"It seems that cultivators may look glamorous on the outside, but their lives are not easy either."
Watching Lin Zhan and Qiao Surong leave with large bundles of scallions, radishes, and cabbages, and carrying several jars of well water, Ji Mo couldn't help but sigh.
After the meal, seeing how heartily they ate, he politely offered to give them some of the vegetables he grew himself.
He hadn't expected Lin Zhan and Qiao Surong to be so unreserved.
This was not a time for modesty; whoever had thinner skin would suffer, and the thicker their skin, the greater the benefits.
These spiritual vegetables were comparable to precious medicines, and the essence of the jade dew was even more invaluable, capable of greatly enhancing the sect's foundation.
They all knew that Ji Mo was not a stingy person, nor would he engage in any probing tactics, so they naturally had no qualms about accepting.
Lin Zimu and Lan Rou, being more thin-skinned, covered their faces and felt too embarrassed to face anyone, witnessing the behavior of their elders.
Lin Zhan and Qiao Surong, on the other hand, were extremely excited, even discussing when they should visit Mr. Ji again, as if they had become addicted to freeloading.
After all, they were already Mr. Ji's people, and improving the sect's strength was for the purpose of serving Mr. Ji better in the future.
"Impressive, to have subdued the Brahma Sect and the Xuan Shui Pavilion in such a short time."
The old man, witnessing all this from afar, his expression of solemnity deepened. He said to Huang Guangcai beside him, "Go, the time for revenge has come."
"Old Immortal, just watch. I will smash that Ji Mo into a pulp."
Huang Guangcai brandished a silvery-white staff in his hand, full of confidence.
The silver staff was neither metal nor wood, its surface inscribed with profound runes. With a slight infusion of spiritual energy, it could unleash astonishing power.
This was the old man's life-bound magical artifact, the Hun Yuan Staff, which he had temporarily lent to Huang Guangcai.
"There's no need to worry, I am your backing."
The old man gently patted Huang Guangcai, and a ball of light was injected into his body.
Huang Guangcai couldn't help but let out a long roar, feeling the divine art within him rapidly circulate through a complete cycle. He felt as if he possessed inexhaustible strength.
At this moment, he felt incredibly powerful, as if he could smash a mountain into pieces with a single strike.
"Ji Mo, you scoundrel, give me your life!"
Huang Guangcai roared and charged directly towards Ji Mo's courtyard, kicking up billowing dust.
Tian Peng, who had been lying in the chicken coop, opened its eyes. Seeing the dust clouds in the distance, it revealed an excited smile.
"Excellent, my chance to shine has arrived."
As soon as the words left its mouth, its form transformed into a stream of light, rushing forward.
Huang Guangcai had already reached the front of the courtyard. Without a word, he swung his staff with all his might.
"Tian Peng Spreads Its Wings!"
In front of Tian Peng, a phantom image of a golden-winged great roc soaring high in the sky materialized, unleashing an aura that seemed to shatter the heavens, and met the attack.
The two energies collided, and Tian Peng was immediately sent flying.
"Hmph, how can a mere demon emperor withstand my magical artifact? Let's see how Ji Mo handles this later."
The old man, who was closely monitoring the situation, showed a smug expression, waiting for Ji Mo's reaction.
As long as Ji Mo made a move, he could discern his true strength from it.
He had observed Ji Mo for so many years and had never seen him make a move. This time, he would use Huang Guangcai to force Ji Mo to reveal his power.
"Damn chicken demon, you insulted me before and even defecated on me. Today, I will first take your chicken life, and then kill that guy named Ji."
After gaining the upper hand, Huang Guangcai laughed wildly and attacked again.
A trace of blood seeped from the corner of Tian Peng's mouth. Huang Guangcai's strength was not particularly great, but the staff in his hand was extremely peculiar and could not be matched head-on.
"You rely on your weapon, do you think this Emperor doesn't have one?"
Tian Peng waved its claw, and the chicken coop instantly appeared before it, radiating a blinding golden light like a sun. It grabbed the coop and hurled it out with immense force.
*Boom!*
With a world-shattering roar, the staff in Huang Guangcai's hand was sent flying, and he himself was slammed heavily onto the ground.
"You think I'm a sick chicken when I don't show my power?"
Tian Peng extended a claw, pinning Huang Guangcai beneath its feet. Then, it proceeded to tear at him with great speed.
Huang Guangcai's clothes were reduced to shreds, and his body was covered in wounds.
"Old Immortal, save me..."
Huang Guangcai felt incredibly wronged. He had only been arrogant for a few minutes before being subdued.
At this moment, he could only rely on that elder.
He firmly believed that as long as the old senior made a move, he could easily destroy this chicken demon.
"What a useless piece of trash, good for nothing. He can't even defeat a chicken, what a waste of my cultivation."
The old man did not immediately intervene to save him. He still had reservations.
If he were to step forward now, it would be highly likely to break ties with Ji Mo. Without knowing the opponent's strength, he would be at a significant disadvantage.
"It's no use even if you call me daddy, no one can save you."
Tian Peng continued to beat Huang Guangcai, contemplating whether to kill him.
The expected old immortal never appeared, and Huang Guangcai began to panic. If this continued, his life might be in danger.
"It's thundering, I need to go collect the clothes."
The commotion from earlier had woken Ji Mo from his nap. Thinking it was going to rain, he groggily went out to collect the clothes that were drying.
Upon going outside, he saw that the weather was clear, with no signs of rain.
However, he seemed to see a familiar scene again.
The chicken was beating someone up again.
He looked and saw, "Oh, it's that thief from last time."
This guy was incorrigible. He had let him off last time, and he came to steal again, only to be caught by the chicken.
However, seeing how miserable Huang Guangcai already was, Ji Mo decided not to bother with him anymore.
"You, have you no shame? If you come again, I'll break all three of your legs."
Ji Mo picked up the Hun Yuan Staff from the ground, stared at Huang Guangcai's crotch with fierce eyes, and looked at him with disdain.
"I promise, I will never come again."
Huang Guangcai dared not linger. Hearing that Ji Mo was willing to spare him, he immediately scrambled to his feet and sprinted away.
"Hey, stop right there."
Ji Mo suddenly spoke.
Hearing this, Huang Guangcai ran even faster. This scoundrel was going back on his word! If he stopped, he would have no chance of survival.
"Young people are so unrestrained. I just wanted to give you a piece of cloth to cover yourself, but I didn't expect you to like running around naked."
Ji Mo shook his head, lamenting the decline of public morals.
Even if you don't care, outsiders will get an eye infection from looking.
Besides, with your meager assets, you dare to show them off?
"Oh no, the Hun Yuan Staff has been taken!"
The old man watched as his life-bound magical artifact fell into Ji Mo's hands. He wanted to recall it, but there was no response at all. Some power had sealed the Hun Yuan Staff.
"How is this possible?"
The old man desperately activated his cultivation technique, but he suffered a backlash, causing his blood and qi to surge.
Ji Mo smoothed out the last rune on the surface of the Hun Yuan Staff, played with it for a while, and then muttered to himself, "The kitchen is missing a fire-poker. This staff, with a little repair, will be just right."
Tian Peng, who had originally intended to claim the Hun Yuan Staff for itself, could only give up now. Since its master declared it a fire-poker, it could only be a fire-poker.
"A fire-poker? This is too much!"
The old man was furious.
His life-bound magical artifact being treated as a fire-poker, how could he endure such humiliation?
Just as he was about to act recklessly, he felt as if his body had been struck by an invisible force, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.