831: Nine Yin Soul-Gathering Grass

This scene fell clearly into the eyes of the several guards at the door, who were like petrified statues.

Their eyes were nearly popping out of their sockets!

“Yao... Uncle Yao?!”

“The Hall Master's uncle?”

“His cultivation level seems to be... only at the Perfected Spirit Transformation Stage? Not as high as the Hall Master's?”

“But the Hall Master's attitude... My god! It's practically more respectful than toward his own father?!”

“Honoring elders and respecting the virtuous! The Hall Master is truly a model for our generation, a moral benchmark among evil Cultivators!” the guard captain couldn't help but sigh via voice transmission.

“Yes, yes! Usually, we see the Hall Master being so decisive in killing, who would have thought he'd be so filial to his elders!” another guard expressed deep agreement.

This harmless “praise” was like a needle pricking Old Black Mu's ears. The bit of pride he had just felt instantly vanished, and his heart felt as if ten thousand grass-mud horses were galloping through it, bleeding profusely!

‘Model your sister! Moral benchmark your uncle!’

‘I am an evil Cultivator! Do you understand what an evil Cultivator is? Murder, arson, and betraying one's master are my specialties!’

‘Have you ever seen an evil Cultivator who “honors elders and respects the virtuous”?! I'm being forced! My life is in his hands!’ Old Black Mu roared and bled internally, yet he still had to maintain a respectful smile, not daring to show the slightest abnormality.

He couldn't help but recall his encounter in the Myriad Flower Spring Outing Valley. When he was captured by Yao Delong, his fate unknown, his “good disciple” didn't think of saving him first, but instead impatiently seized his city, his resources, and his concubines! That naked betrayal and greed were the norm in the world of evil Cultivators!

If he hadn't decisively surrendered to Yao Delong later, not only would he not have survived, but with Yao Delong's secret support and his own planning, he successfully fought back to the Xuan Ye Dynasty to clean house and climbed step by step to his current prominent positions as the Acting Hall Master of the Nine Nether Sect's Law Enforcement Hall and the City Lord of Fengdu... All of this stemmed from the “grace” and “control” of this “Uncle Yao” before him.

While Old Black Mu was internally lamenting the fickleness of life and the hardships of being an evil Cultivator, the three of them had already passed through the heavily guarded courtyard and arrived at the luxurious main hall at the heart of the City Lord's Manor.

The hall had already been cleaned, with no sign of the previous dancers or wine.

Without a word, Old Black Mu naturally bowed and led Yao Delong toward the City Lord's throne, the symbol of ultimate power: “Uncle Yao, please take the seat of honor!”

He himself stood respectfully by the side of the throne like a loyal old servant, head slightly bowed, waiting for instructions. Qiong Shuang, on the other hand, found a comfortable spot to sit and continued happily munching on her “Netherworld Candied Hawthorn,” as if everything around her had nothing to do with her. She only cared about two things: good food and following her big brother.

Yao Delong didn't stand on ceremony and sat down calmly. The massive throne, carved from a single piece of Yin Evil Ink Jade, seemed to restrain its Evil Qi and become docile after he sat down.

Without any small talk, he went straight to the point, his eyes like torches as he looked at Old Black Mu:

“Little Black, where is Heavenly Cherry now?” His voice was calm but carried an unquestionable weight.

Old Black Mu's heart tightened, and he quickly replied, his tone filled with awe and a trace of undetectable envy:

“Reporting to Master! The Mistress... has achieved Major Achievement in her divine technique! Her cultivation has reached the Void Refinement Mid-stage! She is currently in seclusion deep within the ‘Demon Summoning Abyss,’ three hundred miles west of Fengdu City, to consolidate her Realm! The Devilish Qi there is pure and dense, and it's protected by a natural Formation, making it extremely hidden and safe!”

Hearing this, a flash of relief and understanding crossed Yao Delong's eyes. It seemed the empowerment the Mad Extreme Demon Lord gave at the cost of his life was extremely effective. Void Refinement Mid-stage... at this speed, that secret technique is truly Heaven-Defying!

He nodded slightly, his tone softening a bit: “You have done well.”

This praise caused the heavy stone in Old Black Mu's heart to drop, and the fawning smile on his face grew even wider: “It's all thanks to Master's cultivation! Protecting the Mistress is my duty!”

“Mhm.” Yao Delong responded, then changed the subject. “I have other important matters for this trip.” As he spoke, he flicked his finger, and a streak of spiritual light wrapped around a list filled with writing, drifting lightly down in front of Old Black Mu.

“Take a look. How many of these items can you gather from your City Lord's Manor's treasury?”

Old Black Mu hurriedly took the list with both hands and looked at it intently.

With just one glance, the fawning smile on his face instantly froze, and his pupils contracted sharply!

nine yin soul condensing grass, Styx Nether Epiphyllum, ten thousand year blood jade marrow, star tear crystal, Earth Core Fire Lotus Seed... every single one was a top-tier Heaven And Earth Treasure that existed only in legends, capable of making Soul Transformation and Void Refining Cultivators fight to the death, and even Integration Realm experts would covet them!

Old Black Mu's heart twitched violently; this was practically emptying out his family fortune! He had just become the City Lord, and while there were many good things in the treasury, it couldn't withstand such a demand!

Enduring the pain in his heart, he quickly scanned the list, his mind racing with calculations. A moment later, he looked up, a smile forced back onto his face, though it looked worse than crying:

“Mas... Master! This list... has truly opened my eyes! They are all rare treasures!” He swallowed hard. “Of... of these, I... currently only have the nine yin soul condensing grass and... and the Styx Nether Epiphyllum... these two... and their age might be a bit lacking...”

As he spoke, he carefully observed Yao Delong's expression. He actually had some hidden stock at the bottom of his treasury, but he instinctively wanted to hide some private savings.

How could Yao Delong not see through his little scheme? His gaze was calm and rippleless, but the invisible pressure made sweat instantly break out on Old Black Mu's forehead. Yao Delong didn't expose him, merely nodding faintly: “It's fine. Having these two shows you've put in effort. Bring them here.”

He hadn't expected Old Black Mu to be able to gather all the medicinal materials; being able to get two core main ingredients was already an unexpected surprise, saving him a lot of effort.

Hearing this, Old Black Mu felt a sense of relief, but also a bit of regret; if he had known the Master was so easy-going, he should have reported one more... He didn't dare hesitate further and immediately shouted toward the outside of the hall in a deep voice:

“Black Six! Go to my inner treasury immediately! Bring me the ‘nine yin soul condensing grass’ sealed in the cold jade box at the deepest part, and the ‘Styx Nether Epiphyllum’ nurtured in the Netherworld Profound Crystal cover, right now, immediately, and be extremely careful!”

His voice carried an unquestionable authority, a complete contrast to his humbleness before Yao Delong just moments ago.

After giving the orders, Old Black Mu immediately switched back to an extremely fawning smile, looking eagerly at Yao Delong: “Master, please wait a moment, it will be delivered immediately!”

Yao Delong found his seamless expression switching amusing and didn't bother to care about his little schemes. He waved his hand casually and pointed to a nearby chair: “Mhm, sit.”

“Ah! Thank you, Uncle Yao!” Old Black Mu felt as if he had been granted a great pardon and only then dared to carefully sit on the edge of the nearby chair, his back straight as a rod, looking obedient and ready for orders at any time. In the entire hall, there was only the slight sound of Qiong Shuang crunching on her candied hawthorn.