I manage female characters in all the heavens.

About fifty miles from Fengshui Village, there is a range of rolling hills.

Hidden among the mountains is a wide valley.

There used to be a sizable complex of buildings in the valley, but now most of them have been reduced to ruins.

The crumbling walls cast distorted shadows under the moonlight, and wild grass grew wildly from the cracks in the broken stone slabs, making the ruins even more desolate.

Only deep in the valley are four or five relatively intact buildings still preserved.

Although those buildings were also covered with cracks and moss, at least they did not collapse, and a few dim yellow lights shone in the night.

Hong Ji stopped in front of the group of buildings, turned around, and looked at the woman following behind her.

“We’re here.” She pointed to the ruins. “This is the Demon Mother’s cave.”

"It is said that this place used to be the mountain gate of the Liuyun Sect. A hundred years ago, the sect was wiped out by Lord Heishan and it was abandoned. Lady Ghost Mother discovered this place fifty years ago, thought it was good, and took it over."

Nie Xiaoqian looked around, her gaze sweeping over the ruins, and softly said "Oh".

"The Flowing Cloud Sect?" she asked casually. "Are they powerful?"

“Of course it’s amazing!” Hong Ji replied instinctively.

"It is said that a hundred years ago, the leader of the Flowing Cloud Sect was a highly skilled master with over a hundred disciples. He once eliminated a zombie with hundreds of years of cultivation and was quite famous among both the righteous and evil factions. Unfortunately, he later ran into Lord Black Mountain..."

May summary, and a vote request at the beginning of the month.

Dear readers, this May has a total of 31 days, with a total of 310,000 words updated, averaging 10,000 words per day.

This is the first time I've reached this level since I started writing a book. To be honest, it wasn't easy. After all, the amount of work that used to take two days now has to be done in one day. This transition was painful and agonizing, but I persevered.

However, even with daily sales of 10,000 copies, the book's performance showed no signs of improvement, with the number of favorites remaining stable at around 2,000, whereas previous books had at least 5,000 favorites each.

Compared to the dismal collection data, the subscription data is actually not bad, better than the previous two books with 5,000 collections. However, it is still in the dismal range. After three months on the shelves, it is still impossible to get the full attendance bonus.

This filled me with despair. I didn't know where the book was headed, I saw no hope, and I didn't know if I could keep going and keep writing 10,000 words a day.

and so……

Please, gentlemen, give this kid some monthly votes to encourage him!

If I get a lot of monthly votes, I might be able to get a recommendation and change my fate. My life is truly only saved by you gentlemen!

Chapter 168: Direct Serving or Following Procedures?

As she spoke, she shivered, clearly showing her great apprehension about that title.

"Lord Black Mountain? Demon Black Mountain?" Nie Xiaoqian raised an eyebrow.

Like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, Hong Ji bristled and shrank back sharply: "Don't, don't be so rude! That's a great being who rules over this area for thousands of miles, occupies this underworld, and has established his own underworld. It's not something we can discuss!"

That's our idol in the ghost realm!

Seeing her cowardly appearance, Nie Xiaoqian pursed her lips and didn't press the matter further.

She knew perfectly well what level the Black Mountain Demon was at. He was certainly very strong; even thousand-year-old demons had to work for him. But to say that he truly possessed godlike power was simply untrue.

If the Heavenly Dao hadn't collapsed, humanity hadn't fallen, and the Underworld hadn't been destroyed, with all the gods, Buddhas, immortals, and demons disappearing, how could a black stone spirit with only a few thousand years of cultivation have become a hegemon in the underworld?

She took a step and walked towards the largest building in the valley.

Hong Ji was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed: "You...you shouldn't observe from outside first? Lady Demon Mother is resting, how can you just barge in like this..."

Sister, I know you've come to cause trouble for the Ghost Mother, but there's no need to be so blatant. Don't you have even the slightest desire to launch a sneak attack?

"Observe what?" Miss Nie asked without turning her head, her tone relaxed. "It's just a tiger spirit, what, do you think I'm afraid of her?"

Hong Ji opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.

She felt both annoyed and secretly pleased as she looked at Nie Xiaoqian's swaggering manner, which showed no regard for the Ghost Mother.

What's infuriating is that this woman is so arrogant, she doesn't even respect the Demon Mother.

What pleased him was that the more arrogant she was, the more miserable her death would be, and once she was dead, he would be free again.

I already warned her; she chose to die, so she can't blame me.

Thinking this through, Hong Ji stopped trying to stop her and silently followed behind Nie Xiaoqian, ready to watch a good show.

When "Nie Xiaoqian" pushed open the heavy wooden door, a rich aroma wafted out.

It was a strange odor, a mixture of blood, decay, and the smell of some kind of wild animal, so thick it was almost tangible, making the air feel sticky.

The interior of the main hall was surprisingly spacious, measuring four or five zhang square. The floor was paved with bluestone slabs, which, although somewhat cracked, still revealed the exquisite craftsmanship of the time.

Directly in front of you is a stone platform covered with thick animal hides, forming a simple bed.

On the bed, a figure was lying on his side, seemingly fast asleep.

Unexpectedly, although the Yin Wind Demon Mother was a tiger demon, she did not have the robust and rugged feel of a tiger with its broad shoulders and thick waist.

She was a tall woman wearing a black gauze dress with a wide hem that revealed a section of her fair legs.

Her figure was extremely alluring, with exquisite curves. She lay languidly on her side on the animal skin, her long, black hair cascading down like a waterfall, making her skin appear even whiter.

Judging solely from her figure and profile, she is undoubtedly a rare beauty.

But when she turned her head and looked at the uninvited guest at the door, that sense of beauty was shattered—

Her face still retained some tiger features: a few faint black tiger stripes on her forehead, a slightly high nose bridge, three whiskers on each side of her face, slightly thick lips, and two sharp tiger teeth showing at the corners of her mouth.

While not exactly ugly, and even possessing a unique wild beauty, it is ultimately not entirely human in appearance.

The Yin Wind Demon Mother slowly opened her eyes, her amber vertical pupils gleaming eerily in the dim light, like two burning phosphorescent flames.

She looked at the young woman standing at the door, narrowed her eyes slightly, and said in a slightly hoarse and languid voice, as if she had just woken up: "Who are you? Why are you trespassing on my cave?"

"Nie Xiaoqian" crossed her arms, leaned against the doorframe, tilted her head, and sized up the tiger spirit with a playful smile on her face:

"So you're the Yin Wind Demon Mother? You're prettier than I imagined. I thought tiger spirits were all big and burly with menacing faces, but I didn't expect you to be quite charming."

The Ghost Mother of Yin Wind frowned slightly, ignoring her teasing, and looked past her to the red figure behind her:

"Hong Ji, what's going on? Did you bring people here to offer me sacrifices?"

They just granted Hong Ji a territory and sent her back to oversee things. It's only been two hours, and they've already brought back such a beautiful living person.

She praised, "Very good, as expected of my top general, he comes to report to me as soon as he knows he has made a gain."

"But remember to train her properly before bringing her here again. If I hear such rude words again, you, Hong Ji, will be equally guilty!"

A tiger's roar suddenly rang out, shaking the floor.

Hong Ji was startled and immediately knelt down: "Demon Mother, please calm down! No, it's not a gift, it's...it's this human who threatened me and forced me to bring her here! I...I..."

Ghost Mother, your name is completely useless, it's all your own fault!

"Alright, alright."

Nie Xiaoqian waved her hand, interrupting Hong Ji's explanation, "It was indeed I who forced her to bring me here. How could a mere brat resist me? I'm here today because there's something I want to discuss with you."

As she spoke, she took a few steps forward, stopping three meters away from the Yin Wind Demon Mother, and looked up at the great demon lying on the animal skin:

"I've taken a liking to your subordinate Hong Ji, and to you as well. I want you to work for me from now on. Tell me your requirements, and I'll grant them if I'm willing."

Then, as if remembering something, she turned to Hong Ji and said, "Of course, you can also tell me your requirements."

"I am a very kind person, and I always carefully consider the opinions and requests of my subordinates."

Of course, after careful consideration, I have almost never agreed.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The Ghost Mother of Yin Wind stared wide-eyed at her, looking at her as if she were a fool.

Then--

"Ha ha ha ha--!"

A loud, rough laugh erupted from the Yin Wind Demon Mother, causing the entire hall to tremble slightly.

Her laughter was filled with undisguised mockery and contempt, as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Interesting! Interesting!" She laughed so hard she could hardly breathe. "I've lived for hundreds of years, and this is the first time I've ever seen such an interesting human!"

"How dare a mere mortal come to my cave and demand people from me, including myself?"

Her laughter stopped abruptly, her smile vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling killing intent: "Little girl, you're tired of living!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a sudden gust of cold wind swept through the hall!

The chilling wind, carrying a strong smell of blood and demonic energy, was like a bucket of ice water poured on Nie Xiaoqian!

The candlelight inside the hall flickered violently, casting distorted shadows on the walls, as if something was awakening in the darkness!

Hong Ji was so frightened that she quickly retreated and huddled in a corner, trembling with fear.

She could already imagine what would happen next.

Nie Xiaoqian didn't even lift her eyelids.

When that gust of cold wind blew in front of her, it was as if it had hit an invisible wall, automatically parting to the sides without even lifting the hem of her clothes.

"Hey, talk nicely, why resort to violence?" She shook her head, still in a lazy tone.

"I'm a very reasonable person. I'll try to talk things out if possible, and only resort to force if we really can't reach an agreement. Why don't you reconsider? I'm really sincere."

"Of course, if you insist on taking a beating first and going through the proper procedures before talking, that's your prerogative."

The Yin Wind Demon Mother's face darkened.

She slowly sat up from the animal-skin bed, her amber vertical pupils fixed on Nie Xiaoqian, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"I've lived for hundreds of years, and this is the first time I've ever seen a human with such audacity." Her voice became low and hoarse, carrying a beastly threat.

"Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep seeking death, then I'll grant your wish!"

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly swung out a claw, her slender hand instantly transforming into a ferocious tiger's claw!

That claw strike was as fast as lightning, like five sharp black blades tearing through the air, aiming straight for Nie Xiaoqian's throat!

The force of this claw is enough to easily slice a huge rock weighing ten thousand pounds into pieces like tofu!

Nie Xiaoqian merely turned slightly to the side, and the five sharp blades grazed past her ears, slicing through a stone pillar behind her, sending shards of stone flying!