18. The Initial Sight of a Demon Cultivator

"What do you have to advise, Brother Qiu?"

Tan Shuchang smiled slightly, his expression amiable, as if he were easy to talk to.

"Brother Qiu is also someone you, Tan Shuchang, are worthy to call? What is your status? What is mine?" But upon hearing Tan Shuchang's words, Qiu Junlin immediately revealed an arrogant and haughty demeanor.

"Well... Qiu bootlicker?" Tan Shuchang maintained his amiable demeanor, not showing the slightest annoyance, but his gaze toward Qiu Junlin held a hint of subtlety.

Qiu Junlin was certainly no nameless nobody.

After all, relying on one's father has always been the mainstream. Being the son of the grand master of Qitian Pavilion, that status held more weight even than "son of Zhang Erhe".

Even the Utmost Supreme of the Zi Xuan dynasty would have to show him a modicum of respect upon meeting him.

Even the name Qiu Junlin was bestowed by the emperor himself, which certainly lent great face to the Qiu family.

Based on this, any news related to Qiu Junlin would spread far and wide instantly.

Therefore, Tan Shuchang had heard various tales of Qiu Junlin, among which his famous "infatuation" stood out, still unyielding in his affection after being rejected more than ten times by An Yunxin, the young master of Luoja Mountain.

And this An Yunxin, she bore the unique beauty of a "Second Fairy!"

She was widely acknowledged as the top beauty among the younger generation of cultivators.

Within the entire cultivation realm, only the sect leader of Jianguai Sect, "The Fairy," could surpass her, given that An Yunxin, despite her beauty, was still somewhat green.

"Bootlicker? You dare call me a dog?" Qiu Junlin fumed angrily.

But after his angry outburst, Qiu Junlin seemed a bit puzzled and thus asked an attendant nearby, "What is a bootlicker?"

"Young Master, I am merely a servant; how would I know..." The attendant was a young boy who found Qiu Junlin's question odd, his expression becoming strange. Although it was his first time hearing the word "bootlicker," he could guess that it certainly wasn't a compliment.

However, such words were not something he dared to speak. Even though he was a servant of Qiu Junlin, he still had his own ideas, which is why he had persevered in cultivating a lesser cultivation technique into a decent level of power over seven to eight years.

Others who had his status would certainly not be so diligent in their cultivation, as serving as an attendant to Qiu Junlin was far more beneficial than any level of cultivation power.

Even the local county magistrates of the dynasty had to host banquets in his honor and address him as a brother.

"Useless, what use do I have for you?" Qiu Junlin immediately scolded the boy, then turned to Tan Shuchang and said, "You are not allowed to keep a diary anymore!"

This was his main purpose for coming here, not knowing what a bootlicker was to avoid exposing his ignorance, Qiu Junlin abruptly got to the point.

Hearing this, Tan Shuchang was naturally a bit bewildered.

But simultaneously, he also realized that this must be related to the diary that had been stolen.

So, after pondering from the perspective of Qiu Junlin for a moment, Tan Shuchang said somewhat eerily, "The little thief who stole my diary, did he take my diary to Luoja Mountain?"

Ordinary people had no right to ascend Luoja Mountain, but the young Miss of the Dong family naturally wasn't among the ordinary.

Even if Luoja Mountain was ancient and full of mythological tales, it had to treat Heavenly Sword Mansion, one of the two great sword cultivator sanctuaries of the present day, with due respect and as equals.

"How would I know? Just remember, you're not allowed to write anymore! If you comply, I won't leave you short-changed! Should you ever be captured by Qitian Pavilion, as long as you're not thrown into Hai Pig Tower, I will ensure you don't die!" Qiu Junlin said coldly.

"Hai Pig Tower?"

Tan Shuchang was surprised. The prison of Qitian Pavilion was arranged according to the twelve zodiac signs, and being at the end, the Hai Pig Tower was undoubtedly the most perilous place to be held.

"A courtesy returned for a courtesy offered, since Brother Qiu has been so polite, I too shall return the favor. I wonder if Brother Qiu has ever heard this saying: 'When the person you admire never or seldom responds to your efforts, they are surely scorniling you.'"

Qiu Junlin's face changed several times at once, but unusually, he didn't respond but merely snorted coldly, then turned and left.

The attendant youth took one look at Tan Shuchang and hastily followed after his master.

Tan Shuchang watched the two depart and then spoke indifferently, "Your master has left, aren't you going too, or are you planning to stay and dine at Black Heart Mountain?"

"It's no wonder that someone capable of killing his own master managed to defeat Black Heart yourself; it seems it wasn't merely due to his carelessness." An aged voice sounded, and then the figure of an elderly man appeared not far away, seemingly out of nowhere.

This was an elderly man in golden robes, with white speckled beard and hair, wearing a tall crown, appearing very much like an ancient, elegant scholar.

Tan Shuchang looked at him but said nothing.

Seeing Tan Shuchang act this way, the elderly man thought he was afraid, so the old man chuckled, "Rest assured, you are the whetstone officially designated by the Heavenly Sword Mansion, and even though I find you disagreeable, I won't kill you. However, although your death penalty can be spared, your life punishment cannot be escaped. My nephew Qiu was right; what is your status, what is his status? How dare you claim brotherhood with him?"

Having said this, the old man took out a long staff: "Kneel down yourself. I will break your legs with this staff, and consider the matter settled. And the promise my nephew made to you will still be honored."

Tan Shuchang listened to the other's words as if they were a grace bestowed upon him, his expression somewhat peculiar, thus he couldn't help but say, "Is it the confidence from over fifty years of cultivation that lets you speak like that?"

As his words fell, blossoms as white and flawless as jade instantly bloomed in the void.

Suddenly, the area exploded into a burst of beautiful floral fireworks.

And at the very center of these floral fireworks was the scream of the old man, marked by the lotus imprint on Black Heart Mountain — it could be said that this was Tan Shuchang's home ground.

Here on Black Heart Mountain, he could unleash the Blood Refinement Great Array at any moment.

"Despicable thief! I swear to kill you!" The old man fell, already drenched in blood, his body dried and shriveled like that of the Heartless Old Man who had been half-dried by blood refinement.

Then, the staff in his hand instantly elongated, turning into a colossal pillar that he smashed heavily down on Black Heart Mountain.

Bang!

The mountain itself cracked open, a mass of boulders tumbled down, and the ground shook.

This was a superior magic artifact, its power immensely frightening with the boost from over fifty years of cultivation.

After missing with one strike, the direction was immediately adjusted, and Tan Shuchang's figure was locked in mid-air, preventing him from immediately escaping.

Boom!

The staff descended, this time a strike meant to kill.

However, despite the terrifying ferocity of the long staff, standing there unable to escape, Tan Shuchang suddenly transformed entirely into a continuous stream of sticky, flowing blood.

The staff struck down, splitting the pool of viscous blood into two halves.

But as the staff returned to the old man's hands, the two halves of the blood writhed and merged back together.