Chapter Thirty-Two: The Turmoil Within Qu'nan City

Qu Yiqiu: "..."

"Master, are you serious?"

"Look into my eyes and say it again?"

"I am serious," Mo Qingli replied, gazing directly into her eyes.

Qu Yiqiu was left speechless, her mouth agape.

"Senior sister, the little deer is so adorable, can't we spare it?" Mu Yunjin pleaded softly on its behalf.

Qu Yiqiu waved her hand helplessly. "We won't eat it, we won't. Let's just raise this rare, precious creature as a pet!"

"That's wonderful! Can it eat the spiritual plants you grow, senior sister?" Mu Yunjin cheered joyfully.

Qu Yiqiu's expression changed at her words. "Absolutely not!"

Mu Yunjin shrank back, looking pitiful.

"Yunjin, let's take the Nine-Colored Deer to my cave residence," Mo Qingli spoke gently, "that way it won't accidentally eat Yiqiu's spiritual plants."

"Yes! Yes!" Mu Yunjin instantly brightened.

Qu Yiqiu frowned as she watched the two head up the mountain.

"Where did a Nine-Colored Deer come from on Mount Yanzi? Isn't it said that Nine-Colored Deer require extremely specific environments, and ordinary spiritual mountains can't produce them?" Qu Yiqiu was filled with doubts.

Recalling how Mo Qingli had recently gone out and returned with a dragon, she couldn't help but suspect that Mo Qingli possessed some mysterious secret.

Her ability to pick up treasures was truly unmatched!

Was her worry unnecessary?

"When Mu Shidi and this little deer grow up, I'll secretly draw a bit of blood, hehe!" Just a tiny drop!

As she was lost in her fantasies of their maturity, a streak of spiritual light shot up from the foot of the mountain, heading straight for her forehead.

Qu Yiqiu raised her hand and caught it; the transmission talisman fell into her palm.

"Your Majesty, something has happened in Qu Nan City!"

"Five days ago, at a small auction within the city, a cultivation technique capable of extending lifespan appeared, sparking fierce competition among the various clans."

"Among these clans, there are spies from the demonic cultivators. Now, the city's protective array has been altered—those inside can't come out, and those outside can't enter. The battle between righteous and demonic factions is raging fiercely."

---

At the same time, the situation in our Ghost Cultivator Paradise is not optimistic. Someone has set up an array outside Autumn Leaf Red Valley, seemingly channeling all the resentment and fury from Qu Nan City into Ghost Cultivator Paradise."

"Now, the little ghosts inside are frantically crashing against the barriers, refusing to obey orders, and chaos reigns. I've already devoured more than half of them, but I can't hold out any longer!"

"This is a puppet insect I caught outside the paradise at great risk. Its craftsmanship and materials are somewhat similar to the humanoid puppet from last time."

The transmission talisman faded and disappeared, leaving a small insect in her palm.

Qu Yiqiu picked up the moth-sized insect and squeezed it firmly.

It felt just like a real, living moth—soft and delicate, as if its innards were about to burst out.

"Just like Qu Yuyou's puppet from before, lifelike and nearly indistinguishable from the real thing."

"But Huo Tangsheng is a true disciple of the Xuan Yi Sect, his cultivation barely at the Foundation Establishment stage. How could he possibly have the ability to channel all of Qu Nan City's resentment into Ghost Cultivator Paradise?"

As Qu Yiqiu toyed with the puppet insect, a sudden, improbable thought arose in her mind.

"Huo Tangsheng... could he be connected to the demonic cultivators?"

Her grip tightened, and the puppet insect exploded, disintegrating into powder.

Qu Yiqiu gasped, "Damn, the evidence is gone!"

She would have to go to Autumn Leaf Red Valley herself to investigate.

She had barely taken a few steps when another transmission talisman flew in.

"All disciples, heed the order: demonic cultivators have caused chaos in Qu Nan City. All passageways to the city are now sealed. The sect is issuing a call for volunteers to assemble and head to Qu Nan City to purge the demonic threat. Those willing to sign up, please report to the Mission Hall to receive the summons."

Qu Yiqiu paused, then flashed toward the Mission Hall.

Today, the Mission Hall was livelier than ever.

It was packed, a bustling crowd.

She nearly couldn't squeeze inside.

"Qu Shimei! Qu Shimei!" Amidst the sea of faces, Luo Yingying spotted Qu Yiqiu.

"Luo Shijie?" Qu Yiqiu pushed toward her.

Luo Yingying squeezed over as well, and the two met in the middle.

"Qu Shimei, you're joining the battle in Qu Nan City too?"

"Yes, Luo Shijie, have you received the summons?" Qu Yiqiu struggled in the throng.

---

Luo Yingying's eyes lit up, and she pulled Qu Yiqiu out.

"Qu Shimei, I happen to have an empty summons for the second squad. Do you want to join us?"

"The second squad? Are these demon-purging missions divided into squads?" Qu Yiqiu still didn't understand.

Luo Yingying explained, "Yes. After the city's protective array was tampered with, the elders could only breach a weak node, allowing only cultivators below the Golden Core level to enter."

"The sect wants to train us, so Foundation Establishment senior brothers and sisters are appointed as captains of each squad. The second squad I'm in is led by Senior Brother Chi."

Chi Yushu again. Hearing his name, Qu Yiqiu hesitated a bit.

"Qu Shimei, join us! We've all worked together on missions before and have much better teamwork than others!"

"Lin Shidi was going to go to Qu Nan City too, but after receiving the summons, he got word from home. His mother was badly injured by a beast and is now bedridden, so he had to go back to care for her."

Luo Yingying tugged at Qu Yiqiu's left hand, pleading.

Qu Yiqiu glanced at the crowded Mission Hall. Her goal was simply to visit Autumn Leaf Red Valley—joining any squad would suffice, so she didn't refuse further.

"Alright, Luo Shijie, I'll join the second squad."

Luo Yingying's face brightened. "Wonderful! Ever since we finished the last demon-cleansing mission, I've been wanting to team up with you again! Now we finally have the chance!"

She opened her arms and pulled Qu Yiqiu into an embrace.

Feeling the softness of Luo Yingying's body, Qu Yiqiu stiffened.

"Luo Shijie is really hiding her strength... what a figure!" she thought quietly.

"This is the second squad's summons. With it, you'll be able to contact your teammates, and it will record your demon-slaying achievements."

Luo Yingying released her, tapped her storage pouch, and produced a jade tablet of pale green.

After Qu Yiqiu took it, Luo Yingying added, "Things happened suddenly, so we'll probably leave for Qu Nan City tomorrow. There's not much time—make sure to gather everything you need today."

Qu Yiqiu was taken aback. "I'm short on pills. Will the sect provide us with some Spirit-Replenishing Pills?"

Luo Yingying frowned. "It's just turmoil within one city, so the sect's distribution of Spirit-Replenishing Pills will be limited. Here's what we'll do: I'll take you around Mingde City's market. I have some connections and can introduce you to a few shops with fair prices for pills and magical tools!"

Qu Yiqiu blinked, feeling a surge of goodwill. "Thank you, Luo Shijie!"

"It's nothing, don't mention it!" Luo Yingying grinned, showing her teeth.