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

37. Worries and Prospects

 

Although Qiu Shui had imagined this scene countless times in her dreams…

She longed to cast off her burdens and live freely as just Qiu Shui.

But now that it had happened so suddenly, it felt surreal, like a dream.

“Can I… just be your disciple?” Qiu Shui looked up at her earnestly. “Even though I… betrayed you?”

Gong Yiling smiled, gently cupping her face. “Your little tricks are nothing, silly girl. Who do you think your master, your Young Palace Master, is? I’m the dignified Young Palace Master of a demonic sect.”

Qiu Shui shook her head immediately. “But Master has never done anything evil… unlike them.”

“Everything is either necessary or unnecessary.” Gong Yiling shrugged. “Perhaps one day, I’ll also become a demon lord in their eyes, hunted by those righteous old men.”

“If that happens, Qiu Shui, you have to protect me.”

Qiu Shui clutched the warm pancake, a warmth spreading through her heart. She nodded firmly. “Yes!”

This seemed to have resolved one of her worries. Now it depended on the reliability of those former Hehuan Sect members.

That Yin Tianchou never cared about her anyway. Even if she betrayed them, it wouldn’t matter much.

No one would completely trust information from a fifteen-year-old girl, right?

And if they didn’t fully trust her, their surveillance of her mother shouldn’t be too strict. If they couldn’t even handle this small matter, those Hehuan Sect remnants were truly useless.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll go check the rankings for you.”

Gong Yiling patted her shoulder. “Next, Qiu Shui, you have to give that Shangguan Qingyun a good beating. I believe in you.”

These words filled Qiu Shui with strength. She clenched her fists, her resolve firming.

Her previous duel with him wasn’t a true defeat. Next time, she would find a way to make him pay.

—

—

The announcement area was crowded with exhausted-looking participants.

Not everyone could finish the competition early and return home for a good night’s sleep like those two.

And the results were as Gong Yiling expected.

They had discovered the hidden high-value number cards, sparking a series of battles.

Everyone looked exhausted—

—Spending the entire night worrying about their cards being stolen would take a toll on anyone.

Many participants had stolen scores from their teammates. The highest individual score was 70, and there were quite a few in the 40-50 range.

Of course, there were also some teams with an average score of 15, occupying the ranks from 30th to 80th, including their team.

Next was the second round.

“Now, I’ll announce the requirements for the second round.”

Shangguan Yaochang opened the scroll containing the rules, and his expression suddenly changed.

“This… this is…?”

“What’s wrong?” Shangguan Lingyue, watching from the side, took the scroll, her face also filled with astonishment.

What kind of competition could elicit such a reaction from them?

The participants murmured amongst themselves.

After a brief discussion, Shangguan Yaochang and Shangguan Lingyue announced the contents of the scroll.

“The remaining participants will form teams of two to four members. The objective is to endure the attacks of two examiners for as long as possible.”

“Huh?”

This was an unprecedented format. But Gong Yiling immediately understood.

This Emperor was truly cunning.

Although the first round eliminated some participants, it was still difficult to identify the demonic cultivators. The second round, however, was much more straightforward.

The examiners were undoubtedly Shangguan Yaochang and Shangguan Lingyue, both powerful cultivators.

The competition was a simple team battle against these two high-ranking officials.

The purpose was even simpler. When facing strong opponents, even experts couldn’t completely hide their true strength, making it easier to identify potential suspects.

It was a bit tough on the examiners, though.

—Shangguan Lingyue had been seeking a sparring opportunity, and it had come sooner than expected. But whether it would be a satisfying fight remained to be seen.

“The examiners will be myself and General Lingyue,” Shangguan Yaochang announced. “Submit your team information and your chosen opponents in writing tomorrow.”

“But remember, the more members in a team, the lower the average score each person receives. Don’t assume larger teams have an advantage.”

“Dismissed!”

The participants stood there, bewildered, before slowly dispersing.

After most had left, Gong Yiling approached Shangguan Lingyue and said, “It seems the fight you wanted will be against my disciples.”

“Qiu Shui and Little Heehee?” Shangguan Lingyue showed a hint of interest. “Fighting against the Immortal Master’s disciples should be interesting. I hope they won’t disappoint.”

“I’m more worried that General Lingyue will go easy on them.”

Gong Yiling smiled, then turned to leave.

But before she could take a few steps, someone called out to her.

“Are you… the cultivator who killed the Flame Python?” Shangguan Yaochang asked curiously.

“Yes.” Gong Yiling didn’t want to interact with him further.

“His Majesty is hosting a banquet tonight. Would you be interested…?”

Gong Yiling replied bluntly, “Not interested. Dinner with an old man is less appealing than dinner with my disciples.”

With that, she ignored whatever else Shangguan Yaochang said and disappeared into the crowd.

Shangguan Yaochang narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

Those eyes… he seemed to have seen them somewhere before.

 

 

36. Qiu Shui 

 

After leaving, Gong Yiling made her way to the back kitchen of a beef noodle shop. Accompanied by a man dressed as a cook, who actually had some culinary skills, she descended into the basement.

As soon as the door closed, Gong Yiling got straight to the point. “Old Mo, I have a task for you.”

The cook was Mo Ke.

He had been bored to death lately. Used to fighting and killing, he was now stuck in Yanlie City, acting as the mastermind behind Gong Yiling’s operations, forced to maintain a low profile.

And his cover was—a cook.

After all these days, he felt he could actually open a restaurant!

Finally given a task by Gong Yiling, he almost knelt down in gratitude.

“Tell me!!!”

“I’m not deaf!!!” Gong Yiling snapped, but her voice lacked force.

“Shenqi Daoist Mountain, do you have any connections there?”

“Shenqi Daoist Mountain of the Hundred Paths Mountain?” Mo Ke frowned in thought. “Yes, one of their guest elders is actually our man. But they have many guest elders. What does Immortal Master intend to do?”

“Contact him and send a few people there. I’ll give you the address later. Bring me someone back, at all costs.”

“Yes!” Mo Ke’s eyes lit up, and he flexed his bicep. “Let me go too! I’ll definitely—”

“You stay here.” Gong Yiling interrupted him. “Many demonic cultivators have infiltrated Yanlie City. Take some men and investigate their hideouts and identities. Report everything you find in four days.”

“This… works too. Yes, Ma’am!”

“Strange.”

Gong Yiling couldn’t understand his sudden enthusiasm. In her opinion, slacking off was the greatest joy in life. Wasn’t being a restaurant owner good enough?

After leaving Mo Ke, Gong Yiling searched the market for the items she needed, then hurried back to the manor.

As she reached Qiu Shui’s door, about to knock, the girl’s voice called out from behind her.

“Master?”

“Ah?” Gong Yiling turned around reflexively, averting her gaze. “I was just strolling outside and stumbled upon something interesting. Guess what it is?”

After venting her emotions, Qiu Shui seemed much calmer now.

She curiously tried to look behind Gong Yiling, but Miss Gong turned with her.

After spinning around for a while, Qiu Shui stopped and chuckled. “What is it?”

“Come inside first.”

Gong Yiling pulled her into the room.

As Qiu Shui turned around after entering, she saw two “Spicy Cry” pancakes in Gong Yiling’s hands.

Qiu Shui froze, looking up at her, puzzled. “These are…”

“These are your favorite childhood snack, aren’t they?” Gong Yiling picked up one of the pancakes and said in a commanding tone, “Open your mouth.”

“Ah.”

“Close your mouth.”

Qiu Shui bit into the soft, flaky crust.

A salty, spicy, and savory flavor exploded on her tongue.

Besides the initial spiciness, it evoked a sense of nostalgia.

When Qiu Shui was young, she and her mother wandered around, homeless and destitute.

Summer wasn’t so bad, but in winter, they often couldn’t find shelter, huddling together in discarded clothes and blankets.

During the coldest days, they relied on spicy food to keep warm.

And their most frequent meal was Spicy Cry Pancakes.

The spice was a stimulant, a source of warmth, and the shop owner was kind enough to often give them free pancakes and rice.

Without this food, they wouldn’t have survived those harsh winters.

And when she left on her dangerous mission, a bag of Spicy Cry Pancakes was her mother’s last gift.

“Why…?”

Qiu Shui asked, her voice trembling. “How did Master know…?”

“You’ll see your mother soon,” Gong Yiling said, gently stroking her head. “I promise.”

“What…?” Qiu Shui didn’t understand. “My mother?”

“Do you think you can hide your little secret from me?” Gong Yiling smiled. “Elder Yin Tianchou of Shenqi Daoist Mountain is your grandfather, and your father married into the family. You weren’t rescued by me by chance. It was all a setup.”

Qiu Shui’s heart sank, and she trembled uncontrollably. “Master… you know everything?”

Her voice was filled with panic, the shock and fear of having her secret exposed by the one she least wanted to. Gong Yiling understood.

“I not only know, but I also know that you don’t want to do this anymore. You just want to be Little Qiu Shui by my side.” Gong Yiling gently hugged her, stroking her back until she calmed down.

“I…”

Qiu Shui looked at the half-eaten pancake in her hand, tears welling up in her eyes, unable to speak.

“When you took that sword blow for me, I knew your true feelings,” Gong Yiling said. “But I’m sorry. I knew all along but pretended not to, making you worry.”

“How could this be Master’s fault?” Qiu Shui whispered. “It’s Qiu Shui’s fault… my own problem…”

“I didn’t say all this to make us argue about who’s right or wrong.”

Gong Yiling released her and gently pinched her cheeks. “I just want you to know, from now on, you’re just Qiu Shui. You don’t have to live for that pointless mission. Those who hurt you, who abandoned you and your mother, if you want revenge, I’ll help you.”

“That’s what I, as your master, should do.”

 

 

35. Scumbag Master 

 

Say what!?

If there were a TV interview now, she would definitely say to the camera with deep regret,

“I was wrong, I was truly wrong. I shouldn’t have gotten married in the first place. If I hadn’t, my husband wouldn’t have died…”

Sorry, wrong channel!

Switching channels.

“My bad, I shouldn’t have teased the female protagonist. If I hadn’t, none of this would have happened.”

Host: “Then, Miss… err, Ms. Gong, please calm down. What happened afterwards?”

“Afterwards…”

This was what happened afterwards:

This was the first time Gong Yiling had done such a thing. It could be classified as a sudden stroke of idiocy.

And then things got interesting.

She didn’t know what to do next, so she just froze.

Until Yan Chuyue, regaining her senses, pushed her away reflexively.

But as she stepped back, she accidentally tripped on Gong Yiling’s skirt.

This caused a large tear in the skirt, and Yan Chuyue fell onto Gong Yiling, pinning her to the bed.

Host: “Just being pushed onto the bed? That’s boring, officer. News needs to be sensational to attract attention. Any more exciting developments?”

Yes, there were.

The more exciting development was…

Yan Chuyue’s lips landed right on Gong Yiling’s, beneath the veil.

And!

Qiu Shui, holding a plate of sliced fruit, opened the door and saw everything.

Host: “Ooh, is this the legendary Shura field? Miss Gong is truly blessed!”

Gong Yiling: “System, if you speak to me like that again, I won’t accept any more of your quests.”

The host, I mean, the system, shut up.

Of course, the above wasn’t fabricated for a TV show.

Miss Gong really did have a headache from this incident.

The next morning, the weather was fine. She stepped out of her room and saw Qiu Shui diligently practicing her spiritual arts under the sunlight.

Just as she was about to greet her, Qiu Shui noticed her gaze, walked over, and said with a deadpan expression, “Greetings, Master.”

Greetings my ass!

Then, without looking back, she returned to her room, leaving Gong Yiling speechless.

She had no balls to ache, so maybe her ovaries ached?

At mealtime…

Chun Lian, Qiu Shui, Lu Xinyao, Yan Chuyue, Gong Yiling, and Shangguan Lingyue sat at a large table. Everyone was chatting and laughing except for Yan Chuyue and Qiu Shui, who sat beside each other, an awkward silence between them. In fact, the three of them didn’t exchange a single word throughout the meal.

And after eating, Qiu Shui immediately returned to her room.

“Psst, psst.”

Suddenly, someone tugged at Miss Gong’s sleeve. It was Shangguan Lingyue.

“Hmm?”

“That cultivation mantra you gave me is really effective! My cultivation has improved significantly. I might even reach the peak of Earthly Nether realm soon.”

“Oh.” Gong Yiling replied absentmindedly.

“Did you have a falling out with your eldest disciple? She usually listens to you and always stays by your side.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Don’t ‘is that so’ me. You’re thousands of years old, Immortal Master. You should give way to a teenage girl when she’s upset.”

Thousands of years old? Generous of you.

She was twenty-one.

“But I didn’t even say anything.”

Just then, Yan Chuyue joined the whispered conversation. “I was the victim yesterday, and you were the perpetrator. So you should be the one apologizing.”

“What???”

“I’ve never apologized to anyone before. To be honest, I’m a hardcore shut-in with little social experience. You, as her master, should be better at this.”

Wow.

The mercenary queen calling herself a hardcore shut-in.

She probably didn’t lack social experience, but rather, most of the people she interacted with ended up six feet under.

“Then… should I try?”

“Try what? If you can’t even handle this, you don’t deserve to be called Master.”

Yan Chuyue pushed Gong Yiling towards Qiu Shui’s room.

Then, she took the others to clear the table, giving Gong Yiling a thumbs-up and three words:

“Go for it!”

Host: “So, let’s turn our attention to—”

“System?”

“Just trying to lighten the mood, build some courage, and… you know, nudge things along.”

Was that last part really necessary!?

Although annoyed, Gong Yiling quietly approached Qiu Shui’s room. Just as she was about to knock, she heard soft sobs.

Yes… the girl inside seemed to be crying.

To hear what she was saying, Gong Yiling had to use her artifact.

“Qiu Shui, Qiu Shui, how can you have such unrealistic thoughts?”

“If the Young Palace Master knew you were a spy, would she still treat you so well?”

“She protected you publicly, taught you cultivation techniques and spiritual arts, gave you a good life, but… but…”

“Just because I was upset yesterday, do I have the right to give her the cold shoulder? I don’t deserve it… I don’t…”

Hearing this monologue, Gong Yiling froze, then mentally slapped herself.

She had known about Qiu Shui’s spy identity all along and even teased her about it several times.

She hadn’t thought much of it then, but for a fifteen-year-old girl with such a tragic past, the inner conflict and pressure were unimaginable.

If she hadn’t known, it would be one thing. But knowing the truth and still forcing this girl to question her conscience and loyalty…

And this girl had repeatedly stood by her side, always feeling unworthy.

She was a terrible master.

If she had told her sooner, if only…

Gong Yiling suddenly understood.

She put away the Sound Amplifying Stone, took a deep breath, and left the courtyard.

It was time to do something.

 

 

 

34. What Should We Talk About?

 

“Miss Lü!!!”

Gong Yiling didn’t realize at first that she was being called.

It wasn’t until Yan Chuyue rushed over, grabbed her shoulders, and shook her violently, almost making her dizzy, that she realized it.

Oh, it was her.

“What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong? You ask what’s wrong?” Yan Chuyue continued shaking her until Gong Yiling’s head spun, then finally stopped and asked, “How did you kill the Flame Python?”

It was about this again…

Well, it made sense. Besides Qiu Shui, only this protagonist knew her true strength (Chun Lian didn’t count, she thought her Young Palace Master could turn into light).

So, she explained the situation to Yan Chuyue again.

She glossed over the venom absorption part, and fortunately, Yan Chuyue was more interested in how she killed the beast, not how she absorbed the venom.

As the author, she hadn’t forgotten the settings she gave the Flame Python.

Heavenly Venerable realm, heart not located at the seventh inch, neck slightly vulnerable but still difficult to penetrate, incredibly potent venom, and rapid regeneration in the swamp.

A whole stack of buffs.

And yet it was killed by a newbie cultivator who had just recovered her meridians.

Was that reasonable?

After hearing the whole story, Yan Chuyue was even more shocked. “Are you even human?”

“What else would I be?” Gong Yiling shrugged. “A ghost?”

“Even ghosts aren’t this absurd.”

Yan Chuyue said, exasperated, “Not even novels, I mean, plays and shadow puppet shows would dare portray this. Who would believe it?”

“Haven’t you heard this saying, Miss Yan?”

“What saying?”

Gong Yiling stroked her chin, feigning wisdom. “Reality is often more absurd than fiction. You can never grasp its rules.”

“Please, you just used up several years’ worth of luck.” Yan Chuyue sighed. “But it’s a good thing. If you weren’t so lucky, I wouldn’t be seeing you now.”

“Good fortune always favors the virtuous. Luck is also a part of strength.” Gong Yiling rubbed her hands together, smiling. “Enough about me. How was your rest?”

“It was alright.”

“There’s something I should mention.” Gong Yiling said, “If the First Prince and Young Master Xuli aren’t complete idiots, they’ve already figured out my identity.”

“Your identity?” Yan Chuyue paused, then asked, “You mean… the Cloudmist City incident?”

“Yes.” Gong Yiling nodded.

She then told Yan Chuyue about how she revealed her possession of the recording device to them.

This surprised Yan Chuyue.

Even if they racked their brains, they wouldn’t be able to track down that previous identity.

Who could find someone who vanished into thin air, someone who never existed in the first place? In this game of cat and mouse, Gong Yiling had the absolute advantage.

There was no need to reveal that information.

“Their targets are now Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao.” Gong Yiling said, “I need to divert their attention to a previous enemy to protect them.”

That was Miss Gong’s intention.

Hidden arrows were harder to defend against than open attacks. Before the First Prince revealed his fangs, her disciples were in danger.

But if she could provoke him into acting rashly, the situation would be different.

“Do you need me to do anything?”

“You’re connected to that incident, and you’re in this city now. I’m worried they might connect you to it if they see you here.”

Shangguan Qingyun had suspected her before, but the Yan Chuyue back then was a pushover, unlikely to be suspected.

But now, after so much time, if the First Prince saw her again, he would surely realize her role in that incident.

She had to consider Yan Chuyue’s safety.

“Don’t go out and buy food these next few days. I’ll bring you whatever you want.” Gong Yiling patted her shoulder reassuringly. “But don’t worry, you won’t have to stay here much longer.”

“What do you mean…?”

Gong Yiling’s presence had accelerated the plot. Now, in Yanlie City, there were many with ulterior motives.

“Chuyue,”

Gong Yiling walked to the window, looking at the night scene outside. “Even in such a prosperous place, when those people reveal their fangs, how many can still enjoy this peace and tranquility?”

Yan Chuyue’s heart sank.

A crisis… in Yanlie City?

As the author, she also sensed it.

The world she created had changed subtly due to this girl’s presence.

If the Grand Elder’s injuries were healed half a year earlier, if Shangguan Long still held power…

The plot would definitely change.

And these changes weren’t her, the author’s, doing, but…

An unexpected character’s.

“Who are you?” Yan Chuyue couldn’t help but ask. “Can’t you tell me now?”

The woman turned around, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly beneath the veil, a calm smile in her eyes.

“You want to know?”

“Yes.”

“Then keep wondering.” Gong Yiling gave a blunt answer. “My identity is irrelevant to you. Instead of focusing on me, you should focus on your love…”

She suddenly stopped.

She seemed to have forgotten someone, someone Yan Chuyue should have met by now, and their relationship should be developing.

Where was Jiang Chenmo???

This protagonist was either hanging out with her or busy in the palace, not doing anything else.

Where was Jiang Chenmo?

Where was the male lead?

Was he dead?

If she wasn’t in a female body now, she would think she was more suited to be the male lead.

“Love what?” Yan Chuyue blinked and asked.

“What a girl your age should be pursuing, of course.”

Gong Yiling’s mind suddenly short-circuited. She reached out and lifted Yan Chuyue’s chin, a playful smile on her face. “What do you think?”

 

 

33. Who Am I Supposed to Spar With?

 

The news of the Flame Python’s death quickly spread throughout the capital with Emperor Shangguan Long’s tacit approval.

Many in the city had heard the python’s dying words, thus speculating that the one who killed it was a cultivator from the Great One Engineering Sect, whose cultivation was at least at the Immortal Mansion realm.

When Gong Yiling and the two girls returned to Shangguan Lingyue’s manor, the general, who shouldn’t have been there at this time, greeted them and asked, “Was it really your master who did it?”

Qiu Shui was confused. “Ah… what is it?”

“The Flame Python!” Shangguan Lingyue, ignoring the inconspicuous Gong Yiling, asked excitedly, “Did your master kill it?”

“Kill it?”

“You didn’t know?” Shangguan Lingyue stroked her chin, puzzled. “I thought you would. The Flame Python is dead, and it seems to have been killed by a cultivator from the Great One Engineering Sect. Besides your master, who else could it be around here?”

“Dead!?”

Qiu Shui covered her mouth in disbelief.

Heavens!

That Flame Python was a Heavenly Venerable demonic beast, but her master… ahem.

She glanced at Gong Yiling…

Wait, where was she?

Master was just here.

“And your master wasn’t even in the city today. She was either at the manor or in the palace—ah.”

Strong martial artists often admired and sought to challenge those stronger than themselves.

Gong Yiling had just changed her outfit and returned when Shangguan Lingyue approached, thumping her own chest.

“Immortal Master, you are now my goal!”

“Because of the Flame Python?”

“Yes!”

“Ah… haha, haha.” Gong Yiling scratched the back of her head. “Actually… you could have done it too.”

It was true. Anyone could have done it. Wear a Flame King Soft Hedgehog Armor, grab an Immortal Artifact, absorb some venom, get launched by a bouncy net, hit the python’s vital point, then chop off its head.

It didn’t even require any skill!

“Immortal Master, you’re too modest.” Shangguan Lingyue shook her head. “I once tried to drive it away with Brother Yan, but we were defeated and almost died.”

“To single-handedly kill the Flame Python is no easy feat.”

Gong Yiling felt a bit smug from her praise. “Was I really that amazing? Haha, haha, hahaha.”

“So—”

Shangguan Lingyue suddenly bowed, cupping her fists. “I’m bored staying in the city, and there’s no action on the front lines. Please enlighten me, Immortal Master. Let us spar!”

“Haha… huh?” Gong Yiling almost bit her tongue. “What did you say?”

Shangguan Lingyue said seriously, “I wish to spar with you, to learn and improve myself.”

—*I’m not the one you want to spar with!*

What level was Shangguan Lingyue again? If she remembered correctly, she was around Earthly Nether realm. Before his corruption, even Shangguan Qingyun wouldn’t dare offend her, and even Shangguan Long had to show her respect.

In the entire Heartflame Empire, Shangguan Lingyue was undoubtedly among the top ten strongest.

And such a powerful figure wanted to spar with her for guidance?

She would be beaten into a pulp.

“Um…” Gong Yiling cleared her throat. “I’ve suffered some poison injuries and need to recuperate. I’m not fit for combat today.”

“Then tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is also not suitable.”

“Then the day after tomorrow.”

“The day after tomorrow is also not suitable.”

“Then when will you be available, Immortal Master?”

“A certain immortal told me I shouldn’t engage in combat for at least a hundred days.”

This was a blatant refusal, but Shangguan Lingyue wasn’t discouraged. “It’s fine. Whenever you’re free, Immortal Master. I’m not in a hurry.”

—*You’re not in a hurry, but I am!*

Gong Yiling twitched her lips. “So, you just want to improve your cultivation?”

“Yes.”

“The Shangguan family’s martial arts technique is called the Supreme Martial Brilliance Dust Technique. It combines inner cultivation and martial skills. Although it’s quite comprehensive, two lines are missing from the ancestral oral tradition, limiting martial cultivators to the Earthly Nether realm.”

Her words stunned Shangguan Lingyue.

If before she had simply been eager for a challenge, now it was different.

“How… how did you know that?”

“How I know is not important.” Gong Yiling said, “The important thing is, I know the missing lines.”

“They are…?”

“Even if odds remain unchanged, signs determine quadrants.”

After casually dropping this line, the almost laughably nonsensical cultivation mantra, Miss Gong turned and left with Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao, leaving Shangguan Lingyue standing there, dumbfounded.

A single sentence awakened the dreamer.

—

—

“So…” Qiu Shui looked back at the stunned Shangguan Lingyue and asked, “Did Master really kill the Flame Python?”

“In the end, yes,” Gong Yiling admitted, sticking out her tongue. “But the process was… a bit metaphysical.”

“Metaphysical?”

“You wouldn’t understand if you’ve never played gacha games.” Gong Yiling waved her hand. “It was as lucky as me pulling you three from the vast crowd.”

One was the destined one of the Cloud Rainbow Sect, one was a Divine Phoenix Fox Demon, and one was the inheritor of the Seven Treasures Universe Talisman Secret Art.

She was a professional at gacha games!

“Metaphysics can allow someone to kill a Heavenly Venerable Flame Python across several realms?” Qiu Shui still couldn’t comprehend it.

No one could. If such a thing was possible, the entire power system of this world would collapse.

“It was actually quite logical,” Gong Yiling mumbled. “My mother’s preparations, a sword hilt I don’t even remember putting in my ring, plus a bit of luck and skill, and it was done.”

“A bit of luck?”

“Yes, a lot of luck.”

Seeing Gong Yiling’s confident expression, Qiu Shui bit her lip and suddenly hugged her tightly.

This was the first time Miss Gong had been hugged by a beautiful girl so proactively. She froze. “Qiu Shui?”

“Mmm…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just hugging you for a bit.”

Looking at the girl’s trembling eyelashes, Gong Yiling chuckled. “I worried you, didn’t I?”

 

32. Shocking Shangguan Long

 

Her words made the official’s face pale.

While other officials might not know about the assassins, she did.

Because she was the one Prince Changning ordered to arrange their entry.

This girl dared to bring this up publicly. Could it be that the assassins were exposed before they could complete their mission?

“What assassins?” The official glanced at the First Prince and decided to play dumb. “There are no assassins in the competition area. There was just a Flame Python acting strangely. You didn’t go to the central area, did you?”

That Flame Python is already dead, lady.

Miss Gong knew she was trying to change the subject. She casually tossed two cloth-wrapped bundles at her feet.

“The others were eaten by the demonic beasts. I kept these two heads as souvenirs. See if you recognize them.”

The freshness of the heads was evident. They had clearly died recently, and the claw marks on them were unmistakable signs of a demonic beast attack.

“How would I know them?” The official feigned composure. “But… were they really assassins?”

Before she could finish, the recorded conversation between the First Prince and the assassins echoed through the air.

—Miss Gong had set it to loop.

Hearing this, the official’s heart sank.

The First Prince was supposed to be cautious and cunning. How did this girl obtain such evidence?

“This doesn’t sound like His Highness’s voice,” the official pretended to listen carefully. “Could someone be impersonating him, trying to frame him?”

Her words immediately resonated with the First Prince’s supporters.

Would the First Prince of the Heartflame Empire really order the assassination of an unknown girl?

That sounded absurd.

“Whether they’re his men or not is irrelevant.” Gong Yiling shrugged. “At least you’ve confirmed that there are assassins in the competition grounds. This threat to the participants’ lives isn’t something you would condone.”

“Or should I spread the word throughout Yanlie City that the Heartflame Empire can’t even secure its own competition grounds, allowing several Return to Origin assassins to infiltrate?”

“If this reaches His Majesty’s ears,” she suddenly raised her voice, “how many heads do you think you have to spare?!”

This hit the mark.

With so many people present, mishandling this could have severe consequences.

After careful consideration, the official finally said, “I can let you leave and retain your scores, but if you don’t have—”

“Clatter.”

Qiu Shui, holding Lu Xinyao, tossed nine cards totaling forty-five points before her. Then, she asked calmly, “Any other problems?”

“…Your team has forty-five points, a perfect score, with a perfect average. I’ll report this to Prince Changning. Please follow me.”

—

—

Perhaps shocked by their perfect score, the other participants, initially wanting to withdraw due to the assassins, no longer mentioned it.

They were handing in a perfect exam paper early. Leaving now, with their failing grades, would be embarrassing.

However, the three perfect scorers didn’t meet Prince Changning as expected, to confront him with the evidence they all knew existed.

As for where the prince was…

—

—

“Dead!?”

Emperor Shangguan Long was utterly shocked.

He had heard a strange roar earlier, seemingly coming from afar, followed by a clear accusation carried by the wind:

“Great One Engineering Sect, I will never forgive you, even in death!”

The only demonic beast capable of such a roar was the Flame Python in the Yanxing Great Forest.

He didn’t know who had sealed it there, but during his first royal hunt, he almost lost his entire army because of it.

After that, he had even issued a bounty, offering a large reward for anyone who could slay the beast.

—Many came seeking the reward, even forming a twenty-person team led by a Heavenly Venerable cultivator.

But they were too weak, lacking the power to even make plain water taste good.

None of them returned alive.

After that, Shangguan Long never mentioned hunting the beast again.

Until today.

Although he had a premonition, it needed confirmation.

And Shangguan Yaochang arrived with the news.

“Your Majesty, the Flame Python is dead.”

“Really dead!?”

“Really dead.” Shangguan Yaochang presented a scale from the python. “After hearing the roar, I arranged the competition and immediately went to the central area. I found its remains near the outer edge.”

Shangguan Long asked, “Did you find out who did it?”

Shangguan Yaochang shook his head. “There was no one else there. The fatal wound was on its neck, a piercing injury at its seventh inch. And its head was missing.”

“Therefore, I suspect someone struck its vital point, then, realizing it wasn’t its heart, severed its head with a second strike.”

Against a Heavenly Venerable demonic beast…

Only two strikes.

One to pierce its vital point, one to decapitate it.

Such precision, such power, could only be achieved by someone above Heavenly Venerable.

Immortal Mansion or Saint Venerable?

This was truly astonishing.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t find anyone else there. Otherwise, I would have recommended them to Your Majesty—”

“It’s fine.”

Shangguan Long suddenly stroked his beard and chuckled. “It’s fine, it’s fine. As long as the Flame Python is dead, that’s a cause for celebration!”

“It must be Your Majesty’s good fortune that brought such an expert to our aid.”

“You always know what to say.” Shangguan Long clapped his brother’s shoulder heartily. “I’m in a good mood today. Let’s drink until we drop, brother!”

“Since Your Majesty insists, I’ll gladly oblige.”

Their conversation was harmonious, but whether they harbored hidden agendas remained unknown.

31. A Draw 

 

The tide of the battle inevitably turned in Shangguan Qingyun’s favor.

Since Qiu Shui excelled at control, he would make sure it was ineffective.

He continuously used wide-range attacks. Although Qiu Shui could neutralize most of them with her plant manipulation, she couldn’t launch effective counterattacks like before.

And these attacks still caused her some damage.

After ten minutes, Qiu Shui’s clothes were torn, and her face and arms were scratched, but her expression remained firm.

And…

A glint of something Gong Yiling recognized appeared in her eyes.

Confidence.

“Let’s see how long you can keep this up.”

Shangguan Qingyun suddenly stopped, his exposed skin bulging with veins as his true essence circulated, gradually transforming into nascent soul energy.

Then, he unleashed a powerful punch, a wave of nascent soul energy crashing towards Qiu Shui like a tidal wave.

Just as he launched his attack, the ground beneath him rumbled.

Caught off guard, Shangguan Qingyun couldn’t react in time.

Qiu Shui had somehow planted a network of sharp, thorny vines beneath his feet. Now, over a dozen vines attacked him simultaneously.

—She still had strength left?

Shangguan Qingyun was shocked, quickly mobilizing his remaining power to defend, but Qiu Shui’s surprise attack was too powerful for a simple block.

Just then, the two on the sidelines acted.

Young Master Xuli, using his technique, subtly intercepted one of the vines, saving his “ally.” Qiu Shui, originally intending to use the Sound of Heavenly Wind to defend…

The next second, she found herself in a familiar embrace.

A loud boom and a powerful shockwave erupted behind them, almost throwing them off balance, but they landed safely.

“Master?”

“Well done.” Gong Yiling, having watched the entire fight, gently wiped the blood from Qiu Shui’s face. “To fight him to a standstill, you truly are my good Qiu Shui.”

“Eh—” Qiu Shui blushed. “What… what do you mean ‘my’? That sounds weird.”

“Isn’t it true?” Gong Yiling smiled. “Leave the rest to me. I won’t let anyone bully my people.”

“Okay…” Although still slightly frustrated, Qiu Shui felt a surge of warmth. She hid her face, nodding shyly.

This girl was truly adorable.

After setting Qiu Shui down, Gong Yiling turned to Shangguan Qingyun. “This match is a draw. Any objections, Your Highness?”

The First Prince, watching a ball of flame incinerate the vines attacking him, knew it was Young Master Xuli’s doing. He didn’t argue about the outcome, simply sneering, “A cultivator duel, resorting to sneak attacks. I’m sure everyone can see what’s happening here.”

However, looking at the woman who suddenly appeared, he couldn’t help but feel suspicious.

Back in the central area, he had wondered about her identity, why she was with those two girls, and why she suddenly appeared to save them.

Could this woman also be connected to that Immortal Master?

As he was pondering this, he heard her retort, “Her skills focus on control and healing. You, a brute who relies on brute force and has a higher cultivation level, can’t even defeat a healer. And you have the nerve to complain?”

Her words… seemed to make sense.

Qiu Shui’s spiritual arts weren’t offensive, mainly for support. And in a one-on-one duel, the effectiveness of healing arts was greatly reduced. Moreover, the First Prince was much stronger than her.

It was laughable that their fight lasted almost twenty minutes and ended in a draw.

“So what has she proven?”

“I don’t know what she has proven, but you two,” Gong Yiling looked at Xuli and Shangguan Qingyun, “do you remember what this is?”

She tossed the “Sound Amplifying Stone” to a random bystander.

A voice echoed from the stone:

“She has the Thousand Miles Fragrance on her. Just follow my instructions and corner them. You can injure them, but I want that girl with purplish-red hair alive, at least. Any objections?”

“No.”

“Then prepare to move.”

The following “Yes” was a chorus and wasn’t recorded by the device.

This recording instantly invalidated Shangguan Qingyun’s earlier accusations.

The crowd erupted in an uproar, their gazes fixed on the First Prince.

After a moment of shock, Shangguan Qingyun suddenly realized something.

This woman’s method was the same as that young master’s at his shop.

Could it be!?

His eyes turned cold, but he refused to admit it. “Someone is impersonating me! It seems some people here have ulterior motives.”

But Gong Yiling wasn’t going to listen to his nonsense.

She had anticipated his denial, so she took out her crystal and crushed it.

What was she doing…?

The crowd watched, confused, as a competition official descended from the sky a minute later.

Looking at the large crowd, she asked, puzzled, “What happened? Who crushed the crystal?”

“I did.” Gong Yiling said calmly, “I request an immediate termination of this suspicious competition, or I request an immediate evaluation of our team’s number cards.”

“This…?” The official had never heard such a request and immediately refused. “Miss, you will be disqualified if you leave early. Prince Changning explained this before the competition began, didn’t he?”

“Disqualified?” Gong Yiling sneered. “And assassins are allowed in this competition? Is this a competition or an assassination attempt?”

 

30. Qiu Shui’s First Battle 

It was unclear how many people in the forest had been drawn to the commotion.

But the crowd surrounded the two confronting parties, and judging by their positions, most seemed to be on the First Prince’s side.

What happened was this:

After Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao returned to the outer area, they immediately wanted to crush the communication crystals and call for help.

After all, they knew their Young Palace Master’s true strength. She could fool others, but not them.

A cultivator, whose strength was questionable, facing a legendary demonic beast… it was a losing battle.

However, just as they were about to do so, the First Prince, who had been searching for them, appeared.

Qiu Shui wasn’t a pushover.

She stalled him for a while, eventually leading him to a crowded area.

Now, attacking them directly was impossible, so he came up with a plan.

He played the victim, accusing Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao of using him and Xuli as bait, luring them into the central area, then abandoning them after taking the treasures.

And indeed, he and Xuli looked like they had just fought a fierce battle, covered in wounds and dirt, while Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao looked perfectly fine.

This made most of the onlookers believe Shangguan Qingyun. Only a few thought the two girls, whose strength was clearly among the top contenders, wouldn’t resort to such tricks.

The two sides argued, leaving Qiu Shui exasperated.

Fortunately, the Flame Python’s dying words echoed through the forest shortly after.

Although many didn’t understand its meaning, it likely meant that Master was safe.

This thought filled Qiu Shui with anger.

It was this Shangguan Qingyun who prevented her from helping her master, from even offering a gesture of concern, forcing her to listen to his lies.

How dare he!

“Do you just want to fight?” Qiu Shui blurted out, “After all this talk, isn’t it because you lost face and want to fight?”

“Hmm?” Shangguan Qingyun was surprised by her sudden change in attitude. “What do you mean?”

“If I can defeat you, it means I didn’t need to trick you.” Qiu Shui pointed at him confidently. “Your Highness, right here, right now, a duel. Do you dare?”

The First Prince frowned. “Are you sure?”

This girl was only at Return to Origin, while he was at Profound Void. Where did she get her confidence?

“Don’t be a coward. Are you fighting or not?”

“Since you insist—”

Shangguan Qingyun cleared the area, creating a battleground about a hundred meters wide.

Qiu Shui handed the unconscious Lu Xinyao to a guard she recognized from Lingyue’s manor and stepped into the arena.

“Please.”

“Please.”

No more words were exchanged.

They bowed to each other, then Shangguan Qingyun took a deep breath and attacked with lightning speed.

His first strike was a thunderous assault, as if trying to tear the girl apart.

This was the Shangguan family’s most powerful opening move, the Three Lightning Strikes.

Even cultivators at the same level struggled to comprehend its speed, let alone this girl, who was only at Return to Origin.

But just as everyone held their breath, Shangguan Qingyun’s attack passed right through her.

What?

An illusion technique?

Slightly surprised, but not panicked, Shangguan Qingyun leaped back, both to avoid a potential counterattack and to get a clearer view of the situation.

He spotted Qiu Shui.

She was standing some distance away, seemingly chanting something.

“Do you think you can escape?”

He unleashed the third of the Three Lightning Strikes, leaving golden afterimages in the air.

In a flash, he appeared before her.

His fist, infused with wind energy, was about to end the match.

However, as he saw the scene before him, he froze.

As if anticipating his attack, Qiu Shui had placed the trunk of a large tree in his path.

Dozens of vines sprouted from the ground, blocking all his escape routes.

What kind of technique was this?

He had only seen her use healing arts before. This nature-based attack caught him off guard.

But it was only a momentary surprise.

He let the vines entangle him, his attack continuing unabated.

A powerful punch!

It shattered the giant tree Qiu Shui had summoned. As leaves rained down, Shangguan Qingyun clicked his tongue.

This Qiu Shui was also an illusion, disappearing upon contact.

“Another illusion?”

Suddenly, his vision blurred, and the world spun around him, setting off alarm bells in his mind.

Those leaves—were poisonous!?

He immediately punched the ground beneath him.

This punch was powerful.

His concentrated true essence exploded, sending a shockwave in all directions.

This wide-range attack affected Qiu Shui, hidden by her illusion.

She was thrown back several meters, struggling to regain her footing and control her breathing.

“The poison should have…”

These techniques from the Cloud Rainbow Heavenly Sound Technique were meant for self-defense.

However, looking at Shangguan Qingyun, he had stabbed a dagger into his less dominant left hand.

Pain was the best antidote to illusions, and for a ruthless man like him, this was a natural reaction.

 

29. Does This Even Work?

 

“Name: Hilt of the Broken Steel Holy Sword.

Item Grade: Immortal Artifact (Specific grade unknown)

Attack Power: ?

Defense Power: ?

Other: Although the sword itself is rusted and unusable, this is the hilt. A divine brick is still divine, and a divine hilt is still divine.”

The strange object was stained with fresh blood, clearly from the Flame Python.

Gong Yiling stared at it for a long time, rereading the description several times, before finally understanding what happened.

She had used the momentum from the bouncy net, combined with the Flame Python’s own venom, and wielded this hilt, which could bypass its defenses…

To decapitate it?

Nothing involved was hers, and yet… this worked?

Ignoring her injuries, she rushed to the python’s corpse.

This creature was truly unlucky.

If she had struck anywhere else, the impact would have probably broken her arms again.

But she hit its most vulnerable spot, its neck, severing its true lifeblood.

She knew about this weakness, but the difference in their strength was so vast that she hadn’t even considered exploiting it.

And yet… she not only hit it by accident, but also almost severed its head, killing it instantly.

“I think I’ve lost the ability to speak.” Gong Yiling rubbed her forehead. “So, for this level-skipping kill, aren’t you going to give me a reward?”

“The reputation reward has already been given. What else do you want?”

“Don’t world bosses drop loot?” Gong Yiling pointed at the corpse. “Where’s my legendary gear? My crystals? My legendary weapons? My Breath of the Undying? My artifacts?”

“Do you think this is a game?” The system interrupted impatiently. “Do you think a ferocious python’s stomach would be filled with legendary weapons and glowing crystals instead of half-digested food?”

Gong Yiling thought about it.

That was indeed impossible.

She could only examine the corpse for anything valuable.

The meat was definitely inedible. She didn’t know if it was more delicious than pufferfish, but it was definitely more poisonous.

Then there were the scales. Although they looked valuable, impenetrable by ordinary weapons…

Her sword hilt couldn’t even scratch them, so she gave up on skinning it.

Then there was the demonic core.

This was easy to find. Gong Yiling, sensing the venomous energy, found a purple core inside the python’s body. It contained the beast’s cultivation of millennia, more than enough to boost her own power.

Finally, she returned to the rest of the python.

After much effort, she severed its head and tossed it into her Universe Ring.

As for the rest… she could only take some meat and leave the rest behind.

“I killed a Flame Python, and this is all I get?”

Feeling cheated, she walked back. Nearing the barrier, she suddenly remembered something.

Strange, she had bumped into a bouncy net twice. What was that thing?

Since it wasn’t far from the barrier, she reached out and felt around.

She found an invisible, intangible, elastic net, feeling like dough but with incredible elasticity.

“What is this?”

“Since you’ve been wondering for so long, I’ll make an exception and tell you.” The system said, “This is a barrier set up by Gong Muzhi to trap the Flame Python.”

“If the python tries to escape, it expands into an elastic net that can stretch for dozens of kilometers, flinging the python back.”

“The reason you experienced the same thing earlier is because—”

“Because I absorbed its venom, and the net mistook me for it?”

“Precisely.”

Gong Yiling’s lips twitched.

Although she wanted to complain about her mother’s ridiculous design, only reacting to the venom…

It was precisely because of this that she could injure the Flame Python the first time and kill it the second time.

After learning this, she dispelled the remaining venom in her body. The net no longer affected her, and she easily returned to the outer area.

The fresh air was a welcome change from the cloying sweetness of the central area. Miss Gong stretched and muttered,

“I wonder how Qiu Shui and Xinyao are—”

Just then, two people walked past, not noticing the disheveled girl, talking amongst themselves. “Is it true? Someone framed the First Prince?”

“Yes, I heard it was a beautiful young lady, but what good is beauty? Truly, appearances can be deceiving.”

“Let’s go and see. It seems the two are confronting each other.”

“But didn’t you want to check out that sound earlier? Maybe the Flame Python was beaten to a pulp.”

“Even a beaten Flame Python is still a Flame Python. Would you dare go near it? Better to watch the drama unfold up ahead.”

“You’re right. We can’t miss this. We have time. We can collect number cards later.”

Hearing their conversation, Gong Yiling’s heart sank.

The only ones who would confront the First Prince here were Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao.

So, that bastard went to find trouble with them while she was gone?

Gong Yiling’s eyes turned cold.

This was all the First Prince and Xuli’s fault. She wanted to see how they would try to twist the truth!

 

28. An Epic Instant Kill!

 

Although its vital point, its seventh inch, had been struck, this Flame Python, as its name suggested, was a unique creature. Its seventh inch…

Wasn’t its heart.

It was its kidney.

So, this girl had just destroyed one of its kidneys, and the other was almost exposed. Losing both kidneys—that was terrifying.

“Damn you!” The Flame Python, humiliated, struggled to stand, its vertical pupils filled with fear and rage. “You girl, clearly so powerful, why did you deceive this old creature!?”

“Powerful?” Gong Yiling almost scoffed at its ignorance.

But then she thought—why not play along?

So, her next words became:

“Heh.” Gong Yiling placed her hands on her hips. “Since you’ve seen through me, I won’t pretend anymore.”

“You’re right. I’m not a disciple of Poison King Gul’dan, but an elder of the Great One Engineering Sect. This girl’s appearance is just a disguise.”

“You’re… an elder of the old sect!?” The Flame Python’s jaw almost dropped. “That’s right, only those from the old sect possess such poison resistance. You must be one of them.”

Its head was spinning. It wasn’t just because of the girl’s strength.

The name of the old sect carried immense weight, and they were backed by the Nine-Colored Deer. If it killed her here, and the Nine-Colored Deer found out, there would be a huge conflict.

Currently trapped here, it needed to bide its time and wait for an opportunity for revenge, not make enemies with those it couldn’t afford to offend.

“You have good eyes.” Gong Yiling, embracing her role, continued, “Today, I was merely training my disciples and didn’t want to reveal my true strength before them, lest they become reliant on me. I never expected to encounter such a coward.”

“Do you still want to eat my disciple? Should I bring her to you?”

The Flame Python felt conflicted. It wanted a rematch! Even with one kidney gone, it still had another. One was enough!

Seeing its silence, Miss Gong walked up to it, patted its scales, and said,

“So, in the future, be more discerning. Not everything is worth provoking, you know?”

“This…” The Flame Python fumed. “Are you done with your nonsense?”

“You should understand the situation.” Gong Yiling glared at it coldly. “You provoked me. Your injury is your own fault. Do you think I’ll just leave now? Dream on.”

Flame Python: “???”

“I’m a reasonable person. I don’t want anything from you.” Gong Yiling said, “Just show me that venomous energy condensation again.”

The Flame Python, initially about to lash out, was taken aback.

She wanted nothing, just to see its venom technique?

“Why?”

“Because it looks cool.” Miss Gong leaned against it, trying to deceive it again. “I’ve heard that the Calamity Heart Flame Python’s venom technique is incredibly impressive. If I hadn’t left in such a hurry earlier—”

“You call that leaving in a hurry? You were running for your life!” Hearing this, the Flame Python suddenly realized something.

Right.

If this girl could defeat it, why would she run? And so desperately, as if afraid of being caught?

Her disciples were already gone. If she was so strong, she could have shown her true power then.

Could it be… she was still deceiving it?

But the Flame Python couldn’t believe that her earlier attack was just a fluke. Her immunity to poison was proof of that. Could this girl be related to that old witch Gong Muzhi?

That old witch’s strange technique could only be learned by her children or close relatives.

But how could a demonic cultivator’s disciple possess a technique similar to the Cloud Rainbow Sect’s?

Despite its confusion, caution prevailed.

“Just showing you my venom technique is fine.”

The Flame Python complied.

Although its wound was still bleeding, condensing its venom wasn’t difficult.

However, the moment it formed the purple sphere of venom, Miss Gong repeated her earlier action, absorbing the venom into her meridians.

“A Saint Seiya wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice. You shouldn’t be called the Calamity Heart Flame Python, but the Martian Pig.”

Miss Gong, making her escape!

The Flame Python was dumbfounded.

Then, it became enraged!

This was the second time it had been tricked by this girl! This time, it would chase her to the ends of the earth and tear her to pieces!

Their chase didn’t last long before Gong Yiling slammed into that strange bouncy barrier again.

The elastic net stretched for hundreds of meters, almost touching the barrier, before launching her back.

This time, she flew straight towards the Flame Python’s head.

She didn’t have any Flame King Soft Hedgehog Armor left to protect herself.

In a panic, she grabbed a random object, channeling all the absorbed venom into it.

In that split second, she felt like she had cut through something, the object absorbing most of the impact and true essence.

Then, she crashed into the ground again, the impact almost knocking her unconscious.

But the system’s following words shocked her.

“Notification: Congratulations! You have defeated the world boss, Calamity Heart Flame Python. Achievement unlocked: Vanquisher of the Flame Python.”

“What the—?” As Gong Yiling climbed out of the ground, she saw the Flame Python, using its last breath, roar a message that reverberated through the air, “Great One Engineering Sect, I will never forgive you—even in death!”

Then, its massive body collapsed, silent.

Gong Yiling: “…???”

What the hell? How many levels did she skip to kill this thing? And how did she even do it?

She shouldn’t even be able to break through its defenses—

Then, she noticed the strange object in her hand.