The Leader Who Deals with Legendary Figures

Donggua sat on a relatively flat rock, her face no longer wearing the initial confidence but rather impatience and confusion.

The reason was simple—Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao had been gone for far too long.

Never mind that Cui Hao was acting—even if it were real, they shouldn’t have taken this long.

Were these two actually playing her? Did they take the goods and run?

Just as Donggua was growing restless, the soft sound of Xigua’s snoring came from beside her.

Unable to resist, Donggua casually picked up a small pebble and hurled it at Xigua’s head.

Thunk!

Another crisp, satisfying melon-like sound.

"Fine, I’ll call you ‘big sister,’ alright? Can’t we talk things out properly instead of resorting to this?"

Xigua rubbed the spot where she’d been hit, giving Donggua a helpless look.

"If they’re not back yet, they might’ve been delayed. Besides, even if they ran off, we could just go our separate ways. It’s not like we can’t manage alone."

Donggua picked up another pebble, her tone calm.

"That’s true, but I just feel like hitting you to vent. Got a problem with that?"

Half a Xigua flopped back, her expression one of utter resignation. "Fine, do as you please."

Donggua didn’t hold back. She tossed the pebble at Xigua, then picked up another—but before she could throw it, she paused, her gaze shifting outward.

"Cui Hao is back, and he’s brought the fight with him!"

Cui Hao strode in with lively energy, though the expression on Lin Luoyu’s face behind him was far from joyful.

Donggua didn’t respond immediately, her eyes fixed on the two as she subtly extended her spiritual sense toward them.

After a brief moment, confirming the traces of the experimental product on both of them, Donggua finally let her grin spread unrestrained.

Cui Hao strode forward, looking quite pleased with himself.

"Damn, that stuff really works wonders. But, Donggua, your smile’s looking a bit too smug, don’t you think?"

Donggua raised her brows, her grin widening. "You don’t like it?"

Cui Hao frowned, displeased. "I prefer women who smile more… demurely."

"Demure?" Donggua scoffed. "Don’t worry, you’ll get plenty to like soon enough."

Cui Hao’s expression suddenly turned serious. "What do you mean by that?"

Donggua leisurely rose to her feet. "That stuff works great, doesn’t it? Feel that pure energy coursing through you?"

At those words, Lin Luoyu’s Haoran Sword slid from its sheath, its righteous aura flaring violently.

Donggua faced the overwhelming Haoran Qi without fear.

"It’s not like you can just stop using it whenever you want. If you don’t keep taking it within a certain timeframe, the meridians you’ve expanded, the enhancements you’ve gained—they’ll all collapse without that power."

"And what we gave you is just a consumable. Without a steady supply—"

Before Donggua could finish, Lin Luoyu’s Haoran Sword was already upon her.

The terrifying force surged forward. Though Donggua was still recovering from severe injuries, Lin Luoyu was only at the Golden Core realm—a mere flick of instinct was enough to block the strike.

A dark, gray energy, instinctively repulsive to most, clashed against the Haoran Sword.

"You’re the demonic cultivators!" Lin Luoyu’s voice was eerily calm. "I misjudged you. Today, I’ll rid the world of this scourge."

Donggua ignored Lin Luoyu, instead locking eyes with Cui Hao.

Lin Luoyu, brimming with Haoran Qi, wouldn’t yield to threats and feared no death—that was natural. But wasn’t there a cowardly expert right beside her?

Donggua’s grin turned downright vicious, her tone unyielding.

"Little Cui Hao, your senior sister isn’t afraid to die, but are you? This stuff is one-of-a-kind, you know."

Cui Hao’s face darkened, but after a moment, he finally spoke. "Senior Sister… let’s talk this out first."

"What’s there to discuss with wolves? A life of cowardice isn’t worth living—better to fight!"

"But I want to live! My father only has me as his heir—you want his lineage to end? At least let me have a kid before we turn on them, alright?"

Lin Luoyu’s expression nearly cracked as she stared at Cui Hao.

Cui Hao put on a pitiful look. "Let’s just talk first…"

Lin Luoyu sheathed her sword—then promptly kicked Cui Hao.

Even though she knew it was an act, it was just too convincing. She couldn’t help but give him a kick.

Donggua steadied her aura, taking a deep breath to suppress the churning blood in her veins. Seeing Lin Luoyu’s unyielding stance, she had no choice but to backtrack.

"I’m not a demonic cultivator either—just an ordinary practitioner dragged down by this thing."

"The effects are outstanding, yes, but it’s still in the experimental phase. Why don’t we work together to solve this problem once and for all? Share the path to the Great Dao?"

Cui Hao immediately nodded vigorously.

"Senior Sister, listen—that sounds perfectly reasonable. I think Donggua’s got the right idea."

Lin Luoyu shot him a glare. "She’s been lying to us all along—you think she’ll stop now?"

"True or not, why not see for yourself? If I’m wrong…" Donggua’s eyes flicked up. "You still have that sword of yours, don’t you?"

Cui Hao jumped in again, piling on reassurances and playing the emotional card hard.

Eventually, Lin Luoyu slid her sword back into its sheath, though her expression remained icy, her gaze distant.

Donggua inwardly rejoiced.

Now, control was back in her hands.

But before she could savor the thrill of this reversal, Cui Hao’s annoying voice cut in again.

"Donggua, stop grinning like that. What’s the deal with this stuff, really?"

Donggua shot him a glare, recalling his earlier teasing. Her voice turned frosty, laced with threat.

"You don’t like it?"

If she couldn’t handle Lin Luoyu, she could at least keep this coward in check.

But—

Cui Hao’s expression shifted instantly. "Are you threatening me?"

Donggua said nothing, her gaze dripping with disdain. The message was clear.

"Senior Sister! I’m done living like this!" Cui Hao ducked behind Lin Luoyu, pointing dramatically at Donggua. "I’ve never been bullied like this in my life! Senior Sister, let’s trade blows!"

The Haoran Sword left its sheath once more.

Donggua’s eyes widened. Cui Hao looked genuinely ready to throw down over wounded pride, and Lin Luoyu wore the expression of a righteous exterminator…

She took a deep breath, reining in her smirk. Focus on the mission, she reminded herself.

"Fine, if you don’t like it, I won’t smile."

Half a Xigua finally couldn’t hold back her laughter—what was wrong with Donggua? Had Cui Hao infected her or something?

Cui Hao nodded, satisfied. "Now, can we talk properly?"

Donggua inhaled deeply and gave a firm nod.

---

Eastern Victory Divine Continent, Fuyao Immortal Pavilion.

Chu Xingchen had already made the necessary arrangements. Ning Qianqian had entered the Tianyan Sect. Though the sect’s rules were strict, to be safe, Chu Xingchen had Qinghe accompany Ning Qianqian for a while.

This would let the Tianyan Sect know Ning Qianqian’s basic background—she was backed by the Zhuji Peak.

Qinghe had no objections. In fact, she seemed rather excited.

Perhaps it was the chance to flaunt the Tianyan Sect’s prestige as a dragon in front of Ning Qianqian—she accepted the task with visible pride.

In addition to Ning Qianqian, Chu Xingchen also brought along the Tianyan Sect's only outer elder—Zhang Miaoyu.

She wasn’t brought to assist Chu Xingchen himself, but rather to aid Li Yingling. Whether it was because Li Yingling found her useful or Zhang Miaoyu had taken a liking to her leader, no one could say.

But as long as the two were comfortable with the arrangement, it was fine.

Zhang Miaoyu followed closely behind Chu Xingchen.

As a native of the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, she understood the prestige of the highest echelons of the Fuyao Immortal Pavilion all too well. When she saw Chu Xingchen push open the door, she cautiously peered inside as well.

Chu Xingchen stepped through the doorway, then paused in surprise. Aside from Daoist Yuyang, there was another core disciple from the Eighteen Immortal Sects inside the room. He couldn’t help but ask in astonishment:

"Brother Xu, why are you here too?"

"If you can be here, why can’t I?"

Zhang Miaoyu’s curious gaze shifted, and the first thing she noticed was Daoist Yuyang standing to the side with a slightly resigned expression. Her heart skipped a beat.

She had never met Xu Jin before, but she had certainly heard of Daoist Yuyang—the once peerless Nascent Soul expert who dominated the Eastern Victory Divine Continent under the banner of the Taidao Sect.

Though she had only ever seen his portrait…

To Zhang Miaoyu, Daoist Yuyang was purely a figure of legend.

Had her usually amiable sect leader… always been mingling with such legendary figures?