Chapter 0:13. New Mission: Remain Untouched by Desire
As the black-robed old man finished speaking, a snow-white spirit dog emerged from his embrace. The spirit dog approached Qin Gou, sniffed him carefully, and spoke in human tongue, “No mistake, it’s him.”
Qin Gou’s eyes narrowed slightly. Even if he disregarded the talking spirit dog, the aura emanating from the black-robed old man indicated a cultivator at the peak of the Li Jiu Realm, someone he definitely couldn’t contend with at his current level.
Did he have to self-destruct a magic artifact to eke out a sliver of survival? Ever since leaving Guyue City, he had used a Perfect Disguise Talisman to completely alter his appearance. How could he have provoked such an enemy?
“Good小子 (young man),” the black-robed old man said, appraising Qin Gou with admiration. “You remain calm in the face of adversity and possess outstanding character. You are indeed a gem of potential, born with the Enlightenment True Body.”
“So that’s how it is,” Qin Gou muttered to himself with a wry smile, never expecting the issue to stem from this.
The black-robed old man’s eyes sharpened, his tone laced with threat. “I’ll give you two choices. The first is to join my Seed Demon Sacred Cult and receive massive resources for vigorous cultivation. The second is a dead end. Do you have any objections?”
Seed Demon Sacred Cult? The name alone screamed ‘trouble’! For a proud A Generation’s Celestial Master like himself to join such Demonic path scoundrels would be an unbearable humiliation! Qin Gou swore he would rather jump to his death than…
“Ding, new mission ‘Remain Untouched by Desire’ issued: Gu Feiyan, the Cult Master’s daughter, is capricious and has harmed countless people. As the saying goes, ‘those who harm others will be harmed by others.’ You are ordered to linger by Gu Feiyan’s side, steal her heart, and teach her a lesson! Rewards: Two lottery draws, 5000 Merit points, and one direct advancement privilege for your Natal Spirit Tool. Time limit: six months. Failure will result in the host’s gender characteristics shrinking to one inch in size, irreversible. Justice may be late, but it will never be absent!”
This was too righteous! Qin Gou’s demeanor immediately became righteous. “I am willing to join the Sacred Cult! I am honored by the elder’s favor. Without avoiding the humble and low, I will do my best to contribute and forge even greater glory!”
“Ahaha, good! Excellent,” the black-robed old man exclaimed in delight, clapping Qin Gou on the shoulder with appreciation. “Good, good,小子 (young man), you’re quite eloquent. Such superb talent and sharp wit truly capture my heart!”
With that, the black-robed old man tapped his storage ring, summoning a scarlet spirit boat. He invited Qin Gou onto it and prepared to ascend into the sky.
Little Fatty Chen Keshua asked with a bewildered expression, “Little Brother Qin, what will I do if you leave?”
“Then you can come too,” the black-robed old man said with a sinister smile. Without further ado, he unleashed a palm strike, sending Chen Keshua reeling backward and dizzy. He then directly seized him onto the spirit boat and ascended into the void with everyone.
During their aerial flight, the black-robed old man asked with a smile, “I haven’t asked for your esteemed name yet, little daoist friend?”
“Qin Gou. The ‘gou’ from ‘stealing a hook is punishable’,” Qin Gou replied nonchalantly. There were countless people with the same name in the world, and he had already changed his appearance, so he wasn’t afraid of exposure.
“Oh?” A flicker of surprise flashed in the black-robed old man’s eyes. He burst into laughter, “What a coincidence! Little daoist friend shares the same name as that Demon Master Qin Gou, who ranks third on the Heavenly Devil Ranking!”
“Heavenly Devil Ranking?” Qin Gou was puzzled.
The black-robed old man patiently explained, “There are many rankings in this Cultivation World. Some are initiated by the populace, while others are jointly issued by various dynasties. The Heavenly Devil Ranking sorts all the Dharma Aspect True Persons among us demonic cultivators based on their strength.”
The black-robed old man paused, then continued, “Although Demon Master Qin Gou has been renowned throughout the Cultivation World, he has always been elusive. However, just a few days ago, he broke precedent by appearing in a small town and fully unleashed his formidable Divine Feather Dharma Image. Although he hasn’t directly fought yet, his reputation and the fearsome records of his disciples are enough to place him third on the Heavenly Devil Ranking! The Demon Master is truly a role model for us, a guiding light on the path of demonic cultivation!”
Upon hearing this, Qin Gou gritted his teeth and fell silent.
The black-robed old man glanced at Qin Gou, puzzled. “Hmm? Little daoist friend, what’s wrong? Why is your face suddenly so unsightly? As if you’ve swallowed a fly.”
“It’s mainly because I deeply admire that Demon Master… and thinking about how we share the same name but vastly different fates, it’s rather… poignant,” Qin Gou offered a smile that was more like a grimace.
The black-robed old man gave Qin Gou a deep look and let out a sinister chuckle. “There’s no need for you to belittle yourself. The innate Enlightenment True Body is an extremely rare and peerless physique! To tell you the truth, the founder of my Seed Demon Sacred Cult was also a person who possessed the Enlightenment True Body. If you can comprehend the true meaning of the legacy left by our Ancestor, you might truly be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Demon Master in the future! Then, the appearance of ‘Double Qin’ will certainly overturn the entire Cultivation World.”
“Is that true?” A hint of disbelief flickered in Qin Gou’s eyes. Could such a small, second-rate demonic sect truly possess hidden treasures beyond ordinary people’s knowledge?
The black-robed old man said with confidence, “Whether you believe it or not is of no consequence. Regardless, I have already meticulously planned your future cultivation path, leaving no room for error!”
Meanwhile, at Senluo Mountain, within the Purple Extreme Demonic Sect.
“Report!”
A disciple, holding a crimson command token, entered the grand hall unimpeded and knelt respectfully before Sect Master Zhao Xinting.
Zhao Xinting, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, slightly opened his eyes and glanced at the crimson command token, representing the highest level of secrecy. A gentle smile graced his beautiful face. “Is there news about my Master?”
After speaking, Zhao Xinting dismissed everyone else, leaving only the messenger disciple, the two guardians, and himself in the grand hall.
“Sect Master is wise and foresees all! This disciple is deeply impressed,” the disciple said, his face filled with genuine reverence.
Zhao Xinting’s bright eyes and face, beautiful enough to overshadow the moon, maintained a captivatingly charming smile. “If I’m not mistaken, this intel must state… that Demon Master Qin Gou has lost all his cultivation for unknown reasons and is living a mundane life like a mortal pawn, correct?”
As he spoke, Zhao Xinting nodded proudly, hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the ceiling with slightly narrowed eyes. He let out a long sigh, his heart heavy with emotion.
“Master, what am I to do with you?”
