Chapter 580: Untrustworthy are the Repetitive! The Tablet’s Text! The Second Daoist! Dog Demon Blocks the Way! Enchantment!

Minghe was taken aback. “Daoist Li... what are you doing?”

This tablet possessed intelligence; it was a special divine artifact refined by the Golden-Winged Roc and knew many secrets. Keeping it nearby would be a huge boon!

“I despise the fickle and indecisive. This tablet’s gaze flickers; it isn’t trustworthy. Better to cut it down with one strike than be misled into error,” Li Yanchu said firmly.

He was clear in his thinking: within a secret realm or blessed land, artifacts can be used, elixirs consumed, and cultivation resources leveraged.

But something with intelligence must be treated with caution!

This tablet had already claimed two identities in less than half a day; first Daoist Tiansong, then the refined stone of the Golden-Winged Roc.

Li Yanchu felt uneasy; he decided to resolve it cleanly with a single strike.

“Your resolve is admirable, fellow Daoist!” Minghe said after a brief silence.

Li Yanchu only smiled faintly, then he and Minghe set off toward Shituo City. With their speed, they soon arrived outside the city.

***

Within the stone walls of the Shanhai Secret Realm, a tablet engraved with the words

Shanhai Secret Realm

slowly appeared.

But it looked partly insubstantial, half-illusory. Its body shimmered with light, though it could no longer speak.

Li Yanchu’s strike had not destroyed it entirely, he had severed only one of its physical shells.

Just as forest beasts could refine themselves into spirits, stones could likewise be awakened. Within this stone was a true spirit, hidden within the stone’s body.

From now on, however, the tablet of the Shanhai Secret Realm would likely disappear for a time.

On the tablet, a passage of writing appeared, “

Failed again! This young Daoist is far too cautious; any slight disagreement and he lashes out. He’s not even acting like a proper person!

“

Finally, I met someone who could take me away... and yet, failed again! At this rate, who knows how many more years I’ll have to wait, accumulating spiritual energy just to escape!

“

It’s all that last Daoist, called Xuancheng. He couldn’t fight as well as this one, but that dog really knew how to deceive! Promised me high returns, doubling every year, tricked me out of hundreds of years’ worth of spiritual essence. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be in such a passive position this time...

“

Next time, I’ll go with a monk, I don’t want to deal with these arrogant types again...”

The writing on the tablet was scattered and incoherent, expressing its anger and frustration.

But this time, it could no longer speak, gradually falling silent...

***

In front of Shituo City, Minghe whispered, “Fellow Daoist Li, shouldn’t you change your form?”

Li Yanchu smiled faintly. “I have an illusion spell. These little demons can’t see through it.”

In response, Minghe nodded.

Sure enough, when the two reached the city gates, a hulking dog demon appeared, bellowing at them, “Stop right there!”

Minghe’s heart sank. Could this dog demon see through something?

The previous blue-robed man had been hunted by these two demons and disappeared; he was most likely dead.

Minghe wasn’t afraid to act here, but if she revealed herself, entering further would become far more difficult.

Li Yanchu, however, remained calm. “No choice... let’s deal with this dog demon first.”

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

He smiled faintly at the dog demon. “What’s the matter?”

The dog demon approached with a stern expression, scrutinizing Li Yanchu up and down, then glancing at Minghe beside him.

Minghe’s figure was slender, her face beautiful. Though not as striking as her true form, she still appeared as a beautiful fox-woman.

The dog demon gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist, then suddenly grinned. “Sir, you’ve really done our dog clan proud! Where did you manage to get such a beautiful fox girl?”

Li Yanchu’s mouth twitched. He suddenly regretted using the Illusory Form.

This technique showed a form based on the observer: humans would see a human, ghosts would see a ghost, demons would see a demon. The dog demon had obviously mistaken him for one of its own kind.

Suppressing his urge to draw his blade and kill the brat, Li Yanchu smiled lightly. “Naturally, one must have special talents.”

The dog demon froze, then assumed a humble, inquisitive posture.“Sir, what talent?”

But Li Yanchu gave no answer.

At that moment, another demon approached, its armor even brighter than the dog demon’s. It had a huge pig-like head, with drool dripping from its mouth.

Seeing the beautiful Minghe, especially the large tail swaying behind her, its eyes glinted. “Heh, where did such a beautiful fox demon come from?”

The dog demon immediately bowed low, licking the pig demon’s feet. “Greetings, sir.”

The pig demon nodded slightly, ignoring the dog demon. It was obvious this one held a higher rank than the dog demon.

“I’m asking you a question!” The pig demon said arrogantly.

Normally, when Li Yanchu swung his blade at small demons like these, at least ten of them would fall dead; but here they were, still putting on airs in front of him.

Li Yanchu suddenly felt a pang of regret. With the Golden Radiance Crown at his disposal, there was really no need to use this Illusory Form; wasn’t he just asking for trouble?

He was about to speak when the dog demon shoved him.

“The lord is talking to you! Can’t you hear?!”

Earlier, the dog demon had at least a semblance of civility, but now it acted like a sycophant, glaring viciously at Li Yanchu.

“I... am merely accompanying my husband into the city to visit relatives,” Minghe said, abandoning her usual cool demeanor and speaking seductively.

The pig demon’s eyes went wide, and drool began to trickle from its mouth.

“Young lady, you’re exceptionally beautiful! What good will come of following this man? Look at his face; how can it compare to my fine looks?” The pig demon pointed proudly to its massive pig head and bristling mane.

“Exactly, exactly! The lord is mighty and imposing! You’d do better to follow us!” the dog demon chimed in.

The pig demon straightened its back proudly.

“My lord flatters me. I’m nothing more than a frail woman of no particular beauty, hardly worthy of your notice. I beg you, my lord, to show mercy and allow my husband and me to enter the city,” Minghe said with a smile.

It was strange; this pig demon looked greedy, ready to seize her the next moment. Yet after Minghe spoke, its eyes went blank, and it chuckled merrily. “Alright, alright, if you insist, then go ahead inside!”

With the pig demon yielding, the dog demon couldn’t really protest, though it looked slightly disappointed.

That fox-girl figure was irresistible, especially the large tail, swaying behind her... it could almost knock someone’s senses loose.If she followed the Lord, she might at least get a taste of soup while he feasted on meat, but now... What a pity...

Li Yanchu couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. Why on earth was he taking this nonsense seriously?

Still, he kept his expression calm, smiled faintly, and glanced at Minghe.

This celestial maiden-like figure actually knew the enchantment technique; the pig demon’s blank gaze made that clear.

Interesting.

Li Yanchu smirked.

***

The two of them entered the city smoothly.

“Your enchantment technique is quite advanced... are you truly a fox demon?” Li Yanchu asked.

“You flatter me, fellow Daoist. But yes, I did learn this enchantment technique from the Qingqiu foxes, it already carries a third of divine intent,” Minghe replied lightly, smiling.