This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 479 No Love Left, Wrong Payment Made, Child Will Never Bear Xiang's Surname
"Li asks you, what are the methods of the Bull Demon King's family? Is the Mighty Bull Demon King still the all-powerful Great Sage Equaling Heaven?"

Xiang Yuan narrowed his eyes. During the battle with Ruyi Zhenxian, he keenly sensed that the other party had been poisoned by the Demon Ruins Realm, and his strength and cultivation had greatly decreased, making his skills far inferior to before.

Especially the demon's physical body, which was rotten and unrecognizable.

Although he didn't want to admit it, Xiang Yuan was very clear that the Ruyi True Immortal in his prime was more powerful than him. He was able to win today because his opponent had been severely weakened.

To put it simply, the old Ruyi Zhenxian could hook the monkey with several "Wild Geese Descending on the Sand" techniques, but the current Ruyi Zhenxian, before the monkey even feels anything, has already torn off his hand.

The three demons of Shuangcha Ridge have been weakened, and Ruyi Zhenxian has also been weakened, so there's no reason why the Bull Demon King's family is unharmed.

Judging from the art style of this world, it's not hard to imagine what the Bull Demon King's family looks like now. Xiang Yuan already has a lifeless family photo in his mind.

"This world is corrupt; my brother's abilities have greatly declined, and he is no longer as splendid as before..."

Ruyi Zhenxian smiled wryly as he described the appearance of the Bull Demon King, but even a starved camel is bigger than a horse; the Bull Demon King was still the all-powerful Great Sage Equaling Heaven, and not just anyone could defeat him.

"Between the Bull Demon King and me...the two beside me...this flawless, elegant, and serene fairy, who is stronger?"

Xiang Yuan originally wanted to say that compared to himself, but he realized that was a pointless statement. No matter how depraved the Bull Demon King was, he couldn't be this pathetic. So he compared Bai Wuyan to Su Ran Sword Master.

Halfway through his sentence, he realized he shouldn't praise the Door-Crack Sword Master in front of the White House, so he changed his mind again.

"Weren't you two fairies? Why did you change your address?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately drew the glare of Su Ran Sword Master and the slight upturn of Bai Wuyan's lips.

In the distance, Xiang Yuan could vaguely see the progress bar above the White House head. Due to continuous pressure, the progress was rapid, and it looked like it was about to reach the bottom. The White House head was about to do whatever he wanted to him.

Sure enough, winning over the White House Master only took one step: constantly badmouthing the Door-Crack Sword Master.

This is too childish!
"So that the Great Immortal may know, my brother's strength has greatly declined, naturally this fairy's methods are more skillful." True Immortal Ruyi smiled broadly, but because of his deadpan expression, his smile looked like something out of a horror movie.

"Tell the truth!" Xiang Yuan didn't believe it.

"There is some truth to it, but..."

The True Immortal Ruyi was exceptionally mature, and said with a simple smile, "I wonder which kind of truth the Great Immortal would like to hear? I have several versions to offer."

"The most authentic kind."

"My brother is invincible!"

"..." x3
Xiang Yuan frowned but did not refute anything. The White Palace Master is not the Queen Mother of the West yet, and it is not shameful that she cannot compare to the Bull Demon King.

He continued, "And what about the one next to her? If the fairy and that person join forces, who would be stronger against the Bull Demon King?"

"Hey, at least add a fairy!"

Sword Master Su Ran was displeased, grumbling that there was no love left, that the wrong person had been chosen, and that the child would never bear the surname Xiang.

Bai Wuyan couldn't suppress the smile on her lips, and her eyes shone with indescribable joy as she looked into the distance, acknowledging the Queen Mother of the West's elixir of immortality.

At the same time, I decided that I would never step on Xiang Yuan's face again.

"Perhaps it can be fought."

Ruyi Zhenxian said dryly, using vague words to express as euphemistically as possible that quantity does not represent quality.

Xiang Yuan paused for a moment, then asked for several more pieces of information, all related to the Bull Demon King's family, such as Princess Iron Fan's strength and whether Red Boy's Samadhi True Fire had any weaknesses.

Good news arrived: due to corruption penetrating to the marrow, the mother and son's strength plummeted, with Red Boy suffering the most severe decline. His Samadhi True Fire underwent a mutation, and he lost all his former power.

Without the Samadhi True Fire supernatural power, Red Boy is just a brat with bull horns. According to the True Immortal Ruyi, even he dares to fight him.

Because the child's parents were too powerful, I didn't dare to fight back!
After obtaining all the information he wanted, Xiang Yuan nodded and waved his hand, saying, "You may leave. I, Li, always keep my word. I said I wouldn't kill you, and I won't."

I don't believe you. If you don't make a move, those two beside you will definitely.

"Great Immortal, please don't make a move. I have something to say."

Ruyi Zhenxian didn't leave. He prostrated himself and said, "Great Immortal, you can't kill me. My elder brother is invincible. If it weren't for me leading the way, Great Immortal would have had a hard time surviving this calamity!"

"Don't talk nonsense. I don't consider the Bull Demon King an enemy. I was just asking casually."

“What you say makes sense, Master, but I still have to say it.”

Ruyi Zhenxian spoke quickly, explaining the truth behind his visit to Shuangcha Ridge today: "I am here on my elder brother's orders to use the Wind-Fixing Pearl and the three demons to get rid of my sister-in-law, seize the relic, and open the gate to leave this world."

"Open the portal?"

Xiang Yuan squinted his eyes. He wasn't interested in the gossip about the Bull Demon King's family, but he immediately perked up when he heard about the Reincarnation Relic and the Gate.

Has the Bull Demon King figured out the truth about the Reincarnation Relic and learned how to use it?
Xiang Yuan traveled through many worlds and found quite a few Reincarnation Relics. Only the extraterrestrial demons knew how to use the Reincarnation Relics to descend in their true form. The others who obtained the Reincarnation Relics did not know how to use them.

As expected of the leader of the Seven Great Sages, he is indeed extraordinary.

"It is a gateway between Yin and Yang, located in my cave dwelling on Jieyang Mountain..."

The True Immortal Ruyi revealed the truth, and his method was almost identical to the one he used to deceive the three demons, only correcting some details.

When deceiving the three demons, this story was half true and half false. The lure of a new life tricked them into taking the Wind-Fixing Pearl to Mount Jilei to ambush Princess Iron Fan. Afterwards, the Bull Demon King would clean up the mess, killing the three demons in front of Red Boy to avenge his mother.

As for the fact that the three demons obtained the Banana Leaf Fan and their combat power increased dramatically, the Bull Demon King was not worried at all. The Banana Leaf Fan has an incantation, and the three demons would not know how to use it even if they got it.

Xiang Yuan listened and nodded. The abortion spring in Jieyang Mountain had undergone a strange change and merged with this world to form a portal. Once opened, one could enter the Demon Tomb and take away the greatest opportunity in the Demon Ruins Realm.

The Bull Demon King only knew that the Reincarnation Relic had the effect of traversing various realms, but he could not refine it and did not understand the specific operation process, so he placed all his hopes on the Demon Tomb.

At first glance, it seems like there's no problem, but there's a hurdle that the Bull Demon King hasn't yet found a solution for.

There is no key to the Yin-Yang portal!
"You've said so much, but if there's no key, there's no key. Besides, I, Li, am not interested in this opportunity..."

“Great Immortal, what I mean is that my brother is unaware that the three demons of Shuangcha Ridge are dead. I am willing to accept your orders and invite my brother and his nephews to a banquet at Jieyang Mountain. At that time, only Princess Iron Fan will remain at Jilei Mountain. With the Wind-Fixing Pearl, you can do whatever you want.” said True Immortal Ruyi.

Don't talk nonsense. I, Xiang, the God of Pure Love, don't follow your NTR stuff.

Xiang Yuan thought to himself, realizing the brilliance of Ruyi Zhenxian's clever scheme.

Admittedly, the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan were irreconcilable enemies. The Bull Demon King sent Ruyi Zhenxian to find assassins outside and even voluntarily made room for Red Boy, letting the assassins do as they pleased.

But before they completely break off relations, they are a married couple. Once an external enemy appears, the couple will be united in their attacks.

Xiang Yuan has the Wind-Fixing Pearl, which counters the Banana Leaf Fan. At first glance, Princess Iron Fan seems like just a pig, whose fighting power is so weak that it doesn't matter whether she has it or not.

However, if one obtains the Banana Leaf Fan before the Bull Demon King and then tricks him into revealing the incantation for the fan, the Bull Demon King will not be so invincible.

"That makes perfect sense, but why should Li believe a traitor?"

Xiang Yuan shook his head slightly, turned away from Ruyi Zhenxian, and wiped his neck with his hand.

Use her as a pretext!

Two sword lights crossed and descended, freezing the look of surprise on the face of the True Immortal Ruyi. He was gone with the wind, omnipresent, unable to understand why Xiang Yuan did not spare his life. Was his plan not good?
Furthermore, this pretty boy is an expert at living off women, far more so than the Bull Demon King!

"I made the first move, unlike some haggard old women who don't understand their beloved's feelings. They only realize what's going on when I make the move... Oh, right, they've long since lost love, so how can they still have any unspoken understanding?" said the Sword Master Su Ran in a teasy tone.

Indeed, she made the first move; Bai Wuyan was a step too slow.

But this has nothing to do with telepathy; it's simply that she and Xiang Yuan are too well-matched, creating the illusion of perfect understanding.

Bai Wuyan suppressed her anger and said to Xiang Yuan, "Why did you kill him? If you don't trust him, I have my own ways of controlling him."

Bai Wuyan had previously controlled the Sword Master of the Formless Sword, and indeed possesses such supernatural abilities. Given some time, she could make Ruyi Zhenxian obedient. Moreover, the latter's plan was indeed quite good: to use a counter-strategy to first eliminate Princess Iron Fan, obtain the Banana Leaf Fan, and then deal with the Bull Demon King would be much easier.

“If he can betray once, he can betray a second time. Even if the White House Master can control him, the Bull Demon King will notice the subtle changes in his words and actions. This is a risk that must be guarded against,” Xiang Yuan said.

"That's what I think too." Sword Master Su Ran followed up, not missing any opportunity to mock Bai Wuyan.

Xiang Yuan had a headache: "Sword Master, you have long hair, so don't talk!"

"This is outrageous! Your old hag has longer hair than I do. How do you explain that?"

"The white-haired prince's black hair is a symbol of wisdom; the longer hair that is longer than yours represents composure and calmness. You lack that, which is why you are impetuous and impulsive."

Xiang Yuan spoke fluently without hesitation. Despite being a kept man, he had learned the ultimate art of water handling at the Prince Zhao's residence, so it was no challenge for him at all.

Without comparison, there is no harm. Su Ran Sword Master felt full of malice, stood aside cursing, touched his lower abdomen, and said that the mother and son were really miserable.

Upon hearing the defeated dog's mournful wail, Bai Wuyan's cold expression vanished, and her eyes nearly crinkled into crescent moons with laughter.

Knowing that Su Ran Sword Venerable could hear, Xiang Yuan said to Bai Wuyan, "The Bull Demon King originally intended to leave Ji Lei Mountain, so it is not difficult to invite him to Jie Yang Mountain for a feast. I will disguise myself as Ruyi True Immortal and have a little demon deliver the invitation."

Whether or not there is Ruyi Zhenxian, it's all the same. Keeping him around would only be a disaster. It's the right thing to do to kill him decisively. "Moreover, all that Ruyi Zhenxian has said is his own opinion. Many of his words were told to him by the Bull Demon King. The Bull Demon King even wanted to kill his own first wife. We should think twice about how much truth he can tell this younger brother."

Just like the Reincarnation Relic is in Princess Iron Fan's belly, these are the Bull Demon King's original words, which were relayed to the three demons of Shuangcha Ridge by the True Immortal Ruyi.

Ruyi Zhenxian is neither the confidant Bull Demon King nor the monkey who opened his mouth to his sister-in-law. How can he be so sure that the Reincarnation Relic is definitely in Princess Iron Fan's belly? It's hard to say whether it's true or not.

"Princess Iron Fan is so pitiful. She hired a gigolo who lived off her, giving him money, providing for him, and even having his children. And what happened? The gigolo pulled up his pants and immediately plotted to kill her. How did it turn out like this? What happened to their promise of a harmonious marriage..."

Su Ran Sword Master started again, and instead of using veiled criticism, he directly compared Xiang Yuan and Bai Wuyan to the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan: "That's right, Madam Bull is an old hag, and the pretty boy has found a new love and finds her a nuisance."

Clearly, the new love refers to herself.

Bai Wuyan was quite annoyed. Previously, Su Ran Sword Venerable had provoked her in every way, but she had endured it without retaliating because she couldn't argue with him or want to stoop to his level. However, her anger had accumulated and she couldn't hold back this time.

"Don't be angry, White House Master. I'll deal with her."

Xiang Yuan hugged Bai Wuyan tightly, then turned to Su Ran Sword Master and said, "Sword Master, don't forget that Ji Lei Mountain is the property of your new lover. Now living there is the yellow-faced... ptooey, Princess Iron Fan. A wife is a wife, and a new lover can't compare to her."

Bai Wuyan liked to hear these words. Leaning against Xiang Yuan's chest, she gave Su Ran Sword Master a cold snort.

Not quite there yet, an arm rose and wrapped around Xiang Yuan's neck.

Who are you showing off to? Do you think I actually like him?
Su Ran Sword Master's lips twitched. The timing, location, and people were all on Bai Wuyan's side... He decided to go back and bully A Ping.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Jilei Mountain.

The mountaintop was shrouded in lead-gray thunderclouds, not ordinary rain clouds, but a sky curtain formed by the solidification of resentment and corpse energy.

The occasional lightning bolts that struck from the clouds were tinged with a murky purplish-red, like the festering veins of a god.

The entire mountain surface is covered with honeycomb-like holes, each of which is writhing rhythmically and constantly oozing a viscous, dark red liquid that flows down and forms countless blood streams along the mountain's contours.

In front of Moyun Cave, corpses are piled up and a monument stands there. Wind chimes hanging from the eaves are made of skulls, which sway in the wind and emit mournful cries.

The accumulated thunder is no longer thunder, and the towering clouds are no longer clouds; the once beautiful scenery is long gone.

Squeak—

The two skeletal doors opened, and the grating sound of decaying joints grinding together was unbearable.

The Bull Demon King, dressed in full armor, mounted the Water-Avoiding Golden-Eyed Beast, received an invitation from the True Immortal Ruyi, and went to Jieyang Mountain for a banquet with Red Boy.

The gang leader's daily routine remains the same: he's either attending a banquet or on his way to one.

But things are not what they used to be. Since being forced to move to the Demon Ruins Realm, the Bull Demon King has suffered from corruption. From afar, he appears as imposing as a mountain, but up close, he looks deathly pale.

Beneath the tattered armor, the once impenetrable cowhide was now riddled with cracks, revealing purplish-black rotting flesh beneath. Fine black fungi emerged from the tangled muscle fibers, wriggling with each breath.

His once majestic face was now marred by cloudy, yellowish eyes, and even the ox horns that had once shaken the heavens were now covered in rusty, blood-red lines.

The iron rod was covered with mold.

This situation makes one wonder: is the gang leader still in good shape?

The water-avoiding golden-eyed beast under his crotch was quite ugly and its appearance was not flattering, and the Red Boy beside him was not much better.

The once rosy-cheeked and white-toothed Holy Infant King has transformed into a purplish-blue demon child, his skin withered like an old corpse, his eyes sunken, and two flickering, eerie green flames.

"Father, why is Mother not on the invitation from the True Immortal Ruyi?" Red Boy opened his mouth, revealing a mouthful of fine, sharp teeth.

If you close your eyes and don't look, your voice is childish and quite cute.

"That's not the True Immortal Ruyi, it's your second uncle."

"But Mother said..."

"That's why I didn't invite your mother."

The Bull Demon King skipped over this unpleasant topic, adopting his paternal authority, and said, "Go and understand Yangshan, and don't bully your second uncle..."

Moments after the two demons left, three figures appeared out of thin air.

Black bear, bull demon, and tiger demon—the three demons of Shuangcha Ridge.

To be precise, it's Bai Wuyan, Xiang Yuan, and Su Ran Sword Master.

Xiang Yuan possessed the Invisible Seal Technique, allowing him to transform into whatever he wished. At this moment, he transformed into the Ox Demon Special Scholar, responsible for addressing Princess Iron Fan as his elder sister-in-law.

Bai Wuyan and Su Ran Sword Master cannot achieve the myriad transformations; they can imitate appearances to some extent, but they are powerless to replicate inner energy.

This was easy. Xiang Yuan stamped the seal on the two of them, infusing them with demonic and evil energy, which quickly brought Xiong Shanjun and General Yin to life, as if they had returned from the dead.

By the way, since Xiong Shanjun is the leader of Shuangcha Ridge, Su Ran Sword Venerable has a different opinion on who should become him. Because the two dogs joined forces to suppress him, he reluctantly became the Third King.

That is, a mistress.

Sword Master Su Ran suffered setbacks at every turn on this trip, finding no amusement whatsoever. It's easy to imagine that Ah Ping will be in trouble once she returns to the Qianyuan Realm.

Who told her to be forgiving and able to endure hardship!
Jilei Mountain is not Shuangcha Ridge. Its original owner, Princess Yumian, was a wealthy young lady among the demons who kept a small number of private armed forces.

After the Bull Demon King entered the scene, drawing on the experience of the Minotaur, he dispersed the lesser demons, leaving only a group of fox spirits, all of whom were female. Later, when the Journey to the West team passed by, wherever they went, collapses occurred, and Pigsy killed these fox spirits again.

Therefore, Mount Jilei was deserted, and Moyun Cave was also very quiet. Apart from Princess Iron Fan, not a single monster could be seen.

Xiang Yuan and his two companions strode in and soon found Princess Iron Fan in a garden surrounded by pine and cypress trees.

The sight of the pine trees with their fleshy growths on their needles made Xiang Yuan's teeth ache. He glanced at them quickly and said nothing more, his gaze settling on Princess Iron Fan. He thought to himself, "Not a single word is wrong."

Her hair was adorned with golden hairpins, her face was as beautiful as a flower and as lovely as the moon, and a white veil covered half of her delicate face.

On the upper half of her face, she ground pollen and carefully applied it layer by layer to her cheeks. The powder was as white as snow, yet it exuded a chilling, deathly aura. It was thickly applied to her face, barely concealing the pulsating bluish-purple veins beneath her skin.

Her delicately drawn eyebrows looked as if they were still alive.

The lower half of her face is not visible, and pollen may not be able to cover it up, so she doesn't want to show it to others.

Her flowing silk dress trailed to the ground, her figure slender and graceful, still possessing seven-tenths of her unparalleled elegance.

Upon seeing the three demons arrive, Princess Iron Fan, who had been leaning against the railing waiting for the moon, suddenly stood up, her eyes blazing with black light: "Why have you come here? Leave at once!"

The voice was soft and charming, but it was mixed with an eerie double echo, as if two mouths were speaking at the same time.

"Sister-in-law, I'm here for the banquet."

Xiang Yuan, disguised as a special officer, stepped forward and touched the bull horns on his head. As a pure love war god, he was not satisfied with his current appearance.

I feel like I've betrayed the organization!
"There is no banquet for you here, and I am not your sister-in-law!" Princess Iron Fan's eyes grew colder.

"In that case, I won't call you sister-in-law anymore, I'll do whatever you say."

Xiang Yuan's expression changed instantly, and he stepped forward in a sinister tone: "Princess, this Jilei Mountain is empty. It's no use shouting your lungs out now. The three demons of Shuangcha Ridge disdain to bully women. You... Princess, you should understand what I mean, right?"

"..." x2
You pretty boy, you're quite convincing as a womanizer, it doesn't look like acting. x2
Thank goodness, Xiang Yuan wasn't playing some lecherous bull; the villainous lines he prepared were those of a very refined villain. Because there was no one around, in that particular setting, he appeared to be a bull-headed man lusting after his sister-in-law's beauty.

How audacious! What a madman!
Princess Iron Fan was about to reprimand them when she suddenly remembered something, her eyebrows furrowing: "Did the Bull Demon King send the three of you?"

“Princess, don’t talk nonsense. Brother Bull Demon King didn’t let Immortal Ruyi find us, nor did he say that the princess was alone in her room today, nor did he say that he took away the Holy Infant King…” Xiang Yuan shook the bull’s head and defended Bull Demon King.

Beside him, General Yin, disguised as Sword Master Su Ran, chuckled and rubbed his hands together as he stepped forward: "Why bother talking to her so much? Before the Bull Demon King returns, let's brothers do something fun."

It has to be you; even I can't read these lines!
Princess Iron Fan was furious upon hearing this. Apart from a certain monkey, she had never been teased like this by anyone.

Despite her anger, Princess Iron Fan was no fool. She said coldly, "I can give you whatever you want. The Banana Leaf Fan is also negotiable."

"The princess is quite a remarkable person."

"Also, I need to hire you to kill the Bull Demon King!"

"..."

Xiang Yuan had thought about many things before coming here, even the way Su Ran Sword Master held down Princess Iron Fan's hands, but this was the one thing he really hadn't thought of.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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(End of this chapter)