CHAPTER 46: 46. MORE DEMON THAN DEMON

"Sob sob~~"

Soft arms gently shook an elder’s shoulders, a beautiful face rested on his shoulder, her charming eyes carefully concealing extreme disdain, her red lips parted as she said, "Old man, why have you come to South Bamboo Peak... let’s go back to the main peak. Rufeng is also at the main peak, and he is very filial to you."

The elder was none other than the Stone Master.

And the beautiful woman was his Dao companion—Bi Huayi.

Stone Master said, "This place is closer to the Tannery. I’m getting old and want to see if there are any talented disciples."

Bi Huayi said, "You should just enjoy peace and stability and leave these matters to Rufeng."

Stone Master fell silent for a moment.

Bi Huayi, hooking his neck, continued, "That precious inheritance of yours might as well be handed to Rufeng.

I know... that inheritance is very important to you.

So if you pass it to Rufeng sooner, you’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief sooner, right?

I’m just thinking of you."

The beautiful woman playfully coaxed, but the Stone Master remained silent.

Finally, even Bi Huayi seemed to tire of it, walking out of the cave mansion, looking outside, and sneering in her heart, "Old fool, guarding that thing so tightly, who knows if he’s already passed it to someone.

Could it be Lv Hong?

No, if it were given to Lv Hong, he would have said so long ago, and his attitude would not be like this.

He’s really holding back and hiding!

If he doesn’t pass it to Rufeng, does he intend to take it to the grave with him? Damn old fool! Maybe it’s time to use some means or perhaps... poison?"

...

...

"Song... Song..."

The young Elder in the white robe looked at Song Yan, pointed, seeming to ponder, then smiled, "Song Yan!"

Song Yan recognized this Elder as well, clasped his hands and saluted, "Congratulations Brother Gu on becoming an Elder!"

The white-robed Elder leading the group out to capture servants was unexpectedly Gu Rufeng, which was truly beyond his expectations.

The white-robed Elder smiled, "Nowadays, talents at Shadow Puppet Peak are scarce, which is why Gu has become an Elder. It’s also worth congratulating that Junior Brother Song has now entered Profound Cultivation."

After some simple pleasantries, Gu Rufeng no longer paid attention to Song Yan. After all, a novice in Refining Profound was still far beneath him.

The group exited the market gate of South Bamboo Peak, and shortly thereafter, thousands of cavalry gathered, dense and dark, with elites in the front and numerous carts dragged by oxen carrying cages in the back. The leader clasped his fist and said, "General Dong Tongshan of Great Jin, under the orders of our emperor, is at the command of the Immortal Masters."

Gu Rufeng said, "Accompany us to capture people, and escort them back after capture."

With that, he raised his hand and summoned a Shadow Puppet Void Ship.

The disciples boarded the ship one after another.

The Void Ship took to the air, heading far away, with the cavalry in close pursuit behind.

...

...

Time flashed by, and several days passed.

Song Yan still remembered how he was "recruited" back then, but never expected that in the blink of an eye... he would also be out recruiting.

The so-called recruitment basically involved capturing all able-bodied young men and women along the way, throwing them into cages, and then preparing to take them back for testing.

Those who could be tested for aptitude would directly become disciples, while those who were not would be thrown into various chores rooms for a second test later.

The Puppet Sect recruited in such a manner because of the heavy casualties.

This was not even the first recruitment of the year, nor was it the only group out recruiting.

While Gu Rufeng led a raid on one side, there were also Demon Sect elders leading captures elsewhere.

The Puppet Sect required a large influx of fresh blood.

In matters like these, Song Yan was helpless and could only go along with local customs, drifting with the tide.

However... there was one thing he was very concerned about.

He remembered the "inheritance dispute" from back then very clearly.

The parties involved in that "inheritance dispute" were precisely Lv Hong and Gu Rufeng.

Now, Lv Hong had been captured by a Ghost Cultivator and taken to the small dark room to make Shadow Puppets... Gu Rufeng was arguably the strongest among the younger generation of Skin Makers left.

But the Stone Master had passed the inheritance to him.

Over the years, Gu Rufeng would have certainly tried every way possible to dig out the Stone Master’s inheritance.

After all, in Gu Rufeng’s view, he had no competition anymore, and the Stone Master would inevitably pass the inheritance to him.

But the result... was obviously not.

What would Gu Rufeng think?

Perhaps he was uncertain if the Stone Master had already passed the inheritance to someone else, but he was very likely to stop at nothing to find out.

For instance...

Soul Search.

All the Skin Makers or quasi-Skin Makers from the Linglong Valley Exotic Beast Association back then could become his targets.

Of course, before a Soul Search, he would use his authority to exert pressure, because he was already an Elder, and his grandfather was also an Elder.

Although he, Song Yan, was only in the first level of Refining Profound, he would not be an exception.

This was almost an inevitable situation.

Song Yan could almost imagine the subsequent developments.

Returning to South Bamboo Peak, he would likely be taken for questioning, then detained, using "Soul Search" as a threat to coerce him, much like "violent interrogation." And he would have to use his power to escape, causing quite a commotion in the process, leading to everything spiraling completely out of control.

When contemplating these matters, Song Yan kept his head down, not looking at the Elder in the white robe in front of the Shadow Puppet Void Ship.

However, he already deeply felt the "cause and effect" between him and Gu Rufeng.

This "cause and effect" started because of Stone Master, and it cannot be severed.

If Stone Master were still alive, he might protect him, but that protection would cause issues.

If Stone Master had indeed passed away, then Gu Rufeng would undoubtedly exert every effort to uncover the whereabouts of his legacy.

In the distance, Gu Rufeng held a Communication Jade, seemingly communicating with someone.

After the exchange, his face turned pale, his eyes filled with resentment, and he coldly snorted, cursing under his breath, "Old bastard!"

Song Yan’s pupils slightly contracted, understanding in his heart: it seems the master is still alive...

However, he had to find an opportunity to kill Gu Rufeng.

Though not yet revealed, the malicious bond was too deep, and he had to act.

Since he inherited Stone Master’s legacy, these causes and effects... must be taken on and handled together.

...

...

The recruitment concluded smoothly.

A group of people returned to Shadow Puppet Peak.

One by one, iron cages were transported up the mountain.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Gu Rufeng left alone.

Time entered deep winter, with small snowflakes filling the sky.

It was dusk, and in the distance... the Earth Demon rose with the cold wind.

Gu Rufeng mounted a Blood Blade Deer Shadow Puppet, quickly advancing regardless of the terrain, and when he reached above Cuique Forest, the shadow puppet trod on the treetops.

Clearly, he intended to return to the main peak of Shadow Puppet Peak at this moment.

Suddenly, he seemed to sense something, slightly turning his head, but all he saw was snow falling with the wind, nothing else.

"Hmm?"

Gu Rufeng frowned, thought briefly, and quickly maneuvered the shadow puppet to land in Cuique Forest.

From the high ground, he was too conspicuous; if he encountered enemies, he’d be like a sitting duck.

Though this white-robed elder was young, he possessed a considerable degree of vigilance and battlefield experience. Even if he couldn’t confirm whether his perception was mistaken, his battlefield struggles had instilled in him a profound caution.

Once on the ground, regardless of whether there were enemies or whether his perception was wrong, he immediately dismounted the Blood Blade Deer Shadow Puppet and pulled out a Shield Profound Artifact.

The Blood Blade Deer was an Intermediate Demon Beast; due to its physique and Qi Blood, even when corresponding to a certain rank of Cultivating Profound practitioner, it would generally be stronger.

And with the Shield Profound Artifact, he could ensure his safety, watching the Blood Blade Deer fight with the enemy, and then... take the opportunity to use other Profound Artifacts and Talismans for attack.

This was the correct technique for a Skin Master’s Magical Battle: release the shadow puppet, protect oneself, exploit openings, weaken the enemy, and strike with a lethal blow.

Just as Gu Rufeng pulled out the Shield Profound Artifact and simultaneously released his perception, his perception spread over several dozen zhang instantaneously touched a gigantic black shadow.

Gu Rufeng was so terrified he almost exploded in shock.

What was that?

Three heads, body covered in armor, spikes on the armor, and two relatively small wings outside the spikes, each feather like a steel blade...

This appearance inexplicably reminded Gu Rufeng of the common appearances of "Two-headed Wolves," "White Thorn Deer," "Iron Feather Finch," and other Low Level Demon Beasts.

These Low Level Demon Beasts weren’t frightening, but... strung together in such a bizarre manner, they became terrifying.

Demon... Beast?

Had the demon beast invaded here already?

But, what kind of demon beast is this!!!

At the moment he perceived that bizarre demon beast, he suddenly felt as though the demon beast was smiling.

All three heads were smiling.

In an instant.

Swoosh!

A streak of black light flashed past.

The demon beast appeared several dozen zhang before him, with a massive, hard hand tearing through the air, the sonic boom making his mind buzz to a blank, followed by a sensation of his face being firmly grasped by those rough fingers, his neck tightened, legs dangling, kicking instinctively.

Before he could react, he only felt extreme pain in his Primordial Spirit between his eyebrows.

"B-..."

Gu Rufeng opened his mouth, but couldn’t even utter the word "No" before he became a living corpse devoid of a Divine Soul, his struggling arms and kicking legs drooping down, swaying in the cold forest wind.

But in the blink of an eye, those unfocused eyes regained their luster.

Filled with the luster of Evil Qi!

The demon beast released him, instructing in a low voice, "Go to the Evil Land, then... commit suicide."

Gu Rufeng, without a word, remounted the Blood Blade Deer, veering westward.

Tonight, he would die in the Evil Land and then be possessed by a ghost.

The Puppet Sect and Ghost Cultivators already had grudges, one more was not too few, one less was not too many...