Marry the Demon Sect Girl with No Bride Price-Chapter 43: Is Cultivation Defying Heaven, or Merely Surviving?

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Is Cultivation Defying Heaven, or Merely Surviving?

Qiu Zhihe gracefully stepped out of the kitchen, her long hair styled into a matronly bun, with a white jade lotus hairpin inserted, her round face, almond eyes like water, cherry-red lips, both charming and alluring.

The most stunning was her outfit at this moment.

A floor-length dress, trailing elegantly, the black chiffon fabric embroidered with peonies interwoven with green leaves, attached to the hem, swaying gracefully with her gentle steps.

The upper body adorned with a golden-thread embroidered cloud flower, blooming atop towering mountains, sparking endless imagination.

The neckline was slightly low, just covering the mountains, revealing a patch of white jade-like skin draped beneath sheer silk, indistinct and alluring, amidst dignified coldness exuding sensuality.

It was the embroidered silk dress Qin Gengyun bought for Qiu Zhihe.

Worn by Qiu Zhihe, it made her resemble the aloof fairy from the Moon Palace, pure and immaculate, causing hearts to waver with an impulse to worship.

Qin Gengyun’s mouth hung agape, he naturally knew his wife’s outstanding appearance, but didn’t expect that after dressing up, she would be so dazzlingly beautiful.

If she were a little taller, she probably wouldn’t fall short compared to the renowned first beauty of the ’Eastern Cultivation Land’, the senior sister of the Zhenyang Sect.

Beside him, Mo Xiaolan was equally stunned, subconsciously stood up, and sincerely bowed:

"Taoist Friend Qiu is truly a national beauty, one that puts flowers to shame!"

Qiu Zhihe nodded faintly towards Mo Xiaolan: "Just now I was in the kitchen washing dishes, Taoist Friend Mo, pardon me."

"Ahem!"

Qin Gengyun almost laughed aloud, thinking ’Taoist Friend Qiu, you went to the kitchen to change into that embroidered silk dress, yet you claim to be washing dishes, too pretentious.’

Feeling two cold gazes, Qin Gengyun quickly said:

"Yes, Taoist Friend Mo, we just finished eating, did you eat? Would you like some?"

Mo Xiaolan glanced at the soup dish on the table and the two bowls of unfinished meat soup beside it, and smiled while waving her hand:

"No need, I’ve already eaten."

Qiu Zhihe saw her lie about "washing dishes" being exposed, her cheeks flushed slightly, she gave Qin Gengyun a glare, Qin Gengyun felt helpless, thinking ’Taoist Friend Qiu, you’re the one who can’t lie, how can you blame me?’

After a brief awkwardness, the three sat down again, Qiu Zhihe asked:

"Taoist Friend Mo, why does this treasure hunting team need so many pills?"

Mo Xiaolan replied: "Recently there’s news that a treasure left by the Demon Sect Saint Master has been discovered in the depths of the Northern Wilderness at Celestial Ridge Mountain. It contains the Saint Master’s cultivation technique and numerous magical treasures, so many treasure hunting teams are eager."

Qiu Zhihe’s eyes flickered, she asked: "Is this news reliable? Could it be just a rumor?"

Mo Xiaolan thought for a moment: "It should be reliable; the final battle to exterminate the Demon Sect by the Three Great Sects was at Celestial Ridge Mountain, where both the Demon Sect Saint Master and Saintess were executed. It’s not surprising for the Demon Sect’s relics to appear at Celestial Ridge Mountain."

"That’s good." Qiu Zhihe nodded, for some reason, her mouth curled up slightly.

Qin Gengyun asked Mo Xiaolan: "Is this treasure hunting team looking to buy pills from you going to Celestial Ridge Mountain too?"

Mo Xiaolan shook her head: "They didn’t say, but needing so many pills, they’re probably hoping to try their luck at Celestial Ridge Mountain."

"Taoist Friend Qiu, what do you think about this matter?"

Qin Gengyun asked Qiu Zhihe.

The Blood Coagulation Pill needs the Blood Coagulation Grass, the Spirit Guard Pill requires the Heart Firming Grass, and the Yuqing Pill needs the Jade Spirit Flower; these spirit grasses can be bought if they’re ordinary quality.

But for high-quality ones, it would have to rely on Qiu Zhihe.

If she doesn’t agree, this matter won’t proceed.

Mo Xiaolan, unaware of the intricacies, thought Qin Gengyun was simply henpecked and looked at Qiu Zhihe, waiting for her answer.

After a moment, Qiu Zhihe nodded:

"Okay."

"Good, then that’s settled!"

Qin Gengyun was delighted, worried about being discovered by the Pavilion Master and Grand Alchemist, he hadn’t dared to go to the Pill Talisman Tower to sell pills recently, and was just fretting when Mo Xiaolan brought timely help.

He bowed to Mo Xiaolan: "Taoist Friend Mo, you helped greatly again, thank you."

Feeling the coldness beside him, he quickly addressed Qiu Zhihe: "Taoist Friend Qiu, it’s hard work for you too."

"Taoist Friend Qin is too kind, we’re neighbors, it’s the right thing to do."

Mo Xiaolan also bowed, somewhat curious about Qin Gengyun and Qiu Zhihe, finding their way of interaction odd.

Why doesn’t Taoist Friend Qin call her ’wife’, instead naming her Taoist friend?

Moreover, it seems like Taoist Friend Qin’s status at home is quite precarious.

Once the matters were discussed, Mo Xiaolan didn’t wish to linger, she got up to bid farewell.

Qin Gengyun saw her out, then Qiu Zhihe suddenly asked: "Taoist Friend Mo, will Zhenyang Sect send people to Celestial Ridge Mountain?"

Mo Xiaolan turned back: "I’ve heard that Zhenyang Sect will indeed send people."

Qiu Zhihe asked again: "Do you know who they will send?"

Mo Xiaolan smiled: "That I don’t know, Taoist Friend Qiu, are you interested in this?"

Qin Gengyun also looked at Qiu Zhihe, noticing that when Celestial Ridge Mountain’s Demon Sect relic was mentioned, Qiu Zhihe’s emotions seemed to fluctuate.

Qiu Zhihe was silent for a while, then said calmly:

"I just heard that the black miasma at Celestial Ridge Mountain is very dense. The Clear Wind Powder that Taoist Friend Qin refined is of high quality and happens to counter the miasma poison. We can offer you three Spirit Stones per pouch, and whatever price you can sell them for is up to you, how about it?"

Mo Xiaolan was taken aback, she looked at Qin Gengyun, then nodded:

"Alright, I’ll give it a try."

After seeing Mo Xiaolan out, Qin Gengyun closed the door and returned to sit down, his gaze sizing up Qiu Zhihe.

Qiu Zhihe coldly asked: "What’s wrong?"

Qin Gengyun suddenly laughed: "Taoist Friend Qiu, didn’t you dislike the dress I bought for you?"

Qiu Zhihe stared at him, her almond eyes icy, Qin Gengyun dared not tease further and quickly said:

"Taoist Friend Qiu, wearing this dress makes you incredibly beautiful, even more beautiful than a Celestial Immortal!"

Qiu Zhihe froze for a moment, her expression somewhat unnatural, then suddenly stood up: "I’ll go change."

"Taoist Friend Qiu, I’m genuinely complimenting you." Qin Gengyun quickly changed the subject:

"By the way, did you know that I haven’t dared to sell pills to the Pill Talisman Tower recently, so I asked Taoist Friend Mo to help me sell them? Thank you."

"I just said it offhand."

Qiu Zhihe looked at him in surprise:

"Why haven’t you dared to go to the Pill Talisman Tower?"

Only then did Qin Gengyun realize he misunderstood, and explained his worries of recent days.

Qiu Zhihe suddenly sneered: "Cultivation itself is defying heaven; if everyone was as cautious as you, it’d be better not to cultivate at all!"

The Cyan Lotus Sect’s cultivation techniques are inherently domineering, the Profound Ice and Li Fire Technique instantly freezing and incinerating people, without reason.

Although Qiu Zhihe was seriously injured and in hiding, her inherent arrogance hadn’t changed; even knowing she should be more low-key, she still looked down on Qin Gengyun’s cautiousness.

Qin Gengyun helplessly said: "Taoist Friend Qiu, those are the prodigious geniuses born in the Major Sects. For us at the bottom, surviving is already good enough. If we truly defy heaven, we’d be slapped to death before leaving the ground."

In his previous life, Qin Gengyun was one of the lowest company slaves, barely surviving until forty before dying from industrial waste poisoning.

After crossing to this cultivation world, he couldn’t escape the fate of being at the bottom.

The original body painstakingly cultured for thirty-three years, only reaching the second layer of Qi Cultivation, and due to Pill Poison infiltration, his cultivation stagnated.

Amidst pain and despair, the soul extinguished, allowing Qin Gengyun to traverse here and occupy the body.

To save his own life, he joined the resource-rich Zhenyang City, aiming to earn Spirit Stones, establish connections, and seek a way to buy the life-saving ’Ice Heart Rejuvenation Pill’ from the Zhenyang Sect.

Ultimately, he couldn’t even pay rent, forcing him to return to the small town.

If not grasping the last straw of "Dual Cultivation," perhaps he’d have ended it all.

Such experiences led Qin Gengyun to not dare hope for attaining immortality, which only Major Sect geniuses pursued.

Even possessing a Golden Finger doesn’t mean flaunting everywhere; that’s a path to self-destruction.

For bottom-tier cultivators like him, developing quietly and avoiding trouble is crucial.

Upon hearing Qin Gengyun’s words, Qiu Zhihe sneered: "So your cultivation is just to stay alive? Then you might as well be a mortal; why bother cultivating?!"