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

"A spirit stone staff? A puppet body..." Qin Rufeng glanced at Qing Shi and Jing Hong beside her. The two of them immediately stepped forward and turned the puppet upside down...

It seems there really is one. Those two sparkling gem buttons must be the ends of the spirit stone rod.

Xia Jinghong hugged the puppet, while Li Qingshi pulled out two spirit stone rods. The rods were about the thickness of a hand, like transparent test tubes. Only some spirit stone residue remained inside.

Qin Rufeng ordered Li Qingshi to add some high-grade spirit stones.

Qing Shi then unscrewed the gem-encrusted cap of the spirit stone rod and filled it with some high-grade spirit stones. Then, with a "plop~~~plop~~", she put the spirit stone rod back into the puppet's body.

The gem at the end of the spirit stone rod emitted a bright light, and the gems on the chest and back of the puppet's body also emitted light.

The mechanical puppet indeed stood up again. While her damaged parts couldn't heal on their own, she moved freely and was perfectly capable of leading the way.

Qin Rufeng left Nangong Yue, who had been cultivating on Vermilion Bird Peak, to guard the sect, while he left Jinqiong Valley with Qing Shi, Jing Hong, and Feng Hua.

Leaving the valley and heading west, they were heading away from Cangyun City. They hadn't gone far when Qin Rufeng was surprised to find that the Blood Cloud Infection was everywhere.

Although not yet too severe, a few ticks and wasps have been observed flying around. Some plants have clearly mutated. A faint, bright red dust cloud hangs among the trees and bushes.

This level of blood cloud is enough to infect mortals. Even cultivators in the Qi Refining stage will be infected if they stay in this environment for too long.

If the situation worsens, even Foundation Establishment stage cultivators might have to wear Purple Gold Jade artifacts.

Qin Rufeng not only possessed the Purple Gold Jade Sachet, but the Purple Gold Flower she had previously picked was also made into a gemstone hairpin and worn in her hair. Not to mention the blood cloud's corrosive influence, even the blood cloud dust that originally existed in her path was purified and dissipated.

Qin Rufeng hadn't expected that the Purple Gold Flower could not only dispel but also purify the Blood Cloud to some extent. Did this mean it killed the Blood Cloud Protozoa through methods like radiation?

Now is not the time to study this...

Guided by the ingenious puppet, Qin Rufeng quickly found the cave where Mo Baizhi was hiding.

A blood-stained blue-clad girl leaned weakly against the cave wall. Her face was pale, and her hair was disheveled. One leg was gone... and a horrific wound on her chest exposed the bone.

Upon seeing Qin Rufeng, Mo Baizhi paused for a moment. Then she said, "Junior Mo Baizhi greets Sect Leader Liu." She seemed to want to perform a proper bow, but it was clearly impossible for her to do so.

"No need for formalities, please take this medicine first." Qin Rufeng said as he took out a medicine to replenish qi and blood.

Mo Baizhi took the pill and thanked him repeatedly, then said self-deprecatingly, "As an alchemist, I have no pills to save myself. I am truly ashamed that the sect leader has to spend money on me."

"It was nothing, nothing to mention," Qin Rufeng said. "Let's leave here first."

However, just then, a woman's voice came from outside, "Want to leave... I'm afraid that won't be possible."

It just didn't go that smoothly...

Qin Rufeng then stepped out of the cave. He saw a woman gracefully approaching from a short distance away.

The woman had long, dark blue hair that reached her waist, with the ends neatly cut into three sections on each side, and the tips adorned with gold tassels.

Her eyebrows were like curved blades, slightly arrogant. Her eyelashes were like moth feathers, thick and curled. The vermilion mole at the corner of her eye lifted slightly with her smile, but her gaze was deeper than an icy lake.

The gilded cloud pattern at the neckline converged below the collarbone, plunging deep into the abdomen. The flame-shaped bodice beneath resembled two maple leaves covering a snowdrift. With each step, her breasts surged, revealing a deep cleavage.

Dark red silk wrapped around her graceful curves, and the high-slit skirt billowed with her steps, vaguely revealing her legs encased in black scale boots.

Her long, shapely legs, with their graceful curves and slightly fleshy flesh, swayed with each step beneath the silk satin, her skirt billowing out like tender lotus roots emerging from the water.

The woman was graceful and beautiful. However... she clearly had ill intentions.

She looked at Qin Rufeng and the others with disdain and said, "Are you all disciples of the Yunyuan Sect? Hand over the Yunyuan Cauldron, and you may be allowed to leave with your bodies intact."

"Oh, it seems someone's not a whole corpse anymore." She looked at the heavily injured Mo Baizhi and said with a sneer, "That's not my fault."

Qin Rufeng stepped forward and asked, "Who are you?"

The woman looked Qin Rufeng up and down and said, "You... are not from the Yunyuan Sect."

"How could such a beautiful and alluring woman endure loneliness and remain hidden in some obscure place? I've heard that disciples of the Joyful Union Sect have reappeared on Cangyun Mountain. Aren't you one of those disciples? Hahahaha!"

Qin Rufeng almost lost her composure. She tried to remain calm, giving the woman a cold glance before saying, "I asked you first."

The woman said disdainfully, "It's fine to tell you. I am Pei Ling Shuang, the Cold Kite Pavilion Master of Guixu Palace."

“Guixu Hall…” Qin Rufeng quickly recalled, then said, “It’s not a sect of Cangyun Mountain!”

"Although Yunyuan Sect is not located in Cangyun City, all sects within the Cangyun Mountain region recognize Empress Cangyun as their leader. Do you dare to come to Cangyun Mountain to intercept and kill sect disciples and seize sect treasures? This is to be an enemy of the Empress and an enemy of all sects in Cangyun Mountain."

Qin Rufeng first brought up the Empress to intimidate the other party...

Chapter 208 Encountering a Tough Guy

Pei Ling Shuang: "Hahahaha!"

Well, she wasn't intimidated...

Upon hearing the Empress's name, Pei Ling Shuang burst into laughter, then asked Qin Ru Feng, "And who are you?"

Since the other party had already introduced herself, Qin Rufeng saw no need to hide anything: "Liu Ruyan, the leader of the Xuan Nu Sect!"

"Oh, not the Hehuan Sect?" Pei Ling Shuang hadn't forgotten about the Hehuan Sect. She continued disdainfully, "A mere Golden Core cultivator can become the leader of a sect? No wonder I've never heard of it."

"Don't even mention your little-known sect, I don't even take Empress Cangyun seriously."

"If she were truly capable, she should have taken action the moment I entered the Cangyun Mountain territory. Is it that she couldn't detect me? Or that she dared not come?"

"I have killed dozens of Yunyuan Sect disciples to extract clues about the Yunyuan Cauldron. Yet, the Empress has not stood up for the sects of Cangyun Mountain to confront me. What is there to fear from such cowardly creatures?"

“Even you,” Pei Ling Shuang said, looking at Qin Ru Feng, “came to seize the Cloud Abyss Cauldron, not on the Empress’s orders.”

"Hahahaha!" Pei Ling Shuang laughed again. "It seems the rumors are all true. Cangyun City is getting worse with each generation."

"The current Empress has no authority among the major sects of Cangyun Mountain. She only knows how to hide in the Zhaixing Tower, trembling with fear, and doesn't even dare to show her face."

"In that case, I shall cede the throne to you, Empress."

Pei Ling Shuang's attitude was extremely arrogant, and Feng Hua's voice echoed in Qin Ru Feng's mind...

“This person is incredibly powerful. I can take you with me, but if you insist on taking Mo Baizhi with you… I’m afraid she won’t give up.”

Feng Hua, as Qin Rufeng's "pet," can communicate with him telepathically at close range. However, she rarely uses it. This shows that Pei Ling Shuang is indeed a formidable opponent.

Qin Rufeng also asked, "How does her strength compare to yours?"

Feng Hua paused for a moment and said, "If I had been nourished by blood offerings at the Crimson Moon Tower, I should have been able to defeat her. But since I left, I haven't eaten any blood offerings. My current strength is... slightly inferior to hers."

Qin Rufeng frowned and said, "It's me..."

“It’s not you.” Feng Hua interrupted her. “If I rely on blood to increase my power, I will eventually become a mindless, bloodthirsty monster.”

“Yuan Mengli provides me with blood food so that I can become like that. That way, she can control me through blood food and a cursed contract.”

"But I only want to stay by your side, Master. Now that I have a contract with you, Master, I no longer need to consume blood."

Qin Rufeng knew that she was the one who had dragged Feng Hua down. Now, her contract with Feng Hua was very tight, and Feng Hua needed her to provide spiritual energy.

This is why people with low cultivation levels rarely possess powerful "familiars".

This wouldn't normally apply to Qin Rufeng. Because as long as she had enough pills, her own body's Gu cauldron attribute could hold a large amount of spiritual energy. This spiritual energy couldn't all be converted into cultivation in a short time, so it could be used to nourish Feng Hua.

Unfortunately... we don't have the elixirs yet. Even if we spent a lot of money to buy them, it wouldn't be enough.

Qin Rufeng's thoughts and her conversation with Feng Hua passed in an instant. At this moment, Pei Ling Shuang was already pressing closer, "Don't bluff."

"Liu Ruyan, I find you quite attractive. Don't resist, come back with me and be my servant. Perhaps I will take a liking to you."

“Otherwise…” Pei Ling Shuang’s eyes flashed with murderous intent, “I will skin you alive and take your beautiful skin back with me! It will make excellent lampshades, screens, paintings, and puppets. Consider it an extra bonus besides the Cloud Abyss Cauldron. Hahahaha!”

Qing Shi Jinghong's forehead was already covered in cold sweat. Feng Hua spoke again through telepathy, "What is Master's decision?"

Qin Rufeng replied decisively, "Fight with all my might! Since it's not difficult for you to take me away, it won't be difficult for you to help me in this battle either."

Feng Hua laughed and said, "Good! As expected of you!"

Pei Ling Shuang sneered, "Hmph, seeing your determined gaze and radiant fighting spirit, it seems you're determined to experience a fate worse than death. I hope you won't regret your decision when you beg for mercy later."

"No...you won't even have a chance to beg for mercy."

As she spoke, Pei Ling Shuang turned her palm upwards. Golden spiritual energy gathered in her palm and quickly condensed into an amber-colored gem crystal.

"Die!" Pei Ling Shuang raised her hand and threw the amber-colored gem crystal at Qin Ru Feng.

Upon seeing this, Xia Jinghong immediately opened the Crimson Moon Umbrella Sword and stood in front of Qin Rufeng to protect him.

However, Qin Rufeng stepped forward and blocked Xia Jinghong's path, while simultaneously summoning the defensive magic weapon Liu Yun Peach Blossom Fan to create a protective shield.

Although Xia Jinghong didn't understand what was going on, the sect leader's actions made her realize that the danger of the other party's magic was extraordinary.

Not only did Qin Rufeng personally accept the challenge, but Feng Hua also transformed into the giant bird Cai Luan, spreading her wings to protect everyone.

Then came a deafening "BOOM!"

It appeared to have exploded. But there were no towering flames or flying debris, no earth-shattering tremors or fierce winds. Only golden light radiated and spiritual pressure surged. Then, fine dust dispersed all around.

Xia Jinghong suddenly felt her feet slip, and when she came to her senses, she had already landed from mid-air. To her surprise, she found herself and the sect leader and the others in a deep pit.

The magnificent phoenix spread its wings, its feathers radiating iridescent light...

"Ah!!" Xia Jinghong suddenly realized that the deep pit he was in was actually created by Pei Ling Shuang's magic!

The pit was as smooth as the bottom of a pot, and everything around it was blasted into dust by the golden light emitted by the amber crystal.

If it weren't for the combined efforts of the sect leader and Luan Niao Feng Hua, he would probably have been blown to dust.

To everyone's surprise, there was a loud crash. The mechanical puppet, which had just been replenished with mana, instantly fell apart. The gems on its chest, back, and spirit stone staff all dimmed, indicating that it was completely broken.

Mo Baizhi's face was pale and she was covered in sweat. Her wound, which had stopped bleeding, started bleeding again.

Just then, Xia Jinghong also felt a salty taste in her throat. Then, with a "pfft!", she spat out a mouthful of blood!

There was also blood at the corner of Li Qingshi's mouth...

Upon seeing this, Qin Rufeng quickly asked, "Qing Shi Jing Hong, how are you?"

The two said in unison, "Thank you, Fairy Headmaster, we are fine."

"Hahahaha~" With an arrogant laugh, Pei Ling Shuang appeared above the deep pit. She said in a mocking tone, "The magic weapon is not bad, and there's even a colorful phoenix as a demon beast."

"But is that all it takes to be the leader of a sect here? It seems that after obtaining the Cloud Abyss Cauldron, I really need to consider seizing the Empress's throne and establishing my own faction here."

"It is impolite not to reciprocate!" As he spoke, Qin Rufeng also raised his hand and unleashed a Xuan Yin Lightning that struck Pei Ling Shuang's face.

With a loud bang... Pei Ling Shuang was completely unharmed.

The invincible Xuan Yin Thunder couldn't even budge her in the slightest; it seems she's met her match this time.

Chapter 209 Thunderfire Sword

Although she was not injured, Pei Ling Shuang had undergone noticeable changes.

Her skin became like delicate white porcelain, and its original luster turned into a porcelain-like reflection.

Moreover, the skin's surface was covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and the gaps in the cracks seemed to be filled with amber-colored crystals. The tiny crystals were uneven, like veins of minerals appearing in rocks.

“Yin thunder moves water, water generates thunder wood…” Pei Ling Shuang shook her head, “It’s somewhat impressive. But in my opinion, it’s still just child’s play, utterly ridiculous.”

Qin Rufeng immediately revealed his five-tailed fox form, and two of his five fox flames had already been refined into spirit fox flames.

She knew Pei Ling Shuang's cultivation level was at the late stage of the Flowing Cloud realm. However, even within the Flowing Cloud realm, there were different levels, and even within the late stage, there were variations. This person was likely at the peak of the Flowing Cloud realm. Perhaps she was even on par with her master…

"The appearance of a demon fox?" Pei Ling Shuang sneered. "To achieve this level, it must have fused with the spirit of a demon fox."

"So what? It's still a complete mess. Are you perhaps trying to seduce me with your seductive charms?"

Qin Ru in "Strange Neighbor IV" clearly understood that a direct confrontation would be no match for this person. Of course, it wouldn't be through a sneak attack like "Ambush from Ten Sides," but rather through unconventional tactics.

There is no other way but to directly seize a person's soul using the [Ten Netherworld Fiends Formation].

However, the Netherworld Ten Fiends Formation requires two things: first, one's own soul to be absorbed into the soul lamp; and second, one needs to be relatively close to the formation, since its range is limited.

Normally, someone with that level of cultivation wouldn't give me that chance.

But she wasn't invincible... She also had weaknesses. The weakness lay not in her cultivation or magic, but in her arrogance.

At this moment, Feng Hua wanted to make a move, but Qin Rufeng stopped her.

Ru Feng carefully surveyed his surroundings, determining the extent of the amber crystal explosion. Then, he suddenly leaped out of the pit, drew his Azure Moon Hidden Dragon Sword, and charged towards Pei Ling Shuang, stepping on an ice lotus.

This seemingly close-quarters tearing maneuver surprised Pei Ling Shuang somewhat. She instinctively stepped back and then threw out another crystal.

"Master!" Feng Hua cried out, wanting to step forward to protect him. Qin Rufeng, however, commanded her with his mind not to move, and to protect Qing Shi Jing Hong.

Qin Rufeng kicked out an ice lotus forward, simultaneously unfurling his snow-feathered ice silk cloak and activating the fire wings of the Fire Phoenix Seal, soaring straight into the sky in the form of a four-winged, five-tailed demon fox.

At the moment the amber crystal collided with the ice lotus and exploded, Qin Rufeng used the Flowing Light Instant Water technique to climb a large distance into the air again.

As a dazzling golden light burst forth, the amber crystal exploded, creating another large crater. However, Qin Rufeng's Four-Winged Flight and Flowing Light Instant Water technique created enough distance to avoid the blast's area.

As she expected, Pei Ling Shuang's powerful magic must not rely on the simple and brutal method of energy emission shockwaves.