Ye Qin frowned upon seeing the woman in red. He glanced again at the few attendants nearby, who must be Dou Hongshan's cultivator followers.

This woman was the one who had brazenly demanded he become her attendant on the Martial Arts Stage previously—a cultivator at the Twenty-First Cycle Nascent Soul stage. The strength of this woman in red was undoubtedly immense, and her status, exceedingly high. Yet, Ye Qin felt no goodwill toward her and certainly wanted no entanglement.

Ye Qin wasn't surprised that Dou Hongshan had appeared here; given her status, tracking his whereabouts would have been effortless.

"Hehe, is my fortune particularly good, or is this woman's destiny already exhausted? I didn't manage to possess her on the Martial Arts Stage, and now she delivers herself right to my door, granting me another chance at seizing a body! Young Master Ye, what excuse do you have now to refuse aiding me?"

Qingqiu Li's playful laughter suddenly echoed within Ye Qin's consciousness.

Ye Qin's expression shifted instantly upon hearing this. The thought of the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Qingqiu Li attempting to possess Dou Hongshan gave him a headache.

While body snatching () was simple enough, it was guaranteed to bring a host of lingering troubles.

However, as things stood, he truly had no reason to refuse Qingqiu Li.

Qingqiu Li existed purely as a spirit essence, remaining a significant threat to Huangfu Bing'er and Bai Xiu'er. If she couldn't find a physical body soon, she might again turn her attention toward Bing'er and Xiu'er. Qingqiu Li naturally disdained bodies with mediocre spiritual roots. Getting her into a superior body sooner rather than later would put his mind at ease.

He had no connection to Dou Hongshan; at most, he was a stranger whose life or death held no relevance to him.

The only current complication was the aftermath of the possession.

Ye Qin was unaware of the full extent of Dou Hongshan's background, though she claimed to be a core descendant of the Dou Family, guarded by a Transformation God stage Grand Lord above her. If she was possessed, the Dou Family would eventually notice, incurring the wrath of a Transformation God cultivator—a situation he couldn't afford right now.

He had only just settled in Demon Spirit City and was ignorant of many local conditions. Mishandling this could lead to severe consequences.

He could only pin his hopes on Qingqiu Li having a means to manage these complications after taking the body. Come to think of it, considering the cunning and methods of the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Qingqiu Li, Ye Qin felt this concern might be excessive. As a Fox Clan Demon Saint who managed to steal the gray egg from the Demon Race's Twilight Sanctuary and successfully escape pursuit by using a 'golden cicada sheds its shell' maneuver—she should have a way to handle these "minor" troubles.

"What, you won't invite me in for a sit?"

Dou Hongshan noticed Ye Qin freeze upon seeing her, which was strange, but she didn't overthink it.

"My apologies, please come in!"

Ye Qin sent a message via divine sense to calm Qingqiu Li down before gesturing faintly toward Dou Hongshan.

Ye Qin lowered the protective barrier of his residence. Dou Hongshan instructed her attendants to wait outside while she followed Ye Qin into the courtyard.

In the main hall, the two sat separated by the host and guest positions.

Huangfu Bing'er instructed Bai Xiu'er to serve some spiritual fruits and fragrant tea, then sat down beside Ye Qin. She was also curious why this woman in red had sought them out.

Dou Hongshan was momentarily surprised to see that Ye Qin possessed a wife whose cultivation—Nascent Soul Ninth Layer peak—was equal to his own, and whose demeanor was that of an exiled celestial fairy.

"May I ask the purpose of Miss Dou's visit?"

Ye Qin inquired casually.

"You are unwilling to become my attendant, and I won't force the issue. I have come regarding a matter. The quadrennial Demon Abyss Hunt is approaching. Do you have any plans, or have you already formed a team?"

Dou Hongshan stated her purpose directly.

"The Demon Abyss? We are preparing... just my wife and I, no other team," Ye Qin replied calmly, nodding. He had only just received news of this in the Merchant Guilds of Demon Spirit City. Now that Dou Hongshan mentioned it, Ye Qin instantly grasped her true objective.

"That's good. I came here precisely to discuss forming a team with you to venture into the Demon Abyss and hunt for the spirit ointment of the Abyss Strange Beasts. If successful, you will receive a share of the ointment," Dou Hongshan proposed.

"Miss Dou is quite well-connected in Demon Spirit City. Why not seek out other cultivators here? Surely many top-tier cultivators would be willing to team up with you," Ye Qin expressed his doubt.

"If I form a team, I am naturally the captain and hold the distribution rights to the spoils. Most cultivators at the Twentieth Cycle in Demon Spirit City are supported by major families and won't willingly take a subordinate role. As for those below the Twentieth Cycle, they are all useless trash who would only slow us down," Dou Hongshan shook her head and continued, "This trip should not involve too many people. The Demon Domain Abyss is extremely perilous; not only is the environment harsh with countless ferocious demonic beasts along the way, but we must also compete against numerous Nascent Soul cultivators from the Southern Demon Continent. It is a venture of near-certain death, and the Fifteenth Stage Abyss Strange Beasts are especially difficult to handle. Only a team composed of the most elite cultivators stands a chance of obtaining the spirit ointment. Since you are unattached, come with me."

"I have a question. Only Transformation God cultivators might be confident in hunting a Fifteenth Stage demonic beast. The hope for Nascent Soul cultivators is slim. Why not seek the aid of a Transformation God cultivator, Miss Dou? At least your family's ancestor wouldn't hesitate to lend a hand. With the power of a Transformation God cultivator, the journey to the Demon Abyss would be much safer; there seems to be no need to team up with me," Ye Qin pondered briefly, instead of answering directly, posing a counter-question.

This query served not only to address his confusion but also to probe the depth of Dou Hongshan's background.

"Oh? You don't know that the hunt is restricted only to Nascent Soul cultivators, and Transformation God cultivators are forbidden to enter?"

Dou Hongshan first looked at Ye Qin with a flicker of surprise. Seeing his confusion, she said with a wry smile, "It seems you are not only new to Demon Spirit City but perhaps have just set foot on the Southern Demon Continent. Could you be from the Eastern Sea Cultivation World? Though I have no interest in your origins."

"The place known as the Demon Abyss harbors quite a few Demonic Beast Grand Lords. If a Transformation God cultivator enters, they will disturb these powerful lords, triggering a massive uprising among the abyss beasts. Only low-level Nascent Soul cultivators, posing no great threat to the beast lords, will avoid causing an extreme reaction. This includes the Abyss Strange Beast—it is also a Demonic Beast Grand Lord and will never tolerate a Transformation God cultivator approaching it. Low-level Nascent Soul cultivators, however, have a chance to get close and extract the spirit ointment from it. That is the first point."

"Secondly, Abyss Strange Beasts are extremely rare. Every decade, the maximum amount of spirit ointment cultivators can acquire from the abyss beasts is only a few servings. Only the strongest few Nascent Soul cultivators are qualified to obtain the ointment and gain the opportunity to break through to the Transformation God stage. The venerable Transformation God seniors intend to temper the younger generation of cultivators, so they will not interfere in this matter."

"Therefore, the Heavenly Demon Alliance Elders prohibit Transformation God cultivators from entering the Demon Abyss during the hunting period."

Hearing this, Ye Qin finally understood a small portion of the Deep Abyss Hunt situation. However, Dou Hongshan still hadn't explained how Nascent Soul cultivators could possibly deal with a Fifteenth Stage Demonic Beast Grand Lord.

Huangfu Bing'er listened quietly from the side. She didn't fully grasp the meaning of hunting, the Demon Domain Abyss, or the Abyss Strange Beast, but she remained silent. Ye Qin would explain it to her after the discussion concluded.

"Are you finished questioning? She is mine now!"

Just as Ye Qin was deep in thought, Qingqiu Li's voice suddenly rang out.

The Exploding Flame Red Cloud Sword at his waist suddenly surged out of his storage pouch, uncontrolled, shooting out as a streak of crimson light toward Dou Hongshan.

Dou Hongshan was greatly alarmed, instinctively believing Ye Qin was attacking her.

But she couldn't fathom Ye Qin's motive for striking, especially when doing so without warning, at such close range, and completely unprepared. She was a direct subordinate of the Dou Grand Lord; how dare Ye Qin attack her within Demon Spirit City!

Dou Hongshan hastily dodged backward, slapping her waist to summon several minor divine ability artifacts, striving to block the attack with all her might.

Ye Qin sighed inwardly with helplessness.

Qingqiu Li had already made her move; he could not back down now, or she would escape, leading to endless future trouble.

He followed up by waving his hand, summoning the remaining seven minor divine ability artifacts, unleashing the Eight Stances Sword Array. In an instant, the sword array enveloped the entire hall. Even with all her skill, Dou Hongshan couldn't escape this virtually invincible sword formation of the cultivation world in her haste.

The phantom image of a Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox surged out of the fiery sword and lunged toward Dou Hongshan, trapped within the array.

A flash of fire instantly pierced into Dou Hongshan's body, entering her Dantian.

The word "Possession" () had barely formed in Dou Hongshan's mind before she lost control of her body.

Huangfu Bing'er was startled by the sudden turn of events and stood up.

Looking at Dou Hongshan again, she saw her eyes were vacant and devoid of spirit, enveloped entirely by a ceaselessly swirling, deep crimson glow; she sat motionless. Qingqiu Li's spirit essence and Dou Hongshan's nascent soul seemed to be fiercely vying for control within that body.

Ye Qin recalled the Eight Stances Sword Array and offered Huangfu Bing'er a wry smile.

Huangfu Bing'er remained silent. She was relieved to have eliminated a potential lurking threat now that the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Demon Saint had successfully possessed a body. However, she held no enmity toward Dou Hongshan, and witnessing her being possessed was hardly a cause for joy.

"Young Master Ye, I am currently in the process of possession and integration, making both my spirit essence and this physical body extremely vulnerable. If you hold any dissatisfaction toward me over past events, this is the perfect time to strike!"

At this moment, Qingqiu Li's charming voice suddenly chuckled lightly.

Ye Qin's eyes sharpened.

What Qingqiu Li said was half-truth, half-lie, making it hard to believe. Was she already beginning the integration process, or had she entered Dou Hongshan’s body but not yet begun the fusion, merely trying to gauge his next reaction?

If Qingqiu Li had truly started integrating, killing Dou Hongshan now might also destroy Qingqiu Li's spirit essence. If she hadn't started the fusion, Qingqiu Li could still emerge from Dou Hongshan's body and choose another vessel. If Ye Qin dared to make any move now, the one who might die would likely not be the Demon Saint Qingqiu Li.

Both possibilities existed.

In truth, Ye Qin had no intention of seizing this moment to strike at Qingqiu Li.

Thinking this, Ye Qin felt a surge of anger.

He spoke coldly to Dou Hongshan's immobilized form, "Senior Qingqiu, if you distrust me, there is no need for such suspicious testing! Whether you possess her or not is your business. If this body is not to your liking, you are free to leave and find another body; I won't stop you."

Dou Hongshan made no reply, the red glow on her body intensifying, followed by a suffocating silence.

Less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, the red light on Dou Hongshan's body abruptly receded. Her eyes slowly opened, and her expression regained its animation.

This signaled that the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Demon Saint Qingqiu Li had succeeded in her possession. Dou Hongshan's weak nascent soul was no match for the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Demon Saint Qingqiu Li.

"Young Master Ye, I sincerely apologize. Qingqiu was rude. I was merely afraid you held a grudge over past matters, prompting me to take such measures to test the waters. From this day forward, the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Demon Saint Qingqiu Li ceases to exist in this world; there is only the cultivator Qingqiu."

Qingqiu Li offered an apology tinged with regret.

"Senior, the possession is complete?"

"Indeed. This body's spiritual root talent is excellent, and it's already at the Nascent Soul Ninth Layer; it will soon break through to the Transformation God realm, granting Transformation God stage strength. With this established identity, the Demon Realm's Demon Saints will never find me again."

"But, Senior, aren't you worried? If you encounter acquaintances of Dou Hongshan, you might expose flaws! There are still several of her attendants waiting outside the residence."

"Hehe, Dou Hongshan's nascent soul has not perished; I have merely imprisoned it within this body. I still need her to become accustomed to this identity. With her presence, how could I expose any flaws? Oh yes, return my saint artifact, the purple spiritual grass!"

Qingqiu Li was quite delighted and suddenly remembered something, turning toward Ye Qin.

"Oh, my apologies. You possessed her too quickly; I didn't even have time to state the conditions for my assistance in your possession," Ye Qin glanced at the "Dou Hongshan," smiling faintly. "I helped you possess this body, and in return, that gray egg remains in my possession for the time being. Given your cunning nature, I must guard against you. For the trip to the Demon Abyss, it will be the three of us: myself, Bing'er, and you. I will be the captain, and all spoils will be handled by me. Only after I secure two portions or more of the spirit ointment, enough for Bing'er and me, will I return the gray egg to you. So, don't try any schemes on this journey. After possession, you are absolutely incapable of defeating me."

Qingqiu Li stared at Ye Qin in disbelief. She suddenly realized with sorrow that before she even took the body, Ye Qin had already maneuvered to outwit her.