After Transmigrating as a Wealthy Woman: Don’t You Dare Touch My Baby! [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 96

The spiritual pressure of the Deity Transformation Stage made the Nascent Soul experts feel a hint of strain. However, the allure of a Phoenix far outweighed this minor intimidation. After countless cultivators rushed forward only to be swatted away by Zhong Ying, the mob gradually halted their assault.

It wasn’t that the various sects lacked powerhouses; rather, those who had reached the Deity Transformation stage or higher had largely withdrawn from the mortal world. Most remained sequestered in deep forests and ancient mountains to focus on their own cultivation, having no time to meddle in the trivial affairs of their sects.

Consequently, as things stood, not a single cultivator present could defeat Zhong Ying in a one-on-one duel. As for a collective attack? The Hehuan Sect (Acacia Sect) had plenty of disciples of its own.

Initially, this journey to forcibly seize the Phoenix was already a dishonorable affair; now, they had been caught completely off guard. Who could have imagined that Zhong Ying, who was only at the Nascent Soul stage a few days ago, had already ascended to the Deity Transformation stage?

“We are leaving!” the Yunlai Immortal Sect and the Wind-Evil Demon Sect were the first to retreat. The smaller sects tethered to them followed suit quickly. Limping and supporting one another’s wounded bodies, the cultivators shuffled away from the Hehuan Sect.

“You from the Qinghe Immortal Sect, do you still intend to stay?” the Sect Leader of Hehuan barked.

The Qinghe Immortal Sect was second in strength only to the Yunlai Sect. However, unlike Yunlai, they had brought sufficient manpower and seemingly had no intention of departing.

“Can a mere Sect Leader of the lowly Hehuan Sect be so arrogant?” A figure drifted from the distant mists, riding a flying sword. He was shrouded in a radiant glow, and the aura swirling around him signaled that he was no ordinary practitioner.

If Zhong Ying was like a sudden hillock rising from the cultivation world, the cultivator before them was an immovable mountain.

“This is bad,” the Hehuan Sect Leader’s expression tightened. “Who is this senior…?”

Before the man could answer, Chi Lian narrowed her eyes. “That old scoundrel, Qinghe-zi.”

The Hehuan Sect Leader was stunned. Qinghe-zi? How many years had it been since that name was prominent? He was a patriarchal figure from the founding generation of the Qinghe Immortal Sect—what was he doing here?

“Even I have died and come back, yet this fellow is still skimping along in the cultivation world. What a waste,” Chi Lian muttered disdainfully. She then looked toward her disciple. “Disciple, this guy is very difficult to deal with.”

Chi Lian felt a bit frustrated. They were all from the same era; back then, Qinghe-zi’s talent wasn’t even enough to make him a sidekick for her or Bei Meng. Now, she and Bei Meng had returned through possession as minor Nascent Soul cultivators, while the Qinghe-zi of old had become a renowned “old monster” of this world.

Zhong Ying looked up. Qinghe-zi possessed a handsome face, though his shoulders were draped in silver hair. He showed no signs of aging; at first glance, one might mistake him for a young cultivator in his prime, provided his white hair was ignored.

Even Zhu Xingtong grabbed Zhong Ying. “Cub, this guy is strong.”

Zhu Xingtong was bewildered. In the original plot, Qinghe-zi was the ultimate boss the protagonist encountered in the cultivation world. Despite his youthful appearance, he was ancient. Having cultivated for centuries without ever touching the threshold of Ascension, his time was running out. His skin had begun to wrinkle and his hair had turned white; sometimes, he didn’t even dare look at his own reflection.

Once, Qinghe-zi was a dashing young man who took the cultivation world by storm. Now, he could only rely on his spiritual energy to forcefully maintain the facade of his face. He knew that only Ascension could save him. But after centuries of failing to grasp that shred of destiny, he understood that he was likely fated never to ascend.

Just as he was drowning in despair, he heard the cry of a Phoenix coming from the Hehuan Sect. He knew his opportunity had arrived.

“Rumor has it that the Phoenix is a divine beast, born with the bloodline of a demi-god, immortal and undying. Hehehe—I wonder what Phoenix blood tastes like. Can it truly grant eternal life?” His sharp eyes locked onto the girl behind Zhong Ying, his greed unconcealed.

“Disciple, take the little Phoenix and go first.” Chi Lian placed a hand on Zhong Ying’s shoulder. “I know exactly what Qinghe-zi is made of. You are no match for him right now. But as for me… if I risk it all, I can still fight him.”

“I can help as well,” added Immortal Bei Meng, who appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

Zhu Xingtong pursed her lips. “By ‘helping,’ do you both mean shattering your physical bodies and fighting with your souls?”

Chi Lian froze. “You…”

Zhu Xingtong blinked at her. “I was there when the Divine Phoenix Mother blasted you two into nothingness.”

Chi Lian stumbled back several steps in horror. “You are the daughter of the God of the Four Directions!”

Zhu Xingtong nodded.

“Hahahaha! Qinghe-zi, you really have no luck! Do you know who this little one you’ve set your sights on is? She is the daughter of the God of the Four Directions! I dare you to touch her!” Chi Lian’s attitude shifted instantly into absurdity as she laughed with her hands on her hips.

The God of the Four Directions? That was a True God. To such a being, Ascended ones were nothing; they couldn’t even withstand a single breath of divine fire before being burnt to a crisp. And this Qinghe-zi actually wanted to harm the God’s daughter!

Qinghe-zi frowned. “Which junior is this, speaking so rudely to me?” He cast a glance at Chi Lian, his eyes carrying the weight of soul suppression.

However, Bei Meng stepped forward, neutralizing the intimidating gaze. She was completely unharmed.

How? Qinghe-zi was baffled. How could his soul suppression—the power of one near Ascension—have no effect on this cultivator?

“Junior, who are you?”

“‘Junior’ this, ‘junior’ that—you speak too much. Have you forgotten the time your unlucky Master brought you to the Wind-Evil Demon Sect to be my errand boy, only for me to reject you flatly?” Chi Lian did not fear him. At worst, her physical body would die again. Once the body was gone, she could use the strength of her soul to beat Qinghe-zi into the dirt!

Qinghe-zi’s pupils contracted. “Chi Lian…” He then looked at Bei Meng. “Then you are…”

Immortal Bei Meng gave a reserved salute. “I am Bei Meng.”

“Hahahaha! The two ‘Heaven-Blessed’ ones of the cultivation world? What happened here? Rebirth through possession? Wasn’t it said you ascended to the Upper Realm? So, Ascension was just an illusion? You possessed others long ago just to linger in this world?” Qinghe-zi laughed instantly.

He knew about rebirth through possession. No matter how strong Chi Lian and Bei Meng were back then, they were now merely reborn. They were no longer his match!

With that thought, Qinghe-zi acted. Today, the Phoenix blood would be his!

He dove forward, reaching Zhong Ying in an instant. His fingers curved into a claw as he lunged for the girl who had transformed from the Phoenix. Zhong Ying reacted with lightning speed, striking Qinghe-zi’s hand away and shielding Zhu Xingtong as they retreated.

A scorched smell wafted from Zhong Ying’s hand. Just a brief touch of Qinghe-zi had burnt her skin.

“Cub!” Zhu Xingtong cried out.

“I’m fine.” Zhong Ying calmly pulled spirit stones from her spatial bag and began to crunch on them in front of Qinghe-zi. “No one shall harm you… go to my Master’s side.”

This time, Zhu Xingtong did not insist on staying. She nodded and said, “Alright.”

“Heh, a little Deity Transformation cultivator has the nerve to face me? You have courage, but it is useless. Today, this Phoenix belongs to me!” Qinghe-zi attacked again.

Things were getting tricky. Zhong Ying retreated while consuming spirit stones. Internally, she summoned the system and activated the ‘Attribute Slot Machine,’ landing an ‘Attack Power +100%’ buff. She also purchased several instant-boost potions from the system shop and gulped them down.

Her entire being radiated a powerful aura as she charged forward. If she could land just one punch on Qinghe-zi, she was confident she could settle this! The difficulty, however, lay in landing that single blow.

How terrifying was a cultivator near the Ascension stage? Their movement left only afterimages; without sufficient visual acuity, one couldn’t even track the blur. But Zhong Ying, fueled by various potions, was not to be outdone—she could actually keep up!

Silver and golden lights clashed repeatedly in mid-air as two blurs engaged in a fierce melee.

Chi Lian took a deep breath. “I’m going to help my disciple.”

Bei Meng frowned and held her back. “If your physical body is destroyed again, your soul will be severely damaged. Why are you so determined to help her?”

Chi Lian pouted. “Back then, the elders of the sect treated me the same way; I remember their kindness. I can’t be the first to run when my own disciple is in danger. I thought I’d see the God of the Four Directions descend to punish Qinghe-zi, but the gods of the Empyrean Realm cannot descend at will. So, I will settle this myself!”

Bei Meng watched her rush out. After a moment of hesitation, she followed.

Suddenly, both Chi Lian and Bei Meng were caught by a rope and yanked back. They turned to see the little Phoenix holding the line.

“Little Phoenix, you…”

Zhu Xingtong blinked. “What? You don’t need to step in. My Cub can win.”

The two looked ahead and saw that Zhong Ying was indeed holding her own. She wasn’t just holding her own—she was actually beating Qinghe-zi! Chi Lian rubbed her eyes, and Bei Meng found it hard to believe. “How… how is this possible?”

It was simple: once Qinghe-zi was hit by one of Zhong Ying’s punches, his “defense” was shattered. For a cultivator, breaking through their spiritual defense meant the damage they received would double. Having ascended to the Deity Transformation stage and supplemented by spirit stones, Zhong Ying only grew stronger as the battle progressed. If the opportunity was right, she might even break through to the Body Integration Stage.

In the heat of battle, Qinghe-zi realized something was wrong. He had been careless. This junior, who could crunch spirit stones, was not some simple thing he could poke to death with one finger. Moreover, she seemed to be getting stronger?

Suddenly, a fist appeared before him, slamming heavily into his cheek. Qinghe-zi was knocked back several steps, and blood finally appeared on his face. That punch had shattered the face he had worked so hard to restore.

“You…” Qinghe-zi’s eyes turned red. “Do you know how much effort I spent… how much effort it took to make this face look normal again?!”

Zhong Ying looked at him coldly. “Even after restoration, I don’t think it looks that good.”

Why would a man care so much about his looks? Though she understood that it wasn’t just about his face; deeper down, he couldn’t accept the fact that his lifespan was dwindling and his end was near.

Zhong Ying’s words were like a blade, stabbing straight into Qinghe-zi’s heart.

“Ah—!” Suddenly, he let out a roar. A wisp of dark purple mist seeped from his bloodshot eyes. The sky changed color; an Inner Demon had been born!

A Great Transformation cultivator turning into a demon was a catastrophic event. Zhu Xingtong clenched her fists; her Cub might actually have a hard time dealing with this. The black mist poured out of Qinghe-zi, thickening until it coalesced into a humanoid shape before Zhong Ying.

Zhong Ying tried to strike it, but her attack passed through harmlessly. It spoke in a raspy, dark voice: “You are a demon too. You are the same as me… a demon.”

Zhong Ying: “…” She thought there would be a fight, but it turned out to be an attempt to recruit her?

“So what if one is an Immortal? So what if one is a Demon?”

“Since you are a demon, I shall make you mine!!” the black mist roared, suddenly lunging at Zhong Ying.

Zhu Xingtong: “!!” This, the Phoenix could not tolerate.

Zhu Xingtong transformed into a Phoenix and charged, kicking a claw into the black mist. She yelled angrily, “She is mine! Mine!”

The black mist: “?”

The mist watched helplessly as blue flames suddenly erupted from the small claw kicking it. Agonizing pain followed. The flames swirled, engulfing the entire wisp of black mist.

“Ah—!” The raspy voice turned into a shrill scream.

The little Phoenix circled in the air with a dazed expression, as if wondering what had just happened.

“According to the legends of the God of the Four Directions, the Phoenix’s divine fire can burn away all evil in the world,” Chi Lian explained, also looking a bit dazed. She knew it could burn evil, but she didn’t expect it to be this effective.

Zhu Xingtong scratched her head. She didn’t have the skill to breathe fire—how did her claw catch fire? She wasn’t sure.

Soon, the black mist dissipated, and Qinghe-zi collapsed to the ground. The intense pain of his soul being scorched made it impossible for him to even crawl. He looked ancient, his body stooped, and his cloudy eyes were filled with tears. Many years ago, he had sold his soul to his inner demons. Yet, he still couldn’t ascend. He had tried everything, only to end up with such a tragic fate, dying at the hands of a few juniors.

Qinghe-zi turned his head and quietly closed his eyes.

Zhong Ying suddenly stumbled back, nearly falling to her knees.

“Cub! Are you okay?” Zhu Xingtong quickly shifted into human form to support her. Was she crashing after taking too many enhancement potions?

Zhong Ying shook her head. “I think… I’m about to break through.”

Zhu Xingtong: “???” After a fight like that, shouldn’t you be exhausted and in need of rest? What is wrong with you!

Zhong Ying smiled. “Thank you for the help, little Phoenix. I almost died. You were amazing.”

Zhu Xingtong’s cheeks flushed. “I… I didn’t expect that either.”

Zhong Ying leaned in and kissed her forehead with a smile. “My little Phoenix is truly the best.”

Zhu Xingtong: “!!” She felt like putting her hands on her hips and shouting: I, Zhu Xiaobao, am the best!

Perhaps caught up in the atmosphere, Chi Lian couldn’t help but glance at Bei Meng beside her. Seeing Bei Meng looking back at her, she instinctively huffed. “What are you looking at me for!”

Bei Meng: “…Idiot.”