The Ancestor of All Demons

Shi Feiyang stared at the exotic flower for a long time, only able to barely ascertain that it was non-toxic and greatly nourishing to one's vitality—it was a type of Spiritual Medicine. Moreover, the small figure within its blossom was nearly fully formed and seemed it could be born as a human child would be, upon reaching full term.

He already had two Immortal Herbs, the Queen Mother Grass and Immortal Mushrooms, and wished to cultivate this one as well, so he stood by quietly to protect it.

The vulture regained its strength and flew away that afternoon, and Shi Feiyang did not stop it.

By the next morning, a blazing red Sun slowly rose from the horizon of the East Sea, turning vast stretches of the sea fiery, with floating mists of red that were extraordinarily beautiful.

The Immortal Herb was nearing maturity and had developed some spiritual intelligence. Shi Feiyang let out Mo Zhui and Mo Xiang, the two small figures, to help identify the herb's medicinal properties and communicate with the Immortal Herb.

The Immortal Herb did not know what humans called it. Mo Zhui introduced Shi Feiyang, saying that Mo Xiang also transformed with Shi Feiyang's help, assuring the Herb not to be afraid.

Seeing that the Immortal Herb's blossom had nurtured a fruit in the shape of an infant, Shi Feiyang named it Mo Ying, promising to protect it until it was fully matured, and then to take it with him.

The Immortal Herb, Mo Ying, was very happy, but its consciousness was not yet stable and needed a long time to develop through sleep. Mo Zhui and Mo Xiang didn't disturb it and ran off to play in the grass, enjoying the sunlight.

Shi Feiyang, facing the Sun, collected the True Sun Essence from the True Sun Fire to refine the Divine Fire Inner Core.

Suddenly, he sensed something, turning his head toward the southwest direction, clearly feeling someone flying this way by Sword Control, but all he saw were clear skies and gentle clouds, nothing else visible.

He quickly turned back, concentrating and staying on guard.

In an instant, the person arrived on the island, revealed mid-air as a tall and fit, handsome young man dressed in a dark green Daoist robe, with a Jade Crown on his head, a sash around his waist, and a Jade pendant hanging. He just stood there, floating in the air.

Shi Feiyang faintly saw a stern Sword Qi around him as he wielded an invisible Immortal Sword.

The newcomer, with exceptional vision, first noticed two small figures running in the grass, recognized them as human-shaped Spiritual Medicines, and decided to capture them to take back to Fishing Rock or Emei Mountain. He pointed downwards, creating a circle of Invisible Sword Energy that trapped the two small figures.

Mo Zhui quickly grabbed Mo Xiang's hand and they hurriedly burrowed into the ground. However, the man used a Prohibition Technique to seal the ground and quickly shrank the Sword Circle, reducing the space in which the small figures could move.

At that moment, Shi Feiyang flew over swiftly without making any move yet. On seeing a Black Dragon soaring through the sky, the man was also startled, formed a Sword Control gesture, and pointed into the air. Invisible Sword Energy shot out, splitting from one into two, two into four, four into eight, creating a total of sixty-four streaks of Invisible Sword Energy with a piercing "swishing" sound—truly formidable!

Shi Feiyang quickly expelled two inner cores which rotated and formed a circular Tai Chi Diagram in front of him, blocking all the Sword Qi.

He shouted loudly, "Who are you? Why would you start killing upon our meeting without any grievances?"

The young man, also quite surprised, withdrew his Sword Qi, "You can actually speak human language?"

Shi Feiyang replied irritably, "Who exactly are you? What are you here for?"

The young man said, "I am Zhuge Jingwo, a disciple of the Emei Sect, sent here by my master's orders to collect the Millennium Purple River Grass."

"Purple River Grass?" Shi Feiyang thought of Mo Ying, whose appearance was peculiar, "Are they both Purple River Grass?"

Shi Feiyang suddenly exerted force and his inner core dashed forward, shattering many Sword Qi. The Sword Circle set by Zhuge Jingwo to trap the two small figures on the ground also instantly shattered.

Mo Zhui, pulling Mo Xiang, fled swiftly. In his haste, Mo Xiang was bisected at the waist by the shattered Sword Qi. Mo Zhui, grasping only his upper body, fled nearly a hundred yards off the ground before realizing something was amiss. He quickly returned to pick up the lower half of the body and fled again.

Seeing the small figure injured, Shi Feiyang grew even more frantic and angry. While driving his inner core forward vigorously, he contemplated how to take revenge in his heart.

Zhuge Jingwo could not withstand the collision of the two inner cores with his Sword Qi alone, so he released the true form of the Invisible Immortal Sword, which finally blocked the inner cores.

He regained his stance in mid-air, his emotions surprisingly stable, "Are you the Guardian Beast for that Purple River Grass?"

Seeing that Zhuge Jingwo had something to say, Shi Feiyang slightly restrained his offensive moves, "I suppose so!"

Zhuge Jingwo thought for a moment about how to phrase his words and then spoke again, "Being an anomalous cultivator is fraught with hardship and misfortune. Relying on one or two stalks of Immortal Grass Spiritual Medicine cannot change one's fate against the heavens. I have been ordered by my master to gather herbs, and I must take this grass. If you give it to me, I can promise that if you face any insurmountable disaster in the future, you can come to Fishing Rock in the East Sea for help. If I am there, I will definitely not ignore you; even if I am not, others from my sect who encounter you will also extend their help. What do you think?"

Xuan Zhenzi was the senior brother of the Emei Sect, ranked first among the Three Immortals of the East Sea, even before Sect Leader Qi Shuming, and he had the highest Daoist technique. Zhuge Jingwo was his senior disciple, the heir to his mantle. Acquiring his promise was difficult, almost equivalent to obtaining a protective talisman. The temptation was undoubtedly immense.

Shi Feiyang countered, "What are you going to do with the grass when you take it back?"

Zhuge Jingwo patiently said, "My master and the Sect Leader uncle intend to concoct the Nine Revolutions of True Essence Rebirth Pill, and this herb is indispensable for that purpose."

Shi Feiyang hesitated but finally shook his head, "No, this grass has already become sentient. I have promised to help it transform. If you need it for medicine, you can wait until after it transforms and then take some of its blood."

Zhuge Jingwo said, "The Rebirth Divine Pill of the Nine Revolutions of True Essence is a secret of the Purple Mansion, and it must be made using a mature, thousand-year-old whole stalk of Purple River Grass. Moreover, it must be harvested after it matures but before it transforms. Otherwise, a breath of Primordial Qi converted from Innate to Acquired will also be useless."

"I'm sorry then," Shi Feiyang knew that handing over the Purple River Grass could win over the senior disciple of the Emei Sect. As long as he performed well afterwards and took extra care of the Emei Sect's younger members, it would be as good as seeking powerful support. Whenever he faced disasters, the Emei Sect would most likely extend help. But by not handing over the Purple River Grass, he would offend not just Zhuge Jingwo but also Xuan Zhenzi, and he would become sworn enemies with the Emei Sect from then on.

But he still chose to refuse, "Purple River Grass is rare, but the world is vast. There surely isn't just this single remaining one here. You should go look elsewhere."

At this moment, the two small figures had already run up close. He looked down and saw Mo Xiang bisected at the waist by Sword Qi, which was very painful for him.

Mo Zhui busied himself with rescuing him, spitting out quite a bit of saliva to apply on the cut, properly aligning the two halves of Mo Xiang's body, then emitting a mist. In an instant, they fused together, though the surface still had cracks and would need some time to fully heal.

Shi Feiyang opened his mouth and swallowed them into his belly. The Jade Box automatically opened and stored them inside.

Zhuge Jingwo watched this scene and secretly marveled in his heart. A Black Dragon, carrying two stalks of Immortal Grass transformed into human forms, one of which must be the legendary Queen Mother Grass, which could actually bring the dead back to life, even reviving one bisected at the waist.

"These two little fellows, I did not know they were yours. Now that they have an owner, I won't pursue them, but that Purple River Grass is ordered by my master to be taken, and I must get it," Zhuge Jingwo asked in the tone of a final ultimatum, "Are you letting it go or not?"

"Not letting!" Shi Feiyang answered definitively.