Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 350 337: Shi Ji

As Qing Yueqiu, surrounded by gargoyles, heard the enemy single out her master by name and demand to take him away,

her eyes suddenly flashed crimson, as if a sea of blood was churning within them. A tidal wave of killing intent erupted, nearly drowning her reason.

But just then, Lin Qianyan's voice, like a cold spring, reached the young woman's ears. Carrying a soothing and guiding tone, it suppressed the rising killing intent in Qing Yueqiu's heart, allowing her to calm down slightly.

'Yueqiu, don't be rash... I can sense the aura of a Void Refining Great Cultivator in that White Bone Boundary Stele Tower. Besides that, there are no fewer than ten experts at the Divinity Transformation realm.'

'Even though the four of us are far stronger than others at our level, this is Demon Race territory. The enemy could be reinforced by even stronger Demon Cultivators at any moment. If we act recklessly, we'll be at a great disadvantage.

'When that happens, your master and I can probably protect ourselves and break through, but we can't guarantee your and Miss Ji's safety... This isn't the Human Race's domain; the Dao Sect and the Sacred Lands won't be here to back us up.'

Qing Yueqiu looked at Pei Yuhang, dressed in his pure white robes, and bit her lower lip. A trace of reluctance and conflict flashed in her eyes.

"So we're just going to hand Master over to them?"

The young woman's voice trembled, as if she was desperately suppressing the anger and unease in her heart.

'Just yesterday, I finally felt his warmth without any barriers, but today I have to just hand him over? If I can't even protect my own man, what's the point of my sword training?'

Just then, a large, warm hand gently took hold of her small one.

The warmth from his palm spread through her skin like a gentle current, gradually soothing her inner turmoil.

Qing Yueqiu froze for a moment. She looked up at Pei Yuhang and saw a reassuring calm in his deep, clear eyes.

"Don't worry, Yueqiu. Since they didn't attack immediately, it means our identities haven't been exposed. That being the case, there's still room to maneuver."

"Let Qianqian take you all out of the pass first. I'll catch up with you later."

"But Master..."

"Don't worry, Yueqiu. I'm not some frail scholar. I am the youngest Sword Immortal of this age."

Pei Yuhang smiled calmly, then let go of Qing Yueqiu's hand and walked toward the gargoyles on his own.

The gargoyles on both sides parted to form a path just wide enough for Pei Yuhang, allowing him to step off the Spiritual Ship.

A giant gargoyle, several times larger than a normal one and resembling an elephant in the sky, had been waiting for him.

It patted its shoulder and breathed out a puff of white air, gesturing for Pei Yuhang to climb onto its back.

"You soft-skinned little Fox Demon, it's your honor to be granted an audience with the great one."

"Don't you try any funny business and offend her. She could wipe out your entire tribe with a wave of her hand!"

After Pei Yuhang climbed onto the giant gargoyle's back, it began flapping its wings and flying toward the White Bone Tower, speaking in a muffled voice as it went.

Qing Yueqiu watched Pei Yuhang leave, her hand trembling uncontrollably on the hilt of Luminous.

Lin Qianyan noticed this, and memories from her time in A Thousand Years of Great Dream flashed through her eyes.

'In that long Illusion Realm, I saw scenes like this far too many times—powerlessly watching my Brother Pei get snatched away...'

'But things are different now. I have power. I won't be so helpless anymore.'

'Yueqiu, listen to your master. We'll leave the area first... Once it's dark and we're safe, I'll go back and bring your master back by myself.'

...

...

Under the watch of several Demon Race guards, Pei Yuhang ascended the White Bone Tower alone.

The higher he climbed, the more pebbles and grit he found on the steps.

This made Pei Yuhang frown.

'Logically, this tower should be an important location in the Northern Desert. There should be servants assigned to maintain and clean it daily. It ought to be spotless, so why are there so many pebbles and so much dust?'

'Moreover, this debris isn't on the lower floors, but the upper ones.'

'Unless... it's some kind of domain.'

Pei Yuhang thought of the overwhelming swarm of gargoyles and an idea began to form in his mind.

Sure enough, as Pei Yuhang reached the top of the tower and saw the black rock crystals covering the bone-white steps and walls, his suspicions were confirmed.

'A Stone Demon.'

'A Stone Demon at the Void Refining Realm.'

Entering the tower's summit, which was covered in hard, black rock, the first thing Pei Yuhang saw was an enormous Vermilion Jade Stone Bed. The jade was translucent and sparkling, and it emanated an incredibly pure Fire Attribute Spiritual Energy.

It was so potent that the Pure Yang True Qi in Pei Yuhang's body began to circulate on its own.

Pei Yuhang was incredibly well-read. If he wasn't mistaken, this was likely the rare stone known as Fire Phoenix Jade! It was one of the world's rarest Pure Yang Treasures!

"Hee hee hee, little fox. Why are you staring at my bed for so long? Want to go lie on it?"

CRUMBLE—

The rocks behind him shifted and rumbled. Before Pei Yuhang could turn around, two slender, snow-white arms wrapped around him from behind.

The arms felt hard and cold to the touch, lacking the elasticity and warmth of living flesh.

They were also immensely strong; once embraced, Pei Yuhang couldn't move at all.

"Little fox, why are you struggling?"

The voice whispered softly in his ear, but the hard arms digging into his back made Pei Yuhang's skin ache.

"Milady... why did you summon me here?"

Pei Yuhang suppressed the urge to unleash his Sword Qi and kill her, deciding to assess the situation first.

"Oh, nothing much. It's just that guarding the border for so long gets boring. It's rare to see a Fox Demon as handsome as you, so I decided to take you as my boy-toy~ to help this big sister relieve some of her boredom."

A voice full of mature charm came from a corner. At some point, a long-haired beauty in a form-fitting qipao had appeared there. She wore a seductive smile, but her movements were extremely stiff, and white stone flakes occasionally fell from her body.

Pei Yuhang looked down and saw that the arms that had been holding him had turned into ordinary black stones.

His heart sank.

'This type of Stone Demon is extremely skilled in Escape Techniques and in transferring its main body. This mature woman in front of me is probably just an avatar sculpted from mud and stone. The Stone Demon's true body could be anywhere.'

'Trying to escape from right under this Demon Cultivator's nose will be extremely difficult.'

As if sensing the uncertainty in Pei Yuhang's eyes, the Stone Demon beauty licked her lips and used a fingertip to lift his chin.

"Little fox, now that you're here with Big Sister Shi Ji, don't get any funny ideas. You just be a good boy and do whatever Big Sister tells you, and I promise nothing bad will happen to you."

"Although the Fox Demons produce many handsome specimens, a top-grade one like you is a once-in-a-millennium find."

"In a law-of-the-jungle place like the Northern Desert, for a top-grade Fox Demon like you to grow up safely and even appear openly on the road... you must not be afraid of being devoured whole by some ravenous Banshee, hmm?~"

"But that's alright. From now on, Big Sister will protect you~ I promise I won't get carried away and break my new toy. I'll be sure to treasure you. Hee hee hee~"

Shi Ji giggled charmingly and gave Pei Yuhang a hard push, sending him tumbling onto the Fire Phoenix Jade Bed.

Watching Shi Ji approach him on her pale, bare feet, an unprecedented gravity appeared in Pei Yuhang's eyes.

'After his experiences with all sorts of Evil Woman's Silver Sword in A Thousand Years of Great Dream, he no longer prized his chastity as much as he used to. Sometimes, for the greater good, Pei Yuhang could accept sacrificing his body.'

'But—'

'This Stone Demon is hard all over. No matter how you look at it, how could a person bring themselves to do it with her?!'

'At least *that* place... has to be a little soft!!'