“What is it?”

“Could it be that I was right?”

“Are you truly in league with that Cen Qiushan?”

Seeing Gu Xiu remain silent, the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Ren Qing, immediately revealed a sinister intent in his eyes. He took a menacing step forward, clearly preparing to strike.

Gu Xiu sighed. Although reluctant, he prepared to activate the power of the finger bone fragment. His combat experience far surpassed ordinary cultivators, allowing him to achieve a one-hit kill against the depleted Cen Chunshan. But facing a Foundation Establishment expert with abundant spiritual energy and formidable strength was a different matter entirely.

However…

“Huh?”

Just as Gu Xiu intended to strike first, he sensed something and immediately halted his movement.

“Kid, I’ll give you one last chance!” Ren Qing, oblivious to the change, demanded again, “Will you hand over the storage bag or not?”

Faced with the coercion, Gu Xiu shook his head. “Although I am merely a minor Qi Refining fourth-layer cultivator, I do not wish to be a fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of others.”

“It is shocking that you, Senior, as a member of Wanbao Pavilion, would commit such acts of murder and robbery.”

“Do you truly not fear tarnishing Wanbao Pavilion’s reputation?”

“Heh!” Ren Qing sneered coldly. “You are quite glib-tongued. Unfortunately, if you die here, who will know how you died?”

With that, Ren Qing spoke no more. He raised a finger, pointing directly at the space between Gu Xiu’s eyebrows!

Terrifying spiritual energy instantly locked onto Gu Xiu’s body, rendering him immobile.

Gu Xiu’s expression remained as calm as still water, though he tightly gripped the finger bone fragment within his sleeve, ready to unleash its power at the last second.

Finally.

Just as the lethal finger was about to pierce Gu Xiu’s skull, a sharp reprimand rang out like a clap of thunder.

“Ren Qing, stop!”

These words carried soul-shaking power, instantly freezing the murderous cultivator in place.

At the same time, a graceful figure swiftly appeared, landing beside Gu Xiu with a faint fragrant breeze. She pulled him back, putting distance between them and Ren Qing.

By the time Gu Xiu regained his footing, Ren Qing had recovered from the shock. However, when he saw the newcomer clearly, his expression crumbled into terror.

The newcomer was a woman dressed in purple robes. Her figure was curvaceous and alluring. A veil covered most of her face, but her visible eyes carried a natural charm that could easily captivate one’s soul.

Facing this woman, Ren Qing became extremely tense. “Su… Su Rumei!”

“Hmm?” The woman raised an eyebrow.

Ren Qing hurriedly corrected himself, “Manager Su!”

“Ren Qing, what were you doing just now…” Su Rumei spoke softly, her voice deceptively gentle. “…hmm?”

“I… I was acting on orders, searching for Cen Qiushan’s whereabouts…”

“What cultivation level is Cen Qiushan?”

“Qi Refining eighth layer.”

Su Rumei’s tone turned icy. “Since you were searching for a Qi Refining eighth-layer cultivator, why did you attack a fellow Daoist at the fourth layer?”

“I… I…” Ren Qing gulped. “This subordinate suspected that this person…”

“This person what?”

“This person…”

Before Ren Qing could finish, Su Rumei cut him off coldly. “Do you want to say that this Qi Refining fourth-layer fellow Daoist is related to Cen Qiushan?”

“Or do you want to suggest that the ‘Spring and Autumn Twin Evils’ is a misnomer? That they are actually the ‘Spring and Autumn Three Evils,’ with an additional Qi Refining fourth-layer accomplice?”

Faced with this interrogation, Ren Qing hemmed and hawed, unable to form a coherent defense.

“Humph!” Su Rumei snorted. “Ren Qing, you are well aware of Wanbao Pavilion’s iron rule against murder and robbery, yet you knowingly break the law.”

“Since that is the case, I, in my capacity as Manager, now pronounce your punishment.”

“You are sentenced to…”

“Sever one finger!”

What?

Upon hearing this, Ren Qing looked up in disbelief. “Sever a finger?”

Even Gu Xiu glanced at Su Rumei in surprise.

“Since you knowingly violated the rules and attempted to kill with your finger, then severing a finger as compensation is fitting. Do you have any objection?” Su Rumei asked indifferently.

“I object! Of course I object!” Ren Qing protested immediately. “I admit I was momentarily blinded by greed. But he is merely a minor Qi Refining fourth-layer cultivator! And I didn’t even succeed! How can you possibly force me to sever a finger?”

Once a cultivator reaches the Divine Transformation realm, severed limbs can regenerate. But if a limb is severed before reaching the Golden Core stage, it is lost forever.

This punishment was severe!

“It seems you still don’t understand,” Su Rumei said coldly. “Wanbao Pavilion gathers treasures from all directions and welcomes guests from all sides. As long as one is a cultivator, they are a guest.”

“You abused your cultivation level to bully a guest and attempted murder. This damages our reputation and violates our greatest taboo.”

“Severing a finger is merely a light punishment. If you object…”

“What will be severed…”

“…will not just be a finger!”

As she spoke, a terrifying aura erupted from Su Rumei’s body.

Golden Core!

She was a Golden Core expert!

Crushed by Su Rumei’s overwhelming pressure, Ren Qing felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His expression twisted in conflict; finally, he lowered his head in defeat.

“This subordinate…”

“…willingly accepts punishment!”

Gritting his teeth, Ren Qing materialized energy into a blade. Hesitating for a brief moment, he sliced down onto the little finger of his left hand.

Slash!

The finger separated from the palm! Blood spurted out!

Ren Qing didn’t dare utter even a groan. He glanced at Su Rumei with extreme nervousness. Only after seeing her nod did he turn around and flee on his flying sword.

From beginning to end, he dared not show a hint of resentment toward Su Rumei, nor even a trace of hatred toward Gu Xiu.

Watching Ren Qing leave, Su Rumei turned and bowed slightly towards Gu Xiu in apology.

She took out a storage ring and offered it. “Fellow Daoist, my sincere apologies. It was due to Wanbao Pavilion’s poor discipline that such a disaster nearly befell you. This storage ring is a gift of compensation. I hope Fellow Daoist will not hold this against us.”

This…

Gu Xiu was surprised. He knew of Wanbao Pavilion’s reputation from five hundred years ago as an upright merchant house. He had anticipated they might intervene, but he hadn’t expected them to punish their own so severely for the sake of a rogue cultivator.

“Thank you for coming to my rescue, Senior Su. Wanbao Pavilion truly lives up to its reputation. As for this storage ring… it isn’t necessary.”

In the end, Gu Xiu shook his head and declined.

However, Su Rumei remained courteous. “Today, Wanbao Pavilion wronged you. If this gift can improve your opinion of us, it is worth it. Please do not decline out of modesty.”

“Moreover, a mere storage ring is insignificant compared to the danger you faced. Please accept it.”

It must be said, Su Rumei’s conduct and bearing made Gu Xiu inwardly admire her. Seeing her insistence, he finally nodded and accepted the ring.

Actually, within his own storage bag lay the three rings he had intercepted earlier. To avoid tracking, he had kept them hidden. Now that Su Rumei offered a clean one, it suited his needs perfectly.

As for the three stolen rings… naturally, there was no reason to return them. Not only might revealing them invite trouble, but they were spoils obtained through risking his life.

Seeing Gu Xiu accept the gift, a smile appeared on Su Rumei’s face.

“Is Fellow Daoist heading towards Cloudsoar City?”

Gu Xiu raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Fellow Daoist need not be nervous,” she continued. “Our group is also heading there. Since Cloudsoar City is a hub for rogue cultivators, the journey inevitably attracts bandits.”

“In fact, Wanbao Pavilion often recruits fellow cultivators to travel together. If Fellow Daoist does not mind, you could join us. We can watch out for each other, and there is also some remuneration involved—a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

Su Rumei extended an invitation.

This offer tempted Gu Xiu. His goal was simply to reach Cloudsoar City without wasting time. He knew that the closer one got to the city, the more frequent the attacks became. Traveling with Wanbao Pavilion seemed… not bad?

Thinking this, Gu Xiu nodded. “In that case, I shall respectfully accept.”

…

And so, as Gu Xiu joined Wanbao Pavilion’s caravan and continued towards Cloudsoar City…

Elsewhere, at the Qingxuan Sacred Land, in the Inquiry Heaven Pavilion.

A radiant seven-colored light flashed brilliantly, followed by vast amounts of natural Dao Rhyme converging towards an exquisitely crafted bronze mirror.

Nian Zhaoxi’s expression was ecstatic.

“It succeeded!”

“The Heavenly Secrets Reincarnation Mirror has succeeded!”

“Junior Brother…”

“Your Senior Sister will clear your name!”