Chapter 237: Opposing Spears

In another courtyard, the Pu Tuo Holy Lord's expression was somewhat grim as she stared at Yue Rou, who was bowing to her, and said nothing.

However, the powerful aura surrounding her enveloped Yue Rou, making her feel immense pressure.

The several female disciples standing beside the Pu Tuo Holy Lord looked at Yue Rou with gloating delight.

Having harmed the Holy Lord's nephew, Yue Rou, even as the Holy Maiden of the Pu Tuo Holy Land, would not meet a good end.

Yue Rou took a deep breath; she knew she could not continue like this and had to break the silence first.

"Holy Lord, you summoned Yue Rou—what orders do you have?"

The Pu Tuo Holy Lord said lightly, "Shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

Yue Rou retorted, "What explanation does the Holy Lord seek from me? I don't know what I have done wrong."

"Sly argument—Yue Rou, you stripped Young Master Yuan Lin; isn't that a wrongdoing?"

A female disciple shouted sharply.

There was a hint of smugness in her eyes.

Yue Rou was merely a junior disciple of the Holy Lord; how could she become a Holy Maiden?

These senior sisters, regardless of seniority or strength, are no weaker than Yue Rou and should be more qualified to become Holy Maiden.

If they could seize the chance to take down Yue Rou, they would have the opportunity to become Holy Maiden.

Yue Rou's expression darkened; she walked straight over and, amid the female disciple's incredulous stare, slapped her across the face.

The disciple covered her face, looking at Yue Rou in disbelief, and angrily said, "How dare you hit me?"

Yue Rou said coldly, "I am the Holy Maiden of the Pu Tuo Holy Land. Though you are my senior sister, you are merely an ordinary disciple. Speaking to me that way was an act of insubordination. Not to mention striking you, even if I were to strip you of cultivation and expel you from the sect, it would be your own fault."

The disciple was stunned for a moment, her complexion turning slightly pale.

A disciple of the Holy Maiden ranks just below the Holy Lord within the sect.

Even an Elder, upon seeing the Holy Maiden, must be deferential.

Yue Rou is usually gentle and does not put on a Holy Maiden's airs; her outburst now made them realize that their earlier attitude was seriously problematic.

Just as Yue Rou said, if they were expelled from the sect, no one could say anything.

The disciple nervously looked at the Pu Tuo Holy Lord.

The Pu Tuo Holy Lord said lightly, "Enough, Yue Rou. Stop flaunting your Holy Maiden authority; before me, you have no right to show off."

"Holy Lord, I am merely speaking the truth; the sect rules are thus."

Yue Rou said calmly.

The Pu Tuo Holy Lord's gaze was slightly cold.

She did not expect Yue Rou to dare contradict her.

"Yue Rou, your temperament has become restless lately; you even dare to contradict me. I sentence you to a six‑month closed retreat in the Forbidden Realm to repent. Return to the sect now to receive your punishment."

The Pu Tuo Holy Lord said lightly.

The female disciples instantly showed gloating expressions.

The Forbidden Realm is terrifying; being locked inside usually indicates a grave transgression.

Even after emerging, whether the Holy Maiden's position can be retained is uncertain.

Now Yue Rou is finished.

Hearing the Pu Tuo Holy Lord's words, Yue Rou gave a faint smile and said, "Very well, Holy Lord; your rewards and punishments are clear, and I accept the penalty."

A hint of doubt flashed in the Pu Tuo Holy Lord's eyes.

She stared at Yue Rou, puzzled by her reaction.

Normally, Yue Rou should argue based on reason; why did she agree so easily? It seemed odd.

At that moment, Yue Rou spoke again.

"However, regarding this matter, I need to inform the Sect Patriarch, since the Patriarch had me follow Qin Yang, and now that I'm confined, I must report it to him."

The Pu Tuo Holy Lord squinted, her gaze cold, and said chillingly, "You threaten me with your Sect Patriarch?"

"I would not dare; it's simply proper to inform the Patriarch."

Yue Rou said without deference nor arrogance.

"Fine, very fine; your wings have hardened, you no longer even regard me, the Holy Lord, in any way."

The Pu Tuo Holy Lord sneered.

Yue Rou chuckled lightly, forming a sharp contrast to the Pu Tuo Holy Lord's irritable fury.

"Yue Rou does not dare; I am merely speaking about the matter itself."

At that moment, the female disciple who had been struck spoke up, saying, "Holy Lord, Yue Rou, as a Holy Maiden, dares to contradict the Holy Lord and disregards your command; please punish her and strip her of the Holy Maiden title."

Clang.

The Pu Tuo Holy Lord kicked the disciple aside and said coldly, "Do you have any right to interject when I speak with the Holy Maiden? To say you would discard the Holy Maiden—if your Sect Patriarch heard that, you wouldn't even know how you die."

"I was wrong, Holy Lord; please forgive me this once."

The disciple hurriedly said.

She then realized that behind Yue Rou, the Holy Maiden, stood a previous-generation Holy Lord even more powerful than the current Holy Lord.

Although Senior Nun Qianjie has stepped down and is no longer a Holy Lord, her authority remains, and her words within the sect carry more weight than the Holy Lord's.

Yue Rou's status as Holy Maiden was personally appointed by Senior Nun Qianjie.

Even the Holy Lord cannot strip Yue Rou of the Holy Maiden position.

Realizing this, she finally understood how solid Yue Rou's standing truly is.

"If it happens again, cultivation will be revoked and you will be expelled from the sect."

The Holy Lord said coldly.

"Thank you, Holy Lord."

The female disciple said excitedly.

"If the Holy Master has no business, this disciple will take her leave."

Yue Rou said.

Putuo Holy Master, however, said: "Wait a moment."

Yue Rou stood firm, her expression calm as she gazed at the Putuo Holy Master.

"I have already arranged your engagement to the Yuan family; in half a month, you will marry Yuan Lin. Once you marry in, you will become the mistress of the Yuan household, and thereafter you will still be the Holy Master of my Putuo Holy Land. With the combined strength of the two families, my Putuo Holy Land will become the strongest power in the world."

Putuo Holy Master said.

Yue Rou blinked slightly, then let out a light laugh: "Holy Master, that's an excellent idea. In that case, once I bear a child with Yuan Lin, I will surely become the next Holy Master of Putuo Holy Land and also the head of the Yuan family. Holy Master, you intend to turn Putuo Holy Land into the Yuan family's private property—what a clever scheme. I just don't know whether the sect's elders are aware of your plan."

Those several female disciples all showed Hàirán expressions.

They looked at the Putuo Holy Master; if that were truly the case, the Putuo Holy Master would have no right to be their Holy Master.

Putuo Holy Master said coldly: "What nonsense are you spouting, daring to slander your master? The union of the Yuan family and Putuo Holy Land brings only benefit to my Putuo Holy Land. In recent years, the cultivation world has been in constant conflict; our Putuo Holy Land needs strong external aid."

"Since external aid is needed, I wonder how my Baiyun Guan compares to the Yuan family? Wouldn't it be more suitable as external aid for Putuo Holy Land?"

At that moment, Qin Yang's voice sounded; he pushed the door open and entered, standing shoulder to shoulder with Yue Rou, like a pair of immortal figures.

"Wouldn't it be better if the Holy Master married Yue Rou to me? That would be even more beneficial for Putuo Holy Land."

Qin Yang took Yue Rou's hand, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting.

Putuo Holy Master's expression grew somewhat gloomy; as he looked at Qin Yang, cold lights flickered in his eyes.