The palace on Demon Mountain had not yet been established. Seeing that the waiter knew quite a bit, Liu Shuang handed him another spirit stone.

“I do have such intentions. Could Brother Waiter tell me more details about this Mountain Lord?”

Seeing Liu Shuang’s generosity, the clever waiter happily accepted the spirit stone, racking his brain for information about this Mountain Lord.

“To be honest with Miss, I don’t know much. If it were the previous Mountain Lord, I could talk with you for hours. The former Mountain Lord was quite powerful in his region. He reportedly had some Bifang descendant bloodline. By the time it reached the previous Mountain Lord’s generation, although not much bloodline power remained, it was still enough to dominate the area. The previous Mountain Lord favored beauty, indiscriminate of gender, and kept a large group of slaves on Demon Mountain. He also practiced evil arts, sending his subordinates to capture demons everywhere, absorbing their spiritual power to strengthen himself.”

Liu Shuang almost thought she had misheard: “Capture demons? Absorbing power from his kind, rather than capturing wandering immortals?”

In the mortal realm, some Daoists cultivated by capturing demons. They used demon bodies to inlay their magical tools and to concoct elixirs. Given such irreconcilable opposition, Liu Shuang had thought demons would retaliate against immortals.

The waiter said, “You should know this. If they touched mortals or wandering immortals, even Daoists from another mountain, it would alert those above.”

He pointed to the sky, referring to the immortal clans.

“Despite the former Mountain Lord’s strength, he was nothing before the immortal clans,” the waiter said. “Of course, absorbing power from other demons was safer. Because of this, the previous Mountain Lord ran rampant for hundreds of years, growing increasingly powerful, with none able to stop him. Until a few days ago, someone broke into Demon Mountain, killed the former Mountain Lord, hung his corpse on Demon Mountain, and became the new Mountain Lord.”

Liu Shuang looked over.

The waiter lowered his voice: “They say this Mountain Lord’s way of handling affairs is vastly different from his predecessor. His cultivation is profound, with no one knowing his true form. He released all those demon slaves, restoring their freedom. It’s said his temperament is cold and violent, yet he distinguishes clearly between rewards and punishments. Seeing the change in leadership, surrounding demons have been trying to seek refuge with him.”

“I see. Thank you.”

As Liu Shuang walked a few steps away, the waiter thought of the generous spirit stones she had given him and hesitantly chased after her, calling out: “Miss, the new Mountain Lord has just arrived, and no one can be certain of his temperament. He has sheltered many beautiful female demons these days, so he probably also favors beauty. But a few days ago, I heard a female demon had offended him and was executed. If you don’t want to wade into troubled waters, you could try offering a treasure. If he values it, he might also shelter you.”

Liu Shuang smiled: “I understand.”

Liu Shuang didn’t know much about Demon Mountain from seven hundred years ago. She didn’t rashly enter but patiently observed at the foot of the mountain for several days.

Indeed, as the teahouse waiter had said, many demons had been heading to Demon Mountain recently.

Most were beautiful female demons and small demon tribes with nowhere else to go.

In front of Demon Mountain, there were even several tables set up to register those entering the mountain.

Behind them was a barrier. Liu Shuang had tested this barrier and found it impossible to enter silently without alerting anyone. It seemed she would have to blend in.

Without dealing with this Mountain Lord, she could pass through Demon Mountain and head straight for the Weak Waters.

Liu Shuang turned her gaze to the registration tables, where three male demons stood. Using her immortal arts to look, she found their spiritual power was not high. They held brushes, writing furiously, registering one person after another.

When it was Liu Shuang’s turn, all three male demons were stunned.

At this time, Liu Shuang had covered her face with a light veil, not hiding the blue feather mark on her forehead. Her eyes were like spring waters; even without revealing her full appearance, one could vaguely glimpse the beauty beneath the veil.

“What’s your name, and what kind of demon are you?”

Fox demon aura was the easiest to imitate. Liu Shuang mimicked the scent of the fox demon before her and said, “You You, fox demon.”

One of the men came to his senses and was about to write it down when a fair hand reached over and pressed down on his: “Wait.”

Liu Shuang looked over. The newcomer was a female demon with a pure appearance, though her spiritual power wasn’t strong. Liu Shuang could tell at a glance that her true form was a butterfly.

The butterfly spirit sneered and fanned her nose with her hand: “I wondered who had such a strong musk. So it’s another fox. Let me tell you honestly, the Mountain Lord doesn’t like your kind’s seductive appearance. The skin of the last fox that was executed is now laid outside the Mountain Lord’s bedchamber. If you know what’s good for you, leave early. Perhaps you can still save your little life.”

Liu Shuang looked at her indifferently, her clear water-like eyes slightly upturned.

It didn’t matter; after all, she wasn’t here to offer herself. She just had to pass through here.

The butterfly spirit grew even more irritated, feeling that the “female demon” before her had an even stronger fox spirit aura. She thrust out her chest, declaring her dominance: “You should abandon this idea early. The Mountain Lord likes those like me, doting on me greatly. These days, he favors me every night.”

Liu Shuang’s gaze swept over her chest, which was indeed too eye-catching—not just large, but comparable to huge mountains, looking so heavy as to be almost cumbersome. Liu Shuang thought to herself that the Mountain Lord’s taste was quite heavy.

Could the butterfly spirit even fly with such a body?

Liu Shuang wasn’t here to cause trouble; she just wanted to blend in. She immediately flattered: “Of course, Miss’s appearance is first-rate, your figure exquisite. This humble demon can’t compare. I’m only here to offer a treasure, not daring to have any thoughts about the Mountain Lord.”

With that, she gestured for the butterfly spirit to look at the box in her hand.

The butterfly spirit suspiciously glanced at the box: “Are you truly not here to seduce the Mountain Lord?”

Liu Shuang nodded.

The three men nearby also said, “Miss Cong Xia, people are waiting behind.”

Cong Xia snorted, looking haughtily at the female demons in the long queue: “You’d better behave yourselves and not harbor inappropriate thoughts.”

The female demons behind watched the Mountain Lord’s “favored concubine” show off, each with their thoughts.

After registering, Liu Shuang finally entered Demon Mountain. She stood with another batch of demons, waiting for the demon general to lead the way.

Cong Xia turned back to look at her, still uneasy. She beckoned a small demon and whispered a few words in its ear.

The small demon hesitated: “This… this doesn’t seem appropriate.”

“You dare not listen to me?”

The small demon knew that the Mountain Lord treated her decently, so he had to agree: “Of course I wouldn’t dare. This small demon will listen to everything Miss Cong Xia says.”

Liu Shuang followed the group behind the demon general, surprised by the strict order of entry into the demon palace.

Because Demon Mountain needed reconstruction and the Mountain Lord had just taken over, she had thought the Mountain Lord wouldn’t be so meticulous. Soon, someone came to ask what skills they had and how they could contribute to Demon Mountain.

Liu Shuang copied others’ manner, preparing her answers.

Next, someone brought a demon power stone to test everyone’s demonic power.

Liu Shuang: “…” She had never imagined this turn of events. Her true form was immortal; testing for demon power would likely be her undoing.

Standing in a room full of people, Liu Shuang mentally calculated the possibility of knocking everyone down and then running to the Weak Waters.

With her current cultivation, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Her wrist twisted under her sleeve, just about to act, when a demon general wearing white boots walked in.

When Liu Shuang saw him, she quickly clenched her outstretched fingers into a fist.

The man’s familiar face and cold expression belonged to none other than Fu Hang!

Fu Hang from seven hundred years ago was noticeably more youthful than later. Dressed in white, with faint ligature marks on his neck, his cold gaze swept past, appearing extremely aloof.

Compared to Su Lun, Liu Shuang didn’t know much about Lord Fu Hang.

She didn’t know this lord’s background, only that he was like a sharp, emotionless blade in the Demon Lord’s hand.

Fu Hang was always immersed in the battlefield, his mental fortitude strong, and he rarely spoke to her in her previous life. But among ghost cultivators and demon soldiers, his reputation was far more resounding than Lord Su Lun’s.

Because of his strength.

Before Fu Hang’s gaze fell on Liu Shuang, she had already carefully concealed the remaining immortal energy in her palm.

Fu Hang sniffed. Although he didn’t sense anything unusual, his keen perception made him coldly say: “Strict check.”

This was bad.

Liu Shuang wasn’t sure if she could defeat Fu Hang from seven hundred years ago, but even if she could, it wouldn’t be quiet within a day. If she alerted the Mountain Lord, it would be disastrous.

Now, the demon power stone was right in front of Liu Shuang.

The demon general holding the stone frowned impatiently: “Raise your hand.”

Liu Shuang had no choice but to withdraw all immortal power, making herself seem like a mortal, and placed her hand on the demon power stone.

The transparent demon power stone showed no change.

She was grateful that she had been diligently cultivating. Although she couldn’t pass off immortal power as demon power, at least her identity wouldn’t be revealed for the time being.

Looking at the demon power stone, Fu Hang expressionlessly said: “Drive her out. She is not allowed to enter again. Demon Mountain doesn’t keep those without use.”

Liu Shuang had to speak up: “My cultivation method is not shown here.”

Fu Hang looked at her coldly, as if waiting to hear what trick she would come up with.

Liu Shuang blinked: “My lord, a fox tribe’s spiritual power is not for crude fighting.”

Fu Hang frowned with disgust, understanding her meaning, but still said: “Drive her out.”

The demon general who had been selecting people stared at Liu Shuang and said, “Wait, Fu Hang, you don’t understand romance. The Mountain Lord might not be the same. I think this little fox is not bad; perhaps she can please the Mountain Lord. Just because he didn’t like the previous ones doesn’t mean he won’t like her.”

This demon general was so helpful! Liu Shuang nodded repeatedly.

The demon general originally had some status on the mountain, but since the new Mountain Lord’s arrival, he had consistently been one step below Fu Hang. Always wanting to please the Mountain Lord, he often had designs involving beautiful women, and immediately decided to keep Liu Shuang.

Since she was to serve with her beauty, having magical power or not was unimportant.

Although Fu Hang’s expression was gloomy, he didn’t contradict again, as he truly couldn’t fully understand the Mountain Lord’s intentions yet.

Liu Shuang was brought back by the demon general, who said, “Remove your veil.”

Liu Shuang glanced at him, then removed her veil. The demon general’s eyes revealed his amazement: “You… are excellent. The Mountain Lord surely won’t refuse you.”

Liu Shuang smiled: “Then I thank the general for the introduction.”

The demon general regretfully swallowed. Such a beautiful woman—he had never seen the like even after following the previous Mountain Lord for hundreds of years. With the former Mountain Lord, he might have gotten a share, but the current Mountain Lord had an unpredictable temperament, a complete cultivation fanatic, decisive and cold, not seeming like someone who would share women with others.

At this time, Demon Mountain wasn’t as prosperous as it would later become with its sprawling palaces, though it showed vague outlines of its future form.

In the demon general’s room, there were already three beautiful women. The general gestured for Liu Shuang to enter and instructed: “Tonight I will present you all to the Mountain Lord. Whether you can please him is up to your abilities. If you cannot stay… hmph, you know the consequences.”

The women responded in unison.

The demon general walked out the door to chat with someone.

Liu Shuang’s gaze swept across the faces of the three women. Demons truly didn’t lack for beauty, and the general’s eye was indeed good. All three women were attractive, with very impressive figures.

Unfortunately, if the Mountain Lord preferred the exaggerated style of the butterfly spirit, none of these three would match.

The demon general remained guarding outside the door. Liu Shuang calculated how to quietly reach the Weak Waters.

Night was falling, and she couldn’t possibly wait until the demon general presented her to the Mountain Lord. This was a relatively good opportunity, so, facing the hostile, vigilant gazes of the three women, she knocked them unconscious.

When she stepped out the door, the demon general had also collapsed at the doorway.

Fortunately, not everyone was at the abnormal level of Bi Xun and Fu Hang; these people were no match for her.

She moved lightly, passing through the scenery of Demon Mountain, heading toward the Weak Waters from her memory.

With memories from her previous life, she very smoothly found the direction of the Weak Waters.

But just as she was about to cross over, a barrier silently rose before her.

This Mountain Lord was so ruthless! There was a barrier behind Demon Mountain as well! She narrowed her eyes and saw that the barrier was connected to countless soul jade bells!

These soul jade imprisoned some scattered souls. If the barrier were broken, the bells would all ring, and the sound would not cease until the souls dispersed. While not strong in restriction, they were first-rate in warning capability. Perhaps at the moment of breaking, the entire demon mountain would be filled with bell sounds. At that time, would the Mountain Lord arrive before she reached the Weak Waters?

These things made Liu Shuang tread carefully. She couldn’t help cursing softly; these things seemed specifically designed to prevent people from going to the Weak Waters.

Liu Shuang was very troubled. Even if she reached the Weak Waters, she couldn’t rashly plunge in. In the legendary Weak Waters, if she dared to jump directly, her immortal body would likely dissolve without even bones remaining. If she didn’t jump but lingered at the Weak Waters’ edge, the Mountain Lord could still catch up.

Going back didn’t seem feasible either. She had knocked out the demon general, who, upon waking, would realize something was wrong with her. Would he report to the Mountain Lord? Would the Mountain Lord send people to search for her?

Caught between advancing and retreating, what should she do now? Should she temporarily hide in Demon Mountain, waiting for an opportunity, or directly face this Mountain Lord with his heavy tastes?