Chapter 565: Wang Dashi! Huangshi Village! Cannibalistic Demons Must Not Be Spared! Two New Disciples!

The elder Daoist in purple beside him was none other than Celestial Master Zhao, one of the Four Celestial Masters of Mount Longhu. Entrusted by many, he had come to the Shanhai Secret Realm to capture Prince Qing.

Passing through this area, he sensed pervasive demonic qi. Thus, he descended through the clouds to intervene.

Unexpectedly, he encountered this scene.

Celestial Master Zhao smiled and said, “You’re clever, boy. And you, what’s your problem? Did a Daoist steal your rice or something?”

He first praised the black-clad boy, Xu Shiqi[1], then scolded the burly boy with a stern face.

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

“Daoist Master, our village has no Daoists, no one’s stolen our rice, and we don’t even have rice,” the burly boy replied earnestly.

Speechless, Celestial Master Zhao blinked. He hadn’t expected such a response, and a twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“This is my brother Wang Dashi, he’s sixteen years old this year. Look at his strength, his size! In the future, he can serve tea, run errands, sweep the floor for you, master, no problem at all!” Xu Shiqi, the black-clad boy, said with a smile.

Li Yanchu chuckled silently. “You’re quick to claim me as your master, but I never said I’d take you.”

He just found the two boys interesting, but he didn’t actually want to accept them as disciples.

“Master, you are a Daoist immortal capable of traversing heaven and earth, slaying demons and suppressing evil! It is a blessing earned over three lifetimes, or rather, eight lifetimes, that we can follow you!”

“Master, where are you going? I know Gu’ao Peak very well, I can guide you,” Xu Shiqi added, implicitly acknowledging the master-disciple relationship.

Then, the burly boy suddenly realized something. He cupped his fists to the two and ran straight to the young bride.

The bride, weak and immobile, couldn’t move. Meanwhile, the burly boy scratched his head in frustration.

“Dashi, why are you so anxious? The master is a young immortal; rescuing Xiaocui will be effortless,” Xu Shiqi said calmly.

Li Yanchu glanced at him and approached the young bride. She was about fourteen or fifteen, with a distinctive appearance. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, face pale, and a shroud of demonic qi surrounded her; she had clearly been under a spell.

Then, Li Yanchu cast a surge of his power into her body. Instantly, she regained her spirit and strength in her limbs.

The burly boy, Wang Dashi, lit up. “Xiaocui, are you alright?”

Xiaocui shook her head, overjoyed. “I’m fine now.”

The young couple wept with relief and embraced. Then Wang Dashi helped Xiaocui pay respects to Li Yanchu.

“Thank you, Daoist Master, thank you, immortal! Thank you, immortal!” he said, full of gratitude.

“No need to thank me, it was nothing,” Li Yanchu replied lightly.

“Master, where are you going? I can guide you,” Xu Shiqi said, stepping closer.

“You remind me of a friend. About discipleship, we’ll talk later. Are there any demons troubling your village? I can deal with them,” Li Yanchu said calmly.

Xu Shiqi’s eyes lit up. He continued, “On Gu’ao Peak, the wolf demon Shi Qingping is causing trouble. He has many demons under him that eat people. We hope you, Master, can eliminate them as well.

“Do you know where their lairs are?” Li Yanchu asked.

“Of course! I will take you there immediately, Master!” Xu Shiqi said excitedly.

The wolf demon Shi Qingping had dozens of minor demons under him.

But with Shi Qingping himself already slain by this young Daoist with a single strike, handling the smaller demons was naturally effortless.

“Daoist Master Li, we still have official matters to attend to,” Celestial Master Zhao reminded him.

“No matter. I’ve dealt with those demons casually. For them, perhaps the days ahead will be peaceful,” Li Yanchu replied with a faint smile.

Li Yanchu followed Xu Shiqi and the others back to Huangshi Village.

When the elders of Huangshi Village saw Xu Shiqi and Wang Dashi carrying the rescued bride back, their faces immediately darkened.

“Xu Shiqi! You little bastard! You’ve rescued Xiaocui, but won’t Shi Qingping slaughter the village now?!” an old man shouted angrily.

His worry was not unfounded; Shi Qingping had indeed intended to do just that.

“Elder Wang, my Master is a mighty immortal who slays demons! That wolf demon Shi Qingping has already been executed!” Xu Shiqi said proudly.

“Your master? Where did you find such tricksters? Don’t let yourself be fooled! That wolf demon’s power is profound, how could he be killed so easily?” the elder said sternly.

“The wolf demon’s corpse is not far ahead. If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself! Move along, don’t make trouble!”

Xu Shiqi ignored the elder and led his Master further into the village.

Li Yanchu exchanged a glance with Celestial Master Zhao, both of them showing complex expressions. Living under the constant threat of demons, sometimes even resisting was a mistake.

From initial disbelief to finally sending able-bodied villagers to verify the wolf demon’s corpse, the people finally believed that there truly was a young immortal who descended to exterminate demons!

The villagers of Huangshi were endlessly grateful to Li Yanchu and the others.

Li Yanchu paused briefly in the village, then turned to Celestial Master Zhao and said, “Celestial Master, you wait here. I’ll be back shortly.”

Hearing this, Celestial Master Zhao nodded slightly. Li Yanchu’s aura of killing intent was exactly what he valued.

Then, Li Yanchu lifted the black-clad Xu Shiqi by the waist. He then activated his Cloud-Riding Immortal Physique before soaring into the sky.

Witnessing this, everyone knelt, stunned by the sight.

Meanwhile, Xu Shiqi screamed wildly, tears streaming down his face. Even the calmest boy could help but panic the first time he flew into the sky!

Following Xu Shiqi’s directions, Li Yanchu arrived at the lair of the wolf demon Shi Qingping.

Under Qi Sight, it was clear: the place was shrouded in bloody murderous qi, with resentful spirits entwined.

Huangshi Village was not small, with several thousand people. The Wuzhou region also encompassed many neighboring villages. No one knew how many had already been devoured by demons!

“Who dares trespass in the mountain god’s lair?!” two demonic guards shouted.

Li Yanchu showed no expression as his Jiaoslayer slipped a cun from its sheath. Then, a sharp force immediately cleaved the two minor demons in half!

He then strode into the lair with Xu Shiqi. Inside, the ground was littered with white bones, which belonged to both animal and human. The stench was overpowering.

The lair’s demons consisted of wild boars, deer, wolves, rats, and the like. All were enshrouded in bloody murderous qi. Cannibalistic demons must not be left alive!

Li Yanchu waved his hand, unleashing divine fire; countless fire crows instantly engulfed the demons. In moments, they were reduced to ashes.

Xu Shiqi stared in astonishment at Li Yanchu’s display. Back in the village, he insisted that Li Yanchu accept him as a disciple and dragged the burly Wang Dashi along.

“Master, if you accept us, we too can gain the ability to slay demons, protecting the common people. Wouldn’t that also count as your merit?” Xu Shiqi said.

Li Yanchu paused, surprised. He hadn’t considered it that way.

Still, taking disciples felt strange; he was young himself, and to take them now would feel almost like having children at his age.

1. 十七 Shiqi literally means seventeen. ☜