Chapter 395: Spirit Contract! Qingmu County! Hua Hua Taisui?! “This Poor Daoist, Cao Cao!”

“I am Ling Fengzi[1], a lone cultivator from Mount Qiyun in Donglin Prefecture. In February this year the White Marsh Demon Kingdom found me and invited me to join.

“Strictly speaking, I don’t know much about the White Marsh Demon Kingdom. My contacts with them are limited. All I know is that our direct superior is the Wrath Lord.

“The White Marsh Demon Kingdom doesn’t have strict requirements for its members, you only need to complete assigned tasks. Beyond that, the Wrath Lord never contacts me directly.”

Li Yanchu’s expression hardened. “What kind of background does this Wrath Lord have?”

Ling Fengzi explained, “I can’t see his true form. He wears a black robe and a bronze mask carved with an angry face.”

“Do you have any way to get me into the White Marsh Demon Kingdom?” Li Yanchu asked in a low voice.

Ling Fengzi blinked, scrutinized Li Yanchu closely, then said, “To be honest, the White Marsh Demon Kingdom only recruits demons, they don’t accept human cultivators.”

Li Yanchu smiled faintly. “Look again and tell me clearly, what kind of person do I appear to be?”

Daoist arts: Illusory Form!

Ling Fengzi’s demonic power condensed in his eyes as he probed carefully, then he couldn’t help but give a small exclamation. “Eh, Daoist Master, you’re actually of my fox clan?”

Li Yanchu sneered coldly, “I asked whether you can get me into the White Marsh Demon Kingdom.”

Seeing Li Yanchu’s tone turn hostile, Ling Fengzi hurried to explain, “Normally it would be impossible. But just recently Taixu Temple’s Celestial Maiden Huayang condensed Yang Spirit and held a grand ceremony inviting the righteous sects across the land.

“The Wrath Lord sent word, calling dozens of his subordinate demon clans to cause chaos in Xuzhou Prefecture. The Lion King will lead the force, and I was assigned as support. He promised a reward of Transformation Pills to those who succeed.

“Since you’re of the fox clan, Daoist Master, perhaps you could slip in during the operation and blend into the White Marsh Demon Kingdom.”

“Taixu Temple?” Li Yanchu frowned. “As a major Daoist sect, and now with a Yang Spirit seated within, wouldn’t going there be suicide?”

Taixu Temple was founded by Celestial Maiden Ziyun; most disciples were female. Though not as famous as Mount Mao or Mount Qingcheng, it was no pushover. Especially now, with a third-realm Yang Spirit cultivator stationed there, ordinary demons would be slaughtered in droves.

Going there would be pure suicide. Having top third-realm combat power, they were head and shoulders above those with none.

Taixu Temple was presently one of Daoism’s top sects.

Ling Fengzi hurried to explain, “The Wrath Lord only asked me to lead a raid to harass and kill common folk and create disturbance, not to attack Taixu Temple itself.”

Li Yanchu gave a short sigh. “You’ve spoken frankly and with apparent sincerity. But I don’t very much trust you. If you betray me at the last moment, I’ll have wasted my trip. Killing you both is simpler.”

Damn

! Ling Fengzi was shocked.

Are you even human?!

He quickly explained, “Daoist Master, this can be solved without trouble, no need to worry.”

“Hm?” Li Yanchu looked over.

“Spirit contract!” Hu Guang blurted, “I once studied this method in an ancient text. By surrendering your true spirit, you can be controlled by another, leaving your life and death entirely at the person’s whim.”

Li Yanchu was taken aback, and he shot Hu Guang a strange look.

This kind of thing wasn’t unfamiliar to him; he’d often seen it in web novels:

pet contracts

,

equal contracts

,

slave contracts

, and the like.

But in this world of cultivation, it was the first time he’d actually heard of such a thing.

Still... This Ling Fengzi... why in the world did he even learn something like that?

The orange cat beside him gave a cold snort and curled her lip.

“Hmph, how embarrassing.”

***

In Xuzhou Prefecture...

One of the four northern prefectures, it governed dozens of counties and cities with a population of several million.

Qingmu County was a major city on the border with Donglin Prefecture, and it was a land of steep mountains and rugged folk.

At this moment, two men and one cat arrived in Qingmu County, an unusual sight indeed. One was a handsome scholar carrying an ancient sword on his back. The other was a young Daoist priest, even more striking and refined, with a long blade hanging at his waist.

And following beside them was a sleek orange cat, graceful in gait and brimming with pride.

In terms of looks and bearing, the young Daoist seemed like an immortal descended to the mortal world, unmatched in poise. Yet most passersby’s eyes were drawn to the scholar instead.

Li Yanchu disliked attracting attention; he habitually used his Sun Veil to mask his heavenly aura and dampen his presence.

In Qingmu County, it was common to see wandering swordsmen wearing bamboo hats and long swords at their hips. Every so often, a beautiful Daoist nun in flowing robes would pass, causing quite a stir.

Taixu Temple itself was located right here in Qingmu County, thriving with worship and incense offerings.

After turning left and right through the streets, the two men and one cat arrived at a courtyard on the city’s western side.

The plaque above the gate read “

Mingyue Cottage

.”

The handsome scholar stepped forward and knocked. Soon, a servant led the group inside. Within was a refined estate with winding streams, arched bridges, and ornamental rocks, exuding luxury and elegance.

The master of Mingyue Cottage was a middle-aged Daoist with graying temples.

“Boundless Heavenly Venerable

,

greetings. I’m Shou Yi, and I’ve long awaited your arrival.”

His eyes gleamed faintly with divine light, his skin smooth and pale, and his demeanor radiated a quiet authority. He was clearly a Daoist of considerable cultivation.

After bowing, he led them through the courtyard until they reached the back wall.

Daoist Shou Yi waved his hand, and the wall shimmered like rippling water, slowly dissolving into a grand portal. He pushed it open and led the group through.

Beyond the door lay a spacious chamber filled with curling sandalwood smoke and elegantly arranged furnishings.

Seven or eight grotesque-looking demons were already waiting there. When they saw Ling Fengzi enter, they quickly rose to bow.

“Greetings, my lord!”

Ling Fengzi, being a powerful demon with a local reputation, commanded their respect.

Just then, Li Yanchu’s eyes glimmered with spiritual light; every one of those demons was steeped in murderous qi and bloody resentment.

As for Daoist Shou Yi... he was no human either, but a crane demon in human form, suppressing his demonic aura with a jade pendant at his waist.

Daoist Shou Yi entered the room, cupped his hands, and said respectfully, “There is a powerful cultivator guarding this city. If any demonic aura leaks out, Taixu Temple will immediately sense it. Therefore, I must ask all fellow Daoists to remain here and await the right moment.

“The celebration for Celestial Maiden Huayang will take place in three days. When that time comes, Taixu Temple’s attention will be occupied, and you may then carry out your task.”

After speaking, Daoist Shou Yi bowed once more and took his leave.

The moment his presence, filled with Daoist spiritual energy, departed, the room seemed to grow colder and darker, heavy with a suffocating demonic miasma.

The demons exchanged wary glances. Then a leopard spirit stepped forward, bowing slightly.

“Senior Ling Fengzi, I’m Huahua Taisui[2]. Are there any further instructions for this mission...?”

Before he could finish his sentence, a massive, vicious hand smashed down, instantly shattering his head into a pulp. Blood splattered in all directions, spattering across the other demons, whose expressions turned ashen.

“A mere leopard spirit dares to call itself

Taisui

!?” Li Yanchu’s cold voice cut through the air like thunder.

His sheer brute strength left everyone stunned.

A wolf demon off to the side secretly swallowed hard.

Just what kind of wolf is this fellow? How can he be this fierce!?

A rabbit demon beside him stared wide-eyed, utterly baffled as to how their supposedly meek race had produced such a monstrously powerful cultivator.

Li Yanchu’s Illusory Form made his aura indistinguishable from theirs.

Regardless of what other arts he might possess, just that raw, terrifying physical power alone was enough to mark him as a dominant great demon in his own right. Thus, the gathered demons instantly lost their nerve.

Ling Fengzi hadn’t expected Li Yanchu to strike so suddenly. He quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.

“This is a newly joined fellow Daoist, Cao Cao[3]. His cultivation surpasses even my own, his potential is limitless.”

Cao Cao was the Daoist alias Li Yanchu had instructed Ling Fengzi to use for him.

1. 凌 (Líng) suggests soaring, rising above, or overcoming, conveying ambition and freedom. 风 (Fēng), meaning wind, symbolizes speed, change, and an unrestrained spirit. The suffix 子 (Zǐ) is a traditional marker for male names, historically associated with scholars or gentlemen, adding an elegant, refined tone.

In my opinion, 凌风子 can be interpreted as “a man who soars with the wind” or “one who rises above like the wind,” evoking freedom, independence, and nobility of spirit. ☜

2. Taisui refers to the Grand Duke Jupiter in Chinese astrology, a concept personified as a deity who oversees the affairs of a particular year. The 12-year orbital cycle of Jupiter corresponds to the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac animals, and the position of Taisui at any given time is linked to the zodiac sign of that year.

“Huahua Taisui” is a four-character Chinese idiom used to describe the elite class who do not engage in productive work and devote themselves entirely to pleasure. Its core meaning has two dimensions: first, it refers to officials and local strongmen who dress lavishly but indulge in wine, women, and wealth; second, it uses the ominous imagery of “Taisui” to metaphorically convey the tyrannical and self-indulgent nature of this group. The idiom first appeared in the Yuan dynasty Zaju play Luzhai Lang by Guan Hanqing, and later works such as the Ming dynasty Water Margin further expanded its usage. In terms of semantic similarity, terms like “playboy” or “dandy” are closely related in meaning. ☜

3. Cao Cao, courtesy name Mengde, was a Chinese statesman, warlord, and poet who rose to power during the end of the Han dynasty, ultimately taking effective control of the Han central government. ☜