Chapter 117: A Warm Nest
“You didn’t get the green copper. What does that have to do with me? It just means you weren’t strong enough, and someone beat you to it.” Ye Fan stared at him. “Daoist, instead of thanking me, you’re treating me like this.”
“Kid, you’ve got a tough mouth. I charged straight for the Demon Emperor’s Yin Tomb and didn’t even see a shadow of it. How could anyone have beaten me to it? You’re still trying to fool me now. I really want to slap you to death.” As he spoke, a look of surprise crossed his face. “In such a short time, you’ve actually reached the Divine Bridge realm—unbelievable. Not much worse than me back in the day.” The fat Daoist circled him twice. “Could it be because of that green copper block?”
“Can’t you sense whether I have the green copper on me or not?” Ye Fan said calmly.
“You’re such a bastard, kid. You tossed the jade pendant I gave you into some deep mountain forest, making it impossible for me to track you down until today.” The unscrupulous Daoist stared into his eyes. “Where exactly is the green copper block?”
Ye Fan immediately thought of that broken jade pendant. Not only was it chipped, but it also had cracks, looking like a piece of rubble. It seemed he had made the right call throwing it away—this guy had wanted to use it to follow him.
“Daoist, since we’ve met again, it shows we’re fated. I have nothing to hide, so I’ll tell you the truth.” Ye Fan put on a serious expression. “That day, I did throw away the green copper block, but not into the deep pool.”
“I know it wasn’t in the deep pool!”
“Later, I went to look for it, only to find a crazy old man had picked it up. He was crying and laughing, completely out of his mind, and I couldn’t catch up…” Ye Fan directly described the image of the Old Madman.
The fat Daoist sucked in a cold breath. “A year ago, someone in the Yan region saw an old man like that. Legend has it he might be…” He stopped mid-sentence and then fixed his gaze on Ye Fan. “You’re a dishonest kid. I treated you with sincerity back then.”
“Daoist, you need to have a conscience. That day, you snatched three of my spirit weapons. Who’s the dishonest one here?”
The unscrupulous Daoist stared at him, his eyes suddenly turning hollow, like an endless abyss—dark, with no trace of light. His voice dropped. “Was it really taken by a crazy old man? What did he look like?”
Ye Fan felt drowsy, as if the other was trying to forcibly break into his sea of consciousness. But he wasn’t afraid. Now that his divine sense had taken the form of a golden lake, he was no worse than anyone. Instead of fighting back, he let the image of the Old Madman surface in his mind. “Yes, a crazy old man picked it up. I couldn’t catch him.”
When the unscrupulous Daoist probed the image of the Old Madman, his body shook violently. His hollow eyes instantly regained their light, filled with utter disbelief. “It really is that person…”
The seductive woman with the red mole on her forehead laughed lightly. “Who is it that has scared Daoist Duan like this?”
“Haven’t you demons heard about what happened a year ago?” Duan De said gravely. “A person who shouldn’t exist in this world appeared briefly in the Yan region.”
“I’ve heard a bit, but I think it might not be true. So many years have passed. Who could still recognize him?”
Duan De shook his head. “There’s no mistake. That person was a peerless expert in his time. Many portraits of him survive, and I was fortunate enough to see one.”
“Sss…”
The beautiful woman with the red mole on her forehead sucked in a cold breath. “He was a peerless expert back then. Now, six thousand years have passed, and he’s still alive. Do you think he’s close to becoming an immortal?”
The unscrupulous Daoist shook his head. “Unlikely. Some say he’s lost his mind, acting crazy and confused. How could someone like that become an immortal?”
“Does immortality really exist in this world?” Ye Fan asked from the side.
“Whether immortals exist, no one can say for sure. But a peerless expert living for several thousand years is no problem.” The demon woman smiled seductively at him, then pinched his cheek. “Work hard, and maybe you’ll achieve it too someday.”
“You… won’t harm me?”
This enchanting demon, with her red lips, blew a breath at him, alluring and tempting, and laughed softly. “Don’t worry, your life isn’t in danger.”
The unscrupulous Daoist’s eyes went hollow again. He still wouldn’t give up, continuing to stare into Ye Fan’s eyes. “How did he find the green copper…”
Ye Fan cooperated fully, using his powerful mental energy, which could take form, to construct an image in his mind of the Old Madman picking up the green copper, crying and laughing, then drifting away.
Seeing this scene, the unscrupulous Daoist looked utterly defeated, as if all his strength had been drained. He sighed to the heavens. “A treasure famous across the Central Province! I held it in my palm that day, yet I discarded it like trash, not recognizing it, letting it slip through my fingers. I hate it!”
Hearing this, Ye Fan said unkindly, “Be more careful next time.”
The unscrupulous Daoist, Duan De, was full of reluctance and regret. “Falling into that person’s hands, I have no chance to ask for it back. That old madman is still alive—it’s too shocking.”
“I wonder if the Demon Emperor’s essence blood is ready?” He looked up at the leading demon woman, who exuded an irresistible charm.
“Daoist, rest assured. We promised you a drop of the Demon Emperor’s essence blood, and we won’t go back on our word.” The woman smiled seductively and charmingly. She lightly clapped her jade hands. From deep within the peach blossom forest, a beautiful woman with bare arms, wearing a five-colored gauze dress, walked slowly forward, holding a jade tray covered with a brocade cloth.
The woman with the red mole on her forehead took it gracefully. With a gentle flick of her wrist, she lifted the brocade cloth, revealing a glimmer of crystalline light. A fist-sized crystal appeared, shining brilliantly on the jade tray.
At the center of the crystal was a drop of fresh blood, shimmering with a golden luster, sealed inside. It radiated an incredibly vigorous life force, and a vast, surging life energy pulsed faintly.
The unscrupulous Daoist’s dejection vanished, and his spirits lifted. “The Demon Emperor’s essence blood!”
“Exactly. This is the sacred blood of the Demon Emperor that you needed. Though you didn’t bring the forbidden artifact we mentioned, the young man you led here is indeed a precious body. It’s barely acceptable as an exchange.”
In the fist-sized crystal, the drop of blood seemed to contain boundless power. When the unscrupulous Daoist Duan De held it, it burst into dazzling blood-red light, turning his palm crimson and flashing with golden threads.
Ye Fan’s heart churned, unable to calm down. This drop of the Demon Emperor’s essence blood likely came from the Demon Emperor’s heart, and he immediately thought of Pang Bo.
That heart, which had flown out of the Demon Emperor’s tomb, with its normal beating alone, could overwhelm experts at the Other Shore or even beyond. Back then, the sect leader and supreme elders of the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven couldn’t get close; they could only watch as it flew into the sky, eventually falling into the hands of the demon clan.
Could it be that these women possessed the Demon Emperor’s heart? Was there a connection to that flawless woman from before the Demon Emperor’s tomb? If so, Pang Bo must be nearby! Ye Fan’s heart stirred with excitement.
“Kid, take care of yourself.” The unscrupulous Daoist Duan De patted him on the shoulder, speaking earnestly.
“Fatty, you really sold me out here?”
Duan De smiled faintly. “Don’t curse me now. You might be so happy you won’t want to leave, and you’ll thank me later.”
“What do you mean?”
Duan De said with deep meaning, “This is a blessing others would kill for. Be content, kid. If I were a few years younger, you might not have had this chance.”
The woman with the red mole on her forehead smiled charmingly, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at Duan De. “If the Daoist wishes to stay, we’ll treat you well.”
“No thanks. My old bones can’t handle it. We’ll meet again.” With that, Duan De walked away without looking back.
Ye Fan shouted after him, “I know where the Old Madman is…”
But Duan De ignored him, quickly disappearing, leaving him completely stranded.
“You shameless Daoist, just you wait…”
“My name is Qin Yao, little brother. Don’t be afraid. We won’t hurt you.” The woman with the red mole on her forehead gently pinched his cheek and smiled. “No need to worry.”
Qin Yao? Could she be a demon transformed from some strange bird? Ye Fan muttered to himself.
“May I ask if the heart that flew out of the Demon Emperor’s tomb is in your hands?”
Qin Yao’s skin was like warm jade, her light gauze fluttering, her graceful immortal form faintly visible, her curves hazy. She smiled sweetly. “You know quite a bit. Yes, the Great Emperor’s heart is indeed in our hands.”
Ye Fan’s heart jolted. “Then is there a very beautiful, nearly flawless woman here in charge?”
Qin Yao showed a hint of surprise. “You even know that. She is the Great Emperor’s descendant, of high status. How did you find out?”
Ye Fan was very excited. “Is there also a young man about my age here?”
Qin Yao was somewhat astonished. Her jet-black hair danced lightly, setting off her jade-like skin, making it even fairer and smoother. Around them, flower petals fell in a flurry, sparkling and fragrant, but she was more beautiful than the flowers. She smiled lightly. “You really do know a lot.” She didn’t elaborate.
“I want to see that young man about my age!”
“Sorry, he’s in seclusion. I’m afraid you can’t see him.” Though Qin Yao was seductive and always smiling, she refused without hesitation.
“I want to see the Demon Emperor’s descendant.” Unable to meet Pang Bo, Ye Fan settled for the next best thing—seeing that flawless woman.
Qin Yao’s voice was magnetic and pleasant. “Of course you can. You were meant to be taken to her anyway.”
“Meant to be taken to her? Why?” Ye Fan felt something was off.
“For you, it’s a good thing. If you’re chosen, you’ll be elevated to a high status. Little man, you’re quite lucky.”
The women around all laughed softly. They were enchanting and naturally seductive, with flower-like faces, skin like congealed fat, slender necks, jade-like arms, and long, straight, snow-white legs barely covered by their transparent gauze. Their waists were so slender they seemed graspable, and they laughed until their bodies trembled.
Ye Fan was led deeper into the peach blossom forest. This was the back mountain of the Profound Origin Sect, exceptionally quiet and peaceful, with a sacred aura spreading through the air. Some beautiful women stood guard ahead.
When they passed through a gorge and arrived before a range of jade-green mountains, faint holy light rippled. Every plant and tree seemed carved from jade, glowing with a strange radiance. This place was different.
On a flowing, colorful mountain peak ahead, mist swirled, and rays of light dotted the scene. A pavilion hung high above, and within it stood a flawless woman. Her eyes were like water, veiled in mist, as she looked down.
Her ice-like bones and jade-like skin had not a single flaw. Her immortal form was tall and graceful, as if she were the most perfect creation of heaven. Her white clothes were purer than snow, her black hair danced lightly, like a fairy from the Guanghan Palace descending to the mortal world.