single lie,” Tang Xin smirked. “Let’s keep moving. I’m afraid if we stay too long, trouble will find us again…”
Before she finished speaking, the sounds of a distant battle could be faintly heard.
Great, another way to die has arrived!
“Demon cultivators… be exterminated!”
“Die… you scum!”
Judging by the sounds, there seemed to be quite a few people on both sides.
If someone recognized Lian Xin’s identity, she would be doomed with no place to bury her body.
No more talking, time to run!
……
Somewhere in the Hundred Poisons Mountain Range.
On the ground, a complex array of patterns emitted a faint glow.
“The demonic artifact indicates that Lian Xin is still within the Hundred Poisons Mountain Range,” a deep voice came from within the array. “The Poison Flower Valley has already sent people to search and found some anomalies. We suspect someone is helping her.”
“Helping her? Who would do such a thing?”
The person in front of the array spoke with a tone of confusion.
“Not sure, but it’s definitely not someone from the demonic cultivators’ side,” the deep voice replied. “It might be someone from your side.”
“Someone from the Demon-Slaying Alliance is helping her? How is that possible? As far as I know, although some of these people have questionable morals, they are still relatively clean and have no intention of contacting the demonic path.”
“Hmph, they are clean only because the temptation hasn’t been strong enough. In the face of sufficient benefits, no one can stay uninvolved… You need to speed up your investigation; we don’t have much time left.”
“Understood,” the person in front of the array nodded. “I will definitely bring Lian Xin back!”
