Chapter 494: Brother, The Real Demonic Cultivator

Tens of thousands of miles away, on the western border of the Central Region—

As the sun rose in the east, dozens of large immortal flying boats were moving rapidly above the desolate yellow sand, drawing countless spiritual lights in the sky thousands of feet high.

The spiritual flags of the dozens of sects in the Western Region were unfurled, and Nascent Soul-stage Elders of each sect were standing on the decks at this moment, doing their best to teach their disciples some methods to deal with demonic cultivators.

Thousands of years had passed since the last war between immortals and demonic cultivators.

The cultivators who survived that war had either become Masters or Elders of a sect or, like Li Feng, having no chance of breaking through the levels due to insufficient qualifications, returned to the dust.

Even in a large sect like the Black Star, there were still only a handful of disciples who actually fought against demonic cultivators face to face.

Li Longling was wearing the robe of the Dragon House Lady. With the eyes of the Fire Phoenix on her shoulders, she looked at the fearless immortal disciples on the deck and couldn't help but sigh. "Sigh... How many immortal cultivators will die in the Eastern Region?"

A female palace guard beside her nodded and stepped forward, whispering, "Lady, you don't have to think too much. The Eastern Region demonic cultivators had already crossed the border to attack the Bright Star Sect and caused Patriarch Zu to lose his cultivation. This has touched the bottom line of the immortals. We can't reconcile with the demonic cultivators, right?"

"I know, it's just a momentary emotion." Li Longling raised her hand and gently touched Ah Feng's chin, then asked again, "How is the situation in Cold Country?"

"Reporting to the Palace Lady, according to the news sent back by the Dragon House palace guards who were sent to the Northern Region the day before yesterday, the Empress has also led many Snow Guards to the southeastern boundary. They should be able to break through the Blood Purgatory Pass guarded by the Magical Poison Sect within a month."

"Well... send a message to Anping using a messenger eagle. He asked me to help him watch the Northern Region before. Tell him that the various sects in the Western Region have now entered the Central Region."

"Yes, Ma'am."

After giving the order, Li Longling summoned her flying sword and stepped on it.

Accompanied by several guards, she jumped from the flying sword on the deck of the immortal boat in the middle of the group with the Black Star Sect's flag.

After showing her identity badge to several Black Star Sect disciples, Li Longling came to a slightly larger cabin at the back of the ship. She heard several Nascent Soul- and Deification-stage cultivators in the cabin discussing the plan to attack Brilliance City, so she stopped to eavesdrop.

"According to the news, the one who is now in charge of Brilliance City is Kong Xiangmo, the Great Elder of the Ghost Spirit Sect. There are also several Elders who have reached the Deification stage, as well as tens of thousands of disciples of the Ghost Spirit Sect. When the Justice Division fled the Eastern Great Wall, the Ghost Spirit Sect must have set up a large formation around the city. It is estimated that it is the 'Nine-phase Demonic Ghost Formation'. This is not easy to deal with."

"Can Immortal Matriarch break the formation?"

"Several late-stage Deification cultivators support a formation together. Even to Red Moon Matriarch, it will take a long time to break the formation. Once the fight starts, the Ghost Spirit Sect will definitely send people to help immediately. If Kong Xiangmo delays us until Ghost Tomb Seven arrives, the Ghost Spirit Sect will have Brilliance City as a base, and it will be even more difficult for us to fight."

"Alas... If there are too many casualties in Brilliance City, it will be even more troublesome when we enter the Eastern Region."

Everyone in the cabin looked troubled.

Lei Wanjun, who was standing in front of the main seat, gently stroked his beard, and his eyes fell on Commander Fu Xuan who had not spoken the whole time. "Commander Fu, you have been guarding the Eastern Wall before, do you have an easier way?"

"I have a plan."

"Why don't you tell me?"

"Send a few people to sneak into Brilliance City first, then destroy the knot of the Demonic Ghost Formation from the inside so that we can easily enter the city later. Kong Xiangmo can't stop the sect leaders present without a defensive formation."

Lei Wanjun shook his head slightly. "Brilliance City is now the territory of the Ghost Spirit Sect. Just to send people in is already difficult, and these people will have to destroy the knot of the Demonic Ghost Formation guarded by many demonic cultivators without being noticed... How could this be accomplished?"

Shrugging, Fu Xuan replied, "I don't know how to do it specifically, that's why I haven't spoken before."

Li Longling heard this from outside the door. She glanced at the Central Region's sea of sand rushing back from the window and suddenly, she felt a little worried.

She didn't hear Ye Anping talk about his plan, but she knew that he had left Black Star Sect and went to Brilliance City with Feng Yu Die a month ago.

And now, listening to what the Justice Division Commander said just now, Li Longling suddenly felt that this was what Ye Anping was going to do.

It's not that she didn't believe in Ye Anping's ability.

But this matter was indeed too dangerous.

Ye Anping and Feng Yu Die were only in the Nascent Soul early stage now. They had to sneak into Brilliance City, where there were several demonic cultivators in the Deification stage, and secretly break the defensive formation.

If they were accidentally discovered, they would almost certainly die in the depths of the enemy camp.

"Anping, you haven't sent me the marriage proposal yet, don't let me be a widow before getting married... Sigh..."

Li Longling sighed and prepared to go to Xiao Yunluo and Pei Lianxue to talk, but just as she was about to knock on the door of their cabin, she heard light footsteps from behind.

Qiu Shuirou, wearing the uniform of a Black Star Sect Elder, came to her with a kind smile and nodded in greetings. "Miss Li, Miss Pei and Miss Xiao are not on the boat. They followed the Red Moon Matriarch to Heavenly Gate City."

"To Heavenly Gate City?"

"Yes."

"Is that so..."

Li Longling thought for a while and figured it out. Red Moon Matriarch should have taken Sister Xiao and Sister Pei and gone to see the Demon King. She nodded and saluted Qiu Shuirou, then returned to the flying boat of the Dragon House to rest.

... ...

Kiiii—

The cry of an eagle reverberated from the sky through the closed door and window of the bedroom.

Ye Anping, who was sitting cross-legged in front of the bed and condensing his energy, slowly opened his eyes after hearing the cry and looked behind him.

Feng Yu Die and Gu Mingxin had also sat up. Although they were still wrapped in chains, they did not move around. Instead, they were condensing their energy, same as him.

As for Xiao Tian and Xue'e, they were lying on Ye Anping's left and right thighs, curled up and sleeping with their eyes tightly closed. They looked like two kittens, one gold and one black. Ye Anping thought they were cute.

"Huh..."

Ye Anping let out a light breath. He grabbed the two little ones from his legs and threw them away, then put the human skin mask he had taken off earlier back on his face. He stood up, walked toward the wooden window, and opened it slightly.

The next moment, a black eagle with sharp eyes squeezed in through the window gap. Looking at Ye Anping's "Kong Huayuan" face, it immediately showed a fierce gaze but then seemed to recognize his scent, and it obediently put the jade slip in its claws into his hand.

Ye Anping took the jade slip and let the black eagle fly back before checking it with his spiritual sense.

The jade slip was sent by Li Longling. It recorded what she had learned about the movements of the Cold Country and the whereabouts of the flying boats of various sects of the Western Region.

The purpose of Ye Anping's sneaking into Brilliance City disguised as Kong Huayuan this time was to help the disciples of the Western Region's various sects, led by the Black Star Sect, to destroy the Ghost Spirit Sect's formation before the fight.

After he, Feng Yu Die, and Gu Mingxin broke the Brilliance City defensive formation, they had to flee the city immediately.

And this was the problem.

If they destroyed the formation too early, the disciples of the Western Region's sects would arrive too slowly, and Kong Xiangmo would have enough time to repair the formation they destroyed, which would render their work useless.

Right now, the jade slip sent by Li Longling was a reassurance.

The Black Star Sect and the other sects in the Western Region had now entered the Central Region, so they could reach Brilliance City in less than a month at most.

In other words, he didn't have to consider the timing now and could proceed to the next step.

Ye Anping thought for a while, then turned to look at Xue'e who seemed to be still dazed and hadn't woken up yet. "Xue'e, how many days have passed?"

"Well, three..."

Xue'e was about to answer, but Xiao Tian suddenly raised her eyebrows and answered in a loud voice. "Three days!"

It seemed that because Ye Anping asked Xue'e instead of her, Xiao Tian was now full of grievances. She quickly flew to Ye Anping and said bitterly, "Anping, if you have anything to ask me, just ask me."

Xue'e glared at her coldly. "What's there to argue about?"

Xiao Tian frowned and glared back. "Hmph!! Go away!! Anping is mine!!!"

"Ye Anping is mine now too."

"No... It's different!! You forced it!!" Xiao Tian hugged Ye Anping's face. "Anping belongs to me and Yu Die!!! Anping, don't pay attention to this black bastard, she's a bad guy!"

"Bad guys are at least better than useless guys."

Frowning, Xiao Tian clenched her fists and took a boxing stance. "...You!!!"

Xue'e immediately drew out her wooden sword with a look of disdain on her face.

"What?"

...

Seeing the two little ones about to fight in front of him, Ye Anping felt exhausted. He simply ignored them as he walked toward the bed, retrieving the chains wrapped around Feng Yu Die and Gu Mingxin.

"Pack up. It's time to leave."

Gu Mingxin and Feng Yu Die opened their eyes at the same time, glared at each other, and then asked in unison.

"Ye Anping, what do you want me to do?"

"Young Master Ye, what are we going to do next?"

Because their voices merged, Feng Yu Die and Gu Mingxin turned their heads and glared at each other again, causing Ye Anping to sigh once more.

"Ah..."

Ye Anping took out the blindfold and collar from the storage bag and threw them into Gu Mingxin's hands.

"Put it on. I'll send you to the prison."

Seeing that Ye Anping wanted her to pretend to be a prisoner again, Gu Mingxin chuckled twice, put on the iron blindfold and collar without saying a word, and took the initiative to hand the chain of the collar to Ye Anping. "Here, Anping... Hehe."

"..."

Ye Anping looked at the chain in his hand and was silent for a while. Seeing that Gu Mingxin's clothes were a little messy, he reached out to help her cover her shoulders properly, and then looked at Feng Yu Die. "Sister Feng, put on the mask and just stay by my side."

"Okay..."

Feng Yu Die nodded blankly while watching Ye Anping help Gu Mingxin tidy up her clothes. She lowered her eyes and deliberately pulled down her dress' shoulders, then looked at Ye Anping expectantly. "..."

"...Tidy your clothes."

Feng Yu Die pouted in disappointment. "Oh..."

While waiting for the two to get ready, Ye Anping took out Kong Huayuan's faceless head and body wrapped in a shroud from the storage bag, wrapped him with the quilt, and let him lie peacefully on his bed.

Then, he pulled the chain around Gu Mingxin's neck and opened the door of the bedroom.

Outside the door, several maids from the Kong Mansion were waiting with fear on their faces. When they saw Ye Anping coming out, they all lowered their heads deeply. "Greetings, Young Master. We have prepared the medicine, please take it."

After saying that, one of the maids hurriedly came forward with a bowl of black and red medicine soup and raised the tray while bowing, handing it to "Kong Huayuan".

Ye Anping looked at the medicine soup silently. Xue'e who came out with him said, "Ye Anping, this should be a tonic for replenishing yang energy. It's okay to drink it."

Seeing that Xue'e had helped before her again, Xiao Tian hesitated to speak and pouted in grievance.

"Ah..."

Ye Anping waved his hand. "I won't drink it today."

The maid was surprised but didn't dare to say anything. They just nodded and took the tonic back. "...Yes, sir."

After Feng Yu Die and Gu Mingxin came out, Ye Anping calmly closed the door. "You two stay guard here. No one is allowed to go in without my permission, understand?"

"Yes."

"Send someone to tell my father that I sent Gu Mingxin to Brilliance City Prison. Let him rest assured that I spared her life."

Ye Anping turned his head, acting like a playboy. He lifted Gu Mingxin's chin and pinched it, then jerked the chain hard and pulled her forward.

Just as he walked out of the Kong Mansion, Ye Anping saw more than ten flying swords leaving bloody trails coming from the east.

Although he could not see the people on the flying sword clearly, he knew it must be the Demonic Sect who had sent someone to pick up Gu Mingxin.

"Just in time."

Smiling, he hurriedly took Gu Mingxin and Feng Yu Die and flew toward the Brilliance City prison.

Because he had Kong Huayuan's identity badge, and the people guarding the prison were basically some low-level disciples of the Ghost Spirit Sect, the three of them entered the prison without any obstruction.

Ye Anping asked the Ghost Spirit Sect disciples to get the prison list, picked a good single cell for Gu Mingxin, and then asked Feng Yu Die to keep watch at the cell door while he himself pulled the chain of Gu Mingxin's collar, dragging her into the cell before closing the door.

In the corner of the cell, there were various torture instruments that could make people feel pain just by looking at them, but probably because this place was recently built, they did not show any signs of being used.

Seeing Ye Anping's eyes on the torture instruments, Xue'e, who came in with him, frowned and blocked his view, shouting, "Ye Anping, don't mess around! Can't you be nicer to Mingxin? Do you really want to torture her?!!"

Ye Anping rolled his eyes at her. "I'm just taking a look."

However, Gu Mingxin didn't care and interrupted with a smile. "If Ye Anping likes it, it's not unacceptable..."

"..."

Ye Anping rolled his eyes at Gu Mingxin again and pulled off her blindfold. Then, he took out a pair of special shackles from his storage bag and erected a wooden frame in the cell. Using his spiritual power, he lifted her and tied her hands to the wooden frame.

"As long as you inject a little spiritual power into these handcuffs, they will shatter. I estimate the disciples from the Heavenly Demon Sect will be coming over soon. When they get close, just chop them off. Also, Xue'e..."

"Yes!"

"When the time comes, let the black python out and make as much noise as possible. I want you to lure all the Ghost Spirit Sect disciples here as much as possible."

Hearing what Ye Anping said, Xue'e realized he wanted to use Gu Mingxin as bait. She raised her eyebrows and asked, "Ah? Is there no other way?"

"This is the best way. Feng Yu Die and I will go to the knot of the Ghost Spirit Sect's formation. If I'm guessing correctly, Elder Luo from the Ghosts Hall should be guarding there. He is a cultivator in the Deification stage. I can't do anything unless you lure him away."

"But... are you going to let Mingxin deal with all the spiritual cultivators in the city alone?" Xue'e shook her head and rejected it. "Ye Anping, even if Ah Mang is here, how can Mingxin deal with them all..."

Ye Anping understood Xue'e's worry and said solemnly, "I will ensure her safety."

"But..."

At this time, Gu Mingxin, whose hands were tied to the wooden stake, spoke up. "It doesn't matter. Anping, I will do whatever you ask me to do, hehe..."

Ye Anping looked back at her, nodding. "Sister Gu, I'll leave this to you. I will ensure your safety."

Gu Mingxin squinted and smiled, then suddenly said, "Ye Anping, kiss me."

"..."

Ye Anping looked at Gu Mingxin in silence, then closed his eyes and let out a long breath. He slightly lifted the human skin mask on his face, revealing his nose and lips, and took a step closer to Gu Mingxin.

Gu Mingxin looked at him, her red eyes brimming with love. Without saying a word, she stretched her face forward and bit Ye Anping's lips with a little force.

After three breaths, Ye Anping stepped back and asked, "Are you done?"

"Hmm... hehe—" Gu Mingxin tilted her head and grinned, licking her lips. "Ye Anping, you are so delicious."

Ye Anping didn't want to comment. Instead, he put the human skin mask in place again. "Be careful. Xue'e, you watch out."

Seeing this scene, Xue'e also smiled. "Okay! Hehe..."

"..."

Ye Anping nodded and turned around, opening the cell iron door and walking out. Feng Yu Die was leaning on the side of the iron door while Xiao Tian lay on her head, comforting her. "Yu Die, it's okay. Anping will fall in love with you sooner or later, don't be impatient..."

"Ahem—"

Ye Anping coughed lightly, causing Xiao Tian to shut her mouth. She and Feng Yu Die turned their heads to look at him.

"Master Ye, are you done?"

"Yes... let's go."

"Okay."

...

Meanwhile, at the top of Brilliance City Heavenly Pavilion.

Kong Xiangmo was sitting on the armchair, holding a jade slip in his hand and carefully reading the contents with tightly knitted brows.

The jade slip contained information sent back by the Ghost Spirit Sect's spy, saying that the Black Star Sect and almost all the immortal sects in the Western Region were heading toward the Brilliance City, and it looked like they were preparing to attack.

For Kong Xiangmo, this was not shocking news.

The Immortal Family was facing internal and external troubles, and there was also a feud between the Immortal Matriarch and the Empress of the Cold Country over the murder of the latter's father. The matter of invading the Eastern Region was nothing but talk.

However, before that, the Magical Poison Sect and the Hedonistic Sect had attacked the Bright Star Sect by surprise, but the leaders of both sects died in the Southern Region, resulting in two less Void Returning demonic cultivators out of six.

When he received this news, he thought that the immortals probably talked about starting a war against the demonic cultivators again.

However, Kong Xiangmo was not panicked.

Brilliance City had a Demonic Ghost Formation set up by the Ghost Patriarch himself. If Red Moon really brought immortals to attack, he would support the formation together with the four Deification demonic cultivators in the city.

As long as the formation was activated, Kong Xiangmo was confident that even if Red Moon Matriarch personally attacked, they could resist for at least half a month, until the Ghost Patriarch brought all the disciples of the Ghost Spirit Sect to help.

This Brilliance City was now the territory of the Ghost Spirit Sect. Once the Ghost Patriarch arrived, the Ghost Spirit Sect would rely on the Eastern Great Wall at their back. Unless the Black Star Sect wanted to self-destruct, they would definitely realize that they could not enter and would withdraw from the city.

The only variable that Kong Xiangmo could think of was the Demon Clan.

If the Demon Clan and the Black Star Sect joined forces, the situation would be very different.

However, the Demon King was hostile to human cultivators, so the big fox would most likely not choose to join forces with the Black Star Sect.

Kong Xiangmo put down the jade slip and relaxed a little. Seeing a servant carrying in some stuff from outside the house, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "How is Gu Mingxin?"

The boy in black cupped his hands and replied in a low voice, "Reporting to Elder Kong, a few servants just came over and said that Young Master Kong had been venting for three days and three nights. He had just sent Gu Mingxin to the prison. Young Master Kong sent a message to you to rest assured that Gu Mingxin is still alive."

?

Hearing this, a trace of doubt appeared on Kong Xiangmo's old face. "He... vented for three days and three nights?"

"Yes, those servants said that Young Master Kong has been staying in the bedroom for the past three days and has not come out."

"Hiss—"

Kong Xiangmo frowned and inhaled a mouthful of cold air. He was wondering in his heart, since when was his son so powerful?

His son had been surrounded by women since he was a child, and he used to have fun almost every night.

Kong Xiangmo recalled that because of this, his son had some signs of excessive yang leakage that led to male sexual dysfunction, and even his androgynous appearance was probably due to this reason.

"..."

Kong Xiangmo let out a long breath. He had the nagging feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't tell what it was.

Just as he was thinking, a disciple of the Ghost Spirit Sect ran in from outside the pavilion, knelt on one knee, and cupped his hands. "Report to the Great Elder Kong."

"Speak."

"The second Young Master of the He family of the Heavenly Demon Sect has brought more than ten inner disciples and is waiting in front of the pavilion."

"The second Young Master of the He family?"

Hearing this title, Kong Xiangmo also remembered the name "He Jifeng".

He Buqun, the Great Elder of the Heavenly Demon Sect, had three sons. The third Young Master of the He family, He Jiming, had disappeared since Gu Mingxin defected.

Now, He Buqun asked his second son to lead the people here, which was probably a deliberate move.

However, it didn't matter who led the people. As long as Lord Yu Yan knew that Gu Mingxin was captured by his son, that would be enough.

"Let him in."

"Yes, sir!"

The disciple nodded, then stood up, turned around, and ran out. After a while, he led a man wearing the inner sect uniform of the Heavenly Demon Sect into the pavilion.

The man's eyebrows were painted with red eye shadow, his face was well-defined, and there were some tattoos on his neck. Judging from his aura, he should be a Sword cultivator, but his cultivation was a little low, only in the late stage of Core Formation.

He Jifeng walked into the pavilion and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Elder Kong of the Ghost Spirit Sect."

"No need for pleasantries." Kong Xiangmo smiled as he waved his hand. "Thank you for coming all the way here. Gu Mingxin was apprehended by my kid a few days ago. But my kid has a bad temper. He kept her alive but ravaged her for three days and three nights. Is that a problem?"

Ravaged for three days and three nights?

When He Jifeng heard this, he found it hard to believe. After all, as a disciple of the Heavenly Demonic Sect, he had heard of Gu Mingxin's past achievements.

He knew that although Kong Huayuan was in the early stage of Nascent Soul, he was not a particularly powerful character...

After a moment of silence, he smiled. "Of course, it's not a big deal. Patriarch Yu Yan said before that he would not care about her life or death. Even if she is just a pile of rotten meat, she must be brought back to the Heavenly Demon Sect."

"That's good."

"Then, may I ask where she is now..."

Kong Xiangmo stroked his beard with a smile. "She has been taken to prison. If you want to take her away, go and get her yourself, hehe..."

"Thank you for telling me."

He Jifeng bowed and prepared to go to prison. He now suspected that they might have captured the wrong person. After all, with Gu Mingxin's ability, Kong Huayuan should have caught her with the help of the Elders of the Ghost Spirit Sect, but then he actually abused her for three days and three nights?!

He didn't believe it.

He Jifeng took a step outside, and, as if he suddenly remembered something, turned around and said, "Oh, by the way, Elder Kong."

"Yes?"

"You sent two jade slips to the Heavenly Demon Sect before. In the first one, you asked for the name of the Prison Hall Elder of our sect, right?"

"...Yes."

"Since the death of Elder Fu Yuanhua, the Heavenly Demon Sect has not yet appointed a new Elder of the Prison Hall."

"..."

Hearing this, Kong Xiangmo was stunned.

He was silent for a long time before asking, "Do you know a person named Liang Liu?"

He Jifeng thought for a while, then said, "Hmm... You wanted to say 'Liang Xiaoliu', right?"

"..."

"Back when Gu Mingxin was still the Young Miss Gu, she kept saying that someone called Liang Xiaoliu was plotting against her, but the Heavenly Demon Sect investigated for a long time and still could not find this person in the Immortal Family. I think Gu Mingxin must have made it up. However, it indeed sounds like a fake name, haha..."

Kong Xiangmo frowned slightly. "...Is that so."

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

"Okay."

He Jifeng cupped his hands again, and then hurriedly left from the top floor of the pavilion, taking the stairs on one side.

After watching him leave, Kong Xiangmo, who was sitting at the desk, felt more and more uneasy the more he thought about it. He kept feeling that there was something wrong here, but he couldn't figure out what the problem was.

A person pretending to be the Elder of the Prison Hall of the Heavenly Demon Sect informed his son of the whereabouts of Gu Mingxin. His son took an Elder of the Ghost Spirit Sect to set up an ambush and actually captured Gu Mingxin, but the Elder of the Ghost Spirit Sect and the person pretending to be the Elder of the Prison Hall both died...

Putting together the whole thing, Kong Xiangmo suddenly opened his eyes wide, and his originally rosy face instantly turned pale like a dead person.

He looked at the servant who was tidying up the bookshelf and asked angrily, "Where is Huayuan now?"

"Uh... I don't know."

"Hiss—"

A strong murderous aura emerged from Kong Xiangmo. He gritted his teeth, stood up, and turned into a dark stream of light, flying out the window.

In just five breaths, he appeared in front of Kong Huayuan's bedroom.

In front of the bedroom, two maids stood with their hands behind their backs, obeying Ye Anping's orders to guard the door and prevent anyone from entering. When they saw Kong Xiangmo coming and sensed the killing intention coming from him, the two maids were so scared that they trembled and lowered their heads.

"Where is Kong Huayuan?"

"Master... Young Master just sent that Gu Mingxin to prison and has not come back since then."

"..."

Kong Xiangmo kicked the door of the bedroom directly. Xu Mei's corpse had become a little smelly after rotting for three days, and it was still lying at the doorway with no one taking care of it.

On the bed, a humanoid thing wrapped in a blanket lay quietly.

Kong Xiangmo slightly frowned, and he immediately stepped to the bed, reaching out to pull the quilt open. However, he used too much force, and a terrifying faceless head wrapped in the quilt rolled off the bed.

Dongdong... Dong...

Kong Huayuan's head fell beside Kong Xiangmo's boots. Although it had no skin, Kong Huayuan could still imagine his son's expression of "Why am I dead?".

"My... my son... son... son, ah, son!!!!"