PID Chapter 63

(4/5)
Extra long chapter ~

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When the words “kill him” came out of Fenxiu’s mouth, Xiao Mo’s vigilance instantly peaked. Only after hearing the entire passage did he realize Fenxiu had no intention of moving against Chu Jinglan for now, and he slightly relaxed.

 

For someone with Chu Jinglan’s talent, if not born in a major sect, it would indeed be very dangerous. Even in a major sect, while enjoying benefits, one must also guard against various enemies of the sect. There was no easy path.

 

In the upper realm, each sect had extra protection for their geniuses because no one could guarantee they would grow up smoothly. On the path of pursuing the great Dao, not a few geniuses had fallen halfway.

 

As for Fenxiu saying he wanted to inquire about Xiao Mo’s information, or Mo Lan as he called him, even without hearing the voice from the jade tablet, Xiao Mo knew the result.

 

Of course, there was no information.

 

Sure enough, he heard Fenxiu’s next words: “Can’t find any information on this person?”

 

Xiao Mo thought to himself, naturally.

 

Fenxiu pondered for a moment, then spoke again: “Keep investigating. I feel he’s likely not human.”

 

Xiao Mo, who currently truly wasn’t human: … Who are you calling names?

 

But Xiao Mo’s expression turned cold and serious. Fenxiu indeed hadn’t seen through his identity, but for someone like the Demon Lord, even without finding evidence, just sensing something amiss could reveal a lot.

 

After Fenxiu finished giving instructions, he closed his eyes to rest on the soft couch. Xiao Mo only needed a thought to disappear on the spot and return to Chu Jinglan’s sea of consciousness. Then, emerging from the sea of consciousness and skillfully disguising himself with spiritual energy, he was once again “Mo Lan” by Chu Jinglan’s side.

 

Xiao Mo, in his inner demon form, naturally couldn’t pick up any powder or rouge scent from the brothel. The desires of the people there were indeed fragrant, but Xiao Mo didn’t take a single bite, only wanting to leave quickly.

 

He sighed as he sat down beside Chu Jinglan: “I feel like I don’t want to read romantic novels for a long time.”

 

Novels often write so beautifully, but the scenes of many people in the brothel pouncing like hungry tigers… He didn’t want to think about it anymore; it was distressing to recall.

 

Before Chu Jinglan could ask “Are you alright?”, he was silenced by Xiao Mo’s words.

 

“…The books you buy still have romantic content?”

 

Xiao Mo didn’t see any problem: “Yeah, some books you can tell from the title that the content isn’t simple, but they’re well-written.”

 

They both had access to each other’s storage devices. Sometimes when storing things, whoever found it more convenient would take it. Xiao Mo still had some novels lying in Chu Jinglan’s storage. He said: “It’s nice to read some good ones occasionally when resting. You can flip through them too.”

 

Chu Jinglan had no such hobby in his past life. He didn’t say whether it was good or not. Of course, Xiao Mo was just speaking casually; he had important matters to discuss now.

 

Xiao Mo sat up straight, looking serious: “I’ve confirmed it. That demon is Demon Lord Fenxiu disguised as a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

 

Xiao Mo wanted to say that if Chu Jinglan encountered him in the competition, he must be careful. But Chu Jinglan frowned and spoke first: “He suspects your identity?”

 

The Demon Lord infiltrating the Cloud Platform Grand Competition seemed nefarious from any angle. It should be an important event concerning the entire cultivation world, but these two, instead of thinking about schemes and great undertakings, first thought of each other’s safety.

 

Chu Jinglan had been worried whether that demon had noticed anything about Xiao Mo during the day. Now knowing he was the Demon Lord, he was even more concerned.

 

Why could the Demon Lord spot Xiao Mo at a glance among the crowd?

 

Xiao Mo nodded with a grim expression: “Yes, but he didn’t directly see through my essence as an inner demon.”

 

There was still room for maneuver.

 

Chu Jinglan: “Alright, I’ll be careful if I encounter him. But if he wanted to cause trouble, he should have acted when the feather demon brought the demonic cultivator.”

 

Xiao Mo tapped his flute lightly on his palm: “I think so too. The feather demon’s sudden change of attitude might have been on Fenxiu’s instructions. They probably won’t cause any disturbance in this competition.”

 

But his expression didn’t relax: “However, if the Demon Lord truly wants to wage war with human cultivators in the future, newly emerged talents among humans will definitely become thorns in their eyes.”

 

Chu Jinglan remained calm: “I’m prepared. We’ll deal with problems as they come.”

 

They didn’t want to become enemies with dangerous figures for no reason, but if he insisted on being an enemy, facing a strong foe, the two would only desperately think of ways to deal with it, not cower in fear.

 

With just a glance, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan knew they shared the same mindset.

 

Xiao Mo smiled and lay down on the bed, moving to the inner side: “Let’s not talk about it anymore. Come rest quickly. These days you have competitions during the day, so it’s better to replenish your energy with sleep at night instead of cultivation.”

 

Chu Jinglan lay down on the half of the space Xiao Mo had made, and with a flick of his finger, extinguished the lights in the room. The night passed dreamlessly.

 

The next day, when Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan appeared, the gazes of those around them were very different.

 

Not only because they were wearing Yingyue Sect waist tokens, but also because Chu Jinglan’s age and experiences had spread throughout the crowd overnight.

 

A Nascent Soul at nineteen, successfully repairing a crippled dantian – either one was a miracle, something countless people wouldn’t dare to imagine, yet achieved simultaneously by one person.

 

A rare talent, a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius!

 

Xiao Mo slightly opened his spiritual sense and immediately smelled the thick scent of emotions – jealousy, envy, and so on, even stronger than when Chu Jinglan was taken away by the Yingyue Sect yesterday.

 

The smell of jealousy was very similar to fragrant spicy stir-fried pork. Xiao Mo couldn’t resist drawing a few strands to taste.

 

A collective emotional outburst from many people was like a fun house for inner demons. Last night at the brothel was a feast everywhere, but due to the eye-damaging scenes, Xiao Mo didn’t eat a bite. Today, smelling the fragrant delicacy again, he should eat a little.

 

The emotions swirled around him and then merged in. Although he didn’t physically eat, he indeed tasted the flavor of spicy stir-fried pork.

 

Of course, Xiao Mo didn’t eat too much, avoiding the state of “intoxication by emotions.”

 

Some people originally wanted to come forward and try to get close, but upon meeting Chu Jinglan’s eyes, their greetings froze in their mouths. Their fake smiles instantly became stiff, and they awkwardly retreated.

 

Someone couldn’t help but mutter: “Strange, his gaze, when you look closely, doesn’t seem like anything special…”

 

But for some reason, they didn’t dare to approach.

 

Someone did see through it a bit: “It’s sword intent tempering the heart. This person is constantly refining his sword intent. The younger generation is truly formidable!”

 

The stronger a sword cultivator’s sword intent, the stronger their power at the same cultivation level. Later on, well-integrated sword intent doesn’t necessarily require drawing a sword to use; spiritual light and divine light can all become swords. With sword intent condensing the spirit, there are naturally swords in the eyes.

 

Those without real ability but harboring ulterior motives, hoping to establish a connection with just two or three sentences, should just go to sleep early.

 

So although everyone’s attention was on Chu Jinglan for a moment, there was no crowding around them, even leaving some empty space.

 

Only after Chu Jinglan went up for his match did people finally find the right moment, surging forward to surround Xiao Mo.

 

Xiao Mo raised an eyebrow. Qiuqiu, out for some air on his shoulder, was startled. Its little eyes immediately became alert, its fluffy head swinging left and right, taking a defensive posture.

 

Qiuqiu: “Chirp!”

 

Xiao Mo rubbed its head with one finger, soothing: “It’s alright.”

 

Someone seized this opportunity to start a conversation: “Fellow cultivator, I see your spirit pet is the offspring of a third-grade demonic beast, the gray bird. It’s really cute!”

 

Xiao Mo smiled at him, not refuting that Qiuqiu was a third-grade demonic beast. Some in the crowd were dazzled by his smile, while others became more excited: This Foundation Establishment little beauty seems easy to talk to, what a good opportunity!

 

The person who thought they had successfully started a conversation using the spirit pet topic quickly said: “I specialize in beast taming and have considerable experience in raising spirit pets. I’d like to discuss this with you and Cultivator Chu. Would that be convenient?”

 

Xiao Mo gently stroked Qiuqiu’s soft back, deflecting the question: “Whether it’s convenient or not isn’t for me to decide.”

 

He flicked his waist token: “Look, I’m his attendant. He makes the decisions.”

 

Hm? Just a subordinate attendant, with no blood relation? But they look quite similar…

 

Hearing this route was blocked, many people disappointedly dispersed. Some thought that as long as Xiao Mo was close enough to Chu Jinglan, being a servant didn’t matter; they could still leave an impression.

 

But as the crowd thinned, one person walked straight towards Xiao Mo: “If you’re just his attendant, that’s easy then.”

 

Xiao Mo’s expression remained unchanged as he watched Fenxiu approach, but his vigilance was at its peak. He feigned ease: “What’s easy?”

 

“Come be my attendant,” Fenxiu looked at him with interest. “What conditions do you want? Let’s hear them.”

 

The surrounding people immediately gasped. They just wanted to get close to someone, but this person was truly brave, directly trying to poach. Isn’t this offending people?

 

Before Xiao Mo could speak, another voice came from behind him: “He won’t be an attendant for anyone else.”

 

It was Chu Jinglan.

 

He had just finished his match, his sword intent not yet dispersed. The surrounding people made way, and Chu Jinglan stood beside Xiao Mo, coldly looking at Fenxiu.

 

Chu Jinglan’s “anyone else” included himself. Xiao Mo wasn’t his attendant, but Fenxiu naturally understood it as: Xiao Mo wouldn’t be an attendant for anyone other than Chu Jinglan.

 

Fenxiu folded his arms: “So certain?”

 

He raised his chin, pointing: “That kind of magical robe he’s wearing, I can give him eight or ten. If he wants spirit pets, I can catch higher-grade ones. No need to raise such a shabby third-grade one.”

 

Qiuqiu was angry: “Chirp!”

 

You’re shabby, your whole family is shabby!

 

“People die for wealth. If I can offer a better price, why can’t he change masters? Or did you put a blood contract on him?”

 

“Sorry, it has nothing to do with any of that,” Xiao Mo finally interrupted his high-and-mighty speech. “Master Chu is right. I could never be an attendant for anyone else.”

 

Hearing the word “master,” Chu Jinglan’s eyes darkened.

 

It was fine when Xiao Mo jokingly called him that in private, but he really didn’t want to hear Xiao Mo call him master in front of everyone.

 

He didn’t want Xiao Mo to be seen as lower than him in the eyes of the world.

 

And Chu Jinglan, who clearly didn’t care about worldly gazes on himself, was unwilling to let them look down on Xiao Mo.

 

Chu Jinglan’s gaze swept over Xiao Mo’s pale fingers. He remembered the cool temperature of those hands that brought him comfort; those hands that had fed him medicine when he was too crippled to move; those hands that had squeezed into his bloodied palms when he was struggling in pain.

 

Chu Jinglan couldn’t help but raise his hand—

 

But before their fingertips could touch, he moved his arm up slightly, and in the end only grasped Xiao Mo’s wrist.

 

“Call me by my name,” Chu Jinglan said, holding his wrist. He repeated, “You can address me directly by my name.”

 

Xiao Mo was stunned by his tone. Chu Jinglan held his wrist with a grip neither too light nor too heavy, but with an inexplicable solemnity.

 

Xiao Mo was only dazed for half a second before smiling and saying, “Alright, Chu Jinglan.”

 

This scene was witnessed by many. Although they hadn’t yet entered the Yingyue Sect, given the current level of attention on Chu Jinglan, within half a day, news of his unusual treatment of his little attendant would spread widely.

 

Even Fenxiu was somewhat surprised. No matter how interested he was, he would never allow little playthings to be on equal footing with him, let alone climb above him.

 

Over the years, many beauties had entered the demon palace, but those who had any delusional hopes now had grass growing tall on their graves.

 

He had thought that a genius like Chu Jinglan would be somewhat similar to him, but it seems he was mistaken.

 

Chu Jinglan led Xiao Mo away by the wrist. Their retreating figures fell into the eyes of Su Baimo, who hadn’t managed to approach yet.

 

Su Baimo suddenly understood the difference between caring and not caring.

 

In the past, when Chu Jinglan agreed to break off their engagement, he always thought he could make Chu Jinglan fall for him. Whenever Chu Jinglan helped him and people from his clan cast envious glances, he would often feel smug, thinking, perhaps Chu Jinglan cared for him a little?

 

Chu Jinglan had never held his hand, not once.

 

It turns out that helping was truly just fulfilling a promise, without any extra emotions. Just one scene of hand-holding was enough to shatter all his delusions.

 

Dai Zisheng and Mu Jian had also just come down from the arena. Dai Zisheng said, “Chu Jinglan truly treats Mo Lan well. His days of repairing his dantian must not have been easy. Was Mo Lan always by his side?”

 

“Perhaps,” Mu Jian said. “Adversity reveals true friendship. Mo Lan’s attendant status is probably just to make it convenient for them to enter the Yingyue Sect together.”

 

Su Baimo felt a stab in his heart, too upset to speak.

 

Meanwhile, after Xiao Mo was led far away by Chu Jinglan, he finally said with a smile, “You haven’t finished your matches today.”

 

Chu Jinglan suddenly stopped, slowly releasing Xiao Mo’s wrist, and said softly, “Mm.”

 

“With today’s scene, my status as your close friend is firmly established,” Xiao Mo said. “You chose the timing well.”

 

Chu Jinglan lightly pressed his finger joints. He knew it wasn’t a deliberately chosen moment, but rather a combination of many coincidences, with perfect timing, that led to this result.

 

At least the result wasn’t bad.

 

Just now, he actually wanted to… directly hold Xiao Mo’s hand?

 

Chu Jinglan felt the answer was “yes.”

 

He had never experienced this feeling before, had never learned an explanation for it from anywhere. In the Chu family, he had never seen anyone look at another with that special, gentle light in their eyes.

 

Chu Jinglan’s expression remained unchanged, but in his heart, waves suddenly rose, surging violently.

He didn’t know how to grasp that thought from the waves, one he had never touched but surely existed.

 

Inexplicably, Chu Jinglan thought of the novels Xiao Mo had placed in his storage device.

 

Besides the frank descriptions of romantic encounters, the novels should also contain the journey of two hearts, with plenty of entanglements, conflicts, emotions, and reasoning to make a complete story.

 

…Perhaps he really could take a look; maybe he could find an answer?

 

Xiao Mo waved his open hand in front of his eyes: “What are you thinking about? You suddenly spaced out.”

 

“Nothing,” Chu Jinglan said, looking at Xiao Mo’s face through his fingers, seeing the dao partner mark on his forehead. He discreetly shifted his gaze. “I just suddenly thought that when I’m free, I might read some novels to relax my mind.”

 

The topic jump was big. Xiao Mo didn’t know how much Chu Jinglan had thought about, but it didn’t matter. Their conversations often jumped from one subject to another. Xiao Mo smoothly responded: “Yes, it’s good to find some enjoyment for yourself.”

 

But that was something to do in leisure time. Today’s matches weren’t over yet. Soon, Chu Jinglan’s name was called, and he had to continue with the next round.

 

At night, they stayed on the Yingyue Sect’s celestial ship with their completely legitimate identities. However, tonight, Chu Jinglan couldn’t open the novel.

 

Xiao Mo had specially recommended one to him, saying its emotional descriptions were delicate, the story wasn’t cliché, and it was full of twists and turns, very worth reading.

 

Chu Jinglan made a note of it and placed the novel in a prominent position in his storage device.

 

On the second and third days, Chu Jinglan still didn’t open it.

 

By the tenth day, as the Cloud Platform Grand Competition was nearing its end and the top three in each group had been decided, Chu Jinglan still hadn’t turned a single page of the novel.

 

Today the competition would end, and it was time for the winners to receive their rewards.

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan’s guess was correct; Fenxiu didn’t intend to disrupt the competition. When Chu Jinglan faced him, he won even more easily than against other disciples. Fenxiu took third place for himself, good enough but not the best.

 

The top three rankings for early Nascent Soul stage were: Chu Jinglan, Mu Jian, Fenxiu.

 

The top three in each group could also choose earth-grade magical tools or spirit herbs, three items in total, with higher-ranked individuals having priority in selection.

 

Changdaozi awarded the prizes to the early Nascent Soul stage winners, his eyes filled with undisguisable satisfaction when looking at Chu Jinglan.

 

Such an excellent seedling had chosen their Yingyue Sect without even needing to be fought over. They should indeed be proud.

 

Three magical items: an earth-grade sword, an earth-grade flute, and a thousand-year spirit herb.

 

Changdaozi thought that since Chu Jinglan had Daybreak and other treasures from the Moon Lord, he probably wouldn’t choose the sword. But if he wanted to add another to his collection, that would be understandable too. The most likely choice was the spirit herb, which could temporarily raise one’s cultivation level and, when the effect wore off and cultivation returned to normal, wouldn’t leave any side effects.

 

It was truly an essential medicine for going out to fight.

 

Changdaozi wouldn’t be surprised if Chu Jinglan chose either of these two.

 

However, he didn’t guess correctly on either count.

 

Because Chu Jinglan picked the flute.

 

Changdaozi was stunned, and even the audience below simultaneously turned their gaze to Xiao Mo, who was very close to the high platform.

 

Chu Jinglan didn’t use flutes, but Xiao Mo had a jade flute at his waist.

 

Could it be that Chu Jinglan chose the flute for Xiao Mo??

 

Although they already knew Chu Jinglan treated his attendant very well, Chu Jinglan once again refreshed everyone’s understanding: This was too good. A Foundation Establishment cultivator using an earth-grade magical tool? How much power could a Foundation Establishment cultivator unleash from such a tool?

 

Did Chu Jinglan need any more attendants? They truly could do it!

 

However, their speculation was still conservative.

 

Chu Jinglan did want to choose a flute for Xiao Mo, but he wanted a heaven-grade one.

 

Among all the items they currently had, there were no materials suitable for directly making a flute. The higher the required grade of the magical tool, the higher the compatibility requirements between the material and the tool itself. The ten-thousand-year cold ice mystic stone left by the Moon Lord was suitable for forging swords, but not for flutes.

 

However, they still had something that could refine magical tools. The jade of this prize flute was of very good quality, just lacking in age. It could be refined into a heaven-grade tool through tempering, no less inferior than a tool forged as heaven-grade from the start.

 

If this group of envious people knew what Chu Jinglan was thinking right now, they might line up to apply for the position, willing to crack their heads to squeeze into the attendant job.

 

Modern society’s job market is competitive, but in the cultivation world, good positions are even harder to come by.

 

After choosing items, it was time to select sects.

 

Among the top ten early Nascent Soul stage, including Fenxiu, there were three demons. Given the smaller demon population, this ratio was normal. The other two demons, one chose a sect within the upper realm’s demon domain, the other chose a demon sect outside the demon domain.

 

Both were good choices.

 

Sect selection started from the tenth-ranked person, moving forward in order. When it came to Fenxiu’s turn, Xiao Mo silently chanted in his heart: Go anywhere, just don’t come to the Yingyue Sect!

 

But there’s a law called Murphy’s Law.

 

Fenxiu, facing the high platform, directly said: “Yingyue Sect.”

 

All Golden Core stage cultivators had made their choices. Fenxiu was the first demon so far to choose a human cultivation sect!

 

Xiao Mo’s scalp instantly tingled.

 

It wasn’t that he was narcissistic, but his intuition was screaming warnings: Fenxiu might be coming for him, and it definitely wasn’t for anything good.

 

“System,” Xiao Mo said, “explain the characteristics of supreme demons in detail.”

 

When he read the original story, he hadn’t paid much attention, just skimming over it. He vaguely remembered something about supreme demons being able to identify demon races, but since he hadn’t been seen through at a glance, he hadn’t taken it to heart.

 

He had been too complacent.

 

As he listened to the system’s detailed explanation, Xiao Mo finally understood where his unease came from.

 

“Top-tier pureblooded supreme demons, after identifying a demon’s race, can absorb their cultivation to enhance their own power.”

 

…No wonder even though some demons didn’t support Fenxiu’s war with human cultivators, no one dared to oppose him.

 

Now, Fenxiu was the only pureblooded supreme demon left.

 

In the original story, Fenxiu often used blood contracts to kill demons, but from his bloodline, he was already a threat to other demons.

 

He was just playing around with different ways of killing people.

 

Last night, he had told someone that Xiao Mo wasn’t human. Perhaps he had already determined in his heart that Xiao Mo was a demon, treating him as the next prey, experiencing a novel hunting process.

 

After all, no demon had been able to hide their identity from him before. Once Xiao Mo’s identity was exposed and he lost interest, it would be time for the killing intent to emerge.

 

On the stage, Chu Jinglan turned his head and coldly swept a glance at Fenxiu.

 

Fenxiu had no intention of currying favor with this popular figure of the Yingyue Sect, and looked back provocatively.

 

Fenxiu thought happily that this time he might be able to play for a bit longer.

 

He guessed Xiao Mo was a demon. If he guessed correctly and found out his identity, he would absorb Xiao Mo’s cultivation and then kill him and Chu Jinglan.

 

If he guessed wrong, or could never confirm Xiao Mo’s identity, then he would kill them both when he got bored.

 

In any case, the end would always involve killing.

 

He never considered the possibility of failing against an early Nascent Soul and a Foundation Establishment cultivator. After all, strength was the law, and in his innate arrogance, he saw no problem with this.

 

The Yingyue Sect people scrutinized Fenxiu several times. Fenxiu’s disguised identity was that of a Fierce Demon, with the fake name Alie. After the incident of the Moon Lord eloping with his demon dao partner, some in the Yingyue Sect felt they shouldn’t treat kind-hearted demons so harshly, while others’ prejudice against demons intensified.

 

But according to the competition rules, if someone in the top ten chose their sect, they had to accept for now.

 

Whether he would stay or leave would be decided later.

 

Fenxiu looked at Chu Jinglan teasingly: “You entered the sect before me, but I’m older than you. Who should call whom senior brother?”

 

Chu Jinglan withdrew his gaze, looking straight ahead at the high platform, not even glancing at Fenxiu. He said indifferently: “Neither. According to my seniority in the Yingyue Sect, you should call me ancestor.”

 

Fenxiu: ?

 

Fenxiu: What the hell??

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter