The Great Demon had been taken into Ye Family Village.

He was so severely injured that he lay on the bed, his face slightly pale, his eyelashes fluttering as he drifted in and out of consciousness. His beast blood flowed freely, and just one or two sips of it were said to grant longevity.

Tang Xi floated beside him, his eyes gleaming with unbridled excitement. He shouted frantically, “Qingqing, hurry, hurry! Drink a sip of his blood!”

Longevity! The longer you live, the less likely Pei Xuan is to go mad! Although his lingering soul had long since shed all worldly attachments, Tang Xi now wished he had a physical body so he could scoop up a bowl of the Peacock’s blood and chug it down Ye Qing’s throat.

Ye Qing, who was busy bandaging his own wounds, stared in confusion. *LWhy would I drink blood? Brother Tang Xi is such a pervert!

“The Big Brother is hurt so badly. What should I do? Should I go to town and ask a medical cultivator to come see him?” Ye Qing realized for the first time that the Cultivation World was a place where the weak were preyed upon by the strong.

He guessed that Big Brother must not be very powerful; otherwise, how could he have been beaten so badly? The Cultivation World was truly a dangerous place!

He brought out his piggy bank, which contained one hundred spirit stones, one of the family’s few savings, just enough to cover the house call fee for the cheapest medical cultivator.

This medical cultivator was actually quite skilled, specializing in rare and difficult ailments.

After arriving and carefully diagnosing the injured man by feeling his pulse, he fell silent. He felt this little child had hired the wrong person; he should have hired his colleague, a veterinarian.

Still, he did have a common healing elixir on hand.

“That’ll be ten mid-grade spirit stones per bottle.”

The medical cultivator was very patient with children. But the moment he spoke, he saw the child’s eyes widen, his lovely, snow-white face turning pale, seemingly terrified by the price. The birth rate of younglings in the Cultivation World was low, and the medical cultivator was suddenly overcome with paternal instinct. “No money, huh? Then you can pay me back later… Actually, forget it, it’s free!”

After one bottle of the elixir, the Great Demon managed to maintain consciousness. Birds had excellent hearing, and he heard the human child’s milky voice, “Big Brother, how do you feel?”

The child’s soft, fluffy appearance reminded him of a nursing kitten.

As he watched the little boy scurry about, carrying a basin of water and tending to him, Lou Qinian’s heart seethed with resentment. His mind was filled with the humiliation of being coerced into this.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stick to the script they had agreed upon.

“Did you save me?”

Ye Qing shook his head, answering honestly, “No, it wasn’t me. A medical cultivator brother did.”

“…”

Lou Qinian countered, “No, it was you. You must repay the debt of saving my life by marrying me. Let’s form a contract.” He produced a sheet of paper covered in ink.

Every single character on it had been written by Lou Qinian himself, under the threat of that madman Pei Xuan, using his own Peacock essence blood! The contract swore to the Heavenly Dao that he would be single-mindedly devoted to Ye Qing, serving and protecting him without a second thought.

Otherwise, he would be plagued by inner demons and struck down by heaven and earth.

What contract?

Ye Qing blinked, seemingly unable to understand. Three seconds later, his eyes widened in shock. “???”

Tang Xi: “???”

The next second, he seemed to figure something out. His breathing quickened as he lunged at the paper, reading it word by word. Finally, he understood what Pei Xuan was up to!

Behind this deceptive “Gratitude Contract” was actually an unequal Life-and-Death Covenant.

It stated that on the 19th day of the 2nd month in the 3rd year of Tian Shou, Lou Qinian, Young Master of the Great Demon Clan, and Pei Xuan’s son entered into a covenant. The Peacock side was required to protect the cub, while the cub’s side had no obligations. Once the covenant was sealed, their lifespans would be bound together, and their lives would be interdependent.

The one with the significantly higher cultivation would naturally nourish the one with the lower cultivation. It was common knowledge that Peacocks had incredibly long lifespans, while Ye Qing would only live for over a hundred years if he reached the Qi Refining Stage.

Pei Xuan was truly a madman!

Tang Xi’s pupils constricted in shock.

Ye Qing stared at the contract, his eyes wide and round, looking like a little cub trying to act like a serious adult. He struggled to see clearly what was written on the paper.

But he was only three years old and couldn’t read. So, he just stared at the paper with his small face, completely blank.

“Qingqing, hurry, hurry, hurry and sign!” Tang Xi shouted.

Lou Qinian’s phoenix eyes narrowed into a thin line.

Though being coerced and bribed was deeply unpleasant, the sight of the child’s hesitant, blank stare only infuriated the Great Demon, whose resentment was already skyrocketing.

He was a Young Master of the Great Demon Tribe, a being of thirty thousand years with noble birth and extraordinary status. His tail feathers shimmered with divine light, and his beauty was unparalleled.

Throughout the years, he had only ever been the one to look down on others. How dared anyone else be reluctant to serve him?

At this thought, he leaned in slightly, his voice a haunting whisper that seemed to bewitch the human cub: “Little one, don’t you want a lifelong bodyguard?”

The Great Demon, still recovering from his grave illness on the couch, gazed with phoenix eyes that could steal a soul.

Their depths rippled with emotion, and combined with his naturally peerless appearance, his current frail state evoked a profound sense of pity. The power to captivate all living beings poured forth.

Not signing would be so heartbreaking!

The little face-con baby was shocked and immediately declared, “I’ll sign!”

The next moment, Ye Qing faced another dilemma. He didn’t know how to use a calligraphy brush, so he just smeared a blob of ink on the paper. Tang Xi, watching from the side, was so anxious he wished he could take Ye Qing’s place.

Finally, after ruining over a dozen sheets of paper, they managed to write a name.

The parrot peeking through the window and the lingering soul inside the room both breathed a sigh of relief.

The Parrot: Our Feather Clan is saved!

Tang Xi: The future of the Cultivation World is hopeful!

The baby’s brain capacity was limited, and Ye Qing still didn’t understand what this was. Tang Xi explained it to him.

“You saved Brother Lou in the pouring rain, and now he’s trying to repay you by protecting you under the same roof. Qingqing, you don’t understand. For cultivators, the Three Thousand Great Daos are filled with trials and tribulations. A single misstep can create karma or give rise to an inner demon. You saved him, so he must repay you. Otherwise, he’ll be consumed by guilt, which will spawn an inner demon and hinder his cultivation. Do you really want to see that poor Brother be eaten alive by his inner demon and fall into a bottomless abyss?”

Tang Xi was a veteran Golden Core cultivator. His voice was gentle and refined, his arguments one after another, more than enough to deceive a three-year-old child who hadn’t even begun his studies.

Besides, he wasn’t just tricking an innocent child; he was saving the future of the Divine Continent!

Ye Qing’s heart ached as he listened. With a thump, he hugged Lou Qinian’s leg, his eyes misting over. “I can’t let that happen.”

The matter was settled.

He had narrowly escaped with his life.

Lou Qinian sank back onto the bed, instantly reverting to the sickly, frail Young Master of the Great Demon Clan. He didn’t want to pretend to be ill, but Pei Xuan had beaten him so badly that his life force was severely depleted.

He coughed weakly twice, his mind made up: he would make Pei Xuan’s son serve him, just to get his revenge!

Seeing this, the human cub hurriedly went to fetch a set of items: bowls, chopsticks, bedding, clothes, and so on.

Once the human cub left, the room was empty except for a single peacock. Just then, a parrot with vibrant red and green feathers flew gracefully into the room. “Greetings, King.”

The parrot landed, transforming into a beautiful young man dressed in garish red and green. He held a mirror in his mouth. “As you commanded, I have brought the Dust-Tracing Mirror.”

“Perfect timing.” The Great Demon’s gaze darkened.

The Dust-Tracing Mirror, as its name suggested, could peer into the mortal world to trace the past and future.

It was a treasure kept locked away in the Feather Clan’s palace, rarely ever used. Lou Qinian had his reasons for calling upon a clansman to retrieve it.

The human cub returned, struggling to carry the bedding.

Lou Qinian frowned and instinctively wanted to help. But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he froze for two seconds, then simply held out the mirror. “Look. Your face is dirty.”

“?” The human cub was bewildered. He took the mirror, which felt surprisingly heavy.

He looked at his own face—it was clean. He couldn’t see any dirt at all.

But his brother’s intense gaze made him blush. After a moment of shyness, he pattered away on his little feet. “I’ll go wash my face.” He was a good boy who loved to be clean.

After he left, the Great Demon reclined lazily on the bed.

“Dust-Tracing Mirror, oh Dust-Tracing Mirror,” the Great Demon murmured, “According to the laws of Yunzhou City, mortals become adults at sixteen. Show me what that mortal will look like when he turns sixteen…”

As his words fell, the mirror’s surface rippled like water, and a figure emerged.

The human cub was staring into the mirror, his small, lotus-root-like hands gripping the frame. His cheeks were soft and chubby, giving him a charmingly naive look. Unaware of the mirror’s magical properties, he leaned in close, his dark, round eyes blinking in confusion as he tilted his head, carefully inspecting his face for any dirt.

Three heartbeats later, the image shifted. A sudden, enlarged face of the grown-up youth appeared.

The Great Demon froze, subconsciously holding his breath.

What’s this? What’s this?! What will the human cub look like when he grows up?! The parrot was dying of curiosity and flew around the bed, eager to get a look.

To their surprise, their King immediately flipped the mirror face-down. “Get lost,” he snapped coldly.

“What’s so interesting about this?”

The ripples vanished, and the Dust-Tracing Mirror returned to being a plain, dull-looking ordinary mirror.

The Parrot, his movements slowed, immediately began stomping his feet and beating his chest.

“King, even if there’s nothing to see, I still want to see!”

Cats aren’t the only ones with curiosity; birds have it too!!!

He was on the verge of throwing a tantrum on the floor, desperate to see what the human cub would look like in the future! Then, he was swiftly subdued by the Great Demon’s long tail feathers.

Lou Qinian’s temper cooled slightly.

While the master and servant remained unaware, a lingering soul had been present in the room all along, witnessing the entire scene. The presence of the Dust-Tracing Mirror made Tang Xi’s heart pound.

Taking advantage of the Peacock Great Demon’s absence, he hurried into the room and said, “Qingqing, take out the mirror from under your pillow and look into it.”

The human cub did as she was told.

But the little baby looked worried.

Why did slhe have to look in the mirror twice in one day?

“Is my face really that dirty?”

“Not too dirty,” Tang Xi lied.

Not too dirty… means it’s still dirty!

Driven by his germaphobia, the human cub put down the mirror and ran to wash his face again.

The lingering soul sat cross-legged before the mirror, faintly releasing spiritual energy and chanting an incantation: “Dust-Tracing Mirror, oh Dust-Tracing Mirror, tell me what that child will look like in the 19th year of Tian Shou.”

The Dust-Tracing Mirror rippled again, its surface revealing the child’s appearance in the 19th year of Tian Shou. But unlike the first time, a faint white frost now coated the mirror’s surface.

Tang Xi stared, speechless with disbelief. In the mirror, Ye Qing lay inside a massive ice coffin.

The young man’s face was devoid of color, and every inch of his skin, every tiny hair, seemed frozen. His long eyelashes were lowered, and he appeared to be sleeping, but Tang Xi knew the boy showed no signs of life.

A gaping, blood-red wound marred his abdomen, the unmistakable mark of a sword thrust. A peacock lay beside the coffin, also seemingly lifeless.

Tang Xi stared for a long time, his anger giving way to a heart-wrenching pain. “Damn it! Why has the future still not changed!”

Meanwhile, two streaks of dazzling white Sword Intent flashed across the sky over Yunzhou City.

Passersby looked up, their gasps of astonishment echoing through the streets. Two half-grown teenagers were sword-flying above.

They looked to be around seventeen or eighteen, their figures exceptionally straight and elegant in the white uniforms of the Guiyuan Sect.

The two swords did not deliberately disrupt the street or cause a commotion. Instead, they descended and came to a halt before the largest inn in Yunzhou City.

The lead cultivator, a young man, wore a sword at his waist. Its blade was as clear as ice and as pure as jade, instantly marking him as someone of extraordinary bearing.

The innkeeper’s spirits lifted as he hurried forward to greet them. “Are you two here on a commission to subdue demons and eliminate monsters?”

The young cultivator gave a slight nod and cupped his fist in a formal salute. “Indeed. We are disciples of the Guiyuan Sect. My name is Zheng Yiming, and this is my junior brother, Jing Qian. Upon entering this realm, we detected a blood-red demonic aura billowing from the southwest. By our estimation, it should be a Nightmare Snake Demon at the Golden Core Stage or higher.”

In truth, their compass had sensed more than one powerful aura. This was a troubling development. While their hearts churned with shock, they could only marvel that Yunzhou City truly deserved its reputation as a great cultivation city, not only was it guarded by the Four Great Families, but it also seemed to attract every kind of demon and monster imaginable.

They had been sent down the mountain with a group of junior disciples on a mission: not only to preside over a sect recruitment selection but also to investigate the situation and eliminate these threats to the people.

Beyond that, they also had to find a way to contact their junior brother, Qin Xun, who had been away for a long time.

After all, a thousand-year-old snake demon was a formidable foe; an extra pair of hands would mean an extra measure of strength.

At that moment, Qin Xun was in secluded cultivation, healing his injuries. As spiritual energy flowed through his body, he heard the old man with the jade pendant speak. His clouded eyes snapped open.

“A snake demon?”

“That’s right. I’ve divined that a vicious demon beast is lurking nearby. It should be a Golden Core demon snake. Its flesh and blood would make a highly nourishing soup, and its demon core could help you break through to the Middle Foundation Establishment stage. You could even skin it to make boots impervious to water and fire. Your storage bag is already full, so this is a good chance to upgrade it. The only drawback is that this snake demon is incredibly powerful and dangerous. If you fail to strike it down in one blow, you’ll be entangled by it. But you are the Son of Salvation, destined to face even stronger enemies in the future. This snake demon will serve as a stepping stone for you…”

Qin Xun’s Guiyuan Sect jade token had received several transmissions from two of his senior brothers.

He had initially intended to ignore them, but now, with a single thought, he decided to respond.

He pursed his lips slightly and sighed. “The snake demon is harming people. Eliminating it would be a meritorious deed. I’ll contact my senior brothers and junior sisters right away.”

With a tap of his finger on the jade tablet, he channeled spiritual energy to establish a connection.

After a brief conversation with the two of them, he declared, “Rest assured, Senior Brother. I have already fully grasped the snake demon’s whereabouts. This is bound to be a fierce battle. We disciples of the Guiyuan Sect carry the fate of all living beings in our hearts. Even if it costs me my life, I will slay it!”

His tone was righteous and resolute, and the Flying Frost Sword in his hand was already gripped firmly. He had completely immersed himself in this role, envisioning himself as a hot-blooded and noble hero.

*LHow should the Son of Salvation act? Exactly like this!

__

Meanwhile, the night had grown deep.

“Ah, I’m sleepy. Goodnight, Brother Tang Xi.” The human cub yawned softly, tears of sleep forming in the corners of his eyes.

He hugged his soft pillow like a docile little kitten and then fell asleep, dreaming of a snake.