The day after the banquet ended, Ye Chu set off with Qing Wenting and the others towards the Demon Origin Cave that Tan Miaotong had mentioned. Originally, Ye Chu had planned to have Bai Xuan move into the new residence, but with this sudden departure, he was worried about her. So he asked her to continue staying at Huang Lin’s mansion. With Huang Lin looking after her, Ye Chu felt reassured.
Bai Xuan was puzzled that Ye Chu had only just arrived and was already leaving for a few days, but she did not stop him. After reminding him to be careful, she settled into life in the imperial city.
…
Demon Origin Cave!
It was located in an extremely remote place. Guided by Tan Miaotong, Ye Chu twisted and turned, even passing through several stretches of dense forest before finally reaching a valley deep in what resembled a primeval woodland. There, he saw the village Tan Miaotong had spoken of.
The village was not large, with fewer than a thousand inhabitants. Upon arrival, Tan Miaotong quietly reminded Ye Chu and the others, “Do not force your way in. Rumour has it there is a great cultivator here who has reached the level of ‘Devouring the Essence of Sun and Moon’.”
Ye Chu and Qing Wenting exchanged a glance, both unable to hide the shock in their eyes. They knew full well how powerful a cultivator at the level of Devouring the Essence of Sun and Moon truly was. At that stage, one could move mountains and overturn seas, drawing upon the essence of the sun and moon to extend one’s lifespan.
Such beings had lifespans measured in centuries. With so much time at their disposal for cultivation, they were practically demonic in nature!
Ye Chu found it hard to imagine that such an unremarkable little village could harbour a cultivator of that calibre.
“How do you know all this so clearly?” Qing Wenting asked Tan Miaotong curiously. Ye Chu was also intrigued. It was astonishing that Tan Miaotong could find and be so familiar with such a remote location.
Tan Miaotong gave a sweet smile, explaining without any hint of guardedness, “One of my elders once passed by here by chance and learned of this secret.”
Qing Wenting immediately understood and giggled. Looking at Tan Miaotong, she said, “Your elder probably snatched some Demon Origin Grass and ran off, right? Otherwise, how would they know there is such a powerful expert here?”
Tan Miaotong’s expression turned shy, clearly confirming Qing Wenting’s guess.
“Then with such a powerful expert around, how are we supposed to get any Demon Origin Grass?” Ye Jingyun interjected from the side. The excitement she had shown earlier instantly faded.
“You can go back if you want!” Ye Chu smiled sweetly at Ye Jingyun, thinking to himself that he had never invited her along in the first place. She had insisted on shamelessly tagging along.
“None of your bloody business!” Ye Jingyun and Ye Chu were always at odds. She shot him a sharp glare, raised her long, shapely leg, and made a threatening motion as if she would kick him to death if he said another word.
Tan Miaotong had long grown used to the bickering between Ye Chu and Ye Jingyun. With a gentle smile, she parted her red lips and said, “There is no need to confront them head-on. Once we enter Demon Origin Cave, we can avoid them entirely. As long as we get inside, there is nothing to fear from their interference.”
“Hm?” Qing Wenting was intrigued. “Aren’t you worried they might chase us into the cave or block the entrance?”
“That is what I was about to explain. Demon Origin Cave has over a hundred entrances. They could never block them all. As for chasing us inside, that is even more impossible. Due to the special nature of Demon Origin Cave, only those who have never cultivated a Spirit Moulding technique can enter safely. Otherwise, it becomes extremely dangerous. Back then, even though my elder knew there were many Demon Origin Grasses inside, they did not dare venture in. They could only take what was in the village.” Tan Miaotong continued, “The people in this village cultivate Spirit Moulding techniques. Generally, once they reach the Innate Realm, they begin practising one. Even if some Innate Realm cultivators took Demon Origin Grass without cultivating a Spirit Moulding technique, they would absolutely not exceed the fifth layer of the Innate Realm. After all, beyond the fifth layer, the effect of Demon Origin Grass is no longer comparable to a proper Spirit Moulding technique. Against Innate Realm cultivators below the fifth layer, Ye Chu, even if you cannot beat them, you should still have a chance to escape, right?”
“It should not be too big a problem. As long as I am not surrounded and attacked, escaping would not be particularly difficult,” Ye Chu nodded. “But from what you are saying, only Miaotong and I can go in? Miaotong has not reached the Innate Realm yet. Is it really alright for her to go?”
Ye Jingyun and Qing Wenting had surely cultivated Spirit Moulding techniques, while Tan Miaotong had not yet reached the Innate Realm. Ye Chu did not want her to take the risk!
“Do not underestimate Miaotong. If she could unleash that power of hers, even I would not be her match,” Qing Wenting giggled.
Tan Miaotong blushed shyly. Seeing the puzzled look in Ye Chu’s eyes, she nodded gently. “My family elders once told me that the special aura inside Demon Origin Cave would be of great benefit to me. I want to go in and see for myself.”
“Then let us go,” Ye Chu said, nodding to Tan Miaotong.
“I cannot go in?” Ye Jingyun was stunned. She thought to herself that she had come all this way for nothing. She had come specifically for the Demon Origin Grass. If she could not enter the cave, did she really expect Ye Chu to hand some over to her? That was a pipe dream!
Seeing Ye Jingyun’s face flush with anger, Qing Wenting giggled again and wrapped an arm around Ye Jingyun’s slender waist. “Come on! When the time comes, we will just snatch some from Ye Chu’s hands. Are you worried he will not give us any?”
Ye Jingyun suddenly realised. That was true. Her strength far surpassed Ye Chu’s. If she made a move to rob him, there was nothing he could do about it. Thinking of this, Ye Jingyun felt smug once more.
Ye Chu ignored the crazy woman. Together with Tan Miaotong, he took a long detour until they reached one of the entrances to Demon Origin Cave. Then he turned and walked straight inside.
“Be careful in there. We will wait outside to receive you,” Qing Wenting called after Ye Chu. “Do not push yourself too hard, and do not get greedy. Take what you can and leave.”
Ye Jingyun chimed in from the side at that moment. “Although we are telling you not to be greedy, you should at least grab ten or a hundred stalks. Otherwise, how will there be enough to share?”
Ye Chu pretended not to hear Ye Jingyun and pulled Tan Miaotong into the cave.
Demon Origin Cave was vast. From the outside, it looked no different from an ordinary cavern. If Tan Miaotong had not mentioned it, Ye Chu would never have imagined that something like Demon Origin Grass could exist in a place like this. Such caves were quite common in this world.
Seeing Ye Chu’s surprised expression, Tan Miaotong smiled. “Many people are deceived by the appearance of Demon Origin Cave, but only by going deeper can one discover its true wonders. Of course, because of the miasma deeper inside, very few are willing to venture far. This secret has remained undiscovered by outsiders, known only to the people of this village, which is why the village has grown so strong.”
Ye Chu looked at Tan Miaotong. When she spoke, her long eyelashes fluttered gently, utterly captivating. Paired with those watery, shimmering eyes, she was enchantingly beautiful.
“Why do you keep staring at me?” Tan Miaotong noticed that Ye Chu liked looking at her. Perhaps because it was just the two of them now, she raised her delicate little fist and pouted coquettishly. “Believe it or not, I will hit you!”
Her adorable manner carried no real threat at all. Ye Chu only found this woman so beautiful that his heart stirred.
Yet this beautiful scene was suddenly shattered by a loud shout.
“Who goes there?”