Chapter 66 deals with Zhou Fuling of the Yun Si Tribe, inheriting the thirteenth generation of the Yun Ning Sect...
...What? "Adopted daughter"? Yun Ning and his fellow cultivators were completely bewildered.
Could this Ling Xiu also be one of Zou Lanci's people?
Then why did she fight with Ning Chengshan like this? And when did Zou Lanci have such an adopted daughter? Why have I never heard of her?
"What do you mean by 'adopted daughter'?" A soft laugh drifted over from afar. "It's just that we were kind-hearted and once found a little girl, raised her in the mortal realm, and taught her to be a demon hunter. We took care of her together for a while."
The one who stepped forward was Kuang Yunchu. Behind him followed people from the Fanyu Mountain Gate, supported by the Mountain Master Miao.
She was dressed in a green robe, her beauty was unparalleled, and her smile was radiant.
"Speaking of which, Grandmaster Ning Tingyue once taught her kung fu. Out of gratitude, she called us 'Mother' and 'Father' once. Now that the child is grown up, I wonder what she's thinking."
Everyone suddenly realized what was happening, but they weren't surprised.
Shu Minglian is one of them.
But he was dumbfounded, thinking:
"Both Zou Lanci and Kuang Yunchu are foster mothers. What is their background? How did they get here? And are they related to the former sect leader?"
When Zou Lanci saw Kuang Yunchu come out, she secretly clenched her left fist and sneered inwardly: "As expected, it was Kuang Yunchu who plotted this, carrying Zhou Fuling in a sedan chair. It's also helping her to distance herself from Zhongzhou."
The tension between the two was palpable.
Zhou Fuling, however, said with her hands behind her back, "But now, I can no longer call you both 'mothers'."
She stood with her hands behind her back, glancing left and right, and whispered,
“I once entered the demon land to cultivate and experiment with the evil methods of demon-slaying. I was worried about my life and death and feared that my unstable state of mind would implicate you two. After discussing it with you two, I made a spiritual oath that I would never call you ‘Mother’ again. But in my eyes, you two are just like my teachers, like the Fire-Singing Immortal Master. You are my guides.”
Zou Lanci and Kuang Yunchu were both taken aback when they heard Zhou Fuling say such a thing.
Now, one of them is afraid that Zhou Fuling will reveal the matter of the demonic energy, and the other wants to use Zhou Fuling's power to rule the Southern Territory.
However, Zhou Fuling made such a statement.
Firstly, this would completely absolve her of any responsibility as mother and daughter, preventing the Southern Territory from losing ground in terms of morality and ethics. Secondly, it would prevent Zou Lanci and Kuang Yunchu from publicly confronting her about fabricating the spiritual oath.
After all, if they were to delve deeper, it would inevitably involve what happened at midnight in the ravine back then, and they dared not take the risk.
Secondly, and most importantly, now that Zhou Fuling has mentioned demonic magic, they will probably find it difficult to use it again in the future!
Then Xu Qingning said, "Junior sister, you should restore Zhou Fuling's identity from now on. It will be easier to do things now."
...Wait, Zhou... Zhou Fuling?!
Xu Qingning's words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, startling everyone present.
The four groups of people were all shocked and in an uproar.
It's just because Zhou Fuling's name is actually quite famous in Nanzhou.
Although she had no cultivation, her name frequently appeared in Yun Ning's tabloids and was a popular topic of conversation in teahouses and taverns.
The story is often mentioned about Zhou Fuling saving Xu Qingning, who then took her back to Tianji Sect and made her his junior sister, showering her with affection. There are also stories about Zhou Fuling trying to overestimate her abilities and interfere in the marriage between the two continents. There are even exaggerated headlines such as "Orphan Girl Saves Jade Boy in the Cold Forest, Beloved Beauty on Tianji Peak."
After all, the experiences of Zhou Fuling and Xu Qingning—the love-hate relationship between a lowly junior sister with no cultivation and a powerful young sect leader—can attract public interest anywhere.
Ling Fu: "Ahhh?"
Ling Fu had also read many of Xu Qingning and Zhou Fuling's storybooks.
Many people at the bottom of society like to see a story of a junior sister saving her senior brother and then being pampered by him, but why is it going in this direction?
Some people, who dislike gossip, asked in a low voice, "Who is Zhou Fuling?"
Another person replied, "That junior sister from Tianji Sect, she's so famous, but rumors say she has no cultivation and is penniless. She insisted that the young sect leader make her his Daoist partner. Our Elder Ning Chengsong once tried to stand up for the young lady and tell Zhou Fuling to stop interfering, but he was kicked out of Tianji Sect by Xu Qingning!"
"Ahhh, I remember now, it's her!"
Ning Chengsong was stunned and speechless upon hearing this.
What, what... The person who won the competition was Zhou, Zhou Fuling?!
Ning Chenghan took a step back, nearly fainting, but his complexion was different from that of the others.
Is it her? Is it really her? Ning Chenghan stared at Zhou Fuling, murmuring to himself. Did she kill Tingyue?
But because of their past relationship and because of the two men vouching for her, she couldn't say anything.
Ning Chenghan felt a chill of fear. Fortunately, Song Huo had made the vow. But could this wicked child truly rule Yun Ning, or had she simply changed a lot in the past century?
Song Huo, Yu Shi, and the others were also extremely astonished. They had heard other things about Zhou Fuling, but for a different reason. Previously, Yun Ning had issued a warrant for Zhou Fuling's arrest because of rumors... she had killed the former sect leader and Zou Li.
An elder stammered, "Isn't it said that she killed the former sect leader's men?"
He spoke very softly, but was immediately silenced when someone slapped him hard on the neck.
Xu Qingning had already come up with a solution and readily agreed, saying, "It's just a misunderstanding. Xiaoling was unable to recognize her two mothers before, which led to some misunderstandings."
Another elder said, "Didn't you say that you also hunted her down?"
Xu Qingning remained expressionless: "It's to protect her."
Zhou Fuling, also carrying the "Leaping Gold" on her back, said with her hands behind her back, "I am Zhou Fuling. There were many misunderstandings and hidden reasons before. I hope you will forgive me."
An uproar ensued.
But that's really the only way.
Many things now make sense.
Only "that junior sister" could possibly provoke the young master of Dongzhou, Xu Qingning, to take action.
Why did that happen before?
Many people who only had a vague understanding of the matter, such as Yu Shi, suddenly realized and made their own guesses.
The battle between the Central Continent and the Eastern Continent was fierce, and Zhou Fuling was used as a target in the struggle.
For reasons unknown to others, she fell out with Zou Lanci and others, and was therefore hunted down.
His becoming the sect leader this time is probably a decisive move to reshuffle the deck from the brink of defeat.
That's a brilliant idea!
Kuang Yunchu smiled, but thought to himself:
"If Xu Qingning says so, it will be difficult to make trouble over Dongzhou's affairs in the future. Even if we want to make trouble, we must do our homework."
"However, she killed Zou Lanci's son, and the two of them are now locked in a fierce battle."
Zou Lanci clenched his left hand into a fist, remaining silent.
Ning Chengshan, standing to the side, wanted to shout, "She...she's one of your people! Zou Lanci...are you trying to kick me while I'm down?"
However, her spiritual veins were held captive by the Serpent Master, rendering her speechless.
Kuang Yunchu asked, "Now that the martial arts competition is over, are there still any divine trials in the four arts of the Cloud Candle Tower competition that you haven't passed yet?"
Master Song Huo frowned and said, "The divine technique may not exist."
The Cloud Candle Tower Grand Competition has not seen a divine decision for many years.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the Fire Immortal finished speaking, the Vermilion Bird breathed fire, and the flames burned fiercely, with dazzling seven-colored light.
It was actually Liang Huo Shen Jue!
The reason everyone was so surprised was that Yun Ning's four tests were divided into wisdom, strategy, martial arts, and divine judgment.
For hundreds of years, divine techniques have almost never appeared. And these divine techniques are related to the Liang Huo lineage.
Liang Huo once set up an array to observe the heavenly way; only those who passed through it could be considered to have passed the divine test.
The candlelight suddenly blazed brightly, like a flock of birds fluttering over pearls, flying to Zhou Fuling's side.
A fire ignited in front of Zhou Fuling.
"The divine incantation has been completed!"
Therefore, it is a foregone conclusion that Zhou Fuling will become the thirteenth sect leader.
The atmosphere was solemn, and no one expected that Zhou Fuling would be the thirteenth generation sect leader of the Yun Ning Sect.
-
a little.
Ning Chenghan: "Zhou Fuling of the Yun Si Division has passed four trials in a row. Now, by the Holy Decree of the Sect Master, she has been appointed as the thirteenth generation Sect Master of Yun Ning. All cultivators of the four divisions of the Southern Continent bow down in respect. Congratulations!"
Ning Chenghan fell silent after thinking for a while, his mind unsettled.
Song Huo clapped his hands, both happy and worried.
He was pleased that Zhou Fuling, whom he had chosen, had won, but he was also worried that the forces behind her were too complicated.
Master Long held Master Songhuo's hand and whispered, "I was wondering before why she had such powerful skills and strategies."
"But now that I think about it, if I hadn't been taught by people like Immortal Zou and Lord Kuang, how could I have achieved this? This is what they mean by fortune and misfortune being intertwined. Don't worry."
Master Song Huo said, "Yes, yes. Once a move is made, there's no going back... I hope there's no going back."
In the third part, Liu Wuxing wakes up and tremblingly bows, saying, "Congratulations, Sect Master!"
The cultivators from the five minor military units, including Shu Minglian and Huo Yue, were all beaming with joy.
Only they themselves know how this unexpected turn of events led to their decision to "light a cold stove" (a metaphor for a temporary, albeit unexpected, opportunity).
They never expected that it would actually burn!
Huo Yue said, "I'm afraid that in the future, we will become the confidants of this new sect leader."
Shu Minglian said, "Yes! It's not that Heaven didn't forsake our Five Minor Armies; our situation has changed drastically overnight!"
The cultivators from the five minor military units also knelt down: "Our hearts and our will are forever with our sect leader!"
In the fourth part, Minister Liang slowly regained consciousness, still dizzy from his injuries. Qing Hu Yue woke up first, already dumbfounded, and grabbed Minister Liang's hand, saying:
"Master, Junior Sister Ling Fu has become the sect leader!"
Liang Bucheng dismissed it as a dream, as if Qinghu Yue had some lingering effects, shaking his head and asking, "What?"
Master Miao said happily, "What are you sitting there like an idiot for? It's true! During the reign of Sect Master Zhou, according to the Yun Ning Sect's rules, the allocation of resources will be based on the rankings of this competition. From now on, the official allocation will be first chosen by our Yun Si Sect. How about it? Is that alright?"
Miao Shanzhu was smug. She had brought Zhou Fuling to Yunzhu Tower this time, hoping that Minister Liang would say a few nice words to make her laugh.
Liang Bucheng felt dizzy. He had just woken up from his serious injuries and was completely bewildered by the current changes, unable to react at all.
The cultivators found it hard to believe. This was because for the past few hundred years, the fourth part had always been at the bottom, picking up scraps from the other three parts, and was the target of bullying from the other parts.
But now... no matter where the sect leader comes from, he is from their fourth division!
This is the first time in thousands of years!
Overwhelmed with joy, everyone felt dizzy and, after their initial elation, the cultivators of the Fourth Division cheered:
"Yun Si! Yun Si!"
Zhou Fuling was still on the stage, so the crowd couldn't lift her up to celebrate. Liang Bucheng and Qing Huyue were also seriously injured, so they couldn't be thrown up either. Instead, they simply threw up their swords, creating a lively and joyous atmosphere.
"The sect leader is still here. The sect leader is still here."
Zhou Fuling looked down at all of this without saying a word.
He then took the proclamation from Ning Chenghan, ascended to the position of sect leader, and sat down.
The crowd bowed and said, "Long live Sect Leader Zhou! May Sect Leader Zhou live a long life!"
Only the second part is completely silent.
Ning Hong was still being suppressed by Zou Lanci's Tiger Master. Ning Bai was in the hands of the Eastern Continent cultivators.
But then Xu Qingning turned around and glanced back. The Eastern Continent cultivator understood and gradually loosened his grip.
Ning Bai didn't see Xu Qingning's meaningful look and simply said, "Alright, the people of Dongzhou were careless. This is our only chance!"
Ning Bai suddenly sprang up, intending to attack Qing Huyue on the back of the head and seize her to threaten her.
A surge of spiritual energy emanated from the sect leader's high seat, causing the earth pillars to tremble.
He tried to retaliate, but instantly coughed up blood and couldn't muster any strength, as Zhou Fuling suppressed him fiercely from a distance.
It turns out that this was because Ning Bai had been tricked by Xu Qingning into making a rash oath—a vow not to harm Zhou Fuling.
At this moment, the curse took effect, and Ning Bai was hit by the backlash, so painful that he knelt on the ground.
The cultivators of the fourth division tied him up with the Immortal Binding Rope and kicked him hard.
"Zhou Fuling, Zhou Fu—"
The crowd gagged him.
The young master in the second part is in such a sorry state, it's shocking.
Zhou Fuling said, "Young Master Ning Bai's actions remind me that there are some things that need to be dealt with. However, now that the overall situation is settled, let's take it one step at a time."
She added, "The fourth part is for the winner. All participants will enter the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion today and may choose one miraculous elixir."
The participants were Liang Bucheng and Qinghu Yue.
Tianbao Pavilion is Yun Ning's treasure trove. In the past, after each victory, one could go in and make selections, but it was always the sect leader who decided who went in and when.
Qinghu Yue and Liang Bucheng exchanged a glance, both feeling pleasantly surprised.
Zhou Fuling is about to elevate Qinghu Yue to the second rank!
Zhou Fuling then named some other naturally gifted individuals and designated the recipients of their gifts.
"Zhong Sixin is granted the Immortal Orchid Pill; Lü Shoude is granted the Fire Spirit Stone."
The cultivators of the Fourth Division were pleasantly surprised to find that the materials Zhou Fuling had reported were the same breakthrough materials that Ning Hong had threatened them with when they confronted each other in the mountains before the Cloud Candle Tower competition.
On that day, Ning Hong revealed these resources in order to make the Fourth Division obey. Although no one paid attention to her, all the cultivators were troubled by these resources.
Most of them were only missing this one thing that Zhou Fuling mentioned to break through their limitations.
Now that I have received this gift, I am overjoyed!
"The first part includes the Fire-Singing Immortal Master, the Dragon Master, the Elder of the Sealing Sect, and the Beam-Raising Fire Stone."
According to Yun Ning's rules, only elders who have made significant contributions to a sect can have their names engraved on Liang Huoshi's tablet; only the sect leader can do so.
But now that Zhou Fuling is the sect leader, the third and fourth divisions listen to her, and the people in the first division don't want to offend the two immortal masters of the main division, so they don't dare to say anything against the rules.
The Fire Immortal and the Dragon Master were overjoyed to have such a pleasant surprise so soon after Zhou Fuling took office.
Zhou Fuling continued, “In the third division, Zhong Dashan is no longer capable of handling important responsibilities. Huo Yue, the commander of the Fifth Army, must take over his position as a fourth-rank inspector (similar to a deputy minister) to assist Liu Wuxing, the minister, and Shu Minglian, the captain, in stabilizing the Yunsan Division.”
Liu Wuxing was drenched in cold sweat, his eyes darting around, but he could only bow and obey the order.
No, no, the new sect leader is promoting Huo Yue!
In this way, both of his deputies are from the five minor military departments, and they can jointly veto his decisions in the future... Liu Wuxing's eyes darted around.
The new sect leader has already sidelined him with the five minor military commands as soon as he took office!
Shu Minglian and Huo Yue both understood Zhou Fuling's deeper meaning, and with smiles on their faces, they bowed and obeyed.
Zhou Fuling turned back: "As for the second part about demon refining, he must be severely punished. Ning Chengshan's cultivation technique should be crippled, his hands and feet cut off, and he should be imprisoned in the Cold Prison, where I will personally set up a barrier to guard him. As for Ning Hong and Ning Bai..."
The second part erupts in a bloodcurdling scream, like the mournful cry of monkeys scattering before a tree falls.
Zhou Fuling remained unaffected: "The two of you can no longer hold the second-level immortal positions. The mother's sins are atoned for by the son, and the two of you should also have your cultivation methods abolished. As for how to deal with it, I will think about it some more."
Ning Hong screamed in despair: "No!!"
She was already seriously injured, and when she fell to the ground, she coughed up blood.
The proud daughter of heaven fell in a single night.
They were full of ambition before participating in the competition, but they never expected to end up like this.
Those cultivators in the second part who still wanted to resist were surrounded, tied up, thrown to the ground, and had their pressure points sealed, leaving them powerless to fight back.
Zhou Fuling: "Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. Regarding the handling of Ning Bai, I would like to ask someone who has been kind to me. Would that be alright? This cultivator also made a great contribution to my discovery that Ning Chengshan's family practiced demonic arts."
"Gratitude"...actually, gratitude is secondary.
Zhou Fuling knew that the other party would definitely not let Ning Bai go, and Zhou Fuling also wanted to watch the show, so she said that.
As for Zhou Fuling, the new sect leader, she was trusted by all three departments, and no one dared to raise any objections.
Shu Minglian sighed, "Who is it that has performed such a great service? They should certainly be rewarded."
Zhou Fuling said, "This cultivator once used my identity to investigate the aura of the evil earth demon. She is none other than Shui Zhilingfu from the second part. She was once forced to be Ning Bai's furnace cauldron and suffered a lot of bullying."
She raised her hand, pointing to a dusty-faced maid. She had a refined air about her, but wasn't particularly noticeable.
No one expected that Zhou Fuling was referring to such a person.
Qing Huyue, Liang Bucheng, and the others were all dumbfounded. Qing Huyue: "Ling Fu? Your name is Ling Fu?!"
“…Huh?” Ling Fu looked up, speechless.
Actually, before Zhou Fuling mentioned her name, she hadn't realized she was being referred to. After all, she had always been an insignificant nobody.
But now...
All eyes were on her.
And she... possessed, possessed the power to dispose of Ning Bai!
Is this true?
Ling Fu's mind was buzzing, and she dared not meet the eyes of the crowd.
His breathing trembled uncontrollably, and he could only stand steadily by opening and closing his fingers.
Suddenly, she saw Ning Bai's eyes.
Ning Bai was tied up in front of the cultivators of the Fourth Division, looking disheveled, and staring at her with wide eyes.
He couldn't understand it—she was Ling Fu, the plaything that the eldest son had given him, the person he considered an ant, standing here.
His eyes were filled with astonishment, and his breathing trembled.
Simply because she stood there, deciding his life or death.
For the first time, Ling Fu felt that Ning Bai truly saw her. He saw her for who she really was.
She felt a fleeting sense of pleasure, but it vanished in an instant.
What came to mind was the news of the death of my older sister from the same village who had been sent to be a furnace cauldron. She was just one of many dead souls!
Ling Fu raised her hand, pointed at Ning Bai's eyes, and said resolutely, "...castrate him!"
Zhou Fuling nodded.
Ling Fu certainly didn't disappoint her.
Zhou Fuling said, "Alright, then castrate him. After that, send Ning Bai to the second department's repair workshop as a furnace cauldron. Ling Fu will then manage this repair workshop."
Ling Fu: "…………"
She never imagined that just a few days ago, she would encounter such a situation after simply meeting someone on the road.
She took a step back, her breath trembling, and finally said in a deep voice, "Yes."
Zhou Fuling then looked at Guan Ge: "Also, the Xu family's betrothed will probably have to be changed. I will select someone to invite to Yun Ning to discuss this further."
Master Xu and the others had no objections. If Ning Chengshan's family were to refine demons in the second part, then this marriage agreement would naturally not need to involve Zou Lanci and would be invalid.
Zhou Fuling's ruthless treatment of Ning Bai shocked everyone present.
Many of the male cultivators turned pale.
Upon hearing this, Ning Bai was stunned for a full ten breaths.
Suddenly, like a wild beast, it struggled with red eyes, seemingly cursing, then it seemed to be arguing, but no one could hear it clearly.
Finally, his head was stepped on, and he let out a dying scream.
Xu Duanwu leaned against the railing of the pavilion and, seeing Ning Bai's miserable state, covered his mouth and stared wide-eyed.
The sky has fallen!
...Yeah, right!
Her fiancé is finally going to change! Heaven has finally opened its eyes!
Xu Duanwu felt a surge of joy that almost made him faint.
Zhou Fuling: "As for Ning Hong, she will be demoted to a mute servant. Senior Sister Qinghu Yue from the Fourth Division has a medicinal herb garden. Ning Hong can go to that garden to become a medicine slave."
Qinghu Yue suddenly raised her eyes, a light shining in them.
She was stunned for a long time before she murmured, "Great! From now on, I can... I can avenge Senior Sister! A thousand times, a hundred times, I can repay Ning Hong! Great! Great!"
She laughed twice, but the laughter gradually turned desolate, for the deceased was gone.
-
Not long after.
The group walked out of the Cloud Candle Tower.
Screams echoed beneath the Cloud Candle Pagoda.
Zhou Fuling was worried that things might change if she waited too long, so she ordered everyone in the second part to be executed immediately.
Ning Chengshan's faction was driven to the execution platform under the Cloud Candle Tower.
Ning Chengshan was tortured, his hands and feet were cut off, and he was imprisoned at the bottom of the tower.
Ning Bai and Ning Hong both had their internal energy crippled.
One person was castrated, another had their tongue cut out (Zhou Fuling didn't want to hear her curse), and both were demoted to drug slaves.
Ning Hong was tied up and thrown to Qinghu Yue.
Qinghu Yue had someone bring Ning Hong into her carriage.
Soon after, everyone heard a shrill, muffled scream.
Qinghu Yuebu dismounted from the carriage, knelt down in front of Zhou Fuling, and kowtowed.
Xu Qingning walked towards the wind, holding the Changming Sword in her hand, her long sleeves fluttering in the wind, her eyes clear and bright as she looked at Zhou Fuling.
But the system's voice could be heard:
[Congratulations, host! You have successfully assisted the villain in completing the "Conquest of the Cloud Candle Tower". Due to your excellent performance, the villain's favorability has increased by 30%.]
[Villain's favorability rating is 50% (destined to be together forever), congratulations!]
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