Record of a Demon's Cultivation Chapter 1533: A Grand Gift

I can't do it.

This time, Kong Ling's response was immediate and unwavering.

[Since you, fellow daoist, disregard our past ties and have no intention of rescuing Jiang Ling'er, I won't trouble you further. But it's just as well. Jiang Ling'er is a rare beauty, and I've taken a liking to her. I plan to keep her as my personal plaything. It's a pity, though. After being toyed with by Lao Jian for a thousand years, she's now fallen into my hands. Truly, beauty is often cursed with a tragic fate.] Song Wen said.

You...

Kong Ling's anger surged, but he seemed momentarily paralyzed, unsure how to respond.

Farewell, Fellow Daoist Kong Ling!

Song Wen's tone was crisp and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation. It felt as though he was about to end the communication immediately.

[Wait!] Kong Ling hastily interjected. [Give me some time to consider.]

[Very well. After all, crafting four Purifying Fire Talismans isn't a task that can be completed in a moment. I'll contact you again in a month, but this will be my final attempt. If you decide to rescue Jiang Ling'er, you must create the four talismans within that month. I don't have the luxury of waiting indefinitely.] Song Wen said.

[Agreed. But first, I need verification—is Jiang Ling'er truly alive and in your custody?] Kong Ling demanded.

"That's easily arranged, fellow daoist," Song Wen said. "Simply travel three million li to Ancient River City. There, you'll find an inn called the Immortal Path Pavilion. In courtyard number seventy-eight, I've left you a grand gift."

"What kind of gift?" Kong Ling asked instinctively.

"Your nemesis... Lao Jian. And he's still alive," Song Wen replied.

"Lao Jian!" Kong Ling's voice dripped with undisguised hatred. "He's truly still alive?"

No one knew exactly what had transpired in the stone hall of the Myriad Sun Sect that day.

But the simultaneous disappearance of four Body Integration Stage cultivators from the Myriad Sun Sect, coupled with the destruction of their soul lamps, led the world to conclude that they had met a violent end.

"When I placed him in the inn three days ago, he was still alive. However, his divine soul is severely damaged and could scatter at any moment. If you delay, you might only find a corpse," Song Wen warned.

"This venerable one will personally go. However, even if Lao Jian is in your clutches, that doesn't prove Jiang Ling'er is also in your hands," Kong Ling countered.

"Then how would you have me prove it, fellow daoist?" Song Wen asked.

"I want to see Jiang Ling'er with my own eyes," Kong Ling demanded.

"Hah!" Song Wen scoffed lightly. "Forgive me for refusing. With the Lin Clan backing you, I dare not meet a fellow daoist so casually. What if you brought a Great Ascension Stage cultivator from the Lin Clan? I'd be walking straight into a trap!"

"Then use an image stone to record a scene of Jiang Ling'er," Kong Ling suggested. "Leave the stone somewhere, and I'll retrieve it myself."

Kong Ling's request posed no real risk.

Song Wen was about to agree when he suddenly cut off the communication.

A thorny issue had just occurred to him.

Though Jiang Ling'er's beauty remained undiminished, her hollow, numb eyes and insatiable lust made calling her a "fallen flower" an overstatement. She was now merely... a vile vessel of desire.

Was such a Jiang Ling'er truly worth Kong Ling's four Purifying Fire Talismans?

Song Wen had no confidence in this.

He immediately realized he couldn't let Kong Ling see Jiang Ling'er in her current state.

"Very well, I agree. When I contact you again in a month, I'll bring the image stone."

"Why wait a month?" Kong Ling pressed.

Song Wen offered no further explanation, casually storing the Communication Jade Slip.

He rose abruptly and left the inn.

Then, Song Wen soared into the sky, heading toward the place where he had hidden Jiang Ling'er.

Song Wen had placed Jiang Ling'er in a Corpse Coffin within a natural underground cavern. To prevent accidental discovery, he had deliberately set up a Seventh-Tier Concealment Formation.

Upon reaching the cavern, Song Wen used his spiritual power to levitate the Corpse Coffin and swiftly departed, heading toward the market city where Yan Yuyan was staying.

The market city, named Jinggao Market City, was quite large.

Approaching the city, Song Wen first retrieved Zhu Mei's Communication Jade Slip and sent a message, but received no response.

Next, he took out Yan Yuyan's Communication Jade Slip and informed her of his arrival.

Yan Yuyan replied immediately:

Senior Ji Yin, please wait a moment. This junior will be there shortly.

True to her word, Yan Yuyan appeared before Song Wen within mere dozens of breaths.

"Fellow Daoist Yan, how have you been settling into your cultivation here at the market city?" Song Wen asked, taking the initiative.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior. Everything has been going smoothly. This junior has already rented a courtyard within the city and has settled in for the time being." Yan Yuyan seemed genuinely pleased by Song Wen's arrival, her face radiant with a bright smile.

"That's good to hear," Song Wen replied.

"Senior, have you finished your business?" Yan Yuyan asked.

"Not yet," Song Wen said.

"Then what brings you here today, Senior?" Yan Yuyan inquired.

"Do you know where Zhu Mei has gone?" Song Wen asked, evading her question.

"She's currently in Jinggao Market City, renting a small courtyard with me," Yan Yuyan said.

"Then why hasn't she responded to my messages?" Song Wen asked.

"She's out on an errand, said she was going to purchase some spiritual materials for cultivation," Yan Yuyan replied.

"Return to your residence for now. When Zhu Mei returns, have her come see me," Song Wen instructed.

"Senior, do you have some urgent matter requiring Fellow Daoist Zhu Mei's assistance? This junior would be honored to offer my help as well," Yan Yuyan volunteered.

Song Wen shook his head.

"This task is beyond your capabilities. Only Zhu Mei can handle it."

Yan Yuyan's mind immediately flashed back to the incident on the Giant Flying Ship to the Northern Region, when Song Wen and Zhu Mei had been alone in the ship tower.

Her delicate face flushed crimson, and she quickly ceased her questioning, turning to leave.

Song Wen waited for another four hours.

Finally, Zhu Mei arrived, accompanied by Yan Yuyan.

"Senior Gu Huang, what instructions do you have for this junior?" Zhu Mei asked, cupping her hands in a respectful greeting.

"This isn't a suitable place to talk. Follow me," Song Wen said, summoning a Giant Flying Ship and boarding it first.

After the two boarded, the ship immediately set course away from the market.

Clang!

The Corpse Coffin, which had been hovering behind Song Wen, crashed onto the deck with a resounding thud.

The coffin lid sprang open, revealing Jiang Ling'er inside.

Song Wen channeled a wisp of spiritual power into her body.

Jiang Ling'er gradually awakened, abruptly sitting up in the coffin.

Her eyes swiveled, scrutinizing the three figures around her, but her gaze was hollow, and the seductive aura that constantly emanated from her body remained undiminished.

She seemed either completely unaware of her current predicament or utterly indifferent to it.