Category: Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples

44. Really Just Foundation Establishment?

Oh, right.

Gong Yiling suddenly remembered something else she should be concerned about.

She had spent two hours refining the pill’s energy into her true essence. She should have jumped several levels, right?

But wait… what did Mr. Deer say earlier?

Gong Yiling looked at her status screen again and froze.

Heavenly Saint Technique of the Myriad Paths cultivation—Foundation Establishment.

Foundation Establishment!?

After all that effort, she was still at… Foundation Establishment!?

She could have at least added a “peak” to it for comfort.

Miss Gong twitched her lips. “According to you, what should I have reached?”

“That pill contained my friend’s cultivation of over a hundred years and the inheritance of the Heavenly Saint Technique. You should have reached at least Soul Origin, if not Earthly Nether realm. Why are you still at Foundation Establishment?”

From Foundation Establishment to Soul Origin… that was a huge gap…

“Did you lose most of the true essence during cultivation, leading to this result?”

“Is that so?”

Gong Yiling scratched her head, puzzled.

If she had lost that much true essence, she would have felt like a deflated balloon.

But she hadn’t felt deflated at all. On the contrary, she almost exploded from the excess true essence.

Did she lose it while unconscious?

“It doesn’t matter.” The Nine-Colored Deer comforted her. “I can sense that you have successfully cultivated this technique. Your future cultivation progress will be swift, and you will soon be able to shoulder your responsibilities.”

“Senior, you overestimate me. That girl Qiu Shui is much more talented than I am.”

“She can withstand such a long Heavenly Rainbow Blessing. Her talent is indeed rare.”

As they spoke, the Nine-Colored Deer’s form began to flicker like starlight, becoming ethereal.

“It seems this avatar’s time is almost up.”

It looked at its own body and smiled calmly. “The future of the righteous path requires your contribution.”

Miss Gong could only smile awkwardly. “I’ll do my best, I’ll do my best.”

“Since you call yourself her master, I entrust her to your care. We will meet again. Farewell.”

“Farewell…”

After the Nine-Colored Deer disappeared completely, Gong Yiling finally relaxed.

How should she describe what had just happened?

A fortuitous encounter?

Perhaps it was.

But it was a confusing encounter, filled with more questions than joy.

Especially this Foundation Establishment thing!

“Um, Young Palace Master,” Chun Lian suddenly appeared beside her, her eyes sparkling. “Can Chun Lian ask you a question?”

“Call me Master.”

“No.” Chun Lian shook her head seriously. “There was a clay figurine maker near my home when I was young, and I always called him ‘Master.’ It sounds weird.”

“…Then ask.”

“Are you really a spy for the righteous path!?” Chun Lian asked excitedly. “Did you really cripple your own cultivation and infiltrate the demonic sect? That’s so cool!”

“Of course not.” Gong Yiling knocked her on the head. “The Palace Master of the Blood Orchid Palace is my mother, my real mother. What are you expecting?”

Chun Lian’s excitement deflated, and she mumbled, pouting, “I just thought it would be cool… Demonic sect is demonic sect.”

“What’s so cool about being a spy? Isn’t being a demon lord cool enough?” Gong Yiling poked her cheek. “Why don’t you focus on your talisman drawing instead?”

“Okay, Chun Lian understands!”

Chun Lian suddenly felt pressured.

She had initially been curious about talismans, not particularly interested.

Then, she was constantly brainwashed by Miss Gong about learning talismans to protect her, but she always thought her young miss was powerful enough and didn’t need her protection.

But now, seeing her friend become so powerful, even the naive Chun Lian understood she couldn’t hold them back.

Besides…

She enjoyed Gong Yiling’s head-pats, her simple mind connecting talisman mastery with receiving more head-pats.

Even if it was just for that!

Yes!

But after petting her for a while, Gong Yiling realized she was getting addicted, like petting a cat. She coughed lightly. “Keep an eye on Qiu Shui.”

“What about you, Young Palace Master?”

“I’ll go test how weak this Foundation Establishment is. Call me if anything happens.”

“Okay!”

After instructing Chun Lian, Miss Gong walked to the end of the pool, towards a small artificial hill.

She just wanted to understand what the system’s question marks meant.

But she didn’t know much about the Heavenly Saint Technique, and her current Foundation Establishment cultivation couldn’t utilize any powerful skills.

So, she could only…

“Serious Punch!”

She made up a name, gathered her true essence, and punched the artificial hill.

Suddenly, the ground shook, and rocks crumbled. The small hill, like tofu, was pierced by her fist, creating a hole twenty meters long and four or five times her height.

What?

Seeing this, Gong Yiling became even more confused.

She had only thrown an ordinary punch.

Even with true essence, Foundation Establishment cultivators were only in the first stage of body refinement. Their strength was enhanced, but there was a limit.

Destroying a tree with one punch was already difficult, let alone shattering a large rock.

Only at Core Transformation could one create a hole in a mountain with a single punch.

And that was just a small hole.

Unless the artificial hill was made of styrofoam, was her punch stronger than a peak Core Transformation cultivator’s?

However…

After this punch, Miss Gong had a realization.

Her meridians were five or six times wider than before, far beyond what any ordinary genius could possess.

The pill’s energy hadn’t dissipated, but instead widened her meridians, which was why her cultivation level hadn’t increased much.

But this wasn’t without effect. She could now display power far exceeding her cultivation level.

Then… what about her demonic art?

Gong Yiling turned to the real mountain, gulping.

She was always enthusiastic about self-improvement.

“Hunyuan Demonic Art, Blood Orchid Style, Blood Crushing Strike!”

This was the most powerful technique she currently knew, creating a blood-red energy bomb at her point of focus.

Then…

“Boom!!!!!”

A moment later, a girl in a bathrobe, carrying another girl in a bathrobe, and dragging a third girl in a bathrobe, rushed out of the bathhouse.

As they ran, they shouted, “Earthquake! Run!!!”

43. Is It Me or You With the Problem?

When I type this question mark, it doesn’t mean I have a problem, it means you have a problem.

So, Gong Yiling really wanted to ask Mr. Deer:

Wasn’t this a bit much?

So much so that the system, in its crash moment, bombarded her with a bunch of notifications.

“Notification: Yin Qiushui’s quest objective has changed from becoming the Sect Master of Shenqi Daoist Mountain to bringing the Cloud Rainbow Sect back into the top three of the Hundred Paths Mountain.”

“Notification: You have learned the [Heavenly Saint Technique of the Myriad Paths]. Character attributes have been fully unlocked and can be viewed at any time.”

“Notification: Due to passively learning the [Heavenly Saint Technique of the Myriad Paths], the quest [Just How Many Glories Do You Want to Reforge?] has been automatically triggered.”

“Quest: [Just How Many Glories Do You Want to Reforge?]

Quest Level: ?

Quest Objective: As the host possesses dual identities, the future Palace Master of the Blood Orchid Palace and the Sect Master of the Great One Engineering Sect, this is an optional quest.

Choose one of the following objectives:

Assist the demonic sects in conquering the Hundred Paths Mountain (0/1)

Assist the righteous sects in destroying the Five Demonic Abysses (0/1)

Establish a third faction (0/1)

Die from the pressure (0/1)

Quest Reward: S10 League of Legends World Championship trophy.

Time Limit: None.”

Was this system determined not to give her normal rewards?

Now even the S10 trophy had appeared.

But based on past experience, this trophy would definitely be something strange, its function beyond human comprehension.

Compared to the reward, the quest objectives were even more absurd.

She was a member of the demonic sect, and her mother was the second-ranked villain.

Was she supposed to betray her own mother?

Even drunk, she wouldn’t do such a thing.

As for conquering the Hundred Paths Mountain, that was even more ridiculous. She had just helped Qiu Shui join a sect there, and now she was supposed to destroy them all?

If she had a revive item, she would definitely hang herself.

As for what this Heavenly Saint Technique of the Myriad Paths actually was… she would look at it later, lest its absurdity make her faint.

“Old Sect… Master…”

Gong Yiling shook her head with a wry smile. “Senior, do you have such faith in me, believing I can shoulder such a heavy responsibility?”

The Nine-Colored Deer nodded. “I wouldn’t be mistaken. You have the courage and the ability. The Great One Engineering Sect will surely flourish under your leadership.”

“This…”

Well, things had escalated to this point. After Qiu Shui woke up, she couldn’t reveal the truth.

The Nine-Colored Deer had mistakenly given an ancient inheritance to the Young Palace Master of a demonic sect. If it found out, who knew what would happen.

“I’ll… do my best,” she could only agree reluctantly.

From a random disciple of a made-up sect, she had become its Sect Master.

“Now, begin circulating your true essence to refine the energy within your dantian. My true body is still in the Nine Heavens Realm, and this avatar has limited time. After protecting you two, I shall depart.”

“Okay.”

Gong Yiling took a deep breath, gave a reassuring look to the dumbfounded Chun Lian, and sat down cross-legged.

The unique true essence within her body began to build the foundation of her cultivation.

A different cultivation technique meant starting from scratch.

But as the energy of the Heavenly Saint Technique flowed through her meridians, something strange happened.

Seeking unobstructed pathways for both techniques to flow simultaneously, the true essence began widening her meridians.

But widening wasn’t the same as repairing.

The true essence’s movements were violent, and Gong Yiling felt as if her entire body was being stretched and torn apart. The pain made her break out in a cold sweat.

This pain… was more than ten times worse than period cramps. If it weren’t for Qiu Shui and Chun Lian, she would have screamed.

But now, she could only endure it silently, her body convulsing. She bit her lip so hard it bled.

It hurt so much… when would it end…?

Was this what childbirth felt like? But she never planned to get married or have children!

But on the other hand, if she could endure this pain, she wouldn’t have to worry about periods anymore…

Damn it!

She had been reduced to comforting herself with the thought of not having periods.

And as time passed, the pain didn’t subside.

Her body became numb, and her vision blurred.

It was similar to what she felt before dying suddenly.

Ah… she wanted to sleep. If she slept, she wouldn’t feel anything anymore…

But…

No… she couldn’t!

If she fell asleep and Qiu Shui woke up first, their secret might be exposed, putting all three of their lives in danger.

She had to endure until the end!

She had never been afraid of anything in her life. This was just like giving birth!

—An hour later—

Although sitting by the pool, Gong Yiling looked like she had just been fished out of the water, her bathrobe dripping wet.

She didn’t know how she had endured the past two hours, driven only by the belief that she couldn’t fall asleep.

Finally…

The effects of the true essence subsided, and the pain receded. Gong Yiling could finally breathe freely.

While waiting for her body to recover enough to stand, she opened her status screen.

“Name: Gong Yiling

Gender: Female

Identity: Omitted

Physical Talent: ????

Spiritual Talent: ????

Cultivation Technique Potential: ????

Potential Adaptability: ????

Current Cultivation Technique: Blood Orchid Soul Devouring Art (EX), Heavenly Saint Technique of the Myriad Paths (SSR)

Note: When I type these question marks, it doesn’t mean I have a problem, it means you have a problem.

Note 2: Don’t worry about what SSR means. You’ll lose if you take it seriously.”

Gong Yiling: “…”

What the hell was this update!?

Her attributes were almost normal, just needing the second cultivation technique to unlock, but now it was a mess again?

And not just one question mark, but so many! What was the meaning of this?

“I seriously suspect you’re targeting me, System.”

She almost shouted those words.

Just then, the Nine-Colored Deer, sensing she had finished cultivating, asked in confusion,

“Why are you still at Foundation Establishment?”

42. Mr. Deer, This Is a Bit Weird

Qiu Shui’s breakthrough was a natural progression.

She had been at the peak of Core Formation for a while, and with the low-grade spirit stones Gong Yiling gave her, coupled with her diligent cultivation, reaching Core Transformation was only a matter of time.

However, the timing was a bit… peculiar.

Think about it.

After being groped twice and losing her first kiss, she suddenly broke through.

Was that reasonable?

Not really.

It made it seem like those were the reasons for her breakthrough.

“It’s a good thing this place is reserved for us today.”

Gong Yiling quickly put those embarrassing events behind her, taking out the Qi Condensation Pills from her Universe Ring and handing them to Qiu Shui.

“Don’t think too much about it. Chun Lian and I will guard you.”

Still blushing, Qiu Shui nodded silently and sat down cross-legged, quickly calming her mind.

Gong Yiling picked up her damp bathrobe, dried it with her true energy, wrapped it around herself, and jumped onto the platform beside the pool.

“Chun Lian, set up a barrier. I don’t feel safe in the open.”

“Okay!”

Chun Lian efficiently set up the barrier and returned to the poolside, just in time to see a rainbow aura rising from Yin Qiushui.

The mist and water in the pool swirled around the girl, forming a massive water tornado, rising tens of meters high, far surpassing any previous phenomena she had displayed during breakthroughs.

“Roar—!”

The massive tornado, like a rainbow dragon, roared towards the sky. Even with the barrier, the sound reverberated through the air, spreading across the vast land.

“Holy shit?”

Gong Yiling was dumbfounded, speechless at this sight.

This wasn’t just Core Transformation; she would have believed it if someone said Qiu Shui was breaking through to Soul Origin or Earthly Nether realm.

This was too absurd!

And the absurdity didn’t end there.

As Qiu Shui bathed in the rainbow light, a deer’s cry echoed from afar.

Then, the night sky lit up like day as the Nine-Colored Deer descended on a colorful cloud, its deep brown eyes fixed on the girl within the water tornado. It lowered its noble head.

“This… what is this? So beautiful…” Chun Lian was mesmerized by the dreamlike scene, forgetting she had seen this during Qiu Shui’s previous cultivation.

However, when the Nine-Colored Deer turned its gaze towards her, a murderous intent flashed in its eyes.

Oh no.

Chun Lian was one thing, but her demonic cultivation would be instantly recognized by this divine beast.

Before she could explain, the Nine-Colored Deer let out a deafening roar and charged towards her like a streak of light.

“Friendly fire, lady!”

Fortunately, Gong Yiling reacted quickly, using a Teleportation Talisman to appear a hundred meters away. She then addressed the Nine-Colored Deer, “She’s my disciple. Do you intend to kill her master?”

“…A demonic cultivator, with a righteous disciple?”

The Nine-Colored Deer spoke in a human voice. “Moreover, this child cultivates the Cloud Rainbow Heavenly Sound Technique. How could you have taught her!?”

“With the oral formula and Qiu Shui’s talent, why couldn’t I teach her?” Gong Yiling calmly countered, secretly circulating her demonic art.

She couldn’t interrupt Qiu Shui’s breakthrough, so she wouldn’t fight this ancient divine beast here.

She couldn’t win anyway!

The best course of action was to break the barrier and escape. Once things calmed down, Qiu Shui would clear up the misunderstanding.

She just needed to accumulate enough true essence first.

“The Cloud Rainbow Heavenly Sound Technique, how do you know this secret technique?”

“Do you still not understand?” Miss Gong said dramatically, “Reviving the glory of the Great One Engineering Sect is our duty!”

Hadn’t she used this line recently?

It didn’t matter.

No one said you couldn’t use the same line twice! It wasn’t patented!

“The Great One Engineering Sect…” The Nine-Colored Deer’s eyes flickered with confusion. “You are a descendant of the old sect, but why does a descendant of the extinct old sect possess demonic cultivation?”

“Because I’m a spy, I mean, an undercover agent.”

Gong Yiling said confidently, “And you should be able to sense the remnants of a righteous cultivation technique within me. That’s proof that I crippled my own cultivation years ago and infiltrated the demonic sects to search for the secrets of the Cloud Rainbow Heavenly Sound Technique.”

After saying this, she noticed the Nine-Colored Deer actually probing her body with its divine sense.

The information it obtained matched her claims perfectly, as these things had indeed happened. The reasons, however, were completely fabricated.

After a moment of contemplation, the Nine-Colored Deer was actually convinced.

“Indeed.”

It said, “But you possess dual spiritual apertures, a rare talent. Such ability should be used for the righteous path.”

Hearing this, Gong Yiling swallowed the true essence she had been accumulating.

This Nine-Colored Deer, despite its impressive reputation, was easily fooled. Luckily, she reacted quickly; Qiu Shui almost screwed her over.

“Since you have found the inheritor of the Cloud Rainbow Heavenly Sound Technique and paid such a price, I shall grant you a reward, something you deserve.”

Oh, there were benefits too?

Miss Gong was overjoyed but maintained a calm facade.

The show must go on.

“This is my duty, Senior. There’s no need…”

“I shall destroy your demonic cultivation, restore your righteous cultivation, and allow you to cultivate another Daoist technique.”

What!?

What the hell!?

Don’t do this to me!

Gong Yiling quickly pleaded, “Mr. Deer, I mean, Senior, my demonic cultivation still has its uses. I might be able to find more Daoist scriptures hidden by demonic cultivators.”

The Nine-Colored Deer was impressed.

“Hmm… you have good intentions.”

“Then when you are ready to abandon your demonic cultivation, I can help you rebuild your foundation. As for your other cultivation technique…”

The Nine-Colored Deer paused, then spat out a seven-colored pill. Before Gong Yiling could react, it shot into her slightly open mouth and transformed into a surge of true essence, flowing into her dantian.

What was this, Mr. Deer?

“This pill was entrusted to me by the previous Sect Master of the Great One Engineering Sect. Upon consumption, one can comprehend the sect’s secret technique, the Heavenly Saint Technique of the Myriad Paths.”

“Young lady, from today onward, you are the Sect Master of the old sect.”

…

…

Huh!?

41. A Most Peculiar Breakthrough Method

“Alert: The host’s top/bottom attribute is deviating. Bottom tendency increased by 10%. The system encourages the host to continue.”

Suddenly, instead of Qiu Shui’s reply, Miss Gong received this notification from the system.

She was dumbfounded, retorting internally, “Wait, even returning a favor counts?”

The system didn’t respond, leaving her hanging awkwardly.

Of course, whether the system responded or not wasn’t a big deal.

Because shortly after, Qiu Shui’s hand gently brushed against Gong Yiling’s cheek before quickly retracting.

“A-all done.”

That wasn’t a slap.

Just a reluctant gesture under duress.

“That’s it?” Gong Yiling was still uncomfortable. “Really no need to touch back? It shouldn’t be a problem for Qiu Shui.”

“Because it’s weird!”

Qiu Shui retorted, then quickly crouched down, submerging herself up to her mouth, blowing bubbles.

Since they were both girls, was it really that weird?

Gong Yiling pondered this question.

If this was like… you know, then there might be some issues.

But she hadn’t been a woman before, so how would she know if girls groped each other while bathing?

However, since that wasn’t acceptable, she had to find another way to compensate the girl.

“Then Qiu Shui,” Gong Yiling’s mind went into overdrive,

“Let me give you a massage!”

Qiu Shui poked her mouth out of the water, asking innocently, “Master, do you know how?”

“Don’t underestimate me.”

Gong Yiling swam behind Qiu Shui, raising her hands dramatically. “This Palace Master has a special skill: petting cats.”

Qiu Shui: “Huh???”

The next moment, the professional cat-petter gently placed her hands on Qiu Shui’s neck, then slid them down her smooth back and shoulders.

(The following content has been deleted.)

Randomly pressing wasn’t difficult. Gong Yiling even found it enjoyable, her initial seriousness fading away.

As for Qiu Shui, although the touch wasn’t unusual, something she had often done for the Young Palace Master in the past two years…

After the recent events, she pursed her lips, trying to suppress any sounds, a strange feeling bubbling inside her.

Yes… they were both girls, so it shouldn’t be weird… but…

(The following content has been deleted.)

“Ahem, have you eaten?”

“Master!”

Gong Yiling’s actions made Yin Qiushui a mix of angry, embarrassed, annoyed, and speechless. She stomped her foot lightly.

Then, she quickly submerged herself in the water, ignoring Gong Yiling, who sighed inwardly.

Damn it.

Gong Yiling looked at her hands, then scratched her head with those sinful hands.

She must have angered Qiu Shui.

And anger meant a decrease in affection. It would be a waste to lose the hard-earned affection points!

“Young Palace Master is so mean.”

Chun Lian’s voice reached her ears.

Wrapped in her bathrobe, she sat by the pool, splashing water with her feet. “Chun Lian saw everything. Young Palace Master kissed Sister Qiu Shui.”

“…Huh?”

Gong Yiling was stunned, then suddenly realized.

Holy crap.

Before falling into the water, that soft, moist touch… was Qiu Shui’s lips?

The subsequent events were so overwhelming that she had completely forgotten about it.

“Could that have been… her first kiss?”

She muttered softly, then slapped herself lightly.

Of course it was.

How old was Qiu Shui? Fourteen? Fifteen? —She herself was only sixteen and had lived within the palace walls for so long. It was definitely Qiu Shui’s first kiss.

But…

Did a kiss between girls count as a first kiss?

She shouldn’t consider herself a woman. Just because she was in a female body didn’t mean she should do things that were inappropriate for men, right?

—Actually, what she had just done was already inappropriate enough.

So, if it was considered a first kiss… what should she say?

Like…

“Qiu Shui, I will take responsibility for you. You can trust me…”

That sounded too weird. Qiu Shui would probably think she was a pervert.

Then, how about a different approach? A small gift and an apology?

Like…

“Qiu Shui, Qiu Shui, this is Master’s worn white silk stockings for you. Wear them, and you’ll be the prettiest girl… What? You ask where I got them? Of course, the system gave them to me. I mean, I found them on the street… No, wait, I definitely didn’t steal them, no!”

Stop, stop, stop!

Was that something a normal person would do? How could she come up with such absurd dialogues? Was she actually a hidden pervert?

No way… that couldn’t be…

Just as she was lost in thought, Qiu Shui suddenly stood up from the water.

The girl mumbled softly, her back to Gong Yiling, “Master… actually, I… I…”

“You want to hit me? Go ahead.”

“I think I’m about to break through.”

“Break through… what!?”

40. Master and Disciple’s Daily Life (Part 2)

After changing clothes, Qiu Shui and Chun Lian’s individual characteristics became more pronounced.

One was as serene as the moon, the other as vibrant as spring flowers.

The heads they turned on the street were numerous, but the increased attention made Gong Yiling uncomfortable.

Some gazes were filled with lust and objectification, making her want to gouge out their eyes and shove them down their throats.

It seemed having beautiful disciples wasn’t always a good thing. Next time, she would make them wear bamboo hats too.

However, this minor incident didn’t dampen Miss Gong’s mood.

She even bought them jewelry and cosmetics, dressing them up beautifully before taking them to the night market.

Anyone who dared to approach them was met with Gong Yiling’s philosophical two-part question: Where did you come from? Go back there.

In the evening, they arrived at the foot of South City Mountain, near a large bathhouse.

“This ticket should be for here, right?” Gong Yiling handed the ticket to the attendant at the entrance.

The attendant barely glanced at the ticket before bowing deeply. “Thank you, Immortal Master, for ridding our city of those villains.”

“Uh…” Why did everyone know about the “great deed” she had “done”? News traveled much faster in this world than in modern times.

“We’ve cleared out everyone inside before your arrival. You three have the entire place to yourselves tonight.”

“The… entire place?”

Gong Yiling’s lips twitched.

Although she didn’t deserve such treatment, she couldn’t refuse their kindness.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Immortal Master.” The attendant stepped aside and instructed someone, “Escort these three to the changing rooms.”

At this point, Gong Yiling was still thinking about relaxing with her disciples.

It wasn’t until the attendant led her to an open-air hot spring and urged her to undress that she suddenly realized.

Oh shit, weren’t these supposed to be individual baths?

So she would see…

“Master?”

Hearing this, Gong Yiling flinched, a metaphorical antenna popping up on her head.

Stimulating images flashed through her mind.

And she…

Froze.

“Master?”

Qiu Shui, thinking Gong Yiling hadn’t heard her, called out again.

Then, she walked around to face Miss Gong.

Fortunately, Qiu Shui was wearing a bathrobe made from a large towel, just like her.

This was the third time Gong Yiling had seen Qiu Shui with almost all her clothes off.

Although she wasn’t as flustered as the first time, the girl’s fair skin, delicate collarbones, slightly flushed cheeks from the steam, and damp hair draped over her shoulders…

The girl’s scent wafted over, and the virgin Gong panicked again.

The most comforting thing was that she didn’t have… you know.

“You… um…”

“What?”

“Ah, right.” The virgin Gong asked, “Have you eaten?”

Qiu Shui was taken aback. “Yes?”

“What did you eat?”

“Didn’t you take us out to eat?”

“Oh!” Gong Yiling responded blankly. “So I did.”

Then…

“What did we eat?”

“Pfft—”

Qiu Shui burst out laughing.

She took two steps forward and touched Gong Yiling’s forehead.

Her sudden approach made Miss Gong’s temperature rise.

The feeling of her hand on her forehead, the slightly damp touch…

“Master, your forehead feels a bit hot. Do you have a fever?”

“It’s just hot in here!”

Gong Yiling denied it vehemently. “This Palace Master is not flustered because a beautiful girl is close to me.”

“…Huh?” Qiu Shui was stunned.

She had been attending to the Young Palace Master’s baths for over two years, and her attitude had always been lukewarm.

Only recently had the Young Palace Master become someone she couldn’t even touch.

Her words and actions were strange.

But…

This Young Palace Master…

She found her incredibly cute.

“What nonsense are you talking about, Master?”

Qiu Shui twirled a strand of hair around her finger, glancing away with a smile.

“Master is even more—”

Suddenly!

Chun Lian came running, calling Qiu Shui’s name.

However, she stepped on a puddle and slipped.

Before falling, she bumped into Qiu Shui’s back.

The sudden push sent Qiu Shui tumbling into Gong Yiling’s arms.

Then, the two, of similar height, kissed.

Gong Yiling felt a soft, moist touch on her lips. Before she could react, she was also pulled down by the force.

And behind her was the large hot spring pool.

“Splash!”

A loud splash echoed as water sprayed several meters high before raining down, splashing Chun Lian’s face and the towel she was inexplicably holding.

“Oops—”

Gong Yiling, suddenly submerged, started struggling.

Blinded by the water, she choked on the hot spring water. Panicking, she grabbed onto something, something incredibly soft…

Wait a minute?

She recognized this feeling!

How could this happen again? The last time, and now this!?

Realizing what she had done, Gong Yiling scrambled out of the water.

She saw Qiu Shui standing there, her face flushed, clutching her chest…

“System notification: Affection level with disciple Yin Qiushui increased by 20 points. Current affection level: 13.”

“Since this is the first time the affection level has become positive under the debuff, the host will receive a bonus reward.”

“Congratulations to the host for obtaining the special bonus reward—Yin Qiushui’s worn white silk stockings. The host will receive this reward upon confirmation.”

What the—!!!???

The affection level increased???

And what the hell was this reward???

Worn white silk stockings!?

Was it what she thought it was?

Could such a thing be a quest reward? Huh?

No, no, she would deal with that later.

The more pressing issue was…

“Hoo—”

Miss Gong took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Come on, Qiu Shui, I’m ready.”

Qiu Shui blushed, her eyes filled with embarrassment.

“Ready… for what?”

“To slap me.”

“W-why would Master want to be slapped?”

“Then…”

Miss Gong gritted her teeth, making up her mind. “I’ll let Qiu Shui… touch, touch, touch, touch me back!”

39. Master and Disciple’s Daily Life (Part 1) 

Gong Yiling was very happy today.

Despite being dragged into this mess, it wasn’t a big deal.

She looked at the Universe Ring on her finger, grinning from ear to ear.

—She had wanted to buy a spatial ring to store all her belongings and items, but the price was exorbitant, calculated based on the internal storage space.

Specifically, four thousand taels per square meter.

Yes, over a hundred times more expensive than buying a house in this world. Utterly absurd.

Of course, considering it was a portable space, and the crafting process was time-consuming, the price was somewhat understandable.

However, Miss Gong had received one for free from Elder Yan, and it wasn’t small, with a capacity of fifty square meters.

In terms of value, the old man had essentially given her two million taels, and the ring even contained some silver.

In short…

She was rich!

“Let’s go, Master will take you shopping!”

Gong Yiling said, preparing to drag the two girls out for some fun.

Qiu Shui: “No, Master, I need to cultivate diligently.”

Qiu Shui, serious face.

Chun Lian was about to agree, but seeing Qiu Shui’s serious expression, she also became serious.

Chun Lian: “Okay, okay, oka… No, Master, I need to practice my talisman drawing.”

“Cultivate what? It can wait.”

Gong Yiling grabbed their hands. “If you don’t go, you’re disrespecting me. Are you going or not?”

This was a powerful statement, and the two girls could only nod in agreement.

However, after leaving the inn, Gong Yiling hesitated.

What did men usually do when they went out?

That’s right.

Eat some fast food, go to an arcade.

As for actual shopping…

That didn’t exist.

Why would a man go shopping without a girlfriend? To feel lonely?

So, after buying some snacks, Gong Yiling gradually lost her initial enthusiasm.

She also wanted to cultivate.

“No, no, no!”

Miss Gong, munching on some fried tofu, shook her head seriously.

How could she waste such a beautiful day on boring cultivation?

She looked at the distracted Yin Qiushui, her eyes flickering with inspiration.

Hmm… this could work.

Gong Yiling then dragged Yin Qiushui and Chun Lian to a women’s clothing store.

“Master, what are you…?”

“You two only have four outfits between you. It’s not very ladylike.”

Gong Yiling said seriously, “So, Master has decided to take you shopping for some new clothes.”

Shopping for… them?

Before the two girls could react, Gong Yiling pushed them into the store.

She then called out to the staff, “Hey, someone come and help them pick out some clothes. The prettier, the better.”

“Right away… You must be the Immortal Master from the Great One Engineering Sect!”

The attendant’s enthusiasm was overwhelming upon seeing Gong Yiling.

“Ah, yes… I suppose so…”

“I never thought I’d have the honor of choosing clothes for an Immortal Master’s disciples.” The attendant was so excited she almost asked for an autograph.

Her eyes shone as she looked at Qiu Shui and Chun Lian like a wolf eyeing its prey.

In an instant, she dragged the two girls into the back room, leaving Gong Yiling to wander around the shop boredly.

Usually, the person waiting outside would be the boyfriend.

But Miss Gong, looking at the clothes she could wear herself, couldn’t help but recall the time she looked at herself in the mirror wearing that winter outfit.

She was undeniably beautiful.

But what good was beauty? Could it make her stronger?

No.

It might even make her more… receptive.

“Dresses…”

She stood before a white, fur-trimmed dress, similar to the furry winter outfit.

Her initial disdain turned into curiosity, then she reached out and touched it.

So fluffy.

It felt comforting, almost transcendent.

“Notification: Your top/bottom attribute is deviating—”

“Deviating my ass! Are you stupid?”

Gong Yiling stopped abruptly, wanting to punch the system.

“Notification: System server disconnecting. Please wait for response.”

Hmph.

Putting the system in its place made Miss Gong happy, and she continued stroking the fluffy dress.

Ascending…exe

After an unknown amount of time…

Qiu Shui’s voice suddenly called out, “Master, what are you doing?”

“Ah, I’m petting the clothes…” Gong Yiling instinctively replied, then realized her mistake.

Her image! Maintain your image!

“Oh my—ahem!”

She quickly corrected herself, then noticed Yin Qiushui’s new outfit.

A light green top and a white skirt, like a serene landscape of mountains and clouds.

Although a simple combination, it perfectly complemented Qiu Shui’s calm demeanor.

The fluffy vest added a touch of playfulness.

“Did you choose this yourself?” Gong Yiling suppressed the urge to touch it.

“Yes…” Qiu Shui blushed slightly. “Is it… too plain?”

“Clothes are meant to enhance one’s beauty. The best clothes are those that suit you.” Gong Yiling smiled and patted her head. “You look beautiful.”

“…Thank you!”

Miss Gong’s head-pat made Qiu Shui’s eyes crinkle with happiness.

“Hey, if Sister Qiu Shui gets one, Chun Lian wants one too!”

Chun Lian emerged, sporting a bun hairstyle and a cute pink dress, leaning against Qiu Shui and blinking her eyes.

“Qiu Shui is about to reach Core Transformation, but you still fall asleep after drawing a high-grade Profound talisman. She deserves it, you don’t.”

“Eeeeeeek!!!”

Chun Lian’s dejected cry made Miss Gong happy. She then asked the attendant about the price of the two outfits.

“It’s free,” the attendant said enthusiastically.

“How can it be free?”

Gong Yiling felt bad and quickly took out a stack of silver notes from her Universe Ring. “I won’t take anything from the common people. If you don’t accept this, I won’t take the clothes either.”

“This…”

The attendant thought for a moment, took a few notes, then picked up the fluffy white dress Gong Yiling liked, along with a ticket-like item, and handed them to her.

“We’re having a promotion, buy two get one free. And this ticket is for my husband’s mountain bathhouse. We hope Immortal Master… will grace us with your presence and bring us good fortune.”

“Alright.”

At that moment, Gong Yiling, not thinking too much about it, didn’t realize…

That for her, this would be “torture.”

38. The Great One Engineering Sect

The next day, within the Dongyang Sect.

Gong Yiling sat in the main seat, feigning composure as she took a sip of tea.

She had repeated this action seventeen or eighteen times, even having the tea refilled.

She desperately needed to use the restroom, but immortals didn’t use restrooms. She could only pretend that everything happening around her was irrelevant.

The people sitting in the guest seats, exchanging pleasantries, were members of various sects invited by Elder Yan, all of whom had some conflict with the Hehuan Sect.

There were representatives from the Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern Yang Sects, the City Lord’s Mansion, and some lesser-known sects from the Hundred Paths Mountain.

They were discussing how to eradicate the Hehuan Sect.

Wait a minute…

What did eradicating the Hehuan Sect have to do with her?

She had only “eliminated” their Left Protector and stolen their treasure.

Could she still back out and admit she hadn’t actually done anything?

She just wanted to make some money and leave, not get involved with these people!

“By the way,”

A Daoist from the Hundred Paths Mountain bowed to Gong Yiling curiously. “We still don’t know which sect Immortal Master belongs to.”

“I’m not from the Hundred Paths Mountain.”

Gong Yiling put down her teacup and said calmly, “I come from Tiwat, north of the Baiyao Dynasty in the Four Kingdoms. I studied under a little-known reclusive sect.”

“A reclusive sect!”

They exclaimed in surprise and began murmuring amongst themselves.

Were reclusive sects that impressive?

She had just made up an excuse because she didn’t know what to say.

The book didn’t mention the strength of reclusive sects…

“May we know the name of your sect… so we can address you properly?”

“The Great One Engineering Sect.”

“What!?”

Several people stood up abruptly, staring at Miss Gong in disbelief.

This startled Gong Yiling, almost making her drop her teacup.

“W-what?”

The Great One Engineering Sect? Such a ridiculous name, taken from part of the Cloud Rainbow Sect’s name. There couldn’t possibly be such a sect, right?

“Heavens!”

The Daoist exclaimed, “The Great One Engineering Sect is the legendary parent sect of the Cloud Rainbow Sect! They split due to disagreements, leading to the formation of the Cloud Rainbow Sect.”

“I can’t believe the Great One Engineering Sect isn’t just a legend, but a real reclusive sect!”

Oh my…

Gong Yiling almost bit her tongue.

Was he kidding!?

The name she randomly made up actually existed, and it was the predecessor of the Cloud Rainbow Sect!?

She could make up random things and hit the mark. She should just replace Gong Youyuan and write the novel herself.

“Well…”

Gong Yiling quickly improvised. “When the Cloud Rainbow Sect split off, they took most of the talented members and scriptures. The Great One Engineering Sect is now insignificant, merely surviving in seclusion.”

“Immortal Master is too modest.”

“Yes, with your extraordinary cultivation, the Great One Engineering Sect must be highly ranked among the Hundred Paths Mountain sects.” The man mistook her words for humility.

This was awkward.

“Let’s not talk about my sect.” Gong Yiling tried to divert their attention. “You mentioned eradicating the Hehuan Sect. Are you serious?”

The cultivators exchanged glances and chuckled awkwardly. “Not really…”

Don’t scare me like that! Were they just joking around?

“But if Immortal Master has such intentions, we will definitely follow your lead.”

No, thank you.

Miss Gong quickly waved her hands. “I have limited time down the mountain. I’m mainly here to train my disciples. Next time, they will travel the world on their own.”

“I see.” They nodded in understanding. Then, the man suddenly said, “That’s fine. Immortal Master can do both.”

Gong Yiling didn’t reply, but her silence conveyed a clear message:

“I’ll ‘do both’ you, you bastard.”

“Ah, actually!” The man quickly explained, “A secret realm was recently discovered in the Southern Forest, said to contain treasures left by a Boundary Daoist.”

“We’ve learned that the Hehuan Sect seems interested in these treasures. We need to join forces to deal a heavy blow to them.”

“Immortal Master, you’ve killed members of the Hehuan Sect. Knowing their style, they won’t let this go. Therefore… why not join us?”

A secret realm in the Southern Forest…?

Gong Yiling frowned, pondering.

If she remembered correctly, that secret realm was called Clouds Deep, Autumn Lingering.

The Hehuan Sect was indeed planning to explore it, but their escalating conflict with the Dongyang Sect had disrupted their preparations.

In fact…

That Boundary Daoist was later revealed to be a member of the Cloud Rainbow Sect. While being pursued, he hid some of the sect’s treasures there, hoping future generations would find them.

According to the book, due to the conflict between the Dongyang Sect and the Hehuan Sect, a fight on a nearby mountain caused a landslide, burying the secret realm under dozens of meters of earth.

When it was finally discovered, the internal structure had collapsed, and many treasures were destroyed, including the Cloud Rainbow Sect’s hidden legacy.

Thus, this ancient sect faded from memory, everything related to it lost to time, except for an aging Nine-Colored Deer, who still remembered its past glory.

But this time…

The secret collusion between the Hehuan Sect and Yan Danyang was widely known, and the one who exposed them was a mysterious expert.

Despite the theft of their treasure, the Hehuan Sect didn’t retaliate immediately, choosing to gather their strength for a future strike.

Therefore, they were determined to obtain the treasures within the secret realm.

“Secret realm… Hehuan Sect… training…”

Gong Yiling frowned, considering if they had a chance to gain something amidst the chaos.

After all, the treasures within the secret realm were quite important for Qiu Shui.

“Alright.”

Gong Yiling finally nodded. “But Elder Yan, have you forgotten something?”

“Huh?”

“My reward?”

37. What a Huge Mess! 

Silence descended.

Bodies lay scattered everywhere.

Only Miss Gong, her two disciples, a still-living Elder Yan, and perhaps a few of his guards who were merely poisoned remained.

Gong Yiling confirmed the two idiots weren’t faking and scratched her head in exasperation.

What was this?

They hadn’t done anything, and yet these two… somehow ended up fighting each other to the death. How absurd!

“Oh! Chun Lian understands!” Chun Lian exclaimed after getting up, suddenly enlightened. “They had a falling out!”

Yes, it was so obvious they had a falling out. Chun Lian was so smart!

Gong Yiling mocked her internally.

Recalling the events, she figured out why they suddenly turned on each other. Simply put, they overthought things.

Lacking trust, they assumed any unusual activity was the other’s doing.

Neither of them considered who captured Yan Wuying or how.

This led to a rather awkward situation.

“Master… what should we do now?” Qiu Shui asked.

“If you ask me, I also—”

Just as Gong Yiling was about to answer, she heard a series of coughs.

Elder Yan, his blood pressure probably back to normal, coughed up blood and opened his eyes with difficulty, struggling to sit up.

His mind was still foggy. After closing his eyes for a moment, he suddenly remembered.

“It’s… the Hehuan Sect!”

He opened his eyes and looked around, then froze—dead, all dead, everyone was dead!

The Hehuan Sect, his rebellious son, his guards, all dead.

His youngest son was still lying unconscious near the cave entrance, and… three people were still standing.

Gong Yiling and her two disciples.

“Hello—”

“Immortal Master!”

Elder Yan suddenly cried out, rushing towards Gong Yiling and kneeling. “Thank you, Immortal Master, for saving my life!”

Gong Yiling: “Huh?”

Elder Yan: “Not only did you find my youngest son, but you also punished evil, slaying the Left Protector of the Hehuan Sect, my rebellious son, and their lackeys, saving my Dongyang Sect! I, Yan Wanqiu, am eternally grateful for your great kindness!”

Gong Yiling: “Wait, did I do that? Did I really do that? What did I do?”

And how old was this man? Calling her “junior”? He was old enough to be her grandfather!

Elder Yan gestured dramatically. “Immortal Master, there’s no need for modesty. Besides you and your… disciples, there’s no one else here. If it wasn’t you and your disciples, then who else could it be?”

Gong Yiling: “…”

If she told him they killed each other, would he believe her?

Elder Yan continued, “I know that for a wandering immortal like you, traveling with your disciples, such a trivial matter is nothing, but please accept my gratitude.”

Gong Yiling: “You finally got one thing right.”

She was indeed traveling with her disciples.

Elder Yan quickly added, “I wonder if Immortal Master would honor me with a visit to my humble abode, the Dongyang Sect—

(I don’t want to go at all.)

—Although you probably lack nothing, I still wish to offer you some compensation…”

Gong Yiling immediately said with a straight face, “Yes, I did it. Killed them with one palm strike each. So, what’s the compensation?”

Qiu Shui and Chun Lian stared at Gong Yiling, dumbfounded.

“But Master, we didn’t—”

Just as Chun Lian was about to speak, Gong Yiling quickly covered her mouth. Her intentions were clear.

The culprits were dead, and they were villains. Taking credit for their deaths wasn’t a big deal.

Besides…

“You are the one who deserves the most credit.”

On the carriage back to town, Gong Yiling patted Chun Lian’s shoulder solemnly.

“Me???”

“Yes.” Since there were no outsiders around, Gong Yiling explained, “Your talismans caused their internal conflict, so the credit is yours.”

“Really? Mine?” Chun Lian thought about it. “That seems to make sense.”

“Right? Chun Lian is so amazing!”

“I’m actually that amazing?”

Seeing Chun Lian puffing out her chest with pride, her eyes sparkling, Gong Yiling and Qiu Shui couldn’t help but laugh.

However, this dramatic turn of events made Gong Yiling wonder what would happen next…

She soon learned the consequences of taking the credit.

Back at the Dongyang Sect in the city, after settling Miss Gong and her disciples, Elder Yan immediately began spreading the news.

He swiftly eradicated his second son’s influence, restoring his youngest son’s reputation. Then, he publicly announced that Left Protector Qiu Sihai of the Hehuan Sect had been killed by an immortal master, and that Yan Danyang, the true culprit behind dozens of murders, had also died at her hands.

This news caused a sensation.

That afternoon, the Dongyang Sect’s gates were almost trampled by people coming to express their gratitude. They were mostly family and friends of the murder victims, weeping tears of joy. Miss Gong, overwhelmed, could only stand there stiffly, pretending to be a transcendent expert unaffected by worldly affairs.

“Immortal Master, you are our savior! My son and daughter-in-law can finally rest in peace!”

“And as expected of a true expert, she doesn’t even speak.”

“Yes, she killed even the Hehuan Sect members without batting an eye. That was the Left Protector, the third most powerful person in the Hehuan Sect!”

“Look at her demeanor, her control over true essence. She’s only at the Core Formation stage, truly remarkable!”

“And her disciples are all exceptional, not only beautiful but also elegant. Especially this one, so young yet able to completely conceal her true essence. She has a bright future!”

“Yes, yes…”

Hearing these praises, Gong Yiling could only stand there awkwardly, cursing Elder Yan’s ancestors.

She should have just stabbed him or refused to take the credit. This was so troublesome.

And it didn’t end there.

Somehow, the story became even more exaggerated as it spread.

Eventually, she became a centuries-old Grand Elder of the Hundred Paths Mountain who had single-handedly eradicated the entire Hehuan Sect.

What the hell was going on!?

36. Take Your Fight to the Dance Studio

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

The Hehuan Sect and Yan Danyang’s group didn’t trust each other.

They were all villains, familiar with each other’s methods. Friends turning into enemies was commonplace.

Moreover, both sides had found clues suggesting the other was setting a trap, and they began speculating about the nature of these traps.

The Left Protector and Yan Danyang stared at each other, then suddenly, both sneered knowingly.

Left Protector: “As expected of someone who shifts all the blame onto his brothers. A truly brilliant plan.”

Yan Danyang: “As expected of the cunning Left Protector. A truly ingenious scheme.”

Their words were almost simultaneous. After hearing each other, they both sneered again.

Hypocritical men.

Meanwhile, Gong Yiling was completely confused, a giant question mark hanging over her head.

The Left Protector crossed his arms, his voice sharp and raspy. “You pretended to cooperate with us, but you were worried we would expose you, so you decided to kill me first. I’ve seen through your scheme.”

Yan Danyang sneered. “Then tell me about it.”

“You deliberately placed the key in the cave, then filled it with countless explosive talismans, attempting to bury me and my men alive. Even if I escaped, my strength would be greatly weakened, and you would ambush us, waiting to finish us off. That was your plan!”

Gong Yiling: “？？？”

The explosive talismans were placed by Chun Lian, and only at the entrance, not inside the cave. How did he come up with this?

Although Yan Danyang was also confused, having already convinced himself that the Hehuan Sect was plotting against him, he neither confirmed nor denied the accusation. Instead, he said, “That’s a good plan, but the Left Protector’s is even better.”

“How so?”

“The Hehuan Sect and my sect have fought several times, with casualties on both sides. Instead of helping me rise to power and creating more trouble, it would be better to eliminate the Yan family entirely. That way, the Left Protector would surely receive a greater reward.”

“So, you deliberately placed a barrier talisman outside, planning to activate it while I was fighting my father, trapping and killing us both. What a brilliant plan, killing two birds with one stone.”

Gong Yiling: “？？？”

The barrier talisman was also placed by Chun Lian! What did this have to do with them!?

“Heh.”

Although equally confused, the Left Protector felt there was some truth to Yan Danyang’s words.

Neither of them admitted to their own schemes, but they were both convinced the other was plotting against them.

And their subordinates, hearing these accusations, also believed the other side was planning a double-cross, drawing their weapons and facing off against each other.

This sudden turn of events left Gong Yiling dumbfounded.

“Master, what are they doing?” Qiu Shui, held in her arms, couldn’t help but ask.

Gong Yiling could only shake her head. “I don’t know. Let’s watch the show.”

Shortly after their exchange, Yan Danyang narrowed his eyes. “It seems only one of us will leave here today.”

“I agree.”

“Then… die!!!”

With that, the two groups clashed.

Although the Hehuan Sect had more men, their reliance on hidden weapons was a disadvantage in this open area. They were evenly matched with Yan Danyang’s smaller group.

Yan Danyang’s demonic art was incredibly powerful. Each palm strike contained compressed blood energy and true essence, allowing him to hold his own against the slightly stronger Left Protector.

They exchanged blows, shaking the heavens and earth, until finally, both struck each other’s chests simultaneously.

Yan Danyang: “The Left Protector of the Hehuan Sect only has this much skill?”

Left Protector: “That rare demonic art is wasted on trash like you.”

Yan Danyang: “Just admit you can’t win. Empty boasts are meaningless.”

Left Protector: “I was never a hero to begin with. You’re courting death!”

Yan Danyang: “I think you’re the one courting death! Sissy!”

Left Protector: “You dare insult me, you ungrateful wolf!”

Yan Danyang: “Fuck you!”

Left Protector: “You little shit!”

As their true essence depleted, casualties mounted on both sides.

About ten minutes later, almost all their subordinates were dead. The last one standing collapsed from inhaling too much poison gas, falling onto a sword stuck in the ground.

With a “shing,” he was pierced through the heart.

Meanwhile, Yan Danyang and the Left Protector had reached a critical juncture.

After a long fight, they finally struck each other’s chests again.

This demonic palm strike severely damaged their heart meridians, but neither retreated.

At this crucial moment, stepping back could be fatal.

As demonic cultivators, they both possessed an inherent ruthlessness.

After a brief pause, they gathered their remaining strength and struck each other’s chests again.

Whoever landed their blow first would win!

However…

Two sounds rang out almost simultaneously. Both struck their opponent at the same time.

The force of these palm strikes shattered their unguarded heart meridians.

Both coughed up blood, thrown back ten meters, and collapsed to the ground.

“Ugh—” Another mouthful of blood spurted out, and the color drained from their faces.

With their heart meridians shattered and their internal organs ruptured, their lives were like flickering candles in the wind.

“Heh.” Yan Danyang sat up, a bitter and resentful laugh escaping his lips. “I cultivated demonic arts in secret, schemed and plotted, and in the end, I lost to you.”

“Gahahahaha!”

The Left Protector let out his signature laugh, looking up at the sky. “I’ve never lost a fight, and yet today, I die at the hands of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. How absurd, how laughable.”

In their final moments, they put aside their killing intent and spoke frankly to each other.

“But your plan was so well-crafted. If I hadn’t been sharp, I would have almost fallen for it. With such cunning, how could your brother ever defeat you?”

“I heard you were about to be promoted to Privy Councilor. With such courage, you could have achieved great things in the Hehuan Sect.”

“Let’s meet again in the next life and settle this.”

“Gahahaha, let’s settle this!”

With one last mouthful of blood, they breathed their last.

After the chaotic battle, no one survived.

35. Caught Off Guard! 

After deciding on a course of action, Gong Yiling rummaged through the cave and finally found a key.

The Hehuan Sect had no idea what this key was for, assuming it opened some unknown treasure chest.

They had been collecting treasure chests for seven or eight hundred years. Their sect could practically be a recycling center. If it weren’t an ancestral heirloom, they would have probably smashed it out of impatience.

The key’s true purpose was to open a door within the Venerable Mansion of an ancient Divine Venerable from the Hehuan Sect’s lineage.

However, the Divine Venerable’s name had been lost to history until someone discovered the mansion and found some artifacts related to the Hehuan Sect’s origins.

Of course, the treasures within the mansion were mostly… indecent items.

Even if Gong Yiling obtained them, she wouldn’t use them. So, the key was better off returned to the Hehuan Sect, as they didn’t know its true purpose anyway.

To be safe, Gong Yiling asked Qiu Shui and Chun Lian to stay and guard their captive while she went to get reinforcements.

Once someone from the Dongyang Sect arrived to identify Yan Wuying, she could wash her hands of this matter.

Upon hearing that Gong Yiling had found Yan Wuying, with his ring as proof, Yan Danyang, responsible for handling this matter, immediately informed his father and brought a dozen guards to Yan Wuying’s hiding place.

“That rebellious son!”

Seeing Yan Wuying lying unconscious outside the cave, Elder Yan flew into a rage, drawing his sword to kill his son.

Fortunately, Yan Danyang stopped him.

“Father, blood is thicker than water. Let’s wait for Wuying to wake up and talk.”

“What’s there to talk about!?” Elder Yan roared. “Because of him, your second and third brothers were brutally murdered by those Hehuan Sect bastards! I want his life!”

Well…

Gong Yiling, listening to their conversation, simply stood beside Qiu Shui and Chun Lian, waiting for them to calm down and pay her.

As for how much she would get, she hoped the old man was reasonable.

However, as she waited, she sensed a faint trace of danger.

This sense of danger was honed by her body’s previous experiences, but… there was nothing around. Where was this feeling coming from?

Suddenly!

The wind rustled, leaves swayed, and shadows flickered.

Dozens of darts, bearing the unique markings of the Hehuan Sect, flew from all directions.

These darts claimed the lives of several low-level cultivators, while others were deflected, embedding themselves in the surrounding trees.

Then, a disorienting smoke spread from the darts, catching many off guard. Those who didn’t hold their breath or take an antidote immediately collapsed unconscious.

In an instant, only a dozen of Elder Yan’s guards remained standing.

“The Hehuan Sect!?”

Elder Yan reacted quickly, ordering his son, “Quickly fire the signal flare! The Hehuan Sect is attacking!—Ugh!”

To everyone’s surprise, Yan Danyang suddenly struck his father’s chest with a palm strike while he was busy defending against the smoke and darts.

Holy shit!

Seeing this, Gong Yiling quickly pulled Qiu Shui and Chun Lian to the ground, pretending to be unconscious from the smoke.

This wasn’t as simple as she had initially thought.

Although seriously injured, Elder Yan’s profound cultivation prevented him from collapsing immediately.

He struggled to his feet, disbelief in his voice. “Second Brother… why!?”

“Gahahahaha!”

A mocking laughter echoed as a black-robed Hehuan Sect cultivator landed beside Yan Danyang, sneering at Elder Yan. “Old man, your son is quite capable.”

“He cultivates a demonic art, one that requires human sacrifices. He has simply shifted the burden of those lives onto his brothers.”

“Who asked you to speak?” Yan Danyang’s demeanor changed completely, his eyes cold and indifferent. “He’s just a useless thief. Naturally, he should be used to his fullest potential.”

“You… you!?” Watching his remaining guards being slaughtered by the Hehuan Sect cultivators, Elder Yan was overcome with grief and rage. “Why would you do this!?”

“Because you only have eyes for Big Brother!” Yan Danyang snarled. “I work tirelessly for the Dongyang Sect, while Big Brother is just a wandering hero, and yet you plan to hand over the sect to him.”

“So, I’ll join forces with the Hehuan Sect to kill you first, then kill Big Brother. Then, the Dongyang Sect will be mine!”

“You… you!?”

Watching the old man’s fury, Gong Yiling, feigning unconsciousness, sighed inwardly.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go…

But then again, the book never mentioned Yan Danyang’s personality. This part of the plot was largely left blank.

Perhaps this was Gong Youyuan’s original intention, but she never used this plot point.

Or maybe she forgot.

Either way, Gong Yiling was now in trouble.

If she had known Yan Danyang was colluding with the Hehuan Sect, she would never have brought him here. Now things were getting complicated.

These people were mostly at the Return to Origin realm. How could she fight them?

She couldn’t possibly use a three-protect-one strategy, guarding Elder Yan like an ADC against a group of enemies…

“Thud.”

Just as Gong Yiling was considering the feasibility of this tactic, their ADC collapsed, probably from a surge in blood pressure.

But Gong Yiling thought—You’re giving me a blood pressure spike too, damn it!

Oh right, she could still draw her indecent talismans and escape.

But coming all this way just for a useless key was a huge loss.

Seeing their biggest obstacle faint, the Hehuan Sect cultivators immediately started searching for the key.

“Reporting to Left Protector, he doesn’t have the key.”

“He doesn’t?” The Left Protector frowned. “What about inside the cave?”

One of the cultivators rushed into the cave, but unfortunately, he stepped right onto Chun Lian’s explosive talisman.

“Boom!!!”

The loud explosion startled the Left Protector.

He knew Elder Yan wouldn’t set a trap there. Only Yan Wuying or Yan Danyang would do such a thing. But if Yan Wuying was clever enough for that, he wouldn’t have been framed by his brother.

Meanwhile, Yan Danyang received a report from his subordinate.

Someone had placed a barrier talisman outside, trapping them inside.

He thought their plan was flawless. The Hehuan Sect had no reason to do this, unless they had ulterior motives.

Could it be…?

Left Protector: This kid is trying to double-cross us!

Yan Danyang: The Hehuan Sect is trying to double-cross us!