302: method

The bonfire quietly burned.

The Demon Lord of Suffering in mid-air lost interest.

The remnant soul of the Illusory Nascent Soul rapidly shrank, possessing the bracelet on Zhou Xiangyu's wrist.

After this interruption by the Demon Lord of Suffering.

Zhou Xiangyu gathered his mind.

He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began bitter cultivation.

The night passed without incident.

The bonfire burned out.

Zhou Xiangyu got up and hurried toward Qingyang Peak...

Half a month later.

Within Qingyang Prefecture.

In a Cultivation Market.

Zhou Xiangyu, covered in dust from travel, came here to exchange for some Talismans and Medicinal Pills.

"A few days ago, the sword-forging Family, the Jiang Family, announced to the entire domain that they would hold the Sword Wielding Ceremony three years from now."

"Brother Wang, have you heard of this?"

Behind a stall displaying various Talismans.

A middle-aged Qi Refining Stage Cultivator stall owner spoke to the Cultivator next to him.

"Brother Li, is that true?"

The Wang Clan Cultivator beside him was quite surprised.

As long as one wasn't a reckless youth or a bitter Cultivator who ignored the outside world.

There was probably no Cultivator in the entire Sword Domain who didn't know the name of the sword-forging Family, the Jiang Family.

The Li Clan Cultivator originally had a slight intention to show off.

Therefore, he did not whisper.

The sound spread and reached the ears of Zhou Xiangyu, who was preparing to leave quickly.

Zhou Xiangyu paused his steps.

He abruptly changed direction.

He arrived in front of the Talisman stall.

"Fellow Daoist, could you elaborate on what you just said?"

Zhou Xiangyu's tone was somewhat anxious.

The middle-aged Li Clan Cultivator sized up Zhou Xiangyu.

He took in Zhou Xiangyu's clothing, demeanor, and movements.

He thought internally: He's not short on Spirit Stones...

"Cough~"

"Well..."

"This matter is a long story. If I were to make a long story short, I would need to carefully consider how..."

The Li Clan Cultivator glanced at the many Talismans in front of him.

His tone paused repeatedly.

Zhou Xiangyu's heart stirred.

Driven by internal anxiety.

He casually took several Tier 1 Low Grade offensive Talismans from the stall.

"Fellow Daoist, that will be fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

The Li Clan Cultivator saw Zhou Xiangyu's actions.

He beamed and quickly spoke.

Zhou Xiangyu nodded, took out fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and handed them over.

Although these few Talismans were not worth this price.

But at this moment, he couldn't worry about such things.

The Li Clan Cultivator accepted them with a chuckle.

He was in a great mood.

"Fellow Daoist, could you speak quickly?"

Zhou Xiangyu casually placed the Talismans into the Storage Pouch hanging at his waist.

He urged him once.

"Actually, I don't know much either."

"I only happened to hear a Xie Family Disciple mention it when I was buying Talisman paper in Yuanyang City."

The Li Clan Cultivator felt a little embarrassed.

After all, he had accepted the other person's Spirit Stones.

Although all merchants are crafty, he still had some semblance of a bottom line in his heart.

Thus, he recounted the situation of that day exactly as it happened.

After Zhou Xiangyu finished listening.

He calculated slightly in his mind.

Although the Li Clan Cultivator didn't know much, he had already gained more information from the exchange.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for informing me."

"I shall take my leave."

Zhou Xiangyu showed no dissatisfaction, cupped his hands, and bowed.

He turned and left.

"Alas~"

"What a good Cultivator."

The Li Clan Cultivator watched Zhou Xiangyu's departing figure and sighed wistfully.

He wasn't as happy as he had been before.

"Fellow Daoist, wait!"

The Li Clan Cultivator thought for a moment, got up, said a word to the Wang Clan stall owner next to him, and chased after him.

Zhou Xiangyu's figure paused, and he turned around, a look of confusion on his face.

"Fellow Daoist, what instruction do you have for me?"

"Fellow Daoist, I misjudged one of the Talismans earlier."

"I overcharged you by a few Spirit Stones."

The Li Clan Cultivator was filled with remorse.

As he spoke, five Low-Grade Spirit Stones appeared in his hand, which he handed toward Zhou Xiangyu.

Zhou Xiangyu's mind was preoccupied with the Jiang Family matter.

Seeing the Spirit Stones offered, he casually took them.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

He offered his thanks.

Unwilling to stay here long.

Zhou Xiangyu left the market.

The Li Clan Cultivator returned to his stall.

"Ah!"

"Damn it, why did I act like a fool and save Spirit Stones for those Disciples from major powers..."

"Slap~"

The Li Clan Cultivator slapped his forehead, his face full of regret and heartache.

He had just had a moment of weakness and returned the five Spirit Stones he had obtained.

Thinking about it now, the more he thought, the more his heart ached.

"Fellow Daoist Li, your personality isn't suited for doing business here."

The Wang Clan Cultivator next to him shook his head and sighed.

That Cultivator just now clearly wasn't short on Spirit Stones...

"Are you going to Yuanyang City to find a Xie Family Disciple and ask for clarification?"

Zhou Xiangyu had left the market.

The remnant soul of the Illusory Nascent Soul appeared.

The Demon Lord of Suffering inquired.

"No."

"That Xie Family is merely a Foundation Establishment Family."

"Since even the Xie Family knows, the news must be widely spread. I don't need to deliberately inquire; I can confirm the truth of this matter once I return to the Clan."

Zhou Xiangyu shook his head.

After speaking.

Zhou Xiangyu fell silent.

But his heart was extremely restless.

"You want to go?"

The Demon Lord of Suffering glanced at him and asked plainly.

"What can you do by going? Cause a scene?"

"With your level of cultivation, you can't even enter the gates of the Jiang Family."

"The place where the Jiang Family is located is located in the Extreme Cold Ice Realm. It is extremely cold and not easy to reach."

The Demon Lord of Suffering continued speaking.

"Senior."

"Given Ning Chan's nature, she would definitely rather die than become a weapon that only knows slaughter."

"Yet why..."

"Could it be... for my sake?"

Zhou Xiangyu seemed not to have heard, didn't answer, and instead asked the Demon Lord of Suffering, his tone filled with pain.

"Hahahahaha~"

"This Lord has never seen someone as shameless as you."

The Demon Lord of Suffering laughed heartily.

The laughter bothered Bitter Heart, who was meditating with closed eyes behind him, causing his eye to twitch constantly.

Zhou Xiangyu didn't react, still staring fixedly at the Demon Lord of Suffering.

The Demon Lord of Suffering, seeing no sign of Zhou Xiangyu becoming angry from shame.

Feeling bored, he restrained his laughter.

"Kid, you're overthinking it."

"That girl had the sword seed name fu ling sword seed in her long ago."

"It must be that she was chosen early on."

"Otherwise, how could she have summoned the fuling divine sword to save your life?"

The Demon Lord of Suffering had clearly changed significantly during this period.

He was talking more and more.

"Hoo~"

Having received this answer.

Zhou Xiangyu let out a long breath.

He felt slightly relieved.

"Kid, are you going to give up?"

The Demon Lord of Suffering glanced sideways, pressing the question without revealing his emotions.

"Of course not!"

"What Ning Chan cares about, she naturally needs to protect herself."

"If the news is true, three years from now, I will definitely go to the Jiang Family!"

Zhou Xiangyu's expression was slightly relaxed, but his heart was even more resolute.

"Senior, please instruct me."

"Is there a way to quickly increase cultivation without harming others?"

Zhou Xiangyu cupped his hands and bowed toward the floating Illusory Nascent Soul.

"The kid dreams nicely. How could such a method exist in the world..."

The Demon Lord of Suffering's tone was disdainful.

But before he could finish speaking.

Bitter Heart, who had been meditating with closed eyes, opened his eyes.

A compassionate voice sounded next to Zhou Xiangyu's ear.

"There is indeed a method, but I wonder if the Benefactor can endure it?"

Bitter Heart spoke slowly.

The Demon Lord of Suffering was interrupted, but he uncharacteristically did not curse back.

"No matter what it is, this Junior can endure it!"

Zhou Xiangyu rejoiced internally, his tone was solemn, and he lowered his stance further.

"The Dao of Benefactor Suffering takes the suffering of all living beings as its source."

"However, young Benefactor, you are also one of the living beings."

"If this is the case, the suffering you must endure will be immeasurable."

Seeing Zhou Xiangyu's resolute tone.

Only then did Bitter Heart continue speaking.

"Hiss~"

"Old Bald Donkey, you are vicious enough. This Lord merely torments enemies, but you, you make this kid torment himself."

The Demon Lord of Suffering's eyes lit up.

"However, this is still not enough. The Demonic Path is the Demonic Path after all. If cultivation advances too quickly, one will be misled by demonic intent, lose their mind, and turn into a true fiend."

"But you have this monk's buddha heart protecting you. As long as you diligently comprehend the various Buddhist principles within it, you can protect your mind."

Bitter Heart ignored the Demonic Lord's ridicule.

Having been entangled with the Demon Lord of Suffering for hundreds of years, he also had his own understanding of the Dao cultivated by the Demon Lord of Suffering.

As his voice fell.

Zhou Xiangyu's eyes lit up, and he bowed solemnly once more.

"Thank you, two Seniors!"

"Kid, still calling us Senior?"