SWNOVELXO Chapter 60: Cutting Off Two Ounces of Flesh
Chapter 60: Cutting Off Two Ounces of Flesh
“So that’s how it is.” Upon hearing this, Senior Sister Nie Qing let out a relieved breath, her calm returning.
If Ye Shu had truly defeated a Nascent Soul-stage cultivator with his Golden Core-stage strength, even she would have found it hard to accept.
However, Third Senior Sister Lan Caidie seemed unable to let it go. She leaned closer and asked with a smile, “Junior Brother Ye, what kind of treasure did Master give you? Tell us!”
Ye Shu saw the curiosity and jealousy in her eyes and knew she had ulterior motives.
She was probably trying to trick him into revealing the truth so she could rally the other disciples and complain to Master Luo Jiuyan about the unfairness. Or perhaps she just wanted to hear it and then ostracize him out of spite.
“Just one or two items, nothing more,” Ye Shu shook his head. He had only thrown out the excuse casually—there was no such overpowered treasure.
But if he really wanted one, Luo Jiuyan would probably give it to him.
“Oh, I see.” Lan Caidie’s disappointment was evident.
Senior Sister Nie Qing’s next words made it impossible for her to continue pestering him: “Junior Sister, if you want treasures so badly, didn’t Master promise that if you win against the disciples from other sects in the upcoming competition, you’ll receive one?”
Luo Jiuyan had promised that for every external sect disciple defeated by her own disciples, they would receive a spiritual treasure. Such generous rewards were something only a powerhouse like her could offer.
If disciples from other sects heard about this, they would be green with envy.
“I’m well aware of that,” Lan Caidie pouted, giving up on pressing Ye Shu further. A determined glint flashed in her eyes.
The fact that she had dared to enter the out-of-control Slaughter Tower showed that she was determined to make a name for herself in the upcoming competition.
Even Ye Shu couldn’t help but admire her for that.
With the Creation Art, he had nothing to fear, but the two Senior Sisters had entered the tower to investigate despite the risks. This alone made them far more impressive than the other Senior Sisters.
“Let’s keep going!” As the number of ordinary vengeful spirits around them continued to grow, the three of them stopped talking and sprang into action.
Without the intelligent hulking ghost cultivator from before, these ordinary spirits were easily dealt with.
After what felt like an eternity of bloody combat, they finally cleared the floor of vengeful spirits. The three of them gathered together and let out a long sigh of relief.
“I feel like I’m about to break through!” Nie Qing, who had been tense the entire time, suddenly spoke up.
“Late Nascent Soul stage?” The other two were shocked.
Nie Qing nodded. “Yes.”
She couldn’t suppress the smile on her face. Breaking through to a higher stage, even if it was just a minor one, was a significant achievement. The higher one’s cultivation, the harder it was to advance. A small breakthrough could mean a massive increase in strength, and anyone would be thrilled.
“Congratulations, Senior Sister!”
The two of them clasped their hands and congratulated her. Nie Qing’s breakthrough was excellent news, both for their current situation and for the upcoming competition against external sect disciples.
However, just as Nie Qing was about to seize the moment and break through, Ye Shu suddenly called out, “Wait! Senior Sister!”
“What is it?” Nie Qing asked, puzzled.
Ye Shu looked around and frowned, shaking his head. “I keep feeling like she hasn’t left—her presence just sharpened again.”
“Who? Are you talking about the ghost you mentioned on the second floor?” Lan Caidie couldn’t help but laugh at his words.
Ignoring her mockery, Ye Shu nodded seriously. “Yes, it’s her. She hasn’t left. I can still sense her presence!”
Lan Caidie burst into laughter. “Haha, Junior Brother Ye, I told you you’re being paranoid. The Slaughter Tower is filled with vengeful spirits and evil energy. It’s normal for your mind to be affected, but if you keep doubting everything like this, it’s just ridiculous.”
She pointed at the empty surroundings. “Take a good look around. Where’s the ghost?”
Ye Shu scanned the area again but still found nothing. However, the lingering presence made him uneasy.
“How about we leave, and you can break through outside, Senior Sister?” Ye Shu suggested, just to be safe.
The moment of breakthrough was when a cultivator was at their most vulnerable. Senior Sister Nie Qing was the strongest among the three, and if that ghostly presence decided to strike, things could get messy.
To be cautious, it would be better to leave the Slaughter Tower and break through outside, under Master Luo Jiuyan’s supervision, where the ghost wouldn’t dare to cause trouble.
But even Nie Qing found this suggestion odd. “Junior Brother Ye, are you being cautious or just overly paranoid? Earlier, you charged ahead without a care, and now you’re imagining ghosts everywhere. If there really is such a thing, why hasn’t she shown herself?”
“If she comes, we’ll kill her!”
She said angrily.
Her temper had always been fiery, though she had been keeping it in check recently. However, she couldn’t stand indecisiveness.
Breaking through a minor stage shouldn’t be treated like ascending to immortality.
“Sigh.” Ye Shu sighed, unsure how to argue.
There was no evidence to prove the ghost’s existence.
But his intuition told him there was danger.
In any case, bolstered by their recent victory, Nie Qing couldn’t wait longer. She sat down cross-legged and began preparing for her breakthrough.
Ye Shu and Lan Caidie had no choice but to stand guard on either side of her.
As they watched Nie Qing, Lan Caidie couldn’t help but feel envious. “Senior Sister is truly amazing, reaching the late Nascent Soul stage. She’ll definitely shine in the upcoming competition and might even take first place!”
Ye Shu hummed in agreement but didn’t respond. He was still scanning the surroundings, trying to spot anything unusual.
“By the way, was that little ‘confession’ of yours back then serious or not?” Lan Caidie narrowed her eyes, a teasing smile on her face.
Ye Shu’s expression stiffened.
She was referring to the time he had probed her intentions.
He had also tested Lan Caidie at one point.
Now that she brought it up, Ye Shu could only smile awkwardly. “Senior Sister Lan, I’ve already said it was due to a heart demon. I wasn’t in my right mind, so that incident doesn’t count.”
“Bull!”
Lan Caidie found his excuse laughable. She covered her mouth and giggled. “You might have dodged the other Senior Sisters, but do you really think you can slip that past me?”
“Senior Sister Lan, I don’t know what you mean,” Ye Shu felt uneasy, as if she could see right through him.
“Don’t know? Hehe.”
Lan Caidie sneered, then reached out and grabbed her own chest.
She squeezed and kneaded without restraint, each movement exuding a seductive charm.
Ye Shu felt his body grow sticky and hot.
“I think you know exactly what I mean!”
She laughed softly. “I know what’s going on in the minds of men like you. You just want to do something with us, don’t you? Using a heart demon as an excuse is ridiculous! If it weren’t for Master’s favoritism, I’d let you live, but I’d cut off your ‘two ounces of flesh’ and feed it to the dogs!”
“Yikes!” Ye Shu sucked in a cold breath and instinctively covered his crotch.