Serpent Ancestor

Xu Hei rummaged through the jade slip left by Mu Hou and found a list—it was what he had left for procurement.

"So that's it, this guy plans to manipulate the prices! First, hoard the goods, then auction them off when the prices peak," Xu Hei mused.

It wasn't just the Qingyuan Pills; Mu Hou was also collecting the medicinal herbs needed for their refinement, and there were quite a few in the storage bag.

At this rate, once the market supply of Qingyuan Pills dries up, the value of these goods in Mu Hou's hands will multiply several times!

In fact, Xu Hei's guess was only half correct.

These Qingyuan Pills were indeed purchased by Mu Hou from various places, with the intention of hoarding, but he wasn't acting alone; the other two managers were also involved.

However, the procurement task was entrusted to Mu Hou.

Xu Hei wasn't concerned with these messy affairs. He put away the Qingyuan Pills, planning to use them when he breaks through in the future, and the rest could be sold.

As for other treasures, he worried they might be stolen goods and didn't dare to sell them openly, but he had no such concerns with pills, as no one could identify who refined them.

"Someone's coming!"

Xu Hei stored all the treasures into the Void Stone, then used the Ever-changing Fish and Dragon technique, transforming into a half-human, half-snake form.

Ever since his Ever-changing Fish and Dragon technique reached the eighth level, disguising himself had become second nature to Xu Hei.

Before long, two figures approached from a distance.

One of them was the enchanting woman he had seen last time, but to Xu Hei's surprise, though her appearance hadn't changed, her demeanor was completely different.

Dressed in white, with a headband and a long sword at her waist, her face was delicate and beautiful, her aura ethereal and pure, like a fairy descended to the mortal world.

If he hadn't witnessed her seductive side before, Xu Hei might have been fooled.

This time, a young male cultivator accompanied her, speaking gently and moving cautiously, as if they hadn't known each other long.

However, there was a clear trace of fervor in the man's eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, the Melodic Sect is just ahead; let's part ways here," the woman in white said with a cupped fist.

The young cultivator cupped his fists in return, "It's an honor to meet Miss Mu. May I ask what your plans are next?"

Mu Ji smiled sweetly, "In a week, I'll be heading to Sea Lizard Island for a mission."

The young cultivator's eyes lit up, and he smiled, "What a coincidence! I also need to go to Sea Lizard Island. We could travel together."

This was such a cliché, but Mu Ji didn't call him out on it, her eyebrows raised, "Oh? Really?"

"Absolutely, a week from now, I'll be waiting for you here. How about it?" The young cultivator clenched his fists, his voice a bit excited.

"Alright, it's a deal," Mu Ji said with a smile.

With that, they parted ways, and Mu Ji returned to the pavilion.

Outside, the young cultivator's gaze lingered on Mu Ji's departing figure, his smile growing brighter, his inner joy evident.

"Xiao Chou, Xiao Chou, you swore you'd never get involved with women, yet here you are again."

"But Miss Mu seems interested in me too. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If I miss it, I might be alone forever. I can't let it slip away."

The young cultivator muttered to himself, his face slightly flushed.

Deep underground, Xu Hei retracted his Divine Sense, his expression turning peculiar.

Looking at this young man, he seemed ordinary, his skin a bit tanned, and his build had become much more robust. It was none other than Xiao Chou!

"Ah, this..."

Xu Hei was utterly speechless.

Did Xiao Chou really intend to become Dao companions with this woman?

Back then, Xu Hei had witnessed this woman drain a male cultivator completely dry—it was quite a spectacle.

Did Xiao Chou really think this woman was interested in him?

"This Xiao Chou is really inexplicably confident. Doesn't he have any self-awareness?" Xu Hei's expression turned strange.

Some people always play their roles to the hilt, no matter the angle.

However, encountering an old acquaintance here was unexpected for Xu Hei.

Xu Hei had no intention of going up to chat. He was already at mid-stage Core Formation, while Xiao Chou was still hovering at the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment Stage. The gap was too large, and if nothing unexpected happened, they probably wouldn't have a chance to interact in the future.

As for whether Xiao Chou would be drained by this woman, he could only wish him luck.

At this moment, Mu Ji entered the pavilion, her expression initially startled, then she looked in Xu Hei's direction.

She took a deep breath, slightly bowed, and cupped her fists, "Senior, you've graced us with your presence twice. May I ask what brings you here?"

Xu Hei was taken aback.

Did this woman actually notice him?

And judging by her tone, she seemed to have noticed him last time too, but pretended not to see?

Xu Hei's eyes flickered, his thoughts racing. Logically, a Foundation Establishment cultivator shouldn't be able to detect him. Xu Hei suspected that either this woman was hiding her cultivation, had exceptionally high Spiritual Perception like Wang Ding, or had guidance from a higher power!

Xu Hei immediately ruled out the possibility of her hiding her cultivation. If she were truly Transcendent, why would she absorb the flesh and blood of Foundation Establishment cultivators?

The second possibility, high Spiritual Perception, Xu Hei also deemed unlikely. Mu Ji was very calm, not at all afraid of Xu Hei suddenly making a move.

This only indicated that the third possibility, having backing from a higher power, was very likely!

Xu Hei quickly made his judgment and said calmly, "If I said I was just passing by, would you believe me?"

Mu Ji was taken aback, then smiled wryly, "I don't know what is so special about this place that made Senior pass by twice."

She appropriately showed a puzzled expression, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, each frown and smile exuding charm, completely different from before.

"Believe it or not, it's up to you."

Xu Hei couldn't be bothered to waste words with her and planned to leave directly.

Just then, Mu Ji suddenly smiled sweetly and said, "Did Senior come to participate in our sect's Demon Extermination Assembly?"

"Demon Extermination Assembly..."

Xu Hei frowned. He had heard of the Melodic Sect's Demon Extermination Assembly.

Every year, the Melodic Sect would capture numerous demonic cultivators and criminals, imprison them, but they wouldn't execute them immediately. Instead, at the end of each year, they would gather the criminals and have the sect's disciples publicly execute them.

The disciples would be ranked based on their demon-slaying prowess.

They named it—the Demon Extermination Assembly!

Xu Hei didn't understand where the Melodic Sect's peculiar habit came from, but it had been passed down and held every year, akin to other sects' annual gatherings.

"If Senior wishes to participate, I would be willing to act as a guide," Mu Ji said with a sincere look, making it hard to harbor any ill feelings.

"I'm not interested."

Xu Hei left a straightforward remark and with a flash, used the Earth Escape Technique to leave.

He had considered taking action to eliminate Mu Ji to avoid exposing himself. But Mu Ji's demeanor remained calm throughout, and she could detect his presence without anyone noticing.

This indicated that she definitely had some backing.

Xu Hei didn't want to take such a risk for no reason.

As for the Demon Extermination Assembly she mentioned, Xu Hei had no interest in it and didn't want to get involved in matters unrelated to him.

However, as Xu Hei left, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

Hei Huang had mentioned wanting to make a move on the Melodic Sect, claiming to capture a few people as pets, coincidentally at this critical juncture.

Could there be some connection between the two?

"Is he really just capturing people as pets, or does he have other intentions?" Xu Hei's eyes flickered, deep in thought.

Speaking of which, where did that old dog run off to?