The second imp sniffed the air and said, "There's no smell."
The dog-headed demon listened to the second imp's words, then tilted his head back and sniffed the surrounding air. He said, "This isn't poisonous gas. How strange, then why is it black gas?" He glanced at the black gas again. "Where did this come from?"
At the same time, the first imp hurriedly pointed at the wisp of green smoke passing by the black gas and said excitedly, "Boss, look."
Upon hearing this, the dog-headed demon followed the first imp's finger and looked up at the green smoke. Then, he sniffed and said, "It's demonic energy."
"It must be it," the dog-headed demon said, turning to the imps. "Let's chase it."
"Boss, why are we chasing it?" the first imp asked, looking at the dog-headed demon with confusion.
The dog-headed demon paused and said, "Yes, why are we chasing her?"
"Boss, let's not worry about this. Your face is the priority right now," the second imp said.
The dog-headed demon nodded in agreement, "You're right, kid."
"Then let's keep moving forward," the third imp suggested.
"Forward," the vine spirit pointed towards the exit.
"Okay."
After a cheerful reply, they continued on their way.
Outside the deep forest, the old man watched as the black gas gradually transformed into a barrier. He quickly stood up. "What's going on?" He took a step forward and saw a gap beneath the barrier.
Then, just as he was about to ask himself another question, a wisp of green smoke flew out through the gap. Following it, a woman suddenly appeared before the old man.
The old man looked at the woman calmly and said, "You are a demon soul."
Hearing this, the woman flinched and took half a step back. Then, as she was about to turn back into the demonic barrier, the old man said, "It's sealed. You can't go back in." He then lowered his head and looked at the celestial rope that was gradually snapping.
The woman was startled. She turned back to face the old man and said, "Let me go, please."
The old man said, "Did I say I was going to catch you?"
Hearing this, a look of surprise appeared on the woman's face. "You're not catching me?"
"I'm not catching you. Go on," the old man said, quickly repairing the crack in the celestial rope.
The woman smiled and ran past the old man.
The old man watched the woman's retreating back, a smile playing on his lips. "Your tribulation is not me." He then lowered his head to look at the celestial rope. "It seems I need to do some serious work on my celestial rope when I get back." He then cast a casual glance at the gap that had been filled by the black gas, and retreated to sit by the tree.
Inside the demonic barrier, the dog-headed demon and the imps behind him all stopped in front of the dark barrier.
"What's going on, boss?" the first imp asked, looking at the condensed black gas.
"Let me see," the dog-headed demon said. He took a step forward and was about to reach out when the old man's voice came from outside.
"Don't touch it."
Hearing this, the dog-headed demon furrowed his brow and asked, "Did you do this?"
The old man, clearly seeing the dog-headed demon looking confusedly at the black gas from outside, said, "If I did it, I would have already entered. Are you an idiot?"
"Who are you?" the dog-headed demon asked.
The old man said, "It doesn't matter who I am. I advise you not to touch that black gas."
"What if I touch it?" the dog-headed demon asked arrogantly.
The old man couldn't help but chuckle twice. "If you dare to touch it, I guarantee you will suffer all kinds of physical and mental pain, and then your soul will be scattered."
"Don't try to scare me," the dog-headed demon said. He turned to the imps behind him. "Who's willing to give it a try?"
The imps all shook their heads.
Then, the old man said, "You can't see outside from inside, but I can see inside clearly from outside. You'd best not struggle pointlessly. It's useless, dog-head."
Hearing the old man's words, the dog-headed demon's eyes widened considerably.
"Boss, we can't get out," the first imp said.
The dog-headed demon furrowed his brow and said, "I just want to become a human face, why is it so difficult?" He then sat down on the ground.
The old man watched the dog-headed demon's troubled expression from outside and said, "If you can come out, I can change your dog face into a human face, but there will be a condition."
Hearing this, the dog-headed demon said, "You want conditions for helping me? If I get out, I can change my face into a human face through my own efforts and without having to please anyone. I won't agree."
The old man listened to the dog-head's words and looked at his dejected appearance. He said, "You need to find the immortal destiny maiden."
"Yes," the dog-headed demon looked up at the black gas. "I need to find the immortal destiny maiden."
"Boss, why did you say that?" the first imp reminded him.
The dog-headed demon looked up at the first imp and said, "He can..." He stopped midway and suddenly asked, "Are you a demon, a human, or a cultivator?"
"Don't worry about who I am. I'm telling you, finding the immortal destiny maiden is not reliable at all. If you continue like this, you will only make a grave mistake. Of course," the old man leaned against the tree, a smile playing on his lips, "if you insist on doing so, I can only tell you that you will die forever, and they will suffer the same fate as you."
The imps, hearing the old man's words from outside, all wore expressions of fear.
The first imp said, "Why do we have to be punished with the boss when he makes a mistake?"
The dog-headed demon, hearing the first imp's tone of wanting to distance himself from him, said, "You want to abandon me."
The first imp stiffened and took half a step back. "Boss, to be honest, I don't think the vine spirit's method is reliable."
"How is it unreliable?" the dog-headed demon asked.
"Once the immortal destiny maiden's soul essence is absorbed, won't she die? Then..." The first imp darted his eyes. "Won't you be deeply sinful? Those below will definitely arrest you. You... will definitely go to hell."
"I'm already deeply sinful, what am I afraid of?" the dog-headed demon said, standing up.
The first imp lowered his head and said, "Boss, you have to consider us. Moreover, he said that everything you do will be related to our lives. If you are truly determined to do this for yourself, then we will leave you." He then took a few steps back.
The imps all looked at the dog-headed demon.
The dog-headed demon scanned the imps in disbelief and asked, "You all think the same as him?"
"Boss, we all know that becoming a human face is your wish. Before, we didn't know that what you were doing would also involve us, so we didn't think much of it and just wanted to support you. But now, we no longer support you," the second imp said, shaking his head slightly.
The dog-headed demon let out a light laugh. "You've changed too quickly."
"Boss, it's not easy for us to cultivate into imps," the third imp said.
The dog-headed demon was completely speechless.