Chapter 71: One of the Conquerable Heroines

Chu Huaizhou watched from afar, dumbfounded.

What… what’s happening? Do I have the power to speak things into existence?

The situation unfolded almost exactly as he’d predicted, like the game developers had gone all out. Glancing around, no one else was nearby except his group.

If this were the Sun-Moon Temple’s demonic cultivators instead of the Youming Sect, these two Wanfa Immortal Sect cultivators would already be kneeling, forced into…

He looked down at Bai Li in his arms, her amber eyes calm, paws resting quietly, as if she’d foreseen this. Then he glanced at Xia Baiqian, who feigned a startled gasp, pressing her whole body against him.

“Eek, they’re so scary! That merchant has late Golden Core cultivation—Master, protect me!”

Classic Xia Baiqian. She likely sensed something was off from the start. Seeing his disbelief, she probably exaggerated to save his face.

Truly Master’s little padded jacket—if only she didn’t cling so tightly.

Chu Huaizhou felt a twinge of embarrassment. He silently extended his divine sense to monitor the surroundings, amplifying the Nine Luminaries Abyss Ring to its maximum. With two Great Vehicle cultivators beside him, he hadn’t bothered using his divine sense earlier, just watching the trio’s skirmish.

He’d been careless, missing Zhao Degui’s hidden cultivation.

Touching his forehead, a purple-black mark appeared, spreading to his dantian. Once it fully covered, he sighed in relief, grinning at the gray-robed cultivators.

“Impressive, right? Told you my disguise was the way to go, or you’d be dead. I’ve sealed her meridians with a secret art—she’s no threat now. Take her back unharmed.”

The lead gray-robed cultivator gave an awkward, high-pitched laugh.
“Hey, Zhao Deacon’s tricks are unmatched! This mid-Golden Core Wanfa girl will be a great tonic for the Mysterious Demon Pill!”

Zhao Degui, pleased at being called cunning, nodded.
“Same old rules—take these people. I’ll round up another batch.”

The gray-robed cultivator scratched his head.
“Deacon Zhao, Wanfa’s already investigating. Isn’t this getting risky…?”

Zhao Degui: “Don’t meddle. Just do your job. It’s a special time.”

Gray-robed cultivator: “Alright… fine!”

Zhao Degui checked a pill from his robes, revealing the caravan was just a front to deliver people to the Youming Sect.

Even rabbits don’t eat near their burrows. Is the sect plotting something big at their base?

Even Wanfa Immortal Sect was involved.

This worked in Chu’s favor. With this setup, these captives were surely headed to the Youming Sect’s headquarters. Following them could protect the Wanfa cultivators—his childhood friends, like sisters—and infiltrate the sect.

Chu Huaizhou exchanged a glance with Bai Li.
“Bai Li, it’s on you.”

“Got it~”

Xia Baiqian, hearing their exchange, kept her sweet smile but inwardly rolled her eyes.

‘Got it~’? What’s with the cutesy act, you sly fox?

These past days, with Senior Sister Leng absent, she’d hoped to get closer to Master—her rightful “dao companion.” But Bai Li kept hogging his arms! If not for worrying about Master’s opinion, she’d have unleashed gu insects to scare her off.

Bai Li cast an illusion and memory-altering spell, boldly joining the captive caravan. No one sensed anything amiss, assuming Chu’s group of two humans and one demon, with low cultivation, had always been among them, easily subdued.

Clop, clop—

Escorted by Youming Sect cultivators, Chu’s group entered a cave through a hidden, array-shielded entrance in the Nine Nether Lands. The sprawling tunnels interconnected like an ant nest, damp air condensing into droplets along stone walls.

Here, righteous cultivators’ spells were heavily suppressed—a true demonic lair.

“We’re done for! They’re going to refine us into human pills!”

A small merchant sobbed, not daring to stop, fearing death for slowing down.

“Hah, death? That’d be easy. I’m in debt even after soul projection, chased by brothel enforcers. Doesn’t matter.”

The woman betrayed by the scholar walked ahead, resigned.

The scholar, trembling and biting his nails, tripped over roots or fell flat every few steps.

The Wanfa female cultivator was carried by Bai Li’s two tails and Xia Baiqian, like a stretcher. The male cultivator was held by another Qi Refining captive.

The cave’s yin aura was so thick that non-Youming Sect cultivators were suppressed, making it hard for a Qi Refining cultivator to carry a person.

After an unknown time, the female cultivator stirred, eyes misty from exhaustion or just waking.

“Where… am I?”

Chu Huaizhou, nearby, met her gaze and inexplicably wanted to greet her.
“Yo, you’re awake. Surgery was a success.”

She blinked, stunned, then recalled the fight, her pupils contracting as she tried to rise. But dizziness and weakness sent her collapsing toward Chu.

Xia Baiqian, frowning, darted between them, catching her instead. The female cultivator, startled by her speed, had no time for details in this environment.

Looking around, she saw the sprawling tunnels and familiar caravan captives, with gray-robed demonic cultivators ahead and behind. The situation was clear.

She, Wanfa Immortal Sect’s inner sect senior sister, seventh branch true disciple, favored by Sect Leader Xu Mengdie to become a true disciple after the Sacred China Secret Realm—Cheng Qingning, mid-Golden Core!

Of course, Chu Huaizhou knew her name instantly and would’ve gasped.

She was a conquerable heroine in the game Black Abyss!