Starting from his vigorous old age, he began to conquer Liaozhai.

Nie Xiaoqian sat cross-legged on the ground, circulating her spiritual energy, and a black yin energy slowly rose from her body.

She turned her wrist to put away the magical artifact, the Spirit Pearl, that had released the protective shield.

Yin energy gathered at the top and rushed towards the bronze bowl directly above.

The bronze bowl, having lost the evil monk's spiritual power, instantly lost its spiritual essence under Nie Xiaoqian's attack and flew to the side.

"Bald monk, prepare to die!"

The moment Nie Xiaoqian broke free, she casually dealt with the remaining evil spirits in the area, and then chased after the fleeing evil monk, her voice filled with uncontrollable killing intent.

Cao Xiong casually put the short flintlock pistol he had thrown on the ground, the evil monk's bronze alms bowl, and the black kasaya into his storage bag.

"We've struck it rich!"

Then, using his lightness skill, he followed closely behind Nie Xiaoqian. This evil monk was only at the early stage of Qi Refining, and in his eyes, she was just a walking fragment.

The evil monk, who had lost an arm, was ashen-faced, his eyes filled with intense resentment.

He could only release the evil spirits from the Hundred Ghosts Banner as he ran, trying to stop Nie Xiaoqian's pursuit.

However, these vengeful spirits were no match for the more powerful ghost, Nie Xiaoqian, and could only be crushed.

At this moment, Nie Xiaoqian wished she could tear the evil monk to pieces. Ignoring her severely injured soul body from the copper bowl, she attacked ruthlessly.

Before long, Nie Xiaoqian was less than two hundred meters away from the evil monk.

Nie Xiaoqian exhaled a breath of yin energy, which condensed into a claw-like shape and grabbed at the evil monk who was desperately trying to escape.

Sensing the danger behind him, the evil monk had no choice but to slow down and stuff two more healing pills into his mouth.

He waved his hand, releasing two golden halos imbued with Buddhist and Taoist principles, attempting to resist Nie Xiaoqian's attack.

"die!"

Nie Xiaoqian's hair fluttered without wind, and her voice became shrill, carrying a large amount of yin energy, like a beautiful ghost descended from hell.

The evil monk's attacks were like a three-year-old child's game in front of Nie Xiaoqian, utterly vulnerable.

The two golden halos were crushed to pieces by the yin energy claws exhaled by Nie Xiaoqian.

"A bald monk who doesn't look like a bald monk, a heretic who doesn't look like a heretic." Nie Xiaoqian's voice was filled with undisguised sarcasm.

Knowing he couldn't escape, the evil monk stopped and engaged Nie Xiaoqian in a direct battle.

However, the evil monk was not as strong as Nie Xiaoqian. He was able to suppress her before because he relied on the Buddhist artifacts in his hands that were specifically designed to suppress ghosts.

Despite being more seriously injured than Nie Xiaoqian, the evil monk was beaten so badly by Nie Xiaoqian that he vomited blood and became weak after only two exchanges.

Cao Xiong had already arrived and finally made his move. He threw the Evil-Smelling Blade in his hand, which went straight for the evil monk's chest, killing him before Nie Xiaoqian could react.

[Defeat a Qi Refining Realm early stage cultivator, fragment +1]

Cao Xiong breathed a sigh of relief; he had made a fortune tonight.

Seeing that Nie Xiaoqian had no intention of searching the evil monk's body, Cao Xiong decisively took action and pulled a storage bag from the evil monk's arms.

Nie Xiaoqian didn't care about Cao Xiong's actions; she wasn't interested in the evil monk's things anyway.

"Miss Xiaoqian, are you alright?"

Cao Xiong looked at Nie Xiaoqian, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, recovering her energy.

"It's alright, but Cao Lang will have to work hard." Nie Xiaoqian's murderous aura dissipated, and she returned to her usual liveliness.

Nie Xiaoqian looked at Cao Xiong with a strange expression in her eyes.

Cao Xiong's heart skipped a beat. He knew that look all too well; it seemed he was in for a major financial loss tonight.

Seeing Cao Xiong's constantly changing expression, Nie Xiaoqian couldn't help but smile.

"What? If I had stayed at Lanruo Temple today, I wouldn't have been bullied by this evil monk. It's just that I was in a hurry to see you."

"Cao Lang doesn't seem very willing?"

The next moment, Nie Xiaoqian appeared beside Cao Xiong, her hand naturally placed on Cao Xiong's chest, her fingers touching him lightly and heavily.

Cao Xiong could even feel Nie Xiaoqian's breath as she spoke.

"So what if I don't want to?" Cao Xiong raised an eyebrow and grabbed Nie Xiaoqian's mischievous hand.

"It's rare to see Lord Cao so assertive," Nie Xiaoqian chuckled.

"What's wrong with this evil monk?" Cao Xiong didn't want to argue with Nie Xiaoqian, so he took the initiative to steer the conversation toward the evil monk.

"I don't know, I just happened to be passing by and stumbled upon it," Nie Xiaoqian thought to herself, feeling a bit unlucky.

Cao Xiong nodded thoughtfully. This evil monk possessed authentic Buddhist artifacts, yet he clearly practiced sinister techniques, which was quite incongruous.

"Cao Lang, the night is too short." Nie Xiaoqian pressed her body against Cao Xiong again, her voice seductive.

"Don't let these unimportant people bother you."

"Good!" Cao Xiong could sense that Nie Xiaoqian's aura was extremely unstable, and her injuries were not as simple as they appeared.

If Nie Xiaoqian doesn't absorb some yang energy soon, her injuries will likely continue to worsen.

Nie Xiaoqian managed a weak smile, her face as pale as paper.

Her lips pressed directly against Cao Xiong's.

This time, the process was longer than before, and Nie Xiaoqian did not absorb the energy remotely or suppress her own alluring aura throughout the entire process.

Cao Xiong desperately suppressed the restlessness within him, which was extremely agonizing for him.

Nie Xiaoqian noticed Cao Xiong's embarrassment and slowly squatted down.

"Hiss~"

"You..." Cao Xiong couldn't help but gasp.

Everything returned to calm. Nie Xiaoqian's breathing had stabilized, but her complexion was still somewhat abnormal.

"Do you know where the Burial Dragon is?" Cao Xiong asked softly, looking at Nie Xiaoqian, who was nestled in his arms and dared not look up.

"I don't know. Zangpo Long has always been mysterious. Did he attack you?" Nie Xiaoqian was a little worried.

"If he had attacked me first, things would have been much more complicated than you think." Cao Xiong's voice was tinged with weariness.

He hated the feeling of having the enemy in the shadows while he was in the open.

Once he becomes powerful, he will surely sweep away all the forces of the Tree Demon Granny.

When Cao Xiong returned to Guobei County, it was nearly dawn.

After returning to the barracks, he began to sort through the goods he had received the previous night.

First, there are several ritual implements left behind by the evil monk: a bronze alms bowl, a black kasaya, and a banner bearing a hundred demons.

Cao Xiong released his divine sense and tried to refine it one by one.

The bronze bowl and the black kasaya did not react; only the Hundred Ghosts Banner was successfully imprinted with Cao Xiong's divine sense.

And it can be controlled without spiritual power.

"No wonder unorthodox methods are so popular; they certainly have extraordinary abilities."

Cao Xiong was fascinated by the Hundred Ghosts Banner, but unfortunately, he and Nie Xiaoqian had already killed all the evil spirits inside, making it all just a pretty face.

"Later, I'll subdue more ghosts."

Cao Xiong was not against evil magical artifacts, as long as he didn't use them to do anything immoral.

"It doesn't matter if it's a black cat or a white cat, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat."

Cao Xiong put the several magical artifacts into his storage bag.

Next, he looked at the panel in front of him.

[Fragments: 6-6]

Please select your term!

"Finally, I've collected all the fragments. I wonder what kind of affixes I'll get this time."

Last night, Cao Xiong didn't notice the notification on the panel. He still hoped that the new entry would improve his talent.

He always remembered the grudge against Yaksha.