Only Xiang Haikui and Yin Changli remained sitting across from each other in the carriage.

With much more space now, Xiang Haikui rested one leg on the chair, sitting in a wild posture with her arms folded, raising an eyebrow at him.

She knew he definitely couldn’t resist sending someone to protect Xiao Bai.

But she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.

She didn’t expose him, only scoffed, “When did Senior Yin become so stingy?”

“It’s just a little money, how could that be considered stingy?” Yin Changli smiled. “However, that piece of land from the Lu family holds extraordinary significance for me. I can’t bear to give it away.”

To dare say the Lu family’s entire property was just a little money—if Xiang Haikui hadn’t seen the mountains of treasures piled in his small black sphere, she truly wouldn’t have believed it.

She had a question she’d wanted to ask for a long time: “Senior, how did you accumulate your wealth?”

Though he was a Torch Dragon noble, after the Mountain-Sea Race’s downfall, they had been completely looted by the Heavenly Race. Chairman Yin probably hadn’t left him any secret funds.

When he defected from Bi’an City, he had taken the great treasury of the Underworld. But according to the timeline and rumors, he had already been very wealthy before his defection.

In this world, people with high cultivation would certainly not be poor, but continuing to amass wealth wasn’t an easy task.

At least Xiang Haikui couldn’t find any avenues to make money right now.

She looked at him with burning eyes, hoping the great merchant Yin would impart some business wisdom.

Yin Changli was stunned momentarily, seeing from her expression that she genuinely wanted to learn. He smiled and said, “Mining.”

Xiang Haikui: “Are you joking with me?”

Yin Changli emphasized, “It’s true.”

The well-reasoned words from his mouth weren’t necessarily true.

But these rather comical two words were indeed true.

Years ago, after the Mountain-Sea Race was defeated, he had been sent by the Heavenly Race to mine for a hundred years, where he learned to identify various spirit stones.

For many barren mountains and wastelands, he only needed to drill around once to determine whether there were valuable minerals.

He had exchanged these minerals for ancient texts and to purchase information.

He was a regular at historically significant sects and the black markets of all kinds of underworld factions.

Later, he no longer needed to labor in search of mines. Many people desperately sought him out, offering various treasures in exchange for his guidance.

When Xiang Heng wanted to bring his daughter from Earth, he sought him out.

When the Lu family ancestor wanted to save the lives of his twins, he also sought them out.

This time, Yin Changli didn’t boast at all. His expression when speaking about mining even showed some discomfort, yet Xiang Haikui felt a sense of admiration from the bottom of her heart.

Within books lies gold—knowledge truly is power, no deceit there.

“Do you think I could do it?” she asked.

“Hmm?” Yin Changli didn’t understand.

Xiang Haikui: “I want to learn your skill.”

Yin Changli smiled. “No problem. In the library on the lower level of my traveling palace, there are tens of thousands of copies of ancient texts. For those that cannot be copied, I will teach you when I think of them…”

Xiang Haikui waved her hands repeatedly. “No, no, no, you misunderstood.”

Yin Changli frowned. “Then what?”

“Your skill in selecting mountains, judging spirit mines, and mining.” Xiang Haikui pointed at his head, then patted her own. “Your Torch Dragon heads are hard, and when I transformed into a Tian Kuang Dragonoid, my head was especially iron-like!”

She clenched her fist to emphasize, “I think I can do it!”

Seeing her eyes glowing with excitement, a barely noticeable vein twitched at Yin Changli’s temple. “It’s very hard work.”

Xiang Haikui: “Do I look like someone afraid of hard work?”

Besides, who would complain about hard work when there are mines to dig?

If she mastered this core technology, she could become rich through mining when she returned to Earth in the future.

Yin Changli was somewhat caught between laughter and tears.

When Xiang Haikui said she wanted to learn, he had imagined it as an entry point to cultivate their relationship.

Sweeping snow, brewing tea, reading books by the fireplace—in an instant, he had practically chosen names for their children.

Suddenly, the scene shifted—a night with howling wind on a desolate black mountain, a black snake leading a black dragonoid drilling in and out of the ground…

“Can I?” Xiang Haikui cupped her hands in supplication.

Tian Kuang jumped up in his case, seemingly embarrassed by her behavior.

Xiang Haikui wanted money, not face, and didn’t care at all.

Finally, Yin Changli spoke.

His thin lips opened and closed, but strangely, Xiang Haikui couldn’t hear his voice.

It was as if she had sunk into the sea, her eardrums filled with water, hearing only gurgling sounds.

Under the rippling water, Yin Changli’s figure became somewhat blurry.

Xiang Haikui reached out and grabbed the corner of his sleeve.

Yin Changli was slightly startled. “What’s wrong?”

“I…”

Her consciousness became hazy, her body swaying from side to side.

Yin Changli supported her while moving to sit opposite her, letting her lean on his shoulder, his fingers pressing on the meridians of her wrist.

But Xiang Haikui suddenly flipped her wrist, grabbing his hand instead. She opened her mouth several times, her throat dry, unable to speak.

It was Blood Demon Lord.

The Dream Sword Lord had come!

Tian Kuang’s wild jumps weren’t disdain for her, but a warning.

It wasn’t that she had been blinded by money and failed to recognize the warning signal. This warning was very strange, completely different from previous warnings.

Tian Kuang must recognize the source of danger.

“It’s Blood Demon Lord,” Yin Changli lifted the curtain. It was almost nightfall. “Blood Demon Lord is releasing the power of nightmares to lower my mental strength. Everyone in the area will fall asleep. Since you’re traveling with me, he might enter your dream to restrain me. Quickly take this awakening pill…”

He hurriedly took out a brown pill from his bracelet, held her chin, and sent the pill to her mouth.

Just as Xiang Haikui was about to swallow it, her brows deeply furrowed.

Something wasn’t right.

Blood Demon Lord was indeed coming to cut him down, but would he be anxious?

Even when facing Di Jun in Bi’an City, he had remained calm.

In her opinion, Xiang Haikui rarely saw him anxious. Even when she went crazy with Tian Kuang at full power, when he quietly begged her to calm down, he didn’t speak with excessive urgency.

With a “puff” sound, Xiang Haikui spat out the awakening pill. “Senior Blood, it seems you know you can’t kill Yin Changli, so you’ve truly decided to use me to restrain him?”

She had originally wanted to spit the pill in his face, but thought better of it. He wasn’t having an easy time either.

As fellow victims of troublesome swords, why make things difficult for each other?

Moreover, they had lured him here to ask for help, so they couldn’t offend him.

The anxiety on “Yin Changli’s” face disappeared, and he was slightly surprised. “You can distinguish between dreams and reality?”

“I can’t.” Xiang Haikui shook her head.

She quickly picked up her sword case and sat on the opposite side. She lifted the curtain to look at the shops outside, listening to the clop-clop of beast hooves, which seemed no different from reality.

“It’s just that I know the person you’re impersonating too well.”

As soon as the words fell, the man before her suddenly transformed into a mercury-like substance, then that mass reshaped itself into a human form.

This should be Blood Demon Lord’s true appearance—phoenix eyes, blood-red lips, with a bewitchingly beautiful face, except for a scar on his brow bone that added a touch of domineering ruggedness.

Worthy of coming from an evil cultivator family—even though he had converted to the righteous sword path at age ten, he still carried a strong evil cultivator aura.

“Don’t be afraid, miss. I won’t hurt you.” Blood Demon Lord held his sword and nodded to her.

“I know.” Xiang Haikui stared at his sword, which shimmered with dreamlike radiance. “You want to kill Yin Changli.”

“I wanted to kill him years ago, but not anymore.” Blood Demon Lord tilted his head, looking at the Tian Kuang sword case beside her hand. “At such a young age, you’re already approaching the ninth rank. You should understand why I no longer wish to kill him.”

Xiang Haikui nodded. “Then why enter my dream…”

Blood Demon Lord: “I still need him to pay a price—to kneel before me and admit his mistakes.”

Xiang Haikui thought to herself, isn’t that even harder than killing him?

Blood Demon Lord: “I know it’s difficult, so I must trouble you, miss. I promise not to hurt you…”

His Dream Sword flowed with streams of light, like tentacles flying toward Xiang Haikui.

Xiang Haikui suddenly drew Tian Kuang, releasing a domineering sword energy.

Those “tentacles” collided with Tian Kuang’s sword energy and retreated.

Tian Kuang and Dream Sword came from the same source, and there was suppression between swords—not a matter of strength, but attributes, like how Tian Kuang feared Tianren. This was elemental restraint.

Yin Changli had already told her that Tian Kuang suppressed the Dream Sword.

She was the Blood Demon Lord’s nemesis.

Xiang Haikui held her sword horizontally to protect herself and angrily said, “Senior Blood, I don’t like this behavior of using innocent people as weapons!”

She despised it!

Throughout this journey, everyone wanted to use her against Yin Changli. When would it end?

Blood Demon Lord hadn’t expected her reaction to be so strong.

After a moment of shock, he realized he might have touched a sore spot.

Blood Demon Lord withdrew his sword light, his tone softening. “Very well, let’s negotiate.”

Xiang Haikui furrowed her brows, carefully examining him, suspecting he might be trying to get her to lower her guard before suddenly attacking.

Blood Demon Lord asked, “Yin Changli lured me here probably because he needs my help. Given his personality, he would rather dig a well himself than ask others for water. It must be for your sake, right?”

“Indeed, I’m the one seeking help.” While remaining vigilant, Xiang Haikui told him about discovering the Mirage Realm.

Judging from Blood Demon Lord’s reaction, he was genuinely interested in this upgraded version of the dream realm.

Perhaps he would set aside personal grudges first and cooperate with them.

“Where is it?” Blood Demon Lord asked, eyes glittering.

“Once you agree, we’ll naturally lead the way.” Yin Changli had warned her not to tell him the location before he agreed.

Blood Demon Lord’s already narrow eyes gradually narrowed into fox-like slits. “Threatening me? That’s not very honorable, young miss.”

Xiang Haikui returned a mocking smile. “Aren’t you also planning to use me to threaten Senior Yin right now?”

Blood Demon Lord wasn’t angry. He put his sword aside and rested his arm on his knee. “What’s your relationship with Yin Changli? Lovers, right?”

Xiang Haikui shook her head. “Business partners.”

Blood Demon Lord also shook his head. “I don’t believe it. He treats you differently. Tell me the truth, and I’ll consider whether to help you.”

Xiang Haikui pondered whether “he has a one-sided love for me” or “we’ve slept together” would be more appropriate.

Blood Demon Lord glanced at her. “No need to say it. You and Yin Changli have slept together.”

Xiang Haikui was stunned. “How did you know?”

Blood Demon Lord beckoned to her.

She leaned forward.

He shouted into her ear with full force, “I’ve seen more erotic dreams in other people’s dreams than the hairs on your head!”

Xiang Haikui was nearly deafened by his shout. She touched her bun hairstyle and suddenly broke into a smile. “Senior, are you complimenting me on having a lot of hair?”

Blood Demon Lord…

What an amazing ability to grasp the key point!

Huh?

He rubbed his forehead. “Since you have that kind of relationship, why don’t you help me by asking him to kneel before me… Forget kneeling, just an apology will do.”

This was the last demon in his heart before his Dao merger—it had to be eliminated!

“I just need him to apologize to me, and I’ll accompany you to the Mirage Realm. Is that acceptable, miss?” He pressed his palms together, almost begging.

Xiang Haikui looked into his eyes and saw two large characters spelling “miserable.”

For a moment, she truly wanted to help him.

But getting Yin Changli to apologize to him was simply impossible.

Just then, the carriage door was suddenly pushed open, and Yin Changli walked in. “Fine, I apologize. Blood Demon Lord, all mistakes are mine…”

Xiang Haikui wasn’t surprised that he had also entered the dream, but was shocked that he would apologize so easily.

Blood Demon Lord was equally surprised and stood up.

He had waited for this apology until it became a heart demon, but now that it came so easily, it felt unreal. “You’re apologizing?”

Yin Changli sat down beside Xiang Haikui and smiled. “Yes, didn’t you hear clearly? Would you like me to say it again?”

Blood Demon Lord was dumbfounded.

Yin Changli asked, “So will you fulfill your promise? Under any circumstances? Whether in dreams or reality?”

Blood Demon Lord raised his chin. “A gentleman’s word must be kept!”

Yin Changli: “That’s good.”

Blood Demon Lord hadn’t yet recovered his senses. He glanced at Xiang Haikui. “She must be really important to you.”

“It has nothing to do with her.” Yin Changli smiled. “Don’t you find my apology quite unexpected, as if you’re dreaming?”

Blood Demon Lord nodded honestly. “Yes.”

Yin Changli spread his hands. “You’re not wrong. This is originally a dream. Later, when you go out and tell others that I, Yin Changli, apologized to you, I can simply reply, ‘He was dreaming.'”

After a pause, Xiang Haikui was sprayed with blood that the Blood Demon Lord spat out.