Chapter 24: She and the Evil Cultivators Are Mortal Enemies

"Why would I be worried about you? Don't be conceited. This concerns the lives of the common people; if you cannot handle it, do not try to act the hero." Fu Heng frowned and said in a deep voice.

In his view, this talisman formation was far too bizarre; even he felt a sense of trepidation. No matter how incompetent the Divine Prayer Bureau might be, they still had Grand Masters presiding over them. Such matters were within their jurisdiction, and there was no need to place such a heavy burden on a fragile woman.

Chu Li curled her lips in silence. After all that, the man still did not trust her and harbored prejudices against civilian female occultists. He had already called those people in the Divine Prayer Bureau incompetent fools; didn't that mean he thought she was even worse than a fool?

Thinking of this, the lingering trace of guilt Chu Li felt for having absorbed his Yang energy vanished completely.

"Since Your Highness does not believe in me, please step aside. By the time you fetch someone from the Divine Prayer Bureau, Luohe Town will have already been slaughtered. A layman should not meddle in the affairs of us occultists. Your Highness should know that every trade has its secrets; you have no idea how terrifying this formation truly is."

Chu Li’s words were utterly devoid of deference, and Fu Heng’s expression darkened instantly. This woman was truly bold, daring to mock him for being a layman meddling in professional affairs and calling his actions superfluous.

If that was the case, then let them see. "Fine. I am a layman, and I do not understand. Then, Miss Chu, you may handle it yourself."

He had actually been concerned for her safety, thinking that she was a frail woman and this formation was so eerie that she might be in danger.

Fu Heng’s appearance clearly betrayed his irritation; he actually took several steps back and stood to the side, assuming the posture of a spectator.

Chu Li ignored him and turned her attention to destroying the Blood Fiend Formation. She did not take such a low-level formation seriously; if she couldn't even handle this, she would hardly deserve her reputation as the number one occultist of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

In the next instant, Chu Li drew talismans in the air once more. This time, she drew three in succession, striking each one into the formation. With every golden talisman that struck, the bloody glow within the formation dimmed.

As the final talisman surged into the Blood Fiend Formation, a violent gale suddenly arose, and a dark shadow lunged out from the front, charging straight at Chu Li.

Fu Heng had been watching Chu Li intently; every movement of her slender back had filled him with shock. But at that moment, a massive danger suddenly struck, and Fu Heng immediately drew his sword to block her. The moment he saw the dark shadow clearly, his pupils constricted. Even someone as experienced as him was taken aback.

Chu Li cast the final golden talisman, completely dismantling the Blood Fiend Formation. At the same time, Fu Heng acted decisively, swinging his sword at the assailant.

After a chilling, tearing sound, the black shadow’s neck was instantly severed by Fu Heng. A head was tossed into the air, landing heavily on the ground, rolling twice before coming to a stop in the mud three meters away.

Fu Heng looked sharply at the headless corpse before him. Before he could even ask a question, Chu Li leaped from behind him to the front, snatching the longsword from his hand and saying, "Your Highness, let me borrow your sword!"

With the sword in hand, Chu Li quickly pulled out a Purification Talisman and tossed it into the air. She danced the sword before her and thrust it through the talisman. The next instant, ghost-blue talisman fire ignited, coating the length of the blade. Chu Li flicked the sword, skewering the head on the ground.

*Puchi—*

From the blade, the talisman fire surged violently, rushing straight into the head.

When the dust settled, the standing headless corpse turned into a pool of bloody water, while foul, black blood began to ooze from the head. The pungent, nauseating stench made Fu Heng frown.

"Your Highness, this sword of yours is truly excellent. Which master craftsman forged it?"

She had been curious about this sword of Fu Heng’s for a long time, but because the blade was so sharp, Fu Heng had never allowed her to touch it. It was only because her movements had been quick just now that she was able to handle it, and it proved to be a perfect match for her talismans.

Fu Heng stared at Chu Li with deep, unblinking eyes. His gaze wandered from the puddle of blood on the ground to the shocking head, and finally to his own sharp sword. He walked over to Chu Li with a look of sudden distaste and reached out to reclaim his blade.

"My sword is too sharp; it is not suitable for a woman. If Miss Chu likes fine weapons, I can help you find another one."

Fu Heng was already using a handkerchief to wipe the blade, which was stained with foul black blood.

Upon hearing this, Chu Li felt quite tempted. She knew that if Fu Heng said this, he would certainly be able to obtain a fine weapon, and she happened to need one. Back when she was in the Occult Sect, she had traveled everywhere searching for a great bladesmith to forge a sword that would serve as her magical instrument, hoping it would allow her to use talismans with twice the effect for half the effort, but she had never succeeded.

If Fu Heng was willing to help her forge an exclusive blade, that would be excellent.

"Speak, what are your conditions?" Before Fu Heng could finish, Chu Li continued, "Anything except helping you find that person. If I can do it, then I shall trouble Your Highness to forge the sword for me."

She had almost forgotten; this fellow was so eager to get close to her just to get her birth date so she would help him find himself. She dared not agree to that.

The words already on the tip of Fu Heng’s tongue were forced back by Chu Li. After a moment of silence, Fu Heng frowned and said, "I have not yet decided. However, the smith who forged this sword for me is traveling abroad and cannot be found for the time being. The deal stands; we can discuss it later."

Chu Li was slightly disappointed, but she did not press him. Magical artifacts were hard to come by, and legendary weapons even more so. She had already waited for a lifetime; a little more time wouldn't matter.

After wiping the sword clean, Fu Heng carefully examined the head, his deep eyes filled with bewilderment. "Why can a dead person still move?" This was clearly a corpse, reeking of decay, yet it had been "alive" just moments ago, even attempting to attack them.

Chu Li crouched down, felt around the back of the head, and pulled out a bloody talisman, waving it before Fu Heng.

"It was this thing controlling it. Even a highly decomposed corpse, or even a pile of dry bones, will turn into a puppet for the caster once this talisman is applied, becoming a walking corpse."

Fu Heng was shocked. "There is such a talisman? Can you draw it?"

Chu Li nodded and replied casually, "It is merely a Puppet Talisman; naturally, I can draw it. It is not difficult. However, I would never use such a talisman on a corpse. Turning people into corpse-demons is a despicable act; generally, only evil cultivators would do such a thing."

"Evil cultivators?"

Chu Li flicked her fingers, burning the Puppet Talisman to ashes, her calm expression hardening with a hint of sharpness.

"Evil cultivators are a bunch of wretches who use talismans for curses and rely on occult arts solely to commit evil. Because they ruin the reputation of occultists, those on the righteous path do not even consider them human. I never expected to see traces of evil cultivators in this tiny Luohe Town."

Chu Li was still unfamiliar with the occult world of this realm, but her hatred for evil cultivators would never change.

In her past life, she had fallen into the hands of a powerful evil-cultivator organization. When she was helping her sect restore a divine artifact, those beasts ambushed her, causing her restoration of the artifact to go awry. The artifact collapsed and exploded, killing her as well.

She and the evil cultivators were irreconcilable enemies!