Chapter 10: Wisteria Demon

"I do not wish to conceal it from you, Fairy. In fact, this has been a chronic ailment of the Liu family... All three generations of family heads have exhibited the same symptoms. My only son is even more severely affected; I fear he may already be beyond salvation..." The expressions of everyone in the room were filled with sorrow, and the elegantly dressed woman pushing the wheelchair could not help but shed tears.

This issue... is likely difficult to resolve in the short term

"Is it the young master of the Liu family that Lord Liu wants me to save? Then take me to see him," said Shiyi.

This is not my doing! Eleven firmly denied it. However, it seems that breaking the seal is considered her fault. She glanced at the beautiful doll lying innocently in her arms, secretly lamenting in her heart.

Seeing the number 10 fixedly staring at the largest wisteria tree in the center of the garden, the accompanying maid proactively introduced, "Fairy, this is a hundred-year-old tree. It is said that this tree had already been growing here before this residence was built. Although it is an old tree, it blooms in every season, and it is truly beautiful!"

Looking at these people who were chattering excitedly and without a hint of fear, Eleven felt a headache coming on. At this moment, in her eyes, the tree had become exceedingly menacing. The black mist emanating from the tree transformed into wispy arms, swaying as if trying to grasp something.

At least seal it off for now; as for how to handle it, that can be discussed later

Seated as an esteemed guest in the grand armchair, she slowly sipped a mouthful of fragrant tea from the golden cup, feigning profundity as she gazed into the house

"The people from the Wuxiang Palace? Their arrival is a good thing, so why are you in such a hurry?"

Three is enough, isn't it? she thought confidently

Eleven was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. She had encountered the disciples of the Wuxiang Palace before, and they were all gentle and mild-mannered women who acted in a soft and accommodating manner. They valued harmony and self-cultivation above all else, so how could they possibly engage in a fight?

A gust of cold wind blew in, and Eleven adjusted his clothes, sensing the slightly damp air here, feeling vaguely that something was unusual about this place. The night breeze was slightly intoxicating, yet standing in this garden, one would feel it was noticeably colder than outside

It seems that the root of this must be traced back to the long-deceased Liu Shuyi.

The weather in early summer is most suitable for evening walks. She strolls through the vast and labyrinthine Liu residence, admiring the uniquely arranged garden pavilions while contemplating clues related to the "chronic illness." From her conversation with the servants, she has already learned some details about the Liu family. The extravagant mansion was built by the current Master Liu's grandfather, named Liu Shuyi. It was from his generation that the Liu family became extraordinarily wealthy, and it was also from him that each successive head of the family has suffered from this peculiar illness.

The room erupted in exclamations—indeed, the Fairy Jingyuan is remarkable, for what she holds in her arms is actually a celestial child

On the eleventh, her eyes sparkled with excitement—this Pengchang City could hardly be considered a prosperous place, yet it surprisingly housed a wealthy family like the Liu family. They were rich, exceedingly rich! And based on her experience, the troubles of the wealthy were the most difficult to resolve, simply because matters that money could not settle in this world were often particularly tricky.

Indeed, this tree is in full bloom, flourishing exceptionally.

Liu's family wanted to arrange a lavish dinner for her, but she declined. Of course, she would be attracted to delicious food, but for her, earthly food turns into a mass of turbid energy within her body, which not only brings no benefits but also requires her spiritual energy to expel. Therefore, she only occasionally tries it when she is in the mood.

And she can now confirm that the root of this long-standing affliction comes from this tree, as it is the malevolent and resentful energy that is causing harm

It is not... a few esteemed individuals from the Wuxiang Palace are here to visit your residence and have already arrived at the front gate

In fact, the Nine Luminaries Immortal Mushroom was once a celestial treasure used in the Jade Xuan Cave to seal the "Eye of Sin and Filth". Using it to seal such a thing could be considered a case of overkill. Eleven smiled slightly, raised her delicate hand, and began to silently recite the incantation in her heart. The three spirit pearls on her wrist awakened in succession, emitting dazzling and beautiful red, blue, and white lights.

The runes on the halo gradually dimmed, while the trunk of the tree began to emanate a faint purple glow from within. When the halo disappeared, the entire tree had transformed into an almost transparent form, becoming a purple glass tree. In the night, this tree appeared enchantingly beautiful, its branches gently trembling as if something within was awakening.

Eleven was greatly shocked and silently muttered to herself: "Lord of the Six Paths, I hope you can show some mercy and not ruin my 'fairy' image at this moment... Otherwise, I will throw you to that brutish fool with a menacing aura!"

Tsk tsk tsk, I have been sweeping the leaves in this garden for decades, and only this one tree never sheds its leaves. It turns out it is indeed a magical tree!

Old Master Liu spoke sorrowfully: "I have reached the age of knowing my fate, and whether I can stand up is no longer of concern to me. I only ask that the fairy can save my child, and that would truly be a blessing from heaven. He is the sole heir of the Liu family, and regardless of what price the fairy may demand, I am willing to consider it."

Hearing her response, he immediately smiled and said: "No worries, no worries. Since it is so, and seeing that the sky is already dark, may I invite the fairy to graciously stay at my residence, so that we may express our hospitality in some small way"

She finally understood why this tree gave people such a strange feeling, for a barrier had been established here relying on it. As for what is to be sealed within this barrier, it remains unknown

Not long ago, a master from the Wuxiang Palace came here to diagnose my son, stating that he was afflicted by an evil spirit. After performing a ritual at that time, he had already recovered, but unexpectedly, not long after, the old illness relapsed and became even more perilous. Now, he is completely unable to move his body..." Mr. Liu said with deep sorrow

A century-old tree is indeed extraordinary

Thank you for your generous hospitality, Mr. Liu. However, I have a companion who is still at the Sifang Inn. I did not inform him of my whereabouts when I left, so I would appreciate it if you could send someone to notify him to stay at the inn and not wander off.

However, before them appeared a series of purple halos, layered and encircling the tree trunk. On the flickering light bands, indecipherable seal scripts continuously floated and transformed. The accompanying young maid, upon witnessing this mysterious scene, gasped in astonishment. Eleven was also taken aback and quickly grasped the small hand of Liu Dao—this individual truly deserved the title of Immortal Lord; even with a regressed mind, their actions were still extraordinary, unconsciously triggering the sealing array surrounding the tree. If not kept under close watch, it was likely that even more astonishing actions could be performed.

This matter is not yet resolved; if you trust me, do not interfere. Instruct everyone not to enter the Ziwai Garden

As she stepped out of the garden with her head lowered, she was met by pairs of bright, sparkling eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity. It was at this moment that the master of the Liu family arrived, and upon seeing him about to enter the Ziwai Garden, Eleven quickly reached out to stop him

Young Master Liu is indeed very ill, confined to his bed, and can only manage to sip a few mouthfuls of ginseng soup; he cannot even move a single finger. Moreover, his body is indeed enveloped in a faint black aura. This black aura gives her a feeling that is surprisingly similar to that emanating from Xi Juechen.

She spoke as she leaned in to take a closer look. In her arms, the six curiosities stirred again, reaching out with small hands to touch the tree. His fingers casually traced an incomprehensible and mysterious trajectory resembling the number 11. Suddenly, a flash of golden light appeared, as if a wave of energy erupted around the tree, causing her to stagger back several feet.

Hearing her say this with a cold expression, those who were merely spectators, despite their reluctance, had no choice but to exit the garden

"May I ask, Fairy, what kind of celestial magic is this?" The onlookers not only did not retreat, but instead regarded it as a miracle to admire

What a strange tree! This is a tree personally planted by our ancestor. It is said to be a money tree; every time it blooms a cluster of flowers, it can bring in a dou of gold...

Lord Liu, I have discerned the root of your leg ailment. However, due to your prolonged illness, your muscles are weak, and it is impossible for you to stand up immediately; you will need to recuperate for another year and a half.

At last, it was quiet. She calmed her mind and pondered for a moment—should she use the Nine Luminaries Immortal Mushroom or the Jingyuan Umbrella to resolve this issue? It is somewhat embarrassing to admit that her remaining magical power was minimal, and she had been relying solely on these two magical treasures left to her by Jingyuan.

In his heart, he was filled with disdain, yet he cleared his throat and said in a measured tone, "Since you have a request of me, please feel free to speak."

The Liu family members expressed their surprise upon hearing that it could be cured

At that moment, someone rushed over, panting, and said to Lord Liu: "My lord, it is not good... it is not good!"

Fortunately, the clever servant of the Liu family beside him moved the screen aside, allowing the little child to grab hold of it. One could see his small hand tracing a mysterious trajectory on the screen, and at that moment, a flash of light appeared, bursting forth into a luminous lotus, identical to the one that appeared on his exquisite purple jade pagoda, albeit much smaller in size

However, they got into a fight with another person at the door

"Do you feel that it is quite cold standing under this tree?" she asked淡淡.

The people in the room, however, were watching the restless baby in her arms. The little one, Liu Dao, curiously reached out to grab the embroidered screen placed beside the chair. After several unsuccessful attempts, her small mouth pouted, and it seemed she was about to burst into tears again

Where have ordinary people ever witnessed such a spectacle? It is inevitable that they would be greatly astonished. The little maid's voice is exceptionally loud, and before Eleven could stop her, a crowd quickly gathered. A group of nearby servants and maids all congregated in the "Wisteria Garden," utterly amazed.

Wuxiang Palace? Has a fight broken out?

In such a magnificent mansion, where is the "humility"?

The butler said politely: "I had previously informed the fairy that my master, upon hearing of your deeds in the inn where you treated the sick and helped others, sent me to seek you to come to our residence, as my master is also afflicted with a similar ailment..."

He fell silent at this point, simply because the main character of the conversation had arrived

Because she had already seen a faint black mist slowly oozing from the trunk, the feeling of coldness intensified, penetrating to the bone, causing her to tremble uncontrollably. She silently lamented in her heart—this barrier, she did not know who had created it, was surprisingly flimsy, easily shattered by a light touch from the Six Paths.

Lord Liu was pushed in on a wheelchair. His luxurious robe and ornaments accentuated the pallor of his face, making it appear even more haggard. It was evident that he not only suffered from a leg ailment but also had severely diminished vitality.

She infused her spiritual energy into her eyes and immediately saw the faint black mist entwined around the legs of the old master Liu, whose muscles had already atrophied. She thought to herself, in such a condition, it must be either a demon or a ghost. Presumably, it is this black mist that not only destroyed the health of his legs but is also continuously draining his vital energy

"This tree is strange, all of you leave this place!"

It was only at that moment that she realized that ordinary people were unable to perceive such abnormalities. She could sense the bone-chilling cold because her spiritual awareness was relatively sensitive

"Does your son have the same symptoms?" she asked solemnly

The young maid shook her head in confusion: "No, it is relatively warm tonight, after walking for a while, I feel all heated up."

The affection of a parent for their child can be understood. If it were an ordinary ailment, the use of the Nine Luminaries Immortal Mushroom would immediately eradicate it. However, the "chronic ailment" of the Liu family is not simple; it seems that what she needs to do this time is not to heal a disease, but to exorcise a demon. The Wuxiang Palace is also one of the "Nine Palaces" and possesses some genuine skills in Daoist practices. After the disciples of this sect performed their spells, the demonic obstruction not only remained but became even more rampant, which is rather strange.

The external appearance of the Nine Luminaries Immortal Mushroom moved in accordance with her heart. In order to avoid being too astonishing, she transformed them into three palace lanterns, hanging them around the tree trunk. The tree seemed to possess consciousness, its black tendrils dancing more wildly. However, upon touching the radiance of the Nine Luminaries Immortal Mushroom, they retreated in dismay.

After wandering around, I arrived at a tranquil place, which turned out to be a garden. In a secluded path, there was an elegant stone inscribed with the words "Wisteria Garden." Upon entering, I was astonished to discover that this garden was remarkably large, yet no matter where I walked, I could only see one type of flower—wisteria. The trees were adorned with abundant blossoms, and the old trunks sprawled in various directions, with clusters hanging between the green leaves, resembling purple clouds swirling around, creating a scene of exquisite beauty.

Seeing her demeanor of simplicity and detachment, the gazes of those around her were filled with even more conviction

How should one speak! What is wrong with the master! someone shouted loudly

Indeed, this is truly a demon tree. I must perform a ritual, and I cannot be disturbed. Will you not withdraw?

Of course, that is not a problem. Lord Liu replied with a smile, feeling somewhat surprised in his heart—what kind of person could possibly be a companion of "Fairy Jingyuan"? From her tone, it seemed she was quite concerned about that individual

Indeed, he is a "celestial being," seemingly still possessing some magical powers, but it is lamentable that he is now merely a burden.

It is demonic energy. Demons and ghosts can only be considered as aberrations, while the essence of demons lies in obsession and malevolence. Just like when Xi Juechen erupted, its purpose is solely fearlessness and destruction. If this continues, even if this young master has more money, he will have no life to enjoy it.

... ...

The winding corridors, intricately carved beams and painted pavilions, with pearls as curtains and white jade as tables

Seeing her frown in deep thought, Lord Liu also realized that this matter was complicated, his face filled with a look of panic