Having been given a second chance at life, I choose to join the Demonic Sect!

Cao Meng looked at his remaining six million mid-grade spirit stones and felt quite embarrassed.

How come it's only this little bit?

I was planning to spend a lot of money, but I only spent this little bit. What am I going to do?
In fact, of the more than six million mid-grade spirit stones, only a few hundred thousand belonged to Cao Meng; the rest were stolen by him this time.

Cao Meng's previous business was disrupted by the Hehuan Sect's treasury, causing Cao Meng to lose money for a period of time.

The Supreme Yang Pearl and the Immortal Inquiry Machine, which were finally refined, were not used in time, so Cao Meng did not have many mid-grade spirit stones on him at the beginning.

Although Cao Meng destroyed the Ziyu Dynasty and the Qingtian Sect, those forces activated their reserves when they fought to the death, and their spirit stones were consumed like water.

Take the Azure Sky Sect for example. The fifth-tier formations and fifth-tier crossbows of the first and second lines of defense all require spirit stones to activate.

Furthermore, the sixth-tier mechanical puppet, a treasure of the sect, activated by the Daoist Chengyun, also consumed a massive amount of spirit stones.

Cao Meng was furious when he thought that it was all because of these people that he had wasted his spirit stones and hadn't been able to get back much of them!
Why can't these evil spirits just obediently accept their death and return their spirit stones to themselves?

Of course, there was another major reason why Cao Meng failed to snatch the spirit stones, and that was related to Shi Shi.

When Shishi used her blood to refine a region of heaven and earth, she wasn't just refining living beings, but everything that contained spiritual power, including spirit stones.

The only thing that Cao Meng was fortunate about was that he had managed to seize a lot of pills, materials, talismans, and various cultivation resources.

Cao Meng estimated that selling those items would fetch at least ten to twenty million mid-grade spirit stones.

Looking at his remaining six million mid-grade spirit stones, Cao Meng decided to upgrade his Ten-Day Sacred Body to make it easier to refine the Supreme Yang Pearl in the future.

But now there is a problem, which is that we are still short of four million mid-grade spirit stones.

Cao Meng knew that there were probably only two people on this flying boat who could afford four million mid-grade spirit stones.

One was Nangong Yan, who was resting in the cabin, and the other was the fox spirit Hong Qi in front of them.

Cao Meng figured that if he asked Nangong Yan to lend him four million mid-grade spirit stones, given her personality, she would definitely say she didn't have the money, or ask him to provide something as collateral.

As the saying goes, "An army is raised for a thousand days, but used for only one."

Having raised this vixen for so long, it's time for her to give me some gold coins.

Although Cao Meng didn't know how many spirit stones Hong Qi had, his intuition told him that this fox spirit definitely had enough, perhaps even more!

After all, when I upgraded this fox spirit before, I swindled her out of several million mid-grade spirit stones, and she didn't even care.

"Hongqi, lend me four million mid-grade spirit stones. I'll pay you back in a few days!"

Cao Meng felt that given his friendship with Hong Qi, it wouldn't be a problem for this vixen to lend him four million mid-grade spirit stones.

"Humph!"

Hong Qi put her hands on her hips, snorted coldly, and said irritably:

"Cao Meng, do I look like a fool to you?"
Don't think I don't know you're borrowing and not repaying!

Hongqi has known Cao Meng for so long, she knows this scoundrel all too well.

If I were to lend four million mid-grade spirit stones to this thief, it would be like throwing a meat bun to a dog – a loss with no chance of return.

Don't even think about expecting Cao Cao to pay off the debt.

Although Princess Hongqi herself doesn't lack four million mid-grade spirit stones, she can't let them aid the enemy!
The enmity between myself and Cao Cao is irreconcilable, and I absolutely cannot aid the enemy.

If I were to aid the enemy and make Cao Cao stronger and stronger, I would never be able to escape Cao Cao's clutches.

"Hongqi, we've known each other for so long, do I look like that kind of person to you?"

Cao Meng put his arm around Hong Qi's shoulder, looking like a good friend.

Cao Meng felt that Hong Qi's transformation into human form had some advantages; at least when it came to playing the emotional card, he could put his arm around her shoulder.

Hongqi shook off Cao Meng's hand that was on her shoulder. That damned Cao thief always tries to take advantage of her when he borrows things. He's really despicable.

"Cao Meng, don't try to talk about friendship with me. I don't know you at all."

What kind of relationship do I have with this shameless traitor Cao? We only have grudges against each other.

This shameless traitor Cao dares to talk about friendship with me? He's utterly shameless!
"And Cao Meng, you're the kind of person who only borrows and never pays back!"

Hongqi knew very well that Cao Meng was now trying to curry favor with her, and that as long as she lent the money to this scoundrel Cao, he would immediately turn his back on her.

"Hongqi, are you sure we're not close?"

Cao Meng felt that since he had known Hong Qi for so long, he should give her a chance to reorganize her words.

If the other party doesn't seize this opportunity, they can't blame themselves.

"Hmph, we're not familiar with each other!"

Hong Qi stood with her hands on her hips, showing Cao Meng no respect whatsoever.

Cao Cao is now demanding spirit stones, and he's acting so self-righteously.

When borrowing something, you have to act humble. Don't you understand such a simple principle?

Cao Cao, if you kowtow to this princess, she won't mind rewarding you with some spirit stones!
Just as Hongqi was daydreaming, Cao Meng's expression suddenly turned cold.

"Hongqi, it seems I've been too good to you, and I've forgotten our respective statuses!"

As soon as Cao Meng finished speaking, he snapped his fingers and issued the command through the Soul-Devouring Gu.

The Soul-Devouring Gu, which was parasitizing Hong Qi's heart, immediately received its orders and began to torment Hong Qi.

Hongqi clutched her chest in pain, wailing incessantly.

Seeing Hong Qi's condition, Jin Ning'er realized for the first time that Hong Qi was in a worse state than herself.

She only had a master-servant contract with Cao Meng, but Hong Qi had been bewitched by Cao Meng.

Fortunately, it was just Cao Meng's warning, and Hong Qi only felt a slight pain!
"Cao Meng, you are shameless! You can't take a joke! You're using Gu worms to torture me!"

After the excruciating pain subsided, Hong Qi clutched her chest, gasping for breath, and sternly rebuked Cao Meng.

She never expected Cao Meng to be so shameless and such a sore loser.

If I don't lend you spirit stones, this scoundrel Cao will torment me with the Heart-Eating and Soul-Devouring Techniques. He's utterly despicable!

Cao Meng instantly appeared in front of Hong Qi, pinched her cheek, and questioned her:
"Pink-furred fox, I'll ask you one more time, will you lend me four million mid-grade spirit stones or not?"

"No, not a single spirit stone will be lent!"

Hongqi glared at Cao Meng through gritted teeth, refusing to believe that the traitor Cao would actually dare to kill her.

If I die, the entire Eastern Dao Continent will suffer the wrath of my aunt and the Northern Fox Clan!

"Pink-furred fox, you really have no idea what I'm capable of!"

Cao Meng smirked and then pinned Hong Qi to the ground, restraining her limbs!

I haven't dealt with this vixen for a while, so much so that her rebellious nature has resurfaced, and she's no longer afraid of me.

Today we're going to set the pink-haired fox spirit's bones and break her rebellious spirit.

"You traitor Cao, what are you trying to do?"

Hongqi panicked completely and struggled frantically.

That scoundrel Cao really does lust after my body. Today he finally couldn't resist and wants to take it all for himself.

"Borrowing spirit stones" is just an excuse from that traitor Cao. Seeing that she couldn't break free from Cao Meng's hold, Hong Qi felt a sense of despair.

To think that she, the noble nine-tailed cloud fox princess, would be harmed by the traitor Cao today, her body defiled and her purity tainted.

Heavens above! I, Hong Qi, have never caused any harm to anyone, so why must I treat myself like this?

Seeing that something was wrong, Jin Ning'er quickly covered her eyes. She was still a child, and what was about to happen was not suitable for children and was not something she should see.

Cao Meng was speechless when he saw Hong Qi's desperate expression, which resembled that of women about to be defiled.

This vixen's brain is a bit off!

No, it's this vixen's brain that's always been off, always abnormal.

"Pink-furred fox, you don't actually think I'm going to pick you, do you? You're really dreaming!"

Cao Mengzhen had no feelings for Hong Qi; in his heart, Hong Qi was just a rebellious Hakimi.

Cao Meng's mockery stunned Hong Qi for a moment, but she quickly recovered and the despair on her face vanished, replaced by rage.

"You scoundrel Cao, what do you mean? Are you implying that this princess is not worthy of you?"

"You traitor Cao, what right do you have to say such things? Do you know how noble my status is?"

"..."

Hong Qi was completely enraged at this moment. For a woman, the greatest insult is not that you insulted her, but that she had no power to resist, yet she was told that she was not worthy of being insulted!
At this moment, Hongqi felt exactly that way. According to Cao Cao, if she were to be defiled and have her purity tarnished by him, it would still be a huge advantage for her.

That damned Cao Cao! How dare he humiliate me like this! He deserves to die!
Just as Hong Qi was scolding Cao Meng, Cao Meng used his innate Geng metal energy and the true fire of the sun to condense a small dagger.

"You traitor Cao, what are you trying to do?"

Hongqi was startled when she saw Cao Meng's flaming dagger, thinking that Cao Meng was going to kill Hu.

Hongqi wasn't afraid of Cao Meng before because she gambled that Cao Meng wouldn't dare to kill her, but now that traitor Cao has drawn his knife!
"Let me tell you, even if you kill me, you will not be able to inherit my wealth!"

Hongqi panicked and was terrified!

She had been by Cao Meng's side for so long, and this was the first time he had ever raised a knife against her; it would be strange if she wasn't afraid.

Cao Meng held the flaming dagger and toyed with it in front of Hong Qi, teasingly saying:
"Pink-furred fox, I'm planning to carve a little turtle on your face. Would you like to mark it for me?"

Since Hongqi took human form, besides eating, drinking, and having fun, the thing she does most every day is look in the mirror.

Cao Meng caught Hong Qi being narcissistic and vain on several occasions.

Cao Meng thought to himself, since this pink-haired fox is so vain and narcissistic, he'll use her face to threaten her!
"not good!"

Hongqi quickly shook her head in refusal. How could you carve a tortoise on her peerless beauty? How could Cao Cao bear to ruin such a beautiful face?

"Whee!"

Cao Meng chuckled maliciously and continued to threaten Hong Qi:

"Pink fox, don't worry, I'll use some methods to ensure that little turtle on your face will never be removed!"

Cao Meng knew Hong Qi too well. He knew that this vixen was usually very arrogant, but in reality, she was just so-so.

With this skill, I can easily control this vixen!

"You wicked Cao Cao, how could you be so vicious? You actually wanted to permanently disfigure me, so I would never be able to show my face in public!"

Hongqi wanted to know why Cao Meng could be so vicious, because a woman's face is her second life!
Cao Cao's desire to ruin his own reputation was akin to his desire to destroy his second life.

Hongqi didn't want to be disfigured by Cao Meng, but she also didn't want to submit to the traitor Cao and bow down to evil forces.

"Shishi, save me!"

Hongqi turned to Shishi for help, after all, she had known Shishi for so long and had even given her advice.

She and Shishi were on good terms, and Cao Meng always spoiled Shishi. As long as Shishi spoke up for her, she should be able to get out of danger.

“Hongqi, I think you should lend the spirit stones to Cao Meng.”

"When the time comes, Cao Meng will surely remember your kindness and will bully you less in the future!"

Shishi spoke up, but she chose to side with Cao Meng and advised Hongqi.

In Shishi's heart, Hongqi is her best friend after Cao Meng, because Hongqi is always the one who gets beaten up by Cao Meng and never tries to compete with her for Cao Meng's attention.

Therefore, Shishi did not want Hongqi to be disfigured by Cao Meng, and hoped that Hongqi would be sensible and give the opportunity for the spirit stone to Cao Meng.
"Shishi, you traitor who has no loyalty to the opposite sex!"

Seeing that Shishi was on Cao Meng's side, Hongqi sternly rebuked and criticized her.

"Ugh!"

With no other choice, Hongqi watched Cao Meng's knife getting closer and closer, sighed helplessly, and chose to give in.

Hongqi reluctantly "lent" Cao Meng four million mid-grade spirit stones. As for getting Cao Meng to write an IOU, make a written agreement, or swear an oath, that was simply impossible.

Hongqi wanted to, but Cao Meng naturally wouldn't allow it.

He borrowed it through his own ability, so why should he write an IOU, a written agreement, or make a vow?

After collecting enough spirit stones, Cao Meng decisively clicked "upgrade" next to "Ten-Day Sacred Body" on the attribute panel.

"Ding! After deducting ten million mid-grade spirit stones, the Ten-Day Sacred Body has been upgraded to the Fourth Heavenly Yang!"

"Friendly reminder: The next upgrade of the Ten-Day Sacred Body (Fourfold Yang) will require one hundred million mid-grade spirit stones!"

"Friendly reminder: You currently have 23 mid-grade spirit stones remaining!"

As soon as the system deducted the fee, the world changed color. Under the night sky, a beam of solar power shot into the sky, soaring straight into the heavens!
The Great Flame City, a second-rate subordinate force of the Xuantian Sect...

Under the cover of night, a black-robed, masked cultivator moved like a ghost across the city wall. His gaze was cold, and the long sword in his hand gleamed with a chilling blue light.

Flames soared into the sky within the city, and panicked cries rose and fell, only to be silently swallowed by fear.

The swordsman wielded his sword like the coldest star in the night sky; with each strike, he took away a piece of life from the area.

Blood shot into the sky, and cries of agony were mixed with desperate sobs.
The guards in the city were as fragile as paper in front of the black-robed, masked cultivator.

His swordsmanship is domineering and ruthless, with each move containing the power to destroy heaven and earth.

On the streets, corpses piled up into blood-red mountains, yet the black-robed monk's steps remained steady and swift.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, but the cultivator seemed oblivious to it; his eyes held only coldness, devoid of any emotion.

Wherever he went, life withered and died instantly, like flowers that had been plucked from the ground.

Blood flowed like a river on the ground, reflecting the ghostly face beneath the cultivator's black robe, as well as the ruins of the city behind him.

The people in the city were like frightened birds, scattering in all directions, but there was nowhere to escape; the guards were united and determined to resist to the death, but they could not stop the fierce offensive of the black-robed, masked cultivator.

Screams echoed through the night sky, as if the gates of hell had been opened, beckoning the dead to arrive.

Finally, at the edge of the city, the black-robed, masked monk stopped.

His sword tip pointed to the sky, and blood dripped down the blade.

All the remaining creatures in the city had fallen, leaving only the masked cultivator standing alone between the blood-red world, like a cold, indifferent statue of a god of death.

After slaughtering everyone in the city, the masked cultivator formed hand seals and began to absorb the city's blood essence, packing up the corpses and souls one by one. (End of Chapter)