Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 689 - 342: Miaomiao’s Dilemma

Chapter 689: Chapter 342: Miaomiao’s Dilemma

Here is the line-by-line translation of the text:

A crowd had gathered to watch Jiang Shouzhong take on the tower’s trial, their curiosity piqued.

Some people even started betting on the outcome.

Once they learned Jiang Shouzhong had cultivation in the Heaven Desolation Boundary, opinions varied. Some speculated he might reach the sixth layer, while others guessed the seventh layer. But not a single person believed he could make it to the top.

After all, by the eighth layer, the opponents were Saintly Ascension-level Sword Corpse Slaves, the pinnacle of Jianghu experts.

Let alone the top layer, which was guarded by a Feathered Transformation-level female Sword Corpse Slave.

Jiang Shouzhong and Qu Hongling entered the third layer’s trial room. The lighting inside was dim, the walls covered in aged talismans. Other than that, there was nothing particularly noteworthy.

Some disciples were waiting out in the corridor.

Some were either meditating with their eyes closed, stretching to loosen their muscles, or exchanging swordsmanship insights with companions.

There were also those who had just finished their trial and stood there, looking disappointed and unwilling to accept defeat, gazing regretfully at the long swords in their hands.

On the left side, a stone door was cloaked in a shimmering Barrier.

The Sword Corpse Slave was inside.

This being the first Sword Corpse Slave, whose strength wasn’t particularly high, the line to challenge it was rather long.

The rule was simple: each person in the queue would enter and duel the Sword Corpse Slave.

Asking for help from others? Out of the question.

Jiang Shouzhong chuckled to himself and said softly, "This Sword Corpse Slave might just be the ultimate exploited worker. Never needing rest, immune to injuries and death. Someday, I might raise a few of my own."

Qu Hongling asked curiously, "Exploited worker? What’s that?"

Jiang Shouzhong pinched her cheek playfully and teased, "Well, for example, your Sect Master, who dreams of having subordinates that work endlessly without wages, and remain eternally loyal."

Qu Hongling shot him a coquettish glare. "I’m nothing like that!"

As the duo entered, the gazes of the people around were involuntarily drawn to them, though more attention naturally fell on the charming and beautiful Qu Hongling.

Unsurprisingly, the looks directed toward Jiang Shouzhong were far less friendly.

Firstly, he’d come to Zhenxuan Mountain explicitly to claim the sect’s prized treasure, making him an enemy. Secondly, walking beside him was an irresistible beauty like Qu Hongling, bound to stir jealousy.

Qu Hongling turned sweetly to a disciple standing relatively close to her and asked, "Brother Taoist, how many people are left in line ahead of us?"

That disciple had intended to ignore Jiang Shouzhong entirely, but when Qu Hongling approached him and spoke up, the young, shy Taoist blushed fiercely and quickly stammered out, "Twenty-seven."

As he spoke, he sneaked a quick glance at Qu Hongling’s delicate features before lowering his head again.

Twenty-seven?

Jiang Shouzhong furrowed his brows slightly.

He calculated the trial times and figured, given these people’s levels of skill, he’d probably have to wait at least two hours.

Should he cut the line?

Judging by the hostile glares from these Taoists, it was clear they wouldn’t take kindly to anyone cutting ahead—unless brute force was used. But stirring up trouble in someone else’s domain seemed ill-advised.

Plus, the state of mind mattered in a trial.

If you disrupted someone’s carefully cultivated focus by cutting the line, causing them to fail their trial, resentment was inevitable.

Even if they lacked the strength to exact revenge openly, some covert retaliation could still create headaches down the line.

Better to avoid such an unethical move.

Just as Jiang Shouzhong resigned himself to patiently waiting, Qu Hongling strolled to the two disciples at the front of the line, hands clasped casually behind her back, and began chatting with them.

No one knew what the young woman said, but to everyone’s shock, the two disciples voluntarily stepped aside, giving their spots to Jiang Shouzhong and Qu Hongling.

It was worth noting that participation in the trial was strictly controlled.

Once you completed a trial, you’d have to wait another three months before applying again.

After the pair left, Jiang Shouzhong, curious, turned to Qu Hongling and asked, "What did you say to convince them to give up their spots?"

Qu Hongling blinked her long lashes playfully and replied with a cheeky grin, "Oh, nothing much. Just a few compliments, a few words of praise, and calling them ’Brother Taoist’ a couple of times. They handed it over willingly."

Jiang Shouzhong was speechless.

Beauties, no matter where they went, always seemed to have their way.

However, this also highlighted the difference between Qu Hongling and Yelü Miaomiao.

Both girls were lively and spirited, but Yelü Miaomiao often exhibited an air of entitlement, acting bossy and unreasonable. Whenever things didn’t go her way, she’d solve her problems with force, if possible.

Qu Hongling, on the other hand, preferred employing clever tactics.

If she could talk her way out of trouble, she wouldn’t resort to physical confrontation.

If it had been Yelü Miaomiao here, she would likely have slapped every person in line across the face to clear the queue.

Jiang Shouzhong reminisced about his time in Anhe Village and how he’d interacted with Qu Hongling back then, remarking, "No wonder Ye called you ’Little Fox’—looks like you’ve pulled plenty of tricks on me too."

Qu Hongling pouted adorably. "I would never play games with you, Jiang."

Jiang Shouzhong lightly flicked her tiny, straight nose, chuckling without further comment.

Since the pair had taken over someone else’s spot, it technically wasn’t cutting the line, leaving the others with little room for complaint. Still, they quietly looked down on those two disciples for their lack of resolve.

Soon, a disciple emerged from beyond the Barrier Gate.

Judging by his downcast expression, his trial hadn’t gone well.

"Jiang, I’ll go in first," Qu Hongling announced.

Before Jiang Shouzhong could respond, Qu Hongling darted into the Barrier-encased stone door.

Although she knew Jiang Shouzhong had solid cultivation, the cautious girl decided to probe the situation first.

In mere moments, Qu Hongling reemerged from the Barrier Gate.

Her expression was relaxed, and she beamed at Jiang Shouzhong. "Go ahead, Jiang. This Sword Corpse Slave is nothing special—you’ll beat it easily."

The queued disciples listening to the girl’s words looked visibly conflicted.

The gap between people’s talents often felt insurmountably vast.

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