7: Chapter 0007 Demonic Genius

Three days later.

Two Utility Disciples walked into Zhou Guanlian's Immortal Cave and carried out a male corpse with a bandaged face and a skeletal frame. He was barely covered by a white cloth, and his Essence Yang Aura had been severely drained.

At the same time.

Zhou Guanlian walked out with a rosy complexion, her arm intimately linked with a woman's.

If Gu Huan were here, he would have recognized this beautiful woman in a magnificent palace gown as the culprit who had captured him and brought him back to the Hehuan Sect.

A genuine Foundation Establishment Immortal Master, Hall Master Su Hongyun.

"Junior Martial Uncle Su, Little Puppy was already at the fourth level of Qi Refining when he died. Can't you give me a fairer price? Even if you just add five more Spirit Stones, it would help ease your martial niece's heartbreak."

Zhou Guanlian could cry at the drop of a hat.

Her eyes turned red in an instant.

Hall Master Su Hongyun found it amusing; such a self-directed little act couldn't fool her eyes.

As a Hehuan Enchantress, it would be a miracle if she actually developed feelings for a Cauldron.

Heartbreak?

She simply wanted to haggle for a better price.

"Martial Niece Zhou, this isn't my decision. These are the cooperation rules established long ago by the higher-ups of both sides. The prices are clearly marked and the rules are explicitly stated. A living Qi Refining level four Cultivator is worth twenty Spirit Stones, while a dead one is only worth half. If you don't believe me, you can go to the Shikui Sect yourself to ask for their prices."

At the mention of the Shikui Sect,

Zhou Guanlian couldn't help but tremble with fear.

That place was so eerie and terrifying that calling it a living hell wouldn't be an exaggeration.

"Fine, fine. I'm not going to that hellish place where people go in but never come out. Ten Spirit Stones it is!"

"Here, for you."

Hall Master Su Hongyun pursed her lips in satisfaction and placed ten Spirit Stones into Zhou Guanlian's palm.

"Martial Niece Zhou, tell me the truth. This Cauldron has only been in your hands for just over two months, yet he suddenly died. Does it have anything to do with Qin Yao's Cauldron?"

Hall Master Su Hongyun was the head of the Auction Hall.

She was responsible for auctioning Cauldrons to Hehuan Disciples and handling after-sales issues, so she moved around frequently.

She had heard a bit about the conflict that day—that Qin Yao's Cauldron had actually defeated Little Puppy, who was at the fourth level of Qi Refining, in a direct confrontation, even though Little Puppy was at the sixth level.

Although Little Puppy had been subjected to Zhou Guanlian's day and night plundering, causing his cultivation Foundation to be damaged,

The gap in their cultivation levels was still there. How could it have been such a one-sided defeat?

This was something Hall Master Su Hongyun found inconceivable.

At the mention of Gu Huan,

Zhou Guanlian immediately gnashed her teeth in anger.

A mere Cauldron had not only repeatedly rejected her kindness but had also turned around and ruined her own Cauldron. This was a debt she wouldn't let go of.

"Junior Martial Uncle Su, it's all because that useless ghost was worthless. His body was severely depleted, making his cultivation unstable, which is why he lost to that person and made me lose face."

Even when beating a dog, one should look at its master.

Gu Huan's overbearing actions had left Zhou Guanlian with no face.

Ruining Little Puppy's face was undoubtedly like slapping her in front of everyone.

"I see. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't stay to chat with you."

"Safe travels, Junior Martial Uncle Su. If you come across a good Cauldron next time, remember to give your martial niece priority!"

"Naturally," Hall Master Su Hongyun replied with a smile, departing from Hehuan Peak on her flying ship Magical Artifact along with the Utility Disciples and the corpse.

Some time later.

She landed on a remote hilltop and ordered the Utility Disciples to remove the bandages from the corpse's face.

As she looked closely, her pupils couldn't help but contract in shock.

"Such overbearing Spiritual Power fluctuations. This wasn't done by a Righteous Path Cultivation Technique, but by a powerful Demonic Path technique."

"If I remember correctly, Qin Yao's Cauldron was that Qingling Sect Cultivator, a member of the Righteous Path. Yet he used demonic means to injure someone after only two months."

Thinking of this,

Hall Master Su Hongyun's delicate body suddenly shuddered.

To be able to Cultivate a Demonic Technique to such a level in such a short time, Qin Yao's Cauldron was definitely no ordinary person; he possessed extremely high attainments in Demonic Path Cultivation Techniques.

"You two head back first. I have urgent business."

"Yes, Hall Master Su."

As soon as she finished speaking,

Hall Master Su Hongyun departed in a great hurry on her Magical Artifact.

Leaving the Utility Disciples to look at each other in bewilderment, the two could only work together to lift the corpse and rush toward the Auction Hall to complete their task as quickly as possible.

...

Hehuan Peak.

In between her Cultivation sessions, Gu Huan often fed the Purple Flood Dragon with his Essence Blood.

Since the consumed Essence Blood would recover every hour, leaving it unused was a waste, and he naturally hoped his Demonic Form would evolve further.

Influenced by its master, the Demonic Form's cultivation could not exceed the limit.

Thus, the Purple Flood Dragon's cultivation remained at the seventh level of Qi Refining, equal to Gu Huan's.

Of course.

Compared to two months ago,

Gu Huan's combat power had undoubtedly been significantly enhanced.

With the overbearing power of the Supreme Heavenly Demon Art and the assistance of the Purple Flood Dragon, he could easily defeat even an eighth-level Qi Refining Cultivator.

However,

The Hehuan Sect was full of experts, so he still couldn't be too flamboyant.

In particular, the Extreme Concealment Technique was only effective against Cultivators of the same realm. Once a powerhouse at the Foundation Establishment level or above appeared, his true cultivation level would have nowhere to hide, so he had to act cautiously.

At that moment,

A seductive female voice came from outside the Immortal Cave.

"Since this Senior Sister is gracing you with her presence, why haven't you come out to greet me?"

Hearing the voice, Gu Huan's eyes darkened. He knew who was outside; after chasing away a vicious dog, a wicked person had come.

The status of a Cauldron was lower than even that of a Utility Disciple, let alone a genuine Hehuan Disciple.

Without Qin Yao's presence, he couldn't afford to offend Zhou Guanlian.

As the stone door of the Immortal Cave opened,

A young woman with an enchanting appearance and supple, glowing skin stood there gracefully.

Gu Huan had no favorable impression of this woman and bowed respectfully, saying, "This lowly one greets Senior Sister Zhou. May I ask what brings you here?"

"Hmph, I'm here to make you pay for a life, of course."

"What?"

Gu Huan looked up in surprise, only to see Zhou Guanlian's playful smile, with no sign of taking action.

"Little Puppy is dead, and he died at your hands. So, I'm giving you two choices: one is a life for a life, and the other is to take his place as my Cauldron."

Zhou Guanlian twisted her snake-like waist as she slowly approached, her long white legs vaguely visible beneath her floral skirt. She finally stopped in front of Gu Huan, looking as if she had him completely under her thumb.

"Impossible. He wasn't dead when he left."

"That's right. But after returning to my Immortal Cave, he couldn't last more than a few days before he died."

Hearing this,

Gu Huan understood perfectly.

Little Puppy had clearly been plundered to death by her.

"He died in your Immortal Cave; what does that have to do with me?"

"I say it does, so it does! Who told you to ruin his face? Because of that, I could only plunder him while avoiding his face. I must claim this loss back from you."

As she finished speaking,

Zhou Guanlian licked her red lips, looking extremely flirtatious.

Her soft, boneless palm already reached Gu Huan's chest and began stroking it firmly.

In the next instant, the latter recoiled as if struck by lightning, leaving the former stunned on the spot with a face full of confusion.

"Are you repulsed by me?"

"Since Senior Sister already knows, why bother asking?"

Gu Huan spoke truthfully. Touching a Hehuan Enchantress like Zhou Guanlian would only bring misfortune.

"Hehe, stop kidding yourself. You stinking men are all the same. Once I lift my skirt and spread my legs, you'll all end up pouncing like lustful starved ghosts anyway," Zhou Guanlian sneered.

However, seeing Gu Huan remain unmoved, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

"Can your eyes really not accommodate me?"

"Please leave, Senior Sister. My ownership will be revealed in two months."

Gu Huan had looked into it.

If Qin Yao really met with an accident, his status as a Cauldron would remain unchanged, and he would be re-assigned to a new master.

"What if I want you right now?" Zhou Guanlian said with a dark expression. With the Sect Competition approaching, she naturally wanted to rank among the top thirty-two to obtain a foundation establishment pill.

Only by utilizing a Cauldron for plundering could she increase her cultivation in a short period of time.

With Little Puppy dead, she was even more determined to have Gu Huan.

"Why must you be so aggressive, Senior Sister?"

"So what if I'm aggressive? A mere Cauldron dares to keep making excuses? I'll ask you one last time: will you submit, or... die?"

Zhou Guanlian dropped her seductive facade, her eyes turning fierce and murderous as she waited for Gu Huan's response.