Traveling Between Two Worlds: From Bread for Maids to Fantasy Overlord

The oppressive spiritual energy intensified, turning the guards and civilians within Qin Family Fortress deathly pale, their legs trembling. The elderly, women, and children trembled with fear, hiding inside their houses, too afraid to utter a sound. The cries of children were muffled by adults, plunging the entire fortress into a deathly silence of panic. Qin Cang immediately ordered the guards to assemble and reinforce the city gates. The guards, armed with swords and spears, struggled to form ranks against the oppressive energy, their legs trembling but their resolve unwavering. Huang Yiming, leading Qin Yuling, Yang Xiu, and Qin Hu, strode towards the fortress gates, facing the approaching forces. Yang Xiu clutched Huang Yiming's clothes tightly, her face pale but her steps firm; Qin Yuling drew her sword, her cold gaze sweeping across the outside, ready to fight at any moment.

The fortress gates slowly opened, revealing a cultivator in a grey Taoist robe. His face was sinister, his eyes arrogant, and a black iron token of the Black Stone Sect hung at his waist. A faint aura of spiritual energy emanated from him—he was a trusted envoy of the Black Stone Sect's leader, responsible for delivering messages and issuing punishments. Behind him followed two Qi Refining disciples, each with their heads held high, their faces full of disdain, their toes slightly off the ground, displaying an air of superiority, as if Qin Family Fortress were nothing more than ants in their eyes, easily annihilated with a flick of the wrist. The envoy glanced at the disheveled guards at the city gate, a mocking smile playing on his lips, clearly showing his utter contempt for the fragility of mortals.

The envoy glanced at the crowd, his gaze settling on Huang Yiming with intense contempt and greed. His tone was extremely arrogant: "You are Huang Yiming? That mortal who, relying on his strange magical artifact, injured my Black Stone Sect disciples and robbed supplies?" His voice was sharp, carrying the arrogance unique to cultivators, completely disregarding everyone present.

Upon seeing this, Qin Hu flew into a rage, stepping forward and roaring, "Insolence! How dare you run wild in my Qin Family Fortress? It was clearly your Black Stone Sect cultivators who launched the sneak attack first, yet you still have the nerve to come here and shout!" He possessed superhuman strength, and his roar made the envoy's eardrums ache. The envoy's face darkened, and his spiritual energy surged, almost prompting him to teach Qin Hu a lesson.

Huang Yiming raised his hand to stop Qin Hu, looking at the envoy with icy eyes and indifferent tone: "If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost. Qin Family Fortress does not welcome dogs from the Black Stone Sect." His words directly made the envoy's face turn ashen, and he trembled with anger. He had a high status in the Black Stone Sect. When had he ever been humiliated by a mortal like this?

"How audacious a mortal!" the envoy gritted his teeth, pointing at Huang Yiming and shouting fiercely, "You injured my sect's disciples, ruined the reputation of my Black Stone Sect, and even hoarded immortal artifacts and monopolized resources—your crimes are unforgivable! Today, I represent the sect leader and offer you two choices: First, Huang Yiming, immediately hand over all your artifacts and resources, and compensate the Black Stone Sect with one million spirit stones and a thousand catties of spirit herbs; second, offer Qin Yuling and Yang Xiu to our sect as concubines to apologize and admit your wrongdoing. If you refuse, in three days, the sect leader will personally come and massacre Qin Family Fortress, leaving no one alive!" These words were extremely arrogant, not only demanding huge compensation but also wanting to abduct the two women—it was simply outrageous. Qin Cang trembled with rage, and Qin Yuling drew her sword, its cold light gleaming, her clear eyes filled with fury: "Arrogant scoundrel, stop your nonsense! Although my Qin Family Fortress is not a cultivator sect, it is by no means a place to be slaughtered!"

Yang Xiu gripped Huang Yiming's sleeve tightly, her face flushed red with anger, yet she stood firmly beside him, showing no sign of backing down. The envoy, watching Qin Yuling draw her sword, smirked lewdly: "Quite a feisty beauty. Perfect to take back to the sect to serve the sect leader; he'll surely be very pleased."

These words enraged Qin Yuling. She drew her sword and was about to step forward when Huang Yiming stopped her again. He took a step forward, facing the envoy directly, his aura fierce and his eyes as cold as ice: "I'll give you one more chance. Take back your nonsense and get out of Qin Family Fortress. Otherwise, you won't leave here alive today."

The envoy scoffed, his face full of disdain: "Mortals are just mortals, ignorant of their own limitations. Do you think you can contend with my Black Stone Sect with that strange iron lump? Let me tell you the truth, the sect leader is waiting just ten miles away. If you know what's good for you and obey, you might at least have a whole corpse left; if you remain obstinate, I will surely annihilate you!"

He grew increasingly arrogant, even raising his hand to harass Qin Yuling. Qin Yuling's eyes turned cold; she flicked her wrist, the tip of her sword pointing directly at the envoy's throat. The envoy was terrified and hastily retreated, his face pale, but his words remained defiant: "Fine! Very well! You wait, in three days the sect leader will personally arrive and will surely raze Qin Family Fortress to the ground!" With that, he dared not linger, turning and fleeing hastily with two disciples, not forgetting to utter a harsh threat before leaving, looking both pathetic and laughable.

Watching the envoy's fleeing figure, Qin Hu stomped his foot in anger: "That bastard is too arrogant, I really want to punch him flat!" Qin Cang's expression was solemn, and he sighed: "The Black Stone Sect Master is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, whose strength far surpasses that of Qi Refining disciples. This battle is probably going to be difficult."

Huang Yiming's eyes were resolute as he looked at the crowd and declared loudly, "So what if they're Foundation Establishment cultivators? Even Transcendent cultivators are afraid of iron sand! As long as we are united, we will definitely defeat the Black Stone Sect!" His words were calm and powerful, like a reassuring pill, instantly calming the crowd's panic. Qin Yuling, Yang Xiu, and Qin Hu all nodded, their eyes firm; the guards also straightened their backs, their panic largely dissipated. But Huang Yiming knew in his heart that there must be a traitor within the fortress passing messages to the Black Stone Sect, otherwise the envoy could not have so accurately grasped the weaknesses of Qin Family Fortress, even knowing his weapons and the identities of the two women. The most urgent task was to eliminate the traitor and stabilize the rear, absolutely not allowing the external enemy and the traitor to collude from within.

He turned to Qin Cang and lowered his voice to instruct, "Fortress Master, immediately seal the city gates and strictly prohibit anyone from entering or leaving, especially the elders inside the fortress; they are temporarily forbidden from moving around freely. I will immediately arrange for the investigation of internal spies and make sure to eliminate any hidden dangers before the Black Stone Sect makes its move." Qin Cang nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. At this moment, he obeyed Huang Yiming's every word and immediately turned around to arrange for the guards to carry out the order, not daring to delay in the slightest.