【Alibuda Chronicles】 Episodes 22-24 Author: Nongyu

【Alibuda Era Festival】
Author: Nongyu (Luo Sen)
Publisher: Hetu Publishing House

◆ Chapter 1: Like a Mirror, Like an Illusion. Water Moon Dream Gu

The Venerable of Ten Thousand Beasts, despite being a senior master, used an extremely insidious move against me. Although I have seen many storms, I was still terrified when those ten burly beastmen, who made a living by sex and claimed to be able to kill several cattle and horses, walked towards me with lewd smiles.

"You...you guys don't come any closer...don't do anything rash!"

Even I could only utter these shameful words now, retreating with a trembling voice. But the enemy grinned and pressed forward step by step. More than ten strategies flashed through my mind, but none of them could be used under such an overwhelming difference in strength.

The Venerable of Ten Thousand Beasts was too powerful. My cleverness could subtly amplify my strength, but it was impossible for me to defeat the five strongest beings who were at least two levels weaker. Perhaps Yu Hong could help me a little, but at this moment, she seemed unwell, trembling violently, clutching herself, unable to utter a sound, let alone glance in my direction.

The situation was critical. I drew the Hundred Ghost Pill from my sleeve, intending to stab, but unsure what to strike. Just thinking of the humiliation I suffered at the hands of these dozen or so burly orcs even gave me the urge to plunge the sword into myself.

(Fighting is suicide, not fighting is waiting to die, damn it, I'll fight them!)

Just as I mustered my courage, preparing to use the Hellish Lust God for a final desperate attempt, an indescribable dizziness suddenly struck my head.

This dizziness felt familiar, not unfamiliar to me; I always felt this way before Phoenix appeared. But this time was different, because I wasn't the only one experiencing this dizziness; the ten orcs were also swaying, as if they might collapse at any moment.

A strange phenomenon spread rapidly outwards like ripples. All the orcs present swayed and suffered intense dizziness, except for the Beastmaster, who remained unaffected, though he too wore a look of surprise and shock.

Then, the orcs began to clamor. Their companions appeared as if they were hateful enemies, each glaring fiercely and engaging in battle. Every orc attacked with all their might, and soon blood splattered everywhere, and people began to fall.

The most outrageous scene unfolded among the dozen or so burly orcs. While the other orcs saw terrifying enemies, these orcs seemed to see supermodels or handsome men, unanimously letting out lustful roars, pounding their chests, even their groins appearing even thicker, tongues lolling out, drool dripping, as they charged forward. If they had charged at me, I probably wouldn't have had time to unleash the Hellish Lust God before being torn to pieces by these ten orcs, each grabbing a chunk of flesh and attacking me—the sight would have been utterly gruesome. So, incredibly, their target wasn't me, but… the Venerable Beastman.

These ten orcs were fueled by their heightened lust. Their muscles bulged, and I had no doubt they could easily kill a galloping horse with a single punch. But their truly threatening killing move wasn't from them. After they charged towards the Venerable Beastman, I suddenly sensed an unusual fluctuation in the arena. Following this feeling, I looked towards Yu Hong, and what I saw shocked me.

Where Yu Hong stood, I didn't see the beautiful Feather Clan girl; instead, I saw a figure that shouldn't exist.

A purple half-mask, striking features, sword-like eyebrows, and phoenix eyes brimming with malevolence; a whisk in hand, a long sword at her waist, her robes fluttering—

this peerless demon, exuding a chilling aura, was none other than the number one expert of the Cihang Jingdian Palace, the Heart Sword Divine Nun! I was utterly shocked, nearly collapsing to the ground in fright. I couldn't fathom how this lewd and depraved master had appeared so mysteriously. But the changing situation left me no time to ponder. The Heart Sword Divine Nun drew her divine weapon, transforming into a dazzling sword light, following the group of beastmen, heading straight for the Ten Thousand Beasts Venerable.

Leaving aside the beastmen, the Heart Sword Divine Nun was on par with the Ten Thousand Beasts Venerable; the two were absolutely qualified for a spectacular battle. With such a powerful figure present, my life and chastity were safe. However, I had a nagging feeling that things weren't so simple. This Heart Sword Nun might just be Phoenix's illusion, although the aura emanating from her sword was incredibly strong, with purple currents surging around it, seemingly identical to the one she used in the duel with the Heart Lamp Hermit.

"Hmph!"

A furious snort reached my ears. I didn't see how the Beast Venerable made his move, but all the orcs who rushed towards him turned into broken kites, their chests dented, and they tumbled to the ground in a sorry state, just like the day Bai Lan Xiong was sent flying by the Beast Venerable's punch. As I had expected, besides its focus on power, the Beast King Fist must also possess some extremely fast, high-speed striking technique that surpasses the eyesight of ordinary people. It's just that this old man hadn't taught it to outsiders, keeping a secret, so the Beast King Fist he usually used didn't have this move.

However, these ten brainless orcs were merely harassment tools; the real threat was the Heart Sword Nun's sword strike. As the orcs tumbled to the ground like trash, the Heart Sword Nun's cold sword pierced through the air. Even before the sword arrived, a flash of purple lightning illuminated the area within a ten-foot radius, enveloping it in a dazzling purple light. Even the Beast Venerable was moved, but… the reason for his emotion seemed different from ours.

"The Great Circle Reflection… is it truly the Water Moon Dream Gu?"

The Beast Venerable's whisper sounded like an ordinary person's roar. I heard it, of course, but I didn't understand its meaning, and I didn't have the energy to think about it, because the Beast Venerable had finally made his move.

Unlike the feeling of casually repelling the orcs before, even though the Beast Venerable had one hand behind his back and only raised his left, a strange tremor ran through my entire body the moment he raised his left arm.

Eighth-level power!

The lightning sword thrust aimed at the Beastmaster made him take it seriously, unleashing his full power. In an instant, time seemed to stand still within a radius of several dozen feet around the Beastmaster. We saw the Beastmaster slowly raise his hand, drawing an arc, like the rising sun or the setting moon. At the end of this arc, the Beastmaster's giant hand passed through the longsword's encirclement and seized the enemy's head.

The purple lightning dissipated, and the longsword vanished. We only saw the Beastmaster holding the enemy's head, ready to crush it at any moment with a single squeeze. The enemy's appearance was strange; his entire figure was unusually blurry, sometimes resembling the Heart Sword Nun, sometimes Yu Hong, like a nightmare half-awake, looking so unreal.

"You used the Water Moon Dream Gu. Who exactly are you?"

I didn't know what the Water Moon Dream Gu was. Judging from the name alone, it sounded like some kind of summoned beast demon, its function probably being to create illusions. I'd never heard of this kind of beast demon before, but it was clearly of extraordinary significance to the Beast Venerable, causing him to lose his composure, waver, and stubbornly pursue the answer.

It's highly likely that Phoenix was the one controlling Yu Hong's attack; I can't be certain, but it's undoubtedly the most plausible explanation. Phoenix, who always possessed extraordinary abilities, seemed to have met her match with the Beast Venerable. Her illusions were ineffective; the simulated Heart Sword Divine Nun couldn't hit the Beast Venerable and was instead captured in one move.

The biggest advantage of this puppet tactic is that the actual losses are minimal. Phoenix's defeat was understandable; she ignored the Beast Venerable's questions and didn't care about Yu Hong's life or death. The once blurry figure gradually became clear; Phoenix's spirit left her body, and her physical form completely reverted to Yu Hong, collapsing unconscious under the Beast Venerable's palm.

"Hmph!"

Venerable Beasts snorted again, and anyone could feel his anger. However, despite his anger, Venerable Beasts did not kill Yu Hong. After all, he had not yet done anything with her, and it would be a pity to crush her like this.

Phoenix's retreat, though frustrating, bought me some time, but it was all in vain. Even with the orcs scattered around me, as long as the Beastmaster was still there, my situation wouldn't improve.

"Boy, you're lucky! Even in this state, someone still comes to help you." The Beastmaster looked at me and sneered, "But you can run away, but you can't hide. Now that your helper has run away, I'll see who else can save you!"

This was a question that even I was curious about. As the Beastmaster pressed closer, I thought and thought. The only person who could truly save me was Li Huamei, but unless she sensed something was wrong and turned back halfway, the chances of her suddenly appearing were extremely low.

(Uh, those ten freakish orcs have all fainted. Who will the old monster find to deal with me now? Could it be that he's going to personally take action? I didn't realize this old man had such a hobby.)

Cold sweat poured down my back. I didn't even know how to fight back. Just as I was sitting there in a state of utter despair, a beast's roar suddenly came from afar.

"Your... Your Excellency, something terrible has

happened!" The roar was powerful and resonant, belonging to a master among the orcs. For such a master to be so enraged, something major must have occurred. In that instant, the only thing that came to my mind was that the Feathered Clan had discovered that Yu Hong and I were missing and had taken countermeasures. It was possible that Ishtar's army had already surrounded this place.

(But... with the strength of the Beastmaster, even if this place is surrounded by the army of Ishtar, he should be fearless. What is there to be afraid of?)

I couldn't understand this, when I saw an old orc with a wolf's head and a human body, who seemed to be an old servant of the Beastmaster and also an elder-level expert in the orc world, rush to the Beastmaster's side like a whirlwind and whisper a few words. I couldn't hear those words, but they were obviously extraordinary, because the Beastmaster, who was originally furious, immediately changed his expression after hearing those words, as if he had heard something extremely unbelievable.

"How is this possible? Are you serious? You're not mistaken?"

"This subordinate doesn't want to believe it either, but this matter is absolutely true. Notices have been posted all over the outside, but we don't know if what the notices say is true or false. Please judge for yourself, Venerable One."

The Beastmaster's expression was uncertain, as if his emotions were fluctuating wildly, and as they spoke, their eyes kept glancing in my direction, letting me know that what they were talking about was related to me. I was filled with unease, unable to fathom what they were talking about. But whatever the changes, they were all for the best; at least I wouldn't have to face the fear of a spanking.

After a long while, the discussion between the Beast Venerables seemed to have reached a conclusion. The two of them glanced at me a few times, and finally, the Beast Venerables spoke.

"Hey, kid!"

Hearing this, I knew things had changed. The Beast Venerables didn't call me a "bastard," "scoundrel," or "beast"—these insulting terms seemed to have changed. His tone had become much gentler, albeit somewhat awkward, but it sounded like he was speaking to Bai Lanxiong, a tone that was both displeased and tinged with a hint of appreciation.

(Strange, why has the old monster changed his ways? What exactly happened outside? Never mind that, the best strategy now is to strike while the iron is hot, build some rapport with the old monster, and ease the tension.)

Having made up my mind, I immediately put it into action, prostrating myself on my knees, showering the Venerable Beast with flattery, praising him as having unparalleled martial arts skills and being a hero of great righteousness, far surpassing our Farrell family, and practically the best in the world. Sure enough, as soon as I finished speaking, the Venerable Beast's expression changed drastically.

"Boy, what do you take me for by flattering me? Do you know what I hate most in my life? Those shameless scoundrels who fawn over the powerful and trample on the weak! I'll kill any spineless scum I encounter."

These words made me break out in a cold sweat, a sense of foreboding washing over me. My flattery had backfired, and I'd angered the Venerable Beastman. My life was hanging by a thread. Just as I was about to make amends, the old beastman who had delivered the message coughed lightly, and I heard the Venerable Beastman change his tune: "However… I admire you! We beastmen are upright and honest, although…" "Many heroes, but lacking resourceful young talents. If those good-for-nothings had even a tenth of your quick wit and adaptability, why would my beast race be confined to the Southern Barbarians? We would have already dominated the world!"

Trying to ingratiate myself with the Beast Venerable was utterly impossible a few minutes ago, but now the situation had changed, albeit suddenly. Rather than saying I had successfully flattered the Beast Venerable, it was more accurate to say that the old man was eager to befriend me. So, no matter what I said, he went along with it, giving me a huge way out.

And what happened later confirmed my suspicions. When the fallen beastmen slowly rose and gathered around, ready to continue the unfinished battle, the Beast Venerable dismissed them, telling them to get out of the way and stop embarrassing themselves. He also told them to take Yu Hong aside and treat her well; if anyone dared to lay a finger on a guest, he would castrate their entire family.

This change was truly unimaginable. A beauty like Yu Hong, falling into the hands of the Beast Venerable, would be like meat on the chopping block, with no chance of escape. But the lustful Beast Venerable had actually made an exception this time, letting Yu Hong go and even treating her as a guest—a rare occurrence in decades. It was common knowledge that women on Beast God Peak were only fit to be slaves; heaven knew how long it had been since the Beast Venerable had treated a female as a guest.

Afterwards, the Beast Venerable hosted a banquet in his room, and I, as a natural guest, was served wine. This strongest being of our time personally poured me wine, engaging in lively conversation and displaying the warmth and hospitality of the beastmen when welcoming relatives and friends. Although his language was coarse, the Beast Venerable's knowledge and domineering presence truly exuded the aura of a sect leader, compelling one to admire him. Among his many recollections, the Beast Venerable was most moved by his grievances with my grandfather, Lant Farrell.

"Actually, I used to admire that old bastard Lant. He's a human, he doesn't take medicine or practice magic, he's just a body of flesh and blood, yet he's managed to cultivate his martial arts to such a superb level. He's truly a hero among men. I admire him very much and have always wanted to befriend him. I even invited him to visit Beast God Peak. Who knew that this bastard would actually, actually..."

I could vaguely imagine the situation. Inviting the Farrell clan to a place full of beautiful women and female slaves was as dangerous as letting wolves into a flock of sheep. I imagine that when Grandpa displayed his masculine charm and captured the hearts of many women, and fell madly in love with them, he also had a fierce conflict with the Venerable of Ten Thousand Beasts. Because in Grandpa's mind, women who are as delicate as flowers should be cherished and loved, not treated like livestock by the Venerable of Ten Thousand Beasts, who would say "fuck them to death" at the drop of a hat.

Which of these two different values is correct is a matter of opinion, and it's hard to reach a definitive conclusion. However, every woman needs to be cherished and loved, which is undoubtedly a very exhausting thing. The Venerable of Ten Thousand Beasts is still alive and can still fuck many women to death, but my grandfather has been dead for many years. This speaks volumes.

"That guy Lant seduced my female slaves, that's nothing. Women are just playthings, you play with them and then throw them away, what's the big deal? If a friend likes them, I'll give him dozens or hundreds, it's just a small favor. But what I can't stand the most is Lant's effeminate, coy attitude. What does he mean by women being pampered and loved? Bah! He's clearly a dignified man, how can he have such stupid ideas? As long as I'm happy, I can kill one on the first day, ten on the fifteenth, and more than a dozen on the sixteenth!"

The Beast Venerable held the wine jar and drank heartily, extremely bold, and had already drunk more than half of the jar in one go. It was clear that this was the origin of his feud with my grandfather. The two strongest people chose different "paths", and after that, they couldn't stand each other. The Beast Venerable was still dominating the Southern Barbarians, while my grandfather was rescuing poor girls who had been chosen to be on the Beast God Peak all over the Southern Barbarians, stealing the meat that the Beast Venerable was about to eat. The two of them finally became enemies.

At this point, I felt a bit sorry for the Venerable Beastman. If it were me, and some self-proclaimed hero kept rescuing women from my clutches, claiming to be the good guy while I was the bad guy, I would definitely kill him too. Based on this thought, I was siding with the Venerable Beastman, speaking ill of my grandfather. Little did I know that this would enrage the Venerable Beastman. He raised his hand and slammed it on the wooden table, instantly shattering the thick mahogany tabletop and spilling all the food and wine on the floor.

"You beast! You coward, you'd betray even your own elders in front of the enemy, you have no backbone at all! That sissy Lant may have abducted my female slave and is incredibly effeminate, but he's a master of martial arts, a chivalrous and righteous man, a true hero. How could you be such a traitorous descendant? Do you know what I hate most is a shameless scoundrel like you!"

His words boomed like thunder, leaving me dizzy. I hadn't expected my flattery to backfire so badly. The Beast Lord outwardly hated my grandfather Lant, but inwardly admired his heroism and righteousness, and wouldn't allow anyone to insult his reputation. How could I have known such a charlatan? This was a real miscalculation.

However, when the warning cough sounded again, the enraged Beast Lord not only stopped speaking but immediately changed his tune.

"But... a wise man knows when to yield. That guy Lant is very skilled in martial arts, but his thinking is too effeminate. You were able to recognize the situation and abandon the darkness for the light, which shows that your talent far surpasses that sissy's. This must be thanks to your maternal bloodline. In recent years, what I admire most is a clever young man like you who is flexible and adaptable. You will surely achieve great things in the future. Come, come, let's drink three hundred cups together. Don't be shy, hahaha~~"

The laughter was deafening. Although the transition was abrupt, it was quite pleasing to the ear. However, I didn't quite understand what was wrong with the Beast Venerable. Why did he suddenly seem so afraid of offending me? Even if my perverted father and Li Huamei joined forces and killed him with their swords pressed against his head, they couldn't do this. So why would he...

The following situation was nothing special. I had a "pleasant chat" with the Beast Venerable. In this atmosphere, I not only devised a plan to escape, but also tried to gain more benefits. For example, the joke I made with Li Huamei about setting up a battle between the Beastmaster and the Headless Knight doesn't seem so far-fetched anymore.

"Your Excellency, this humble one was blind and abducted two of your concubines. I am deeply sorry and will now punish myself with three cups of wine to apologize."

Abducting someone else's concubines is a major taboo among the Southern Barbarian Beastmen. Under normal circumstances, let alone punishing oneself with three cups of wine, even chopping off three limbs as an apology wouldn't be enough. But after hearing my words, the Beastmaster waved his hand dismissively and laughed heartily.

"A mere big-breasted lowly slave, what's so great about her? If you like her, take her back and have your way with her. No need to ask about such trivial matters. I have several hot beauties on Beast God Peak. If you're interested, come down to Beast God Peak and take them all. Hehehe, just remember to work hard and get them all pregnant as soon as possible, so they can give birth to some chubby babies. That way, this old man won't have to worry, hehehe."

Huh? This is really strange. Whether I have a son or when I have a son is a matter for the Farrell family. I don't even worry about it myself, so why should the old man worry about it? And who is this so-called old man?

The more I thought about it, the stranger and more confused I became. But I didn't forget my original purpose and began to subtly change the subject. First, I praised the Beast Master's unparalleled martial arts skills, extolling him to the heavens. Then I brought up the Ghost Ship battle that ravaged the East Sea, mentioning the power of the Headless Horseman, saying that even Li Huamei admitted she was no match for him. I used these words to provoke the Beast Master's resentment.

The Beast Master, this old fox, wasn't so easily fooled. When I mentioned the Headless Horseman, his expression changed, and he immediately launched an attack.

"You brat! This isn't just pushing your luck, you're practically riding on my head! You're incredibly audacious! Do you really think I won't kill you?"

The Beast Venerable roared in fury, his mane bristling with rage, making him look like a lion about to devour someone. But this time, I spoke first, before the warning cough could even ring out.

"Of course," I said calmly. "I can already tell you wouldn't dare hurt or kill me. If you don't know how to take advantage of this opportunity, to extort me, and make exorbitant demands, what are you doing here? You might as well go home and farm."

This blatantly confident attitude surprised the Beast Venerable, his anger subsiding. He asked in surprise, "Boy, you're quite bold. What makes you so sure I wouldn't hurt or kill you?"

"Because orcs are known for their directness, and Your Excellency is a prime example of an orc, if you truly wanted to kill me, you would have done so long ago, instead of spending half a day drinking with me. Although I don't know why, whether you have a request for me or are interested in my body, any absurd reason is possible. In any case, my idea should be correct."

I spoke with full confidence, and this reaction actually earned the appreciation of the Venerable Beastman. He gave me a thumbs up and laughed loudly, "Good, kid, you speak well. Since you've discovered an opportunity, of course you should seize it. If you can take advantage of it, take it! I admire your personality. Well done!"

Unlike the previous two times, when the praise seemed insincere, this time... I felt that the Venerable Beastman's appreciation was genuine; he truly admired me as a person. I really couldn't figure out why.

What happened next was even more unexpected. The Beast Master patted my shoulder and nodded, saying, "You wanted me to fight the Headless Knight? That's to be my intermediary for Ishtar. Heh heh, what did Ishtar give you? Did you sleep with Ishtar's most beautiful woman? Isn't their country only populated by transvestites?"

I was too embarrassed to answer. I thought to myself that the Beast Master was indeed a seasoned veteran. He had completely seen through my intentions after just a few words. He was a shrewd man despite his rough exterior. If I treated him as a brute, I would be the biggest fool.

However, just when I thought this clumsy plan had failed and I was about to think of another way, the Beast Master laughed loudly and said, "Good. Go back and tell Ishtar's lackeys that I have a request. If they agree, I will fight the Headless Knight and see who is the strongest of the strong!" The Beast Master

had seen through my intentions and was willingly jumping into the trap. I was surprised and felt that the request must be extraordinary, so I quickly and cautiously pressed for an answer.

"The condition is simple: they liberate all orc slaves within their borders. Using this as a condition to avert a national catastrophe seems like a good deal, doesn't it?"

This condition was more than just good; it was downright ruthless. Allowing the Headless Horseman to continue his rampage would indeed lead to the downfall of Ishtar, but liberating all the slaves would also shake the very foundations of Ishtar. I didn't think Ishtar would agree, but I had to admire that if there was ever a time when Ishtar might agree, it would be now. The Beastmaster had indeed seized the best opportunity. I didn't think Ishtar would be easy to talk to, but at least they weren't completely untouchable. For the Beastmaster to make such a promise was far beyond what I had expected. Having received such a promise, there was no point in staying any longer. I left with Yu Hong, bidding farewell to the orcs. The Beastmaster even arranged a way to contact me and welcomed me to visit him anytime for a drink.

"Impossible! The Beast Master has never had any goodwill towards humans. He couldn't possibly treat you like this."

On the way back, Yu Hong was so astonished when she heard my account of my encounter with the Beast Master that her jaw nearly dropped to the ground. Actually, I couldn't figure out the key point either. Why did the Beast Master suddenly change his attitude?

Was it related to Phoenix? However, the Beast Master didn't seem to be fooled by illusions. Although Phoenix tried to save me, she obviously didn't succeed. At most, she only bought me some time, and then the situation changed. Or rather... what Phoenix wanted was just to buy time? Then there's only one key question left.

When the old orc servant rushed in to report to the Venerable Beastman, he said some puzzling things, including the phrase "the outside is plastered with notices." In other words, the content of the notices was the reason why the Venerable Beastman changed his attitude.

Thinking this, I walked side by side with Yu Hong. When we turned a corner and came to the main road near the inn, a large number of notices were posted on the walls on both sides. These notices, written in black and white, all said the same thing. "What... what does this say?"
◆ Episode 2: Son of the Phoenix. The Source of Many Secrets

On the long street near the inn, the walls on both sides were covered with large notices. Every notice had the same message. From a distance, it looked like a large supermarket was having a sale. People were pointing and talking about the notices, attracted by the message on them.

Normally, I wouldn't be very interested in this kind of thing, but this time the news was related to me. To be more precise, all those notices had my name on them, and if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it.

"John Farrell is the son of the Phoenix Goddess!"

That one sentence was written on countless notices, plastered all over several streets. With such a big deal of work, and considering how fast rumors spread, probably all of Ishtar now knows who my mother is, and even the entire Loess Plateau will be in the news within a day.

"Damn it, who did this?"

Although I didn't have any aversion to my mother, no one would like to have their background plastered all over several streets, attracting countless onlookers. But after the brief anger subsided, I immediately realized the crux of the problem.

I am the son of the Phoenix Goddess, that's no secret, but originally only a limited number of people knew. In Ishtar, those who knew were from the Feather Clan. Now this matter is plastered all over the walls, and no matter how you look at it, it can't be separated from Katrina and the others.

"Hey! What's going on? Who came up with this idea? Posting my story all over the street?"

I returned to the inn angrily with Yu Hong. I had just started cursing when a large group of people hurriedly surrounded us, chattering and marveling at our safe return.

"What happened to you two? Were you really captured by the Beast Venerable?"

"As soon as we discovered you were missing, we mobilized all our forces to search for you. Even Narcissus sent people to assist, but we couldn't find you anywhere. Everyone said you were in grave danger. How did you manage to get back?"

"Yes, the Beast Venerable never lets anyone live. Why did he let you come back? This is unbelievable."

A large group of bird women surrounded me and Yu Hong, talking to me. I didn't have the energy to explain. I left Yu Hong behind to deal with this troublesome issue and headed straight for the inn, where I met Katrina, A Xue, and Bai Lan Xiong, who were running out.

"Master, are you alright? You scared me to death!"

A Xue rushed up and gave me a warm hug. Her pair of swaying breasts pressed against my chest, which did have a calming effect. Bai Lan Xiong, unusually, was without a woman by his side and looked at me with disbelief, as if he couldn't believe I had escaped from the Beast Venerable.

"Stop talking nonsense and tell me first. Whose idea was it to post notices everywhere about my mother?"

This question was the crux of the matter. After Bai Lanxiong said that Yu Hong and I had disappeared, everyone was frantic, at a loss for what to do. It was Katrina who scolded everyone, ordering them to go outside and post as many notices as possible.

"Is that so? Chieftain, I think you owe me an explanation."

"Don't worry, I'll explain it to you. Be patient."

Katrina reassured me, but her answer was beyond my expectations, involving someone who wasn't even here.

"What? A delinquent middle-aged man? What does this have to do with him? He's currently hiding in the Golden Finch Federation, living a life of pleasure. Why is this related to him?"

What I hadn't expected was that this matter was indeed related to Mao Yan'an. Since the ghost ship incident in the East China Sea, Katrina and Mao Yan'an have maintained contact, even after arriving in Ishtar. Katrina recently sensed the appearance of the Beast Lord and feared for our safety. Mao Yan'an's reply included a brocade pouch, instructing her to open it in case of an emergency.

"A brocade pouch? What's this? Just a bunch of mystification."

I took the note from Katrina and read it carefully. It was indeed the handwriting of a shady middle-aged man. It clearly stated that if I were in danger, I should go to the surrounding streets and use the most conspicuous method to let all the people of Ishtar know about my origins.

Mao Yan'an was indeed incredibly resourceful. Even though he wasn't here, his wisdom still saved me once. The method indicated on the note worked, allowing Yu Hong and me to escape. But what I didn't understand was, so what if I'm the son of the Phoenix Goddess? Why did the Beast Lord completely change after hearing about my origins?

When the Feathered Clan dominated the Southern Barbarians, the Venerable Beast was enjoying a life of luxury in seclusion on Beast God Peak. Logically, the Venerable Beast and my mother shouldn't have had any interaction, and he wouldn't have completely changed his demeanor upon hearing I was the son of the Phoenix Celestial Maiden.

My previous guess was indeed correct. The Feathered Clan's dominance over the Southern Barbarians must have stemmed from some secret agreement with the Venerable Beast. Perhaps the Feathered Clan offered the Venerable Beast some benefits in exchange for his support and tacit approval of their ambitions. Otherwise, the Feathered Clan would have already clashed with the Venerable Beast long ago, and their peaceful coexistence wouldn't have continued.

Although I can't fathom the Feathered Clan's terms, they must have been substantial. Otherwise, even now, with the Phoenix Celestial Maiden missing for so long, the Venerable Beast wouldn't have reacted with such a change in attitude upon hearing my mother's name, like a dog seeing a big bone, practically wagging its tail.

(Hmm, no, if it were a secret pact between the Feathered Clan and the Beastmaster, then the Beastmaster wouldn't have stood by and watched the Feathered Clan wither away, and the Feathered Clan wouldn't have been completely unaware of this. This matter... must be an agreement between the Beastmaster and the Phoenix Celestial Maiden!)

After some thought, I came to this conclusion. The reason is simple: given the Phoenix Celestial Maiden's personality, her self-interest should be above the interests of her clan, which is why she allied with the Beastmaster but didn't tell her clan this secret. As for why I understand the Phoenix Celestial Maiden's selfish intentions so well, it's simple... because she is my mother.

(Could it be that Mother and the Beast Venerable have an affair? Is that why the Beast Venerable favors me? This conclusion is reasonable, but the timeline doesn't add up. Long before Mother was born, the Feather Clan had already dominated the Southern Barbarians. Even if there was a secret agreement, it was made by the Phoenix Celestial Maiden even earlier.)

As a son, having to guess who my mother had an affair with is a very complicated feeling, especially when I think of the extremely lewd records Bai Lanxiong mentioned. I feel like every man I see is my godfather. This feeling... is really strange.

What is the alliance between the Beast Venerable and the Phoenix Celestial Maiden? Only the two of them probably know. However, perhaps there is another person who knows as well, and that is Mao Yan'an, who sent this sneaky brocade pouch.

"Clan leader, when the scoundrel middle-aged man sent the brocade pouch, did he say anything to you?"

I pressed Katrina for an answer. Katrina shook her head repeatedly, indicating that she knew nothing about it. She had no idea what the contents of the brocade pouch were beforehand, nor did she know why the plan had worked.

"You are the son of the Phoenix Celestial Maiden, so what? My clan has no connection with the Beast Venerable. Her Majesty the Queen would occasionally send some gifts to Beast God Peak as a sign of respect, but those were hardly lavish gifts. It is said that the Beast Venerable was also very dissatisfied with Her Majesty the Queen. I really don't know why he would release him for your mother's sake?"

"Never mind that complicated question for now, Chieftain. I'd like to ask you why that scoundrel left you the brocade pouch? Something so important, he should have entrusted it to me directly."

It wasn't jealousy, just a question from someone directly involved, but Katrina's cheeks suddenly flushed red upon hearing my words. Her usually radiant and elegant demeanor transformed into that of a shy young girl, leaving Bai Lanxiong and me dumbfounded. We marveled at the uncle's exceptional womanizing skills, how he could so easily win a woman's heart.

Thinking about it carefully, Mao Yan'an had been traveling in and out of the Southern Barbarian Lands for over a decade to investigate the truth behind Phoenix Island's disappearance. Even if he had discovered something, it wouldn't be surprising. What I hated most was that this old man clearly knew, yet deliberately acted as if nothing was wrong, not uttering a single word in front of me, creating this mystery of the brocade pouch—it was utterly despicable.

"Understood, I won't ask anymore. Who can run an errand and ask Narcissus to come over? I have important matters to discuss with this demoness."

Although the conditions offered by the Beastmaster were vicious and harsh, they were nothing short of a glimmer of hope for me. If successful, Li Huamei wouldn't have to fight the Headless Horseman alone, and the danger would be greatly reduced. So, despite knowing the high difficulty, I still hoped to facilitate this and alleviate Li Huamei's pressure.

Narcissus, having received my summons, arrived almost immediately. Now we were all in the same boat. Whether it was the dark summoned beasts or the Headless Horseman, Narcissus would find me extremely useful. If I were torn to pieces by the Beastmaster, she would lose her leverage in vying for power with the royal family. Therefore, my safety was of utmost concern to Narcissus.

"That's wonderful! You're safe and sound! This good news is more exciting than anything else!" Narcissus was overjoyed to see me safe and sound, almost ready to hug and kiss me. "Huh? Why did the Beastmaster let you come back? Don't tell me you single-handedly defeated the orc army and returned in triumph. That kind of lie is too lame; it can only fool a woman."

"Heh, the reason is indeed very complicated, but to put it simply, the Beastmaster sent me back to deliver a message."

I glossed over the complicated situation and got to the point. Narcissus seemed surprised, but quickly realized that the message was directed at her. Her expression turned serious, telling me to get to the point.

"It's simple. The Beastmaster asked me to bring you good news and bad news." I laughed. "The good news is that the Beastmaster is willing to help us kill the Headless Knight. We now have a top-tier expert as our commander. Congratulations! You should treat us to a midnight snack."

Given our current situation, this news is like a godsend, extremely good. However, Narcissus wasn't fooled by this good news. Her expression turned even colder than before, and she said in a chilling voice, "It really is good news, but there's no such thing as a free lunch, is there? What conditions did the old monster offer?"

I shrugged and said, "Nothing much. The Beastmaster is a national hero with a lot of courage. As long as you're willing to liberate all the beastman slaves in the country and let them return to the Southern Barbarians, the Beastmaster will be happy to tear the Headless Knight into eighteen pieces for you."

"He wants us to agree to liberate the slaves? Dream on!"

Narcissa rejected my conditions outright. And in the next quarter of an hour, things went exactly as I expected. Enraged, Narcissa yelled and cursed at me, saying that I was conspiring with the Beastmaster to overthrow Ishtar. She said she would never fall for it, and even if Ishtar fought the Headless Horseman to the last man, she would never let the Beastmaster have his way.

I remained silent, not uttering a single word from beginning to end, simply watching Narcissus quietly. Several minutes later, Narcissus, seemingly exhausted from her tirade, quieted down and met my gaze. After a long while, I spoke calmly, "Are you calm now?"

"Hmm, yes, I'm calm now." Narcissus glared at me, saying each word clearly, "You'd better understand that if anyone finds out we're discussing this, we could both be treated as traitors and die without a burial place. That's a capital offense in Ishtar." I shrugged and said

, "If the Headless Horseman continues his rampage, Ishtar will be wiped out sooner or later. Then, there won't be a single living person left in the entire country. Let's see who sentences us to death then."

Narcissus was indeed a formidable woman; after a brief moment of anger, she quickly regained her composure and considered the practicalities of the situation. The reality is that the Headless Horseman isn't necessarily invincible. Li Huamei alone might be able to fight him to a standstill, even with a slight chance of victory. However, each time the Headless Horseman appears, the vengeful spirits it summons, the undead army it generates, and the accompanying widespread plague of corpses are all factors that render it helpless. No matter how skilled Li Huamei is, these factors will inevitably lead to her defeat.

If a powerhouse of Alan Fastan's caliber were still alive, they could provide support, but Ishtar's elite warriors have already been wiped out in previous battles and can offer little assistance. Now, Li Huamei is isolated and without support, and her chances of defeating the Headless Horseman are less than 20%. To truly improve her chances, she needs a top-tier expert to join the fight.

These are the practical considerations, not yet taking into account political calculations. Li Huamei is currently a mercenary hired by the royal faction. If she were to successfully defeat the Headless Horseman, the royal faction would be at its peak, while the Society faction, led by Narcissa, would be in a very disadvantageous position—something Narcissa would certainly not want to see.

"Hmm... this matter is too significant, and it's not something I can decide alone. I can't give you an immediate answer,"

Narcissa rubbed her temples, responding wearily. The fact that she could quickly calm down after such a shock was enough to prove she was no ordinary person, but conversely, the fact that she was so shocked she lost her composure also indicated the seriousness of the matter.

I didn't say anything more, because the most important message had been conveyed. Narcissa would handle the rest herself; I, an outsider, didn't need to do anything unnecessary. Instead…

"You came here not only to check on my condition, but there must be something else you want to say, right?" I asked. "The appearance of the Beastmaster was completely sudden. What happened to your trump card for dealing with this situation?"

"You mean… the preparations to open the boundary tunnel?"

Narcissa was completely candid with me, discussing the top secrets being pursued by the Witch God Society. Opening a boundary tunnel to deal with the Headless Horseman is Narcissa's strategy, but this magic involves too many aspects. Ishtar has only completed the basic theory of this magic and has not yet implemented it. Narcissa claims to be very confident, but she is actually quite uneasy, so she always discusses the theory of this magic with me in secret.

According to Narcissa, although the theory of this magic is complex, the method of implementation is quite traditional. Basically, it uses a super-large and complex magic circle, relying on skilled magicians to chant incantations, gather magic power, and open the boundary tunnel.

Although the scale of the magic circle is large and the number of magicians involved is large, with a national-level power like Ishtar as its backing, it is not a difficult task. At least it is much easier than some things that cannot be done by manpower alone. If it requires things like dragon corpse grass, celestial blood, or Bahamut stone, even if Ishtar uses the entire nation's resources to prepare them, it may not be possible to produce them.

Every magic has technical difficulties, especially super-large-scale magic like this. The most crucial aspect of this magic for opening realms is the need for a sorcerer with exceptional magical sensitivity to stand at the array's core, chant incantations, and sense the spatial rift to gather magical power and open the passage.

Generally, aside from a very few exceptionally gifted magical talents, the higher a sorcerer's magical cultivation, the stronger their sensitivity to magical power. However, sensing something as inconceivable as a spatial rift is something even the five strongest sorcerers might not be able to do. Therefore, simply relying on high magical power is not very meaningful; special talent is needed to have any hope of success, and this is precisely what Ishtar has always lacked.

"The cursed woman who can open the boundary tunnel was born for this purpose. She has the strongest sensitivity to spatial rifts. With her as the core of the array, the chances of success are as high as 87%. The most difficult part is solved."

"It sounds easy. So what do you want Xue to do? Surely she won't lose any hands or feet after this round of casting spells?"

"Why make it so terrifying? Do you think we are demons? We just want her to sing some songs and chant some incantations. Although gathering such powerful energy will be a bit tiring, there is absolutely no danger to her life. I can guarantee you that."

The thing I was most worried about when I asked Xue to cooperate in casting the spell was Xue's safety. The worst-case scenario is that we abandon the situation and let the Headless Horseman destroy Ishtar. We absolutely cannot let Ashe be harmed for such a pointless matter. Besides…

“By the way, there’s something I need to tell you. My foolish apprentice now considers orcs her own people and might even be secretly involved in the revolution to liberate them. If you happen to catch her doing something illegal, please have mercy on her and don’t kill her, otherwise there will be no one to serve as the core of the formation.”

“Is that so?”

Narcissa was taken aback, then felt the pressure I was putting on her. This was because the other meaning of my words was that unless Ishtar liberated the slaves, it would be very difficult to get Ashe to willingly perform the spell.

"I understand. I also want to let you know that the spell will be cast in Baghdad. The large magic circle is already under construction in secret, and it will be ready to be cast once it's completed."

Narcissus spoke casually, but I wanted to smile wryly. Large magic circles like this are incredibly complex, far beyond the comprehension of laypeople. Some parts even have special limitations, preventing the use of magic to aid construction; they must be meticulously hand-carved by a sorcerer. It's not uncommon for such large magic circles to take a year or two to complete. Narcissus's ability to gather everyone and finish within a month is already incredibly fast. I just hope the Headless Horseman hasn't slaughtered Ishtar by then.

As for other information, Ishtar is diligently investigating the whereabouts of the Black Witch, but there's no concrete news yet.

"Then… have you found any information about the Headless Horseman's life five hundred years ago?"

"I have some leads, though not very clear, but I can piece together some outlines."

Narcissus nodded, sharing the information she had gathered with me. Five hundred years ago, there was indeed a dark organization on earth, known as the Dark Palace. This organization had been fighting against the Cihang Jingdian for thousands of years, and its power far surpassed that of Ishtar today.

During the Warring States period five hundred years ago, the Dark Palace was at the height of its power. Not only did it have many masters loyal to it, but it also developed many powerful magic spells, all for destructive military purposes. Its prestige soared, and the leaders of the Dark Palace were full of confidence. They prepared to settle the entanglements that had lasted for thousands of years in this Warring States period and completely destroy their nemesis, the Cihang Jingdian. From then on, there would only be the Dark Palace in the world, and no more so-called Light Palace to get in the way.

Judging solely from the historical records and data left from that time, the Dark Palace indeed possessed such capabilities. Their magical level had reached its peak in thousands of years, and the organization was filled with experts. Not only did they have a powerful group of mages, but they also had evil super-martial artists who had undergone physical modifications since childhood. This surging evil force easily engulfed the land in the early stages of the war, leaving the Cihang Jingdian completely powerless to resist, and the world was shrouded in darkness.

If things had continued as they were, the Dark Palace could have easily destroyed the world or become the masters of the earth. Unfortunately, fate seemed to disagree with this idea, and so, the will of heaven changed the situation. Just when the Dark Palace was winning victory after victory and the light was about to be extinguished, an inconspicuous newcomer to the martial arts world added an undercurrent to the chaotic situation.

"That young man wasn't a brilliant sage, nor a powerful warrior. Even by magic standards, he was rather clumsy. He was slow to learn, inept at handling things, and utterly clueless when it came to women. He knew nothing and could do nothing..."

Narcissus's description made me think that guy was beyond redemption, a complete coward. I'd probably be a nameless corpse on the battlefield after just a small test. I've seen too many things like this. Yet, it's often these kinds of people who, if they can endure the dangers of the battlefield and survive repeatedly, become the strongest legendary figures. Their character traits are honed and shine, and they might even become leaders. So, just listening to Narcissus say this much, I was already certain that this person would play a crucial role, leading the forces of light to restore order.

"He didn't claim to be on the side of justice; it was only through a series of unfortunate coincidences that he eventually joined forces with the Cihang Jingdian faction to fight against the Dark Divine Palace. Although the Dark Divine Palace was powerful and its magical strength was at its peak, making it difficult for any sorcerer in the world to contend with, this man, with his strange and unseen magic, repeatedly defeated powerful enemies. In addition, he possessed a bewitching attraction to women, and his ever-growing number of female confidantes bolstered his forces. After several victories, the Dark Divine Palace actually suffered heavy losses and dared not underestimate him anymore."

Such stories are familiar from many ancient poems, and I probably know the rest of the story without Narcissus telling me.

It's not hard to imagine that victories are like a trend; after several victories, there's a series of more victories. When good fortune is on its side, even city walls can't stop it, until a crucial major battle breaks out, and the Dark Divine Palace truly wakes up and realizes that it is already at a disadvantage. The discovery was correct, but it was too late. Everything was beyond repair. They could only accept a series of defeats, watching helplessly as the gap in strength between the two sides widened. In disbelief and astonishment, they

vaguely foresaw their own future. I could have foreseen all of this, but it seemed irrelevant to the Headless Horseman. I figured Narcissus wouldn't waste my time, so the real main event should begin now.

"...The Dark Palace has suffered repeated defeats and fallen into a disadvantageous position. Although the situation is unfavorable, even a centipede with a hundred legs will not die easily. Besides their own formidable strength, they still hold an ace in their hand,"

Narcissa said. "That ace is an evil knight trained by the Dark Palace for many years. Cold-blooded, cruel, and bloodthirsty, he was instilled from childhood with the belief of absolute obedience to the Dark Palace and a willingness to die for the organization. Not only is he a peerless martial artist, but he also possesses a powerful magical ability due to his special physique, which, combined with his martial arts, makes him a true dual-wielding super warrior, leading the Dark Palace's troops and becoming invincible on the battlefield."

As Narcissa spoke, she spoke with a wistful longing, revealing that she was actually incredibly envious. She probably wanted to emulate him and train an absolutely loyal super warrior to strengthen her own forces.

However, such a good thing is rare in this world. Besides, even such a powerful super warrior eventually perished. What intrigues me most is... how exactly did they defeat him? From these accounts, the Headless Horseman was a master of both magic and martial arts in his lifetime, a super prodigy like the Black Dragon King. In today's terms, his strength would definitely surpass the five strongest warriors. It's unlikely such a powerful warrior would be defeated by brute force; the most probable method is some kind of cunning scheme.

Heh heh, don't think the righteous side is without guile. If they didn't even have that basic intelligence, all righteous people would be dead long ago. Often, the reason righteous heroes can defeat demon kings is precisely because these heroes are more cunning and despicable than the demon kings themselves.

"...Even the most perfect warrior has a flaw in his heart. This evil knight, though invincible, unfortunately fell in love with someone he shouldn't have, and that person happened to be on the opposing side. In the battle that determined the fate of the Dark Temple, the evil knight was distracted by a letter from his lover pleading for help, preventing him from participating in the battle. By the time he realized something was wrong, the battle was already over, and the evil knight was left alone, becoming a remnant of the Dark Temple. He was besieged by warriors and mages from all over the land, endured a series of fierce battles, fought his way to the sea, and finally, overwhelmed with shame and indignation, committed suicide." This is indeed an old and tired scheme, but old schemes are often good schemes, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to be used so many times and become the headless knight.

I frowned and said, "This information is very helpful, but do you have information on the Headless Horseman's lover? That's the most crucial thing."

Narcissus shook her head. "We can't find it yet. A large group of people are searching through the secret vaults of the Baghdad library, hoping to find something soon, but... the mastermind behind this plan has already been found, and he has some connection to you."

I asked in surprise, "Me? Are you kidding me? That was at least five hundred years ago, what does it have to do with me?"

Narcissus said, "The mastermind behind this plan is that young man who led the Cihang Jingdian to victory and knows some strange magic."

"Young man? What does that have to do with me? I'm not into gay stuff..." At this point, I suddenly remembered something and exclaimed in astonishment, "Wait, you're not going to tell me that the young man's name is..."

Narcissus laughed, "That's right, you guessed it, the young man's name is Famit Xiu Kamu!"

◆ Chapter 3: The Cycle of Cause and Effect. A Century of Blood Debt

I never thought that when someone's luck is down, anything can happen. Basically, my eccentric and withdrawn personality is already quite unlikable, but with my unscrupulous grandfather and father, I'm even more detestable. I've been hunted since childhood.

I'm used to my own debts and my family's debts. From a young age, I've faced avengers coming to settle scores, with all sorts of overt and covert "debt collection" actions. Even if I wanted to defy my fate, those avengers wouldn't listen to me. After all, besides bullying the weak, these guys couldn't find any other way to vent their resentment.

But accepting my fate is one thing, but if another debt inexplicably appears in front of me, I'll get really angry. I haven't finished settling my family debts and my own debts, and I never expected to have a "cultivation debt" added on top of that. Although it's said that in this life, others don't owe us anything, and even if we owe others, I really didn't expect that even learning the skills of the deceased would leave behind a debt from five hundred years ago, and such a large one at that.

"Wait, what did you just say? Say it again, what's that young man's name?"

For a fleeting moment, I hoped I'd misheard, that Narcissa had said a different name, or perhaps it was just a coincidence. However, such things rarely happen. Narcissa shattered my fragile hopes with a smug, triumphant smile.

"You heard me right. That young man's name is Famit Xiu Kamu, the one known as the most lecherous magician in history."

Narcissa laughed. "So, the Headless Horseman and you might have a deep-seated grudge, because five hundred years ago, Famit designed a way to prevent the Headless Horseman from participating in the war, ultimately leading to his untimely death on the seashore. Now, you're the only one who inherited Famit's skills. Doesn't that make you enemies meeting again, bound to be furious?"

Hearing Narcissa's laughter, I could only curse inwardly. Having learned something, it's only right to pay tuition, not to mention I also inherited the Yellow Crystal. Even if I were to do something for Famit, it would be understandable. But whatever the case, could you please not leave behind such a huge monster? This kind of super monster even surpasses the level of the strongest beings today. I'm just a lustful little magician; what do I have to offer to fight it?

"Don't be too discouraged! Famit's six dark summons were invincible five hundred years ago. As the inheritor of lewd magic, as long as you can use the dark summons, why would you need to be afraid of the Headless Horseman?"

"Hey, do you even have a brain? Or are you just asking a question you already know the answer to? Even you said that Famit planned to lure the Headless Horseman away before daring to engage in the final battle. If the dark summons could easily defeat the Headless Horseman, would Famit need to resort to such methods?"

My questioning stunned Narcissa. It seemed she really hadn't thought of this point, and only after I pointed it out did she ask me what to do.

"What else can I do? I'll do what Famit did five hundred years ago, just like I did it again."

"You mean... you're going to use dark summons to fight the Headless Horseman?"

"Hey, don't make up things that people didn't do. What I mean is, you guys need to find the bait Famit used back then, which is the remains of the Headless Horseman's lover... I'll try to trick the Headless Horseman into dying again with those bones, or... if I can trick it into sleeping for another hundred years or so, then I'll be free from this calamity."

"No guts! Can't you fight like a man?"

"Fight like a man? For whom? I say, Miss Transvestite, do you know that men, like pensions, cost money!"

I immediately shut down Narcissus's instigation. Asking me to be a man in this situation is like asking me to jump into an oil pool with a torch. I politely decline.

Implementing tactics requires information, but Narcissa can't provide it right now. I can't blame her for that, because she's already uncovered crucial information we didn't know in such a short time. Even though it sounds like a bolt from the blue to me, hearing it now is better than finding out when the Headless Horseman is charging at me.

"By the way, there's something I've always wanted to know: why did the Headless Horseman save your little apprentice that day?"

"How would I know? Surely the Headless Horseman wasn't itching to show off his skills? I taught Xue, I didn't give birth to her, how would I know so much?"

I've thought about this many times, but I can't figure it out. The Headless Horseman doesn't even have a head, so it couldn't possibly be lustful, wanting to take advantage of Xue's beauty. What was his reason for acting? I still can't understand it.

The investigation task is still being handled by Narcissa, but I need her for logistical support in another way.

"These are the magical potions you asked me to prepare for you last time. I've prepared them for you. You said they were important for dealing with the Headless Horseman, but I had someone check them out. Although these dozens of potions are expensive, they're all outdated. No powerful magic needs to use them. Some haven't even been used as potions for hundreds of years."

Hehehe, these alone can't produce any powerful magic, but combined with the potions I have, they're incredibly effective, practically bubbly.

"Even if you have other secret ingredients, the magicians at the Witch God Society have searched through countless books these past few days, trying to create the potions, but they haven't found any possible magical uses. I really don't understand, what are you going to use these potions for?"

Hehehe, the high-level use of erotic magic potions, the top-secret aphrodisiac formulas, can only be understood by those who have inherited the art of erotic magic. If you, a transvestite, can understand them, then you are the inheritor of erotic magic. What use am I to you?

"Although we can't find the answer, I'm not completely ignorant of you. Judging from your personality, I can guess a little bit. So... are these potions really meant to deal with the Headless Horseman?"

"Hahahaha, with these potions, I'll sleep with the women I want, and naturally I'll feel great. My mind will be clear, my head will be strong, and I'll be able to devise a scheme to take down the Headless Horseman. So, of course, these are for dealing with the Headless Horseman.

" "Hmm...it seems I wasted my breath. That's right, if you were so easily discouraged, you wouldn't be the audacious John Farrell."

Hearing Narcissus say this, I felt a mix of emotions. Someone once said that a true friend is often the best enemy, and vice versa. Narcissus's familiarity with my personality meant I didn't need to say much; she could fully grasp my situation and offer advice. But with so many women around me, she probably doesn't know which one I'm going to target, right?

"In short, you won't listen to my advice, but I still have to say it: Bai Mudan is an expert in this field. She travels the world alone, and there are bound to be lecherous scoundrels who want to rape her, yet she has managed to remain chaste. This proves that her abilities are not as simple as they seem. Be careful."

Narcissus said, seeing that I was clearly blinded by lust and wouldn't listen, she shook her head and said no more. In the end, she herself had a pair of thorny issues to worry about. The demands made by the Venerable of Ten Thousand Beasts, no matter what she ultimately decides, will likely involve a complicated mental journey. At least for the next few days, I think she won't have many peaceful days.

"Oh...ah...Master...hold Ah Xue...oh...ah ah...ah...my chest...is getting hot again..."

Having escaped from the clutches of the Beast Master, the first thing I had to deal with was Ah Xue's burning desire. Although it wasn't spring, and the beasts weren't in heat yet, Ah Xue's lust would explode like ignited explosives after using black magic, uncontrollably. Besides masturbation, she relied on me for help.

Lying flat on the large bed, Ah Xue's naked body was covered with a layer of glistening sweat. I spread her fair and tender thighs apart, her anus hot, tightly enveloping my penis.

I grasped Ah Xue's large breasts with both hands, kneading, pinching, rubbing, and twisting them. At first, I only gently thrust in and out, while Ah Xue wildly writhed her smooth, snow-white, plump buttocks in response.

The master and apprentice were already familiar with each other's bodies. Ah Xue automatically raised her legs and hooked them around my waist, making her lower body protrude more. Her hot, tender anus swallowed my penis, and the two bodies pressed together even more closely.

I swayed my hips from time to time, causing my penis to grind against the bottomless depths of her intestines. Ah Xue, aroused by the intense thrusting, was so aroused by the waves of thrusting that her face turned pink, her hair flew wildly, and

her whole body trembled. She cried out in a startled, lewd voice, "Oh...oh...no...I can't take it...my anus, my anus is so sore..." After a round of thrusting, I lifted Ah Xue's left leg, making her lie on her side as I continued to fuck her. With the angle of my penis changing, her two half-white, fleshy buttocks narrowed the angle of her anus, and the impact became greater, making Ah Xue moan even louder.

At this point, Ah Xue's anus was burning hot from my thrusting, her vision was blurry, and she had no strength to resist, but I still fucked her relentlessly with vigor.

"Master, my breasts are getting hot again... so hot..."

Ah Xue trembled, biting her lip, revealing an extremely beautiful expression of pleasure. Her two huge H-cup breasts swayed wildly, white and glistening, with fragrant milk seeping from the pink peaks, filling the room with a sweet aroma.

My hands were covered in milk from Ah Xue's breasts, but I didn't notice, and I thrust harder and harder, panting heavily, still pounding fiercely!

"Oh... oh... I can't take it anymore... put my legs down... ah... I can't take it... Master is going to fuck Ah Xue's buttocks... fuck them until they're broken... Master... Master, please spare me..."

Ah Xue's wanton appearance made me thrust even harder, as if I was determined to penetrate Ah Xue's tempting anus. Ah Xue was panting heavily from the thrusting, her fragrant sweat and vaginal fluids soaking the area.

Looking at this beautiful and obedient little fox girl, who seemed to be enjoying herself to the point of flying, I couldn't help but have a mischievous thought. If Ah Xue hadn't suddenly switched sides and supported Bai Lan Xiong's liberation plan, I wouldn't have been so troubled just now, giving the Venerable of Ten Thousand Beasts an opportunity to take advantage of me. Although I had escaped danger by accident, I was still unwilling to accept it and wanted to get some retribution.

"Spare you? On what grounds? Do you know what you did wrong?"

Her full, snowy breasts bounced around like a white rabbit. I grabbed Ah Xue's swaying right breast and squeezed the tender, dripping flesh with all my might, kneading the round ball covered in fragrant milk, sometimes pinching it to the tip, sometimes flattening it. The flowing milk slightly made up for the unpleasant experience I had just had.

"...I...I...ah..."

Ah Xue groaned for a long time, unable to answer me. I pressed down on her voluptuous body, kissed her rosy lips, and enjoyed the intoxicating sensation of our bodies pressed together. I took the opportunity to give her pert buttocks a hard slap.

"Ouch! My butt..."

Ah Xue groaned softly, a red handprint appearing on her snow-white buttocks. It seemed to hurt quite a bit, but her swaying waist and beautiful buttocks didn't blame the slap. Instead, they seemed to be seeking more obscene and seductive teasing, dancing even more passionately.

"Hmph! You don't even know where you went wrong. You deserve to be hit even more!"

Not letting up, I took advantage of the situation to enjoy the pleasure, aiming at the fullest and most perky spot, and brought my hand down again.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Several slaps followed, the exceptional elasticity of her flesh rebounding in my palms. Ah Xue's cries of pain and pleasure, each slap overflowing with desire, echoed in my ears with crisp sounds and seductive moans. I was reluctant to use too much force, yet even more reluctant to remove my hands from her fleshy buttocks. Her plump, tender anus encircled my hard penis, the stimulation of rubbing against the intestinal mucosa almost melting me. Ah Xue's anus seemed like a monstrous object, incredibly hot yet elastic and tight, stubbornly resisting my intrusion, yet making the pleasure of our intercourse even more intense.

Struggling vigorously towards her core, we were on the verge of climax, like two wild beasts in heat tearing at each other. I left countless handprints on Ah Xue's high, white, tender breasts and plump, fleshy buttocks, while the little fox girl, whose slender waist almost broke, scratched bloody marks on my back with her fingernails.

"Master... Ah Xue was wrong... I admitted my mistake... my buttocks admitted my mistake..."

By the end, Ah Xue was completely incoherent, shaking her head, her legs trembling, her buttocks swaying. While uttering words she didn't understand, she pressed her warm, white body against mine, making the closest possible contact.

We kissed each other passionately, our tongues intertwining, trying to touch each other as much as possible, as if trying to merge into one, until the deepest part of our bodies tasted intense pleasure.

Ah Xue's curled body stretched and trembled, as if releasing boundless passion within her. Her beautiful eyes were hazy, her jade legs tightly clamped around my waist, twisting wildly around our joined parts.

Finally, I reached the peak, both physically and mentally, releasing my last wave of passion with the captivating rise and fall of Ah Xue's chest, drowning in the exquisite afterglow. We kissed deeply, trying to hold onto the last vestige of excitement, until we closed our eyes completely in blissful pleasure.

It was in this sweet afterglow that I heard Ah Xue's voice.

"Master, you...you seemed unhappy earlier, was it because Xue forced you to do something?"

Without needing further words, I softly agreed, my right hand still resting on Xue's large, round breasts, which my palm couldn't fully enclose, kneading them intermittently.

"Master, Xue knows this makes things difficult for you, but please think about it. So many of our fellow beastmen will have their lives saved because of you. You are their savior, their only hope. That's such a huge..."

"Ah Xue, shut up. Actually, Master isn't that unreasonable. Seeing how obedient you were, and how hard you were shaking your ass just now, I'll agree to help you. However, I can't just agree to something this important for nothing. As long as you can do what I ask, I'll agree to help you liberate the orcs."

I'm really stupid; I only thought of this trick now. If I had thought of it earlier, I would have broken through Ah Xue's sweet-talking tactics long ago, instead of troubling her for so long.

As for the conditions I set, the more difficult the better. Although things have taken a turn for the better now, and even without my help, Ishtar might agree to the Beastmaster's conditions, Ah Xue doesn't know that yet. It's always good to take this opportunity to make things difficult for her and warn her.

Make me obediently fuck her ass a thousand times? That doesn't seem very meaningful. Even without coercion, Ah Xue is always very obedient when she's being fucked.

Find a way to remove the virginity-preserving curse and let me take her virginity? That's not right either. It's not a question of whether I can or not, but if I lose my virginity, it might trigger my original personality, and someone I never want to see in my life might reappear in the world. That would be embarrassing.

This isn't right, that isn't right either. Unfortunately, I'm not in good spirits after sex, drowsy, and my mind is getting increasingly foggy. Listening to Ah Xue's persistent questions in my ear, a truly difficult idea suddenly popped into my head, and I blurted it out.

"It's simple. As long as you can use holy magic to save people, I'll help you liberate those sons of bitches of orcs!"

Having sex with Ah Xue, I felt refreshed and in good spirits. I vaguely remember saying something to Ah Xue before falling asleep, but I can't remember anything after waking up. Human memory really is unreliable.

Forgotten things can't be a big deal, so forgetting isn't a problem. I'm organizing the potions Narcissus provided, trying to combine these complex ingredients to recreate the aphrodisiac that dominated the Desire Forest five hundred years ago, to use it to deal with a woman I can't have under normal circumstances.

Drugging and raping Bai Mudan is truly a difficult task. She's an expert in medicine; she knows exactly what drugs are, even just by smelling them. How can I use an aphrodisiac on her without her noticing? I really don't know how to begin. I've tried secretly a few times and found that Bai Mudan's surroundings are indeed heavily guarded. Besides her being difficult, Neon is constantly by her side, getting in my way.

The "enemy's" defenses are like an impregnable fortress. If it weren't for the erotic magic as a backup, I wouldn't have any confidence in fighting. After some deliberation, I could only conclude that while Bai Mudan was proficient in all kinds of medicines and knew them all, she might not be able to identify some mixed sedatives that had disappeared five hundred years ago. This was my main strategy.

(But... it's an old product from five hundred years ago, I don't know if the formula is correct. I can't rest easy without trying it first.) As

soon as this thought arose, my first reaction was to find the delinquent middle-aged man, Mao Yan'an, but then I remembered that Mao Yan'an was still in the Golden Finch Federation, and I couldn't call him.

(This won't do. Uncle has been gone for so long, how can I still rely on him?)

I shook my head, shaking off this unspeakable feeling, and was about to devise my next move when suddenly a "bear paw" patted my shoulder.

"John, you're all lost in thought here, are you having some trouble? Need some help from your brothers?"

"Great! I was just wondering what to do, Lao Bai, you're really a loyal friend. Here, take a couple of breaths on this handkerchief."

"A couple of breaths? The scent of this handkerchief... mmm, so fragrant." It wasn't

just fragrant. After taking those two breaths, Bai Lanxiong's large, copper-bell-like eyes suddenly filled with bloodshot veins, and the muscles in his entire body seemed to inflate rapidly. He roared, his voice shaking the heavens and the earth, and then transformed into a gust of wind, rushing towards the room where the Feather Clan female warriors lived. Amidst the whirlwind, shouts like "Breasts, buttocks, women, I want to fuck many more women!" could be heard. Not long after, the sounds of women moaning came from the houses behind.

"It worked... the effect is pretty good, but... I wonder how it will work on females? Who should I test it on? Xue? Or Neon?"

I pondered deeply, not having decided on a target yet, when I heard a sound behind me, and a mature woman's fragrance wafted over.

"John, you look strange. Have you run into some trouble? Do you need me to send someone to help you with anything?"

"Oh, Chieftain, you've come at the perfect time! I have a big problem, and besides you, no one can help me. Here, this is my newly brewed Hundred Flowers Wine, containing many precious herbs. It invigorates blood, nourishes yin, and beautifies the skin. Please drink a couple of sips."

Judging from the results, the antique might not be ineffective. Katrina, slightly suspicious, raised her cup and took two sips. Her originally intellectual eyes suddenly changed, becoming bloodshot, and her face flushed red as if it were on fire. After a brief pause, she spread her wings and flew away. The distance was too far for me to hear the man's scream, but imagining the scene, it must have been quite a shocking sight.

But, I'm a man too, so why is Katrina ignoring me? Oh well, every experiment has unexpected errors. I won't think about it anymore.

"Very good, this medicine seems to work well for both men and women, regardless of their martial arts skills..."

I nodded, satisfied with the test results, but a voice suddenly echoed in my mind.

"If you keep playing like this, you'll soon lose all your friends..."

The voice was delicate and sweet, a child's voice that was hard to tell was male or female. It sounded familiar, and I turned around in surprise to see Future standing behind me, staring at me with a strange look. After noticing my gaze, she quickly turned and left.

Future always acts strangely towards me, but I'm too lazy to pay attention to each one. With the obstacles in front of me mostly cleared, I'm going to start implementing my plan.

The newly completed medicine, according to the record in the yellow crystal, seems to be called "Family's Dick Number One." Why such a strange name? I believe only Famit knows. However, this medicine is colorless and odorless, can be placed in food, or can evaporate into the air. It is a highly complete magical medicine.

Because of this, I hesitated for a moment, unsure of which method to use to administer the drug. After some deliberation, I finally decided to use a mixed method: one part was added to the liquor, and the other was applied to the walls, pillars, and chairs, allowing the fumes to slowly evaporate. This meticulous preparation made me feel like I was facing a formidable enemy. After all, Bai Mudan was no ordinary person, and I wasn't even sure how effective these arrangements would be for her.

(The trap was set; now it was time for the bait...)

Due to my notorious reputation, Bai Mudan was extremely wary of me, making it impossible to find an opportunity to be alone with her. However, after observing her for a long time, I discovered something unusual that gave me a chance.

"Dr. Bai, I have some things I'd like to discuss. Would it be possible for us to meet at my humble abode so we can talk properly?"

"Well… that's not convenient. You can say what you need to say here."

Bai Mudan spoke softly, like a shy, innocent girl, arousing a strong possessive desire in me. However, the suspicion in her eyes revealed her deep wariness of me. For the next while, I had to painstakingly explain that this matter was of great importance and indeed required a secret meeting.

After much persuasion, Bai Mudan finally nodded, agreeing to a secret meeting. However, things weren't that simple, as she was bringing two bodyguards.

"Then… later, I'll bring Ni'er and Hong'er with me."

"Ah! This...this isn't appropriate, please don't bring them along, it'll be very inconvenient."

"Oh? Why is it inconvenient? Could it be...Admiral, you have some secret meeting plans?"

Bai Mudan glanced at me sideways, as if she was sure she had caught me red-handed, and even showed a contemptuous expression on her face. This really annoyed me. Why do all the women I've met in the past few years seem to have this kind of expression and look?

"Dr. Bai, it's not like that, you misunderstood. No matter what, you are the benefactor who healed my injuries. No matter how much I have ulterior motives, I would never harm my benefactor, would I?"

After saying this terrible opening line, I said, "Actually, what I want to talk to you about is my master's matter. On the night before he passed away, he told me..."

The bait had been thrown out here enough. Bai Mudan showed a surprised expression and almost stumbled backward. Obviously, this matter had a great impact on her.

This matched my observation. Bai Mudan cared deeply about everything concerning the Heart Lamp Hermit, to a degree exceeding the feelings of ordinary friends. I had always suspected they might be having an affair, and now, after a little probing, the answer was obvious.

"Dr. Bai, are you alright?"

"No... I'm fine."

Bai Mudan, recovering slightly from her shock, immediately grabbed my hand and readily agreed, saying she would come to my place tonight to secretly discuss the Heart Lamp Hermit's last words. As for Yu Ni and Yu Hong, she not only didn't intend to bring them along, but even demanded that I not reveal anything about this secret meeting to them.

(Damn, why do I have such a strange feeling? I was just looking for an excuse, but now... have I stirred up a hornet's nest?)

Feeling a vague sense of unease, I shook my head and began setting up the venue for tonight. After finishing a task, before I could even catch my breath, a Feather Clan female warrior arrived, informing me of the latest intelligence from Baghdad.

Ishtar's magical transport system was indeed excellent. With resources spared and transported at full speed, Li Huamei and Arus arrived safely in Baghdad yesterday and engaged in fierce fighting that evening. Although they didn't encounter the Headless Horseman, they fought the undead army that accompanied the evil creature's appearance. In the end, Li Huamei annihilated the undead army attacking the palace.

This victory seemed glorious, but it lacked real significance. With Li Huamei's strength as the strongest in the land, and the aid of the Dragon Slayer Blade, wiping out such an undead army was not particularly difficult and unsurprising. Furthermore, the undead army was entirely summoned by the Headless Horseman; in an evil place like Ishtar, there were countless of them. Even if one batch was destroyed, the Headless Horseman could simply summon another, making it meaningless.

However, for the people of Ishtar, who had been driven into a panic by the Headless Horseman, this victory was at least a glimmer of hope, slightly boosting morale. Perhaps this was the only value of this battle.

(The eyebrow painting is done well, but... will it continue to go so smoothly?)

◆ Episode 4: Accidentally Discovering a Secret. Using the Secret for Blackmail

The news of Li Huamei's great victory is very encouraging for the people of Ishtar. With my encouragement, they decided to hold a small banquet tonight to celebrate.

Banquets are often places where trouble can easily arise. Using this as an excuse, I gave Ah Xue and Neon tasks separately, separating the three of them to facilitate my grand plan of stealing kisses tonight.

"Admiral Farrell, what do you have to say? You can say it now."

When Bai Mudan entered my room, it was already late at night. She seemed very afraid that her meeting with me would be discovered, which was quite interesting, because she even deliberately wore a cloak to cover her head and face.

"Well... no rush. Sit down first, let's have some tea, then we can talk."

Bai Mudan clearly didn't want to have too much contact with me, a dangerous person, but she couldn't stand outside the door and attract attention, so she finally entered the room. However, she sat silently to the side, resolutely refusing to drink a single drop of what I poured for her.

"I didn't come here for tea. Just say what you want to say. It'll be troublesome if Neon and the others find out I'm not here."

Bai Mudan sat quietly in the chair, her posture elegant and serene, like the radiance of pearls and moonlight, making everyone who faced her feel inferior. When she lifted the hood of her cloak, the room seemed to light up, revealing a clear, jade-like face and a spotless white dress. Her eyebrows were delicate, her eyes bright, and her dark hair was tied back with a simple ribbon, softly falling over her shoulders, showing the beautiful charm of a mature woman.

I stood to the side, looking at this beautiful woman who combined elegance and mature allure, feeling both anxious and excited. Undeniably, the white peony was incredibly alluring to me. It was like a piece of delicious meat already within my grasp; if I couldn't swallow it tonight, the feeling would be unbearable. Even though my saliva was practically dripping onto it, if I was too careless, this beautiful piece of meat could easily fly away. Therefore, I had to calm down and carefully prepare this delicious meat.

However, at this moment, I suddenly realized a fatal problem: what should I say to the white peony?

(Oh no, what last words did the Heart Lamp Hermit leave? He… he didn't say anything at all! How can I explain this?)

The night before the Heart Lamp Hermit died, he didn't say anything to me, so of course I had no way to give him any last words. However, recalling everything the Heart Lamp Hermit had said before his death, I suddenly remembered that once, when we were all drunk together, the Heart Lamp Hermit pulled me aside and talked a lot about his unrequited love. Perhaps this could be an excellent bait.

I was about to start with this topic, but when the words reached my lips, I hesitated. Who exactly was the true love of the Hermit of the Heart Lamp? If I were to follow his account completely, I would think that he had a secret affair with White Peony. But the Hermit of the Heart Lamp's other identity was the Black Dragon King, who abandoned righteousness for a demoness who had defected from Ishtar. This demoness should be the Black Witch Goddess of today. If this is true, then the Hermit of the Heart Lamp and the Black Witch Goddess are a couple. Then, who is White Peony?

The secret hidden behind this question could be big or small. I thought about it briefly and felt that this matter was not easy to say. Then, a seemingly absurd idea, yet one that startled me, flashed through my mind and was then spoken.

"Master Xin Deng... Ah, the secret my master told me is... the true identity of the Japanese birth mother."

Upon hearing this, Bai Mudan, who had been listening intently with a tense expression, jumped up from her chair as if she had heard something terrifying. Her panicked movement made the chair seem like a red-hot iron, startling even me. After leaping off the chair, she staggered back several steps, nearly falling against the table. Bai hurriedly grabbed the table with one hand, but her wrist was too weak to support her, and she slumped back onto the stool beside it.

"Dr. Bai, what's wrong? Are you alright?"

I called out, secretly delighted. I had already laced the tablecloth with medicine, and even the stool's surface was coated with ointment. Because I was afraid Bai Mudan's eyesight was sharp, I hadn't dared to lead her there from the start. Unexpectedly, she sat down there herself. Such cooperation truly moved me to tears.

However, judging from this reaction, it seems I've inadvertently opened a secret door, an unexpected gain.

"Did he...did he tell you about Neon's biological mother's identity?"

Bai Mudan's voice trembled, her words broken and hesitant, revealing her inner turmoil and panic. To me, the answer was crystal clear.

"Doctor, why ask when you already know? Yu Ni, Yu Hong's biological mother is you..."

I uttered a cold laugh, speaking with unwavering confidence. But as soon as I finished speaking, the fear in Bai Mudan's eyes suddenly transformed into relief, and her expression became calm and composed. This made me inwardly scream with alarm.

(This doesn't make sense! Things have come to this point, so the answer can't be her? Then who could it be? If it's not Bai Mudan, then who could it be?)

A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant. I couldn't come up with the right answer, but the words had already been spoken and couldn't be taken back, so I had no choice but to force a conclusion.

"...Your sister!"

This was a truly absurd twist of fate. I didn't even know if Bai Mudan had any sisters. Forcing this conclusion would likely make me a laughingstock. But I had no other choice. I couldn't exactly say "your dad" or "your mom," could I?

However, the answer that popped out under this forced question seemed to hit the bullseye once again. Bai Mudan's once relieved expression turned to panic and terror, and she said in a trembling voice, "He...he really told you everything? How could he tell you? He clearly told me to keep it a secret and never tell anyone for the rest of my life, why would he..."

Under this unexpected shock, Bai Mudan seemed very shocked, but I, who had inexplicably given the right answer, was no less surprised than her.

(Neon's biological mother is Bai Mudan's sister? What's going on? So Bai Mudan is Neon's aunt? Why does she seem to be having an affair with Xin Deng Jushi? Is Xin Deng Jushi having an affair with his sister-in-law? Hmm, never mind that for now, the biggest question is, who exactly is that woman?)

I was full of doubts and focused on thinking, not saying anything more so as not to reveal any flaws and ruin this unexpected advantage. In this brief silence, Bai Mudan calmed down a little, regained her composure, and glanced at me sideways, as if she wanted to confirm something. She said, "Since he told you this, he should have also told you who my sister is, right?"

This was Bai Mudan's last move, trying to even the situation. If she had asked me earlier, I would have been at a loss and unable to answer, but after thinking it over, I had organized the various pieces of information in my mind and come up with the most reasonable answer.

"Yes, Master told me that Neon's birth mother is Doctor Bai's sister, now the Black Witch Celestial of the Black Dragon Society."

The Heart Lamp Hermit fell in love with the traitor Ishtar, which forced him to betray his sect. If that traitor was the Black Witch Celestial, and the Heart Lamp Hermit was the Black Dragon King, then they would have been inseparable long ago. It wouldn't be surprising if they had ten sets of twins, let alone one. If they were Neon's birth parents, this conclusion would be quite reasonable.

From the day I met the Heart Lamp Hermit, I felt his care and concern for Neon was extraordinary. His affection surpassed that of a typical master and disciple; it was like a father looking after his daughter. Although some masters and disciples are like father and daughter or father and son, it still felt strange. Later, during the battles, the Heart Lamp Hermit showed mercy many times, even being ambushed by Ghostly Evening while protecting Yu Hong. These memories, when recalled, revealed the most genuine father-daughter bond.

As for the Black Witch Celestial's hatred for me, it's not hard to understand now. Back on Sealed Spirit Island, the Black Witch Celestial's glare at me was filled with deep-seated resentment, a thought that still sends chills down my spine. At the time, I didn't understand, but now that I think about it, Yu Ni and Yu Hong were the Black Witch Celestial's daughters, yet they fell into my clutches one after another, cruelly ravaged and toyed with by me, losing their pure virginity and being molded into such shameful forms. The Black Witch Celestial must hate me to the bone if she knew this.

(Huh? I remember the Black Witch Celestial's voice sounded like a man's, rough and deep. Was she a transvestite? How could a transvestite have children?)

This question popped into my mind, but then I thought, since the Black Witch Celestial is White Peony's "sister," she should indeed be female. The masculine voice must have another reason. Either she was deliberately concealing her identity, or she had a mishap during her cultivation, leading to an error.

(I never expected things to take such a dramatic turn; the answer was completely unexpected...)

I slowly pieced together a thought, stealing a glance at Bai Mudan. After hearing my answer, she was ashen-faced, breathing rapidly, utterly oblivious to the blush slowly rising on her pale cheeks. Famit's potion wasn't a joke; the "Famit's Dirty Number One" smeared on the chair and tablecloth had already seeped into Bai Mudan's skin, slowly taking effect. Normally, as a healer, Bai Mudan would immediately notice any subtle changes in her body, but at this moment, in her panic, she had completely missed it—even heaven was on my side. Even

more amazing, Bai Mudan's excessive tension, causing her to break out in a cold sweat, made her thirsty. She completely forgot her guard against me and started pouring tea from the table, drinking cup after cup. Watching her drink most of the drugged tea, I almost laughed myself to tears.

The effects of the potion would take some time to wear off, so to keep Bai Mudan calm, I started talking about other things to distract her and prevent her from noticing the potion in her tea.

"Dr. Bai, I didn't want to reveal this secret," I sighed. "But now that we're about to fight the Black Witch, if these things aren't explained clearly, it would be a real shame if a mother and daughter ended up fighting each other on the battlefield." "

This...this..."

"My master didn't say much before he died, only this much. He said that if I asked him, I would know the whole story. Please tell me what really happened."

As I finished speaking, I almost believed it was true, because everything sounded very logical and without any flaws. Bai Mudan was persuaded and began to tell me everything.

"The Black Witch you're talking about...is my sister, my sister I lost when I was young."

Sure enough, what Bai Mudan said matched my expectations. Otherwise, the Black Witch Goddess grew up in Ishtar, and the White Peony should have grown up in Ishtar as well. There's no reason why the people of Ishtar wouldn't recognize her. This question has now been answered; it turns out the two were separated and lost

since childhood. "We were poor from a young age. Not long after my sister was born, she was sold to human traffickers and taken to Ishtar, where she was trained to be their evil sorcerer. I was sold to the Golden Flower Federation, where I was fortunate enough to meet a strange person who taught me everything I know now. Until I grew up, by chance, my sister found me..."

Reuniting with long-lost relatives shouldn't be easy, but for a sorcerer, it's actually not difficult at all; a little divination can easily find someone. At that time, the Black Witch Goddess was already in love with the Heart Lamp Hermit and had betrayed Ishtar, enduring immense pressure from Ishtar. She sought out the White Peony to entrust her with the care of a pair of twins.

The twins were Neon. The Black Witch, having nowhere else to turn, and with the Heart Lamp Hermit under tight surveillance by the Cihang Jingdian, had no choice but to entrust the newborn Neon to White Peony. White Peony, who had agreed to care for Neon, was quickly targeted by Ishtar's pursuers. After several bloody battles, she was forced to release Neon's winged bloodline and entrust the two sisters to the winged race for care.

"Wait!" I waved my hand, interrupting White Peony, and asked, "I'd forgotten about this before. Doctor White, you're human, and so is my master. Where did Neon's winged bloodline come from?"

The answer was utterly absurd. White Peony and the Black Witch were both human, but the Heart Lamp Hermit was a hybrid of winged and human. The bloodlines of Neon and Rainbow were inherited from a previous generation—a phenomenon unheard of, something I'd never encountered before, and likely only a handful of times in the history of the winged race.

Although the Feathered Clan's situation was dire, entrusting their safety to them was a better option than facing the elite pursuit of Ishtar. After entrusting Neon with her care, Bai Mudan faced Ishtar's assassins alone. Bai Mudan was not a warrior-type character, and in the fierce battle, she was severely injured, knocked off a cliff, and barely escaped with her life. She recuperated for a long time, and when she returned to look for Yu Ni and Yu Hong, the two sisters had already disappeared from the Feathered Clan.

The Black Witch Goddess had vanished without a trace, leaving White Peony with no choice but to inform Layman Xindeng. Layman Xindeng was horrified and searched frantically for his two lost daughters. After much hardship, he finally found them at the last minute and rescued them from human traffickers.

Yu Ni and Yu Hong were deeply traumatized by the incident, especially emotionally. Layman Xindeng dared not send his daughters away again, so he risked everything to take them as his disciples and raise them by his side. Chronologically, Layman Xindeng had already committed the murder of his master, and Cihang Jingdian supposedly had no one capable of punishing him. However, he ultimately worried about public opinion and the condemnation he would face, leaving him with no choice but to resort to this desperate measure to raise his two daughters to adulthood.

"...My sister disappeared after that. I don't know her whereabouts, but from some clues circulating outside, I guess she might be the Black Witch Celestial of the Black Dragon Society. I dare not say for sure, but...I didn't expect that even he would join the Black Dragon Society."

The Black Dragon King of the Black Dragon Society seems to never show his true face, but uses various methods to conceal his appearance, passing the throne from one leader to the next. Bai Mudan speculates that Xin Deng Jushi probably didn't join the Black Dragon Society, but rather cooperated with the Black Witch Celestial. She doesn't know when or how he usurped the position of Black Dragon King. Although the Black Dragon King is very strong, Xin Deng Jushi is also one of the strongest people in the world, and with the assistance of the Black Witch Celestial, it's not impossible for him to have done something like this.

(No wonder… Back in the Southern Barbarian Lands, when the Heart Lamp Hermit cooperated with the Snake Clan, his first demand was to capture Ni Hong alive. This must have been to protect his daughter, right? Later, on Fengling Island, when Wu Jian Yi Mo tried to harm Yu Hong, Hei Wu Tian Nu stopped him. After all, she was his daughter; she would never allow Wu Jian Yi Mo to behead her in public.)

I understood these things, but I still felt a little puzzled. On Fengling Island, Hei Wu Tian Nu ordered the unconscious Yu Ni to undress and have intercourse with the venerable old monk Zhi Shan in public, intending to drain his century-long cultivation. If it weren't for me and the leader, Jia Teng Ying, intervening, Yu Ni would have slept with the old monk in public.

Would a normal mother order her daughter to sleep with an old monk in public? This is somewhat unbelievable, but Hei Wu Tian Nu probably isn't a normal mother either. She probably prioritizes personal gain; as long as her daughter gains a century's worth of cultivation, it doesn't matter if people occasionally see her naked.

(What a bold and unrestrained mother! Her concept of chastity is unconventional, almost on par with my own mother… Sigh, what an incongruous comparison. Why am I thinking of my own mother…)

Thinking of my mother's glorious deeds back then, I felt my face fall. It took me a while to regain my composure and continue listening to Bai Mudan.

"…My biggest worry is my sister's current situation. She and he were deeply in love, and now that he's dead, she will definitely not let it go."

With the death of the Heart Lamp Hermit, the Black Witch Goddess will inevitably seek revenge. Ishtar is the Black Witch Goddess's place of humiliation and hatred, making it her primary target. After she wreaks havoc in Ishtar, absorbing the local resentment to enhance her cultivation, she will shift her focus, ensuring that everyone involved in the death of the Heart Lamp Hermit suffers a terrible end.

"...I wanted to dissuade my sister, but I didn't expect you all to come too. Hong'er keeps saying she wants to punish the remnants of the Black Dragon Society. If this continues, the three of them will definitely meet on the battlefield. What if something happens to any of them?"

Bai Mudan's face was full of worry, and she was very troubled by this. I also felt that this matter was difficult to handle, but at this critical moment, what really attracted my attention was something else.

Under the influence of the magic potion, Bai Mudan's face was rosy, and her chest was heaving violently, constantly reminding me of her full and attractive curves.

Bai Mudan was at the age when a woman was in full bloom. Her eyebrows and eyes exuded a rich and sweet charm, and her ivory skin was tender and soft, like a ripe fruit full of sweet juice; her black eyes were like lake water, and her red lips were as red as roses. A long hairpin carved from jade was pinned to her neat black hair bun; her long skirt was made of snow-white silk, and the collar was turned up like a lily, wrapped with gold and red patterns. Her waist was slender, her skirt long, like a snowy wave trailing behind her. The buttons of her dress were at the back, leaving only the full curves of her breasts on the front, rising and falling with her rapid breathing, creating an alluring, shimmering white sheen.

Clearly, the potion had taken effect, its effects permeating every part of Bai Mudan's body. With the slightest provocation, it would ignite a wildfire, engulfing this beautiful mature woman's flesh. And I, the harvester responsible for lighting the flames, should act.

"Dr. Bai, don't worry too much. Since this is the truth, I will definitely find a way to prevent them from killing each other,"

I whispered, while keeping an eye on the activity outside the window. The banquet seemed to be reaching its climax; everyone was jubilant, noisy, and even a little restless. I wondered what those people were celebrating so wildly.

(Damn it, laughing so hard, is she having a group sex? Why didn't she ask me for this? Go away!)

I cursed inwardly, but I knew I couldn't waste too much time, otherwise the situation could change at any moment. So, while Bai Mudan was still disoriented, I stealthily walked towards her, taking very light steps so as not to attract her attention. Then, just as she was about to become wary, I grabbed her from behind.

"Ah! Admiral, what are you doing?" Hehehe

, such an old-fashioned line, but I thoroughly enjoyed this cliché atmosphere.

"Hehehe, with such a beauty before me, what else can I do? Of course, I'll do you!"

The two of us wrestled and struggled, and I took the opportunity to pull open Bai Mudan's robe. Her snow-white robe gradually unfolded, revealing a pale yellow camisole underneath. Seeing the full breasts encased in her bra ignited an irresistible desire within me. I'd had plenty of opportunities to steal glances at this beauty's chest before, the only difference being that in the past I could only look; now, I could indulge my desires with my hands and mouth.

"You—you let me go! Ah!"

"Doctor, don't talk nonsense. If you were in my shoes, would you let go? Hahaha~~"

I couldn't wait any longer. In the struggle, I flipped up the pale yellow bra, reaching inside to caress those snow-white, full breasts.

Bai Mudan was already a fully developed woman. While her breasts couldn't compare to the astonishing size of Xue's, or even Phoenix's 34F, their rounded curves were far more impressive than Neon's. Moreover, these snow-white breasts were prized for their smooth, delicate skin, possessing an excellent tactile quality. They fit perfectly in my palm, bouncing warmly and tenderly, allowing me to knead and flatten them—the texture was superb.

Rarely touched by a man, her beautiful breasts fell into my clutches. Bai Mudan struggled desperately, even trying to use magic to break free, but after a brief stalemate, she couldn't unleash her divine magic. Her robes were only torn further down, exposing more and more of her body. Finally, with a sudden burst of strength, she accidentally brushed her pink nipple between my fingers. What should have been a cry of pain turned into a sweet moan. Fear finally appeared in Bai Mudan's eyes; she understood everything.

"You...you drugged me?"

"Heh, isn't it a little too late to say that now?"

Dry tinder needs a blazing fire to ignite it. I now diligently ignited that flame, using my elbows to hold her slender waist, pulling aside her bra, and cupping her snow-white, pink breasts. I flicked, scraped, pinched, and squeezed them. Each touch elicited the goddess healer's mournful sobs and beautiful moans. The two small nipples on her breasts gradually hardened with my caresses, becoming a vibrant, glistening red.

"You, you beast in human form, you have Ni'er and Hong'er, and you still won't spare me?"

Bai Mudan cried, trying to push me away. I was grateful for her struggle, because only in this way could I have the opportunity to say that famous line that I wanted to say every day.

"Hey, scream all you want. Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will come to save you."

Without saying that, there would be no thrill of being a rapist. With a sinister laugh, I finally managed to push Bai Mudan down, pinning her to the ground.

Having achieved my goal, I was extremely excited. Knowing I shouldn't waste time, I couldn't resist the urge to slowly destroy something perfect. Instead of forcing myself on her, I grasped Bai Mudan's ankle, my fingers hooking the ribbon on her slender ankle, and removed her exquisite silver-embroidered shoes.

Her snow-white, delicate feet were soft and boneless, with almost no visible joints, only perfect curves, like a flawless work of art, exquisite and translucent. Suddenly, I seemed to remember something—a phrase that the Hermit of the Heart Lamp had once uttered in his drunken state.

(What is it? It seems to be related to feet? What is it? Damn it, what's all the noise outside? Don't let this distract me from thinking and doing things!)

I lifted Bai Mudan's delicate feet, her silk skirt sliding down like water, revealing a pair of pure white legs. I hugged those slender feet, pressing the soft soles against my face and rubbing them vigorously. Bai Mudan was unbearably shy and itchy, her other silver-threaded shoe foot bending and straightening in the air, extremely alluring. When I suddenly opened my mouth and bit her toes, the beautiful woman trembled all over, unable to help but let out a soft "ah ah" sound.

After kissing for a while, I suddenly straightened my waist, grabbed Bai Mudan's ankles and lifted them up, forcefully spreading them apart.

The long skirt fell down, covering Bai Mudan's face, her two white, smooth legs spread straight apart, and at the triangle where her legs met, there was a small lace panty. Her plump vulva bulged, and there was a round wet stain on the bottom of the panty.

"Dr. Bai, is that all you just said? I don't think so, do I? Before my master died, he said something... that the woman he could never have was a woman with beautiful legs!" I mocked, pressing my hand down hard on the woman's crotch.

"Ouch!" Bai Mudan cried out in surprise, desperately trying to close her legs. But under my deliberate teasing, Bai Mudan could only twist her hips like a fish, making a futile struggle.

"What's wrong? Are you embarrassed to say it? Doctor, you're not a virgin, are you? Who deflowered you? Did my master and you have an affair before he died?"

I demanded sharply, using force to roughly ravage her tender flower garden. Her soft, honeyed lips slid and turned under my fingers, and soon her panties were soaked with her juices, making a muddy squelching sound under my palm.

Bai Mudan covered her face tightly under her skirt, shaking her head violently to avoid my questioning. But this reaction gave me the answer. My fingers slid down her groin and into her panties, pressing directly against her hot, tender flesh. Then, my dirty thumb squeezed into her wet, sweet lips, wantonly ravaging Bai Mudan's sacred flower garden.

Shame, pain, and a base pleasure intertwined, leaving Bai Mudan with no strength to struggle. Soon, I ripped off her wet panties, leaving her round buttocks.

"Doctor, thank you for saving my life. I'm going to fuck you now. Don't you have anything special to say? It's fine if you don't. We can save it for post-match review."

With a hideous grin, I threw the panties soaked in her juices onto Bai Mudan's face, then squatted down, pressed her knees, and spread them apart. Her

soft, golden pubic hair, wet with her juices, clung to her snow-white vulva. The engorged petals were a vibrant, lustrous red, radiating a bewitching sheen. Between the labia, the small bud stood erect, seemingly about to burst at the slightest touch.

The entire vulva was a perfect lotus petal shape, the rounded flesh at the base constantly contracting, squeezing out streams of fragrant fluid.

(How exhilarating! Such a beautiful hole, surely not only that deadbeat Heart Lamp could have it. Now it's my turn!)

The scene before me was too beautiful, I was mesmerized, and for a moment I forgot to be on guard. Just as I was about to mount, a sudden pain shot through my waist. At first, I didn't feel anything, but then the pain made me break out in a cold sweat. But when I looked in the direction of the pain, I was horrified to see a dagger stuck in my waist, and a small, thin figure emerging from the shadows behind me. I had

planned everything, but I had overlooked this person's obstruction... the future!

◆ Episode 5: Pulling Back from the Edge. Headless Galloping

Despite all the scheming beforehand, I still had one miscalculation. I had Yu Ni, Yu Hong, and A Xue all on my list, wary of their appearance, but I never expected Wei Lai to interfere at this crucial moment.

"Damn it! What does Bai Mudan have to do with you? You're here to save her?"

Overwhelmed by pain, I cursed, grabbing whatever was nearby to throw at Wei Lai. However, misfortune never comes singly. Before I could even throw anything, Bai Mudan, whom I had subdued, suddenly attacked, using her incredibly beautiful legs to kick me off her.

"Ouch! Damn it!"

In the excruciating pain, I lost my balance and fell backward from the furious kick. But during the fall, a fleeting glimpse from a particular angle revealed something that filled me with ecstasy.

Bai Mudan's tear-filled eyes held an inexplicable expression… as if she felt immense regret, extreme pity.

What was there to regret at a time like this? Of course, it was regret for not being able to "fuck" me!

My heart pounded; I'd discovered Bai Mudan's secret. This was the so-called "tsundere"—a phenomenon that has appeared in rape scenes throughout history: the woman says no, but her body responds very obediently.

In other words, Bai Mudan might also be the kind of person who is sensitive, easily aroused, and has a strong sex drive. With Xin Deng Jushi dead, Bai Mudan has no man to sleep with, and she might already be desperately craving him. My magic potion and flirting techniques might have caused her to lose control of her burning desire. I was betrayed by the future and couldn't get my hands on Bai Mudan; she might be incredibly depressed.

Discovering this made me so happy I felt like I could fly to the sky. Even if I didn't succeed this time, I was sure I could get this mature, voluptuous beauty into bed next time. Because of this discovery, despite the sharp pain in my lower back, a smile lingered on my lips as I collapsed to the ground.

Landing on the ground, my senses slightly restored, I immediately tended to my injuries. I confirmed the dagger embedded in my waistband hadn't cut too deep, the bleeding minimal, and it wasn't poisoned. This kid, Wei Lai, had only intended to stab me, not kill me. His move was extremely skillful; otherwise, I would have been dead long ago.

"You brat, you fucking rebel!"

Considering the heavy bleeding after pulling out the dagger, I didn't attack immediately, but instead pointed at Wei Lai and started cursing. He had already scurried to a corner of the room, holding another sharp dagger, coldly glaring at me and Bai Mudan.

"You...you..."

Almost naked, Bai Mudan huddled in the corner, clutching her clothes desperately, looking at us with shame and panic, choking back sobs. Her pitiful appearance was incredibly moving, making me drool. I really wanted to pounce on her and take her right there.

However, aside from the future causing trouble, I also need a doctor's attention because of the dagger at my waist. I can't afford to offend Bai Mudan again. I need to stabilize the situation first and talk to her to avoid being exposed and facing accusations from Yu Ni and Yu Hong, which would be difficult to handle.

"This... Doctor Bai, actually, what happened just now was all a misunderstanding..."

I knew perfectly well that this was just a forced attempt at explanation. I stopped halfway through my sentence, not because I couldn't find anything to say, but because a sudden blast of cold air made me freeze and unable to finish my sentence.

The freezing air appeared without warning, sweeping in all at once. The indoor temperature plummeted, and I instantly shivered, my teeth chattering, feeling as if I were in a frozen wasteland. If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad. The problem was, I knew very well that this erratic temperature change was caused by a massive shift in the surrounding spatial energy. The reason for such an energy change was usually a top-tier expert using a grand, earth-shattering technique, or… the summoning of tens of thousands of ghosts and demons.

(The top-tier expert could only be the Beast Master, and tens of thousands of ghosts… unless Ah Xue was using the Great Sun Mirror, something must have happened outside?)

Several thoughts flashed through my mind, but I quickly realized something was wrong. Frost had already begun to form in the room, indicating that the energy anomaly was imminent, while Ah Xue and the others were still at the banquet in front, unrelated to them.

(Could it be...?)

My greatest fear was born from a piercing neigh of a horse. A tall, dark figure appeared on the paper window behind Bai Mudan. Then, with a deafening roar, the entire upper half of the room, starting from the window behind Bai Mudan, along with the two floors above, was blasted into the air. Tiles and bricks flew everywhere, and countless stones and dirt rained down in all directions. The sight of the brick rain was truly spectacular, with specks of crimson—the remains of those who had tragically perished on the upper two floors.

To create such an effect with a single strike, to have such a shocking effect, was truly astounding. The most remarkable thing was that the point of impact was just three inches above Bai Mudan's head, blasting two and a half floors into the air, yet the blast wave only stunned Bai Mudan, leaving her unconscious on the ground without causing any real harm. The skill in controlling such power was unparalleled. I wonder if Li Huamei could pull it off.

Riding a large black horse, a figure appeared before us proudly, clad in jet-black armor, its surface constantly dripping with crimson blood, adding to its color. Within the armor, a headless body stood erect, wielding a longsword. Though silent, the chilling resentment emanating from its body surged in all directions, as if a colossal boulder were pressing down upon me, causing my knees to buckle and I to kneel.

(Oh no! How did the Headless Horseman get here? Wasn't it battling Li Huamei in Baghdad? What's it trying to do here?)

Baghdad is a long way from here; even with special magic teleportation, it's not something one can arrive at will. However, for demons without physical bodies, existing in different dimensions, distance is a non-existent concept as long as there is powerful energy to propel them. We knew this perfectly well, yet we were completely defenseless, allowing the Headless Horseman to successfully ambush us.

As for my guards… I looked to the left, no one; I looked to the right, no one either. This was essentially a one-on-one fight between me and the Headless Horseman. Besides, even if Xue and the others were here, they would still be instantly killed if they encountered the Headless Horseman.

One thing was certain: the Headless Horseman didn't come here to deliver pizzas. As for its exact purpose, I could only hope it didn't mistake me for Famit's successor and come here to settle that century-old debt. The

Headless Horseman sat silently on its horse. Although it had no head, I felt as if it was "staring" at me. That invisible gaze not only pierced through my body but even probed my soul.

(This is bad, it's reading my memories!)

I knew this, but I was powerless to resist. This kind of memory-reading magic, if it happened when the cultivation levels of the two parties were too different, could even cause the head of the one whose memory was being read to be damaged. In this situation, it was extremely dangerous for me.

(Damn it, are all the guys up ahead dead? The headless knight has appeared, and with such immense spiritual pressure, not a single person noticed? Won't they even come to check?)

A chill ran down my spine as this thought crossed my mind, but I quickly realized the problem. The appearance of the headless knight was always accompanied by a large number of undead creatures. These undead legions launched a surprise attack, and with the battle raging ahead, they were probably too busy to help.

However, even if most of them couldn't help me, among everyone up ahead, there was one extremely powerful individual, strong enough to break through the undead legion's blockade and come to rescue me.

"Don't be afraid! I'm here!"

A thunderous roar shattered the heavens. Bai Lanxiong, no longer wielding his divine weapon, now carried a dragon-headed broadsword, arriving majestically to rescue me.

Seeing a powerful opponent approaching was certainly moving, but the disparity in strength between the two sides dampened my enthusiasm. There was no point in competing in terms of raw power. Fortunately, Bai Lanxiong wasn't reckless; I was hoping he possessed both courage and wisdom, and had devised some clever plan before his valiant charge.

The headless knight showed no reaction to Bai Lanxiong's approach, seemingly indifferent or even disdainful. Bai Lanxiong hurtled in from the air, getting closer and closer. I noticed something on the dragon-headed sword he carried on his shoulder—a large, swaying wooden barrel.

(What's in the barrel? The headless knight is a dark, evil being; what sacred object did he bring? Holy water? But no one around here should be able to make holy water, and ordinary holy water is useless. So what could it be?)

My mind raced. I thought about what kind of powerful artifact Bai Lanxiong could have acquired in such a short time. A thought flashed through my mind, filling my face with terror.

"Brother! Coming!"

"No, no!!!"

I screamed hoarsely, but it seemed too late. Bai Lanxiong's thick, strong arm swung horizontally, and the wooden bucket on his dragon-headed sword swung out, its contents pouring down like a raging river. Even from a great distance, the nauseating stench was so strong it almost made my nose twitch.

There are many ways to deal with ghosts and evil spirits. Holy water blessed by a sorcerer is one method, but if a sorcerer cannot be found and the situation is urgent, there are other cheap methods that can be used instead. The most famous one is to directly pour large amounts of excrement and urine down on them. If combined with menstrual blood, the effect is even better—it's absolutely terrifying!

I didn't expect Bai Lanxiong to resort to such a lousy trick against me. Although I couldn't predict whether the headless knight would be injured by this move, I could imagine what the consequences would be if it failed.

With a "whoosh," an invisible aura appeared around the headless knight. The excrement poured onto it was blocked by the aura and shot out in all directions. In that crucial instant, a figure flashed past like lightning.

Future, who had been hiding in the corner, finally made a move. His ghostly, high-speed movements were a ninja's unique advantage; only such speed could save lives before tragedy struck. Future undoubtedly possessed this ability. In a flash, the figure appeared beside the unconscious Bai Mudan, wrapped an arm around her, and rapidly sank into the shadows on the ground, disappearing from sight.

Ninja Art: Shadow Escape Technique.

In the nick of time, he sneaked in close to the Headless Horseman and risked his life to rescue White Peony. This act left me speechless. However, my astonishment didn't last long, because a deluge of excrement rained down from above. Although I hurriedly protected my head and face, I was still soaked to the bone and in excruciating pain. 　　"Ughh

...

Unfortunately, there's no time for me to properly mourn my misfortune. Because of Bai Lanxiong's action, the headless knight, who had been silent, "awakened." The large black horse beneath him let out a long neigh, blood flowing from its wounds, and an incredibly mournful aura soared into the sky. The nearby temperature plummeted again. I quickly used all my strength to set up a barrier, trying to block this spiritual pressure; otherwise, not only would my feet freeze, but I would probably freeze into a giant icicle and die.

Bai Lanxiong, its first attack ineffective, landed not far from the headless knight. Purely in terms of courage, these orcs were truly fearless. Knowing the vast difference in strength, Bai Lanxiong remained unfazed, brandishing its dragon-headed sword and slashing horizontally at the headless knight.

While observing the situation, I wanted to take advantage of the White Bear's distraction of the Headless Knight to make a quick escape and not waste the opportunity he had risked his life to create for me. On the other hand, I was also curious about how the Headless Knight would respond. After all, I knew nothing about his martial arts style or the magic he was skilled in, so every bit of information I observed was crucial.

The Headless Knight gripped his longsword, pointing it to the sky. A row of magical runes appeared at the tip of the sword, forming a circle. After circling the tip once, flashes of light began to appear in the dark clouds above.

(Are they lightning runes? They must be quite powerful.)

I initially thought it was lightning, but it was clearly not. The light flashing in the clouds wasn't golden, but rather specks of crimson, like drops of blood, rapidly converging and piling up, quickly dyeing the clouds red. It looked as if the starry sky had been torn open, constantly bleeding.

In just a few seconds, as the White-Robed Bear wielding its dragon-headed sword was blocked by an invisible barrier of energy, unable to approach, the blood-red clouds in the sky also changed. Thousands upon thousands of crimson raindrops fell from the horizon, plummeting towards the ground. The desolate scene of half the sky turning red was breathtaking. It wasn't until I noticed that some of those "raindrops" sparked from friction with the air, quickly forming large flames that illuminated the sky that I realized something was wrong.

While most of the crimson raindrops were indeed liquid, a significant portion fell in crystalline form, hard and stable, and generated heat through friction with the air—this was essentially a small-scale meteor shower. The magic to summon a massive meteor shower is long lost. Even creating a small meteor shower requires numerous mages and several days and nights of ritual. Yet the Headless Horseman merely pointed his sword upwards, cast an incantation, and summoned a meteor shower in just a few seconds… The level of magic five hundred years ago was indeed on a completely different level from today's. More importantly…

(Are you kidding me? Is this all the fuss just to deal with a White Bear? Is it overreacting? Or does it have too much magic to spare?)

My first thought was that I'd encountered a "magic upstart," like the protagonist of a third-rate fantasy novel, whose endless magical power allows him to unleash devastating, wide-range attacks, even killing an ant is earth-shattering

. However, I quickly realized that the Headless Horseman wasn't an idiot. On the contrary, he intended to exterminate us from the start, wiping out every living being nearby, hence his grand display.

Mogu Forbidden Spell: Bloodbath!

The intensely hot, crimson crystals, burning with scorching flames, crashed down, destroying everything in their path and causing immense damage. Upon impact, the crystals released their contained, powerful energy, but instead of exploding or making a sound, the released energy formed dark shadows that rapidly devoured everything in their path. Wherever they were swallowed, everything vanished instantly—bricks, tiles, soil, steel—leaving no trace. Life was no different; every life swallowed by these shadows disappeared without a chance to utter a sound.

This was a double attack of impact followed by annihilation. Even the strongest defensive barriers, or the protection of a master's inner energy, could be breached before the attack could completely destroy the enemy. It's easy to imagine that five hundred years ago, this attack would have been a massive clearing operation. Even if thousands surrounded the area, after this barrage of demonic blood, only a few would likely survive.

This wave of demonic blood attack was not yet over. The crystalline demonic blood had blasted the earth to shreds, creating one bizarre crater after another. However, the liquid demonic blood, moving more slowly, only began to fall at this moment. If the crystals contained energy, then the liquid demonic blood contained a terrifying, chilling resentment.

All the resentment of the dead accumulated on this land was drawn into the sky, turning into raindrops that poured down. Each drop of demonic blood that landed produced a wisp of green smoke, within which faintly appeared terrifying images of howling ghosts. Although it did not cause any real damage, the resentment and curses, comparable to deadly poison, seeped out and assimilated with the earth, becoming one of the most vicious effects of black magic: contamination.

Contaminated land could not be cultivated, could not grow anything, could not be inhabited, and could not be a place for the dead to rest in peace. All life on the land either gradually withers and dies, or mutates into something sinister, neither human nor ghost. Even corpses buried there will be demonized, their remains forever restless.

Contamination is a simple technique of black magic, but its effect is short-lived, lasting only a few hours. Contamination spells of the Headless Horseman's caliber can last for decades to centuries, a taboo even in Ishtar. Generally, unless the goal is to completely annihilate an enemy tribe, leaving no survivors, black magicians will not easily use magic with "long-lasting contamination" effects, because a mishap could result in mutual destruction.

Bai Lanxiong reacted quickly. Seeing the sky filled with demonic blood descending, he immediately mustered his strength, wildly wielding his dragon-headed greatsword, smashing away every fiery meteor. Except for the first meteor, which released energy and devoured half the greatsword's blade, alerting Bai Lanxiong, all the subsequent meteors were deflected and sent flying by his Beast King Fist, without damaging his weapon or causing harm. He also skillfully used the force of the impact, reflecting some of the smashed crimson crystals back towards the headless knight, hoping to attack it while it was casting a spell.

However, this tactic failed. Although the flying crimson crystals released energy and extended "darkness" to devour everything in their path, the space around the headless knight seemed to contain an even greater "darkness," instantly swallowing up the intruders, leaving nothing behind, let alone affecting the knight at the center of this space.

(How terrifying, he's practically the king of all ghosts...)

I felt fear in my heart. Although I reminded myself not to use any lewd magic recklessly, lest the headless knight recognize my identity, the pressure of death was imminent, and the headless knight had been scrutinizing my memories for a while, so there was probably nothing left to hide. Therefore, seeing that death was imminent, I immediately activated the lewd magic.

"Ancient lustful spirits, in the name of John Farrell, I make a pact with you. Please lend me your power, obey me, manifest yourself, come forth, Hellish God of Lust, Water and Fire Spider!"

The greatest tragedy of the weak wandering the world is that their level is never enough. After finally making some progress, they are immediately overtaken by the realities of the world. In the past, summoning one lewd beast was enough to suppress the situation, but now it's common to summon two at once. This is truly heartbreaking, but when faced with an opponent like the headless knight, I have nothing to complain about.

"Phoenix Blood Bee, come forth!"

A demonic spider and a female bee simultaneously guarded my top and bottom. The spider silk web spitting out by the water-fire demonic spider was incredibly tough, and combined with the heat rays from the Phoenix Blood Bee's tail, it firmly sealed off the crimson crystals falling from the sky. The ground three feet away from me was riddled with holes, but I was unharmed, as if protected by a master of the highest level.

Such a result was unbelievable even to myself, but in the second wave of demonic blood attacks, my luck, which had once surpassed my strength, could not continue. Drops of crimson resentful blood splashed on the summoned beast like corrosive acid. The Phoenix Blood Bee shielded me from above, enduring all the resentful blood, and disintegrated and disappeared with a painful cry, sacrificing itself to protect its master.

I survived this attack by sacrificing a lewd divine beast, but this didn't mean the end; on the contrary, it was just the beginning.

The knight was headless, but it wasn't completely blind. At least I was certain that after I used the lewd magic, it seemed to receive some kind of confirmation. Its murderous aura intensified, and the large black horse beneath it neighed loudly. Its blindfolded eyes emitted a fierce red light that even the blindfold couldn't conceal, glaring at its enemy from a century ago.

"Famit! You still dare to appear before me!"

An extremely sinister voice resounded directly in my mind, not any sound waves, but the most direct telepathic transmission. The voice was peculiar, as if it came through several layers of iron plates, blurry and flat, without the usual human intonation, making it very uncomfortable to hear.

This voice came with a tidal wave of resentment, directly connecting with my consciousness. Forced to "receive" it, I felt extremely uncomfortable, my chest heaving, and I felt like vomiting, but I knew this might be my last chance to save my life.

"W-Wrong! I'm not Famit, I... I'm just a minor warlock, not some grand mage!"

As long as there was communication, there was a glimmer of hope. Compared to ordinary mages, my silver tongue was far more powerful than magic. I saw the headless knight fall silent, and then, a voice appeared in my mind.

"Minor warlock? Nonsense! You really are Famit!"

Uh! No way? Did Famit often call himself a minor warlock back then? Why are you, a mighty invincible grand mage, being so humble? You've really got me killed this time!

I couldn't say anything more. The headless knight almost immediately launched an attack. Without me even seeing it move, I heard a long series of shattering sounds. The floor I was on was completely blown apart and overturned. The broken pieces extended straight down, destroying the entire floor and leaving long marks on the ground outside the building.

The reason I didn't die from that attack was mainly because, besides Bai Lanxiong's obstruction as he wielded his greatsword to strike the headless knight, my foot suddenly slipped, and I fell forward just before the attack arrived. I narrowly avoided it, and was pulled along by a small hand, rushing forward at lightning speed. The one

pulling me away was Wei Lai. This kid isn't too stupid; he probably feared I'd survived and would settle scores later, so he rescued Bai Mudan and then came to support me. The Black Dragon Ninja's ninjutsu truly has its unique secrets. Wei Lai used earth-escape techniques to help me escape through the two-inch-thick floor. The two of us seemed to transform into two planes, speeding along at an incredible speed. After a few spins and descents, we landed on the ground, temporarily shaking off the headless knight.

"Wow, that's really something."

With my feet firmly on the ground, I didn't feel the reality of being "rescued." The terrifying power of the headless knight still seemed before my eyes, yet in such a short time I had already escaped a hundred feet, temporarily escaping danger. The huge difference between the two was hard for me to adjust to.

(Ninjutsu is really useful. Maybe I should learn it too. At least it's faster than light footwork when escaping. Hopefully, it's not as hard to learn as teleportation... Huh? He escaped so fast. Is this kind of speed a low-level ninja can use so easily? That brat from the future...)

I was a little confused. I glanced at the future and saw him kneeling on one knee, panting heavily. He seemed to be exhausted. His right hand was on his left shoulder in a strange position, as if it wasn't his shoulder but a red-hot iron. He wanted to press it down but was afraid of the high temperature and dared not move.

"You... what happened to you?"

I asked a bit clumsily. When I saw black blood flowing from the future's shoulder, and even the wound starting to emit a putrid blue smoke, I realized that I had just escaped by luck, but the future, who was responsible for saving me, had been injured by the headless knight's attack.

It's a pity to be too conscientious. I should have been gloating and kicking him when he was down, but now I actually felt a little guilty. This is really unacceptable.

However, these cursed wounds inflicted by vengeful spirits are incredibly corrosive to flesh and blood. If left untreated and allowed to rot, the person will soon be reduced to a pool of pus and blood – a prospect I desperately want to avoid. The

proper treatment for such wounds is for a master of light magic to perform purification. Although we are in Ishtar, we happen to have a priest-level master of light magic nearby – Bai Mudan.

I was about to remind Wei Lai to quickly find Bai Mudan for treatment when a scream came from directly behind me. Turning around, I saw Bai Lanxiong, wearing only a stone hat, running away at full speed, leaving a river of blood behind him.

Bai Lanxiong is extremely shrewd; he wouldn't be foolish enough to fight to the death after I escaped. He immediately fled, and the headless knight pursued. Naturally, those who were slower to escape were the ones who perished, all becoming innocent, wronged souls.

I knew I was in trouble and was about to run away, but the headless knight had already noticed me. He pointed his longsword, and a bolt of black lightning struck down at me. At the same time, he spurred his horse and charged towards me, his momentum suggesting he intended to cleave me in two in a flash.

"Water-Fire Spider!"

I urgently summoned the Water-Fire Spider, which clashed head-on with the black lightning. After weakening some of the lightning's power, it was reduced to ashes, but a raging inferno illuminated the night sky, rushing in and, at the last second, extinguishing the lightning and striking the headless knight, forcing it to the ground.

The source of the flames was a creation artifact:

the Beacon Fire Universe Ring!

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