Logan Reed let out a cold snort, standing beside him with her sword in her arms: “A place like Star-Picking Pavilion, full of ants, does it really require your concern?”

Skyson smiled, “No, no, no, this time Star-Picking Pavilion is different from before.”

A gust of wind, sharp as a sword, sliced through the shadow of a tree.

Logan Reed hesitated for a moment, frowning: “Could it be—”

The Sword Sovereign’s unfathomable eyes lowered slightly, finally landing on the bronze mystic mirror: “Your disciples are only at the Golden Core stage, right? If they run into such a monster, I’m afraid their chances are slim.”

“That’s not necessarily the case.”

The young man in white robes bent down, his gaze lowered, fingertips gliding across the mirror’s surface, stirring up a clear ripple that happened to shimmer across the beautiful face of the girl in the purple dress: “That monster is certainly dangerous, but my little disciple… is also capable of some unexpected moves.”

On the screen was the main entrance of Star-Picking Pavilion, carriages flowing like water, horses like dragons. A bright, flamboyant girl laughed recklessly, the very image of a wild and unrestrained scoundrel.

Logan Reed said coolly, “I remember the one causing trouble at the door was a man. When did the Pagoda of Buddha turn him into a girl? And so brazenly surrounded by others—those who designed this illusion really have a twisted sense of humor.”

Skyson chuckled shamelessly, even proudly: “That’s my disciple—bet you didn’t expect that!”

For the first time, a crack appeared on the Sword Sovereign’s long-calm face.

Your disciple is even more outrageous than the original villain! And she’s definitely robbing people, right? Even that man in yellow robes can’t stand to watch!

Are young people these days all this wild?

“Star-Picking Pavilion loves the flesh and blood of righteous cultivators most. This way, those demonesses will probably find her utterly distasteful and won’t pay much attention. Interesting, interesting! As expected of my disciple!”

Skyson grinned and took a sip of tea: “Maybe Grace Carter has already noticed something’s wrong. What do you think she’ll do next?”

Logan Reed the Sword Sovereign: Not interested, don’t want to watch, none of my business.

Logan Reed: “I’ll watch with you. When they come out, let’s go to the peak and have a sword match.”

Skyson’s eyes sparkled: “Senior brother, I’m feeling especially tired today, I’m afraid—”

“Ten thousand spirit stones.”

“Deal! I’d risk life and limb for you, senior brother!”

=====

“Miss, please take a seat.”

Following the woman in yellow upstairs, Grace Carter entered a private room inside Star-Picking Pavilion.

Only after hugging left and right did the matron remind her that each night, only one girl could be chosen in the building, under the pretense of “avoiding jealousy and keeping the girls’ relationships harmonious.”

Grace Carter mumbled her agreement, secretly thinking that “ruining relationships” was probably true, but “avoiding jealousy” was just an excuse.

—Two demons fighting over a piece of human flesh, how could there not be conflict?

The woman who led her upstairs was named Lily Warren, dressed in a pale yellow gauzy gown, the very image of a beauty from the water towns—soft Wu dialect, slender waist, delicate hair at her temples, willow-leaf brows. Her graceful walk outlined a waist so slim it could be encircled with one hand.

Grace Carter couldn’t help but think, if she were a man, she’d want to soak in this illusion every day. So many stunning beauties to choose from, and it’s free—wow, it’s practically a paradise on earth.

Unfortunately, once you peel off the mask on their faces, it turns into a horror story.

The boss behind the scenes, Lady Whitebone, is the mistress of Star-Picking Pavilion, residing at the top of the building.

She and her demoness subordinates feed on the flesh and blood of living humans to advance their cultivation. Because their appearances are vastly different from humans, they all wear human-skin masks, only revealing their true faces when they open their bloody mouths to eat.

But Lady Whitebone would never have guessed that the demonesses she thought she controlled had long since changed masters—

Their true master is called “Darkhill Mother,” hiding in a secret passage beneath the attic, possessing unmatched power. After being severely wounded by a Sword Sect elder, she was forced to come here to absorb vital energy and recuperate.

That monster needs the endless flesh and power from Star-Picking Pavilion, but knowing she’s gravely injured, if she clashes with Lady Whitebone, both sides will suffer. So, after much thought, she came up with a clever plan.

As the Ghost Mother, she naturally has the power to control living beings, turning ordinary cultivators and demons into puppets at her command.

She can’t confront Lady Whitebone head-on, but dealing with the lesser demons is easy. In less than half a month, most of the demonesses in Star-Picking Pavilion became her puppets, and she took most of the vital energy they gathered.

Lady Whitebone simply thought human spiritual power was weak, never imagining she was making wedding clothes for someone else.

According to the original story, after everyone defeats Lady Whitebone, a wild roar suddenly erupts from underground, and Star-Picking Pavilion collapses.

Darkhill Mother, awakened from her slumber, bursts out from underground, having fully recovered her strength after days of absorbing vital energy.

She is ferociously powerful; everyone fights desperately but is overwhelmed. The original protagonist is even gravely injured and sent out of the illusion. In the end, it’s Henry Clark who unleashes the surging sword energy hidden within him, risking everything in a life-or-death struggle to finally defeat her.

You can’t act too righteous, or the demonesses will see you as a delicious Tang Monk.

You can’t just kill the demonesses either—if you happen to kill a puppet, Shadow Mother will notice.

And you definitely can’t go head-to-head with those two monsters. Henry Clark and Little White Dragon have protagonist plot armor, but if something goes wrong, she’ll be the first to die.