I, who was turned into a woman by the Jade Maiden Master, want to rebel against the Heavenly Gang.

However, if relations are completely broken, the Empress might intervene. In the end, the Empress might end up reaping the benefits of the Purple Gold Jade Spirit Root.

So, from another perspective, suppressing the Xuan Nu Sect doesn't necessarily require targeting the sect leader. If the sect leader can represent everything, then there's no point in establishing a sect.

A sect values ​​overall strength and overall power, so it's not enough for just the sect leader to be strong while the disciples are too weak.

Although I lost the confrontation with Liu Ruyan, I succeeded in putting pressure on the Xuan Nu Sect. I was able to achieve my goal and get Liu Ruyan to hand over the Purple Gold Jade Spirit Root.

Therefore, even though many people despise Luo Li's behavior, there are quite a few who wish they could replace her and challenge Li Qingshi and Xia Jinghong instead.

Even from the perspective of rules and morality, Luo Li had the upper hand. Although she, Li Qingshi, and Xia Jinghong were all disciples of the sect leader.

However, she was the Third Elder of the Wuxiang Sect, at the early stage of the Flowing Cloud Realm. Xia Jinghong was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and Li Qingshi was even still in the Qi Refining stage.

Qin Rufeng gave Qing Shi and Jing Hong official titles only because of their bond of life and death together.

They were "honorary disciples" and had only just begun their training; Qin Rufeng hadn't even taught them any spells. How could they possibly fight against an elder of a sect? Besides, the two of them couldn't even create a True Martial Seven-Section Formation.

While Qin Rufeng was still pondering countermeasures, Xia Jinghong had already jumped onto the arena with the Crimson Moon Umbrella Sword. As the senior sister, Li Qingshi naturally couldn't let her junior sister bear the burden, so she disregarded her own low cultivation level and also jumped onto the arena.

The two showed no fear, appearing resigned to their fate. Qin Rufeng's eyes reddened as he watched this scene.

Fine, so you're going to act like a scoundrel?

With a dark expression, Ru Feng waved her hand, and Feng Hua flew to her shoulder. Cang Shuyun, who had been observing from the shadows, was also prepared; she was ready to appear regardless of her status should Qin Ru Feng need her.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out: "Qing Shi Jing Hong, you all step back!"

"Senior Sister!" Qin Rufeng exclaimed happily.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Nangong Yue and Shangguan Qingxue had returned...

Nangong Yue went straight to the arena, her eyes burning with anger as she glared at Luo Li and said, "I will now challenge the Wuxiang Sect to a duel."

Despite her thwarted scheme, Luo Li remained unfazed. Instead of immediately engaging in combat, she asked Nangong Yue, "May I ask your honorable name, fellow Daoist? Are you also a disciple of the Xuan Nu Sect?"

Nangong Yue said directly, "Didn't you hear the sect leader call me senior sister? I am an elder of the Xuan Nu Sect, and my status is equal to yours. If you want to learn from me, I am the one who is here to accompany you."

Nangong Yue winked at Qin Rufeng. Qin Rufeng understood immediately. She first told Feng Hua, who was already eager to try, to calm down, and then called Qing Shi and Jing Hong to serve her, so that the two of them could gracefully leave the martial arts arena.

Shangguan Qingxue came to Qin Rufeng's side and whispered, "I didn't expect these people to be so despicable. There was trouble at Qingyue Workshop, and Junior Sister Nangong and I were delayed. Fortunately, Elder Ye sent someone to inform us, so we were able to return in time. It seems we're not too late."

Qin Rufeng grasped Shangguan Qingxue's hand and said, "Sister Qingxue, you've come at just the right time."

Chapter 199 Beating

On the martial arts arena stage, Luo Li, unable to gain the upper hand, had no choice but to accept the challenge. In reality, her cultivation level was still higher than Nangong Yue's.

Despite her relentless cultivation efforts, Nangong Yue had only reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, but she remained unfazed. This was because Luo Li was a sword cultivator with a golden spiritual root, while Nangong Yue possessed a top-grade fire spiritual root. Attribute advantage could, to some extent, compensate for the difference in their cultivation levels.

Without exchanging many words, the two immediately began fighting.

Luo Li drew her sword. With her other hand, she formed a hand seal on the blade and softly uttered, "Soaring Dragon Sword!"

Then, he twisted his wrist and swung his hand, drawing a circle in the air with his sword. Wherever the sword's edge swept, it left behind streaks of sword light. These streaks of sword light did not disappear but instead began to meander and move.

The Dragon-Wandering Sword, its sword energy like a dragon soaring through the air. It truly lives up to its name; it's quite something.

A barrier of sword energy formed in front of her, while Luo Li continued her sword dance from behind. As the sword light flashed, shimmering light danced wildly. Suddenly, her purple gauze skirt billowed open, revealing her snow-white, graceful legs. The silver bells tied to her ankles tinkled melodiously with her light steps.

The sword energy created wind pressure, tearing through the air and producing a whistling sound. When the sword energy rose, it was like a dragon soaring across the four seas and a crane roaring in the nine heavens; when it fell back, it was like a tree full of jade blossoms fluttering down.

Qin Rufeng was also astonished. This Dragon Soaring Sword technique was truly breathtaking; the contrast between Luo Li's appearance and her inner self was simply too great.

However, Nangong Yue on the other side remained completely calm. She opened her folding fan with a "poof!" to cover her face, revealing only her bright eyes that seemed to observe everything around her.

A moment later, she lightly waved her folding fan, releasing bright sparks. The sparks transformed into countless fire butterflies, dancing gracefully around her.

The two figures moved with agility, their sword energy flowing like dragons while fiery butterflies danced in the air. The dragons and butterflies quickly filled the entire training ground, intertwining with each other.

The two remained locked in a stalemate, the atmosphere on the field resembling a storm about to break out.

However, it was already clear to those with discerning eyes that when the wandering sword energy collided with the fire butterfly, the metal-attribute sword energy would be instantly burned away by the fire butterfly.

The situation is described as a standoff, but in reality, it's already over...

The stalemate was broken by Luo Li, who changed her hand seals. Seeing this, Nangong Yue also formed hand seals.

In an instant, both sides' fire butterflies and dragons pounced on each other simultaneously. The entire arena erupted in a burst of fire and light like fireworks, with sword energy crisscrossing and flames soaring into the sky!

Nangong Yue made hand seals, one hand to make the fire butterfly trigger the attack of Ba Lin Liu, and the other hand to open the fire phoenix seal on her back.

A pair of fiery wings, even more magnificent and dazzling than Qin Rufeng's fiery wings, sprouted from Nangong Yue's back.

The true energy of the departing fire instantly ignited, heating the air and generating a strong and powerful wind pressure. This forced the sect members watching from the sidelines to cover their faces.

In an instant, flames raged and the sky was ablaze with fire. Luo Li's Soaring Dragon Sword Qi was instantly reduced to ashes, not even a trace of it could touch Nangong Yue.

However, Nangong Yue's fire butterflies failed to harm Luo Li. Luo Li then unleashed her magic weapon, conjuring a water tornado that shot straight into the sky. She herself hid within the eye of the water tornado to withstand the fire butterflies' attack.

She actually used the magic weapon so easily...

It must be understood that a friendly spar is not a life-or-death struggle, and one cannot resort to any means necessary. If it were a life-or-death struggle, Qin Rufeng would never have engaged Cao Fei in close combat.

Because she is the natural enemy of physical cultivation. No matter how strong one's body is, what good is the soul? Qin Rufeng only needs to use the Spirit Fox Fire and the Netherworld Ten Fiends Formation to directly defeat Cao Fei or even take his life.

Cao Fei was forced to use his magic weapon by Qin Rufeng, after which Qin Rufeng conceded defeat. Although there are no written rules, magic weapons or elixirs are generally not allowed to be used in duels or sparring.

However, these established rules have absolutely no binding force on someone as shameless as Luo Li.

She used her magical artifacts right from the start. Not only defensive artifacts, but she also immediately unleashed offensive artifacts.

She then took out a bronze mirror. Instantly, the mirror transformed into twelve mirror images, surrounding Nangong Yue. Simultaneously, water flowed from within the mirrors, like a flood bursting its banks.

The flowing water enveloped Nangong Yue and quickly formed a huge block of ice, freezing her inside.

Qin Rufeng was furious. No rule was more important than her senior sister's safety; she was ready to rush into the arena and tear that bitch Luo Li to shreds.

However, Shangguan Qingxue stopped her and said softly, "Sect Leader, look."

Upon closer inspection, Qin Rufeng realized that Nangong Yue within the ice was merely an illusion. Luo Li had only frozen a fire butterfly with her ice mirror magic artifact.

However, since the Fire Butterfly is formed from the true energy of the Fire, how can it use a substitute to replace its original form?

Could it be...

A smile appeared on Qin Rufeng's lips. She understood; it really was a Fire Butterfly.

Nangong Yue really liked the fire domain on the south slope. She said that the place was rich in fire and wood spiritual energy, making it very suitable for cultivation.

Even amidst her busy schedule, she once took time to cultivate all night in the fire realm. It seems she captured the fire butterfly and developed new spells from it... Truly worthy of being a prodigy of the Jade Maiden Sect.

By the time Luo Li realized this, it was too late. The fiery butterflies coalesced into Nangong Yue's form, only a few steps away from Luo Li.

Nangong Yue closed her folding fan and put it in her mouth. In an instant, she stepped forward, drew her sword from her waist, and slashed at Luo Li in the waist.

In a panic, Luo Li raised her sword to defend herself. As the blades clashed, sparks flew. Startled, she turned pale and staggered back.

"So, sword cultivators don't know swordsmanship." Nangong Yue mocked as she continued to advance.

Luo Li didn't even bother with a proper stance; she simply raised her sword and pushed it forward.

Nangong Yue ducked and dodged, then twisted her waist and hips in a "Looking Back at the Moon" move, first knocking the sword out of Luo Li's hand, then followed up and slapped her hard across the face with her folding fan.

If it weren't for her protective magic treasure, Luo Li Fairy's beauty would probably have been ruined by that slap from the flaming folding fan.

Nangong Yue continued forward, unleashing a wave of heat that lifted Luo Li into the air. Then, she moved beneath Luo Li and delivered a powerful, skyward kick to her abdomen. Immediately following, she executed a somersault, unleashing a fiery crescent-shaped kick.

Luo Li, blasted into the air, had her hair disheveled and her clothes ablaze. Although her snow-white skin was protected by true energy, some areas showed signs of burns. Her pair of snow-white breasts were also exposed, scorched by the flames.

Nangong Yue's blazing flames constantly entangled Luo Li, preventing her from releasing her golden spiritual energy.

Luo Li was already struggling to defend herself, and couldn't use any counter-attack spells. Moreover, she concentrated her spiritual energy mainly on her head to avoid having her appearance burned away.

If they were further away, they might have been able to use their magic weapons. But Nangong Yue insisted on getting close, slapping and kicking Luo Li several times in the stomach. Luo Li felt as if her internal organs had been emptied out and filled with burning coals.

Unwilling to accept her humiliating defeat, she drew her soft sword from her waist and swung it to entangle Nangong Yue. This move was quite unexpected, and Nangong Yue had somewhat underestimated her opponent.

Seeing Nangong Yue fall for the attack, Luo Li immediately sneered. Then she pulled hard... imagining that Nangong Yue would be cut into a pile of pieces, but in reality, she only saw the fire butterflies scatter.

The scattered fire butterflies regrouped behind Luo Li, forming Nangong Yue's figure. Qin Rufeng observed that this move, Fire Butterfly Instantaneous Body, was similar in effect to her Flowing Light Instant Water technique.

Chapter 200 Social Death

Nangong Yue used her Fire Butterfly Instantaneous Movement to appear behind Luo Li, forcefully twisting her arms behind her back, making her proudly display her ample bosom in front of everyone.

Luo Li screamed and tried to break free, but Nangong Yue's legs were already wrapped around her waist.

Nangong Yuehuo flapped his wings, inverted in mid-air, and, with Luo Li head down, spiraled down towards the center of the arena.

Just as they were about to land, Nangong Yue suddenly released Luo Li and threw her out, then spread her phoenix wings and came to a sudden stop in mid-air.

With a loud "boom", Luo Li was thrown down and fell headfirst into the ground.

She "fell" in, her entire upper body smashing through the bluestone slab and burying herself in the ground.

Only her waist, hips, and thighs were exposed. Her legs were spread wide in a V-shape and sticking out in front of her body, her toes touching the ground and her shoes flying off. It was utterly disgusting to look at.

After her victory, Nangong Yue even stepped on Luo Li's drum. Qin Rufeng felt that this was not a good way to end things, so he quickly stepped forward to help rescue her.

Of course, she wouldn't actually help; instead, she observed the surrounding houses with great interest, checking the extent of the damage.

In the end, it took a great deal of effort from the disciples of the Wuxiang Sect to rescue Luo Li.

Although Luo Li's appearance was preserved, the sight of her eyes rolling back, tongue lolling out, and unconsciousness was utterly disgraceful, making her a complete social outcast.

Presumably, she will no longer have the opportunity to show her face in public, and the Wuxiang Sect will definitely not allow her to go out and embarrass herself again.

Blood River Ridge burst into laughter. Members of various sects were also shocked by Nangong Yue's astonishing strength.

How could someone who was only at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm so easily slaughter a Flowing Cloud Realm cultivator using a magic weapon? Even if it was attribute advantage, it was still too much!

Is this true of all members of the Xuan Nu Sect? Do their strength far exceed their cultivation level?

Could those two maids also be far stronger than their cultivation level? They must be, otherwise, how could they become the sect leader's personal disciples?

Nangong Yue's overwhelming victory shook the morale of the various sects who had thought they had found the weakness of the Xuan Nu Sect...

So who's next? Liu Ruyan can make her appearance, but since the major sects didn't take the Xuan Nu Sect seriously, very few sect leaders and masters came this time.

After Qin Rufeng defeated Cao Fei, it would seem beneath a sect leader to intervene. If they couldn't gain any advantage, wouldn't they be lowering themselves to the same level as Cao Fei?

It seems the next battle will be between sect disciples. That's fine, this kind of "attack by attack" isn't targeting one person, so it can't be considered bullying Liu Ruyan.

If we defeat all the disciples of the Xuan Nu Sect through a series of battles, Liu Ruyan will surely realize the true status of her sect in Cangyun Mountain. If she wants to maintain her position there, she'll have to obey orders.

However, at that moment, more guests arrived outside the sect's grand formation. Qin Rufeng stopped the competition, explained the situation to everyone, and then sent Qing Shi and Jing Hong out to greet them.

The visitor was none other than Yunxiao Envoy, sent by Gan Mingyue and the Empress.

The Cloud Envoy was sent by the Empress to congratulate the Xuan Nu Sect on purifying the spiritual root of Jinqiong Valley and the successful completion of the sect's main hall. He also brought a rare and precious material of the metal and water attributes: the Azure Jade.

The envoy from the Cloud Pavilion was named Xiang Wan, the very same person Qin Rufeng had bribed and spoken well of on her behalf before. The two exchanged pleasantries upon meeting, like old friends who hadn't seen each other for years.

Upon witnessing this scene, the members of the sect immediately understood Empress Cangyun's attitude. The Empress wanted the various sects to give the Xuan Nu Sect some face out of respect for her.

In reality, this also gave the various sects a way out. After all, they were already in a difficult position.

With so many people here, we can't just slink away and admit defeat. But if we try to force Liu Ruyan to submit through a war of attrition, even if we win, it will look bad.

It's always better for the Empress to intervene beforehand than to reap the rewards later. Since that's the case, let's just go with the flow.

The various sects then engaged in conversation and pleasantries with Xiang Wan, the Cloud Envoy. The conversation veered towards the increasingly severe phenomenon of blood cloud erosion.

Xiang Wan also took this opportunity to give the various sects a heads-up...

"Gentlemen, the scourge of the Blood Cloud has reached a critical point. Not only are accidents occurring frequently outside the city and at the spirit stone mine, but more and more people are also becoming infected within Cangyun City."

“You are all from prestigious families, and the disciples in your sects are all highly skilled, so you naturally don’t need to worry about being harmed by the blood cloud. However, it would not be good if the spirit stone mines kept having problems or if the slaves and low-level cultivators in the city were infected by the blood cloud.”

"Moreover, the Heavenly Ring has shattered, and the intensity of the Blood Cloud is increasing day by day. Even a minor ailment like scabies, if not taken seriously, will become incurable once it reaches its terminal stage."

"Therefore, His Majesty intends to issue a decree to strengthen control over the Blood Cloud. At that time, we will still need the major sects to care for the common people and work together to overcome the Blood Cloud calamity."

Xiang Wan ended her speech there, informing the major sects that the Children's Emperor would issue some form of call to action in a few days to strengthen control over the increasingly serious blood cloud erosion.

Giving everyone a heads-up beforehand will give them time to prepare, so they won't feel resentful when it's suddenly assigned to them.

Qin Rufeng felt that Yunxiao Envoy's words were still too euphemistic. If the major sects could easily withstand the blood cloud's erosion with their cultivation, they wouldn't be so fixated on her Purple-Gold Jade Spiritual Root.

However, at least after Xiang Wan's words, the whispers among the crowd completely shifted the topic away from "seeking advice" from the Xuan Nu faction.

Qin Rufeng was naturally the first to respond, directly promising the Empress financial support in front of everyone. Xiang Wan was overjoyed and praised Qin Rufeng's "righteousness" and "enlightenment" highly.

The other sect members were in a rather awkward position. After all, even if they weren't completely stingy, they didn't want to put in any effort.

After some polite words, they all took their leave.

Qin Rufeng thanked Xiang Wan again. Giving her spirit stones again seemed a bit cliché, so Qin Rufeng took out a small, fresh branch of the Purple Gold Jade and presented it to her instead.