Chapter 11: Taoist Qiu

It seemed that Yu Wenxian noticed Su Jie sizing her up. She smiled sweetly and said, "Junior Brother Su, why do you keep looking at your sister? Could it be that you want to spend a lovely night with me?"

Su Jie shivered and quickly waved his hands, "Senior Yu is joking. I am far too humble and dare not aspire to such heights as to covet a flower like Senior Sister. If people knew, wouldn't I be drowned in saliva by your followers and admirers?"

"Hehe, you're quite the wit."

Yu Wenxian pursed her lips and giggled, her large assets quivering with a striking curve, yet not a single disciple dared to sneak a glance.

"Come on now, we're about to depart, and yet there's such a lack of tact. Do you really expect me to walk to see Master? There isn't even a single newcomer with some sense."

The smile vanished, and Yu Wenxian huffed coldly, causing several male disciples to panic and rush out, kneeling at her feet.

With a light tap of her jade foot, Yu Wenxian sat cross-legged on the backs of those men, as if riding a horse, letting the disciples kneel on all fours, crawling forward, carrying her.

Su Jie exhaled in relief, grateful that the devilish woman hadn't set her sights on him.

Looking again at the few male disciples being treated like beasts of burden, these were the unlucky fools who had succumbed to lust.

Yu Wenxian had refined a special type of Mother-child Love Poisonous Insect, which, once a male disciple couldn't resist the temptation and became intimate, the Love Poison would enter through their 'vital root' into the heart, lying dormant under the control of the Mother Poison, manipulated by Yu Wenxian.

At Yu Wenxian's command, the affected person would suffer the agony of a thousand insects eating at their heart, becoming entirely at her disposal, enslaved like beasts of burden to serve her.

Many new recruits who didn't understand, upon meeting Yu Wenxian thought their luck in love had arrived, only to be controlled by her for life after falling into the trap.

Su Jie truly did not want to provoke such a ruthless person.

"Is everyone here? Follow me to meet Master."

Pei Haibing's face was cold as ice, looking as if someone owed him a great sum of money.

The group traveled several miles to a large estate halfway up the mountain.

In front of the yard, a few willow trees were planted, their drooping branches like strands of hair, twisting freely in the breeze.

Knock knock!

Pei Haibing stepped forward and knocked on the gate.

The gate opened automatically, revealing the sumptuous interior layout, with tall pavilions, covered walkways, pavilions, pools, rockeries—everything one could imagine, and the walls of each structure had exquisite bas-reliefs. It was hard to imagine such a luxurious estate hidden deep in the mountain forests.

Upon entering this place, everyone's expression grew somber as they stepped into the yard, including Yu Wenxian, who immediately stood up from the backs of others and tidied her attire.

Many servants were busy in the yard, greeting the group of disciples as they saw them. These servants were slaves bought from the Black Market, not only to clean and manage the estate but also to serve as a human resource for cultivating Demon Techniques when necessary.

Apart from them, there were some figures with dull and murky eyes and swollen bellies that were particularly prominent, standing guard like sentinels. Regardless of gender, they all had bellies as if pregnant for ten months.

These were not living people but Insect Slaves, created by cultivators through refinement.

Inside their bellies were a multitude of tiny poisonous insects, with the human body serving as the nesting ground for the insects.

Because they were cultivators, their flesh was rich with Spiritual Energy particles, creating a higher quality of insects in such an environment, with the insects becoming more bloodthirsty and ferocious.

Essentially, these people were already dead, left with nothing but their instinct-driven walking corpses. In the event of an enemy encounter, their flesh and blood would transform into nutrients for the insects, hatching poisonous insects of various sizes and creating a terrifying sea of insects.

Su Jie dared not look further and continued to walk with his head down.

After climbing over a hundred meters, Su Jie finally saw Taoist Qiu in front of a pond brimming with lotus blossoms.

The man, donned in a purple robe, appeared somewhat lean and seemed to be in his seventies. His eyes were the ice-cold vertical pupils of a snake, and he was currently tossing bait into the pond with a jade cup as if feeding fish.

But upon closer inspection, that was no fish food—those were human eyeballs, freshly gouged out and still streaked with blood.

No sooner had the eyeballs hit the water than numerous enormous shadows darted beneath the surface, fiercely competing for the food, causing water to splash everywhere.

"Master, I have brought the people over, please give your instructions."

Pei Haibing quickly stepped forward beside Taoist Qiu, bending over respectfully to report.

"Hmm, fairly punctual."

The hoarse voice came through as Taoist Qiu slowly turned around.

"Serving you, elder, how could we dare to be negligent in the slightest."

Yu Wenxian, with her coquettish voice, eagerly agreed from the side while the other disciples dared not interject.

"Now that everyone is here, let me tell you something," Taoist Qiu set down the jade cup and, with hands clasped behind his back, faced the crowd and spoke, "Just yesterday, the turbulence of the earth's foul qi caused the magnetic field of the Alien Ghosts here to become disorderly, resulting in a daytime feeding frenzy. After today's assembly at the mountain gate, the Sect Master has decided that, starting from today, in order to protect Insect Valley, the Black Market, the Blood Marrow Stone Mine, and the crucial transportation routes outside, we're establishing a protective patrol team. Disciples above the second layer of Yunling must mobilize; groups of three will patrol the mountain and protect the roads day and night, ensuring the safety of the trade routes."

What!

Upon hearing these words, the disciples erupted in shock, and many Outer Disciples' complexions instantly turned extremely unsightly.

The might of the Alien Ghosts is not something ordinary disciples can withstand, and even in groups of three, the situation is extremely perilous.

But to voice objection was something no one dared, not even half a word.

Just thinking about those Insect Slaves they saw in the compound was enough to imagine how cruel Taoist Qiu's methods were; the Sect's decisions were not something these disciples could oppose.

Su Jie remained silent; although he wished to live quietly and practice cultivation, the collective action was a decision by the Sect, and he had no choice but to steel himself and participate.

Peng Shiwen, on the other hand, had a grim expression, his face dark and purple like an eggplant beaten by frost.

"Our lineage's patrol team will be assembled in ten days. You all can choose the members yourselves; don't disappoint me."

Taoist Qiu reclaimed the fish feed, his face expressionless.

All eyes turned towards Pei Haibing and Yu Wenxian as the disciples harbored different thoughts, each beginning to calculate their savings.

"Alright, you may all leave now and prepare well."

Taoist Qiu sent everyone away. The group of disciples exited the yard and immediately surrounded Pei Haibing and Yu Wenxian.

"Brother Pei, this Spiritual Tea that I bought from Cui Feng Pavilion, please try it and see how you like the taste."

"Senior Yu, this Golden Jade Blood Hairpin is a Spiritual Object I came across by chance; it can accelerate the gathering of Spiritual Energy and assist in cultivation, perfectly suited for a beauty like you."

The disciples vied with one another to show their eager flattery to the two, as being in one team with them, who were inner disciples, would naturally significantly increase their security.

Su Jie did not join in. Setting aside whether he had enough money, he carried far too many secrets on him. To be in a team with inner disciples, he feared that any slip could allow them to detect something amiss.