“Human faces are formed from spiritual power, not human flesh. If there is a beautiful female guest, we can also transform into a face identical to hers, to be used in the future.”

　　To comfort the frightened little girl and show her own kindness and thoughtfulness, she moved her fingertip as she spoke, and a mask identical to Grace Carter’s appeared out of thin air in her hand: “Just like this.”

　　“I see!”

　　Grace Carter carefully took it, the fear in her almond-shaped eyes gone, her smile deepening: “I’ve got an idea.”

　　Lily Warren was curious: “What idea?”

　　The girl in the purple dress smiled sweetly, her voice soft and gentle, but the words that came from her lips sent a chill down her spine: “I thought of... how to flatten this building.”

　　After speaking, she curled her lips, her voice as sweet as honey: “Goodbye, sister.”

　　A sharp sword light flashed, slicing through the ambiguous night.

　　At the moment the Star Mark Sword pierced her body, the demoness cursed countless times in her heart.

　　She had taken Grace Carter for a fool, not expecting that the other had planned ahead, treating her as a mere tool for extracting information.

　　Her pitch-black, sincere heart had ultimately been misplaced.

　　Who would have thought, she believed she was on the third level, but that fool was already on the fifth.

Chapter 7

　　The lair of the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain was hidden beneath the Star-Picking Pavilion. Grace Carter descended from the top floor, the spiraling staircase seeming endless.

　　Here, pavilions soared and halls gleamed, men and women’s laughter drifted freely on the evening breeze, a scene of music and splendor, jade towers and crystal chambers.

　　Yet walking alone among them, there was always a shadowy murderous intent following like a shadow, making it impossible to feel at ease.

　　The lanterns on both sides of the corridor flickered, as if thousands of demons and monsters floated within, the dim orange light flowing like water, swallowing up the slender figure of the girl.

　　The wavering lights shone on the ancient carved beams and painted rafters along the walls, where wooden faces, some intoxicated, some maniacally laughing, loomed in and out of sight—not like revelers, but like clusters of ferocious hungry ghosts.

　　Grace Carter slowly descended the stairs. The Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain should have already noticed a puppet’s death and sent other puppets to investigate.

　　She had long since left the private room. The building was crowded and noisy everywhere, making it difficult for the Ghost Mother to personally find the culprit.

　　—Grace Carter decided to seek her out first.

　　The underground chamber was hidden beneath a secret passage on the first floor. Grace Carter, following the original text, groped around and finally found the extremely well-hidden entrance. The moment she opened the secret door, a strong smell of blood rushed out from the hole.

　　She frowned slightly, but did not show much disgust. After taking a light breath, she flipped into the tunnel.

　　At first, the tunnel was extremely narrow, with darkness on both sides and not a trace of light. Fortunately, as a sword cultivator, her senses were extraordinary; even in pitch blackness, she could barely make out the road ahead.

　　As she went deeper, the tunnel suddenly opened up.

　　Several ever-burning lamps hung at both ends of the passage, like fire flowing in the night, dots of phosphorescence. The surrounding darkness was completely dispelled, but the flickering lights only made the atmosphere more terrifying, adding a sense of lurking danger.

　　The cramped passage abruptly widened, forming a spacious circular cavern at the end, shaped like a droplet swelling to fullness. And in the center of the cavern stood a monster with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a spider.

　　That was the infamous Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain.

　　Hearing footsteps, the Ghost Mother opened her eyes lifelessly. As her head lifted, a sound like bones grinding together echoed.

　　This was an enormous monster. Though her upper body was a seductive woman’s form, no different from an ordinary person, her lower body took up half the cavern, grotesque and bloated. Black hair snaked down her pale skin, like writhing black water serpents; her eight slender spider legs were sharp as blades, laced with deadly poison—one scratch would send anyone straight to the King of Hell.

　　Not to mention her formidable strength; after absorbing years of vital energy from the Star-Picking Pavilion, most of her wounds had already healed.

　　“...You?”

　　Unlike her alluring woman’s face, the Ghost Mother’s voice was hoarse as sandpaper, like a dying old crone: “Sword cultivator?”

　　Grace Carter openly revealed the Star Mark Sword at her waist, smiling slightly: “That’s right.”

　　She looked up and met her gaze: “I’ve heard the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain is powerful. How did you end up stealing people’s vital energy? It seems this Star-Picking Pavilion wasn’t built by you. Aren’t you afraid the real owner will find out?”

　　The Ghost Mother let out a mournful, cold laugh, and the countless spider threads coiled in the cavern stirred in response: “I use vital energy as I please, come and go in the Star-Picking Pavilion as I wish. Am I supposed to be afraid of that useless thing on the top floor?”

　　“Oh?”

　　Grace Carter raised an eyebrow: “You’re seriously injured—are you sure you can fight back?”

　　“Ridiculous! Now I am the true master of this building. That demoness thinks she’s in control, but she doesn’t know that most of the little demons here are already my puppets. Once my power is complete, I’ll take this Star-Picking Pavilion from her hands.”

　　Grace Carter’s words had clearly angered her. The spider threads hung in the air like a thousand falling raindrops: “What, a mere sword cultivator, do you think you can subdue me?”