Chapter 130 - 92: Resuming the Old Business
But now that Xu Lei had removed the affliction, his life was saved. He would remain weak for some time, though, and needed to sleep to recover.
Xu Lei had everyone wait outside and entered the place himself.
With the cautionary tale of the old Daoist fresh in their minds, no one else dared to follow him in.
Inside was a very ordinary-looking underground lair.
But because a Yin Array had been inscribed within,
the place was chillingly cold.
He found a few Evil Scriptures.
But of course, Xu Lei had no intention of practicing their techniques.
"Weren’t there supposed to be treasures? Where are they?"
Xu Lei frowned and scanned his surroundings.
Finally, Xu Lei discovered a Treasure.
It was inside a box. When he opened it, he found a thin, sheet-like object that felt like silicone.
"Could this be the legendary Human Skin Mask?"
Xu Lei’s pupils contracted. "To think this kind of thing actually exists!"
This object was refined from human skin!
And not just from a single person’s skin, but from many, all boiled down and refined!
All sorts of Arrays were inscribed within it, allowing it to maintain its effect for a long time with just a minuscule amount of Magical Power.
Once placed over the face, it would adhere perfectly and alter one’s appearance, looking completely real!
One must understand that even someone like the current Hui Ming couldn’t change his own appearance!
Even when Xu Lei wore Wei Qingning’s Jade Pendant, it only slightly distorted people’s perception of him!
But if someone touched your face, they would still feel your original features!
The Human Skin Mask was different, however. It truly transformed one’s face into someone else’s!
This technique had been lost for ages, existing only in ancient texts!
He never imagined he would actually find one here today!
Xu Lei couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy and excitement.
This item was truly worthy of being called a Treasure!
"Excellent!"
Xu Lei thought to himself, ’I caused quite a stir by capturing those demons, and I was starting to worry about the karmic entanglements that might follow.
’For instance, other Cultivators might covet the Demon Cores I’m holding!
’Karma is unpredictable, after all. It’s always best to be cautious.
’Now, with this Human Skin Mask, I can completely change my appearance and avoid all those karmic repercussions!
’If I forge a new Monk’s Certificate for myself...’
’...then put on the Human Skin Mask, I can pass as an ordinary Monk!
’I could find a temple somewhere and continue my life as a Hidden Cultivator in secret.
’I could even act as Zen Master Bu Zhong again, bestowing offspring far and wide!
’It would be completely fine!
’At the Prince’s Mansion, I may have dozens of children already...
’...and more are on the way! But they are all in one place, after all.
’If something were to ever happen to the Prince’s Mansion, they would all be wiped out!
’So, I must find another avenue to continue fathering children elsewhere!
’I need at least three separate locations. As the saying goes, a sly rabbit has three burrows. Only then can I consider myself secure!
’That’s the only way to guarantee I’ll be reincarnated as a man in my next life, rather than leaving it up to chance!
’Before, I didn’t dare act as Zen Master Bu Zhong while using my Hui Chi identity. After all, doing so might have exposed the secret of my Phoenix True Flame.
’Someone from the Buddhist Sect with a higher Cultivation level than mine might have come to steal it!
’But now, that’s no longer a problem!’
After putting everything away, Xu Lei turned his attention back to the three Centipede Demons in his alms bowl.
"Living Buddha, since you have obtained the Treasure, will you honor your promise and release us?"
Using their Demonic Power to simulate human speech, they said, "According to the final words of the master who left this legacy, that Human Skin Mask was his most valuable possession!"
"This item is indeed extraordinary."
Xu Lei nodded. "And I’m very satisfied. But I’m sorry, you didn’t tell me where this lair was!
"I found it myself!
"And I didn’t make you any promises!
"If you had told me on your own, then we would have had a deal!
"Besides, you fed on human Essence Qi, causing countless people to lose years of their lives and die prematurely of old age!
"And you still think you deserve to live?
"Do you have any idea how many humans you’ve indirectly killed!
"I’m a human, and you’re Demons!
"The weak are prey for the strong. There’s nothing more to be said!"
With that said,
Xu Lei wasted no more words on them.
The alms bowl shuddered, completely suppressing them within.
He then searched the lair one more time.
After confirming there were no other Treasures,
Xu Lei destroyed the Evil Yin Array, ensuring it didn’t remain.
Previously, Xu Lei had thought the villagers’ accelerated aging was solely the result of the Centipede Demons feeding on them.
Now, it seemed the Evil Yin Array was also partly to blame.
Of course, the energy drawn in by the Yin Array was likely also absorbed by the Centipede Demons.
As for the young woman’s earlier dizzy spell, that was likely the work of the smaller Centipedes.
But there was no longer any need to investigate these details.
Satisfied, Xu Lei soon departed.
"Thank you, Living Buddha!"
The villagers all bowed down in worship once more.
"Living Buddha!"
The old Daoist hurried forward, pulling the Little Daoist along.
"You two have no talent for Cultivation," Xu Lei said bluntly. "If you did, an expert from the Daoist Sect would have guided you onto the path long ago. Why would you need me?"
Hearing this, the old and young Daoists froze on the spot, stunned.
「The next day.」
Xu Lei and Mu Yao had already left the city during the night.
On this day,
in an inn room in a new city.
"Die!"
Xu Lei channeled his Magical Power into the black alms bowl. Instantly, it released fine threads of energy that attempted to slice the three Demons’ bodies to pieces.
SSSSS!
Unexpectedly, however, the three Centipede Demons curled their bodies up tight, forming a single, black ball of flesh.
It actually prevented the threads of energy from slicing through them!
Well, not completely. The threads did manage to cut into them slightly.
But they quickly channeled their Demonic Power to repair the damaged scales.
"So these Centipede Demons can still put up such a desperate resistance," Xu Lei muttered, frowning.
Energy is conserved.
If he kept grinding away at them like this, he would eventually be able to wear the three Demons down to their deaths.