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

The morning mist had not yet dissipated from Qin Family Fortress, and the guards on the training ground had just put away their weapons when a thunderous shout came from outside the fortress gate, making the tiles on the walls rattle: "Are all the people of Qin Family Fortress dead? Get out here and answer!"

Qin Cang, leaning on his cane, strode out of the council hall, followed closely by Huang Yiming, Qin Yuling, and Yang Xiu. Qin Hu, carrying a large sword, followed at the back, cursing. Three figures stood outside the fortress gate. The leader, dressed in a gray-blue Daoist robe with a jade belt, had an arrogant face, and faint fluctuations of spiritual energy lingered between his brows—it was Zhou He, a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator from the Black Stone Sect. Behind him were two disciples dressed in gray cloth short-sleeved shirts, their faces expressionless. Although their auras were weak, they were several times stronger than ordinary guards, clearly indicating they were at the Qi Refining Level 1.

Zhou He glanced sideways at Qin Cang, a disdainful smirk playing on his lips, his tone as casual as if he were trampling on an ant: "So you're Qin Cang, the lord of the Qin family fortress? Do you know that my Black Stone Sect's outer network, Black Wind Stronghold, was recently defeated by your men?"

Qin Cang's heart sank. He naturally knew about Huang Yiming's killing of the Black Wind Stronghold leader, but he hadn't expected that the Black Wind Stronghold was actually an outer force of the Black Stone Sect. Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, he cupped his hands and said, "Cultivator, please calm down. The Black Wind Stronghold has been robbing my Qin Family Fortress for many years. We were merely acting in self-defense and had no intention of being enemies with the Black Stone Sect."

"Self-defense?" Zhou He scoffed, stepping forward and unleashing the oppressive aura of a third-level Qi Refining cultivator, an invisible wave of energy instantly sweeping across the entire area. The Qin Family Fort guards paled and retreated hastily; even Qin Cang couldn't help but groan, staggering. "Mortal ants, do you dare talk to me about self-defense? Black Wind Stronghold is under the protection of my Black Stone Sect. To harm them is to slap my Black Stone Sect in the face!"

His gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on Huang Yiming, his mockery intensifying: "So it was you, kid, who managed to kill the Black Wind Stronghold leader through unorthodox methods? I thought you were someone important, but you're just a useless mortal who can't even sense spiritual energy, yet you dare to show off your skills in front of me."

Qin Hu immediately flew into a rage, brandishing his broadsword and charging forward: "You fucking spout nonsense! My brother Ming is incredibly powerful, ten times stronger than you, you charlatan!"

Zhou He's eyes turned cold, and he raised his hand, unleashing a burst of spiritual energy. Qin Hu didn't even touch the hem of his clothes before being struck as if by a heavy hammer, flying backward and crashing heavily to the ground, his legs in the air, his face covered in dust. He struggled to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but he still stubbornly insisted, "You cheated! If you have the guts, fight me bare-handed without using your magic!"

"Mortals dare to talk about fairness?" Zhou He sneered, his tone growing increasingly arrogant. "Today I won't waste any more words. Compensate my Black Stone Sect for its losses: one hundred catties of spirit rice and five demon beast inner cores. If you're short of one item, I'll demolish Qin Family Fortress and cripple you all to feed the demon beasts!"

Spirit rice and demon beast inner cores are both essential resources for cultivators in the fantasy world. Although Qin Family Fortress has reserves, they are far from enough. Qin Cang looked troubled: "Sir, spirit rice and demon beast inner cores are too precious. Qin Family Fortress simply cannot gather them all. Please grant us a few more days, and we will do our best to procure them."

Huang Yiming stood calmly to the side, but a hint of coldness lurked in his eyes. He knew that Zhou He hadn't come to ask for compensation at all, but rather to seize the "strange items"—the modern supplies he had brought—that Qin Family Fortress possessed. He deliberately stepped forward, feigning timidity, and bowed, saying, "Sir, please calm your anger. The Fortress Master's words are true; we truly cannot gather the necessary funds. Please, sir, show mercy and allow us to think of another way."

Seeing Huang Yiming's cowardly demeanor, Zhou He became even more brazen. His gaze fell on the pistol at Huang Yiming's waist—it was one Huang Yiming had deliberately tucked there, its casing jet black, its design peculiar, unlike anything ever seen in the fantasy world. A glint of greed flashed in Zhou He's eyes, and he reached out to snatch it: "What is this thing? It looks like a rare artifact, let me see it!"

Huang Yiming slightly turned his body, seemingly unintentionally avoiding the attack. Zhou He's face darkened, and his tone became increasingly fierce: "What? You mortal trash, you dare to disrespect me?" His gaze swept over Qin Yuling and Yang Xiu, his eyes turning lewd: "Since you can't raise the compensation, then hand these two young ladies over to me. Take them back to the Black Stone Sect as maids, and perhaps I can spare you this time."

Qin Yuling's face turned cold. She drew her sword and pointed the tip at Zhou He: "How dare you!" Yang Xiu also stepped forward and stood in front of Huang Yiming. Although she looked afraid, she still refused to back down.

Zhou He flew into a rage: "You ignorant mortals!" He raised his hand and released spiritual energy, two invisible energies instantly binding Qin Cang and Qin Hu, trapping them completely and rendering them unable to move. Immediately afterward, he unleashed another burst of spiritual energy, striking Yang Xiu in the chest. Yang Xiu groaned, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and staggered back a few steps, but still stared intently at Zhou He.

Qin Yuling swung her sword at Zhou He, but as a mere mortal martial artist, she was utterly unable to break through Zhou He's spiritual energy barrier—the moment the blade touched the energy, it was bounced back, leaving her hands numb. Zhou He struck Qin Yuling's shoulder with a backhand palm strike, causing her to scream in pain as her sword slipped from her grasp and she fell to the ground.

In an instant, all the key figures of Qin Family Fortress were subdued. The guards were too frightened to step forward and could only watch helplessly as Zhou He acted arrogantly and domineeringly. Zhou He walked up to Qin Yuling with a sinister smile, looking down at her, and reached out to grab her wrist: "Little lady, don't struggle. Come back to Black Stone Sect with me, and I'll guarantee you a life of luxury."

Just as Zhou He's fingers were about to touch Qin Yuling's wrist, Huang Yiming, who had been feigning timidity, suddenly raised his head. The timidity in his eyes vanished without a trace, replaced by a chilling glint. He slowly drew his pistol from his waist, pointed the muzzle at Zhou He's head, and said in an icy voice, word by word, "Try moving again."

Zhou He froze abruptly, looking down at the pistol in Huang Yiming's hand, a disdainful smile on his face: "A mere mortal trash, daring to threaten me with a piece of junk?" But looking at the cold light in Huang Yiming's eyes, a sense of unease inexplicably rose in his heart—that icy aura was definitely not something a mortal could possess.