Fifty-three, the Greatest Hero of All

The demon cultivator stripped the clothes and trousers from the cultivator beneath him, ran his hand over the man’s body, and felt the smooth, tender skin under his palm. Deeply impressed, he mused to himself: Human cultivators truly have excellent bodies, though their cultivation is a bit lacking, so there’s not much spiritual energy to harvest. Still, something is better than nothing. Lately, spirit herbs have become harder and harder to find, so perhaps stationing himself here to catch cultivators isn’t a bad idea. Only, he worried the old crones from the Nine Heavens Palace might meddle.

Clicking his tongue twice, he thrust his waist forward, exposing himself, his excitement rising. He lifted the man’s legs higher, displaying him for his own pleasure.

Nearby, another cultivator’s eyes nearly burst with rage. Summoning his spiritual power for self-destruction, he cried out in a hoarse shout, “Y-Serpent! If you want death, we’ll…” He hadn’t finished his threat when a golden light flashed by and struck the demon right at his root. The demon hadn’t grasped what was happening when agony shot through his lower body. He howled in pain, rolled off, and transformed into a golden python, as thick as a water tank and dozens of feet long. Writhing in torment, it lashed its tail in wild fury.

The two cultivators were about to be crushed beneath the monster’s tail when suddenly, a red and a blue streak of light shot out from the side, whisked past them, and the pair vanished.

When the surviving cultivator regained his senses, he found himself in another mountain valley. Besides his companion, there were two other cultivators before him: one, incomparably handsome and cold as steel; the other, exquisitely beautiful and lively—a pair that could only be described as dazzling and extraordinary.

Seeing the stunned look on the cultivator’s face, as if he couldn’t believe he’d been rescued, Luo Yu slapped his shoulder with a bold smile. “Stay here. We’ll go deal with that monster!”

With that, he took Qin Yue by the hand and the two soared away.

The golden python was spectacularly unlucky. At the first sneak attack, it instinctively retracted its vulnerable parts, closing its scales. But in its panic, it drew the Sun’s True Fire inside, which began burning from within. Realizing something was wrong, it hurried to summon its pill fire in defense, only to find it acted like oil to the blaze, intensifying the pain until death seemed preferable to survival. The monster went berserk in the valley, demolishing half a dozen nearby peaks, stirring snowstorms and thunderous chaos, attracting three or four treasure-hunting Foundation Establishment cultivators from the vicinity.

Seeing a golden core demon in a frenzy, the cultivators suspected it had lost control of its power and stood at a distance, not daring to approach. After a while, they witnessed a red and blue streak of light emerge atop the mountain and, in the blink of an eye, arrive before them—two astonishingly beautiful cultivators, dressed in contemporary attire, and, astonishingly, of equal rank. The crowd couldn’t help but feel a chill: youth, indeed, is formidable.

The pair came forward. The taller one swept a cool glance over the crowd and, taking the shorter’s hand, went straight toward the demon.

The cultivators were bewildered: could these two know the demon? But now, the demon was beyond reason, maddened; approaching it was surely suicide.

Everyone had their own thoughts—some worried, some secretly delighted. Who didn’t hope for a windfall when searching for treasures? If the demon self-destructed in its frenzy, the loot would be shared among equals. If someone killed it now, the spoils would be theirs alone—but these two, with their cultivation, seemed intent on gifting everyone a bigger share.

Qin Yue and Luo Yu paid no mind to the opinions behind them. Their eyes were fixed on the demon’s spatial pouch hanging from its neck: ill-gotten gains belong to the victor, and none should share.

Qin Yue stepped forward without any obvious action; the True Fire within the serpent surged through its limbs, burning so fiercely that it convulsed, unable to roll any longer. Moments later, a snake spirit, clutching a golden core, burst from the serpent’s body, flicked its tail, and attempted escape—only to be caught by the soul-capturing box waiting outside.

The cultivators behind them were dumbstruck. What happened? As soon as the pair approached, the demon abandoned its body and fled… This didn’t seem like a loss of control. Could these two possess some extraordinary ability? To force a golden core cultivator into this state without lifting a finger… terrifying!

Seeing the demon burned into an empty shell, Qin Yue refrained from summoning the True Fire back in front of them—he knew well the wisdom of hiding one’s wealth. With a wave of his hand, he swept the serpent’s spatial pouch and everything else into his bracelet, leaving nothing behind.

As the pair departed, the group of cultivators watched with awe and dared not raise any objection. Qin Yue, commanding the scene, led Luo Yu away, their hands joined, vanishing into the horizon amid envy and admiration.

Out of sight, Qin Yue calmly opened his bracelet and retrieved the fire. Without the True Fire floating in his dantian, wandering the world felt more precarious.

Luo Yu sighed with feeling: in this world, one is helpless to fate. He’d promised not to “rob the robbers,” yet here they were, having done it again—easier than fighting minor monsters.

He exclaimed, “That snake skin is amazing! Even True Fire couldn’t melt it! If only we could turn it into a few sets of clothes!”

Qin Yue replied with pride, “It’s not so remarkable. I simply noticed the skin could withstand Foundation Establishment cultivators’ flying swords, so I kept it.”

Luo Yu urged, “Let’s see what treasures we got!”

Qin Yue said, “Let’s wait until we return.”

With delight, the two went to find the cultivators they’d rescued. The conscious one was cradling the unconscious companion, helpless. His spiritual power was exhausted, and he was gravely wounded, unable to carry his partner back. When he saw Luo Yu and Qin Yue, hope lit his eyes. He struggled to kneel on one leg, his voice hoarse: “I beg you, benefactors, save my companion. Qing Huo is willing to repay you, body and soul!”

Luo Yu sized up the kneeling cultivator—a tall, handsome man with a resolute air, bearing the spirit of a heroic knight. The other was also tall and attractive, but unconscious, his character unreadable.

Qin Yue stood with hands clasped behind his back, coolly remarking, “What use have we for your body and soul?”

The cultivator was taken aback by this, falling silent.

Luo Yu thought: How dense—saving someone with a pill costs spirit stones! Offer something in exchange. He hinted, “How did you provoke this demon?”

The cultivator hastily replied, “My name is Qing Huo. My companion Su Heng and I came to the Kunlun realm seeking treasures. In the mountains, we stumbled upon a stalk of Golden Condensation Grass, but the demon saw us and tried to steal it. Su Heng shielded me from an attack, suffering grave wounds. If you can save him, we swear to follow you unto death, through fire and water!”

Luo Yu clicked his tongue. It sounded as if he were extorting them… Well, all he really wanted was the Golden Condensation Grass. As for followers, he already had plenty of “vampires.” But since they’d made their pledge, leaving them to die felt wrong. He decided to give them a pill first.

Luo Yu reluctantly produced two Nine-Turn Resurrection Pills, giving one to each, grumbling inwardly: Last time Qin Yue was wounded in the Netherworld, he only gave him a lesser pill. These two were potent lifesavers, worth many spirit stones. If the Golden Condensation Grass wasn’t valuable, this deal would be a loss.

Su Heng swallowed the pill, coughed up a clot of blood in his sleep, his eyelids fluttering as he began to stir. Qing Huo breathed a sigh of relief, clutching his companion tightly.

Qin Yue watched this display and coldly said, “You so easily make promises, deciding even for others?”

Qing Huo bowed his head, a bit ashamed. After a moment, he said, “Qing Huo repays kindness and will not break today’s oath.”

Su Heng slowly regained consciousness. Finding himself alive in Qing Huo’s embrace, he was bewildered—had they escaped a golden core cultivator? Impossible.

Turning, he saw two cultivators beside them, their bearing extraordinary, like immortals descended—enough to awe anyone.

He hesitated, asking, “May I know who you are?”

Qing Huo hurried to explain, “It was these two who saved us… Don’t move yet; you’ve just had medicine and must take care.”

Su Heng asked, “Where are we? Has the demon not pursued us?”

Luo Yu replied, “That monster is dead. You need not worry!”

Delighted, Su Heng signaled Qing Huo to hand over their spatial pouch. From it, he drew a golden spirit herb, offering it solemnly. “We have nothing to repay your life-saving grace. This spirit herb is all we possess; please accept it! Since my life is yours to keep, I will follow you henceforth, serving loyally!”

Qing Huo protested, “You…”

Su Heng cut him off, calmly saying, “We are brothers, and you know my mind is made up. No need to persuade me. The mountains are high and rivers long; we shall meet again.”

Luo Yu was surprised, “Aren’t you companions? How can you just abandon him?”

Su Heng replied, “He’s talking nonsense, master, please don’t believe it.”

Qing Huo blushed, hurriedly saying, “We have been as husband and wife; how can you dismiss it so simply?”

Su Heng scolded, “Just drunken folly—why speak of it here?”

Luo Yu felt awkward, watching their quarrel. He said, “Listen, we are from the modern world; we don’t expect life debts to be repaid this way… We’ll accept the herb, but you’re free to go wherever you wish…”

Su Heng, distressed, knelt on one leg. “Master, do you look down on me? Am I one to break my word? A gentleman’s promise is as unbreakable as four galloping horses! If I betray my oath, may my soul be devoured by demons and my body destroyed by tribulation!”

Qing Huo also knelt, declaring, “Qing Huo and Su Heng are of one heart! We swear to follow our masters unto death. If we break this oath, may our souls be devoured by demons and our bodies destroyed by tribulation!”

Su Heng stared, dumbfounded at Qing Huo’s declaration.

Luo Yu blinked: What’s going on? Why are they acting like Gong Jin Qian? Am I really so charismatic, bending all heroes to my will? I’m poor—I can barely support myself, let alone followers!

Panicked, Luo Yu said, “No, no! As you can see, we’re Foundation Establishment cultivators, just like you. Following us leads nowhere; you should join a big sect, where you can at least earn some spirit stones each month!”

Su Heng answered, “Master, why say so? As your subordinate, it’s my duty to ease your burdens. If I added to your troubles, I’d be a scoundrel!”

Qing Huo declared, “Exactly! Qing Huo and Su Heng will help our masters through all difficulties. Whatever you command, we will obey!”

Author’s note: F5 threw a landmine.

Hohoho... I got a landmine too! Flowers for the beautiful New Year’s gift!

Friend’s Cultivation Chronicle 53_Friend’s Cultivation Chronicle full free reading_53 Big Hero update complete!