“As a medical cultivator of the Tailing Pavilion, I can naturally eliminate illnesses and pain. As for worldly wealth… even with a thousand acres of good fields, one can only eat three meals a day. With ten thousand grand halls, one only needs one bed at night. One doesn’t need too much fame and fortune – just enough to avoid starvation!”
Zhu Yuting’s hand reached over, ice-cold to the bone, and gently pinched Lu Xiaochan’s ear. “But do you know that human hearts are greedy? What’s profit for me could be a dead end for others?”
Just as Lu Xiaochan was about to cast a medical spell to force out the evil spirit within Zhu Yuting’s body, the latter grabbed Lu Xiaochan’s other hand.
“You can cure the illnesses of people in the world, but you cannot save them from their inner demons. Would you like to see the greed and cruelty in human hearts? If after seeing it, you still decide to save them, I will leave this vessel and let you refine me?”
Zhu Yuting lowered his head to look at Lu Xiaochan.
“What if I don’t want to see?” Lu Xiaochan asked coldly.
“Then I will trap your senior brother in this evil formation forever, suffering day and night until his cultivation dissipates.”
Lu Xiaochan gritted his teeth. “Fine! What other tricks do you have up your sleeve!”
Zhu Yuting pressed down on Lu Xiaochan’s shoulders, making him fall sitting beside Zhu Yuting.
Zhu Yuting clapped his hands, and all the opened windows around them closed.
The rotting food suddenly became fresh and appealing, and the stained wine cups overflowed with fine wine.
This was the evil spirit’s illusion – those without sufficient cultivation power definitely couldn’t see through it!
If Lu Xiaochan hadn’t seen this place’s true appearance before, he definitely wouldn’t have been able to see through this illusion.
As night was about to fall, the dead silent Zhuxu Mountain suddenly lit up with lights, presenting a scene of prosperity.
Several young disciples came out, smiling and well-dressed, as if waiting to receive guests.
However, Lu Xiaochan saw clearly that their faces were pale, with black qi in their eyes showing they were possessed by evil spirits.
Greetings arose as several sect masters and their proud disciples entered.
They complained about the plague, spoke of their difficulties, and then began flattering Zhu Yuting, thesect leader of Zhuxu Mountain.
“I heard that on Zhuxu Mountain, from the sword masters to disciples, even down to the sweeping servants, everyone has consumed the blood of the Jiaosi spirit bird, and no longer need to worry about being infected by the plague.”
“Indeed, the sword master under my sect, with over two hundred years of cultivation – this plague nearly took his life! I don’t know how I would find a better disciple!”
“Now the Jiaosi spirit birds have been hunted to extinction, not even a single feather can be found in all of Linzhou. Only the Chilian Formation of Zhuxu sect can lure these spirit birds! We hope Master Zhu will consider our brotherhood in the immortal sects and spare a few spirit birds for each sect!”
Zhu Yuting smiled slightly and stood up, saying, “Fellow cultivators, please be seated and rest. I have already ordered a feast to be prepared to welcome you all!”
“Master Zhu! The epidemic is severe, we really cannot stomach any feast, please…”
Zhu Yuting raised his hand and smiled. “Since you all know that the spirit birds across the land have been hunted almost to extinction, with the remaining few in hiding, only our Zhuxu Mountain knows how to lure them. Therefore, these spirit birds are truly precious – it’s impossible to distribute them freely to everyone like opening granaries during a famine.”
At Zhu Yuting’s words, all the visiting sect masters fell silent.
Zhu Yuting looked toward Cheng Ziqiu, the master of Muyang Mountain who had arrived earlier and whose pulse Lu Xiaochan had checked, and said, “Master Cheng arrived at our Zhuxu Mountain just yesterday and has already drunk the wine made from the Jiaosi spirit bird’s blood. But Master Cheng didn’t come empty-handed.”
Cheng Ziqiu stood up and said, “To thank Master Zhu, I have given our sect’s treasured Yuanling Pearl to the Zhuxu sect, with an agreement to retrieve it after one thousand years.”
The other sect masters discussed in surprise.
“Really? The Yuanling Pearl! Cultivating with this pearl doubles one’s progress – Cheng Ziqiu actually just gave it to Zhu Yuting like that? And for a thousand years?”
“There are too many people who want the spirit bird’s blood. For the sake of fairness, it depends on how long the sect masters are willing to pledge their sect’s magical artifacts to our Zhuxu Mountain. Pledge for a hundred years, the sect master can drink the spirit bird’s blood. Pledge for two hundred years, the sword masters can also drink. If it’s for a thousand years, then the entire sect can be saved.”
“Zhu Yuting! You’re taking advantage of this disaster!” one sect master couldn’t help but shout.
“That’s right! The spirit birds aren’t even yours! Your disciples just used some unorthodox techniques to lure them out!”
“If you hadn’t hunted the spirit birds to extinction, would we be unable to catch even a single one now!”
“It all comes down to Zhuxu Mountain being too extreme in their actions!”
“They’re not just being extreme! This was premeditated! They waited for the spirit birds to become extinct, knowing they could find the hiding ones, so they could control other sects!”
“Perhaps this plague was intentionally spread by Zhuxu Mountain to infect the various mystic sects!”
Other sect masters joined in agreement, with some even placing their hands on their swords, ready to fight at any moment.
Everyone’s eyes were red with envy, while only Zhu Yuting smiled calmly.
“Since you all know the spirit birds are nearly extinct, let me be honest – the reason I set clear prices is because there aren’t enough spirit birds to save everyone here. You can only exchange them with magical artifacts, establishing spirit contracts that our sect will naturally return when the time comes.”
Zhu Yuting’s gaze swept across everyone, and those who were about to act had to suppress their impulses and reconsider.
“Or you could all join forces to kill me, Zhu Yuting, and seize the spirit birds. However, every disciple in my Zhuxu Mountain is full of spiritual energy and free from illness – I wonder if you could gain any advantage. Even if you destroyed Zhuxu Mountain, the next step would be you all killing each other over the limited number of spirit birds. So what’s better? Clear pricing or mutual destruction?”
Zhu Yuting sat back in the main seat, tapping his fingers on the table while resting his chin on his other hand, watching everyone present.
A disciple carrying writing materials had already walked over and sat beside Zhu Yuting.
One sect master removed the jade bell from his waist. “The Qingkun Bell – I pledge it for a hundred years in exchange for spirit bird blood!”
Zhu Yuting and that sect master established a contract, marking it with a spirit seal.
A Zhuxu Mountain disciple brought out a spirit bird, cut its throat, and drained its blood into a cup.
Lu Xiaochan found it extremely cruel, and looking at the spirit bird’s dim eyes, he suddenly remembered the bloody eyes in the trees along the stone steps when he and Kunwu climbed Zhuxu Mountain.
This sect master received a cup of spirit bird blood and drank it all at once.
The other sect masters silently weighed whether their sect’s treasured artifacts or their own lives were more important.
A disciple standing behind this sect master couldn’t help but kneel on one knee. “Master! Since our sect’s treasure has already been pledged to Zhuxu Mountain, why not pledge another hundred years to save your disciple’s life?”
The sect master’s face changed dramatically, and he pressed his palm on the disciple’s shoulder. “How dare you! You’re merely a sword master under my sect, yet you dare to dream of using our sect’s artifact to extend your life? Are you coveting the position of sect master?”
The disciple was shocked and lowered his head. “Master! I just don’t want to contract the plague and waste your hundred years of nurturing – I never coveted the position of sect master!”
“Pledging our sect’s artifact to Zhuxu Mountain for a hundred years, I still have countermeasures. But if we pledge another hundred years, if anything goes wrong, can you bear the responsibility?”
That disciple lowered his head in silence.
Other sect masters also brought out their artifacts to exchange for spirit bird blood, all pledging only a hundred years, saving themselves without caring about their disciples’ lives or deaths.
Their disciples dared to be angry but not speak out.
Zhu Yuting turned his face to look at Lu Xiaochan, and although he didn’t say a word, Lu Xiaochan knew he wanted him to see the ugly faces of these orthodox immortal sects.
Weren’t they all selfish, only caring about their own survival?
Were such people worth saving?
The last sect master hesitated too long but finally decided to exchange his artifact for spirit bird blood.
However, Zhu Yuting said, “Master Chen, you took too long to make this decision and lost your chance. The spirit birds in my Zhuxu Mountain have all been used up.”
Master Chen’s face changed dramatically upon hearing this, becoming anxious. “Master Zhu! If I give you my artifact, could you send disciples to capture birds? Even if spirit birds are extinct, there must still be at least one left, right?”
Zhu Yuting smiled and shook his head. “When I say it’s too late, it’s too late.”
Master Chen almost fell to his knees. “Master Zhu! I beg you, considering we’re all immortal sects under the Nanli Jingtian, please capture one more spirit bird to save my life!”
Zhu Yuting still smiled and shook his head. “After waiting so long for Master Chen to decide, I thought you truly valued your sect’s artifact more than your own life!”
The disciple behind Master Chen quickly supported his elbow, helping him up.
“Master, can’t you see? This Zhu Yuting is using the spirit birds to hold all sects hostage! None of the sects’ sword masters got the bird’s blood, and when they die from the plague, the sects’ power will greatly diminish! With Zhuxu Mountain holding all the sects’ treasures, do they need to worry about us not following their orders?”
Upon hearing this, Master Chen’s expression immediately turned cold. He stopped pleading with Zhu Yuting and stood up.
“Since Master Zhu has no spirit birds left to save my life, I shall make a trip to Nanli Jingtian and ask our Sword Master to arbitrate!”
Just as Master Chen was about to leave with his disciples, Zhu Yuting spoke. “Don’t be hasty, Master Chen, there might be a solution! I have one spirit bird left. Since Master Chen and many immortal disciples haven’t taken the spirit bird’s blood, I feel troubled. By rights, given Master Chen’s noble status, you should drink it, but who told you to be a step too slow?”
Master Chen’s eyes widened as he pointed his sword hilt at Zhu Yuting. “What exactly are you trying to do!”
“The last spirit bird goes to the most capable. It’s also a good chance for my Zhuxu Mountain and all sect masters to see the abilities of various sects’ disciples!”
After speaking, Zhu Yuting clapped his hands, and a disciple bound by spiritual energy was brought out.
Lu Xiaochan looked – wasn’t that Senior Brother Gao, who led Zhuxu Mountain’s disciples hunting spirit birds two nights ago?
He wasn’t a spirit bird – why did Zhu Yuting bring him out?
“Whoever can cut open its body and drink the spirit blood will be saved! For the sects that pledged artifacts earlier, whichever sect’s disciple obtains this spirit bird, I will return their artifact!”
Immediately, disciples from various sects cracked their knuckles, eager to try!
Lu Xiaochan’s eyes widened – this wasn’t a spirit bird at all, but Zhuxu Mountain’s sword master Gao Minxin!
At this moment, Gao Minxin was struggling desperately, crying for help, but what came out was the sound of a Jiaosi spirit bird.
Lu Xiaochan suddenly understood – this was also the evil spirit’s illusion, making them see a spirit bird instead of the living Gao Minxin!
What was Zhu Yuting trying to do?
Gao Minxin was his disciple!
No… the current Zhu Yuting was an evil spirit – in his heart, there were no disciples!
Was he trying to watch the ugly spectacle of the sects killing each other?
Could it be that the evil spirit controlling Zhu Yuting wasn’t the Demon Lord Yihuang who fed on illness, but Demon Lord Luli who fed on killing intent?
Lu Xiaochan immediately formed a great spell, pushing it with all his might toward Zhu Yuting’s face – it was the Tailing Sky-Piercing Spell.
But unexpectedly, this Sky-Piercing Spell was pressed down by Zhu Yuting’s raised hand, the spell mark leaving an imprint on the table.
Zhu Yuting laughed. “I didn’t expect someone so young to have such high cultivation. Keeping you alive would surely be trouble! Why don’t I deal with these rabble first, then deal with you?”
Lu Xiaochan was greatly shocked – when he used the Sky-Piercing Spell, his intention was to refine the killing intent in Zhu Yuting’s heart, but it had no effect – the one possessing Zhu Yuting wasn’t Demon Lord Luli either!
Then who could it be?
The various sects’ disciples had already prepared themselves, drawing their immortal swords.
The spirit locks on Gao Minxin opened, and he immediately ran for his life.
Countless swords thrust toward him, while simultaneously restraining each other.
Zhu Yuting spoke again. “Don’t forget you’re all competitors! If you show mercy to each other, you’re giving up your chance to seize the spirit bird!”
As Gao Minxin fled, the disciples from various sects began killing each other.
In an instant, killing intent spread, and in the blink of an eye, some disciples had already perished.
A sword pierced Gao Minxin’s arm, and immediately a disciple pounced on him, biting his arm and desperately sucking his blood.
Before he could swallow Gao Minxin’s blood, someone stabbed his elixir core, then Gao Minxin’s shoulder was cut, and more people pounced.
Gao Minxin screamed continuously, his body almost becoming a hornet’s nest of wounds.
Lu Xiaochan formed a spell, hoping to restore clarity to the disciples and let them see through the evil spirit’s illusion.
But just as the spell was forming, Zhu Yuting, who had been drinking, suddenly threw his wine cup into Lu Xiaochan’s spell.
“You’ve seen how arrogant Gao Minxin was before, hunting spirit birds to extinction, haven’t you? Now that he’s suffering the punishment of countless sword piercings, isn’t this what he deserves?” Zhu Yuting asked with a smile.
“Even if he was wrong, he should be dealt with according to sect rules!”
“Which sect’s rules ever forbade killing spirit birds? Even if he killed all the Jiaosi in the world, people would at most call him cruel, but who would take his life over mere spirit birds?”
Zhu Yuting’s deep smile showed Lu Xiaochan fear, despair, and thoughts of mad revenge.
This Zhu Yuting seemed familiar to Lu Xiaochan, yet he couldn’t remember where he’d seen him before.
“Neither immortal sect rules nor worldly laws can make Gao Minxin and all of Zhuxu Mountain pay for their killing intent and greed. The best punishment is to turn them all into spirit birds – to be hunted, drained of blood, experiencing the despair of being slaughtered.”
Lu Xiaochan was speechless. Seeing those spirit bird corpses hanging on Gao Minxin’s horse, as if they weren’t living beings at all, killed at will – hadn’t Lu Xiaochan also felt killing intent toward Gao Minxin?
“You’re the soul of those innocently slaughtered spirit birds, aren’t you?”
Lu Xiaochan lowered his head, looking at Zhu Yuting’s shadow, his mind clear and eyes seeing the truth.
Zhu Yuting’s shadow looked like countless Jiaosi birds trapped in nets, struggling desperately, in miserable pain.
“You’re a disciple of the Tailing Pavilion. Let me see – how can human hearts be cured!”
By now, Gao Minxin was covered in wounds, lying on the ground barely breathing, his tendons and bones shattered, flesh mangled, too horrible to look at.
But there were still people who hadn’t drunk his blood, fighting over him.
In their eyes, he wasn’t human, just a lowly spirit bird.
Zhu Yuting suddenly pushed Lu Xiaochan with a smile.
“How could I forget. Today a Tailing Pavilion disciple is staying at my sect! He even has a spirit bird!”
Lu Xiaochan was caught off guard as Zhu Yuting raised his finger, lifting the basket’s lid where the young bird was sleeping soundly.
Those immortal disciples were covered in blood, their eyes red, evil clouds hovering above their heads – they were about to turn demonic!
“Since you’re from Tailing Pavilion, which takes healing people as its duty, hand over the spirit bird!”
“Why are you hiding a spirit bird? Do you also want to force us to hand over our sect’s artifacts?!”
Lu Xiaochan had become everyone’s target.
He covered the basket’s lid and stepped back.
Zhu Yuting tilted his head and smiled. “Look, it’s just one spirit bird. Give it up, and you’ll be saved!”
Lu Xiaochan drew in a cold breath and said coldly, “In this world, the law is survival of the fittest. I can save it once, but not a hundred times.”
“Yes, you’re right. So hand it over and be done with it!” Zhu Yuting pointed at those crazed disciples.
“However, since I raised it, I developed feelings for it. Today I will protect it with all my strength, and if we’re lucky enough to survive, I will teach it how to protect itself. In this world of survival of the fittest—as long as it isn’t weak, it will be fine!”
After speaking, Lu Xiaochan cast a Tailing Purification Spell, rising with full force to confront the evil cloud head-on, immediately causing winds and clouds to stir in all directions.
The evil cloud pressed down layer by layer, swallowing the Purification Spell.
Those disciples, seeing that Lu Xiaochan refused to hand over the Jiaosi young bird, charged forward with their swords.
Lu Xiaochan gritted his teeth and cast a spell to keep them at bay.
The sect masters from other sects, seeing Lu Xiaochan’s refusal to surrender the Jiaosi, also joined in the attack.
The sword tips gradually penetrated his spell barrier, getting closer and closer to him.
Zhu Yuting sneered. “This spirit bird can be exchanged for a human life. No matter how spiritual Jiaosi is, it’s still just a bird. Isn’t it worth sacrificing one spirit bird to save your own life?”
Lu Xiaochan cast another spell, layering two spells together, pushing back the several swords that had penetrated.
“Do you think I’m compassionate and can’t bear to see the spirit bird’s throat cut? Life, aging, sickness, and death are all part of nature! If the spirit bird willingly gives its blood to save people, then its blood becomes a universal remedy. If the spirit bird dies with hatred, it becomes poison!”
Zhu Yuting’s smile disappeared, and he raised his eyebrows. “What did you say?”
“Healers save the world through compassion. Taking a spirit bird’s blood to save lives—if the spirit bird has no compassion and is unwilling, how can its blood save the world!”
Lu Xiaochan gritted his teeth, thinking these self-proclaimed righteous sects were truly annoying!
He really wished he could learn from the evil spirits and take their elixir cores, to stop them from doing such foolish things under the banner of righteousness!
Instantly, countless black spirit birds suddenly flew out from the previously seated Zhu Yuting’s body. They rushed toward those righteous sect members and entered their bodies.
“Today, either you die or I perish!”
Zhu Yuting, as if drained of all essence, collapsed onto the table.
Lu Xiaochan finally understood – the evil spirits here were the Jiaosi spirit birds! After their tragic deaths, no matter where the entire tribe fled or hid, they would be found by Zhuxu Mountain’s people.
He thought of the young Jiaosi bird in the basket – perhaps it was left alone in the wilderness because its parents were killed by Gao Minxin and Zhuxu Mountain’s disciples. The one who devised the plan to hunt Jiaosi to near extinction, forcing various sects to trade their mountain treasures, was Zhuxu Mountain’s leader, Zhu Yuting.
All of this was revenge from the deceased Jiaosi against the entire Zhuxu Mountain sect.
Their hatred and mad desire for vengeance before death were consumed by evil spirits and invaded Zhuxu Mountain.
With good intentions, Jiaosi blood could cure plagues.
With hatred, Jiaosi blood could accelerate the outbreak and spread of plagues.
This was why Kunwu and Lu Xiaochan discovered that Zhuxu Mountain’s disciples were all infected with the plague, and their condition worsened much faster than ordinary people.
Originally, the Jiaosi spirits wanted to torture these hypocritical righteous sects with illness. Lu Xiaochan’s arrival made the Jiaosi want Zhu Yuting to fall from grace and face complete disgrace.
After all, in people’s eyes, Zhu Yuting harming Tailing Pavilion’s disciples for his own selfish desires was far more heinous than simply slaughtering spirit birds.
The Jiaosi spirits possessed these sect disciples’ minds, making them attack Lu Xiaochan.
To survive, Lu Xiaochan would have to fight them to the death.
If Lu Xiaochan died at Zhuxu Mountain, especially under the swords of so many sects, it would certainly cause an uproar.
Tailing Pavilion would definitely go to Nanli Jingtian to request Sword Master Lord Miaochen Yuan punish these sects.
Even if they couldn’t pay with their lives, their cultivation would be crippled, and thus Jiaosi would have its revenge!
Thinking of this, Lu Xiaochan’s whole body broke out in cold sweat.
The fragrance of the sleeping grass in the basket had completely dissipated, and the young bird slowly stirred, poking its head out from inside, calling affectionately twice and rubbing its head against Lu Xiaochan’s waist.
“You little thing, of all times to wake up, why now!”
Those possessed righteous sect disciples, upon seeing this young bird, immediately fell into a frenzied state.
“Hand over that Jiaosi—”
“If you won’t hand it over—then die!”
They had strength in numbers, and Lu Xiaochan’s spiritual energy was almost exhausted. He gritted his teeth and lifted his leg to jostle the young bird in the basket.
“Little Soybean! You ate so much last night, you should have plenty of energy, right? Now flap your wings and quickly fly—the further and higher you fly, the better—”
The young bird, sensing that almost everyone surrounding Lu Xiaochan was glaring at it with fierce and greedy eyes, became frightened and shrank back into the basket, trembling.
Lu Xiaochan was so anxious he was about to lose his temper, wishing he could kick it into the sky.
“Troublemaker! Hurry up and fly to the sky! Otherwise, there won’t be any soybeans to eat in the future! They’ll wring your neck! Drain your blood! Fly quickly!”
