Ling Zhishan had just been pushed down by Wei Jie and injured her arm, then was mocked by Cui Xiaoxiao. When she asked to become a disciple, Cui Xiaoxiao ignored her.

Now the little princess of Wonderful Immortal Mountain had lost all face, unable to turn things around!

All this way, despite her sincerity, sleeping outdoors and dining on simple fare, she still couldn’t move Cui Xiaoxiao. She truly had no fate with the Talismonger Sect.

Thinking this, Ling Zhishan coldly turned away and said to the gathered disciples from various sects: “Lingshan Talismonger Sect’s threshold is too high—we’re not worthy. Since Sect Master Cui has no intention of recruiting talent, we should each disperse to avoid disturbing their mountain gate’s tranquility…”

Hearing this, others also became disheartened and dejected, preparing to leave in groups of twos and threes.

But just then, Cui Xiaoxiao called out: “Wait… Though the Talismonger Sect’s mountain gate isn’t large, we’re eager for talent. However, recruiting disciples requires several rounds of trials and selection to pick suitable talent for our sect… How about this—you can settle on the mountain first. After I conduct a careful selection, I’ll announce who becomes my disciple. Is that acceptable?”

Hearing Cui Xiaoxiao say this, everyone immediately cheered. It seemed sincerity could move even metal and stone—this Sect Master Cui was finally moved by their sincerity and was willing to accept them as disciples!

However, only Qin Lingxiao knew why Cui Xiaoxiao had suddenly changed her mind.

Now they were certain the other Demon Pearl was among these people. If they let them leave, it would be releasing a tiger back to the mountains.

So Xiaoxiao used a delaying tactic, first deceiving these apprentice-seekers onto Ghost Stone Cliff.

Anyone possessed by a Demon Pearl would reveal flaws.

Hearing Cui Xiaoxiao’s words, Wei Jie finally walked over, pulling her sleeve to draw her before him and asking quietly: “Why are you recruiting so many disciples for nothing?”

With things happening suddenly, Cui Xiaoxiao couldn’t tell him the truth, only saying vaguely: “There are some matters involved… I’ll explain to you later!”

After speaking, she turned and whispered privately with Qin Lingxiao for a few moments.

Wei Jie’s gaze grew even darker. He didn’t understand how Xiaoxiao could speak so intimately with the surname Qin after Qin Lingxiao had betrayed her.

From early on, he always felt there seemed to be some secret bond between Xiaoxiao and Qin Lingxiao that only they knew.

This point made Wei Jie very uncomfortable. For a moment, Wei Jie’s eyes showed traces of blood, but he forcibly restrained himself.

In any case, the sect master had decided—the Talismonger Sect would open its gates wide, and a huge crowd of disciples went up the mountain.

When the locust-like disciples swarmed up the mountain, Yu Ling’er and the others were dumbfounded.

Yu Ling’er looked at the meager supplies Wei Jie and Tang Youshu had bought back, her face falling: “Oh my, taking so many disciples at once—even if we peeled bark from mountain trees to make soup for them, it probably wouldn’t be enough!”

Xiaoxiao knew they couldn’t keep them long, or her modest resources would be eaten up. When going up the mountain, she had already thought of a way to test them.

So she pulled Wei Jie aside and said quietly: “Can you return to the Wei family overnight and bring back more fish and shrimp from the Underworld’s River of Forgetfulness?”

Wei Jie raised his eyebrows, asking somewhat incredulously: “…You want to treat your new disciples with River of Forgetfulness fish and shrimp?”

Xiaoxiao nodded: “You said yourself that people with insufficient spiritual roots can’t withstand the yin energy of the River of Forgetfulness fish and shrimp. I’m doing this to quickly screen for excellent disciples and avoid having the sect eat out of house and home!”

Wei Jie stared at her steadily, seeming not to believe her absurd words. However, from the day he met her, Wei Jie had always granted Cui Xiaoxiao’s every request.

So finally, he took out a silver whistle from his sleeve. After blowing it forcefully, a hawk flew from the sky.

This was Wei Jie’s messenger for rapid communication with the Wei family.

However, unlike usual, the hawk circled in the sky for a long time, refusing to land, as if something on the ground frightened it.

Wei Jie thought briefly and immediately understood.

Cui Xiaoxiao now had five phoenixes attached to her body. These kings of birds naturally made even raptors fearful.

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao quickly moved away. Indeed, only after she left did the hawk consent to land on Wei Jie’s shoulder, though its feathers remained ruffled as if startled.

Only then did Xiaoxiao belatedly realize that since returning from the phoenix secret realm, birds throughout Lingshan seemed to avoid appearing before her. Daily, she could only hear distant bird calls but couldn’t see even a single sparrow.

This showed how powerful the five phoenixes were.

Hawk-delivered messages were naturally extremely fast. Within three days, the Wei family sent fast horses to deliver five large boxes of fish and shrimp to Ghost Stone Cliff.

These fish and shrimp were extremely yin in nature—not something ordinary people could handle. On the entire mountain, only Wei Jie and Cui Xiaoxiao could fearlessly prepare these fish and shrimp.

So naturally, only Cui Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie cooked that day.

But Xiaoxiao wasn’t good at cooking—staying behind, she could at most help wash and clean, with most of the work done by Wei Jie.

Wei Jie was skilled at cleaning fish. His articulated, slender yet powerful fingers—removing gills, gutting, and cleaning entrails—all done in one smooth motion.

Xiaoxiao sat nearby, eating mountain fruits, watching his expressionless fish-cutting appearance. It overlapped with that evil, cold man from her dream who bit phoenix necks—the same murderous aura.

Though this man seemed gentle enough before her now, Xiaoxiao didn’t dare forget he was fundamentally the Three Realms Demon Lord, naturally carrying killing intent.

Thinking of Wei Jie cooking for so many people, she ingratiatingly held up a mountain of fruit to his mouth.

Wei Jie wasn’t polite, biting forcefully at the fruit and nearly biting Xiaoxiao’s finger.

Xiaoxiao quickly dodged, saying quietly: “Slower—it’s like you want to eat people…”

Since the apprentice-seeking disciples came up the mountain, this man hadn’t joked with her at all.

Sometimes, when she couldn’t help but initiate conversation, he responded coldly, seeming indifferent.

If not for pitying Wei Jie’s loss of heart’s blood and injured vitality, such a disrespectful attitude toward his master should warrant being made to run ten laps around the mountain carrying water buckets!

If Wei Jie wanted to put on senior disciple airs before those disciples and establish authority among them, that was understandable.

But now in this smoke-filled little kitchen with just him and her, why was that handsome face still as long as the long-armed shrimp in the water tank?

Xiaoxiao tried making small talk but only got one-word answers. Annoyed, she threw down her vegetable-picking basin, removed her apron, and prepared to leave the kitchen for fresh air.

But before she could leave, a cool voice behind her said: “You’re abandoning your work to leave—I’ll do all this myself. If it’s done slowly and your Young Sect Master Qin goes hungry, what then?”

Since recruiting disciples at the mountain base that day, Qin Lingxiao hadn’t left, even choosing a room on Lingshan to live in, acting like a new senior disciple of the Talismonger Sect.

Wei Jie wanted to drive him away, but that surname Qin used a tone of scolding juniors: “Your master and I have important matters to discuss. Your master’s affairs don’t require her disciple to decide for her. Is this Ghost Stone Cliff your territory? It’s none of your business—no need for you to drive away guests!”

Even Xiaoxiao said to temporarily keep Qin Lingxiao for a few days.

Wei Jie watched Qin Lingxiao secretly showing off before him, already holding much suppressed anger.

Xiaoxiao blinked, finally hearing the undisguised sourness in Wei Jie’s words. She turned to look at the tense-faced Wei Jie, walked over to take the fish from his hands, and explained while scaling: “Keeping him isn’t as a guest—there are truly some things needing him to do… If you don’t want to cook for him, let him starve and find his food!”

Once they found the person possessed by the Demon Pearl, separating the person from the pearl would require Qin Lingxiao’s assistance. Having inherited Wei Jie’s spiritual power, Qin Lingxiao knew Wei Jie’s demonic nature deeply.

Without this, Xiaoxiao would have driven Qin Lingxiao away long ago.

Hearing Xiaoxiao say this, Wei Jie’s expression became completely gloomy.

He had long sensed something between Xiaoxiao and Qin Lingxiao, so they always whispered privately when meeting.

But when he tried asking Xiaoxiao, she had no intention of telling him. These past days, every time he saw Qin Lingxiao deliberately appearing before Xiaoxiao, Wei Jie felt like swatting a disgusting fly, wanting to slap him dead!

After Xiaoxiao finished speaking, thinking Wei Jie would calm down, she was surprised to see the man still stern-browed, using his knife back to repeatedly slap cucumbers with such viciousness as if wanting to smash out someone’s brains…

She shrank her neck, only able to wisely circle behind Wei Jie to help wash vegetables.

Master, Xiaoxiao is sorry for your heavenly spirit! A master having to read her chief disciple’s mood—the Talismonger Sect’s reputation is declining, and a master’s dignity is naturally nonexistent…

However, thinking again, strictly speaking, Wei Jie should be her master ancestor, so receiving attitude from her master ancestor was what she, as a disciple-grandson, deserved.

Thinking this way, Xiaoxiao felt better and even stole cucumber pieces to eat under Wei Jie’s storm-like knife work.

Though Wei Jie was sulking with Xiaoxiao, when she stole food, he slowed his pace to avoid his sharp blade injuring her.

Finally, Wei Jie first stir-fried a plate of sweet and sour pork, then casually set it aside.

Xiaoxiao couldn’t help stealing bites with chopsticks, but after a few bites, she froze.

In Luoyi City, when she and Wei Jie ate at a restaurant, she found one sweet and sour pork dish particularly delicious. Unfortunately, at other restaurants, nothing matched that flavor. She had previously complained about this to Wei Jie several times.

Somehow, Wei Jie had learned to make this dish, and the taste was nearly identical to Luoyi City’s version.

After eating two bites, Xiaoxiao paused her chopsticks, asking somewhat incredulously in a low voice: “You… went to learn the recipe from that restaurant’s chef?”

Wei Jie chopped vegetables for a while, seeming to release much depression, and was finally able to turn and look at Xiaoxiao properly.

Seeing Xiaoxiao eating with sweet and sour sauce staining her mouth corners unknowingly, Wei Jie held back repeatedly, finally unable to resist pulling her close and roughly wiping with his finger.

But he seemed too lazy to answer Xiaoxiao’s question, turning to continue chopping and cooking.

When sunlight poured into the little kitchen, illuminating the man’s profile—sword-like brows, entering black hair, straight nose, and long lashes, all gilded with golden light. His strong, powerful arms steadily wielded the cooking spoon with skillful, graceful, flowing movements. What should have been a man like an immortal or demon was now enveloped in worldly cooking smoke and heat, sweat beads on face and neck rolling down to disappear in his slightly open collar…

Such a focused, handsome man was even more appetizing than the sweet and sour pork in her mouth…

Xiaoxiao suddenly felt sour and astringent inside. If he were truly a fickle playboy who only sweet-talked young girls, that would be fine. She could happily indulge in masculine beauty before returning to her era, playing along with him.

But Wei Jie wasn’t the evil, unrestrained man his appearance suggested. His kindness to her always fell on practical details without any tricks. If she didn’t treat him sincerely, she’d wrong her conscience…

Thinking this, Xiaoxiao couldn’t help hugging his solid waist from behind, pressing her face against his back and saying quietly: “I… indeed haven’t told you some things, but not telling is for your good… However, I have nothing with that surname Qin. Another Demon Pearl appeared on this mountain—I need to work with it to find it. In this lifetime, I’ve only been intimate with you… Why must you be jealous of irrelevant people?”

She and the soul-transmigrated Qin Lingxiao were both existences violating heavenly secrets. Matters concerning two hundred years ago couldn’t be told to anyone. If Wei Jie learned previous life secrets he shouldn’t know and suffered heavenly punishment, wouldn’t that be her fault?

So she could only roughly explain why Qin Lingxiao was here without going into detail.

When she hugged Wei Jie, the man’s arms stopped moving. He just straightened his back, letting Xiaoxiao’s face press against his back—this was Xiaoxiao’s first time actively hugging him while conscious…

Only when the pot suddenly flared up did he frantically cover it to extinguish the fire, annoyed: “Damn! The vegetables are burned!”

Next, Wei Jie said expressionlessly to the girl behind him: “Not helping but causing trouble—go! Set aside, finish the pork first. I’ll make you glazed shrimp balls shortly.”

Xiaoxiao knew that Wei Jie speaking so much meant he’d calmed down. She couldn’t help smiling brilliantly at Wei Jie, taking another piece of pork but stuffing it into the man’s mouth.

For a moment, they couldn’t help but smile at each other. In the firewood smoke and pot steam, a different kind of sweetness seemed to overflow.

In a slightly better mood, Wei Jie worked efficiently. Soon, he had prepared dozens of various fish and shrimp dishes through frying, stir-frying, braising, and deep-frying.

By evening, the Talismonger Sect’s great hall had dozens of tables set up. The newly recruited disciples preparing for trials were all seated, each showing joy seeing tables full of arm-thick large shrimp and plump, fresh fish.

Facing this feast, they couldn’t help but secretly sigh: changing to a famous master was right!

The Lingshan Talismonger Sect had previously kept a low profile. But unexpectedly, the mountain sect buildings were exquisite and spacious, and even the meals surpassed the other four great sects.

Such luxury was probably like imperial palace banquets! The Talismonger Sect was truly the cultivation world’s dark horse—becoming a famous, prosperous sect was just around the corner!

However, some disciples with higher cultivation looked hesitantly at the tables full of worldly banquets.

After all, cultivators emphasized reducing appetite desires while focusing on spiritual foundation building. Such hearty eating didn’t help cultivation!

Xiaoxiao sat in the main position, squinting at some people not using chopsticks, claiming they were used to plain food and unaccustomed to fish and meat.

Xiaoxiao snorted inwardly, knowing that among these people, there must be someone possessed by a Demon Pearl. They were making excuses about eating habits to avoid the trial—no way!

Thinking this, Xiaoxiao stood up, displaying a sect master’s bearing. Her long hair was crowned, white robes flowing, standing ethereally in the wind with deep phoenix eyes and a clear, cold tone: “Since you’re joining my Talismonger Sect, you must follow our sect’s teachings and forget previous sect practices. Our Talismonger Sect uses talismans to cultivate spiritual power, so spiritual power is far more important than dantian energy. How to cultivate? Naturally, by eating well, sleeping well, and being happy, only then are people spirited! So the first rule of becoming my Talismonger Sect disciple is… eating full meals every time! Those who can’t eat should consciously leave the mountain gate!”

As soon as she finished speaking, bootlicking disciples below frantically applauded and cheered.

Calling them pure flatterers was unfair, because the tears in their eyes weren’t fake. Previously, in the four great sects, they truly couldn’t eat or sleep well. Any indulgence in appetite brought the master’s scolding and fellow disciples’ disdain.

Unexpectedly, this naturally unadorned Talismonger Sect encouraged disciples to eat full and sleep well—how could this not move a group of growing young male disciples to tears?

Momentarily, everyone looked at their new master with worship and love!

Their new master was truly beautiful with a kind heart!

Qin Lingxiao sat at the corner table, staring at several traitors who had left Lingyun Pavilion.

Hearing that these seats were arranged by Wei Jie, Qin Lingxiao suspected that this table full of awkwardness was deliberately arranged by Wei Jie.

Speaking of plain eating, no sect among the four great sects was more extreme than Lingyun Pavilion!

Lingyun Pavilion cultivated the sword sect path. Without escaping worldly qi, how could one lighten the body for sword-riding? So drinking dew and eating flowers were routine for Lingyun Pavilion disciples.

Several at this table had previously served Young Pavilion Master Qin, never showing greed normally.

Unexpectedly, today at the Talismonger Sect’s dining table, they all showed their true forms. Hearing Xiaoxiao promote eating, drinking, and playing to invigorate spirits, each got so excited they were teary-eyed, looking ready to clap their hands off.

Qin Lingxiao despised these turncoats leaving Lingyun Pavilion, so when they began eating meat with chopsticks, he said coldly: “The Talismonger Sect’s teachings are truly relaxing. However, Cui Xiaoxiao just performed ancestor worship… Her master reportedly died of old age. Tsk tsk, cultivating to die of old age—quite pleasant…”

At these words, the disciples at the table found their delicacies hard to swallow. Right—if the Talismonger Sect’s teachings were correct, why couldn’t the master ancestor ascend to immortality?

Could he have died of old age from overindulging in appetite?

Just as they hesitated, Yu Ling’er appeared in light, translucent gauze robes with several fox clan women, wearing seductive fox smiles to offer toasts.

Tonight, Xiaoxiao’s task was to monitor whether people at each table heartily ate fish and shrimp.

Yu Ling’er adaptively remembered seeing singing girls and dancers circling wine tables in Luoyi City taverns, feeling that such monitoring seemed natural.

So she led several clan women with charming smiles and white wrists holding wine, circling each table while encouraging drinking and stuffing fish meat into those eating little…

Those disciples frightened by Qin Lingxiao, persuaded by these seductive fox women, completely forgot about ascending to immortality and unconsciously began eating heartily again.

When Xiaoxiao originally instructed Yu Ling’er, she only meant for her to watch who didn’t use chopsticks. She hadn’t expected this little fox to release her nature so thoroughly, completing the task so… excellently!

But watching disciples below eating heartily and toasting while fox spirits fluttered about like flower butterflies, Xiaoxiao felt momentarily dazed, feeling her sect increasingly resembled the Hehuan Sect…

Tang Youshu’s expression wasn’t good. Feeling restless watching Yu Ling’er smile at those men, he silently drank alone and accidentally picked up several pieces of fish meat with chopsticks.

Seeing this, Xiaoxiao quickly stopped him. Last time he merely absorbed yin lice blood and suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea.

With Young Master Tang’s foundation, he couldn’t handle these yin objects. Seeing Xiaoxiao’s prevention, Tang Youshu stopped eating, but soon he was clutching his stomach and rushing to the toilet.

This feast wasn’t to reward new disciples—the point wasn’t the wine but whether stomachs hurt afterward!

After that day’s banquet ended, Lingshan’s building toilets became hot commodities!

Disciples holding toilet paper and shivering while queuing formed lines! Some couldn’t endure and covered their stomachs while letting out continuous loud farts as they dove into the forest.

But soon the sect master’s new rule came down: As Talismonger Sect disciples, they must protect the flowers and plants here, so even if they soiled their pants, they absolutely couldn’t randomly enter the forest. Anyone discovered would be expelled from the mountain gate!

Additionally, she gave Young Pavilion Master Qin the most important task—Qin Lingxiao looked with an iron-blue face at the paper and pen Xiaoxiao handed him, listening to her words and asking in a cracked voice from anger: “Why must I enter the toilet to accompany them in diarrhea?”

Xiaoxiao blinked: “Demon Pearls are most cunning. What if it makes its host also pretend to have diarrhea to get through? Naturally, we need someone careful to investigate whether they’re truly suffering from yin cold! Otherwise, why are you staying—like a master eating and drinking at our Talismonger Sect while waiting for me to report to you? I’m female and can’t enter men’s toilets—only you can do this. Here, I’ve given you paper and pen—don’t forget to write down their names!”

Qin Lingxiao was momentarily speechless at her words, but having already promised to stay and help Xiaoxiao, refusing now would earn this woman’s disdain again.

So the immortal-like, otherworldly elegant Young Pavilion Master could only gloomily hold paper and pen, cover his nose, and enter the toilet, then stare at everyone entering like a pervert…

That night, the new disciples all looked sallow, suffering until very late before settling down.

Xiaoxiao took the roster from the dazed, somewhat swaying Young Pavilion Master who had vomited, carefully checking it over. She discovered all the new disciples who came up the mountain seemed unable to withstand the River of Forgetfulness, fish and shrimp’s yin cold—all were affected.

Including Ling Zhishan, who nearly fainted from pain in the toilet and was helped out by Yu Ling’er.