I Was Forced to Marry a “Trash” Cultivator, But She Turned Out to Be a Reborn Empress!

Chapter 225: Northern Region Caravan, Dao Xuan Sacred Land

Shen Xian dissolved the concealment array at the cave entrance and stepped out into the desolate wind, Qiu Ruoli following a step behind.

Not far away, a caravan of about thirty people was trudging along the edge of the wasteland.

In the center of the formation rolled three heavy bronze carriages drawn by Armored Rhinoceroses. The characters for “Heaven-Reaching” were deeply engraved into the metal plating of the carriages. Surrounding them were guards in uniform gray robes, each embroidered with a willow leaf emblem on the chest.

Leading the procession was an old man with a white beard and hair. He held a white jade compass, guiding their path. His cultivation was at the early Golden Core Realm.

Shen Xian’s eyes narrowed slightly as his Divine Sense swept over the group like an invisible radar.

Aside from the Golden Core elder, the rest of the guards were merely at the Foundation Establishment Realm. They weren’t weak by mortal standards, but for the dangerous Northern Region?

It was a bit pathetic.

“Why don’t we just capture them and force them to give us directions?” Qiu Ruoli remarked indifferently, her voice cold.

She had also assessed their strength. To her—a cultivator half-a-step into the Nascent Soul Realm—this group of Foundation Establishment juniors and one Golden Core elder was no different from a colony of ants.

“Hmm?” Shen Xian let out a low, vibrating hum from his throat.

Qiu Ruoli’s delicate body trembled. She immediately shut her mouth, the arrogance vanishing from her face.

“We keep a low profile,” Shen Xian stated.

He suppressed his aura, disguising himself as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He signaled for Qiu Ruoli to do the same, then stepped into the air, gliding toward the caravan before landing softly nearby to approach on foot.

True, he could have used the Blood God Scripture to slaughter them all, devour their souls, and rip the memories directly from their shattered minds.

But he wasn’t a mindless butcher.

Moreover, he was a stranger to the Northern Region. He didn’t know the power structure or the background of this caravan. If a rash action attracted the attention of a Void Refinement or Body Integration monster, the loss would far outweigh the gain.

The safest path was to show goodwill and let them speak voluntarily.

As the two approached, the leading elder noticed them instantly. He halted, staring warily in their direction. The compass in his hand pulsed with a faint red light, its needle locked onto Shen Xian.

Shen Xian offered a polite smile, leading Qiu Ruoli forward openly.

As the distance closed, the tension in the caravan spiked.

The Foundation Establishment guards tightened their grips on their Magical Artifacts, stepping in front of the bronze carriages as if facing a formidable enemy.

“Fellow Daoists, what business do you have?”

The elder stepped forward, cupping his hands in a salute. His tone was respectful, but his posture remained guarded. Seeing that the newcomers only emitted the aura of the Foundation Establishment Realm, he relaxed slightly.

Shen Xian returned the salute, his expression calm. “My Dao Companion and I have just arrived in this region and have lost our bearings. Might we travel with your group for a time?”

It was a clumsy excuse.

Naturally, the old man didn’t believe a word of it. Anyone capable of surviving in the Black Rhinoceros Wasteland was not simple.

Just then, the curtain of the central carriage was thrown open.

“Elder Xu, what’s happening?”

A crisp, clear female voice rang out. A young girl in a goose-yellow dress poked her head out. She looked to be about seventeen or eighteen, with delicate features and a cultivation base at the early Foundation Establishment Realm.

Her gaze swept over Shen Xian without interest, but when it landed on Qiu Ruoli, she froze. The sheer impact of Qiu Ruoli’s peerless beauty left her stunned.

“Young Miss, just two passing Fellow Daoists asking for directions,” Xu Tian turned back to explain, his tone a mix of doting affection and helplessness.

A flicker of amusement passed through Shen Xian’s eyes.

‘A Young Miss? So this isn’t just a cargo run. They’re escorting a VIP.’

This was an unexpected opportunity.

“I am Wang Yu, and this is my Dao Companion, Qiu Ruoli,” Shen Xian lied smoothly, cupping his hands again. “We are new to this land and fear the dangers of traveling alone. We wish to accompany you.”

He paused, then added, “Of course, we are willing to offer compensation.”

With a flick of his wrist, a High Grade Spirit Stone appeared from his Blood Jade Ring.

The spiritual energy radiating from the stone was palpable. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a single High Grade Spirit Stone was a fortune—enough to buy this entire caravan several times over.

The moment the stone appeared, Xu Tian’s eyes lit up with undisguised greed.

As a seasoned veteran of the business world, he recognized quality instantly. This was a top-tier High Grade Spirit Stone, pure and uncut.

He secretly sized up the pair. They were dressed in expensive robes and could casually toss out a fortune. Despite their apparent low cultivation, their background must be significant.

‘However…’ Xu Tian thought, stroking his beard. ‘I am a Golden Core cultivator. Two Foundation Establishment juniors are hardly a threat. Why not do them a favor and earn a massive profit for the Chamber?’

“Elder Xu, let them come with us!”

The girl’s voice chimed in again. She had already jumped down from the carriage, landing lightly in front of the pair.

“What a beautiful big sister!”

Su Ling’er marveled inwardly, her eyes glued to Qiu Ruoli. She had never seen such a woman—skin like snow, features like a painting, and an aura of icy nobility that made one want to worship her.

Qiu Ruoli felt the girl’s intense, almost rude stare and frowned.

‘A mere early Foundation Establishment brat dares to look at me like that?’

She instinctively prepared to unleash her Pressure to crush the girl, but a sharp glance from Shen Xian forced her to swallow her rage.

“Big Sister, my name is Su Ling’er. I’m the Young Proprietor of the Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce,” the girl said enthusiastically, extending her hand. “Where are you going? We can give you a ride!”

Qiu Ruoli glanced at the hand coldly and didn’t move a muscle.

‘Ignorant little girl who doesn’t know her place…’ she thought disdainfully. Outwardly, she gave a stiff, barely-there nod.

Su Ling’er’s hand hung awkwardly in mid-air, but she wasn’t offended. Instead, her eyes sparkled even more. “Sister has so much personality! I love that type the most!”

She turned to the old man and whined, “Elder Xu, let them come with us, okay? Please?”

Xu Tian sighed, glancing one last time at the Spirit Stone in Shen Xian’s hand. He finally nodded. “Since the Young Miss insists, we will comply.”

He turned to Shen Xian, his expression serious. “But I must speak plainly. The road ahead is not peaceful. If you two encounter any accidents…”

“Naturally, it has nothing to do with your esteemed Chamber of Commerce,” Shen Xian finished for him with a smile, tossing the Spirit Stone over.

‘Hmph. A mere Golden Core dares to act so high and mighty,’ Qiu Ruoli sneered internally.

As the Holy Maiden of the Tianyao Sect, she had been suffocated for months. Now, seeing these ant-like cultivators posturing in front of her, she desperately wanted to vent her frustration.

Su Ling’er, oblivious to the danger standing next to her, happily tugged at Qiu Ruoli’s sleeve. “Sister, come ride in my carriage! I have the best spirit tea and snacks…”

Qiu Ruoli recoiled, ready to shake the girl off.

“Go with her,” Shen Xian’s voice transmission echoed in her mind, cold and absolute. “Use the opportunity to extract information about this region.”

Qiu Ruoli bit her lip.

‘Dammit… He wants me to babysit this brat?’

Suppressing her murderous impulses, she allowed Su Ling’er to drag her toward the most luxurious bronze carriage.

Shen Xian, meanwhile, fell in step beside the old man.

“Young Master Wang, may I ask where you hail from?” Xu Tian asked casually as they began to walk.

“A place of no renown,” Shen Xian answered smoothly, deflecting the probe. “And you?”

Xu Tian assumed they were disciples from some reclusive hermit sect and didn’t press further. He puffed out his chest slightly, a note of pride entering his voice.

“We are from the Dao Xuan Sacred Land!”