Chapter 115: Perseverance

It is said that the Nine-Tailed Silver Fox possesses a crystal-clear mind, exceptionally clever beyond compare.

The Demon King, however, was not fooled by Feng Ke’er’s evasive words. His face betrayed undeniable disappointment as he sighed and rose. “No matter. This bathhouse is actually a small mustard seed space bestowed upon me by a senior from the Spirit Realm. Even the three supreme immortals outside, no matter how powerful, would find it difficult to detect without searching for days on end. Besides, Joy Valley was founded by me; a local ruler cannot be easily overpowered. Miss Feng, please rest assured and recuperate here. Should you need anything, simply clap thrice; I shall be at your service at once.” With that, he bowed deeply and vanished without a trace.

Feng Ke’er had long discerned that this bathhouse was no ordinary place. Otherwise, she would not have dared to disregard the three crows outside and casually spar with the Demon King inside an ordinary bathhouse. Indeed, she had been practicing Tai Chi all along—though the Demon King’s sincerity was genuine, under the watchful gaze of the Great Pangu, she had never truly taken the pact seriously. Facing a cunning old fox who could read minds, she resorted to deploying a single Golden Core pill to stage a false psychological activity. In other words, all the schemes and calculations the Demon King perceived were mere illusions, tricks to deceive.

Consider that the Demon King had lived for over thirty thousand years, yet never dreamed that someone’s Dan Sea could harbor thousands of Golden Core pills, each with a specific function, all immaculate and indispensable. Thus, conjuring a single pill to lie was no great feat.

Years later, when old matters resurfaced, the Demon King bitterly reflected: First, judging by appearances is flawed—some born with pure, innocent faces are often the most deceitful at heart; second, blindly trusting information is worse than having none. One must look beyond the surface to discern the truth. Had he possessed just one more insight back then, he would not have so naively trusted the so-called data before him, nor so willingly revealed his mind-reading ability.

As a result, he was mocked on the spot: “With a heart like yours, you could fish with it. And you want another eye? Dear, is there even room to poke one?”

Of course, this was all in hindsight.

But why was Feng Ke’er unwilling to make a pact with the Demon King? Psychological scars were a significant reason. Moreover, she had no lofty ideals of sainthood. A destined guardian beast bound to share one’s fate? In the cultivation world, who doesn’t tie their life to their waistband to survive? There’s always someone stronger; who can truly be another’s lifeline? As a lone girl unfamiliar with this world and cultivation, she had struggled on her own. Yet here was the mighty Demon King begging for patronage and pity—how was that fair?

Hmph! Beauty does not grant privileges. She had always detested all sorts of pretty boys.

If you want a pact, prove your worth and strength first!

Only if I think you’re worthy, then having a demon beast as a destined guardian is perfectly fine!

Feng Ke’er rolled her eyes in the direction where the Demon King had disappeared, then settled her mind to business: the finely crafted space had been breached and needed repair; the first-level art of cosmic translocation required urgent retraining.

Naturally, to ensure safety, she first retrieved the Phoenix Jade token from the shattered space and wore it around her neck.

After emerging from the Obstacle Sea and learning the passage was sealed, Feng Ke’er believed that with her cultivation and abilities, she could roam the lower realm unimpeded, at least no longer needing concealment talismans. So, she discarded the Phoenix Jade token.

As a result, she was caught red-handed by the trio of crows. Thus, she still relied on the protection of concealment talismans.

After donning the Phoenix Jade, Feng Ke’er prepared to inspect the space’s condition when the Heavenly Master finally spoke again: “Girl, I am on a mission and cannot send a clone. Be cautious.”

Then, in a flash of white light, the Phoenix Jade reverted to its original form.

Feng Ke’er opened her mouth, but no words came out—she could only wonder silently: Is the Master truly dedicated to his mission, or is he simply hiding to recover from grievous wounds?

From the tone of his voice, she increasingly suspected the old man was seriously injured and hiding to recuperate.

At some unknown point, the Heavenly Master had become like a teacher and father figure to Feng Ke’er. Hearing his unusual voice, she could not help but worry. But worry was futile—given her current abilities, she could be of no help.

Sighing, Feng Ke’er calmed her spirit and sat cross-legged, retrieving the broken space. She had a premonition: when she became strong enough, the Heavenly Master would fulfill all her requests. She had already resolved that, when the time came, she would uphold her promise and complete three tasks for him—no more, no less.

Meanwhile, after leaving the bathhouse in frustration, the Demon King grew increasingly dissatisfied: Was such a golden opportunity to be missed so easily? Hu San, Hu San, are you truly content to remain a slave beast, your cultivation capped at the great completion of the tribulation stage?

“Man makes his destiny! Remember, where there’s sincerity, even metal and stone can be broken.” The immortal’s earnest teaching echoed in his mind. The Demon King clenched his fists: No, I will never give up!

Pursued by three supreme immortals? With a sudden thought, he hurriedly slipped into the left corridor, turned two corners, the silver hem of his robe fluttering, and vanished into a moon-shaped gate.

In the market square’s sky, the three Hua brothers exchanged glances.

“Where is he?” the third brother grumbled. Just as they were about to seize that wretched girl, she disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Judging by her awkward steps and posture, she was clearly a novice at teleportation techniques, yet she had escaped. If word got out, their lifetime reputation would be ruined.

Fuming, he quickly withdrew his divine sense and suggested, “Big brother, should we use the secret method...?”

Before he finished, the eldest brother shot him a dagger-like glare that said, “Don’t use a sledgehammer to kill a chicken.”

The third brother blushed deeply. She was merely a Golden Core Great Completion-level blonde girl—was such drastic action warranted? Hua Third, you’re too impatient!

Yet the second brother hesitated briefly, then weakly agreed, “Big brother, I think there’s something strange about that girl’s body. Without secret methods, we might not find her.”

The “secret method” they referred to was the Hua family’s core advanced technique—Soul Search. Upon reaching True Immortal stage, the Nascent Soul becomes more powerful and takes on an adult appearance. Hence it is called a soul. Unlike the Nascent Soul, which must always be nurtured within the Dan Sea, the soul can separate from the body briefly. This phenomenon is called soul projection. However, the soul is a spiritual entity, especially at True Immortal level. Its capabilities outside the Dan Sea are limited.

But the Hua family’s Soul Search allows the soul to materialize for half an hour and conduct a three-dimensional search within a 500-li radius, traversing sky and earth.

The key is that the soul, being a spiritual entity, is highly sensitive to mustard seed spaces.

The eldest Hua brother frowned. “Second brother, you mean that girl has a mustard seed space on her?”

He recalled that the girl had previously concealed herself in a quasi-mustard seed space. Immediately, he decisively ordered, “Form the formation! Soul Search!”

The second and third brothers exchanged a glance, then simultaneously stood behind the eldest, their hands swiftly performing forty-nine hand seals. Finally, one struck with the left palm, the other with the right, creating a massive palm imprint that landed on the eldest brother’s shoulder blades as they shouted in unison, “Form!”

Among the three, the eldest Hua brother had the highest cultivation—two layers of Golden Immortal. The other two had just advanced to Golden Immortal. Thus, only the eldest used the Soul Search secret art, while the other two formed the protective formation. Soul projection was not a trivial matter—any collision could harm the soul, causing serious damage or even death. Especially when materializing the soul for a search, one must have trusted protectors nearby.

In an instant, a sky-blue light ring burst forth from their palms, expanding from a line to a surface, finally forming a transparent sphere resembling a giant soap bubble enveloping all three.

Only then did the eldest Hua brother close his eyes, extend his index and middle fingers to trace half-circles before pressing both temples and inhaling deeply: “Soul...”

“Hey! Show me your flying permit!” Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out below. A burly man with a black short robe and a thick beard stood on the ground, half lowering his head, arms crossed, radiating coolness. “Did you hear me? The three of you—do you have a flight permit? Show it now for inspection!”

The soap bubble burst.

The three brothers were stunned—they had used invisibility spells! Golden Immortal invisibility! When had such a powerful figure appeared in the lower realm?

Yet, upon closer inspection, the man below was but an ordinary Nascent Soul Great Completion male cultivator.

“Cough, cough,” the eldest Hua brother choked, nearly losing control of his true energy, “Withdraw!”

The second and third brothers, upon receiving the order, exchanged glances but showed no intention of stopping. Their hands still pressed on the eldest’s shoulder blades. The third brother grumbled, displeased: “Big brother, three Golden Immortals performing magic, but a mere lower realm Nascent Soul cultivator shouts once and we back down halfway? What a disgrace!”

“There’s something strange about that person,” the eldest sighed in frustration, beginning to withdraw his power. Having lived so long, he had suffered more humiliation than he cared to count. Well, one more wouldn’t matter.

That phrase sounded familiar...

The second brother also retracted his hands but nearly bit through his steel teeth—another Great Completion Nascent Soul! He hated dealing with Great Completion cultivators! If anyone mentioned “strange” or “Great Completion” again, he’d lose his temper.

With both older brothers yielding, the third reluctantly complied, glaring fiercely at the little Nascent Soul cultivator below, eyes blazing with fury: “Hey, kid, what do you want?”

Nonsense! There’s no such thing as a flight permit in this valley!

The black-robed cultivator raised his head, revealing a chiseled, handsome face. He curled his lips into a faint smile: “I have an old friend—a fox demon. He surrendered to a girl, and she said accepting him as a destined guardian beast wasn’t impossible, only if that friend helped her settle a matter. Three supreme immortals, what do you think? Should my friend accept, or give up?”

Though the fiery sun hung high in the sky, the Hua brothers felt a cold wind at their backs and an ominous aura from his smile.

“What nonsense...” The third brother snapped, raising his palm.

“Third brother...” The eldest hurried to pull him back but was too slow.

Suddenly, the third brother’s palm enlarged a hundredfold, like a small mountain, smashing toward the black-robed cultivator. Hua Third was confident that a single palm would suffice for a mere Nascent Soul.

Unexpectedly, the black-robed cultivator grasped his wrist like pincers.

“Dragon Claw Hand!” the second brother screamed, “The Dragon Claw Hand of the Feng clan!”

“Nonsense!” The black-robed cultivator’s expression changed abruptly. He shook off the grip and spread his arms, transforming into a great eagle, fleeing toward the hills.

“It’s the Feng clan’s transformation technique!” the third brother howled, clutching his wrist.

The eldest’s eyes flashed as he waved, “Pursue!”

(To be continued...)

Heavenly Master’s Tome 115_Chapter 115 Persistently Updated!