I, a Demonic Nascent Soul Patriarch, Begin by Snatching a Cheat

After dodging Jiuyou’s strike of Nether Capital Ghostfire, the Golden Core cultivator was already drenched in cold sweat, his face pale as paper.

His hand holding the ancient relic trembled slightly—having felt the terror of that attack up close, recalling it now still sent chills down his spine.

But he dared not hesitate for even a moment. He once again activated the blue bronze mirror in his hand, madly pouring in his spiritual power.

A flash of light shimmered across the mirror’s surface, and his figure vanished from the spot in an instant, transforming into a streak of blue light, dragging a long tail behind him as he fled desperately into the distance.

”Heh, interesting.”

Jiuyou’s gaze interwove with killing intent and burning fervor, his eyes locked tightly onto the retreating streak of light as he let out a cold snort.

”He’s running even half a step faster than that Nascent Soul cultivator earlier. This Grand Ancestor is becoming more and more interested in the ancient relic in your hands.”

His voice was filled with mockery, as if he were playing a game of cat and mouse.

”Canfeng, go and gather the Tranquility Herbs for me. This old man wants to see just how fast he can run. Hahaha—”

Before his words had even faded, Jiuyou’s figure had already vanished from the spot.

Canfeng hurriedly bowed with clasped hands, acknowledging the order, then turned and strode quickly toward the five Tranquility Herbs.

Jiuyou’s speed was terrifyingly fast. In just a few leaps and bounds, he had already caught up behind the streak of blue light and seemed on the verge of overtaking him.

Zhang, the cultivator with the surname Zhang, felt the increasingly close, overwhelming aura behind him. He glanced back and was instantly terrified out of his wits.

He gritted his teeth hard and forced two drops of essence blood out from between his brows. One drop merged into the blue bronze mirror in his hand, and the other merged into the flying treasure beneath his feet. The moment the essence blood entered the treasures, both artifacts blazed with intense light simultaneously. His speed abruptly surged, once again widening the distance between him and Jiuyou.

”Damn it… That Wu bastard did this on purpose! If I can get back… If I can get back…!”

His heart seethed with gnashing hatred, but he dared not pause for even a moment.

”I’ll burn all my essence blood to survive if I have to—how can I die here?!”

”Hahaha, your bark is impressive, but unfortunately, your strength falls a bit short.”

Jiuyou’s hoarse voice came from behind, unhurried, yet it sent a chill down Zhang’s spine, as if a sharp blade were pressed against his neck.

”This Grand Ancestor is curious to see just where you think you can run to.”

Zhang felt the overwhelming pressure radiating from behind and the spiritual power being frantically drained from within his body. Gradually, he began to feel exhausted and overwhelmed. He glanced back once more, a flicker of despair flashing in his eyes.

”Senior, you and I have no grievances. You can take the Tranquility Herbs! Isn’t there something we can discuss properly?”

”Heh, discuss properly?”

Jiuyou’s voice was low but carried an overwhelming arrogance.

”This old man is a dignified demonic path Grand Ancestor—do I need to ’discuss properly’ with an insignificant ant like you? Hahaha—”

”Ridiculous!”

Before his words had faded, Jiuyou seized the moment when the other’s body faltered slightly. A mass of green mist, like a whirlpool, directly intercepted him, cutting him off right in his path.

Zhang saw the green ghostly mist suddenly appear before him. His entire body shook violently as he exerted all his remaining strength to stop, trying to flee in another direction.

But just then, from all directions around him, clumps of ghostly cyan flames ignited out of thin air, carrying bone-piercing cold, encircling him completely.

His already meager spiritual power, under the erosion of this frigid energy, could no longer circulate properly. He could barely float in the air, and even moving had become a distant hope.

At this moment, his heart was already filled with utmost terror.

Drops of sweat slid one by one from the corners of his forehead, freezing into ice droplets midair, making faint ”crack” sounds.

”Run. Why don’t you keep running?”

In the blink of an eye, Jiuyou appeared above Zhang, looking down at him from on high, his gaze indifferent, as if staring at a dying ant.

Zhang gasped for breath, his voice trembling slightly as he barely managed to clasp his fists toward Jiuyou, his attitude exceedingly reverent.

At this moment, the calm and unyielding demeanor he had shown facing that Nascent Soul cultivator earlier was completely gone. His entire body trembled uncontrollably.

”Se-Senior… My master is the Grand Elder of the Ten Thousand Gods Sect within the Heaven and Earth Alliance, the Divine Light Superior—a Mid-Nascent Soul stage peak cultivator…”

”And you dare threaten this Grand Ancestor?”

Jiuyou’s glare intensified, killing intent brimming, not even letting the other finish speaking.

”If that Nascent Soul cultivator earlier were from your Heaven and Earth Alliance, he might have hesitated for the sake of his assets still in the alliance and wouldn’t have fallen out with you. But this old man has no such concerns!”

He let out a low shout and clenched his fist.

”Boom!”

The surrounding ghostly cyan flames instantly transformed into countless skulls, opening massive maws with flames flickering inside. From all directions, densely packed, they charged simultaneously at the Golden Core cultivator.

”No—!”

Zhang’s eyes bulged wide. The last shreds of spiritual power in his body circulated at full force. The blue bronze mirror in his hand was forcibly activated, radiating intense spiritual light.

”Senior… spare me…”

His final plea for mercy had barely left his lips before he was swallowed by wave after wave of cyan flames.

However, Jiuyou had still held back with this attack.

He hadn’t used Nether Capital Ghostfire, and he had deliberately avoided the position of the ancient relic in the other’s hand during the assault.

Once the flames dissipated, he raised his hand and summoned a giant spiritual hand that instantly seized the lonely bronze mirror ancient relic floating in the air, drawing it into his palm.

A flash of cyan light flickered in Jiuyou’s eyes as his Divine Sense probed into it, carefully examining it. After confirming that there were no lingering restrictions or tracking marks left behind, and that the artifact was intact, he nodded in satisfaction.

Under his Divine Sense’s exploration, the true nature of this ancient relic was completely laid bare. In just a few moments, he had seen through all its functions.

What surprised him slightly was that this bronze mirror was not a speed-type ancient relic but an extremely rare auxiliary-type artifact capable of temporarily enhancing spiritual power output.

Once activated, the user’s attack power, speed, defense—every aspect of their spiritual power’s potency—would increase by at least forty percent for a short time. The only drawback was that it consumed a massive amount of spiritual power, even essence blood, to maintain.

”Heavenly Light Mirror… a fine treasure…”

A flicker of intense desire flashed through Jiuyou’s eyes.

Although this artifact’s enhancement for a Nascent Soul cultivator wasn’t as significant as for a Golden Core cultivator, a forty percent boost in a life-or-death battle could still turn the tide. Such a rare and high-grade ancient relic was something he had only heard of before, never seen with his own eyes.

”It seems that old freak Divine Light had quite a bit of regard for these two Golden Core cultivators, to actually bestow such treasures upon them.”

Jiuyou mused inwardly, then let out a cold snort.

”What a pity that Nascent Soul cultivator fled too quickly. There’s no hiding this matter. Looks like I’ll have to be wary of that old freak Divine Light in the future, in case he seeks revenge.”

”Grand Ancestor—”

Just then, Canfeng’s voice rang out from a distance.

Moments later, he flew up to Jiuyou in high spirits, took out a Storage Pouch from his waist, and respectfully handed it over. Then he rubbed his hands together slowly, his face beaming with smiles.

”Hehe, your grandson has retrieved the Tranquility Herbs for you. They’re all packed in specially made jade boxes, sealed with spirit-suppressing talismans for preservation—not a single loss.”

Jiuyou took the Storage Pouch, gave it a brief sweep with his Divine Sense, saw that the five Tranquility Herbs were intact with abundant spiritual energy, and gave a slight nod.

”Mm, well done.”

”This is all your grandson’s duty!”

Canfeng bowed repeatedly, his face overflowing with joy.

Then, his eyes darted around, and he leaned in close, lowering his voice.

”Grand Ancestor, since there’s still nearly a year before the teleportation formation to the mountainside opens, why not let your grandson use this time to catch some low-level cultivators and plant soul restrictions on them? Then you can have them search for herbs all around for you. You just focus on cultivation. Leave this matter to your grandson—I’ve long since mastered the art of management.”

Jiuyou looked at Canfeng and nodded slightly, not speaking, which was as good as giving his tacit approval.

He had already had such intentions. Canfeng had managed Soul Wraith Island for him over the years, keeping everything in perfect order. He had witnessed it with his own eyes, so he naturally trusted this grand-disciple to handle the matter.

Seeing this, Canfeng’s heart surged with joy. He quickly bowed and retreated a few steps, turning around to set things in motion.

”Hold on.”

Jiuyou suddenly spoke.

Canfeng’s movements halted, and he immediately turned back, standing at attention with his hands at his sides.

”Don’t stir up too much trouble. If you run into a Nascent Soul cultivator, crush the communication jade slip immediately. This old man will come at once.”

”Yes! Rest assured, Grand Ancestor—your grandson knows what he’s doing!”

Canfeng’s spirits lifted, and he bowed to accept the order, his eyes filled with eager anticipation.