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

Cang Shuyun said, "This should be the Breath Dust. I know this thing; it is said to grow from the Breath Soil."

Qin Rufeng praised, "Lord Yun is truly knowledgeable and well-traveled."

This wasn't flattery; it was genuine admiration. However, this shrewd and knowledgeable Lord of the Netherworld Palace was actually a young woman lacking in worldly wisdom. It seemed that even cultivators couldn't be perfect in every aspect.

Chapter 145 Unfortunately Becomes a Town-Protecting Treasure

Cang Shuyun then summoned an iron coffin to collect the Crimson Moon Saintess's body. Qin Rufeng then picked up the Saintess's umbrella sword... which was also a decent magical artifact.

After this battle, Ru Feng understood why Yan Qingping changed the fifth move of the Ten Thousand Swords Technique, "Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin," to "Ten Thousand Flower Sword Rain," and why she used the magic paper umbrella to release it.

I remember her saying that this way, it's faster and less strenuous to make a move.

Real-world experience has proven this to be true...

If "Thousands of Snowflakes Flying Over Mountains" is the manifestation of sword energy, then "Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Origin" is a level higher in both difficulty and scale. Qin Rufeng has never even used it in actual combat.

Although the power of the new "Ten Thousand Flower Sword Rain" is weaker, it is indeed more suitable for people with lower cultivation levels to use.

After a night that was both close to death and full of rewards, Qin Rufeng finally boarded Cang Shuyun's flying boat.

This is a sect-level flying boat, capable of easily traversing shattered space to return to the Flowing Cloud Realm.

Before that, Qin Rufeng pleaded with Cang Shuyun to take Xia Jinghong to deliver the bounty. Delivering a head in the middle of the night was indeed a bit gruesome. But Xia Jinghong still received the reward money.

Having fulfilled the contract and avenged her master, Xia Jinghong was now completely free of any ties and handed herself over entirely to Qin Rufeng.

It was already broad daylight when they returned to Cangyun City. As soon as they entered Cangyun Mountain, a giant bird blocked their path.

Qin Rufeng hurriedly called out Feng Hua's name. Only then did Feng Hua suppress her murderous aura and transform into human form, arriving on the flying boat.

Qin Rufeng was afraid of a conflict, so he kept explaining that Cang Shuyun had saved him.

Feng Hua scrutinized Cang Shuyun, her brows furrowing slightly. Based on the assessment of his strength, she believed him. And judging from Qin Rufeng's attitude, he didn't seem to be being coerced or controlled.

Feng Hua finally breathed a sigh of relief...

"You...you've worried me to death!" She didn't say anything more, but just hugged Qin Rufeng tightly.

Although Feng Hua was not hostile towards Cang Shuyun, her attitude was rather indifferent, showing no gratitude whatsoever.

This would probably have caused conflict for someone else. But Cang Shuyun seemed completely oblivious to it and didn't care about other people's attitudes at all.

Qin Rufeng, of course, still very politely invited Cang Shuyun to Qingyuefang. However, she shook her head and said, "I should go back today. I'll come to see you another day."

Thus, Qin Rufeng temporarily parted ways with Cang Shuyun and returned to Qingyuefang with Xia Jinghong and Feng Hua.

When I got back, I found out that Qingyuefang was in chaos... all sorts of rumors were flying around.

Everything else was irrelevant, but the fact that Liu Ruyan had earned three thousand high-grade spirit stones in one night and then "absconded with the money" terrified Qin Rufeng himself.

When Zizhu saw Rufeng return unharmed, she shed tears...

She was in charge of leading the way; if Qin Rufeng didn't return, she wouldn't be able to sell her for three hundred high-grade spirit stones. If Yuan Mengli lost her temper then, even Shangguan Qingxue wouldn't be able to save her.

However, Qin Rufeng knew what was important and went to see Yuan Mengli as soon as he returned.

Yuan Fangzhu was overjoyed to see Ru Feng and pulled her into his arms, exclaiming, "Ru Yan! You're back! That's wonderful!"

"I was so anxious all night, I kept running around and I was about to die of worry."

Qin Rufeng: "Master of the Workshop..."

"No need to say anything, go and get some rest first," Yuan Mengli said. "It's good that you're back, nothing else matters."

Qin Rufeng found it hard to resist this overwhelming insincerity. She just wanted to dispel her suspicions as soon as possible, then retreat to her room to refine her spiritual fire and cultivate her spiritual energy, and relax for a few days.

So she took out three thousand high-grade spirit stones and handed them to Yuan Mengli.

It's not the theft itself that's worrisome, but the thief's covetousness. I certainly can't keep all these spirit stones. Rather than risk being caught with them, I'd rather hand them over and buy Ping An.

What I need most right now is time...

Yuan Mengli didn't really believe Qin Rufeng would run away with the reward. But she was even less convinced that Qin Rufeng had actually earned three thousand high-grade spirit stones.

Ru Feng had considered taking the spirit stones and going to the Netherworld Palace with Cang Shuyun. However, she knew that doing so would cause trouble for Cang Shuyun.

Although Cang Shuyun is powerful, he is not mature enough. If he is targeted by the Crimson Moon Sect and the forces of Cangyun City, he will probably not be able to cope.

Returning to Qingyuefang would at least divert the Chiyue Demonic Sect's attention to Cangyun City and Qingyuefang.

Moreover, Ru Feng couldn't possibly abandon Li Qingshi and Feng Hua. So naturally, she had to come back.

Although Qin Rufeng prioritized his own interests, all his motives were also driven by a sense of "righteousness." He couldn't let down Cang Shuyun, nor could he let down Feng Hua and Li Qingshi.

Yuan Mengli could neither know nor understand these motives. She simply considered Qin Rufeng's return a miracle.

She looked at Qin Rufeng, her eyebrows lowered. After a long silence, she whispered, "Ruyan, I'm sorry." Then, with lightning speed, she suddenly grabbed Qin Rufeng by the neck.

Feng Hua attacked almost simultaneously, sending Yuan Mengli flying with a gust of wind.

"What are you doing?!" Feng Hua was furious. She didn't care who Qin Rufeng was; she'd attack without hesitation.

Qin Rufeng didn't understand what was going on. She tried to touch her neck but found she couldn't.

It felt like my body had been cut short, like it had been severed from the neck down. Although I could feel my whole body, I couldn't control anything below my neck.

"What...what's wrong with me? What is this?" Qin Rufeng could feel a red ribbon collar around her neck, and it was this thing that had paralyzed her.

Despite being struck hard by Feng Hua, Yuan Mengli was not angry at all. Instead, she knelt down in front of Qin Rufeng to apologize.

"Ruyan, I'm sorry. But I have to do this. Because I can't lose you again, and I can't give those who covet you even the slightest chance."

Yuan Mengli then gave a lengthy explanation.

In fact, Qin Rufeng understood even without her explanation... This was the price of three thousand high-grade spirit stones.

Unfortunately, his earning power made him the prized possession of Qingyuefang. The collar around his neck was a lock; only by unlocking it with a corresponding jade pendant could he move freely. Locking it meant he was paralyzed from the waist down.

The only good news is probably Yuan Mengli's cleverness; she handed over the management of the jade pendant, which is also her own, to Feng Hua.

Faced with this situation, Qin Rufeng simply smiled and said, "Master, you're doing this for my own good, Ruyan understands."

Not only Yuan Mengli, but even Feng Hua was a little surprised by her attitude.

Qin Rufeng's calm and composed demeanor stemmed from the fact that she had already decided to kill...

She recalled the Crimson Moon Saintess's question, "You don't think that reaching the Golden Core realm means you're no longer a slave, do you?"

It seems there really is no room for maneuver. Yuan Mengli won't let him go; it's a fight to the death.

Yuan Mengli wanted to provide Qin Rufeng with a large number of maids to serve her, but Qin Rufeng refused them all. She only asked Yuan Mengli to accept Xia Jinghong.

Master Yuan naturally accepted the offer, considering it was merely a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

Not only that, Yuan Mengli also immediately fulfilled Qin Rufeng's promise of a 30% reward. She even provided Rufeng with a sedan chair.

Qin Rufeng hadn't expected to receive the same treatment as the Crimson Moon Saintess so quickly. However, this sedan chair was a magical artifact, so it didn't require the help of horse-drawn carriages.

Of course, Qin Rufeng himself couldn't control it; he needed Li Qingshi or Xia Jinghong to manipulate it with spiritual energy.

Feng Hua unlocked Qin Rufeng's collar lock right in front of Yuan Mengli.

However, this unlocking mechanism has a time limit. It will automatically lock after a period of time. Although it can be easily unlocked again, even if Feng Hua stays by her side at all times, constantly unlocking it will still cause trouble.

Presumably, Feng Hua will eventually get used to Qin Rufeng's puppet-like state, right?

How insidious...

Sure enough, there is no free lunch in the world.

Not long after returning to her room, Shangguan Qingxue brought Zizhu to apologize. Seeing the collar around Qin Rufeng's neck, Qingxue felt even more guilty.

Qin Rufeng suddenly "disconnected" while he was talking. Because she was talking to Qingxue, Fenghua felt at ease and didn't stay inside.

Unexpectedly, the drawbacks of this neck chain became apparent so quickly.

Li Qingshi was about to ask Feng Hua to unlock it, but Qin Rufeng stopped her...

For some reason, Ru Feng felt that he had "grown" a lot in an instant after experiencing these things.

She was surprised to find that she no longer felt any effect from anger. She was now very emotionally stable and her mind was perfectly clear.

She has even found a side to this bad thing that is advantageous to her.

I gained some things but lost some freedom. But isn't that lost freedom also a kind of "gain"?

As the saying goes, "A loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise." Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise.

Chapter 146 No Room for Pretense

Qin Rufeng closed his eyes halfway and calmly said, "It's nothing, don't bother Fenghua. It's just talking, it doesn't require any hands or feet."

Then, in a gentle yet slightly commanding tone, she said, "Qingshi, Jinghong, help me sit down."

To be fair, although Qin Rufeng's "signal" was severed from her neck, she wasn't completely paralyzed. Instead, she was able to maintain her body like a puppet, thus allowing her to assume a proper posture.

This way, she could at least face Shangguan Qingxue with a proper and dignified demeanor.

With the help of Qing Shi and Jing Hong, Qin Rufeng sat up straight, her chest out and head held high, exuding elegance and poise. She deliberately squeezed out a tear, and said to Qing Xue with a smile tinged with tears, "Sister Qing Xue, am I alright like this? There's no difference."

Shangguan Qingxue saw that Qin Rufeng's eyes were indeed wet with tears, but her composure and calmness were also genuine. She felt admiration, pity, and immense guilt, and finally, unable to bear it any longer, she went up and hugged her.

Qin Rufeng wasn't just playing the victim; he was genuinely in a miserable situation. However, this also brought him closer to Shangguan Qingxue.

Shangguan Qingxue doesn't seem like a bad person, and she's quite pretty. Qin Rufeng admires her quite a bit.

Moreover, she was very familiar with Qingyuefang, and as the top courtesan, she carried considerable weight. Furthermore, she possessed the Millennium Tear, a rare and precious treasure of vital importance to Qin Rufeng.

Therefore, Ru Feng had no reason not to get closer to her. But she only seemed alright on the surface... Ru Feng and she weren't very familiar with each other.

It's true that Qingxue looked unhappy because I overstepped my bounds that day. That's only natural and understandable, but if this thorn remains, it will obviously be detrimental to the development of our relationship.

Now that I've shown her this miserable state without reservation, I suppose she'll be able to feel some relief?

Less jealousy, more sympathy. Later, find an opportunity to bestow favors and reveal your true strength... With this approach, winning her over shouldn't be too difficult.

Perhaps this is a case of "a loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise"?

The same went for Zizhu; Rufeng not only didn't blame her at all but also comforted her. He repeatedly told Shangguan Qingxue not to blame her.

Zizhu was already extremely grateful to Qin Rufeng...

Over the next two days, Ru Feng adjusted to her new physical condition. She discovered that the time it took to unlock was directly proportional to the time it took to lock.

In other words, the longer she remains in "standby" mode, the longer she will remain alive after being unlocked. It's somewhat like charging, and the capacity of her "battery" is virtually unlimited.

This caused Qin Rufeng to actively remain "on standby" and become increasingly accustomed to this state.

Meanwhile, news that Liu Ruyan, the treasure of Qingyuefang Town, had earned three thousand high-grade spirit stones in one go had already spread like wildfire throughout Cangyun City.

Many people wanted to witness the brilliance of this musical prodigy. Of course, no one was able to fulfill their wish... but the more they couldn't, the more they wanted to.

It has to be said that Yuan Mengli is quite good at creating a buzz. Moreover, she has already set a price; the starting price to see Qin Rufeng is fifty high-grade spirit stones.

That's just seeing her. As for whether I can see her face, whether I can speak to her, or whether I can hear her play the zither and sing?

One word... extra money.

As for whether I could spend the night with the zither fairy Liu Ruyan... sorry, don't even think about it. She's a hired zither fairy, she doesn't entertain guests... at least not in principle.

If Shangguan Qingxue hadn't been there to keep Rufeng company and talk to her, she wouldn't have known that she had been packaged like this.

Qin Rufeng was somewhat worried about whether he deserved such praise.

In terms of musical skills, with a solid foundation, guidance from his master, and the advantage of being a transmigrator, he should be quite formidable. However, the title "Musical Immortal" is merely a joke; wouldn't he be making a fool of himself by showing off his limited skills before a true expert in music?

Qin Rufeng was troubled by this matter for most of the day, and then suddenly realized a problem...

Why the hell am I worried about that? I'm not really going to become a musician. What I should be worried about is that with this kind of attitude, I'm incapable of practicing!

Yes... this is a serious problem.

Although Qin Rufeng's unlock time increases with the length of time he is locked in, the total amount of time in a day remains unchanged. In essence, Qin Rufeng's lifespan has been halved.

However, cultivation is very time-consuming, so what should be done?

The solution to the problem is readily available... but Qin Rufeng still can't let go.

It wasn't being pretentious; Ru Feng genuinely wanted to cultivate using normal methods. She enjoyed cultivation, the feeling of gradually accumulating spiritual energy. She didn't find it boring even after several days and nights of continuously drawing energy into her body; it made her happy, just like saving money.

Qin Rufeng truly didn't want to become the Holy Maiden of the Hehuan Sect, or the number one succubus of Qingyue Pavilion. Even if she were surrounded by peerless beauties, she still wouldn't want to…

But it seems there's no other way. If I continue to be so sentimental, it'll just be...and...again. This world is a dog-eat-dog world; it doesn't tolerate sentimentality. To become stronger, this is the only way.

The previously obtained [Xi Chen] was handed over to Feng Hua for appraisal, and it was indeed a rare and precious material of the Golden Core level, which she could use for her breakthrough.

What we should do now is cultivate day and night, and try to break free from Yuan Mengli's control as soon as possible.