Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Male Protagonist’s Scheming Little Plan

After some discussion, the group decided to make their way upstream to investigate the source of the river. To their surprise, the river was remarkably long, and they spent three days walking along its banks. Along the way, they encountered several groups of furtive demonic cultivators, but each was easily dispatched by the King of Demonic Flowers. By the time they finally glimpsed the boundless lake in the distance, their spirits were unexpectedly high, and their energy renewed.

This was, of course, thanks to the demonic flower’s influence.

Despite their improved moods, a complex array of emotions filled their hearts, the greatest of which was shame. After days of ease and contentment, their bodies had grown noticeably plumper, and it seemed as though they had nearly forgotten the purpose of their journey.

Half a day later, they reached their destination. Other cultivators from various sects had arrived even earlier and were now dispersed around the area, searching for something.

Based on their attire, Shen Fengling introduced them to the group: “Those three on the left are disciples from the Ancient Gate Sect, the one in the southeast is from the Hengyue Sect, and the two in the southwest are from the Birch Mountain Sect...”

Su Li was slightly surprised; she hadn’t expected all the major sects of the Southern Continent to be represented here.

She withdrew her gaze and looked out across the lake. The surface shimmered, dotted with small purple flowers that rose and fell with the gentle waves, eventually cast ashore by the wind, looking for all the world like clusters of downy violet pom-poms.

Leaping lightly from Shen Luo’s arms, Su Li batted at one such cluster with her paw and discovered that each purple flower had three sepals.

Tiger Spirit’s expression changed. “Those are seeds of the Demonic Poppy Tree...”

Su Li’s ears twitched.

Tiger Spirit explained, “It’s an ancient tree native to the Demon Realm. It takes a thousand years to grow, ten thousand to bloom. Its flowers are its seeds and are known as demon poppies. They are inherently poisonous, gradually corroding and damaging spiritual consciousness, driving those who consume them to madness and death. How odd,” it muttered, “how could a creature from the Demon Realm appear on this continent?”

In other words, it was from drinking water tainted with the toxic flowers that the beasts had become so irritable and violent. Even if they escaped slaughter at the hands of human cultivators, they would eventually die from the collapse of their spiritual sea.

Su Li’s heart ached. “Is there any way to save them?”

Tiger Spirit shook its head. “There is no cure.”

A heavy weight settled in Su Li’s chest. When she healed those maddened beasts, she could sense the profound agony they endured. Suddenly, a wave of intense, unfamiliar compassion swept over her, overwhelming in its sorrow.

“Sister Tuan, why are you crying?” Tiger Spirit asked in surprise.

Su Li started. Raising a paw to her damp eyes, she was shocked, her face growing grave. This didn’t feel like her own emotion—it was more like... the influence of that presence within her?

She immediately checked her beast core, but found nothing amiss. Still, a sense of unease lingered.

Tiger Spirit, seeing her expression, grew concerned. It was just about to ask when Su Li composed herself and said gravely, “This is serious. Go tell Luo about the Demonic Poppy Tree at once.”

So Tiger Spirit relayed the matter to Shen Luo.

Shen Luo’s brows knit together. Suddenly, he asked, “Do you know why the little furball can restore the beasts to normal?”

Tiger Spirit blurted out, “Because Sister Tuan is no ordinary beast.”

His tone was so matter-of-fact that Shen Luo grew suspicious. “Do you know something you’re not telling me?”

Tiger Spirit’s heart skipped a beat. His master was too sharp—he’d have to be more careful in the future. With a straight face, Tiger Spirit replied, “Well, to have tamed a majestic divine beast like me, she must be the most extraordinary creature under heaven!”

Shen Luo said nothing, his lips pressed into a thin line as he gazed at the white beast. No matter what she was, or where she came from, she would belong to him, in this life and every life to come.

The white beast, oblivious to this silent vow, suddenly turned, sensing an intense, fleeting gaze that instinctively made her wary.

Su Li scanned her surroundings but found nothing amiss. At last, she looked at the young man. He had grown taller, his frame fuller, his complexion fairer—already taking on the gentle, jade-like quality of youth.

She couldn’t help but stretch lazily, then leapt into his arms.

Shen Luo stroked her fur, the pressure just right. She lifted her chin in contentment, her little tail swaying.

A quiet smile played in the youth’s eyes; his mind was abuzz with schemes. He was an accomplished hunter, patient and cunning, luring this white beast into his snare. Once she grew accustomed to his presence, leaving would not be so easy.

Completely unaware, the little beast wagged her tail even more enthusiastically.

Soon, Shen Fengling and the others returned with news: beneath the lake lay a hidden underground palace, and the cultivators were searching for its entrance.

A bold guess formed in Su Li’s mind: could the Demonic Poppy Tree also be hidden below? Perhaps something had happened underground, causing the flowers to be swept up by the water.

Suddenly, a thunderous rumble shook the earth.

“We've found it! The entrance to the underground palace!” someone shouted.

The cultivators rushed toward the source of the commotion.

“Let’s go have a look as well,” Shen Fengling said.

Shen Luo tightened his hold on the beast in his arms and followed.

The entrance to the underground palace was a staircase plunging endlessly down. The moment they stepped inside, a chilling, clammy air washed over them, forcing everyone to circulate their spiritual energy for protection. Yet the cold seeped in relentlessly, like a fine drizzle, burrowing into their pores.

Cats notoriously fear the cold. Su Li curled up, burrowing deeper into the youth’s embrace.

Shen Luo tightened his arms around her, a cocoon of energy enveloping his hands. Gradually, the trembling of the small beast eased.

The deeper they descended, the darker it became. Shen Fengling produced a Nightshade Pearl, illuminating their path, but even so, the blackness ahead felt like a monstrous maw, ready to swallow them whole.

Peeking from the boy’s arms, Su Li saw that the walls on either side of the passage were covered in dense carvings—runes, perhaps, or Sanskrit?

She asked Tiger Spirit, “Second, can you tell what these say?”

Tiger Spirit replied solemnly, “They are exorcism spells. How interesting—there are even Buddhist scriptures here, like the Heart Sutra. See that phrase? ‘Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha.’”

“Scriptures?” Su Li was surprised.

“Reciting sutras to expel demons is Buddhist practice from the mortal realm,” Tiger Spirit said. “It’s common among mortals, but how did it find its way into the world of cultivation?” Fortunately, he was widely read, having devoured countless tales and stories.

Su Li fell into deep thought. What was the connection to the mortal world? How had the secret of Mount Qi become entangled with the realms of demons, cultivators, and mortals alike?

The underground passage seemed endless, and the longer they walked, the more uneasy they became.

Someone grumbled, “What is this place? Are we ever getting out? If there’s a beast lying in wait, we’ll be lost for sure—ah! Who hit me?”

No one answered.

After a few more muttered curses, he fell silent.

The oppressive quiet returned, broken only by heavy footsteps and breathing. The weight of the unknown pressed upon them.

No one knew how long they had been walking when, at last, a glimmer of light appeared ahead. The group quickened their pace.

The closer they came to the exit, the richer the spiritual energy grew, filling them with both surprise and unease. When they finally emerged from the passage, the view opened up.

Before them lay a wide, subterranean river. Across the water, a massive natural cavern gleamed, its walls studded with luminous stones that made it as bright as day.

Beneath the cavern sprawled a palace, and in front of its gates stood an ancient tree, snapped in half, its branches laden with vibrant purple blossoms.

“That’s the Demonic Poppy Tree?” Su Li exclaimed in astonishment.

The air was thick with the scent of flowers.

Su Li’s heart sank. Sure enough, not far away, some cultivators had already begun to fight.