CHAPTER 179: WEARING THE RIGHT CLOTHES

No matter how cruel her methods were, how vicious her heart, or how many cultivators she’d harmed by exploiting their compassion... When faced with death herself, she still chose to beg for her life. That was human instinct.

Seeing the young Daoist pause, the woman thought her words had taken effect. After all, her beauty and charm were top-tier, and she was quite skilled in pleasing men.

“Daoist Master, please don’t kill me,” the young woman said softly. “I know many bedroom techniques as well as poison and Gu arts. I can be of great use to you if you keep me alive.”

She tried her best to maintain composure under Li Yanchu’s hand, putting on a charming, alluring air.

Li Yanchu withdrew his hand and frowned. “Wasn’t he your husband?”

If they were husband and wife, there should be some feelings between them.

The young woman gave a wanton laugh. “Husband? What’s that worth? He’s so hideous, how could he compare to your youth and good looks? I’m willing to serve you loyally, without the slightest deceit.”

She lightly bit her lip, a faint blush blooming on her cheeks. “If you desire, even in front of him... I wouldn’t refuse...”

Li Yanchu almost laughed out loud.

No wonder that guy was wearing green[1]...

He asked, “You said there are several factions within this Blissful Land. Who are they, and how do you know this?”

The woman’s eyes lit up. She thought this meant the young man was just shy and didn’t want to address her offer directly. She only needed to keep working her charm and he’d surely take the bait.

She had met many young monks and Daoists who acted all upright and proper, or young heroes from the jianghu

. Compared to the old foxes, they had less cunning but more youthful vigor.

And young blood was always easier to tempt with beauty.

“The news of this Blissful Land’s appearance near Wei City has already drawn many forces,” she said. “I have sources in the jianghu.”

“I know for certain that Jiekong, the monk from the capital’s Great Xiangguo Temple, has come. Also, there’s that young Daoist from Mount Mao. They’ve both gathered powerful experts around them. They’re determined to seize the immortal fortunes hidden in this Blissful Land. And those are just the major factions. Just last night, I also saw a group of four people form an alliance.”

The woman explained everything clearly, emphasizing how intense the competition for this Blissful Land would be.

She was clearly trying to send a message: Daoist Master, take me with you, I can be your lackey!

Li Yanchu nodded slightly in acknowledgment. This kind of situation was expected, as banding together was the natural thing to do.

And as for powerful factions entering the Blissful Land in Mount Jinting, he didn’t even need to think to know it was inevitable.

He was no stranger to the Great Xiangguo Temple. That young monk Guanxin, who had once crossed paths with him, had entered that temple. It was said he was even hailed as a “Buddha’s Son.” A promising future, no doubt.

As for Mount Mao, it was a major orthodox sect of Zhengyi Daoism. Renowned for talismans, spellcraft, and its expertise in slaying demons and exorcising evil, it was one of the most worldly of Daoist sects.

Their name carried significant weight, so much so that many impostors used it to pass themselves off as Mao Mountain disciples.

Li Yanchu asked, “That young Daoist from Mount Mao, what’s his background?”

“They say he’s the grandson of a major figure in Mount Mao. His Daoist arts are extremely advanced, and his temperament is... domineering,” the woman replied, answering every question thoroughly, all while continuing to flirt, whether intentionally or not.

This woman knew exactly how to stir a man’s interest.

Li Yanchu nodded slightly. “Besides them, is there anything else?”

The young woman smiled seductively. “I can continue gathering information for Daoist Master. Before long, everyone will surely converge upon that divine mountain. I will definitely prove useful again.”

Indeed. A young, beautiful, and flirtatious woman like her could certainly navigate smoothly among a crowd of cultivators.

Not far away, the green-robed middle-aged man, still clinging to life, had blood tears streaming from his eyes, which were filled with bitter hatred. Every word from the young woman was sharper and more painful than the deadliest of swords.

Li Yanchu ignored her and walked straight over to the green-robed man.

“Mister, you can rest easy. I shall take care of your wife for you.” The green-robed man’s eyes nearly burst with rage. A mouthful of blood surged up his throat, and he almost died from sheer fury!

Bang!

Divine Astral Hands!

Li Yanchu struck with a heavy, scorching palm. Half of the man’s body exploded with a thunderous sound. The lifebound Gu worm within him was also instantly annihilated by Li Yanchu’s pure yang energy!

1000 merit points earned!

Li Yanchu’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He hadn’t expected this green-robed man to still care so deeply for his young wife.

But, Li Yanchu had no sympathy for people like him.

If he hadn’t possessed a Plague-Dispelling Talisman, if he hadn’t had so many skills at his disposal, he might’ve been the one lying dead on the floor right now.

The young woman sidled up to him with a coquettish smile. “Daoist Master, allow me to serve you and help you rest...”

But before she could get close, she caught sight of the cold gleam in Li Yanchu’s eyes and froze in her tracks.

“I tricked him,” Li Yanchu said coldly. “Whether you’re truly a lustful, heartless woman, or pretending to be so while secretly plotting revenge, I can’t allow you to stay.”

The young woman was stunned. Then, an uncontrollable rage surged in her heart. She, a woman so adept at manipulating men, had just been outplayed by a supposedly straight-laced young Daoist!?

Li Yanchu’s words had been designed to kill both body and spirit.

To a woman like her, he naturally felt no attraction, nor did he accept prisoners.

“I’ll teach you one more lesson. Earlier, you should’ve dropped to your knees, begged for mercy, and said you were being controlled by the green-robed man, that you had no choice. Maybe that would’ve been more convincing,” Li Yanchu sneered.

“You bastard!” The young woman’s eyes were filled with venomous hate as she let out a shrill curse and lunged at Li Yanchu.

From her mouth spewed a dense black smoke of venomous insects, surging toward him with ferocious intensity.

Boom!

Li Yanchu struck out with his palm again, and his scorching blood and qi burst from his body like a wave of fire sweeping across the air. The swarm of venomous insects instantly turned to ash! Even the poisonous fumes they released were blocked by the Plague-Dispelling Talisman.

The young woman’s head was directly blasted apart, turning into a mist of blood, which evaporated in an instant under the intense heat!

At this level of mastery, the Divine Astral Hands and Six Yang Force were absolutely overbearing.

1000 merit points earned!

After eliminating this cruel and sinister couple, Li Yanchu stepped forward to check the items on their bodies. On the young woman, he found an old, weathered pendant, which emanated a unique divine aura. It was a magical artifact from this Blissful Land in Mount Jinting.

In addition, he found two pieces of jade fragments. Identical to the one in his own possession. These were the keys to the Blissful Land in Mount Jinting.

The young man who had been killed by the terrifying presence in the darkness the previous night had also held one jade fragment. But clearly, he had died before he could locate the magical artifacts hidden in the Blissful Land.

Aside from that, Li Yanchu didn’t find anything else particularly valuable.

The young woman’s longsword and the green-robed man’s nine-ring broadsword were merely ordinary weapons. Li Yanchu had originally considered tossing the two corpses outside to bait whatever was lurking in the dark, but on second thought, that plan felt too risky. So he dismissed the idea.

Boom!

Suddenly, a thunderous noise echoed through the darkness, and the ground trembled violently, as if something massive had just torn itself free from the earth and was crawling out.

1. In Chinese culture, the color green, particularly wearing a green hat (戴绿帽子 / dài lǜ màozi), is strongly associated with infidelity, specifically, a man being cheated on by his wife or girlfriend. ☜