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

This cupped-hand salute is probably used between peers. Right now, he's not even training any apprentices, just maids... or servants. So, is Liu Bai unhappy about using this peer-to-peer salute?

Tsk, why is this fairy so fussy?

They don't understand... They're already trying their best to learn, what more do you want? I can't exactly kneel down and lick your feet, can I? Even though those feet are indeed as white and smooth as jade...

By this time, Liu Bailian had come to her senses. She looked Qin Rufeng up and down, her bright eyes shimmering like rippling blue waves.

"Why are you... dressed like this?" Her tone was full of surprise. "You said you were a man, were you lying to me?"

Ah! I completely forgot that I'm now a woman...

Qin Rufeng was about to explain when Liu Bailian stopped him, saying, "There's no need to say anything. I understand that you have your reasons for disguising yourself as a man."

Qin Rufeng looked completely bewildered. "Huh? No, I'm not."

Liu Bailian deliberately raised her voice and said, "It's alright, I don't blame you."

People around started whispering among themselves...

"She really is a woman."

"No wonder."

"I thought it would be interesting to see the Jade Maiden Sect recruit male disciples, but it turns out it's just women disguised as men. How boring!"

"With her looks, only a fool wouldn't be able to tell she's a woman disguised as a man, right?"

"Fairy Liu is truly magnanimous. She must have seen through it from the beginning, but instead of exposing it, she helped cover it up."

"To take her in, Fairy Liu risked the sect's reputation. Could this seemingly ordinary young woman really have something special about her?"

Liu Bailian! You're playing me! This is outrageous! You're so concerned about saving face that you're using me as a scapegoat.

Qin Rufeng quickly said, "I'll go change my clothes right away."

Liu Bailian waved her hand and said, "No need, let's leave it at that."

Qin Rufeng: "No..."

"Enough!" Liu Bailian didn't give Rufeng a chance to speak, and said with a slight frown, "You've kept me waiting for so long, do you know what your punishment is?"

Qin Rufeng: "I..."

Liu Bailian: "Considering your lack of manners, I will not pursue the matter further. Come back to the sect with me immediately."

Qin Rufeng knew that falling out with her here would do him no good. Besides, causing such a "misunderstanding" wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Because no one would care if the Jade Maiden Sect took in a female disciple or maid. But if they took in a man, it would inevitably become the focus of attention, which would definitely not be a good thing.

So Ru Feng could only bow and say, "Yes..."

After taking only a couple of steps, Liu Bailian stopped again. Ru Feng thought to herself, "Are you ever going to stop? What's with this sudden outburst?"

Liu Bailian, however, said to him with a serious expression, "Hide behind me."

Ru Feng hesitated for a moment, standing still. Liu Bailian glanced at her and said, "Someone has suddenly activated a formation."

"Regardless of the reason, making a move here is against the rules. Deploying a large formation would make you an enemy of all those present. I'm sure you're up to no good. You have no cultivation, so be careful... be careful not to hold me back."

Although Qin Rufeng was new to the cultivation world, he was already familiar with its survival rules. While he didn't know Liu Bailian's cultivation level, as one of the four holy protectors of a major sect, her strength was certainly beyond that of ordinary cultivators.

Even she dared not be negligent, so Qin Rufeng certainly wouldn't act like a spoiled teenager. He quickly said "Yes" and retreated behind Liu Bailian in the manner of carrying out an order.

Liu Bailian nodded slightly, then formed a hand seal to gather her energy and focus her mind.

Ru Feng watched her retreating figure...

Well, isn't this fairy's dress a bit see-through?

She was dressed in white, ethereal and otherworldly at first, but when viewed against the light, her silhouette revealed a subtly curvaceous figure. Her graceful form... was captivating and pleasing to the eye.

She strode forward, her slender waist swaying like a willow in the wind. Her imposing presence was evident in her large, rounded breasts.

"Pah! What am I thinking?" Qin Rufeng quickly banished the jumbled thoughts from his mind.

At this moment, Liu Bailian stopped again and said, "Something's not right! This formation... it really leaves no room for error. Qin Rufeng, get away from me! Go as far away as you can!"

They just told us to hide behind them, and now they're telling us to stay away. It seems the situation has become more serious than expected.

Then listening to her is the right thing to do. So Qin Rufeng immediately withdrew from Liu Bailian's side.

Liu Bailian shook her head and said, "Retreat again."

Qin Rufeng retreated again, but Liu Bailian made him retreat again... This was repeated three times, and he was made to retreat again each time.

Just then, beams of light suddenly shot into the sky from all around.

This must be the grand formation Liu Bailian was talking about, right? Judging from this, is it going to wipe out everyone here?

Besides the newcomers, there were also many cultivators from various sects and schools present. This was far too arrogant.

At this moment, a woman's voice came from the air: "Han Ying of the Blood Shadow Sect greets fellow Daoists. I apologize for my rudeness and the disturbance."

The mere mention of the Blood Shadow Sect sent a chill down everyone's spine.

The woman named Han Ying continued, "I am not here today to cause trouble, but because an important cultivation manual of our sect has been stolen."

"It was stolen from the place where the lightning tribulation occurred not long ago."

Upon hearing the name of the place of lightning tribulation, Qin Rufeng's heart skipped a beat.

At this moment, the members of the Blood Shadow Sect also appeared. Some of them rode on swords through the air, while others rode on flying boats, all looking down from a high vantage point, as if dark clouds were covering the sky.

Qin Rufeng looked up and almost fainted.

This! This! This… The female cultivator in red who looked like a ghost bride, the one who called herself Han Ying, wasn’t she the one who chased after me during the tribulation?!

It’s really a narrow road between enemies.

Chapter 4 Demonic Cultivation and Evil Arts

But, is it really that serious? All I took were two cheap disposable pads.

"So... the one who deleted the group chat with Erjiu Wushen Niying might not be me." Qin Rufeng remained calm. She thought to herself, "Han Ying was talking about cultivation manuals, while what I have is a spell token."

"At the time, several factions were fighting each other, so it must have been someone else who took it."

Thinking of this, Ru Feng breathed a slight sigh of relief.

After a moment, the one named Han Ying continued, "Hehe, I doubt this person will hand over the item easily."

"Therefore, further words are useless. I humbly request that you fellow Daoists bear with us and allow us to conduct a search. Your cooperation will save us from a major conflict."

This attitude was simply too arrogant. The cultivators from various sects present were all filled with righteous indignation, but no one took any concrete action.

Qin Rufeng could also tell that this Spirit Appraisal Meeting at Qipan Mountain wasn't of a high standard. The sects that participated weren't the top-tier ones either. That's why the Blood Shadow Sect dared to be so arrogant.

This is precisely why Liu Bailian is revered by everyone. After all, she is the guardian saintess of a major sect in the "Upper Three Realms," and the Northern Black Tortoise.

Although the concept of the "Upper Three Realms" is unclear, compared to the "upper," the Qipan Mountain Spirit Observation Platform is clearly in a "lower" position. Liu Bailian's strength should be overwhelming.

By the way, where is our Fairy Bai Lian?

Qin Rufeng looked at Liu Bailian, only to find that she was staring at him intently, her expression already quite impatient.

Liu Bailian quickly waved her hand again, indicating that Qin Rufeng should retreat further...

Goodness, this is even further than Tang Sanzang rescuing Sun Wukong. Is she about to unleash her ultimate move?

Qin Rufeng retreated another step. Liu Bailian indicated that it was enough, then turned her head to stare at the Blood Shadow Sect members in the sky. At the same time, a chill emanated from her body.

Frost instantly formed on the ground, and water vapor quickly froze into white mist that swirled around her.

Seeing this, the surrounding people scattered and fled in chaos. The Blood Shadow Sect members in the sky were also puzzled; why was there such an uproar before anything even happened?

As she spoke, Liu Bailian lightly lifted her skirt and stepped into the sky. Her posture was elegant and composed, as if she were ascending a tower to admire the moon. Wherever her delicate feet trod, pure white ice lotuses bloomed.

She ascended higher and higher with each step she took, like lotus blossoms blooming at each step. After fulfilling their purpose on the steps, the ice lotuses did not disappear but instead swirled around her, enveloped in the white mist and freezing air.

"I never expected... there's a Jade Dragon hiding in this shallow water." Han Ying muttered softly, looking at Liu Bailian with a furrowed brow. "It's actually the Jade Maiden Sect."

"What, the Jade Maiden Sect?" A disheveled male cultivator next to him glanced at Han Ying and then at Liu Bailian, and immediately became excited. "Haha? I didn't expect that the Jade Maiden Sect would also be interested in the dual cultivation furnace method."

He shouted mockingly at Liu Bailian, "My lady, is your Jade Maiden Sect turning into the Joyful Union Sect? Hahahaha~"

Han Ying stared wide-eyed at her companion in surprise; she hadn't expected this guy to be so reckless.

Liu Bailian never expected to be smeared like this for no reason. She stopped in her tracks, stunned, her face as cold as ice.

The person who was even more surprised... was, of course, Qin Rufeng.

What did that person say? What does it mean that the Jade Maiden Sect has become the Joyful Union Sect? And the dual cultivation method?

What the Blood Shadow Sect wants... could it be a cultivation technique about dual cultivation furnaces?

Good heavens! Could this be the "Hehuan Jade Cauldron Manual" that the landlady gave us?

Holy crap! I've been ripped off!

Qin Rufeng suddenly realized. The proprietress of Jinxiu Pavilion must have been at the scene of the tribulation; she was the one who took the secret manual that the Blood Shadow Sect wanted—this very "Jade Cauldron of Union"!

She probably just happened to be passing by and regretted picking it up. She must have known that the Blood Shadow Sect was not to be trifled with, and taking this cultivation manual would undoubtedly bring trouble upon herself, but throwing it away felt like a waste.

She didn't dare sell to someone knowledgeable, so she found a complete novice to pass the buck... and that person was Qin Rufeng.

The Blood Shadow Sect didn't care about the cause and effect; they just killed and plundered. With the cultivation levels of these newcomers at the Spirit Appraisal Platform, they were instantly killed in one move, without even a chance to speak.

Damn, this proprietress is incredibly cunning!

What to do? If this gets exposed, not only will Qin Rufeng be unable to defend himself, but even Liu Bailian will be unable to clear her name. It seems we have no choice but to hold on to this to the bitter end.

Qin Rufeng looked up at the sky. He saw Liu Bailian leap slightly backward, jumping down from the ice lotus. Then, with one hand, she pinched the hem of her skirt, lifted her long, snow-white leg, and kicked the ice lotus.

With a crisp "bang!", the ice lotus was kicked to pieces, turning into countless ice crystals that burst out.

The Blood Shadow Sect members hurriedly used various supernatural abilities to protect themselves. Golden light instantly filled the air as all sorts of defensive magical treasures appeared.

Han Ying was the first to sense something was wrong, and before Liu Bailian could kick the ice lotus to shatter it, she summoned a magical treasure, the Golden Bell, to block it in front of her.

The golden bell looked very strange; it was actually the image of a woman wearing a long, flared skirt. Especially the upper body, which was a bronze half-body sculpture.

Moreover, the craftsmanship is exquisite, with every detail meticulously rendered, even the facial features are incredibly clear. The curvaceous body is depicted with remarkable realism, and in some places, it can even make one blush and feel their heart race.

It's so lifelike, it's as if molten copper was poured directly onto the body of a graceful woman.

She also had a pair of crescent-shaped horns on her head. The tips of the horns met to form a circular bell-shaped knob.

The lower half of the human-shaped bronze bell is a flared skirt. This part is completely different; it lacks the pleats and carvings of a skirt and is simply the shape of a bell.

The bronze bell vibrated and hummed, forming a sound barrier. Most of Liu Bailian's ice spikes that struck were shattered into small pieces by the vibration.

Although the shattered ice fragments continued to pound like a torrential downpour, they could not break through this "golden shield."

Qin Rufeng thought to himself, "This is quite a good defensive magic weapon. It's functional and has a beautiful design."

After barely managing to withstand the blizzard-like attack, Han Ying looked angrily at the culprit who had provoked Liu Bailian.

The man was instantly killed, his blood splattered everywhere, several icicles piercing his chest. His body froze, becoming an ice sculpture. Moments later, it shattered and crumbled, as if breaking a glass lamp.

"Fool!" Han Ying was unmoved by the tragic deaths of her fellow disciples. She immediately summoned several armored humanoid monsters to attack Liu Bailian.

The monster's armor was imposing, and at first glance it looked awe-inspiring.

However, upon closer inspection... it had no head or arms. Two long, white legs extended from its shoulders. It had four legs, but instead of feet, each leg was equipped with four sharp swords. It moved like a bizarre spider missing its legs.

Liu Bailian remained completely calm. She used the Ice Lotus to protect her body and the bursts of ice crystals to attack, moving forward and backward with ease and composure.

Seeing that Liu Bailian had single-handedly withstood the combined attack of the Blood Shadow Sect, the members of the various sects below gained confidence and their spirits lifted...

"The Blood Shadow Sect steals souls and refines spirits, turning living people into puppets and magical artifacts, and even uses female cultivators to breed demonic beasts. Their various evil and forbidden techniques are too numerous to list; they are truly heinous."

"We, the righteous cultivators, are absolutely irreconcilable enemies with these demonic cultivators!"

"That's right! Forget about morality with them, let's all attack together."

“Fellow Daoist is quite right. This is no longer just a matter between the Jade Maiden Sect and the Blood Shadow Sect. It is no longer appropriate for us to stand idly by.”

Listening to them talk made Qin Rufeng feel so disgusted he almost vomited. These useless bastards, they were such cowards just now, but now that they see Liu Bailian can hold her own, they're all acting like human beings…

Chapter 5 Sinkhole

Faced with the onslaught from all sides, the Blood Shadow Sect remained calm. They immediately summoned a large number of demonic beasts and humanoid puppets to deal with the encirclement.

Some of these magical artifacts are particularly unique. According to those people, they seem to have been crafted using living people…

One of the golden wheels was rolling towards Qin Rufeng.

This thing is a golden ring with flames burning inside, somewhat like a circus fire ring. But it's not a circular ring; it's a flat, ring-shaped blade.