After Chen Yan left, the Floating Pavilion sent several more groups to Peach Blossom Mountain.

Although they could fight them off, they couldn't withstand the persistent harassment.

This inevitably annoyed the Immortal.

Rong Zheng adapted well to this life of fighting and killing, having previously gone on missions as frequently as drinking water.

But the Immortal, who preferred peace and quiet, couldn't stand it.

Tao Mian was not one to suffer grievances. Instead of internalizing it, he preferred to torment others.

Even Rong Zheng couldn't get a moment's peace.

"Alright, alright, Little Tao, stop nagging," Rong Zheng clasped her hands together in a gesture of surrender, "I'm really afraid of you now. Why don't we just wipe out the Floating Pavilion?"

Tao Mian fell silent, actually contemplating the feasibility of this plan.

"I think it's doable. First, you tell me Du Hong's weaknesses, then I'll sneak into his room at midnight and assassinate him."

"…You, an Immortal, have actually studied assassination techniques?"

"Assassination, assassination, isn't it just secretly killing someone in the dark? Simple, simple. I had a disciple who knew how, I learned from her."

"Your disciples are truly a talented bunch…"

Joking aside, the problem needed to be solved.

Rong Zheng suggested they first retrieve the Jade-Hiding Altar, as it was conveniently placed on the rooftop of Mist Tower, requiring no special search.

Moreover, Mist Tower was a suitable place for leisure, and she could accompany her Shi Fu to relax.

Mist Tower was located in the demon realm, a place Tao Mian had never visited. With his interest piqued, the two agreed to take a trip there.

The broader Demonic Realm was a vast space, distinct from the mortal world and the Immortal realm, yet on the same level as the latter two.

It included the narrow sense of the Demonic Realm, where demons lived, as well as the demon realm, beast tribes, and other complex forces.

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Both the Floating Pavilion and Mist Tower were located in the demon realm, which differed from the Demonic Realm.

Demons were transformed from the essence of plants and trees, particularly fond of mimicking human appearances and actions. Tao Mian, disguised, walked the streets and saw nothing but demons hiding their ears and tails, imitating the gait of young men and women from the mortal world, yet exuding an awkward charm.

The streets were lined with high-class brothels, theaters, and pavilions, all mimicking the style of the mortal world. If not for the overwhelming demonic aura that couldn't be ignored, Tao Mian might have thought he hadn't left the mortal world.

Mist Tower was one of the largest high-class brothels in the demon realm.

The Fifth Disciple actually brought her Immortal master to visit a brothel. One wonders if the senior brothers and sisters would be so shocked they'd rise from their graves upon hearing this.

"Little Tao," Rong Zheng, now dressed as a young man, said, "Once we go inside, we must keep a low profile. This place is full of my old acquaintances; it would be so awkward if our identities were exposed."

Tao Mian remembered Rong Zheng mentioning this past incident, saying she had escaped from Mist Tower because she couldn't bear the humiliation.

"Little Hua, are you sure you can go in? Why don't you tell me the exact location, and I'll fetch the altar for you?"

Rong Zheng patted her chest.

"Don't worry, don't worry. Although I have bad memories of this place, I won't do anything excessive to expose our identities. Come on, let's follow this group in."

Rong Zheng pushed Tao Mian forward, and a charming fox demon at the entrance greeted them coquettishly.

"You two gentlemen look unfamiliar. Is this your first time here?"

Rong Zheng was in her element, completely at ease, perhaps because she had completed too many missions in places like this.

"I've had my fun elsewhere, but I've heard your Mist Tower is famous for its exceptional singing and dancing, so I came to experience it."

The fox demon's eyes narrowed into slits as she smiled, but her shrewd eyes peeked through, making one feel uneasy.

"I'm not boasting, but once you've been here today, you'll never be able to appreciate the songs and girls from anywhere else."

She waved her hand, summoning two beautiful girls over.

The girls, adorned with flowers, each took one of their arms and invited them upstairs.

"Take good care of the guests, and if you dare slack off, be careful, or I'll skin you alive!"

The fox demon warned sweetly from behind, causing the girls to shiver, indicating they had suffered under her methods before.

Tao Mian and Rong Zheng listened to music in a private room on the second floor.

The two girls initially wanted to accompany them, but Rong Zheng sent them away.

The reason was simple: Tao Mian had vomited.

It was quite embarrassing. They had agreed to keep a low profile, but Tao Mian, an Immortal, found himself in the most demonically charged place in the demon realm. Even with the sachet Rong Zheng gave him, when the girl insisted on getting close, he couldn't help but vomit.

The girl's pretty face turned a mix of blue and purple, a spectacle of colors.

Rong Zheng was both amused and exasperated. She sent the aggrieved girls out of the room while fetching water and a handkerchief for Tao Mian to ease his discomfort.

"And you wanted to come in on your own? Don't throw up halfway and die."

Rong Zheng patted his back to help him breathe.

"Do you think I wanted this? Hey, be gentle, be gentle, you're about to knock my stomach out."

With no one else in the room, it was a good time for the two to discuss their plan.

Rong Zheng's idea was to wait until Xiang Yi, the most popular girl in Mist Tower, came out to play a tune. While the guests were entranced, they could seize the opportunity to head to the top floor.

Tao Mian was curious.

"What tune does Xiang Yi play that attracts so many people?"

Rong Zheng waved her hand dismissively.

"She doesn't play well, not as well as I do. But she's beautiful. The interest isn't in the music."

Tao Mian nodded, understanding.

As they talked, the lights outside dimmed, leaving only a spotlight in the center.

In the light, an orange-clad woman with a veiled face sat quietly with a pipa.

Tao Mian glanced at her briefly before looking away, uninterested.

He was more concerned with how to successfully enter the top floor than with a pretty girl.

Rong Zheng continued explaining the routes they needed to take to reach the top floor from their current location.

Meanwhile, outside, bidding had begun. The highest bidder could invite Xiang Yi to their private room for a solo performance.

Tao Mian was ready to move, but the bidding outside was relentless, starting from a hundred gold and rising to a thousand. Finally, someone extravagantly offered ten thousand gold for a single tune from the beauty.

The name of the bidder was announced, standing out sharply amidst the clamor of music.

—Shen Bozhou.