A lantern wraith is an evil spirit formed when the resentment of the dead attaches itself to a lantern, transforming into ghostly fire that drifts about at night, colliding with the living. When it hits someone, the lantern wraith itself immediately dissipates into smoke, while the person struck at most falls ill for a while. Compared to cultivators, it can be said to have no combat power at all.

So weak, it’s almost endearing.

The reward for refining a lantern wraith is a Qi Gathering Pill to aid cultivation. Although not particularly rare, with enough of them, his cultivation speed increased significantly.

Once, he happened to encounter a lumbering, heavily armored stone statue golem on a rampage. After a long and grueling battle, Liam Carter finally wore it down and killed it.

Only then did the White Tower give out a magic treasure as a reward—the golden brick that revealed the true form of the spider demon.

Demon-Revealing Treasure Brick: Strike a person’s head with this brick; if the person is a demon in disguise, their true form will be revealed instantly. If not, they will feel pain and may be stunned to some degree. The real and the fake are immediately distinguished.

As for this treasure, Liam Carter found it quite practical.

Pills, magic treasures, mystical arts… these are all extremely precious in the world of cultivation. Even disciples of Mount Shu must complete sect tasks to exchange for resources and treasures.

But Liam Carter only needs to slay demons to obtain them, and as the strength of the demons he slays increases, the grade of the treasures he receives also rises, further boosting his own power.

Thus, Liam Carter is now caught in a logical loop of “fearing demons, so killing demons.” In a way, he’s actually fulfilling part of his predecessor’s wishes.

……

Leisurely, he dressed and tied his hair, fetched water to wash up, and then officially got out of bed.

He pushed open the door and stepped out of the small wooden hut. The sky was high and the clouds light; it was late spring in April, and the wind carried the scent of grass and trees. Following a path filled with birdsong and flowers, he circled around half the hillside and arrived at a pavilion atop the peak.

He was here to see his master.

The pavilion’s doors were wide open. As soon as he entered, he saw a languid, graceful figure sprawled before the altar.

It was a woman with long, loose hair, half her face veiled by strands, the visible half smooth and lustrous, her features as if ink-brushed, tinged with red, her neck as delicate as fine porcelain.

She wore a cross-collared black robe. Even lying down, her full chest was obvious, round as the full moon, rising and falling with her steady breaths. A jade pendant glowing with a red light was nestled there, drawing the eye. Her waist was cinched with a satin sash, hips widening below, and her long, fair legs dangled outside, smooth and supple.

Beside her hand hung a large wine gourd. As he entered, he could hear her soft snores—utterly lacking in decorum.

Though she slept soundly, the moment Liam Carter’s footsteps sounded, the woman became alert and opened her eyes.

“Master.” Liam Carter called softly from the doorway.

Indeed, this woman was Liam Carter’s master, the head of Silver Sword Peak, one of the thirty-six peaks of Mount Shu—Charlotte Carter.

“Ah, it’s already morning.” Charlotte Carter rolled over and sat up, her clothes disheveled, one shoulder half exposed, the scene resembling a crime scene.

She didn’t bother to tidy her clothes, but first scratched her head, her gaze hazy as she looked at Liam Carter. “What are you here for?”

She was still a bit dazed.

“Um…” Liam Carter looked up and said, “Master, you sent a paper crane message, telling me to come see you as soon as I returned.”

“Did I?” The hungover woman scratched her head, then suddenly went “Oh!” “I remember now!”

Only then did she tug at her clothes a couple of times and stand up. Lying down, her figure hadn’t seemed so exaggerated, but standing, her tall, curvaceous form was even more striking.

“Yesterday, the sect leader gathered the peak masters for a meeting, saying it’s time to start preparing for the once-a-decade Mount Shu Summit. You know about it, right? The one where disciples from all the peaks compete for the position of chief disciple.”

“I know, Master.”

“I ended up arguing with that old geezer Henry Walker again. I can’t stand his arrogant attitude, boasting that the chief disciple is sure to come from his Jade Sword Peak… Hmph!” Charlotte Carter’s chest heaved with anger as she spoke. “Of course I talked back, and after a few words, we made a bet.”

“If Jade Sword Peak’s disciple wins the chief position, I’ll give him the Phoenix Spirit Blood Jade. But if Silver Sword Peak’s disciple wins, he’ll give up his seat as head of all the peaks to me.”

As she spoke, Charlotte Carter glanced at Liam Carter. “I called you here to ask—who do you think we should send from Silver Sword Peak to compete in the Mount Shu Summit?”

“…” Liam Carter was speechless for a moment before quietly saying, “Master, aren’t I the only disciple of Silver Sword Peak…”

“Great!” Charlotte Carter clapped her hands. “I’m so pleased you volunteered!”

Chapter 003: Sword Exchange Pavilion

“?”

A small question mark slowly appeared on Liam Carter’s forehead. He couldn’t help but say, “Master, Jade Sword Peak is the most powerful among all the peaks, with nearly a hundred disciples, several of whom are renowned Golden Core cultivators. Their chances of winning the chief position are indeed the highest. As for me… I only just broke through to the Spirit Intent Realm a few days ago.”

The chief disciple is the face of each generation of Mount Shu. The competition for such a position is, of course, fierce.