Chapter 179: A Face Thicker Than a City Wall

Qin Haoxuan sensed Xing’s excitement and agitation, as well as his unusual enthusiasm, and he immediately felt that something was not right. This creature usually had to haggle over every little bit of work and would absolutely not lift a finger without being paid. Why the sudden change in personality today, so enthusiastically offering to answer his questions and resolve his doubts? This was not in line with his usual style at all.

Seeing that Qin Haoxuan was gritting his teeth and resolutely refusing to speak, Xing grew even more anxious. He said, “Hurry up and tell me. Time is tight. If you tell me and I explain it to you, you’ll be able to cultivate better, won’t you?”

Qin Haoxuan stared at Xing, his eyes filled with suspicion, as if trying to see into the deepest parts of his heart. “You’re up to something. I don’t usually see you being this enthusiastic. You’re the type who would charge a spirit stone just to pour a cup of water.”

An expression of being wronged and misunderstood appeared on Xing’s face. In order to achieve the state that would make Qin Haoxuan feel the most guilty, he simply transformed, becoming a young girl. A beautiful, pitiful-looking girl, crying her eyes out. She half-knelt on the ground, looking at Qin Haoxuan with a mournful expression as she sobbed, “How could you look at me like that? In your heart, am I really so despicable? You… you… you’ve hurt my heart…”

“Get lost…” A layer of goosebumps rose on Qin Haoxuan’s skin at Xing’s reaction. He decided to just focus on comprehending the two incantations he had just learned, his heart still reeling with shock.

But Xing was not about to let him go. She “crawled” to his feet and lifted her beautiful face to look at him. “What? Why aren’t you looking at me? Do you feel guilty? Look at me! Look into my eyes… Look at me! Tell me you’re going to apologize. I am only doing this because you are about to ‘Enter the Mortal World,’ and once you do, a Spirit Tree Realm cultivator will want to harm you. You must do everything you can to increase your strength as quickly as possible, so you’ll have a better chance of escaping with your life, right? If not for a righteous and heroic demon like me, who else would help you so wholeheartedly?”

“You’re up to something,” Qin Haoxuan said after listening to his long-winded speech. He propped his chin on his hand and stared at Xing with great interest, stating with great certainty, “You are definitely up to something. And it’s a big something.”

“What could I possibly be up to?” Xing replied with a mournful tone. “We met in the Aqueous Manor. The friendship we’ve built over these past few days is already very deep, transcending the boundaries between human and demon. My heart is with you; do you not know that? Do you doubt my feelings for you?”

“I say… can you change back to your previous form first?” Qin Haoxuan said, rubbing his temples. “Go look at yourself in a mirror. Your makeup is all ruined from crying. It’s really not a good look… quite terrifying, actually.”

Xing’s old face flushed, but he gritted his teeth. For the sake of that profound and extraordinary secret art, he was prepared to abandon all face.

“Think about it,” he said. “Besides me, who else would explain things to you in such detail and so selflessly? If you can’t improve your cultivation quickly, you’ll be in danger after you ‘Enter the Mortal World.’ How will you be able to come back and see your senior brother and your master, or your little sweetheart Xu Yu? And if you don’t improve your cultivation, how will you protect me then?” Xing said with an air of righteous indignation.

After listening for a while, Qin Haoxuan suddenly looked up and said to him, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t stay with me after we left the mountain? I was just thinking, you’re absolutely right. Master Chi Lian is so powerful, a Spirit Tree Realm cultivator, far beyond what we can handle. And I only have one Thousand-Mile Talisman. At that time, I won’t even be able to look after myself. To bring you along, wouldn’t that just be harming you? After we leave the mountain, you should just go your own way. I won’t stop you.”

Hearing this, Xing became thoroughly anxious. He said in a rushed tone, “How could that be? Have you forgotten that I can transform? I can turn into a small animal and ride on your body as we escape together! Besides, how could I possibly leave after we leave the mountain? Have you forgotten that we are good brothers? We share blessings and endure hardships together, right?”

Qin Haoxuan felt more and more that something was wrong with this creature. Especially since learning that he knew this incantation, he no longer wanted to leave his side. He figured that the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art must be a great treasure not only to him, but also to Xing. He became even more unwilling to speak of the incantation.

Seeing that Qin Haoxuan had clammed up, Xing said, “You can’t understand the incantation for that protective art, can you? Otherwise, how come I’ve never seen you cultivate it? Why don’t you tell me those few lines, and I’ll explain them to you. That way, you can truly cultivate it.”

Xing’s proposal was very good; Qin Haoxuan could not deny that he was very tempted. But… although Xing had been loyal to him, he was certainly not loyal to others. If he were to learn the incantation… and do something behind his back… that would not be good.

Qin Haoxuan decisively shook his head in refusal, his face resolute.

Seeing that further pestering would be fruitless and would only annoy him, Xing also shut his mouth. He said to Qin Haoxuan, “In the future, if you have any questions about your cultivation, just come and ask me. I will absolutely not charge a single coin and will selflessly answer your questions and clear up your doubts.”

Qin Haoxuan smiled faintly. “How about this? Why don’t you teach me about restrictions? Now that my spiritual sense has grown stronger, learning about them should be much easier.”

“You can learn about restrictions anytime. I should continue to help you with your cultivation doubts!” Xing was still unwilling to give up, continuing his temptation. That’s the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art! I must find a way to trick it out of him!

Qin Haoxuan shook his head. “Restrictions are so interesting. You should teach me about them instead. I’d be happier learning that.”

Xing’s face was full of reluctance. He made a gesture of counting spirit stones; the meaning was obvious.

Qin Haoxuan looked at him with an exaggerated expression. “Did you just eat your own words? Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t charge a fee?”

Xing rolled his eyes at him again. “Neither of us is a fool. I failed to trick the incantation out of you; I can’t just teach you what you want to know for free, can I?”

“But I will eventually ask you, won’t I?” Qin Haoxuan said, staring at him. “When I do, if you take those incantations as payment, won’t you be the one getting the better end of the deal?”

“I’m so fucking impressed with you!” Xing gave him a thumbs-up. “Now I’m really starting to doubt if you’re even human. To be able to speak of not paying with such righteousness, you’re really something. Come on, then, ask what you want to ask! This seat will tell you everything I know!”

“Restrictions are an important course within the ‘Arrays’ of your Six Arts of Cultivation. There are two ways to set up a restriction: the first is with spiritual sense, and the second is with spiritual energy. However, with your current level of spiritual sense or spiritual energy, you are not yet able to command them…” Xing began to explain, quickly getting into character, speaking with great seriousness and detail.

It had to be said that although Xing was usually a slacker, when he lectured, he was very serious and explained profound concepts in simple terms. He went into great detail on the important points. The profound, vast, and inscrutable study of restrictions, when explained by him, was something Qin Haoxuan rarely found difficult to understand.

After spending a full afternoon, Xing had taught Qin Haoxuan some of the basic knowledge of restrictions. Qin Haoxuan had listened very attentively and couldn’t help but sigh to himself. He had originally thought that since his spiritual sense had improved, if he could create a few restrictions, it might increase his chances of survival. But from Xing’s explanation, he knew that this was simply impossible. Restrictions were a vast and profound field of study. With his current ability, he couldn’t even construct the simplest one, let alone one that could block a Spirit Tree Realm expert.

After Xing had finished speaking, Qin Haoxuan’s astonished gaze fell on him again, his heart once again filled with wonder. This creature doesn’t show off, but he knows more than my master. I really don’t know what his background is.

Unable to bear Qin Haoxuan’s sharp, knife-like gaze, Xing tried to persuade him again. “Setting up a restriction is much more difficult than breaking one. With your current ability, it’s definitely impossible. If you want to quickly increase your strength and have the power to protect yourself when you ‘Enter the Mortal World,’ it’s best to focus on your cultivation. If you have any difficulties, just come and ask me. As your brother who would go through hell for you, I will certainly tell you everything I know!”

“It’s getting late. You should go back and rest. If you stay in my room too long, you’ll arouse suspicion,” Qin Haoxuan said, dismissing him in a neutral tone. Xing could only leave helplessly.

After he had gone, Qin Haoxuan looked up at the completely dark sky and thought to himself, During the ‘Entering the Mortal World’ trial, I certainly won’t have the chance to go treasure-hunting in the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley. I can’t waste these next few days!

At this thought, he did not hesitate to send his consciousness into the small snake. He discovered that there was already a not-so-weak spiritual energy within its body, and that the Tyrannical True Dragon Art had been circulating non-stop since the beginning. Even Qin Haoxuan had to admire the snake’s tireless cultivation attitude. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before it surpassed him.

After entering the snake’s body, he tried to approach its consciousness again, but the moment his drew near, it fled in panic. Qin Haoxuan did not try again and began to control its body, heading towards the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley.

That night, besides a single waste pill, he found nothing else. Before leaving, he made a special trip to look at the Cockscomb Grass. The third leaf still had a hint of green and looked no different from before. It seemed it still had a long way to go before it was mature.

The next eight days passed quickly. Qin Haoxuan spent his days cultivating and his nights tempering his spiritual sense and searching for treasures in the valley. During these eight days, Chang Aotian and Xu Qing often came to find him, and the three of them quickly became friends, though most of their conversations revolved around Little Gold.

These few days, he occasionally saw Master Chi Lian in the Spirit Field Valley, often observing him from the shadows. His cold gaze made him shiver. He figured that the moment he left the sect’s territory, Master Chi Lian would not be so polite.

Eight days passed in a flash. Qin Haoxuan was still at the Fourth-Leaf of the Spirit Sprout Realm and had not grown any new leaves, and the Cockscomb Grass in the valley had not yet matured. The day to “Enter the Mortal World” had arrived.