Chapter 41

“Fellow cultivator, my master is Master Danhua of the Alchemical Sect. This is my master’s newly accepted disciple. I hope you can show some mercy.” With no other choice, Guangsha could only mention his master, hoping to earn a little respect. Yet, deep down, he was uneasy. These people clearly had a background as well—who knew if they’d care about his master’s name?

He wished he could gag his troublesome junior sister; of all things to say, must she drag their families into this? Was she asking for trouble?

“Didn’t you hear her?” Li Mengze’s tone was chilly. “She threatened to exterminate my entire clan.” If it had been anything else, she might have let it pass. After all, having lived two lives, she was over forty combined—hardly the sort to bicker with a young girl. But when it came to threats against her family, if she didn’t retaliate, would that mean anyone could trample her? She could not accept being humiliated in public. Besides, pretending nothing had happened would be an admission of defeat, and others might follow suit. A personal disciple’s reputation was not something ordinary people could measure.

“Fellow cultivator, when we return to the mountain, I’ll report this to my master. You’ll have a satisfactory answer.” It was the only solution he could think of. If his master wanted to keep this foolish disciple, he’d have to pay the price. If not, he could hand her over to Kunlun for punishment.

Li Mengze scrutinized Guangsha from head to toe. She didn’t know him, but recognized the robes—an Alchemical Sect personal disciple. Then she glanced at the terrified girl clutched in her hand, pondering for a moment. With a snap, she flung her aside. She hadn’t intended to kill—she was merely angry. Even with a thousand or eight hundred years, she couldn’t possibly wipe out the girl’s clan; after all, several of them were already ascended immortals.

“All right, just keep her mouth in check,” she said, sounding bored as she returned to her seat.

Guangsha breathed a sigh of relief and, with some annoyance, helped Huangfu Yan to her feet. He was just about to exchange pleasantries with Lu Fang—the only one among them he vaguely recalled.

He hadn’t expected his master’s new disciple to be not merely foolish but bordering on disabled. Why? Just listen:

“How dare you lay a hand on me, you vile wretch! Senior brother, seize her! I’ll have her thrown into the army, trampled by a thousand riders and crushed under ten thousand men!”

Guangsha’s heart turned cold. Forget it. He quietly retreated to the side, giving Li Mengze and Lu Fang a bitter smile. He had gone to great lengths to protect her life, but she didn’t care in the least. There was no need for him to bother anymore.

Li Mengze couldn’t help but laugh. This girl must be deranged.

Huangfu Yan, seeing Li Mengze’s gaze, suddenly remembered the feeling of being choked and shrank back. Yet, upon seeing Guangsha, she regained her confidence. She was a princess, her master’s new disciple—surely this person wouldn’t dare ignore her.

What she said was nothing new to her; back in the palace, she often did the same. Any maid who displeased her would be sent to the barracks, including the beautiful concubines favored by her father, the emperor. It had become second nature.

“If you’re so eager to die, I suppose I must grant your wish.”

Before her words had faded, Li Mengze’s hand struck the girl’s abdomen. At Huangfu Yan’s shriek, Li Mengze let go. The girl collapsed, face as pale as death, unconscious.

For a moment, the hall was utterly silent. No one had expected Li Mengze to act so swiftly, destroying the girl's spiritual root in an instant. This was a death sentence for a cultivator. Sealing a spiritual root was one thing—a stronger cultivator could break the seal—but to abolish it altogether was another matter. Only the legendary Spirit Renewal Herb could restore it, and that was all but impossible to find.

On second thought, though, the girl had brought it on herself. To threaten a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with a fate as a camp prostitute—having her spiritual root destroyed was mild. Otherwise, with that mouth of hers, far worse could have awaited her.

Clapping her hands, Li Mengze resumed her indifferent air. She said to Guangsha, “I am Li Mengze, last disciple of the Sword Peak’s master. If you have any issues, come to me. I’ll be waiting. Or, if you prefer, speak directly to my uncle—my clan runs deep. As for tossing me into the army, I doubt even my uncle would allow it.” With that, she patted her hands clean, turned to Li Yongxin—who was still nibbling a pastry—and said, “Senior brother, we’re done here. Let’s go.”

Li Yongxin nodded dazedly and stood. The group left at once. Had he been in her place, he would have chosen the same path—perhaps not so directly, but he’d have let the Alchemical Sect deal with their so-called princess themselves. He never expected his usually gentle junior sister to act so decisively. People truly are not always as they seem. Who would have thought those slender arms could lift someone off the ground? A wolf in lamb’s clothing indeed.

The others were equally surprised by Li Mengze’s decisive action. Once outside, Lu Fang finally spoke, “Junior sister, that man was Guangsha, third disciple of Master Danhua, at the peak of Foundation Establishment. The girl is the youngest daughter of this nation’s ruler. Because she was born with a dual fire-wood spiritual root—ideal for alchemy—she’s been spoiled all her life. Not long ago, she somehow convinced Master Danhua to accept her as a disciple.”

Li Mengze nodded, unconcerned. It was an unpleasant start to the day but nothing more.

“I understand. I’ll inform my uncle,” she replied. She doubted her uncle would care either, but if the Alchemical Sect had any sense, they’d come to apologize. It was best to let her uncle know regardless.

As they neared the central square, they found it packed with throngs of people, making entry impossible. The group didn’t bother with the communal flying vessels but instead mounted their own spirit swords, soaring through the air before landing on the platform reserved for Kunlun.

As the greatest sect in the cultivation world, Kunlun’s platform dominated the center, the largest and most prominent spot, with the largest crowd gathered below.

As they arrived, whispers rose from the crowd:

“Father, will I be able to fly like that someday?”

“Of course, my precious. Someday you’ll become an immortal and soar through the skies. You’ll be the pride of Wang Family Village.” Their entire village hadn’t produced a cultivator in fifty years. With birth rates declining, only five children in this generation even qualified for the selection. If even one became immortal, their village would avoid being annexed by neighbors. That’s why, a year early, the villagers brought their children here, hoping to secure a good place.