Volume 3, Chapter 197 – Mu Ruoyi, Are You Out of Your Mind?

The path of immortal cultivation grows increasingly difficult the further one progresses. Thus, in terms of divine sense alone, the gap between the Incarnation Realm and the Divine Ability Realm is far greater than that between the Unity Realm and the Incarnation Realm.

Without any warning, Protector Ma felt his knees buckle, forcing him to the ground. His body, tempered to extreme resilience, crashed down with such force that it was like a cannonball slamming into the earth.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion echoed as the ground beneath him shattered, sending rubble flying in all directions like arrows loosed from a bow. The sharp whistling of debris filled the air as onlookers scrambled to avoid the deadly shrapnel. Some weaker cultivators were even struck and injured.

When the dust settled, everyone could only watch as Protector Ma trembled on his knees, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, veins bulging—whether from fury or pain, no one could tell.

“This…”

The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, fear written plainly on their faces. Protector Ma was a seventh-layer Incarnation Realm expert! Yet he couldn’t even withstand a single glance from that person? If this wasn’t the Divine Ability Realm, then what was?

Cheng Hongling stared at the unfamiliar figure hovering in the air, feeling as though she were gazing up at an insurmountable mountain. Though the pressure wasn’t directed at her, the sheer weight of it pressed down on her like an avalanche.

“This person is terrifying! We absolutely cannot provoke him!”

Mu Ruoyi quickly leaned in, whispering urgently into Cheng Hongling’s ear. Her rapid breathing betrayed the fear in her heart.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang watched the reaction of her main body, satisfaction blooming within her. ‘In this world, I might just be the first person to ever make her show fear.’

“Tell me, do I count as a Divine Realm expert now?”

Qi Huang turned her gaze downward, coldly interrogating Protector Ma.

Before he could respond, two experts from the Chongyue Sect stepped forward, bowing deeply in apology.

“We were blind to your magnificence! If we have offended you in any way, we beg for your mercy, Senior!”

Elder Zhou, his eyes darting shrewdly, also hurried over and bowed.

“Forgive us, Senior! Our disciples from the Huxiao Sect are ignorant and have offended you. I apologize on their behalf!”

He knew all too well the power of a Divine Realm expert—they could slaughter everyone present without breaking a sweat. There was no room for schemes here.

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“Hmph! If not for the fact that we are both under the Immortal Alliance, he would have lost more than just his legs. And you, as their elder, bear responsibility for failing to discipline them properly.”

Qi Huang deliberately adopted a petty tone. A Divine Realm expert couldn’t afford to appear too lenient—it would invite suspicion.

“Yes, yes! Another day, I will personally visit to offer my apologies!”

Elder Zhou nodded obsequiously, not daring to show the slightest disrespect—though his words still carried a hint of probing.

“No need for that. You can make amends right now. Ten thousand taels of silver.”

Without hesitation, Qi Huang stretched out her small hand, demanding payment. She was a busy woman—someone had to cover her appearance fee.

Elder Zhou froze. So did everyone else.

Since when does a Divine Realm expert lack even the most basic dignity?

Cheng Hongling, however, narrowed her eyes at Qi Huang’s outstretched hand. That’s clearly a woman’s hand.

“What? Is my face not even worth ten thousand taels? Or would you prefer to pay with your lives?”

Qi Huang’s voice turned icy.

“No, no! Of course it’s worth it! Senior, please wait a moment—I’ll gather the money from my disciples!”

Elder Zhou scrambled to collect the silver.

Meanwhile, Protector Ma shakily rose to his feet, his face pale with fear, unsure of what to do.

“And you! Since you’ve offended me, you’ll pay up too. Ten thousand taels.”

Qi Huang pointed at him next.

“Understood! Right away, Senior!”

Gritting his teeth, Protector Ma suppressed any thought of resistance and immediately began gathering money from his disciples.

“And you two—what are you snickering about? Ten thousand taels, now!”

Qi Huang showed no mercy, turning her demand toward the two Incarnation Realm experts from the Chongyue Sect.

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“But, Senior, we never offended you!” one of them protested miserably.

“Your mere presence here offends me. Less talking, more paying!”

Qi Huang’s tone brooked no argument. She had heard every word they said in the tent earlier—their murderous intentions toward her main body were crystal clear.

The two Chongyue experts exchanged helpless glances before reluctantly counting their belongings, preparing their “tribute”.

“Oh no… He won’t demand payment from us too, will he? I don’t have that kind of money!”

Mu Ruoyi’s beautiful eyes shimmered with unshed tears, proving just how much she valued her wealth.

“You’re the Holy Maiden of Shuiyu Valley, the valley master’s daughter. How can you not have money?”

Cheng Hongling didn’t buy it.

“I do! But I can’t bear to part with it! I’d rather die than hand over ten thousand taels!”

Mu Ruoyi wiped her tears dramatically.

“Tch.”

Cheng Hongling scoffed. “Do what you want. I don’t have any. If he doesn’t believe me, he can take my life instead.”

“Fine. I’ll pay the ten thousand taels.”

Suddenly, Mu Ruoyi clenched her teeth, her tears vanishing instantly.

“Why? You just said you couldn’t bear to part with it.”

“For you, I can. After all, you’re my wife.”

Mu Ruoyi spoke solemnly. This wasn’t out of love—just a sense of responsibility as a “husband”.

“Ugh! Stop being so gross! Get away from me!”

Cheng Hongling shuddered, goosebumps rising all over her body.

At that moment, Elder Zhou returned with a sack.

“Senior, we didn’t carry so much silver while traveling, but this bag contains some magical tools and talismans. Combined, they should be worth ten thousand taels.”

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“Good.”

Qi Huang nodded in satisfaction.

Soon, the other two factions also handed over their “tributes”.

Beneath her mask, Qi Huang’s cheeks ached from suppressing her grin. ‘With this money, all our problems are solved!’

Just as she was about to call it a day, a clear voice rang out.

“Senior, here’s our ten thousand taels.”

Mu Ruoyi stepped forward, holding out ten silver notes worth a thousand taels each.

Qi Huang’s mind blanked.

‘Are you out of your mind, you big-boobed airhead?! Did I ask you for money?! Why the hell are you carrying so much cash around?!’

Suppressing the urge to snatch the money, Qi Huang coughed dryly.

“You two are exempt.”

“Yay! Senior is wise!”

Mu Ruoyi blinked, then cheered so enthusiastically that her ample chest bounced dangerously.

Qi Huang’s face darkened. ‘Could you be any more obvious?! What if people think we have some shady relationship?!’

“Unfair! This is unfair, Senior! Why do they get a free pass? This is gender discrimination!”

The two Chongyue experts immediately protested.

“Simple. I want them. The Twin Moons of the Western Radiance Dynasty—their beauty alone is worth far more than ten thousand taels. If you can transform into women of their caliber right now, you can skip the payment too.”

Qi Huang deliberately leered, playing the part of a lecherous expert.

Mu Ruoyi’s joy evaporated instantly, her eyes welling up with tears again.

Cheng Hongling, however, remained silent, her gaze sharpening.

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“Yay! Senior is wise!”

The Chongyue experts, suddenly pleased, wholeheartedly approved of this reasoning.

“Alright, now everyone except these two can get lost.”

Qi Huang waved them off.

“Senior, I am Zhou Ming, elder of the Huxiao Sect—”

Elder Zhou, unwilling to leave empty-handed, tried to assert his status.

“I don’t care if you’re Zhou the Pig or Zhou the Dog. One more word, and none of you will leave alive.”

Qi Huang’s patience was wearing thin. The longer this dragged on, the riskier it became.

Elder Zhou’s face twisted in conflict, but he quickly yielded.

“Then… this junior shall take his leave!”

With that, he led his Huxiao Sect disciples away. But after a few steps, he turned back and called out to Cheng Hongling.

“Junior Cheng, don’t forget our agreement. At the Evergreen Conference in two years, I’ll be waiting to see how you ‘break the rules’. That is… if you even make it back to the Honghua Sect.”

Cheng Hongling pressed her lips together. Normally, she would’ve fired back a retort. But this time… she wasn’t sure she could escape.

Seeing the Huxiao Sect depart, the other factions reluctantly followed suit.

Qi Huang exhaled inwardly.

‘I may be strong now, but I’m still only at the Pseudo-Divine Ability Realm. If those dozen or so Incarnation Realm experts had rushed me together, I’d be dead for sure.’

That was why she had let them go.

Just then, a sweet, pleading voice reached her ears.

“Senior, I beg you—let her go. I’ll serve you alone. I’ll do whatever you want.”

Mu Ruoyi’s delicate plea hung in the air.