Chapter Twenty-Four: The Master of Disguise in Women's Attire?

The old demon vanished in an instant, only returning after the time it takes for half a stick of incense to burn. When he came back, he was dressed up even more flamboyantly than that snake demon had ever been.

“Um… Elder Qiong…” Xu Cheng began, but as soon as he opened his mouth, what came out was exactly what was on his mind. For a moment, he was at a loss for words, uncertain whether this old demon would take offense.

“Elder Qiong? Is that the nickname you’ve given me? I don’t mind at all—call me whatever you wish!” The old demon replied magnanimously. He had actually shifted into the form of a beautiful woman, and his voice had become feminine—deep and resonant, yet with a honeyed sweetness.

“Well, actually, what I wanted to ask is… why are you a woman now?” Since Elder Qiong didn’t seem to care about such details, Xu Cheng cautiously voiced his question.

“What’s wrong with me being a woman for once? I’ve lived for centuries, spent eight hundred years without a body, and three hundred years locked away behind that seal. I was bored to death. Come, tell me—isn’t this form beautiful? Or do you want to try being a woman yourself?” Elder Qiong’s final suggestion sent a chill down Xu Cheng’s spine. He hurriedly waved his hands in refusal. Even though his current appearance was ugly, he still had the mind of a regular man. As far as Xu Cheng was concerned, this old demon’s mindset was what his past life would have called absolutely perverse, or perhaps, a true cross-dressing fiend.

Xu Cheng retreated several steps in a row, and in his distraction, he stumbled and fell into a ditch behind him. He sat there dazed for a moment as the earth covering his body began to dissolve.

Such was the flaw of the Earth-Molding Technique: if the material used was inherently soft, it would melt upon contact with water. But then Xu Cheng wondered, what if he were thrown into fire? Would he become a porcelain man?

“This spell of yours has some serious drawbacks—you can’t even touch water! But the way you look, it’s better to melt—yes, much better!” Elder Qiong watched Xu Cheng melt, a hint of scorn in his tone.

Hearing this, Xu Cheng simply washed off all the mud from his body, intending to mold himself anew.

“Would you like me to help you reshape your body?” Elder Qiong flashed a seductive smile—more womanly than any real woman—but knowing he was originally a man, Xu Cheng couldn’t help but shudder.

Still, having Elder Qiong help him reconstruct his body wasn’t such a bad idea. His mastery of escaping techniques was second to none, able to procure any kind of earth as needed. Thinking it through, Xu Cheng nodded in agreement, but made a point to emphasize that he wanted a rugged, manly body.

“By the way, what’s your name?” Elder Qiong asked, not in any rush to take Xu Cheng to search for earth.

“Xu Cheng! Xu, as in the character with the double person radical; Cheng, as in accomplishment!” Xu Cheng replied as he washed himself completely clean.

“From today on, you should abandon that name. I am the Left Envoy of the Yellow Springs, and you shall be the Right Envoy. What do you think?” Elder Qiong proposed, seeking to truly bind the two of them together.

After all, those fated to be chosen by the Yellow Springs Fragment were exceedingly rare. In over a thousand years, aside from Elder Qiong himself, this was the first time he had met another person capable of cultivating it.

There was really no other way. Even if Xu Cheng wanted to escape, with Elder Qiong watching him, the attempt would be futile. And even if he did escape, once he encountered water or water-based magic, his true identity would be revealed and he would be hunted like a monster to the ends of the earth.

So, Xu Cheng had no choice but to agree to Elder Qiong’s proposal.

“Since you agree, that makes things easier. And it’s fortunate you released me. Back then, I was exposed because of my cultivation of the Yellow Springs Bone Technique, and was pursued relentlessly by those so-called righteous cultivators. If it weren’t for the Wind Step technique empowered by my bone magic, I would have died long ago! Remember this: in this world, among the human cultivators, there is a saying—‘Those not of our kind must harbor ulterior motives!’” Elder Qiong said with utmost seriousness.

Those not of our kind must harbor ulterior motives!

Xu Cheng pondered silently. He was no longer an ordinary person; even if he could use the Earth-Molding Creation Technique to make himself appear human, at his core, he was still a monster.

“Why are you standing there spacing out? Speak up—what kind of earth do you want, Right Envoy?” Elder Qiong pressed, and Xu Cheng had yet to adjust to his new title.

“Did you drown? Impossible! Our bodies, as envoys of the Yellow Springs, have been transformed by its aura—we are essentially undying and indestructible, unless destroyed by external force!” The old demon scrutinized Xu Cheng’s skull, and at last, Xu Cheng snapped back to his senses.

“Ah? Oh, oh, I… I want something harder to mold my body from!” Since he was reconstructing his body, a tougher material was preferable. That way, he wouldn’t be exposed just because of a little water.

“Four corners of heaven and earth, reveal your secrets!”

With a hum, an invisible wave rippled out from Elder Qiong, clearly a spell for searching.

A few minutes later, the old demon opened his eyes, seized Xu Cheng, and flew off into the distance.

Before long, they delved deep beneath the earth, coming to stand before a pool of molten lava.

“How about this magma?” Elder Qiong smiled, thinking that if Xu Cheng could solidify magma into his body and use spells to appear human, then Elder Qiong could fire his own soft white clay body in the flames and transform completely into porcelain—never needing to fear water again; a perfect solution.

“It might work!”

Xu Cheng was still uncertain about the true power of the Earth-Molding Creation Technique. He would only know after trying.

Before he could react, Elder Qiong suddenly extended a hand, and a column of lava surged forth, pouring directly onto Xu Cheng under the old demon’s control.

A flush of red filled Xu Cheng’s vision. He was about to flee, but realized he didn’t feel any heat at all—clearly, he was no longer human.

The lava gradually formed his shape, then a wave of cold enveloped him, solidifying the molten form into a jet-black, muscular, metallic monster.

Xu Cheng controlled the Earth-Molding Creation Technique, covering himself, and his skin began to take shape inch by inch.

He had underestimated the power of this spell—even a metallic body could be remolded.

With a surge of energy, in the blink of an eye, Xu Cheng turned into a square-jawed, burly giant, his muscles rippling, and even certain parts were enlarged for effect—though, regrettably, they were purely ornamental now.

He moved about freely—his body was as nimble as ever, and from now on, he no longer had to fear water.

On the other side, seeing Xu Cheng succeed, Elder Qiong cloaked himself in lava fire. The Earth-Molding spell previously on his body was already undone by the flames.

His clothes burned away, revealing a graceful, alluring figure. Under the scorching fire, the clay body gradually transformed into something as lustrous as porcelain—truly a sight to behold.

When the firing was complete, Elder Qiong simply waited for his temperature to cool.

Once cooled, Elder Qiong used a secret voice transmission to instruct Xu Cheng to cast the Earth-Molding Creation Technique on his porcelain-like body.

Thus, the crystalline porcelain began to shift into human form, until Elder Qiong was restored—yet, after this forging, he seemed entirely reborn. His smooth, flowing hair, delicate features, and a body now perfectly proportioned, lent him a cold, enchanting beauty beyond what he had before.

Xu Cheng couldn’t help but steal a few glances—even if his body no longer functioned as before, he could still enjoy the view! But Elder Qiong soon took him flying off in another direction.

Their surroundings blurred. When things came into focus again, they found themselves inside someone else’s house.

Apparently, they’d come to find clothes.

Without a care, Xu Cheng strode into the house, snatched a long robe, and wrapped himself up to look every bit the wandering swordsman.

Meanwhile, Elder Qiong donned a light gauze dress, appearing every bit the pampered daughter of a wealthy family, complete with a charming dimple when she smiled.

Like a little monk chanting sutras, Xu Cheng closed his eyes and silently recited over and over: This is a thousand-year-old, utterly deranged old demon.