Chapter 4

Chapter 4: How Should I Repay the Immortal Lord?

“Get up!”

Chen Ansheng seemed calm on the surface, but his heart was racing.

Whoa!

One glance was all it took to surprise him.

Looking at it from different angles revealed a grand scene.

Moreover, with the little demoness appearing weak and pitiful, it added an extra layer of charm that Chen Ansheng found hard to resist.

“I don’t think you dare to disturb me intentionally, since your cultivation is not easy. I’ll grant you a bit of celestial fate; would you be willing to follow me and be my mount?”

Chen Ansheng had heard this line from Li Zhengyang.

At that time, Li Zhengyang used this very phrase to subdue a den of rabbit demons, leaving Chen Ansheng envious.

He hadn’t expected that he would encounter the same situation right after arriving in the mortal realm.

The snake demon looked timid and carefully stared at Chen Ansheng, but didn’t dare to respond.

“What’s wrong? You don’t want to? Then get lost!”

Chen Ansheng pretended to roar in anger.

“The little demon dares not.”

The snake demon trembled in fear and hurriedly knelt down.

“However… may I ask how high your cultivation is, Immortal Lord?”

Chen Ansheng was taken aback. So this demoness was concerned that he might not have enough cultivation to accept her as a mount?

Just as he was about to answer, he suddenly recalled Li Zhengyang’s advice: conceal a bit and it would surely work to his advantage.

Thus, he said, “You little demon, I am at the pinnacle of the Mahayana stage. Do you think I am not qualified to take a mere tribulation stage little demon as my mount?”

The cultivation realms in the immortal world are divided into: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Void Refinement, Nascent Soul, God Transformation, Tribulation, Integration, Mahayana, Earth Immortal (Dispersed Immortal), and Celestial, a total of ten major realms.

“So you are a Mahayana stage cultivator! I thought you were an Earth Immortal! You must have some celestial artifacts or treasures!” the snake demon murmured inwardly.

Then, with a submissive demeanor, the snake demon said, “The little demon would never dare to disdain the Immortal Lord; it is just that I do not wish to bring trouble to you, hence my hesitation in agreeing.”

“Oh?” Chen Ansheng raised an eyebrow and said, “Do tell, what trouble might I encounter if I take you in?”

The snake demon looked up, tears in her eyes, and said pitifully, “Reporting to the Immortal Lord, I was just a little green snake at the foot of the Brahma Sound Sect. I accidentally consumed a spiritual fruit and gained intelligence, transforming into a demon. I thought the spiritual fruit was a divine opportunity, but the monks of Brahma Sound Sect insist that I stole their sacred fruit, saying that my transformation would only bring disaster to the world. They have been hunting me everywhere. If caught, I would surely suffer a fate worse than death, being flayed and drained of blood… wuwu.”

“Are you saying you fear that the monks from Brahma Sound Sect would kill me too?” Chen Ansheng said calmly.

“Exactly.” The snake demon nodded in fear and said, “The kindness of the Immortal Lord in helping me through the tribulation is a great grace; I absolutely do not dare to bring misfortune upon you.”

Chen Ansheng pondered for a moment.

After a while, he spoke, “You are right; I have no need to stir up trouble.”

The snake demon felt stiff. Why was this person not following the usual script?

Knowing her pitiful background, shouldn’t he be stepping up to uphold justice for her?

When did the cultivation world’s atmosphere get so twisted?

For a moment, the snake demon stood in place, unsure of what to do.

After a brief pause, Chen Ansheng spoke again, “Regardless, I have saved your life. You may leave after you repay me.”

The snake demon looked confused: “???”

Humans truly cannot be trusted; they often chant about giving without expecting anything in return, but deep down, they probably can’t wait to squeeze every last drop out of you.

Ha, despicable!

“May I know, Immortal Lord, how does the little demon repay you?”

The snake demon lowered her head shyly, her voice as low as a mosquito’s buzz.

The more she acted like this, the more eager Chen Ansheng felt.

His style in this moment was mimicking Li Zhengyang’s tactics for subduing demons, who never hesitated in his pursuits.

If he was going to do it, he should go all the way, so Chen Ansheng said, “In my homeland, saving a life is typically repaid with one’s body.”

Pah!

Shameless!

What a hypocritical wretch.

The snake demon cursed inwardly.

“When the Immortal Lord speaks of life-saving grace being repaid with one’s body, what if I were a man? How would the Immortal Lord respond?”

Chen Ansheng: “???”

What do you want me to do about it, ya brat!

He quickly spread out his spiritual sense and scrutinized the snake demon inside and out.

Fortunately, she was indeed not a male demon.

This little demoness was really playful, giving him a scare.

“A demon is a demon; even if transformed, they lack human sentiments. I do not wish to say more to you. Leave behind any artifacts or elixirs, and you may go.”

The demoness avoided the topic, clearly unwilling to grant his wishes. As for using force or killing her? In a situation with such moral ambiguity, Chen Ansheng would absolutely not do it.

In that case, he should settle for some benefits.

“Give in! How did it turn into robbery again?”

The snake demon rolled her eyes; were great beings really that hard to comprehend?

This time, the snake demon truly wanted to cry.

She stood up and wept, “Immortal Lord, look, I possess nothing, no elixirs or treasures at all.”

Chen Ansheng took a look, then looked again, then looked a third time.

Indeed, she had nothing.

Seeing Chen Ansheng’s indifferent expression and his silence, the snake demon began to panic. This person was unpredictable; what if he went mad and killed her with a single slap?

It felt like she had hit a wall this time.

Perhaps… I should just submit to him and preserve my life before reconsidering?

“Um… Immortal Lord, it is all because of the little demon’s ignorance that has angered you. As long as the Immortal Lord forgives me, whatever you wish for, I will comply.”

“Well then, you are indeed perceptive.”

Chen Ansheng felt excited inside; the demoness had finally come to her senses.

“I wish to take you as my mount, which is a great opportunity. You must cherish it.”

“The little demon understands; may I ask how the Immortal Lord prefers to ride?”

Chen Ansheng was flabbergasted. Good gracious, just a moment ago she was dodging, and now it seemed that was all an act.

Li Da Ge didn’t mislead me; all demonesses in the mortal realm are the same, they prefer firmness over softness.

“Well…”

In that moment, Chen Ansheng was actually too shy to respond. Li Da Ge hadn’t covered this part, he had skipped it directly…

“Giggling, Immortal Lord seems to be shy… please don’t misunderstand, the question I asked is what kind of form you prefer, should I remain as a demon or take on human form?” the snake demon chuckled, but in her heart, she was not as relaxed as she appeared.

The person before her, dressed in tattered clothes with a face covered in dirt, didn’t look like a mighty cultivator, yet he could extinguish calamities. Where could she argue with that?

Moreover, this person’s mannerisms were strange and his attitude ever-changing; one shouldn’t be fooled by his bashful youthful appearance—one misstep might lead to disaster.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ansheng could not help but feel his face flush.

So it was about form, not position!

Why didn’t she say so earlier?

“This…this… it depends on the situation and time, we can talk about it later.”

Chen Ansheng awkwardly deflected.

“Amitabha, demon, today I shall see where you can escape!”

Just then, on the other side of the mountain, someone loudly declared a Buddhist chant.

Immediately, a fragrant aroma wafted through the air.