Chapter 1111: Scared Out of One's Wits

With Lei Qianfeng’s command, Lei Tiangang personally made his move, swooping out like a large bird, heading straight for Little Mo Li.

Although the target was just a little girl whose aura barely reached the King Profound Realm, Lei Tiangang’s attacking momentum was astonishing. Having been thoroughly suppressed by Ling Yun for nearly a month, with his sixty-four halls suffering heavy losses, Lei Tiangang, as the Chief Hall Master, naturally harbored immense anger and resentment. The girl before him was clearly connected to Ling Yun, and capturing her would finally represent a significant step forward in their pursuit of Ling Yun.

As he lunged, the surrounding air was violently displaced. His actions caused Wu Guike’s expression to change drastically. He then suddenly lunged towards Lei Tiangang with movements so swift it was as if he’d been stabbed in the back, accompanied by a desperate roar that completely shattered his proud demeanor.

Bang!! A hastily unleashed force struck Lei Tiangang squarely in the back. Caught off guard, Lei Tiangang was sent flipping sideways in mid-air, landing awkwardly. After stumbling to his feet, he saw that his attacker was none other than Wu Guike. He froze on the spot, filled with surprise and apprehension, unable to speak.

Lei Qianfeng was also filled with surprise and confusion: “Guike, what are you doing?”

Wu Guike completely ignored them. After secretly letting out a sigh of relief, he quickly took a few steps forward, then stopped precisely ten paces in front of Little Mo Li. His body was slightly bent forward, his expression fluctuating; he seemed to want to smile but couldn't, gripped by fear. Finally, he managed an incredibly stiff and unsightly grin: “Your… Your Highness, that imbecile just now was blind and nearly offended Your Highness. I hope… I hope you weren't disturbed?”

Lei Qianfeng and Lei Tiangang instantly turned to stone. Wu Chengyan, who was about to extend his divine sense, also descended from the air, his face filled with shock.

Wu Guike’s posture, leaning forward and forcing a smile, was clearly an attempt to curry favor… No, it was more than just currying favor. As the son of the Divine Martial Realm King, his previous haughtiness, arrogance, and even noble aura had vanished without a trace. His gaze, expression, and actions showed not only fear but also undeniable humility!

Both Wu Chengyan and Lei Qianfeng were absolutely certain that Wu Guike would never display such fear, not even when facing his own father, Wu Sanzun.

“Oh?” Little Mo Li blinked her eyes, scrutinizing him intently, then curved her eyebrows: “Oh my! No wonder you look so familiar. It seems I saw you not long ago. Let me think, I remember you are… hmm! From the Divine Martial Realm… called Wu Gui… Wu Gui… Anyway, one of those little turtles! Right?”

Wu Sanzun had many children, and those born within the last century all shared the character ‘Gui’ in their names, such as Wu Guiyun, Wu Guilin, Wu Guike, and so on. Coincidentally, ‘Wu Gui’ is a homophone for ‘turtle’ in Chinese. However, given the immense power of the Divine Martial Realm and the status of the Great Realm King’s son, anyone who dared to call ‘Wu Gui’ a ‘turtle’ to his face would be courting death.

Yet, Little Mo Li, in front of Wu Guike, effectively slapped him and his siblings in the face by calling them ‘little turtles.’ Wu Guike, far from being angry, actually looked flattered and said with considerable excitement: “I am Wu Guike. Your Highness actually remembers me; it is truly an immense honor.”

Lei Qianfeng and the others were utterly stunned, their minds a chaotic blur, almost losing the ability to think. The Black Soul Hall Master, who had just recognized Little Mo Li, already had bulging eyes and a gaping mouth, but he couldn't utter a single sound.

“Young Master, who is this young lady?” Wu Chengyan asked carefully, still deeply shocked.

Wu Guike did not turn around, nor did he answer. Even if he had ten thousand more guts, he wouldn't dare to rashly reveal the girl's identity. He tried to force the gentlest smile, bending at the waist by eight degrees, and said with extreme humility: “I am unaware of Your Highness's reason for gracing this place with your presence…”

Before he could finish, a sudden realization struck him, and his back instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Given her terrifying identity, her presence in this place must be for something of great importance, and it was certainly not his place to inquire.

Despite the cold sweat, he reacted extremely quickly, immediately changing his words: “It is my immense honor, Guike, to encounter Your Highness here. If there is anything Guike can do to assist you, Your Highness only needs to command, and I will not hesitate, even if it means death.”

Of course, his words were merely polite flattery. Although he held himself in high regard, he never imagined he could be of any real help to the girl.

To his surprise, upon hearing his words, the girl's eyes lit up: “Wow! Really? That's wonderful!”

Wu Guike was momentarily stunned, then quickly said: “It is Guike's fortune to serve Your Highness. May I ask, Your Highness…”

“Hehehehe. Actually, I came all this way here to find something. It would be great if the little turtle could help.”

The girl was already exceedingly beautiful, and her soft laughter was like the blooming of a fresh lotus, simply captivating. Wu Guike dared not meet her gaze, his scalp inexplicably tingled, and a sudden strong sense of unease welled up within him. He could only force himself to ask: “May I know what item Your Highness is looking for?”

“It's not anything very valuable, really,” Little Mo Li said with an innocent, unblemished expression. “It's just a small stone, named 'Nine-Star Buddha God Jade,' I think. Little turtle, do you have a stone like that on you?”

The moment the name ‘Nine-Star Buddha God Jade’ was uttered, Wu Chengyan’s brow furrowed instantly, and Wu Guike's heart constricted. He immediately said: “The Nine-Star Buddha God Jade is a rare and elusive stone of heaven and earth, highly sought after but almost impossible to find. Guike has also dreamt of acquiring it but has never succeeded. However, since Your Highness commands it, Guike will immediately instruct everyone to search for it with all their might upon returning to the Divine Martial Realm. If there is any news, I will certainly… find a way to inform Your Highness.”

“Is that so?” The girl was still smiling, but as her lips curved subtly, a faint, yet palpable sense of danger suddenly emerged behind her sweet smile, causing everyone's hearts to lurch. “But an old grandpa from the Heavenly Dao Realm said that just last month, you happened to acquire a Nine-Star Buddha God Jade, and that old grandpa personally gave it to you, you know. Could that long-bearded old grandpa have lied to me?”

A certain long-bearded old grandpa from the Heavenly Dao Realm was instantly ‘sold out’ by Little Mo Li, causing both Wu Guike and Wu Chengyan’s expressions to change drastically in shock.

At this moment, Wu Guike suddenly realized with alarm… the girl was clearly here for him, and this was no chance encounter!

Wu Guike instantly broke out in a cold sweat, his entire body feeling numb. He never dreamed that someone like him—a ‘nobody’ who would never even catch her eye—would one day be specifically targeted by her. For a moment, he didn't know whether to feel honored or terrified.

He did indeed possess a Nine-Star Buddha God Jade. He had painstakingly searched for it for many years, paying a huge price and acquiring it through immense fortune. The Profound God Convention was just two years away, and with this Nine-Star Buddha God Jade, he had absolute confidence that he could significantly enhance his profound energy within two years, thereby making a name for himself in the Eastern Divine Region at the convention.

Therefore, under no circumstances would he willingly hand it over to someone else just like that. However, the girl before him was someone he absolutely could not afford to offend, a terrifying being who could decide his life and death in an instant. Even if he had ten more lives, he wouldn't dare to provoke her.

Drenched in cold sweat, Wu Guike bowed his head and said fearfully: “Your Highness, Guike did indeed have the fortune to acquire a Nine-Star Buddha God Jade some time ago. However, it is not that Guike is unwilling to give it to Your Highness, but rather that it is incredibly important to Guike. If…”

“Oh, oh, little turtle, don't be so nervous,” Little Mo Li said, tilting her head with a giggle. “I never said I'd snatch your stuff. Although I really want the Nine-Star Buddha God Jade, it's yours after all. How could I let you just give it away for free? A cute girl like me isn't an unreasonable bad person, you know.”

Wu Guike was momentarily stunned.

“I can trade something with you, you know, something guaranteed to be just as good as the Nine-Star Buddha God Jade.” Little Mo Li fluttered her long eyelashes, speaking very reasonably: “If the little turtle sees it and doesn't want to trade, I definitely won't force you, okay?”

“…” Little Mo Li's words somewhat eased Wu Guike's mind, and at the same time, he grew a little curious: “May I know what object Your Highness is referring to?”

“This is it!” Little Mo Li opened her small hand, revealing a smooth, black Profound Image Stone resting in her tender, white palm. It was, surprisingly, an ordinary Profound Image Stone.

Before Wu Guike could ask, Little Mo Li squeezed her hand, and the images and sounds recorded within the Profound Image Stone instantly appeared before everyone's eyes.

Lei Qianfeng and the others immediately recognized the location in the image: it was none other than the main hall of their Soul Sect!

And the people in the image… Wu Guike, Wu Chengyan, Lei Qianfeng, Xiao Qingtong… all of them were there!

“Before you tear that Ling Yun to shreds, you'd better take care of yourself first! What exactly happened with that Royal Wood Spirit? My father, the King, was truly angry about this, which is rare for him! You’d better give a proper explanation…”

This was Wu Guike's voice, accompanied by a fierce tone.

“The matter of the Royal Wood Spirit is absolutely true. After we captured that Royal Wood Spirit, we were going to immediately present it to your father, the King. Unexpectedly, due to a moment of carelessness, it was stolen by Ling Yun!”

Lei Qianfeng in the Profound Image was answering in a panic.

“Setting aside the Royal Wood Spirit issue, the number of Wood Spirit Orbs and cultivation cauldrons you’ve offered as tribute in recent years has also decreased. It will be quite difficult to appease my father, the King, regarding this matter!”

“Guike, it’s not that your uncle has been neglectful. It’s simply that Wood Spirits have become scarcer over the years, and excellent cultivation cauldrons are increasingly hard to find. Truly… Guike, when you return, you must put in a good word for me with your father, especially regarding the Royal Wood Spirit. Your uncle, even with ten thousand guts, would never dare to deceive your father.”

“Are they truly just becoming scarcer? Or… have you been quietly selling a portion of the Wood Spirit Orbs that should have been offered as tribute to others, in order to monopolize Black Ya and create leverage?”

From the moment he saw the first scene of the image and heard the first voice, Wu Guike's face had turned utterly pale. By the time Little Mo Li suddenly, smilingly, put away the Profound Image Stone, his entire body felt weak, his legs numb, and his limbs, even his internal organs, were trembling violently.

And Wu Chengyan, who stood guard beside him, also had his expression completely changed, with fear swirling in his constricted pupils, no less than Wu Guike's.

Royal Wood Spirits, tributary Wood Spirit Orbs, cultivation cauldrons… and spoken clearly by Wu Guike himself…

The hunting of Wood Spirits was a ban jointly issued by the Celestial God Realm and the other three Royal Realms. If the contents of this Profound Image Stone were to spread, it would not merely be a scandal for the Divine Martial Realm; it would inevitably lead to sanctions from the Celestial God Realm!

Even more terrifying was that this Profound Image Stone came from the hands of this girl!

And he, as the ‘protagonist’ in the Profound Image Stone, if the matter came to light, would be ruined in the God Realm, and his consequences and predicament in the Divine Martial Realm were even more unimaginable.

While many star realms secretly collected Wood Spirit Orbs and even hunted Wood Spirits… doing so covertly and being exposed publicly were two entirely different concepts!

Wu Guike's pupils almost lost their color. He looked as if his soul had been frightened out of him, and his entire body was reduced to nothing but trembling. This was absolutely the greatest fright he had ever experienced in his life.

“You… who exactly are you?! Why are you scheming against us?!” Wu Chengyan stepped forward, shielding Wu Guike, his face no longer able to maintain its composure.

The images in the Profound Image Stone had been recorded less than three quarters of an hour ago. This meant that she had been hidden near them at least since then.

And he had been completely unaware.

Little Mo Li looked up at him slightly, her smile vanishing, her lips pouting in displeasure: “Uncle, you're so fierce. Don't you know you should be gentler when talking to pretty girls? Hmph, you're not allowed to speak again, or else I'll kill you, okay?”

The girl's voice was delicate and clear, incredibly pleasant, but as her last words fell, Wu Chengyan felt a chill run through his entire body. An inexplicable fear surged within his soul, and his already slightly constricted pupils instantly shrank several times over.

“Chengyan, shut up immediately!” Wu Guike had slightly recovered his senses and frantically pushed Wu Chengyan aside. The latter took a step back and truly sealed his lips, not daring to utter another word. The inexplicable terror of that moment had frozen his meridians, leaving him stiff for a long time.

“Little turtle, what I have in my hand is absolutely unique in the world, you know. You've seen it already, it's very magical, right? So, do you want to trade it for your Nine-Star Buddha God Jade?”

An innocent, shallow smile reappeared on the girl's face. She held the Profound Image Stone in her palm and very considerately added: “If you don't want to trade, I absolutely, absolutely won't force you, you know.”

What the Nine-Star Buddha God Jade could offer him was a significant short-term increase in profound energy. However, if the Profound Image Stone in the girl's hand were to fall into the hands of the Royal Realm, it would most likely ruin his entire life. Wu Guike had no choice. He stammered, nodding: “I'll trade… I'll trade… Please… Your Highness, bear with me for a few days. The Nine-Star Buddha God Jade is precious after all, and I left it in the Divine Martial Realm. It will take some time to retrieve it and return.”

“Okay, okay,” Little Mo Li nodded in agreement without hesitation. “I also haven’t been to the Celestial God Realm to play with that white-bearded uncle in a long time. So, I can go with the white-bearded uncle to find you then, okay?”

Wu Guike's entire body jolted violently, his last shred of hope completely shattered. His lips trembled even more severely: “Your… Your Highness, I suddenly remembered that before I left, I actually… brought the Nine-Star Buddha God Jade with me. Please, Your Highness… accept it.”

As he spoke, his trembling hands presented a glowing white jade stone. The moment the jade appeared, the entire world seemed to brighten considerably.

The Nine-Star Buddha God Jade!

Little Mo Li's eyes lit up. With a flick of her small hand, the jade stone instantly flew into her grasp. The stone was small, as lustrous as her skin, with nine stars embedded within, radiating the glow of a bright moon interwoven with the sparkle of stars.

Little Mo Li's lips curved upwards, revealing a smile. She cheerfully put away the Nine-Star Buddha God Jade, then flicked a finger, and the Profound Image Stone that had nearly scared Wu Guike out of his wits flew into his hand: “Little turtle, you traded this voluntarily, you know. I absolutely didn't force you!”

Taking the Profound Image Stone, he clutched it tightly in his palm until he pulverized it into dust with his profound energy. He then looked up, forcing a smile uglier than a grimace: “Yes… I certainly… willingly… Thank you… Your Highness… for your generosity.”

“That’s right, that’s right,” Little Mo Li nodded with satisfaction. “I originally thought you wouldn’t want to trade with me. So, this thing is actually worth quite a lot, huh?”

A tiny, gleaming canine tooth peeked out from between her slightly curved lips. Little Mo Li extended her small hand, and between her delicate, fair fingers, another Profound Image Stone suddenly appeared: “Actually, I have another one in my hand. Little turtle, do you want to trade something else with me? Hehehehe.”

Wu Guike suddenly looked up: “Your Highness, you…”

“This one is absolutely different from the last one… but it’s really gross.” Little Mo Li’s starlike eyes curved into two thin crescent moons: “Last night, when I was out playing, I suddenly saw the little turtle and a big sister named 'Aunt-in-law' take off their clothes and hug each other, doing really weird things. I thought it was super gross, but also really curious, so I secretly recorded it. Do you want to see it?”