The Serpent in Human Skin

Crippled Moon Peak. For the countless tribes and monsters within a radius of over a hundred thousand kilometers, this mountain was a sacred land. The reason was simple: a powerful Wanxiang Adept, the ‘Crippled Moon Realperson’, resided here, and no one dared to act rashly within his domain.

Inside a magnificently decorated hall.

A cold, yin-infused old man sat cross-legged on a jade bed. A black curved dagger, palm-sized, was floating and spinning before him.

“Master.” A respectful voice came from outside.

“Father.” A clear, crisp voice followed.

The cold old man revealed a slight smile. “Come in.”

A short, ugly man and a tall, charmingly seductive woman dressed in azure walked in together. The ugly man appeared unusually steady and composed.

‘This Yu Tong.’ The cold old man glanced at the ugly man, secretly nodding. ‘When he first joined my school, I didn’t think much of him. But unexpectedly, he’s the first among my many disciples to reach the Wanxiang Adept level! And breaking through in just a few decades is quite fast. He can’t be underestimated.’

As for appearance? Cultivators generally didn’t place much weight on it. If one had poor strength and was ugly, they’d naturally be looked down upon. But if one’s strength was great… even the ugliest person would be respected.

‘And it seems Wei’er has taken a liking to this Yu Tong as well.’ The cold old man nodded to himself. ‘It looks like this branch of mine will eventually be passed into Yu Tong’s hands.’

“Fu’er, come here.” The cold old man called out.

The azure-clothed woman walked straight over, sat on the edge of the jade bed, and hugged her father’s arm affectionately.

“Father, Senior Apprentice-Brother Yu Tong has prepared a gift for you. I’m sure you’ll love it.” Yue Wei said hurriedly.

“Oh?” The cold old man looked over with a smile.

Yu Tong immediately said respectfully, “Master, your disciple has just managed to acquire a bottle of ‘Tri-Immortal Brew’. I’ve come especially to present it to you.”

“Tri-Immortal Brew?” The cold old man’s eyes instantly lit up, and he couldn’t help but sniff the air. He had been stuck at the peak of the Wanxiang Adept stage for over two hundred years. His lifespan was near its end, and he didn’t have much time left to live. A cultivator close to death tended to place much more importance on enjoying life.

Tri-Immortal Brew was a top-tier immortal vintage, incredibly rare and difficult to find. It was generally only available in places like Anchan City; in a remote backwater like Crippled Moon Peak, it was an impossible luxury.

“You have a good heart.” The cold old man nodded with satisfaction.

He was becoming more and more pleased with Yu Tong.

The man had reached the Wanxiang stage, yet he still remained under his tutelage, still respectful.

And he served him as devotedly as a real son…

“Master, you have guided and taught me with your wisdom. This is nothing in return.” A jade tray appeared in Yu Tong’s hands, upon which rested a bottle of the immortal brew. Even the bottle itself, carved from jade as pure as white milk, was exquisitely lifelike; to a mortal, it would be a peerless treasure.

“Junior Apprentice-Sister, let us go.” After a while, Yu Tong and his junior apprentice-sister, Yu Wei, left the hall together.

Watching his most capable disciple and his beloved daughter walk away, particularly the way Yu Tong treated his daughter with such respect, the cold old man nodded contentedly.

Within another manor on Crippled Moon Peak. This was Yu Tong’s residence.

Naturally, formations were set up all around to prevent outsiders from invading.

“All of you, withdraw.” Yu Tong commanded as soon as he entered the manor.

“Yes.”

The servants and maids all respectfully retreated to a side courtyard outside the main grounds. Only he and his junior apprentice-sister, Yue Wei, remained inside the manor.

Sitting directly in the courtyard, Yu Tong cast a sidelong glance at his junior apprentice-sister, Yue Wei, and said calmly, “Kneel.”

Yue Wei immediately let out a charming smile. Her Dharma robe quickly vanished, revealing her beautiful, naked body. She knelt down gently, like a little dog, and slowly crawled over. Then, pressing close to Yu Tong’s crotch, she began to lick.

“You once looked down on me so much, but now you’re kneeling beneath me?” Yu Tong looked down at Yue Wei, who was acting like a dog beneath him.

“Senior Apprentice-Brother, stop teasing me.” Yue Wei let out a delicate snort.

Yu Tong reached out, grabbed her head, and forcefully thrust forward. Yue Wei couldn’t help but cough.

“Hahaha…” Yu Tong roared with laughter. “Take it.”

Yue Wei could only endure.

A long while later…

“Hmph.” Having vented his desires, Yu Tong sat there in contemplation while Yue Wei sat on his lap. “Junior Apprentice-Sister, when is that old bastard going to teach me the Crippled Moon Saber Formation? I’ve been a Wanxiang Adept for a while now, and I’ve been serving him faithfully for so long. Yet he still won’t teach it to me!”

Yue Wei said sweetly, “Relax, Senior Apprentice-Brother. I mentioned it to Father once before, and he seemed hesitant at the time. But it seems he’s grown fonder of you lately. I’ll bring it up again. I’m sure it can be done.”

“I hope that old bastard doesn’t croak and take that saber formation with him to the Netherworld.” A cold glint flashed in Yu Tong’s eyes.

“Don’t worry.” Yue Wei said hurriedly.

Yu Tong nodded slightly and sank into silent thought. Yue Wei didn’t dare disturb him.

“Three years. At most, three more years. I can’t keep wasting my time on that old bastard.” Yu Tong said in a low voice, then looked at Yue Wei. “Get him to teach me the saber formation as soon as possible. I’ll go beg him once in half a month, and then you try to persuade him for me.”

“Mm.” Yue Wei obediently nodded.

Yu Tong suddenly let out a strange chuckle. “Junior Apprentice-Sister, how do you think your father would react if he saw you like this? Would he die of rage on the spot? Hahaha… hahahaha…”

His laughter was sinister and bizarre, nothing like the simple, honest appearance he normally showed.

All the servants in the manor had been dismissed, the formations were activated, and no sound could escape. No one outside could see what was happening inside. Yu Tong no longer bothered to hide his true nature.

In his youth, he had long seen through this world for what it was: a place where the strong devoured the weak. So, step by step, he had climbed his way up. Through slaughter or sycophancy, whatever it took to grow stronger, he would do it without scruple. But he had always hidden this side of himself well. Anyone who knew his true face was either completely under his control or dead.

Even the intelligence Ji Ning had obtained contained no record of Yu Tong’s true character.

After all…

For such a minor figure, the Heavenly Treasures Mountain wouldn’t expend too much effort.

‘That old bastard’s Crippled Moon Saber Formation was obtained from a dead Loose Immortal. Even our Snowdragon Mountain doesn’t possess a Dharma-treasure formation with such power.’ Back then, Yu Tong had no choice in the matter; he was simply assigned to Crippled Moon Realperson’s school. But with his methods, by serving closely and patiently, he had discovered his master’s secret.

And so, he had become even more attentive.

‘If he still won’t hand it over… I’ll kill him.’ A cold light flickered in Yu Tong’s eyes.

From a mere mortal, he had crawled step by step to his current position.

Yu Tong was, naturally, a man of deep cunning. Many people had met their end through his schemes—the young master of a tribal clan in his youth, even a Third Elder… He had even killed two genius disciples of Snowdragon Mountain. But to this day, no one knew.

Even Young Master ‘Dong Qi’ of the Dong clan was merely a chess piece he had used.

A dragon-headed warship was hovering in the sky above Crippled Moon Peak.

Ji Ning gazed down from afar.

“Senior Apprentice-Brother, should we just charge in?” Mu Northson asked, puzzled. He could feel the immense killing intent emanating from Ji Ning, yet now that they had reached Crippled Moon Peak, he had paused.

“Not so fast.” Ji Ning looked down. His divine sense had already been released, covering the entire mountain below.

What he saw… was the scene from just a moment ago.

Before Crippled Moon Realperson, Yu Tong was one person… yet back in his own manor, he was someone else entirely.

‘This Yu Tong seems no ordinary man.’ Ji Ning mused silently. From his divine sense observation alone, Yu Tong’s act before his master was flawless. Ji Ning could detect not a single crack in the facade. If such a person were to get close to him, Ji Ning himself might have trusted him. He would certainly seem like a steady, dependable man.

‘From a mortal, step by step to where he is now.’ Ji Ning recalled the intelligence on Yu Tong’s growth. ‘I suspect he isn’t as simple as the files suggest. According to the information, Yu Tong’s path has been smooth, climbing the ladder by latching onto powerful figures. I originally thought it was just good talent and luck. But now…’

‘But…!’

‘Even if you are a man of great cunning, today you will surely die!’ A cold light flashed in Ji Ning’s eyes.

In the world of cultivation, strength was far more important than schemes and plots.

For someone like Ji Ning, who possessed divine sense, he could observe his opponent’s every move. The hidden side of Yu Tong was instantly exposed.

“Let’s go.” Ji Ning pointed into the distance, toward a manor. “To Yu Tong’s manor.”

“Alright.” Mu Northson immediately complied.

The Whitewater Hound, having taken human form, stood by, also looking down from afar. A similar killing intent burned in his eyes; he had personally witnessed that tragic event all those years ago.

Swoosh!

The dragon-headed warship dove down.

“Uncle White, set up a space-locking formation.” Ji Ning transmitted.

“Yes.” The Whitewater Hound nodded, quietly leaping out of the warship. He transformed into a streak of light and sped away, beginning to secretly set up a space-locking formation around Crippled Moon Peak. The space-locking formation could cover an area of a hundred kilometers… the entire Crippled Moon Peak was within its range. Of course, the formation was not yet activated.

Once activated, Crippled Moon Realperson and Yu Tong would immediately discover it.

The dragon-headed warship flew directly over Yu Tong’s manor.

At that moment, Yu Tong was naked in the courtyard, engaged in a lewd affair with his beautiful, charming junior apprentice-sister in the broad daylight. Amidst his frenzy, Yu Tong’s eyes remained cold and calculating, though he occasionally let out sinister laughter.

“Yu Tong!”

Suddenly, a voice came from high in the sky.

Yu Tong was startled, and he immediately stopped. His junior apprentice-sister also paused, asking in confusion, “Senior Apprentice-Brother, who is that?”

“Get up, quickly.” Yu Tong’s form shifted, and his Dharma robe appeared. His junior apprentice-sister, Yue Wei, did the same.

Yu Tong raised his voice in a hospitable tone. “I wonder which brother Dao has honored me with a visit?” At the same time, he deactivated the formation. In a single glance, he saw a dragon-headed warship hovering in the distance. The moment he saw the warship, his heart tightened. He was a man of experience; a puppet warship of this caliber wasn’t something just any cultivator could produce.

“Junior Apprentice-Sister, hurry and get Master.” Yu Tong sent a mental transmission.

“I know.” Yue Wei’s palm held a small leaf, which she gently crushed.

At that very moment—

A handsome, plainly dressed youth wearing animal hides flew down from the dragon-headed warship. A small azure snake was coiled around his wrist. Behind him followed a white-robed, white-haired man and a young man in a white robe. The leading youth, dressed in animal hides, said calmly, “Naturally, it is an old acquaintance!”