Chapter 405: A Cruel Disparity, Playful Aftermath
“Ugh?!”
Mao Ruoyu’s pupils constricted, and she instinctively dodged, but a burning pain shot through her shoulder.
She glanced over blankly, droplets of blood splattering, her heart clenching.
—So… fast!
If she hadn’t dodged instinctively, that strike might have been fatal!
Such incredible speed, even more terrifying than the Savage Realm puppet she had faced before!
Her mind racing, Mao Ruoyu gritted her teeth, formed hand seals, and summoned several moon shadow blades, manipulating them to force the approaching clone back.
A metallic clang echoed as green smoke rose from the clone’s arms, which it had used to block the attack.
Sizzle…
Seeing the marks left by the blades on the clone’s arms, Mao Ruoyu’s heart leaped with joy.
—It was effective!
The Yin techniques she had learned from Sister Yun, combined with the Moon Shadow Secret Techniques, were effective against this clone!
“In that case, as long as I maintain our distance, I can use my Yin techniques—”
But at this moment, Mao Ruoyu’s eyes widened.
Because the clone that had been forced back was now… disintegrating.
“C-Could it be an afterimage? But that terrifying aura is still here… Ugh!”
Mao Ruoyu’s expression changed drastically, and she quickly twisted her waist, waving her sleeves and channeling her Yin energy, a formless pressure descending, freezing the clone that was attacking from behind.
“Is it truly an illusion?! No—”
The beautiful woman’s heart trembled as she looked to the side with a shocked expression.
‘First Elder’ was standing there, her face expressionless, her arms at her sides, only a cold glint in her snake-like eyes, as if she had already locked onto her prey.
“Damn… Ugh!”
An incredible force struck her chest, almost knocking the wind out of her, sending her flying like a broken kite, crashing onto the ground.
“Cough, cough…”
Mao Ruoyu’s face paled as she struggled to sit up.
Looking down at her torn clothes, her heart pounded.
If she hadn’t used her Yin energy to protect herself at the last moment, that strike would have seriously injured her.
“Ha… ha…”
She took a few deep breaths and looked at the clone slowly approaching her.
Its aura was still terrifying, crimson flames burning wherever its feet touched the ground, its immeasurable Yin energy almost tangible, a massive demonic shadow looming behind it.
A pair of sinister, snake-like eyes stared at her intently, their gaze alone seemingly enough to freeze her soul.
But—
A sense of confusion arose in Mao Ruoyu’s heart.
She struggled to her feet and said in a deep voice: “You are not… an ordinary clone created by First Elder’s Yin techniques.”
“I… am a weapon.”
‘First Elder’ lowered her seductive body, her legs bent slightly as if ready to pounce.
A weapon?
Mao Ruoyu raised her hand, using a technique to heal the injury on her shoulder, and murmured: “What did you mean by that just now? Why are you attacking me because I’m Tianlu’s wife? And why do you say that Tianlu belongs only to you?!”
But as soon as she finished speaking, she bit her lip, a sense of unease rising in her heart.
Had she been too aggressive? If she angered this being, could she still—
“Why?”
But ‘First Elder’s’ attack suddenly stopped.
She raised her cold, snake-like eyes slightly and said darkly: “Because… Lin Tianlu is my ‘prey’.”
“That’s simply…”
Mao Ruoyu was stunned for a moment, a flicker of anger in her eyes as she frowned and quickly formed hand seals.
“Absurd!”
Since when had her husband become this strange woman’s prey?!
—Crack!
Her claws struck the newly formed barrier, cracks spreading like a spiderweb.
Mao Ruoyu groaned and stumbled back a few steps. Just as she was about to counterattack, she heard a gust of wind beside her ear.
Bam!
Her body was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing to the ground more than ten feet away.
‘First Elder’ lowered her leg and took another step forward, her heels clicking softly.
“No.”
Beside her, two blurry figures transformed into streaks of light and flew back into her body.
A strange glint flashed in her eyes, and she murmured, as if to herself: “Not ‘prey,’ he’s my… ‘food’.”
Seeing Mao Ruoyu struggling to get up, coughing repeatedly, ‘First Elder’ simply extended her ten claw-like fingers, her face expressionless.
—Hum!
But at this moment, a surge of Yin energy erupted from Mao Ruoyu’s body, light overflowing, transforming into countless shimmering snowflakes.
And Mao Ruoyu, who had been struggling to get up, suddenly floated into the air, spreading her arms, her voluptuous figure enveloped in a clear, watery light, a thin gauze robe swirling around her, as she gracefully landed back on the ground.
Her toes lightly touched the ground, her skirt swaying, as if ripples were spreading outwards, the intense killing intent suddenly vanishing.
Her snow-white hair fluttered gently as she looked at ‘First Elder,’ her beautiful eyes now calm and deep, her voice unquestionable: “My husband has nothing to do with you!”
A cold light flashed, like shimmering water.
‘First Elder’ dodged slightly, the watery light grazing her ample bosom, leaving a thin mark on the ground.
“Don’t even think about escaping!” Mao Ruoyu’s face was cold as she waved her sleeve, and ripples of water-colored light, formed from Yin energy, appeared beside her, transforming into countless invisible blades, attacking from all directions.
Crack!
With a swipe of her claws, one of the watery lights was instantly shattered.
Fragments of light scattered and dissipated as they watched, one with an indifferent expression, the other with a look of surprise.
‘First Elder’s’ arms moved like a blur, her terrifyingly swift reflexes shattering and dispersing the dozens of watery lights.
Then, without hesitation, she took a step forward, instantly closing the distance between them, her slender body incredibly agile, her long legs sweeping out like a battle-axe!
“Such straightforward attacks—”
Mao Ruoyu’s eyes narrowed, and she tapped the ground lightly with her toes, her body also moving swiftly like flowing water.
The two figures darted and chased each other through the secret realm, their battle fierce, Yin techniques colliding and exploding, creating waves of energy, like two phantoms, one red, one blue, intertwining and separating, their intense struggle filling the air with sparks of light.
…
As their palms collided, the resulting shockwave pushed them both back.
Mao Ruoyu stumbled two steps, steadying herself, her right hand aching slightly as she clenched it, but her gaze remained sharp and unwavering, her expression fearless.
But after fighting for a while, she gradually sensed something amiss.
‘First Elder’ seemed to have given up on attacking, lowering her hands and sighing softly.
“What does this mean?” Mao Ruoyu wondered, but she didn’t dare to act rashly.
Although they seemed evenly matched, her attacks hadn’t harmed her opponent at all.
A reckless attack would be pointless.
She had to find a way to break through that strange armor, only then would she have a chance.
“Ant.”
‘First Elder’ suddenly parted her lips slightly, her voice cold and indifferent: “I’m bored now.”
Mao Ruoyu’s expression changed slightly: “What did you—”
But before she could finish, ‘First Elder’ clenched her right hand, and with a metallic clang, a blood-red light flashed, and a sinister, barbed sword, its blade segmented like a snake’s belly, materialized!
The hilt, like a living thing, coiled around her slender arm, purple light flickering within its grooves, every barb and every scale trembling slightly, as if breathing along with ‘First Elder.’
“What is… that?”
A strong sense of unease rose in Mao Ruoyu’s heart, her face turning cold as she channeled her Yin energy, creating a protective barrier of ice crystals around her.
But in an instant, the sword flashed.
“Ugh?!”
Mao Ruoyu’s eyes widened, and she quickly twisted her waist, dodging the sweeping blade, a strand of her gauze robe being severed.
Just as she was about to dodge again, something slimy suddenly wrapped around her ankle, and before she could react, she was yanked, her vision spinning.
“Gah?!” A sharp pain shot through her throat, a muffled moan escaping her lips.
Mao Ruoyu barely managed to open her eyes and saw that ‘First Elder’ had grabbed her by the neck, lifting her into the air.
What… what just happened?
Was it because of that snake-belly sword? Or had she been caught in some kind of illusion?
Her mind racing, Mao Ruoyu gritted her teeth and raised her arms, about to use a technique to resist, when a sharp pain shot through her shoulders, as if some cold liquid had been injected into her body. Glancing sideways, she was horrified to see two small snakes coiling around her neck, biting into her shoulders.
Damn it, her arms were becoming numb and weak—
‘First Elder’s’ face was cold as she tightened her grip, but as if hearing something from afar, her movements suddenly stopped.
After a moment of silence, she raised her left hand and struck Mao Ruoyu’s chest.
“…”
Mao Ruoyu’s eyes widened abruptly, her body tensing and convulsing as if electrocuted, her legs kicking in the air, her toes curling.
For an instant, her ample bosom and buttocks trembled violently, her clothes almost tearing apart, as a powerful surge of Yin energy erupted, transforming into a howling wind, her silver hair flying wildly.
‘First Elder’ withdrew her left hand, about to attack again, when a repulsive force burst from her right hand, breaking free from the restraints.
“Cough!”
Mao Ruoyu endured the pain, her face pale as she stumbled backward, her arms trembling as she raised them, a surge of Yin energy erupting, unleashing a fierce and powerful counterattack!
Facing this ferocious onslaught, ‘First Elder’ simply raised her right hand, the snake-belly sword rematerializing.
“Futile.”
…
After a stick of incense’s worth of time.
The battle in the secret realm had ended.
‘First Elder’ stood unharmed amidst the ruins, her expression as cold and indifferent as ever.
And beside her, a graceful figure was suspended in mid-air, her body entangled by the barbed blades of the sword, like thorns, her single foot dangling weakly.
Her water-colored dress was torn and tattered, white silk barely clinging to her legs, her silver hair, previously tied up with a butterfly ornament, now loose and disheveled, her fair skin covered in bruises, a testament to the ferocity of the battle.
“…”
‘First Elder’ lifted her up, examining her face.
Her previously cold and aloof beauty was now replaced by paleness, her face covered in sweat. Even unconscious, she still looked incredibly pitiful and vulnerable.
Although her current appearance was disheveled, her body twisted into an awkward position by the thorns, one of her legs hanging limply, one couldn’t help but want to hold her gently and comfort her.
After a moment of silence, ‘First Elder’ lowered her eyes slightly and murmured:
“Quite resilient.”
Despite having endured excruciating pain, she hadn’t given up, fighting with all her might until the very end, collapsing only from exhaustion.
—It made her… see her in a new light.
Although pampered and sheltered, she still had a fighting spirit.
“It’s a pity that, despite her fortunate encounters and extraordinary talent, her cultivation is still too shallow.”
First Elder’s true figure appeared amidst the ruins, and with a wave of her sleeve, her clone transformed back into the purple sword, flying into her palm and being swallowed.
“Hu~”
First Elder reached out and caught the falling Mao Ruoyu, looking down at her pained expression, and couldn’t help but chuckle: “Little girl, you have to work harder and make up for your lack of experience and training.
With your talent and cultivation, you’re just wasting your potential, truly a pity.”
“Cough, cough…”
Mao Ruoyu coughed softly, seeming to regain consciousness as she raised her eyelids slightly, her eyes hazy and confused: “First… Elder…?”
“Your recovery rate is truly astonishing.”
First Elder said in admiration: “Perhaps in a while, you’ll be able to awaken your bloodline and learn your Primordial Demon Form, opening the path to the Savage Realm. Once you reach that realm, with your talent, you’ll truly soar.”
Strands of water-colored light flickered around her body, and Mao Ruoyu seemed to regain her usual appearance and aura.
But as she moved slightly, she winced, as if her injuries were acting up: “S-So sore…”
“Just endure it.”
First Elder suddenly asked: “Do you know why Bai Xin resents you so much?”
Mao Ruoyu’s expression changed slightly, and she asked with effort: “W-Why?”
“Among the younger generation, you had the greatest talent, and she was second. Naturally, she was also a frequent visitor to this Profound Image Secret Realm.”
First Elder’s expression turned meaningful: “It was with thoughts of you that she endured those harsh trials here, suffering the same pain as you every day.
She didn’t have the same fortunate encounters as you, meeting Tianlu and others, she could only endure silently until she finally broke through.
Perhaps, in her eyes, it was because you left Lunar Valley for no reason that she had to endure those trials and tribulations.”
“…”
Mao Ruoyu’s face turned even paler, and she bit her lip, trembling slightly, remaining silent.
“Of course, she’s grown up now, she won’t blame you directly. But when she met you again, she must have felt quite bitter and conflicted.”
“I… was too selfish back then.”
“There’s no need for regrets now.”
First Elder chuckled: “Just work harder in the future and impress me. At least act like a proper senior sister and make that Bai Xin girl feel better.”
Mao Ruoyu gasped softly and nodded slightly.
But she quickly steadied her breathing and whispered hoarsely: “The clone you used just now, First Elder… wasn’t just an illusion.”
“Indeed.”
First Elder raised an eyebrow slightly: “It’s a secret technique I cultivated after breaking through the Savage Realm, a manifestation of my sacred weapon, also a fragment of my soul.”
“So…”
Mao Ruoyu forced a smile, her eyes half-closed, and teased: “Those words you said just now… were they your true feelings?”
“…”
First Elder was momentarily speechless, her eye twitching slightly.
“It seems… I was right.” Mao Ruoyu smiled weakly: “I didn’t expect you to feel that way about my husband, First Elder, it’s quite surprising.”
“That was just… my other half talking nonsense.”
First Elder snorted softly: “If you say anything more, I’ll make you suffer again.”
Saying this, she leaped into the air, dispersing the mist, and quickly arrived at a green pond in the distance.
Mao Ruoyu looked back with some effort: “This is…”
“A spiritual spring for refining the body and soul.” First Elder said casually: “But you already possess extraordinary talent and a strong foundation, there’s no need for the spring’s power, you just lack an opportunity.
I’m just letting you soak in the spring to nourish your body and heal your injuries.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she casually tossed Mao Ruoyu towards the pond.
Mao Ruoyu cried out in surprise, falling into the water, and then quickly resurfaced.
“Hiss—”
But just as she was about to complain, she felt a cool and comfortable sensation spreading through her body, the soreness and pain gradually subsiding.
“Do you know why I’m in charge of your training today, instead of Jingyun?”
First Elder leaned over the pond with a smile, her hands behind her back: “Jingyun would never make you suffer like this. If she were here, you two would probably be sitting in the pavilion, sipping tea and chatting, instead of cultivating.”
Mao Ruoyu chuckled softly.
She couldn’t argue with that.
“As for today’s training, feel free to tell Jingyun and Tianlu.”
First Elder touched her lips, a mischievous and sinister smile appearing on her face: “I’d like to see their reactions after I ‘bullied’ their precious wife and daughter.”
……
……
The afternoon sun was bright and warm.
And in the quiet and serene courtyard, a series of slapping sounds suddenly echoed, as if soft flesh was being struck.
Looking closely, two figures could be seen in the corridor.
—Slap, slap!
First Elder, usually so arrogant and haughty, was now lying face down on a long chair in the corridor, her body trembling slightly, soft moans escaping her lips with each strike of the wooden ruler, a seductive sound.
“Mmm, mmm…”
First Elder buried her face in her arms, her cheeks flushed, her heart pounding, an indescribable shame and humiliation washing over her.
But feeling the burning gaze behind her, even though she almost cried out several times, she bit her lip and suppressed it, unwilling to lose any more face. Recalling her arrogant words from before, and thinking about her current state, she was truly—
After about a stick of incense’s worth of time, the relentless beating finally stopped.
“Ha… ha…”
First Elder almost collapsed, her eyes shimmering with tears, her face flushed, her body weak as she rolled over, glancing at the ruler with lingering fear.
Then, she looked back at him with a shy yet annoyed expression: “Are you… satisfied now?”
Lin Tianlu’s expression was serious as he looked down at her: “Will you dare to act recklessly again?”
He had just left the divine island secret realm when he sensed his wife’s unstable aura and rushed to her rescue.
This sudden incident, even after hearing the explanation, still angered him, annoyed that she had acted so recklessly, disregarding her own safety.
Feeling the burning pain on her buttocks, First Elder shyly averted her gaze, her voice barely a whisper: “N-No, I won’t.”
“Will you still try to bully our disciples?”
“I won’t be so… rough again.”
“It’s good that you’ve reflected on your actions.”
Lin Tianlu sighed helplessly, his rare anger subsiding.
He helped her up from the long chair: “Although the Valley Master’s suggestion was a bit embarrassing, I hope this small punishment will teach you a lesson, First Elder.”
First Elder’s face was flushed crimson, her body weak and limp. Just as she was being helped up, a sharp pain shot through her buttocks, almost making her cry out. She could only glare at him, her eyes filled with tears, silently expressing her anger and shame.
It was just an ordinary wooden ruler, how could it… Her buttocks were swollen and throbbing with a numb pain!
“Actually, if you want to improve your cultivation, I can help, there’s no need for such harsh methods.”
“It’s not… that simple.”
First Elder bit her lip and whispered: “Before the Savage Realm, perhaps one can still rely on accumulating Yin energy, but after that, it’s much more difficult.”
“How would you know without trying? However—”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned serious again: “First Elder, summon your ‘other half’ first.”
“My… other half?”
First Elder was stunned for a moment.
Then, she shuddered and retreated slightly, asking anxiously: “What are you planning to do?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t resort to violence again. A gentleman knows when to stop. But—”
Lin Tianlu waved his sleeve and said seriously:
“I need to give your ‘other half’ a proper lecture on the twenty-four volumes of the current imperial law! If she can’t recite it from beginning to end ten times, she’s not going anywhere today!”
“…”
First Elder’s expression froze, her heart skipping a beat, and she looked towards the pavilion in the courtyard, trembling slightly.
The Valley Master and Mao Ruoyu were sitting there, enjoying tea and chatting, the Valley Master also healing Mao Ruoyu’s minor injuries.
As if sensing her pleading gaze, they both looked over.
Mao Ruoyu stuck her tongue out slightly, shrugging her shoulders with a faint, awkward smile, expressing her helplessness.
She wouldn’t interrupt her husband when he was rarely angry. Besides, although his actions were a bit unusual, his concern and protectiveness made her heart feel a sweet warmth.
And the Valley Master simply smiled gently, raising her cup in a toast from afar: “Wulei, this is a rare opportunity, you should learn from it.”
First Elder: “…”
