Chapter 9: The Welcome Internal Strife

The time was around three or four in the afternoon. The strange clouds in the sky grew thicker, making the already dim and weak daylight feel even more suffocating.

For some reason, the clouds looked somewhat crimson, like countless masses of flesh piling and churning. Li Si even smelled a strong scent of blood.

This made him a bit restless. Various chaotic thoughts grew in his heart like weeds, only to wither away prematurely…

Whispering sounds buzzed in his ears, but they all vanished in his Evil-Warding Aura.

This was an unexpected surprise. The quadruple-strengthened Evil-Warding Aura actually had such an effect. Otherwise, in such an environment, his Alienation Contamination Degree would keep increasing.

Because of this, however, he grew curious. The bizarre, flesh-like churning clouds in the sky were undoubtedly much stronger than the Anomalous Weeds on the ground.

Why could his Evil-Warding Aura block the Aberrant Corruption from the eerie clouds but not escape the death curse of a single Anomalous Weed?

Even Foundation Building True Cultivators like Ji Chang, Xu Shen, and Senior Sister Jiang were not exceptions.

This clearly made no sense. It was as if this curse belonged to a different system—one that could bypass common sense, physical damage, and Dao Technique damage, anchoring itself directly to fate. No matter who you were, once hit, you’d be cursed.

Thinking of this, Li Si’s heart couldn’t help but become calm like still water. If he didn’t have Fate to reduce his Aberrant Corruption, he would surely face certain death in this world.

Fortunately, aside from that, his Evil-Warding Aura was perfect in every other way.

Li Si even felt that if his Evil-Warding Aura could be strengthened further, he might be able to move freely even within the bizarre Dark Mist. Of course, that was just a thought.

Now, these bizarre forces were seriously interfering with him. Originally, his Evil-Warding Aura could destroy 104 Anomalous Weeds, but now it could only handle 92.

In the far distance, the outlines of mountains were gradually blurring. A layer of grayish mist was starting to form.

“That’s about enough.”

Li Si knew when to stop. This Western Mountain “monster-farming” spot really satisfied him. The Anomalous Weeds were as numerous as mosquitoes in a summer pond. He just needed to walk around casually with his Evil-Warding Aura active, and in no time, he could gather a full portion of Gray Fortune.

He had already used 150 points of Magic Power, casting the Evil-Warding Curse three times in a row. In total, he had gathered exactly three portions of Gray Fortune.

Keeping 50 points of Magic Power in reserve for emergencies, he started heading back, taking ten Mutant Grass Molts with him. What a great harvest today.

A short while later, the Deserted Village was in sight. The daylight had grown even dimmer. In the distance, clusters of bizarre Dark Mist continuously formed, chasing after Li Si from just a few miles away like monsters.

Only then did he calmly spend one portion of Gray Fortune, pushing his Bloodline and Bone Foundation evolution progress to 12.7%, and keeping his Alienation Contamination Degree around 36.5%.

As for the remaining two portions of Gray Fortune, he used them to strengthen his Evil-Warding Curse.

Unexpectedly, these two enhancements triggered a qualitative change. The Evil-Warding Curse gained an additional new effect on top of its original attributes.

Evil-Warding Curse: Requires 100 Magic Power to cast. Creates an Evil-Warding Aura centered on the user, spanning ten meters in radius, lasting for two hours. Continuously resists the invasion of Evil Qi. At the same time, deals base damage + 600% extra damage to Evil Entities entering the aura, plus three seconds of continuous Evil-Breaking Lightning damage.

“So satisfying!”

Li Si quickly passed through the Formation Array at the outskirts of the Deserted Village. Just a few minutes later, the savage, bizarre Dark Mist crashed over like a huge wave, as if very angry.

But by then, Li Si had already entered the Stone House. He put down the ten Mutant Grass Molts and gave a harmless, shy smile. However, except for Old Madam, everyone was staring at him.

“Junior Brother Li, where did you go?” Ji Chang spoke gloomily. This guy was just too suspicious. That he dared to step forward to help fetch water this morning was one thing, but he actually wandered outside the village alone for so long this afternoon. Even if he had taken one Three-Poison Treasure Pill, the aftereffects couldn’t be this strong, right?

“Senior Brother, I was just killing some Anomalous Weeds near the village. I recovered some Magic Power today, so I got a bit bolder.”

Li Si tried his best to be polite. Now was not the time to reveal his cards.

But Ji Chang clearly didn’t believe him much. He snorted and was about to say something more when Old Madam suddenly opened her eyes. Staring at Li Si, she said gravely, “Li Sigou, are you willing to become my disciple?”

Old Madam’s words were abrupt. Not only were Ji Chang and Xu Shen stunned, even Senior Sister Jiang looked confused. Over the past three hundred years, their Master had shown no interest in any outer sect disciples, leaving recruitment and teaching to them. But now she wanted to take a disciple personally.

This was very unusual.

“Master, Sigouzi is still young. What ability does he have…” Ji Chang had barely spoken when Old Madam’s originally murky eyes instantly turned sharp. “In three days, a great calamity will befall me. I need four true disciples to protect me. Besides you three, Li Sigou is the only suitable candidate so far.”

At this point, Old Madam glanced at Li Si, who was also horrified and almost thought he had been exposed. “Since you are entering my sect, the name Li Sigou is no longer suitable. From now on, you shall be called—”

“Disciple Li Si pays respects to Master! Thank you, Master, for bestowing a name! For this great kindness, in my next life, even if I become an ox or a horse, or offer my very body… I will repay you.” Li Si decisively gave in, because he had no choice and couldn’t resist. Ji Chang and Xu Shen might think Old Madam was nothing much, but in his view, she was absolutely a super sly old fox. He couldn’t afford to provoke her, nor let her get a handle on him.

“Hmm, very well.” Old Madam nodded. She casually took out four small flags and declared firmly, “Starting tomorrow, each of you four will take a flag and guard one corner of this Deserted Village. If we can hold out until the third day, my calamity will be overcome.”

Hearing this, not to mention Li Si’s shock, Ji Chang and Xu Shen outright exploded.

“Master, it can’t be that serious, right? For the past three hundred years, we haven’t seen any great calamity. How can it suddenly come now?”

“Yes, Master, don’t scare us. If it’s really necessary, we can just move to another hiding place.”

Ji Chang and Xu Shen made it clear they didn’t want to go. They only went out for a short while at noon each day. But now Old Madam wanted them to stand guard outside day and night? That was a joke. The fortune and Fate they had carefully accumulated over hundreds of years would likely be wiped out in one day.

Originally, they might have lived a few more decades. After this, they’d be lucky to last a few years.

So even the Master’s orders were not acceptable.

Besides, did this old crone even act like a Master?

Over the past three hundred years, apart from initially teaching them cultivation methods and Dao Techniques, she had relied entirely on them for support. She did nothing, yet ate voraciously. What use was such a Master?

Old Madam fell silent, seeming very tired, as if she didn’t even have the energy to explain. No wonder Ji Chang and Xu Shen dared to defy her orders.

Senior Sister Jiang wanted to speak but hesitated. She was willing to hold a flag and guard one corner, but what good was her willingness alone? This world was becoming harder to sustain. The Floating Cloud Sect truly was approaching its end.

“Master, I am willing to guard one corner of the village for you. But my strength is low, and I fear I won’t be able to resist the calamity’s invasion. Could you teach me a few powerful Divine Abilities or Dao Techniques?”

Li Si spoke up. Of course, he felt no loyalty toward Old Madam. But she surely possessed powerful Divine Abilities and Dao Techniques. Even if he couldn’t master them now, he would have opportunities in the future. Otherwise, their little Floating Cloud Sect team was about to fall apart. If he missed this chance, there wouldn’t be another.

Hearing Li Si’s words, Ji Chang sneered. This kid, still insatiably greedy, thinking that mastering more Divine Abilities and Dao Techniques would let him survive and become stronger?

Stupid!

It was only because the old crone was at her wit’s end that she wanted to take a soon-to-die fool as a disciple.

But could the calamity the old crone mentioned be real? They couldn’t be buried along with her.

After a moment, Ji Chang and Xu Shen glanced at each other, then stepped forward simultaneously and each took a flag from Old Madam.

Senior Sister Jiang then stepped forward and took the third flag. Li Si took the fourth, and a message instantly appeared.

“Acquired treasure: Demon-Subduing Garrison Flag. Has the divine effect of dispelling evil demons’ ferocious energy, Blood Clouds, and ghostly mists. Cannot be used directly.”

Seeing that all four had taken the flags, Old Madam only nodded slightly, looking increasingly weary. Without any further instructions, she slipped back into a drowsy state.

Now it was Li Si’s turn to be dumbfounded. This Old Madam was too stingy! She took him as a true disciple with empty words—not even a red envelope! Then why should he hold the flag and guard a corner of the village?

It felt like from top to bottom, no one in the Floating Cloud Sect was reliable.

Thinking this, Li Si couldn’t be bothered to play nice with Ji Chang and Xu Shen either. Hmph, they were all true disciples now—why were they acting so high and mighty?…

Well, he’d make his own fire and cook. He needed to restore his Magic Power to full first.