"Ah—!"
Liu Qin didn't even have time to react. With a single shriek, she was sent flying by an immense force.
She arced through the air like a parabola before crashing heavily onto the open ground more than ten meters away.
Blood sprayed from her mouth on the spot.
Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events.
That harmless-looking little fat cat actually possessed such terrifying strength?
One strike had gravely wounded Liu Qin, a Zhu Ji Mid-Stage cultivator?
"Hiss—"
Someone drew in a sharp breath. The looks directed at Shen Manyi shifted instantly from contempt and curiosity to deep wariness.
Just who in the world was this little girl?
Even Shen Manyi herself was startled by Tangyuan's combat prowess, but she maintained her composure on the surface.
She took small steps, strolling leisurely over to Liu Qin and looking down at her from above.
"I already told you—my brother brought me here."
Her voice was soft and sweet, sounding utterly harmless.
But to Liu Qin's ears, it was like demonic sound.
"Who exactly are you?"
Clutching her chest in agony, Liu Qin glared at Shen Manyi with a mix of shock and fury.
She refused to believe that the Jianzun would indulge some unknown wild girl like this and allow her to commit violence on Tai Shang Feng.
"Who I am doesn't matter."
Shen Manyi crouched down, reached out a finger, and poked Liu Qin's cheek, smiling sweetly.
"What matters is that my brother is your Jianzun.
What's my brother's is mine.
My brother's territory is also mine. Got it?"
Her words were arrogant, but at this moment, no one dared to refute her.
Because that terrifyingly powerful white cat was crouched on her shoulder, coldly sweeping its gaze over everyone present.
And even more so because, despite all the commotion, the Jianzun had not shown himself.
Didn't that just prove the Jianzun was protecting that little girl?!
Liu Qin was so furious her vision went dark, and she spat out another mouthful of blood.
She was going mad with jealousy!
Why did this wild girl get to win the Jianzun's favor?
Why did she get to have such a powerful Lingchong?
And why could she casually eat Ji Pin Dan Yao as a snack?
"You… just you wait!"
Liu Qin squeezed out the words through gritted teeth.
"My master is Elder Liu of the Jie Lü Tang! He won't let you get away with this!"
"Oh? An Elder of the Jie Lü Tang?"
Shen Manyi blinked, putting on a face of "oh, I'm so scared."
"Then I'll be waiting."
With that, she stood up, no longer paying attention to Liu Qin on the ground, and turned to head back to her own room.
"Little girl, that's it?" Tangyuan transmitted its voice, dissatisfied. "If we don't strip her naked and toss her off the mountain, I won't be satisfied!"
"What's the hurry." Shen Manyi soothed it. "We hit the junior, so the senior will be coming soon. We just need to wait."
She was currently clinging to the thickest thigh in Guiyuan Jianzong.
A mere Elder of the Jie Lü Tang? She truly didn't take that seriously.
She was going to use this opportunity to establish her authority in the sect!
Let everyone know that Shen Manyi was not someone to be trifled with!
Watching Shen Manyi's arrogant retreating figure, the surrounding disciples finally snapped back to reality and hurried forward to help Liu Qin up.
"Senior Sister Liu, are you alright?"
"Quick! Go report this to Elder Liu!"
"That woman is too brazen! She dares to openly injure people within the sect!"
Several of them spoke with righteous indignation.
Supported by her fellow disciples, Liu Qin shot a venomous glare at Shen Manyi's door, a cold, triumphant smile flickering in her eyes.
Just wait—once my master arrives, I'll make you wish you were dead!
Shen Manyi returned to her room and closed the door. The arrogant aura on her face vanished without a trace in an instant.
She patted her little chest and said to Tangyuan with lingering fear, "That scared me to death. Did I act convincingly enough?"
"Convincingly? Extremely convincingly!"
Tangyuan leaped into her arms, rubbing its head against her chin with a fawning expression.
"Little girl, you're a natural-born bully! This Divine Beast loves how you ride on others' power!"
"It's not riding on others' power! It's borrowing the tiger's might!" Shen Manyi corrected him, dissatisfied.
Still, the feeling just now was indeed quite satisfying!
"But about that Elder of the Jie Lü Tang… are we really going to be okay?"
Shen Manyi was still a bit worried.
"What's there to fear!" Tangyuan snorted disdainfully.
"Your man—oh, I mean, your brother—is a Hua Shen Xiu Shi!"
"In all of Guiyuan Jianzong, who would dare not show him respect? An Elder is nothing!"
"I suppose you're right." Shen Manyi was convinced.
She decided not to overthink it.
She began eagerly pulling things out of her spatial storage, preparing to decorate her new home.
The luxurious carpet she'd swiped from the Shen family, priceless night pearls, and all sorts of exquisite ornaments…
Before long, the originally empty and cold room was filled to the brim, looking lavish and splendid.
Just as she was busily occupied, a powerful pressure suddenly descended from the heavens, enveloping her side hall!
"Who injured my disciple on Tai Shang Feng?"
An aged, furious voice thundered overhead.
Shen Manyi paused mid-motion and exchanged a glance with Tangyuan.
"They're here faster than I expected!"
Tangyuan licked his paw, a glint of excitement flashing through his golden pupils.
"Little girl, are you ready? The second act is about to begin."
Shen Manyi took a deep breath and pushed open the door, stepping outside.
There, hovering in the air above the square, stood an old man in a gray robe, his eyes blazing with fury.
And beside him was none other than Liu Qin, the very one Tangyuan had just injured.
At this moment, she was pointing at Shen Manyi with a look of grievance, sobbing: "Master! It was her! This witch, she attacked your disciple for no reason at all!"
The gray-robed old man was none other than Elder Liu of Jie Lü Tang.
"So, you're the one who injured my disciple?"
His voice was laden with oppressive authority, attempting to make Shen Manyi cower.
Had this been the old Shen Manyi, she would likely have been terrified into kneeling and begging for mercy by such intimidation.
But now, she simply raised her head calmly, meeting his gaze with neither arrogance nor submission.
"She struck first."
"Nonsense!" Liu Qin shrieked.
"Master, she's slandering me!" Elder Liu clearly trusted his own disciple more.
He let out a cold snort: "Regardless of who struck first, you have committed violence within the sect—that alone is a violation of our rules!
Now, surrender at once and come with me to Jie Lü Tang for judgment!"
As he spoke, a massive hand formed from Spiritual Power reached out, grabbing straight for Shen Manyi's head!
Shen Manyi immediately took a nervous step back, shouting inwardly: "Tangyuan, what do I do?"
Tangyuan shot her a disdainful look. "Why are you calling me? Call your brother!"
"Do you think this Divine Beast looks like it can beat him?"
"Oh… right… right…"
But before Shen Manyi could even open her mouth,
a cold, utterly emotionless voice echoed from within the main hall of Tai Shang Feng.
"Elder Liu, quite the display of authority you have."
"On this sovereign's territory, you dare to seize this sovereign's people?"