Chapter 8: Li Mao's Sneak Attack

Buzz!

The Evil-Dispelling Talisman suddenly burst forth with golden light, igniting a flame of gold. At once, a cool, refreshing energy descended like a waterfall from the crown of her head, flooding her entire body. Jiang Min felt her whole self clear and invigorated; all the discomfort from before vanished. Yet her mind remained restless, so she pulled out a Tranquility Talisman, channeled her spiritual power into it, and swiftly recited:

“No greed, no anger, no ignorance, no confusion. My path is clear; thoughts extinguished, mind purified.”

Her spirit felt as though washed by clear water, instantly tranquil and free from agitation.

“It really works!” Jiang Min beamed with delight.

Now, she could safely cultivate using the demon core embryos without worry.

“Three Evil-Dispelling Talismans left, three Tranquility Talismans—enough for a while. Next time, I’ll buy more.”

“If only I could draw my own talismans...” Jiang Min sighed regretfully. Before learning to inscribe talismans, she would first have to master the fundamental cloud script, which was as complex as the heavenly books—a process that would take years. Besides, only outer sect disciples had the privilege to study spiritual talismans in the Hall of Transmission. She’d better focus first on reaching the fourth level of Qi Refinement before considering anything else.

“At this rate, spirit stones are spent so quickly!” Cultivation truly required wealth, companions, methods, and land—of which she had none.

Jiang Min silently encouraged herself: “It’s alright. I don’t have them now, but if I work hard, I’ll have them one day!”

No matter whether that peachwood branch was dead or alive.

As long as she lived, she would not give up on becoming stronger.

Before leaving the marketplace, she visited a tavern, greased the palms of some staff, and managed to obtain a pile of unwanted demon core embryos.

This time, she’d scavenged quite a lot from the bloody refuse. Taking them back would surely draw attention, so Jiang Min gritted her teeth and spent two lower-grade spirit stones to buy the cheapest universe pouch—a storage artifact capable of holding many items. Though inexpensive, it didn’t hold much, but it would suffice for now.

And so—

Of the twenty spirit stones she’d just received, she spent ten in one go, leaving only ten behind.

Her pass token would expire the next day, requiring two more spirit stones to purchase a new one.

“From here on, I’ll only spend spirit stones on talismans, fasting pills, and favors. Otherwise, after buying the pass token, only eight stones remain—not enough to last a year.”

Counting on her fingers, Jiang Min made her way toward the ferry point at Purple Cloud Mountain.

“I heard outer sect disciples receive much more allowance. Once I get back, I must focus on cultivating and strive to... mmph!”

Passing a narrow alley,

Suddenly,

A hand shot out from behind her with blinding speed, covering her mouth and swiftly dragging her into the alley.

Jiang Min’s eyes widened in shock, wanting to cry out, but the person’s grip over her mouth and nose was tight, allowing no sound but muffled whimpers from her throat.

She could tell the person was tall and sturdy, with a fat, rough hand covering her mouth—most likely that chubby Li Mao. Even if it wasn’t him, it was probably someone acting on his orders.

How dare he attack her in the marketplace? This was within the sect’s boundaries, with Foundation Establishment cultivators patrolling and maintaining order at all times, and crowds everywhere—how could he dare?!

Clearly prepared, the man deftly navigated the winding alleys, avoiding all pedestrians and patrols, expertly slipping through deserted paths until he led her out of the marketplace and toward the mountain forest.

“Mmm! Mmm!”

One hand tightly covered Jiang Min’s mouth and nose, while the other locked her upper body, rendering her arms immobile. Though she was now at the first level of Qi Refinement, much stronger than before, her struggles were futile; the captor’s arms were like stone, unmoving.

Thankfully, cultivation had taught her to hold her breath; otherwise, she would have suffocated before reaching their destination. Yet, pinned like this, she couldn’t recite any incantation, nor reach the talismans tucked in her robe.

She struggled all the way,

Ultimately dragged into a remote, primeval forest.

Her captor continued deeper, finally arriving at a crevice shrouded by towering trees. The chasm was deep, flanked by sheer cliffs, its entrance blocked by trees with no escape behind.

A perfect spot for murder and burial.

Moreover, as Jiang Min was brought into the chasm, she sensed a subtle fluctuation of spiritual energy—it was an array. Though she knew little about formations, she could tell the man had set up a barrier here, likely to conceal any disturbance.

With such thorough preparation, how could she escape?

Throughout her struggles, Jiang Min pondered this question.

“Heh! I underestimated you—a year apart and you’ve reached the first level of Qi Refinement. I must deal with you swiftly to avoid future trouble.”

Perhaps reassured by the secluded location and the protective array, the man finally spoke, dropping all pretense.

Jiang Min listened.

Who else could that voice belong to but Li Mao?

“Die!”

Li Mao wasted no words. He released his grip from Jiang Min’s mouth and reached to his waist for a dagger, intending to sever her head with one stroke. In his eyes, a weak girl—even at the first level of Qi Refinement—did not warrant the use of a lower-grade spiritual weapon.

As Li Mao freed his right hand, the strength on his right side inevitably slackened. Jiang Min, who had been waiting for this moment, seized the opening, her expression hardening. She wrenched herself free to that side, swinging her left elbow backward to strike Li Mao’s chest with force.

“Ugh!”

Li Mao grunted from the blow, not expecting Jiang Min to exploit his vulnerability during the act of drawing his dagger. He abandoned the weapon to try and regain control, but Jiang Min slipped from his grasp like an agile eel, bent low, and escaped his hold. She immediately reached into the cloth pouch at her waist, grabbing a handful and flinging it at Li Mao’s face, scattering a cloud of icy gray-white powder.

“Ah!”

Li Mao failed to close his eyes in time; the chill powder settled into his eyes, feeling as though thousands of icy needles stabbed them. The pain was intense, and cold energy seeped in.

He clutched his eyes in agony, howling as torment consumed his attention.

Nether Sand!

This wretched girl actually carried Nether Sand!

Li Mao, familiar with the materials from his chores at the Pill Refining Hall, recognized Nether Sand—a substance used in both pill and artifact forging. It contained nether energy, dangerous if ingested or exposed to the eyes, and its removal was arduous.

He had to kill this girl quickly and seek help; any delay could render him blind.

Enduring the pain, Li Mao activated his spiritual sense, took a black axe from his universe pouch—a lower-grade spiritual weapon acquired through much effort. With it, he could easily cleave Jiang Min in two.

Even with his vision impaired, he could sense Jiang Min’s position thanks to his Qi Refinement spiritual sense. He immediately infused his axe with spiritual power and swung it toward her.

The moment Jiang Min threw the Nether Sand, she reached for the talismans hidden in her robe, intending to use the newly purchased ones against Li Mao. But once she saw which talisman she had grabbed—the Thunder Talisman—she realized its incantation was lengthy, with hundreds of words, and she had no time to recite it. Instead, she searched for the Fire Sword Talisman, whose spell was much shorter. Yet, in that moment, Li Mao swung his black axe at her, spiritual light shimmering on its blade.

“A spiritual weapon?!”

Jiang Min’s heart jolted. She dodged, the axe’s edge barely grazing her side, its sharp aura stinging her cheek.

Seeing Li Mao wield a spiritual weapon, Jiang Min realized that if not for the Nether Sand blinding him, the axe would have already split her in two. The danger now seemed even more pressing. She hastily rummaged through her talismans, finally locating the Fire Sword Talisman amidst the chaos.

Li Mao, failing with his initial strike, relied on spiritual sense to swing at her again. Jiang Min rolled aside, narrowly avoiding the axe, and the rest of her talismans scattered across the ground.

Unexpectedly, Li Mao shifted his stance, employing a mysterious footwork. His bulky frame moved nimbly as he lunged for her. Even blinded, he was agile. Jiang Min, still on the ground after rolling, couldn’t escape in time and was tackled.

Li Mao raised the black axe, now glowing with spiritual energy, and snarled with cold fury:

“Trying to run? I’ll cut you down!”