Chapter 120: Bowing in Submission

Although they all hailed from the Dao Court, Wei Dongting had no affection for the woman named Zhang Lihua, even if she was young.

Truth be told, the initiator of this expedition into the spirit cave was Qi Dongxuan, and it was he and Wei Dongting who led the team. That Zhang Lihua had played the part of the innocent and frail maiden the entire way, clinging to the men around her for protection. Yet, the moment they entered the spirit cave, they encountered trap after trap. Thanks to her tears and manipulation, Wei Dongting had already watched two foolish boys run off to act as her scapegoats.

She may have been young, but she was full of treacherous schemes.

Even now, the boy in the group with the most severe injuries—the one who remained in a deep coma despite having been fed a dozen healing pills—was the third fool she had coerced into covering their retreat.

Wei Dongting wouldn't have minded her tricking those naive boys from the Dao Court so much, but what he truly could not fathom was why Qi Dongxuan always displayed such pity and protectiveness toward her, as if he harbored some profound guilt. This made Wei Dongting feel that something was wrong; there was definitely something fishy between the two of them.

"You truly are worthy of being raised by Shen Qingjin; this brand of sophistry is simply astounding," Qi Dongxuan spoke up. He felt that if he didn't intervene, Zhang Lihua would be driven to death by her. Couldn't she see that Zhang Lihua was already weeping pearls of tears?

"I was raised by my parents, so what does it have to do with my brother? Wasn't he raised just like me? And what is this 'sophistry' you speak of? Isn't that the specialty of our next-door neighbor, the old man who ran a cult? I don't have the talent for such nonsense. Everything I said is a serious fact. Has your brain been flooded with water? You’re so confused you can't tell right from wrong. It wasn't just one or two people who heard her mocking me; they all heard it," Qinghu retorted, firing back at Qi Dongxuan.

"That's right, I heard it," She Shiyi immediately backed Qinghu.

"I heard it too, Sister Hu was right," the little fire lion nodded in agreement.

"I heard it as well," Wei Dongting added, siding with Qinghu.

"Wei Dongting, whose side are you on?" Qi Dongxuan demanded, frustrated. He couldn't help but complain to himself: it was one thing for others to side with Shen Qinghu, but Wei Dongting was a man of the Dao Court.

"I side with whoever is in the right. Zhang Lihua shouldn't have been mocking people so casually in the first place. Who does she think she is? Is she the master of some Dao field?" Wei Dongting said bluntly. "She isn't even a Dao Disciple, yet she acts as if she’s the pampered daughter of a Dao Master. Once she made a mistake, wouldn't it have been over if she’d just apologized? Who is she crying for?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lihua wept even more uncontrollably, as if she were being unjustly persecuted. That pitiful, lovely face caused several of the young men to frown in sympathy.

"Brother Wei, what have I ever done to offend you? Is it because you asked me to come to your room at night last time and I didn't go?" Zhang Lihua accused him through her tears.

Wei Dongting’s face darkened instantly. "Oh, you’re really something. I just sided with Shen Qinghu because I thought she made sense. But your conscience is truly rotten to suggest I wanted to sleep with you. Don't flatter yourself! You’re the one who drags Brother Chen or Junior Brother Wang into your room every other day, and specifically in the dead of night. I may not be picky, but even I would find you dirty. A guy like me wouldn't touch a secondhand prostitute even if I were visiting a brothel."

Wei Dongting finished with a look of utter disgust, which made Zhang Lihua’s face go black. How dare he compare her to a prostitute!

"Brother Wei, show some dignity for everyone’s sake. Even if you don't care for Junior Sister Zhang, you should at least consider the reputation of her sect elders," Qi Dongxuan intervened again to help Zhang Lihua. He truly felt that Wei Dongting had gone too far and was being too harsh, especially toward a junior sister.

"What is wrong with you, always speaking up for her? Could it be that you’ve been to her room too? Oh, so that’s why she’s always clinging to you. You two have been in cahoots for a long time, haven't you? If you two are a couple, why didn't you just say so? I would have at least given you some face, wouldn't I? After all, your ranking as a Dao Disciple is higher than mine," Wei Dongting sneered. If Qi Dongxuan defended her every time and claimed there was nothing going on, even a ghost wouldn't believe him.

"Brother Wei, just say it if you don't like me; there’s no need to bully a woman," Qi Dongxuan said indignantly, his heart filling with a sudden murderous intent. He thought Wei Dongting was truly detestable.

Wei Dongting sensed the killing intent immediately and felt a chill.

"That’s what I should be saying. You’re supposed to be a real man, right? Why are you always picking fights with me and meddling in my business with a woman? Is it a habit for you to bully the weak and trample on women and children?" Qinghu interrupted, snatching the momentum back from Qi Dongxuan.

The young people from the Dao Court were stunned. They couldn't help but gaze at the girl in awe. Since Qi Dongxuan’s rise, they had never seen anyone talk back to him like this. She had slapped him in the face with her words!

In truth, this girl named Shen Qinghu was a marvel. She was clearly human, yet she was on good terms with the Snake clan and had even tamed a group of fire lions. Both the Snake clan and the fire lions were powerful non-human races, yet this little girl moved among them with ease. More importantly, those powerful creatures treated her with great respect, bowing before her. It was likely this confidence that made her so righteous when she bullied Zhang Lihua back.

"Well? Are you going to apologize or not? If not, I’ll just deal with you," Qinghu said impatiently. If Qi Dongxuan hadn't interfered, she would have finished with this trivial matter long ago. Zhang Lihua was nothing.

"Is an apology all it takes?" Qi Dongxuan frowned.

"Naturally not. If a simple apology were enough, my face wouldn't be worth much. Apologize, and then pay me ten thousand spirit stones or something of equivalent value," Qinghu demanded.

"Cough, that seems a bit much. We didn't bring that many supplies, and honestly, no one has ten thousand spirit stones," Wei Dongting said quickly, worried that they wouldn't be able to pay and would end up in an embarrassing standoff. He didn't think a little girl like Zhang Lihua could actually produce that much.

"Your insight is truly lacking. There are only about a dozen of you, but more than half could produce ten thousand spirit stones right now. At least five of you are carrying over thirty thousand each. I suspect you’re the poorest one here," Shen Qinghu rolled her eyes at him. "Blind, how embarrassing!"

Wei Dongting was shocked speechless. He looked at his junior brothers and sisters, many of whom intentionally avoided his gaze. Finally, he laughed at himself, "I really am the poorest one. And the stupidest."

"You are indeed the poorest. Even that Zhang girl has ten thousand spirit stones. Why else would I be here demanding compensation?" Qinghu looked at Zhang Lihua.

Zhang Lihua’s expression changed instantly. "I don't, I don't have that many!"

"Little Lion, take her down."

At Qinghu’s command, the fire lion lunged at Zhang Lihua. Qi Dongxuan instinctively moved to help, but was immediately intercepted by Wei Dongting. In the blink of an eye, the fire lion was upon Zhang Lihua. As it reached for her, she retreated sharply, and two young men appeared on either side to intercept the lion. The little lion snorted coldly, trading blows with them in a flash before kicking them both away. If not for others catching them, they would have fallen into the water.

The little lion then closed in on Zhang Lihua, knocked the sword from her hand in a few moves, and dragged her toward Qinghu like a dead dog. Zhang Lihua was a mess, her hair disheveled as she was forced to her knees on the flaming blade. "I curse you! I curse you to die a horrible death!"

"You're a fool. If you curse me, it will only reflect back on you," Qinghu said with a grin. How dare she curse a Primordial God? She was truly bold. Even if Her Majesty didn't bother with a little girl, she would suffer the consequences of her own actions.

"Little Lion, hurry up and grab that little silver chain around her neck. Yes, that's it. I want the little jade gourd hanging from it."

The little lion pulled, and with a *rip*, the front of Zhang Lihua’s clothes tore, revealing the silver chain and the jade gourd. Zhang Lihua’s face turned pale with dread.

"Let me go! Don't touch my jade gourd!" But the little lion didn't listen to her, roughly tearing the chain and the gourd from her neck. The gourd was only the size of a fingernail and looked unremarkable.

"So this is the little space that can be used for planting. It looks quite good," Qinghu took the gourd from the lion and chuckled.

"Give it back! I’ll give you the spirit stones! I’ll give you ten thousand!" Zhang Lihua screamed anxiously. But the little lion had already sealed her acupoints and threw her back onto the flaming blade.

"Give it back? I asked for ten thousand spirit stones, and you refused. Now I’ve taken it myself. Why would I give it back?" Qinghu laughed at her naivety. "A space for planting, nice, nice. It belongs to me now."

Qinghu pulled her own little shell from her neck and placed the gourd against it. A golden light erupted from the shell. The gourd softened in the light, turning into liquid that seeped into the shell. The shell’s color didn't change, but it grew noticeably larger, and new, mysterious patterns appeared on its surface—intricate designs that resembled divine seals.

"You bastard! Shen Qinghu, put that jade gourd down!" Qi Dongxuan shouted, attempting to rush forward several times, only to be blocked by Wei Dongting.

"Wei Dongting, what are you doing? Why are you letting her steal Zhang Lihua’s treasure?" Qi Dongxuan was furious.

"Who knows where she swindled that gourd from? It’s only natural for it to be taken by someone stronger. Why are you so worked up?" Wei Dongting replied.

"You... you are simply unreasonable."

"I thank you. You’re always coming up with new accusations. So what if I’m unreasonable?" Wei Dongting had never liked this guy who had suddenly jumped ahead of him in the Dao Disciple rankings.

"You..." Qi Dongxuan was incensed.

"Give me back the jade gourd! Give it back!" Zhang Lihua watched in agony as her treasure was refined and absorbed, wailing like a madwoman.

Qinghu didn't care. She knew exactly where she had gotten that gourd. As a God, she could see the karma attached to it. When Zhang Lihua was ten, a close junior sister had accidentally revealed that she possessed the jade gourd space, which contained three acres of spiritual fields, a bamboo house, and an underground warehouse. Zhang Lihua had cruelly murdered her sister to steal the treasure, using it to excel and become a distinguished disciple of both the demonic sect and the Dao Court.

"Return it to who? The sister you murdered to steal this treasure has been following you all these years. She’s very happy to see me take it back," Qinghu said.

Zhang Lihua was terrified. "Impossible! Impossible! She’s been dead for years!"

"Yu Suixin. You haven't forgotten her, have you? She certainly hasn't forgotten you. If a soul has deep resentment, it doesn't dissipate; it follows the target until that resentment is resolved. She is bent on revenge," Qinghu said with malicious delight.

"You’re lying! You’re lying! Give me back my gourd!" Zhang Lihua looked around wildly, as if someone were truly standing beside her. In truth, the remnant soul of Yu Suixin was hovering right by her left ear, occasionally pulling at a strand of her hair.

"Gourd? What gourd? It’s already been fused into my space treasure. Oh, right, I’ll be kind and return your clothes and accessories," Qinghu said, tossing the girl’s belongings aside.

Inside the shell, the soil platform had expanded, and three or four acres of spiritual fields had appeared, filled with various low-level spiritual plants. Some were nearly ready for harvest. A bamboo house and an underground warehouse appeared beside the spiritual pond. All the accumulations of the gourd's previous owners now belonged to Qinghu.

The shell’s internal space had grown significantly, with the water area doubling and the depth tripling. Qinghu was very satisfied; she could raise more turtles now.

Watching her belongings being tossed aside, Zhang Lihua fainted and tumbled toward the water. The little lion didn't bother to catch her.

Qi Dongxuan managed to push past Wei Dongting and caught her just before she hit the water. "You people are going too far!"

"As if you weren't bullying others yourselves?" She Shiyi sneered. "A bunch of ingrates without self-awareness." In his eyes, humans were just weaklings; he didn't care for them at all. As for Shen Qinghu, she didn't seem like a human to him—perhaps she was something else in disguise! She Shiyi only respected the strong, which was why he valued her.

Qi Dongxuan’s eyes were bloodshot with rage. These non-humans and Shen Qinghu were all wicked.

"Wei Dongting, since we can't see eye to eye, let’s go our separate ways," Qi Dongxuan proposed, realizing he would only continue to suffer if he stayed.

"Did I say you could leave? You come and go as you please; do you think you’re something special?" She Shiyi said coldly.

"Shen Qinghu, let them go. Many of their elders have high reputations; it might be useful for your brother later," Wei Dongting advised.

"Fine, let them leave, little snake. They don't look like they have long to live anyway," Qinghu remarked.

Wei Dongting: "..."
Qi Dongxuan: "..."
The other humans: "..."

"Fine, I’ll give you some face," She Shiyi relented.

"Thanks, little snake," Qinghu smiled.

"Don't mention it," She Shiyi waved.

Since She Shiyi wasn't interfering, Qi Dongxuan and his group were free to leave. "Who wants to come with me? If not, stay here with Wei Dongting."

Wei Dongting laughed. "So you're really splitting up? Fine, I've wanted to break ties with you for a long time. Everyone who wants to follow Qi Dongxuan, go ahead."

The young men and women looked at each other, stunned that things had come to this.

"Can't we stay together?" someone asked.

"No," Wei Dongting replied before Qi Dongxuan could even speak.

Qi Dongxuan added, "Since we can't get along, it’s best we part ways." In truth, he didn't care to take most of these people anyway—they were just dead weight.

After whispering among themselves, seven people stepped out and moved to Qi Dongxuan’s side. The remaining nine stayed, trusting Wei Dongting more. Qi Dongxuan was stunned; he had always believed everyone respected him and wanted him as their leader. He hadn't expected nearly half of them to choose Wei Dongting. What did Wei Dongting have that he didn't?

"Brother Qi? Brother Qi?" A junior sister’s soft call woke him from his daze.

"Let’s go!" Qi Dongxuan suppressed his shame and anger, leading his group away.

"It’s good they’re gone; I was tired of wanting to beat that kid up. Anyway, shall we talk about the oddities of this place?" Wei Dongting asked.

"No, eat first. I'm hungry," Qinghu said.

"How are we supposed to eat in mid-air?"

"Why can't we?" Qinghu grabbed at the water below. A massive pillar of earth surged from the depths, bursting through the surface and expanding into a circular platform supported by a thick column. "There, isn't that a place to eat?"

Wei Dongting gasped. That wasn't just a spell; that was a divine ability. "Little Sister Shen, tell me, are you actually the Dao Master from your field?"

"So what if I am?" Qinghu nodded proudly.

"That explains it. Your Shen family must have the blood of gods and demons. No wonder your brother is favored by the Dao Master of Panlong Lake. You’re descendants of gods!" Wei Dongting exclaimed. To him, believing she was an ancient god or demon was impossible, but being a descendant was plausible. "You’re descendants of gods! Do you realize how rare that bloodline is among us humans?"

His words caused gasps from the other humans, and even She Shiyi and the fire lions looked at her with newfound interest.

"Think what you want..." Qinghu was speechless that he had almost stumbled onto the truth only to wander off into a wild theory. She set up a pot and began to cook.

Nothing was more important than eating. While waiting for the meat to stew, she ate several turtle essence pills. Showing off that earth pillar had cost her half her earth essence pearls—her heart ached! She needed the pills to soothe her pain.

"When can you sell me more powder-child fruit?" she asked She Shiyi, suddenly craving them.

"I'll ask when I return. The trees don't bear much fruit. Usually, they're distributed or traded away to other tribes before I can get any. I don't know if there's any left in stock," She Shiyi replied.

"Is the Donghuang tribe that powerful?" Qinghu asked. "Why does everyone keep mentioning them?"

"They’re not that great, just the largest tribe near Wuding City. As for combat strength, it’s average. The fire lions you captured are a small tribe, and they fight the Donghuang to a standstill every time. The birds can't do anything about them."

"Fire lions breathe fire. If they get close, the birds get roasted," Qinghu noted.

"That makes sense," She Shiyi laughed.

"So, Little Wei, tell me, what trap did you fall into?"

"Little Wei? What is that?" Wei Dongting laughed helplessly. "I'm ten years older than you. Shouldn't you call me Big Brother Wei?"

"Don't worry about trifles, Little Wei. Tell me about the trap."

Wei Dongting was about to speak when he suddenly gasped, "What kind of snake is that?" She Shiyi was feeding a small snake that had slipped out of his sleeve.

"That doesn't look like a Black-Spotted King Snake," Qinghu noted.

"It’s a mutated species—the Ink Dragon King Snake. It’s seventh-rank, one rank lower than your sixth-rank light sword fish."

"Ink Dragon King Snake? Does it have dragon blood?"

"A trace. Its talent isn't great, and I have to waste resources to nurture it," She Shiyi said proudly.

"I have a few dozen pounds of seventh-rank Jiangyuan fruit grown with heterodox dragon blood. Do you want them?" Qinghu asked. She had some fruit that was small but very heavy, saturated with dragon qi.

"Yes!" She Shiyi’s eyes lit up. "Seventh-rank Jiangyuan fruit grown with dragon blood? That’s a treasure."

Qinghu tossed them to him. The little snake rubbed against She Shiyi’s arm, begging for a bite. "Eat it back home; it’s more effective if refined into a pill," She Shiyi tapped its head. The snake looked at him with accusation—*who likes pills?*

Qinghu laughed. "Your pills clearly aren't made well if even your snake doesn't want them."

She Shiyi was embarrassed. "I don't have earth-attribute spirit fruit, but I have some earth-attribute spirit grain. Do you want it?"

"What kind?"

"Earth Emperor Grain. It used to be rare, but now it’s common," She Shiyi handed her some grains with a dull yellow halo.

"Hmm, who would curse a grain? Maybe that mad god? The curse is messy, no method to it," Qinghu examined the grain. "How much do you have?"

"Five hundred pounds. I'll give it all to you, plus eight hundred pounds of Silver Frost Iron ore for those fruits."

"Not a good deal. This grain is worthless in your hands, but in mine... fine, I'll take it. Keep your iron; I don't want to take advantage of you."

"That won't do. Even if you turn this grain into a divine treasure, it’s not worth much now. Take the iron."

"Fine, I owe you a favor."

The humans watched in disbelief as the two completed a massive trade of treasures they rarely saw in their entire lives.

"Brother Wei, Brother Wei... Brother Lu is waking up!" a junior sister cried out. Wei Dongting looked at his severely wounded companions and realized something.

"Damn it! That little bastard Qi Dongxuan left all the wounded to me!"

"Brother Wei, we chose to follow you specifically because we were hurt and didn't want to be used as cannon fodder by him. He’s already abandoned two groups of brothers; we’re terrified," a boy said bravely.