A Demon's Path Chapter 96

"He died, just like that. We really took advantage of him!" The man in gray fiercely kicked the lower half of Liu Zongkai's corpse twice.

The disciple who delivered the news to Liu Zongkai was standing to the side like an idiot. He started at the scene with his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. His pants were soaked through and through.

Bang! The man in gray sent a punch flying at the messenger's head. And just like that, the disciple's muddleheaded head was gone. "Li Yuanchong, kill everyone. There are many who saw us enter. If we don't kill them, news of this matter will come out sooner or later," the man in gray said in a serious tone.

Li Yuanchong said with an indifferent look on his face, "Ling Xiao, if you want to kill them, you do it. I can't be bothered."

Ling Xiao sighed. "I really don't know where the ruthless enthusiasm you displayed in the newcomers tournament has gone." Before leaving, he conveniently retrieved Liu Zongkai's soul chain. He believed in life's creed. Being wasteful was disgraceful, whereas being frugal brought about glory. Death was better than losing, but Ling Xiao didn't want either. So, he did all he could to benefit at another's expense to make sure that didn't happen.

Ling Xiao and Li Yuanchong had only just left the boundaries of Fortunate Sun County, when an intense surge of power came from behind them. It was so strong it even caused the earth to shake. The both of them turned their heads around and looked in the direction of the Fortunate Sun Sect. There, a white light shot into the sky!

"What's going on?" Li Yuanchong's expression changed slightly. "That's a very powerful array that just destroyed the Fortunate Sun Sect!"

Ling Xiao had a strange look on his face. "So, your grandfather was watching. He seems to be extremely displeased with how you went about that execution. I really wanted to give him the possibility to live a free life, but it seems like we'll have to bring him back to Heavenly River City with us."

…

In the main hall of Heavenly River City stood three people, while a fourth was firmly kowtowing. "I pay my respects to the Castellan!"

Li Xuanyi snorted. He felt slightly dissatisfied. "From today onwards, Zhang Wuhen is dead in name. I don't want anyone to suspect my Heavenly River City wiped the Fortunate Sun Sect from existence for one measly cultivator. Since Yuanchong saved your life, you will follow him from now on. Get up."

"Many thanks to the Castellan!" Zhang Wuhen shed tears of gratitude as he slowly got back up to his feet.

"If he's not called Zhang Wuhen, what's his name from now on?" Ling Xiao curiously asked.

"Hmm…" Li Xuanyi seemed to be caught in a pinch. After sitting on it for quite some time, he suddenly slapped the table and stood up. "I've got it! From now on, he shall be called Li Wuhen!"

Ling Xiao couldn't help but mutter to himself, What the fuck!?

Li Xuanyi seemed to be happy with the new name he thought of. He was all smiles as he said, "Yuanchong, Li Wuhen is now a servant of our Li Family. You can impart the Wyvern's Descent to him as a meeting gift."

Zhang Wuhen, or rather Li Wuhen as he was now aptly called gratefully cupped his fists at Li Xuanyi once more. "Thank you, Castellan."

"Alright, you and Yuanchong may take your leave. I have something to discuss with Ling Xiao." Li Xuanyi waved his hand, after which Li Yuanchong and Li Wuhen respectfully took their leave from the main hall.

After only Ling Xiao was left with him in the main hall, Li Xuanyi's countenance quickly turned cold. "I never thought you'd actually have the guts to deceive me."

Ling Xiao smiled. "I also never expected that the Castellan of Heavenly River City would go so far as to exterminate the Fortunate Sun Sect in a single breath just to silence them."

"Isn't this what you wanted?" There was a wisp of mockery in Li Xuanyi's gaze.

Ling Xiao shook his head. "This test actually turned out as you intended it to. In reality, you'd already investigated the whole sequence of events. The only reason you sent Li Yuanchong to take care of it is because you wanted to test your grandson. You wanted to see if he's an obedient fool, or has a mind of his own. Am I right?"

Li Xuanyi declined to comment. "Continue."

"If Li Yuanchong really is so hot-headed that he can't distinguish right from wrong, taking Li Wuhen's head to complete the mission, you'd have happily given him a strand of Soul Returning Grass. After which you'd silence him for life." Ling Xiao smiled before he continued, "That's because you don't need a puppet who only knows how to slavishly obey orders to be the future heir of Heavenly River City."

A shocked expression formed on Li Xuanyi's face. "You can even guess my thoughts. It's really impressive. How did you come to this conjecture?"

"I was just guessing at first. But before we left Fortunate Sun County, the light from that array made me aware that you've actually always been observing your grandson. If you don't want him to be your heir, you wouldn't sent him to another sect for tutelage when he was still so young. A genius is only born through hardships and training."

In front of Li Xuanyi, the number one genius everyone revered in the Clear Sky Continent, Ling Xiao spoke frankly and with assurance. He didn't feel the slightest bit of discomfort. "Not just that, your last action indicated you're teaching Li Yuanchong the principle that you have to cut the weeds by their roots. For if you don't, you're only inviting disaster. Even though he inherited your coldness and arrogance, and even pretends to be ruthless, the reality of the matter is that he's nothing more than a well-behaved grandson who only wants to bring a smile to his grandfather's face."

"You really can see through a person's heart." Li Xuanyi stood up from his chair and slowly walked over to Ling Xiao's side. "This is why I want him to learn from you. Unfortunately, this child… Hehe, if you were my grandson, I'd definitely pass on the position of Castellan to you."

Ling Xiao cursed silently, You old man! You want your bastard grandson to take advantage of Granddaddy Ling? Fat chance! But instead, he laughed foolishly in an attempt to restrain his urge to curse. "Li Yuanchong didn't kill the target. I assume you'll consider the task a failure and assign him another mission next?"

Li Xuanyi blinked a few times. "Your conjecture is half right. All of my grandsons are gaining experience outside this city. I observe every single one of them and nurture them as heirs to my title. As for Li Yuanchong, it's only natural he failed the mission. His target of assassination is still alive. Not that it'd matter. I don't have the Soul Returning Grass at hand anyway. His next mission will be to retrieve it."

Ling Xiao rolled his eyes. Not only was that bastard Li Xuanyi a fraud, so was his grandson!

Li Xuanyi couldn't be bothered with Ling Xiao thoughts. He threw a jade slab at him and said, "The item you're looking for is located on Myriad Bamboo Peak. That's Netherworldly Mansion's territory. Their disciples are all cut from the same stone as their Master. You've probably seen that old man Zhao Yang before. Plan appropriately and be sure of how you want to go about it. Alright, alright. I've said too much today. My tongue is tired. I need to rest. You should leave too."

Ling Xiao was about to turn and leave the main hall when Li Xuanyi flourished his large sleeve. A humming sound rang out and he found himself outside the main hall. "What a remarkable ability!" he uttered in praise. When will I reach such a realm? I'll be able to go wherever I want. Hehe!

Li Yuanchong stood right next to Ling Xiao. He curiously looked at him. "What were you and grandfather talking about?"

Ling Xiao threw the jade slab to Li Yuanchong. "Take a look for yourself."

After Li Yuanchong skimmed over the contents of the jade slab, his expression finally became a little ugly.  This wasn't a mission to harvest Soul Returning Grass! This was evidently asking them to steal it!

…

Countless bamboos stood tall on Myriad Bamboo Peak. It was clear to see where this mountain got its name from. Any number attached to the amount of bamboos was but an estimate, for there were far too many of them dotting the mountain to count. Various celestial beasts roamed about freely on this mountain. They were the targets of Celestial Core Soul Masters who used them for the transformation of their bodies. This was also the place where a precious medicinal ingredient grew, Soul Returning Grass.

One strand of Soul Returning Grass took 10 years to grow. There were only 7 measly blades growing on this mountain. Once it was plucked, it had to be consumed within 15 days. If not, it'd wilt regardless of the preservation method used. That was why the Master of Myriad Bamboo Peak wouldn't pluck these strands for just anyone. It was to be reserved for only the most urgent matters.

Even if one feared a thief eyeing their goods, they were more afraid of the thievery itself. The Master of Myriad Bamboo Peak deployed a massive military force to guard Myriad Bamboo Peak all year round. It had become a restricted area no thief should hope to enter.

Every unwanted and unknown guest who stepped foot on this mountain was brought down. Rebels were killed without trial. As time passed, most outsiders grew to fear Myriad Bamboo Peak and no longer dared to approach it. The disciples patrolling the mountain naturally noticed this, and they in turn became slightly more relaxed and careless.

According to Li Xuanyi's information, the Master of Myriad Bamboo Peak was Zhao Tian. He was the younger brother of the Master of the Netherworldly Mansion, Zhao Yang. Both of them had the same revolting behaviour, and were arrogant and violent.

If someone wanted to steal something from this kind of person, they needed to be of a certain rank to do so. Ling Xiao transformed into a three-legged bird and flew around Myriad Bamboo Peak for the entire day. He finally scouted out the arrangement of the mountain as well as the location of the Soul Returning Grass.

"Difficult. It's too difficult." Ling Xiao sighed. "Even though those disciples aren't anything special, there are alarms and traps set up everywhere. As long as a disciple stumbles and falls on the ground, the alarm buried underground will sound out. So, we have to knock them down, and then hang them on a tree before they hit the ground."

Chapter end