Chapter 75: Mu Ruoyi, are you sick?
The path of cultivation is increasingly difficult as one progresses further. Therefore, the gap between the Incarnation Realm and the Divine Ability Realm is definitely much larger than the gap between the Guiyi Realm and the Incarnation Realm, purely based on spiritual sense.
Without any defenses, Protector Ma’s knees buckled and he knelt down. Because of his strong physique, he knelt down quickly, and the immense impact force was like a cannonball hitting the ground.
“Boom!”
With a loud noise, a large pit was instantly created on the ground, and gravel flew everywhere, whistling like arrows shot from a bow.
The surrounding people hastily dodged. Some low-ranking cultivators were even injured by the debris.
After the dust and stones settled, everyone saw Protector Ma kneeling there, trembling all over, cold sweat streaming down his forehead, and his veins bulging. It was unclear whether it was from anger or injury.
“This…”
Everyone looked at each other, their faces filled with shock. After all, Protector Ma was a master of the seventh level of the Incarnation Realm! To think that he couldn’t even withstand that person’s gaze? If this wasn’t the Divine Ability Realm, what was?
Cheng Hong Ling looked at the unfamiliar figure in the sky and felt a sense of looking up at a towering mountain. Although the person wasn’t targeting her, they exuded a mountain-like pressure.
“This person is too strong! We absolutely cannot fight him!”
Mu Ruoyi immediately whispered in Cheng Hong Ling’s ear, her rapid breathing reflecting her inner fear.
Qi Huang looked at the expression on her main body’s face and felt an instant surge of satisfaction. In this world, she was probably the first person to show a hint of fear in her eyes.
“I wonder if I qualify as being in the Divine Ability Realm?”
Qi Huang turned her head and condescendingly questioned Protector Ma.
“We have offended you, and we hope for your forgiveness if we have caused any offense!”
Before Protector Ma could speak, two masters from the Chongyue Sect had already respectfully stepped forward to apologize.
“We apologize! Senior! Our disciples from the HuXiao Sect are ignorant and have offended you. I apologize on their behalf.”
Elder Zhou’s eyes darted around, and he quickly stepped forward and bowed. He was very aware of the strength of a Divine Ability Realm expert, who was capable of killing everyone present, so he absolutely couldn’t harbor any ill intentions.
“Hmph! If it weren’t for the fact that we are all under the Immortal Alliance banner, he would have lost more than just his legs. Moreover, you, as an elder, are also responsible for your failure to teach him properly.”
Qi Huang reprimanded Elder Zhou in a deliberately petty manner. A Divine Ability Realm expert couldn’t appear too weak, otherwise, it would arouse suspicion.
“Yes, yes! If there’s an opportunity another day, I will definitely visit you and apologize.”
Elder Zhou responded obsequiously, not daring to be presumptuous. However, his words still carried a hint of probing.
“There’s no need to visit and apologize. Show your sincerity now. Ten thousand taels of silver.”
Qi Huang unhesitatingly extended her small hand to demand payment. She was a busy person, and her appearance fee naturally had to be paid by someone.
Elder Zhou was stunned, and everyone else was frozen in place, wondering why such a powerful Divine Ability Realm master lacked any demeanor.
Cheng Hong Ling looked at Qi Huang’s hand and showed a puzzled expression. This was clearly a woman’s hand.
“What’s wrong? Is my prestige not even worth ten thousand taels of silver? Then what about all of your lives?”
Qi Huang threatened unhappily.
“It’s worth it, it’s worth it! Senior, please wait a moment, I’ll gather it from the disciples.”
Elder Zhou was startled and hurriedly went to gather the silver.
Meanwhile, Protector Ma shakily stood up, his face filled with fear, unsure of what to do.
“And you! You offended this venerable one, so you naturally have to show your sincerity. Ten thousand taels of silver.”
Qi Huang again demanded payment from Protector Ma.
“It’s only right, it’s only right. Senior, please wait a moment.”
Protector Ma gritted his teeth, but ultimately lacked the courage to resist. He immediately began to gather silver from the disciples around him.
“And you all, what are you chuckling about? Hand over ten thousand taels of silver!”
Qi Huang showed no mercy and demanded payment from the two Incarnation Realm experts of the Chongyue Sect.
“No, Senior, we didn’t offend you!”
One of them lamented.
“Your mere presence here is an offense to me, stop talking nonsense!”
Qi Huang said domineeringly. She had clearly heard these two attempting to kill her main body in the tent.
The two masters from the Chongyue Sect exchanged glances, a look of helplessness gradually appearing on their faces. Then, they also began to count their personal belongings, preparing to “tribute.”
“It’s over, will ‘he’ make us tribute too? I don’t have any money!”
Mu Ruoyi’s beautiful eyes blinked, and tears were about to fall. This showed the importance of money in her eyes.
“You, the dignified Saintess of Shuiyu Valley and the daughter of the Valley Master, wouldn’t have no money?”
Cheng Hong Ling naturally didn’t believe it.
“Yes! But I’m reluctant to part with it. If you want me to pay ten thousand taels of silver, you might as well kill me.”
Mu Ruoyi sadly wiped away her tears.
“Hmph—”
Cheng Hong Ling snorted contemptuously, then said, “You can do as you please. I don’t have any. If ‘he’ doesn’t believe me, he can take my life instead.”
“Forget it, I’ll pay this ten thousand taels of silver.”
Mu Ruoyi suddenly bit her teeth, and her tears stopped flowing.
“Why? Didn’t you just say you were reluctant to part with it?”
Cheng Hong Ling asked doubtfully.
“For you, I’m willing. Who told you that you are my wife?”
Mu Ruoyi said solemnly. She did this not because she had truly fallen in love with Cheng Hong Ling, but out of a “husband’s” sense of responsibility.
“Oh, stop being so mushy! Go away! You’re giving me goosebumps!”
Cheng Hong Ling’s entire body instantly erupted in goosebumps.
Just then, Elder Zhou of the HuXiao Sect had gathered the finances. He approached with a sack and said, “Senior, we are traveling and didn’t bring much money, but there are some talismans and spiritual artifacts inside, which should add up to ten thousand taels of silver.”
“Very good!”
Qi Huang nodded with satisfaction.
Shortly after, the people from the other two factions also brought their finances.
Qi Huang’s face under her mask was almost stiff from smiling. With this money, all problems could be solved.
Qi Huang was satisfied and was about to let them go when a clear voice sounded.
“Senior, this is our ten thousand taels of silver.”
Mu Ruoyi presented ten banknotes of one thousand taels each.
Qi Huang was instantly stunned, thinking, “Is this brainless, big-breasted woman trying to get rid of her money? Did I ask you for it? Are you sick in the head? Why would you carry so much money when traveling?”
Qi Huang suppressed the urge to reach out and borrow money, and coughed twice, saying, “You don’t need to.”
“Oh yeah! Senior is wise!”
Mu Ruoyi was stunned for a moment, then cheered happily, causing the two large treasures on her chest to surge like waves.
Qi Huang’s face immediately darkened, thinking, “Can you restrain yourself? What if others misunderstand that I’m having an affair with you?”
“Unfair! This is unfair! Senior! Why can they not pay? This is gender discrimination!”
The two masters from the Chongyue Sect were immediately displeased.
“The reason is very simple. I want their people, the Moon-Concealing Twin Flowers of the Cultivation World. Their beauty alone should be worth more than ten thousand taels of silver. If you can transform into a beauty of that caliber on the spot, you also don’t have to pay.”
Qi Huang said with a deliberately lecherous expression.
Upon hearing this, Mu Ruoyi felt as if she had fallen from heaven into hell, and the tears that she had just managed to hold back began to well up in her beautiful eyes again.
Cheng Hong Ling remained silent, but a hint of sharpness appeared in her eyes.
“Oh yeah! Senior is wise!”
The two masters from the Chongyue Sect were overjoyed and were very supportive of Qi Huang’s decision.
“Alright, now all of you can scram, except for those two.”
Qi Huang ordered them to leave.
“Senior, I am Elder Zhou Ming of the HuXiao Sect…”
Elder Zhou was not willing to give up, so he revealed his identity.
“I don’t care if you’re Pig Ming or Dog Ming. If you keep blabbering, you won’t be leaving today.”
Qi Huang said impatiently, as she knew that the longer she delayed, the more trouble could arise.
Zhou Ming’s face showed a struggle, but it didn’t last long. Within a few breaths, he relented: “Then I shall take my leave!”
After saying this, Zhou Ming led a group of HuXiao Sect disciples away, but after a few steps, he suddenly turned back and said to Cheng Hong Ling, “Junior Sister Cheng, don’t forget our agreement. At the Evergreen Convention two years later, I’ll be waiting to see how you break the rules, assuming you can still return to the HongHua Sect.”
Cheng Hong Ling pursed her red lips. If it were any other time, she would have retorted, but this time… she genuinely had no confidence in escaping.
Seeing the HuXiao Sect leave, the other two factions also lost hope and reluctantly departed one after another.
Qi Huang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She was indeed powerful now, but she was only a pseudo-Divine Ability Realm expert after all. If these ten or so Incarnation Realm masters ganged up on her, she would surely die. This was why she had let the tiger return to the mountain.
“Senior, I beg you one thing, please let her go. I will serve you alone, and I will do whatever you want me to do.”
Just then, Mu Ruoyi’s娇 (jiāo – delicate, charming) voice came.
