Volume 3, Chapter 150 – The Betrothal Gift She Gave Me—No One Can Take It Away

Cheng Hongling stepped forward and bowed deeply three times, her face devoid of any reluctance.

“I’ve heard of Senior Wen’s legendary deeds. She was the most talented genius Shuiyu Valley has ever seen—reaching the Unity Realm at eleven, breaking into the top thirty of the Western Radiance Dynasty’s Immortal Seed Ranking by eighteen, and later single-handedly purging the cursed land that had plagued Nanchang Province for years. Though she ultimately perished alongside the evil source within, her courage and strength are absolutely worthy of our reverence!”

Cheng Hongling murmured solemnly, her expression grave.

‘That terrifying?’

Qi Huang felt her scalp tingle. Judging by this, the talent of Shuiyu Valley’s former Grand Elder was on par with the main body’s.

“Indeed, the glory Shuiyu Valley once enjoyed was entirely thanks to her. Unfortunately, after her passing, my limited abilities could only watch as our sect gradually declined.”

Valley Master Wen gently wiped away a speck of dust from her mother’s tombstone, her expression complex—filled with nostalgia, respect, but most of all, self-reproach.

“Valley Master Wen, there’s no need for self-blame. Your own cultivation is no weak feat.”

Cheng Hongling offered polite comfort.

“Wife! Why are you calling her ‘Valley Master Wen’ again?”

Mu Ruoyi grumbled unhappily beside her.

‘Ugh, stop being so clingy! It wasn’t me who called your mother ‘mother-in-law’—go bother whoever did!’

Cheng Hongling internally rolled her eyes.

“Heh, compared to her, I’m still worlds apart.”

Valley Master Wen smiled self-deprecatingly before slowly turning her head. “Fortunately, we now have you. You reached the Incarnation Realm at fifteen—your talent far surpasses even my mother’s. I believe it won’t be long before Shuiyu Valley’s brilliance is restored.”

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Cheng Hongling’s expression stiffened again. Such high expectations were far beyond what this fake Incarnation Realm cultivator could bear.

“Well then, if you have no objections, I’ll carve your name now?”

Valley Master Wen pulled out the hairpin from her bun. Naturally, she wouldn’t wield a blade before her mother’s grave.

“Mm.”

Cheng Hongling knew there was no turning back, so she nodded reluctantly.

Valley Master Wen smiled in satisfaction before bowing once more to the tombstone. “Mother, your daughter apologizes for this disrespect. I shall now carve your granddaughter-in-law’s name!”

With that, she began etching with the hairpin. Given her cultivation, she could have finished in an instant, yet she worked with painstaking care—every stroke deliberate, ensuring perfection, as if the slightest mistake would be unforgivable.

Half a day later, the words “Granddaughter-in-law Cheng Hongling” finally appeared after “Granddaughter Mu Ruoyi”. To an outsider, it might seem like a mistake—how could a granddaughter be followed by a granddaughter-in-law?

Of course, this wasn’t to say same-sex relationships were unheard of in the cultivation world. On the contrary, they were quite common—largely because immortal sects often had more women than men. But such unions usually arose out of necessity. For someone like Mu Ruoyi, whose beauty and status made marriage as easy as drinking water, why would she choose a woman as her partner?

“Now you are officially my daughter-in-law. Bow to your grandmother once more. After your wedding with Ruoyi, you’ll properly kowtow to her.”

Once the engraving was complete, Valley Master Wen turned and instructed.

Cheng Hongling didn’t argue and bowed three more times. The late elder’s deeds alone were enough to earn her respect.

“Good. Now that we’re family, I won’t delay your search for your kin. Come with Ruoyi and me to the council hall.”

Valley Master Wen turned and strode away.

“The council hall? For what?”

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Cheng Hongling followed, puzzled.

“As I mentioned earlier, ‘Water Exquisite Art’ is our sect’s ultimate technique, reserved only for disciples. Though you are now my daughter-in-law, you are not yet a formal member of Shuiyu Valley. To pass this technique to you, I must first secure the approval of all our elders.”

Valley Master Wen explained without looking back.

“What? Their approval? What if they refuse?”

Cheng Hongling froze, a sense of being manipulated creeping over her.

Even Qi Huang in her Sea of Consciousness grew restless. Though this “betrothal gift” hadn’t been part of the original plan, it was undeniably crucial for both her and the main body.

“Don’t worry. They will agree.”

Valley Master Wen answered with absolute confidence.

“Relax, wife! My mother never makes promises she can’t keep. The betrothal gift she pledged to you will be delivered.”

Mu Ruoyi hurried to reassure her.

“Don’t call me ‘wife’!”

Cheng Hongling’s delicate brows furrowed, her stomach churning.

“If I can’t call you ‘wife’ until the gift is given, then I’ll call you ‘Hongling-mei’ for now.”

Mu Ruoyi was nothing if not accommodating.

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Hongling followed. At this point, she could only take things one step at a time.

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The three women soon arrived at the council hall. Valley Master Wen summoned the elders, and soon, Shuiyu Valley’s two protectors and eight grand elders assembled.

Valley Master Wen first announced the news of her newfound granddaughter-in-law. Though surprised, the elders saw no reason to object—it didn’t concern them.

“Hongling is now my granddaughter-in-law and a water-attribute cultivator of exceptional talent. Thus, I intend to pass down our sect’s ‘Water Exquisite Art’ to her. Who supports this? Who opposes?”

She then declared her purpose.

“I oppose!”

“As do I!”

“Valley Master, though she is your granddaughter-in-law, she is not a disciple of Shuiyu Valley.”

“Indeed. Had she formally joined, I wouldn’t utter a word of dissent. But your actions now clearly violate sect law.”

As expected, four of the ten elders voiced opposition. The rest remained ambiguous—neither supporting nor openly rejecting.

“Esteemed elders, my granddaughter-in-law hails from the Honghua Sect of Huangtian Prefecture. The situation there is no secret—she alone keeps the demons and monsters of the entire prefecture at bay. If she leaves, the common folk will be left defenseless. How can we force such an unreasonable demand? This is a matter of compassion.”

Valley Master Wen first played the emotional card.

The elders exchanged glances, momentarily silenced. Though the lives of Huangtian’s mortals meant little to them, none dared say so outright—after all, they were all cultivators.

“In principle, she is my daughter-in-law, and I am Shuiyu Valley’s master. Should we ever need her aid in the future, she would not refuse. Does that not make her half a member of our sect?”

She continued her reasoning.

“Valley Master, no matter how diminished Shuiyu Valley may be, we are still a major sect with three Incarnation Realm experts. Why would we ever need her?”

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“I’ve heard of her circumstances—she broke into the top sixty of the Immortal Seed Ranking at twelve but has since faded into obscurity. Surely she achieved nothing notable in the last Evergreen Conference?”

“As the saying goes, ‘Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west.’ Some rise, some fall. Who knows what these past three years have done to her?”

“Even if she remains a genius, so what? Geniuses need time to grow. We have no interest in playing nurturing games.”

The elders seized the chance to rebut, their words overlapping.

Valley Master Wen’s brows furrowed slightly. For once, she was at a loss—her argument had always been flimsy.

Mu Ruoyi’s pretty face also showed worry as she glanced at Cheng Hongling. Though she had secured her “wife”, she didn’t want to be labeled a freeloader.

Cheng Hongling’s breathing grew heavier. Though not a greedy person, the feeling of being deceived sat poorly with her.

‘Forget it. One should know contentment. I came here only to save Father.’

She consoled herself, ready to let it go.

But Qi Huang in her Sea of Consciousness had other plans.

‘No. The betrothal gift she gave me—no one can take it away!’

Without hesitation, Qi Huang pushed open the Heart’s Door and stepped out into the world.

“You have no interest in nurturing games because you don’t realize what kind of genius stands before you!”

The moment she appeared, an overwhelming Divine Sense erupted, surging in all directions.