It looked rather like a pair of star-crossed lovers destined to cross paths.

[Upon completing your daily task, immediately proceed to the Pleasure District of Yingdu City and execute both the benevolent and malevolent aspects of Xi Wang.]

[Task Rewards: Soul-Recalling Bell, ten Soul-Catching Ropes, ten Great Teleportation Talismans, one hundred Spirit-Nourishing Golden Pills.]

[Task Penalty: Transformation into a female.]

After editing the task, Su Ji'an directly selected the Black Mountain Old Demon to publish it.

Although the benevolent aspect of Xi Wang posed no real threat, it was still that bastard Xi Wang after all.

It would be utterly disgusting if he managed to stir up some other trouble in the future.

It was always best to uphold the fine tradition of pulling up weeds by the roots and leaving no hidden dangers.

However, the Black Mountain Old Demon did run back and forth every day, which was indeed quite tiring.

It was only reasonable that the task rewards were a bit more generous.

The capable should do more work, after all.

With the demon's cultivation at the late Void Return stage, there was every hope he could reach the Pleasure District of Yingdu City before dark.

Ever since the Black Mountain Old Demon entrenched himself in Yuanshan City, within a short period of time, a radius of dozens of miles around the city had turned into a ghost domain.

Executing his sinister methods was practically second nature to him.

Countless cultivators trembled in fear at the mere mention of his name, causing a massive uproar throughout the entire Great Jin recently.

It was just that no news of any demon-slaying and righteousness-upholding crusades had been heard as of yet.

Presumably, it was because the Black Mountain Old Demon had appeared only recently, and crucially, his strength was so formidable that the so-called righteous path did not dare to act rashly.

......

Having nothing better to do, Su Ji'an began an in-depth exchange with Zhao Qianxue.

During her cultivation, Zhao Qianxue frequently felt that her strength fell short of her desires.

Su Ji'an, on the other hand, remained entirely at ease.

Zhao Qianxue's beautiful eyes rolled slightly, and she suddenly suggested, "Why don't you pull Hansu into our cultivation sessions as well?"

From beginning to end, she had never truly regarded He Hansu as a mere maid.

The way the two of them interacted looked more like a pair of playful nemeses.

Although she felt a tiny tinge of jealousy in her heart, upon second thought, recalling the frequency of Su Ji'an's cultivation, that trace of jealousy vanished into thin air in an instant.

Su Ji'an chuckled and said, "Then you'll have to ask if she's willing; I don't mind at all."

Zhao Qianxue couldn't help but smile, "Then I'll take the opportunity to sound her out for you."

Su Ji'an waved his hand and continued with his cultivation.

That blockhead practically wanted to eat him alive; there was absolutely no possibility of them cultivating together.

......

At the same time, He Hansu, who was cultivating the Soul-Searching Technique, suddenly heard a strange commotion coming from next door.

Curiosity naturally welled up in her heart.

She stealthily crept closer to listen.

However, her face quickly flushed red, and her mind began to run wild with all sorts of associations.

He Hansu fled as if escaping for her life and resumed her cultivation.

Yet her heart refused to calm down no matter what, and even strange images involuntarily floated through her mind.

......

An hour later, Su Ji'an received updates regarding the Blue Star players heading towards the Azure Cloud Sect.

They had already arrived at the Azure Cloud Sect via flying boat and were currently listening to the teachings of the Doctrine-Transmission Elder.

[The Doctrine-Transmission Elder noticed that Li Ling'er kept losing focus and immediately rebuked her. However, before he could finish his sentence, the Azure Cloud Sect disciple who escorted the newcomers back hurriedly stepped close to the elder and informed him that Li Ling'er possessed transcendent talent, one in a million.]

[Upon hearing this, the elder's gaze toward Li Ling'er grew noticeably much kinder, instructing her that if she had any questions she didn't understand, she could come and seek his guidance after the lecture. Player Xue Qianhen could not help but feel a secret pang of envy.]

Su Ji'an didn't think much of it; it was only natural for those with transcendent talent to receive preferential treatment.

The value they would generate in the future would also be vastly different.

Aside from that, the Azure Cloud Sect's examination for disciples was relatively strict.

Although he had summoned thirty Blue Star players this time, a mere ten of them successfully entered the Azure Cloud Sect.

Compared to places like the Flying Immortal Gate, the threshold was higher by more than just a little bit.

......

As dusk fell, Su Ji'an finally received the progress report on the task assigned to the Black Mountain Old Demon.

[The Black Mountain Old Demon arrived at the Pleasure District of Yingdu City at the earliest possible moment, only to find that the malevolent aspect of Xi Wang was already nowhere to be seen. Only the benevolent aspect of Xi Wang was locked up there. The Black Mountain Old Demon immediately moved to launch a surprise attack on him, but after pulling out the other's primordial spirit, he discovered that the soul power of Xi Wang's benevolent aspect was only half that of an ordinary Spirit Transformation stage cultivator.]

[The Black Mountain Old Demon instantly felt underwhelmed, but still proceeded to refine him into a spirit general. He decided to stay for one more night, waiting for the malevolent aspect of Xi Wang to return.]

Su Ji'an: "......"

This time, the Black Mountain Old Demon had essentially chased after shadows.

Even if he waited another night, it was unlikely there would be any progress.

Clearly, the malevolent aspect of Xi Wang had changed his hiding place.

Having been ambushed by the Holy Master several times, the Pleasure District was no longer safe.

The death of Xi Wang's benevolent aspect wasn't really a good thing.

Although the impact was minimal, it ruined the fun of disgusting Xi Wang's malevolent aspect.

Forget it, blame him for not making things clear beforehand.

Moreover, the progress of tasks was subject to a delay.

As for why the benevolent aspect of Xi Wang was imprisoned, he assumed it had to do with that web of lightning.

Although the Holy Master managed to escape in the end, that web had been used on Xi Wang's benevolent aspect.

Since the benevolent aspect had aided the Holy Master this time, Xi Wang's malevolent aspect was probably furious inside.

Immediately afterward, Su Ji'an issued another task to the Holy Master.

[Xi Wang has been ambushed by you several times and has now left the Pleasure District. You ought to immediately investigate the whereabouts of Xi Wang's malevolent aspect, and it is advised to start from his identity as a city lord.]

[Task Reward: One hundred Spirit-Nourishing Golden Pills.]

[Task Penalty: Loss of the demon's undying body.]

Only by knowing the exact movements of Xi Wang's malevolent aspect would he have the opportunity to send the Black Mountain Old Demon to ambush him again.

Although this scoundrel Xi Wang was only at the Spirit Transformation stage, he was harder to deal with than someone at the Void Return stage.

Once the exact whereabouts of the target were located next time, even with the Black Mountain Old Demon making a move, they would need to proceed with utmost caution. This time, failure was absolutely not an option.

Suffering setbacks over and over again was truly unacceptable.

Though much of it was due to coincidence, he himself had indeed been a bit negligent.

Aside from that, there was another matter worth mentioning.

Player Feng Chen, whom he had previously planted in the Myriad Treasures Pavilion of Hanshan City, had displayed "extraordinary" talent.

Just as he anticipated, he was valued by the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.

During these past few days, he had shown great care toward player Feng Chen, resulting in a significant tilt in cultivation resources.

Within a mere few days, he had reached the sixth layer of Qi Refining.

Such a cultivation speed was rare even when looking at major immortal sects.

Now, player Feng Chen had already left Hanshan City and headed to the branch of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion in the Yingdu region.

Su Ji'an thought to himself, "Although it didn't succeed in one giant leap to gain true attention from the main Myriad Treasures Pavilion, as long as this cultivation progress continues, he will surely be absorbed by the headquarters."

As for why he only planted one person, it was to prevent premature death halfway through.

In truth, the process was also cumbersome and easily susceptible to being mistakenly killed by the Black Mountain Old Demon.

Besides, it wasn't a matter of utmost urgency; it was merely a precaution, planting a covert piece on the board.

However, there was also a piece of intelligence gathered by player Feng Chen.

[Player Feng Chen learned that in recent times, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion branches in dozens of cities have suffered total destruction, and the Myriad Treasures Pavilion has blamed everything on the Righteous Alliance.]