Chapter 75: Surrender Meow

Hundreds of ragged mortals and low-tier cultivators were herded together like livestock, crammed in the cave’s center. On a high platform ahead, a short, hunchbacked figure with eerie green eyes surveyed the scene. His green robe glowed faintly in the dim cave, a jade-like snake with twisted patterns coiled around his neck, exuding Transformation-stage aura.

“Hmm?”

Though Cheng Qingning hadn’t regained control of her spiritual energy, she recognized the robe’s significance and the figure it represented. It was likely the infamous “Green-Eyed Ancestor”! Her heart nearly stopped, her face paling as cold sweat soaked her back.

On Wanfa Immortal Sect’s wanted list, the Green-Eyed Ancestor ranked high, notorious for sacrificing cultivators’ blood for demonic arts. Over a hundred cultivators, including Nascent Soul and even Transformation-stage experts, had perished by his hand. Even her master, usually gentle, showed rare fear when mentioning him.

Why is he here?! Wasn’t this supposed to be a Youming Sect branch? How could a terrifying Transformation-stage demonic cultivator appear before they even reached the inner sanctum? Her master had warned that against such a foe, no thought of fighting should arise—they were on a different level. Flee. Use every means to escape.

Cheng Qingning wished she could slap her past self for entering this cursed cave. Instinctively, she reached for the life-saving Void-Breaking Talisman from her master. But as her sweat-soaked hand clutched it, she remembered—she hadn’t recovered her spiritual energy! A Transformation-stage cultivator’s soul could roam freely, its divine sense terrifyingly potent. In this dark cave, every move was under his scrutiny, inescapable.

Cheng Qingning, in her Wanfa Immortal Sect robe, drew his attention instantly within his divine sense’s range.
“What’s this? A little rat with some fight left? Who’s in charge of this group? They didn’t clean up properly.”

The Green-Eyed Ancestor’s shrill voice echoed, followed by a crushing pressure enveloping Cheng Qingning. In a mere moment, before she could regret not giving the talisman to Ye Feng, she collapsed.
“Damn… it…”

She tried to resist, but her body felt submerged in a deep sea, crushed by pressure from all sides, unable to breathe. Let alone stand, her words squeezed through gritted teeth. The Void-Breaking Talisman slipped from her hand, floating like a feather, unaffected by the pressure, into Chu Huaizhou’s hand.

Chu met the Green-Eyed Ancestor’s gaze without a trace of guilt.
“Bro, a little Transformation-stage cultivator acting cocky? Tired of living, huh?”

“Heh, still talking? Then pay the price.”

Chu’s eyes sharpened, raising the hand holding the talisman.
“Surrender meow, I’ll give you the talisman!”

Xia Baiqian: …
Bai Li: …

It wasn’t that Chu didn’t want to pop a pill and end him. His goal was infiltrating the Youming Sect’s core, confronting the Great Vehicle demonic cultivator, looting treasures, and seeking cures for his condition. Now wasn’t the time to reveal himself. He’d endure for now.

Perhaps because this was the Youming Sect’s headquarters, everything under control, or maybe Chu’s words amused him, the Green-Eyed Ancestor didn’t crush him. Instead, he chuckled, beckoning the talisman to his hand with a flick.

Xia Baiqian and Bai Li shook their heads regretfully, thinking if this guy dared make Master kneel, his life would end brutally. Even without kneeling, his words clearly meant to humiliate Master. Silently, they agreed to seize an opportunity to eliminate him.

Oblivious to his peril, the Green-Eyed Ancestor rambled, eyeing the exquisite talisman greedily. What a prize—a Transformation-stage talisman. If activated, even he might not stop it. It could serve as his own trump card. A talisman of this caliber meant the girl was likely a true disciple of Wanfa Immortal Sect. What luck for the Youming Sect! How could they lose now? Who could stop their rise?

Fearing others might covet it, he tucked the talisman into his robe, grinning wickedly.
“Jie jie jie, who’s leading this group? Have them see me—I’ll reward them.”

His gaze met Chu’s again, stroking the snake and nodding.
“Not bad, kid. You know your place, though it’s a pity you’re from Tianyuan Sword Sect. For your cooperation, I’ll assign you to Pit One—quick death… no, I mean, a painless altar.”

Xu Liangcai, trailing behind, couldn’t see clearly but felt the terrifying Transformation-stage pressure. His beloved Senior Sister was crushed by it, her life-saving talisman falling to the Tianyuan Sword Sect kid. Yet he didn’t activate it immediately!

Xu Liangcai’s disgust was unmasked, his disdain for Ye Feng peaking. Senior Sister had explained the talisman’s power—it could’ve saved them if used then. Not only did Ye Feng not use it, he handed it to the demonic cultivator! What’s in his head?

Did he know the talisman only worked in stable space, useless for Cheng Qingning under the pressure, so he didn’t bother? What a coward! Even if Ye Feng didn’t value his life, Xu Liangcai did. Couldn’t he have used it to save himself? Such a simple task botched—a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator probably propped up by pills. The Sword Immortal’s disciple? Pfft, what a blind choice.