The dwarf took a deep breath, mustering his courage. "Mentor, as you know, if the Yin Sha Spiritual Vein is taken away, the Fire Peach Tree will no longer thrive..."
Su Yi interrupted, "I only need a section. It won't harm the Fire Peach Tree."
Seeing Su Yi's unwavering attitude, the dwarf didn't dare to hesitate. In an instant, he transformed into a ray of light and burrowed underground.
Before long, the dwarf emerged from the ground, holding a foot-long piece of black jade in his hands.
The jade emitted an extremely chilling aura, causing frost to form on the dwarf's eyebrows, hair, and beard, making him shiver uncontrollably.
"Mentor, the Yin Sha Spiritual Vein is contained within this jade."
The dwarf managed to force out a stiff smile that looked more pitiful than crying.
He didn't dare to tamper with the section of Yin Sha Spiritual Vein, fearing that he would be discovered and suffer the consequences.
"That's correct."
Su Yi reached out and took the foot-long jade, giving it a brief inspection before nodding in satisfaction.
This was a spiritual vein, even if only a foot long, far surpassing the value of many spirit stones!
When his cultivation reached the Qi Gathering Realm, the use of this treasure in cultivation would have unimaginable effects.
Of course, this Yin Sha Spiritual Vein was most suitable for Qingshan, the Yin Spirit, to cultivate.
When the time comes, Su Yi wouldn't mind sharing some with Qingshan.
He took out a jade box and stored the section of Yin Sha Spiritual Vein inside. Seeing the dwarf's pained expression, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Don't worry, I, Su Yi, am not interested in taking advantage of a little monster like you."
Su Yi spoke as he used the bamboo staff in his hand to write on the sandy ground.
Before long, a profound cultivation technique appeared.
"As a monster, it is not easy for you to achieve enlightenment. This 'Nurturing Spirit Technique' can help you transform from a monster to a 'Demon Cultivator.' Its value far exceeds a few Fire Peaches and a section of Yin Sha Spiritual Vein. Cherish it."
After saying this, Su Yi shook his head, smiled, and departed.
Creatures like monsters are classified as "demons."
Whether they are plants, animals, or birds, once they attain spiritual intelligence, they become monsters, also known as demons, spirits, and so on.
However, becoming a Demon Cultivator is no easy task.
Especially for some monsters with special bloodlines or unique talents, stepping onto the path of Demon Cultivation requires unimaginable hardships.
The dwarf was born within the Fire Peach Tree. Although he could transform into a human form, he was far from truly shedding his original form and becoming a Demon Cultivator.
It wasn't until the figures of Su Yi and Qingshan disappeared into the peach forest that the dwarf felt a sense of relief, patting his chest, his heart still pounding.
Then, his gaze fell to the ground, gradually becoming absorbed in the elegant and unrestrained lines of text.
Time passed, and when he suddenly snapped out of it, his face couldn't contain his overwhelming shock, joy, excitement, and trance.
"Just this technique alone is enough to completely free me from the constraints of my original form and transform into the Dao!"
The dwarf exclaimed in excitement, dancing and rejoicing.
It's no wonder he was so ecstatic. The "Nurturing Spirit Technique" bestowed by Su Yi was a cultivation mantra from the treasured scripture of Demon Dao called the "Nurturing Path Canon." It contained the profound art of "shedding forms," making it the most top-tier cultivation method in the world.
Although the dwarf didn't know the origin of this technique, how could he not appreciate its astonishing profundity?
Suddenly, he prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing in the direction Su Yi had left, his expression devout as he made a solemn vow:
"I, Tao Qingshan, will never forget the grace of the Mentor's enlightenment in this lifetime!"
...
Outside the peach forest.
Qingshan followed Su Yi cautiously, neither daring to get too close nor too far, behaving extremely obediently.
Su Yi took out over a dozen bottles of elixirs and handed them over. "Qingshan, keep these elixirs."
These elixirs were all obtained from the Six Extreme Yin Corpses and were most suitable for Yin Spirits to cultivate.
"Ah?"
Qingshan felt a little at a loss, feeling uneasy as she said, "Mentor, it's only right to receive rewards for my efforts, Qingshan..."
Just as she was about to carefully choose her words and attempt to decline, Su Yi interrupted her impatiently, "They are just some ordinary elixirs. Why be so polite? Take them!"
Qingshan trembled in fear, quickly accepting the elixirs with a guilty expression. She said apologetically, "Qingshan didn't mean to anger Mentor. From now on... Qingshan won't dare to do it again..."
Su Yi sighed lightly as he looked at her nervous appearance.
For some reason, every time he saw Qingshan's pitiful and timid appearance, he couldn't help but want to scold her a few times.
Perhaps... it was because he was angry at her lack of self-assertion?
"Mentor, are you still angry with Qingshan?"
Qingshan asked cautiously.
She tilted her head and looked at him from the side, her slightly chubby and delicate face filled with worry.
From Su Yi's perspective, she exuded a charming and silly feeling.
He couldn't help but reach out and pinch the girl's cheeks, sighing, "You silly girl, it seems like I'll have an endless amount of worries with you in the future."
After speaking, he himself started laughing.
Startled by the cheek pinch, Qingshan jumped back in surprise.
But when she saw Su Yi laughing, she couldn't help but laugh as well, her beautiful face filled with happiness.
Her brows curved, like a picturesque beauty.
Walking together, one human and one ghost, in the deep night of this desolate wilderness, neither felt lonely or desolate.
Half an hour later.
Su Yi's ears twitched as he heard faint footsteps in the distance. Although they were extremely soft, they couldn't escape his acute hearing.
He immediately stopped and casually said, "Be careful. If things go wrong, escape into the Soul-Nurturing Gourd."
Qingshan was startled but nodded in agreement.
Soon, a group of figures rushed towards them from the darkness.
There were seven of them, all dressed in black clothes, wielding weapons, and emanating a chilling aura mixed with a hint of murderous intent.
"Qingshan!"
The leader, a middle-aged man with dual blades and a grim scar on his forehead, exclaimed in a low voice.
At first glance, he saw the red-dressed girl floating in the night.
"Wasn't she taken away by that traitor Wu Ruoqiu? How could she appear here?"
"Could it be that Wu Ruoqiu has returned?"
The others became restless, seemingly surprised.
Immediately, all their gazes turned towards Su Yi, only to find that he was not Wu Ruoqiu but an unfamiliar and handsome young man.
"What is your relationship with Wu Ruoqiu, and why is Qingshan following you?"
The scarred middle-aged man, his eyes filled with caution, spoke coldly.
In the middle of the night, in the desolate wilderness where ghosts roamed, a young man appeared with Qingshan.
This scene was too unusual.
"So Wu Ruoqiu was a traitor of your Yin Demon Sect. No wonder nobody has come to bother me since he died."
Su Yi pondered for a moment and, after figuring out their identities, pointed at Qingshan, saying, "It's clear that all of you recognize her. Can you tell me her origin?"
These words made the scarred middle-aged man and his group furrow their brows, realizing two things.
First, Wu Ruoqiu was dead, and it was highly likely that he was killed by this handsome young man.
Second, this young man seemed to be unaware of Qingshan's origin!
"You want to know? Fine, hand over your Soul-Nurturing Gourd first," the scarred middle-aged man, the leader, coldly said. "It's a spiritual treasure stolen from our sect by Wu Ruoqiu. It's not something an outsider like you can possess!"
The others nearby tightened their grip on their weapons, ready to strike.
Su Yi raised his hand and threw the Soul-Nurturing Gourd over, saying, "Speak."
As the scarred middle-aged man caught the gourd, he froze for a moment, unable to believe it would be this easy.
The others were also taken aback.
Then, in their gazes towards Su Yi, the sense of caution diminished, replaced by a hint of hostility.
One of them whispered, "Senior Qian, time is running out. Those tough guys behind us will likely catch up soon..."
A flash of coldness flickered in the scarred middle-aged man's eyes, and he said, "Alright, since you want to know Qingshan's origin, come with us. We'll take you to a place where you can find out everything you want to know."
Su Yi rubbed his nose and sighed softly. "Qingshan, do they think I'm too easy to deal with?"
Before Qingshan could reply, the scarred middle-aged man's face turned cold and he snorted, "I knew this kid wasn't honest. Attack together and kill him!"
The others nearby revealed cruel smiles and rushed forward.
In an instant, blades and spears were unleashed, cutting through the silent night.
But accompanied by a clear and melodious sword chant, a cold light flashed multiple times in the night.
Then, with a clang, the cold light returned to its sheath.
Looking at the group of figures charging towards Su Yi, they all paused for a moment and fell to the ground like toppled logs.
Each person had a bright red sword wound on their throats, bleeding profusely and staining the ground.
Even in death, their faces maintained a grinning expression.
In the blink of an eye, the battle was over, the outcome decided, and life and death determined!
Su Yi stood in place, holding a bamboo staff, seemingly untouched.
But the scarred middle-aged man, the only one left, was petrified, trembling uncontrollably, drenched in cold sweat, and nearly losing his soul.
A sword as fast as lightning, instantaneous and retractable, had killed his six companions in an instant!
It was too terrifying!
"Now, do you have anything to tell me?" Su Yi asked casually, hands behind his back.
With a thud, the scarred middle-aged man knelt down, begging for mercy with a mournful voice, "Senior, spare my life! I was foolish and offended you earlier. I hope Senior can show mercy and spare this worthless life!"
"That's not what I want to hear. I'll give you one last chance. If your answer is unsatisfactory, then you'll join your companions on the journey," Su Yi said, slightly furrowing his brow.
The scarred middle-aged man trembled in fear and said, "Senior, please calm down. I'll talk, I'll talk!"
He then spilled everything he knew about Qingshan, fearing that his answers might not please Su Yi and result in a swift death.
According to his account, ten years ago, Wu Ruoqiu and their master, Weng Yunqi, betrayed the Yin Sha Sect.
During their escape, Weng Yunqi took three treasures from the Yin Sha Sect: a Soul-Nurturing Gourd that nurtured a ghost infant, a scroll that recorded the cultivation methods of ghost corpses and insects, and a mysterious Soul Jade with an unknown origin.
Qingshan, the parasitic Yin spirit, resided in the Soul Jade.
Her origin was unknown even to the older generation of evil cultivators in the Yin Sha Sect, but they all believed that her background was extraordinary.
This was evident from the Soul Jade she inhabited.