Volume 3, Chapter 141 – Father Goes Missing

“Ah! I’m finally free too!”

The Heavenly Soul sighed with emotion. As one of the three ethereal souls and seven corporeal souls, he had been imprisoned in the Sea of Consciousness since gaining awareness – nearly thirty years now. He had longed day and night to see the outside world, and today his wish was finally granted.

“You should thank yourself for standing firm and not being bewitched by that enchantress. Otherwise, even if you hadn’t been feminized, I wouldn’t have chosen you.”

Qi Huang stated her reasoning. The last time she had managed to escape successfully was thanks to the help of these male souls – otherwise she truly wouldn’t have woken up.

“Don’t worry about that. Not just me, none of the other brothers were willing to be feminized willingly, nor does anyone want to usurp power. We all hope that when your cultivation reaches higher levels, you can cultivate us all into doppelgängers so every soul can be free.”

The doppelgänger “Huang Qi” explained.

“Good, that’s exactly what I’m thinking too.”

Qi Huang was very satisfied. After all, the stronger one’s cultivation, the more doppelgängers one could create. Experts at the Heavenly Tribulation Realm could cultivate all three ethereal and seven corporeal souls into doppelgängers.

“These are clothes and a mask I prepared for you. Once you’ve dressed, hurry back to Huatian Village. From now on, our family is in your hands.”

Qi Huang handed over a bundle.

“When will you return?”

The doppelgänger “Huang Qi” couldn’t help but ask.

“You know my current situation – where I go isn’t up to me. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely go back to visit whenever I get the chance.”

Qi Huang reassured him.

Hearing this, the doppelgänger Huang Qi felt slightly relieved. He had been truly afraid the main body would treat him as just a tool to be discarded after use.

“By the way, what’s your current strength?”

Qi Huang quickly asked.

“My cultivation is about the second layer of Spirit Gathering Realm, while my divine sense strength should be at the peak of Unity Realm.”

Rеаⅾ oո КatRеαdinɡСаfe

The doppelgänger “Huang Qi” carefully assessed himself before answering.

Qi Huang fell into thought. Although his strength was far below hers, it should be enough to protect their family and Huatian Village.

“Focus on protecting our family and villagers. I’ll work hard on my cultivation outside. If I find anything that could help you, I’ll bring it back. Once we can completely resolve the family’s safety issues, your mission will be complete.”

Qi Huang assigned his tasks.

“Don’t worry, I understand. Protecting our family is my duty.”

The doppelgänger “Huang Qi” responded reasonably.

“Alright, for convenience, I’ll call you Huang Tian ¹ 黄天 from now on, since you are the Heavenly Soul after all.”

Qi Huang said after some thought.

After all instructions were given, Huang Tian began dressing. In truth, he had been completely naked since being created. If he hadn’t known this stunningly beautiful girl before him was his main body, he definitely wouldn’t have been able to converse so calmly for so long.

“One more thing – I’m going back to deal with our family now. You absolutely must not let that Spiritual Wisdom Soul feminize me again. If I were turned into a girl too, I’d become her puppet – not only unable to handle family matters but also unwilling to protect them anymore.”

After dressing, Huang Tian gave this uneasy reminder.

“Trust me! I swear I won’t let her feminize you again.”

Qi Huang pledged solemnly.

Huang Tian was half-convinced. After confirming no one was outside the cave dwelling, he took the silver taels given by the main body and set off for Huatian Village to protect their family.

Qi Huang let out a long sigh of relief. After becoming a girl, this long-standing worry was finally resolved today. From now on she could cultivate peacefully, only needing to occasionally return to play the role of her own fiancée.

Truth be told, Qi Huang didn’t need to go to such lengths to keep this secret. After her grandfather’s seventieth birthday, she could have told her family the truth. But who could blame her filial piety? Seeing how excited her grandfather was about having a granddaughter-in-law, she simply couldn’t bring herself to say those words.

As the saying goes – as long as grandfather lives one more day, she as his “grandson” would ensure he lived that day with a smile.

Rеаⅾ оn KαtReαԁіոɡСafе

Qi Huang composed herself and also left the cave dwelling.

Returning to Orchid Courtyard, her first task was naturally to check on her ghost tomatoes. Soon a smile appeared on her face – under her mother’s careful tending, the sprouts had grown another inch or two.

“Come to my room!”

At that moment, the main body’s voice came from inside.

Qi Huang obediently entered, feeling quite guilty because of her secret activities.

“Your sword – I brought it back from the smithy for you.”

Cheng Hongling didn’t give her a hard time, instead taking a sword from the shelf and handing it to Qi Huang.

“My sword is finished?”

Qi Huang was overjoyed and immediately took the sword. Since she had requested a narrow blade only two fingers wide, even with its scabbard it looked petite and light.

As for why she wanted a narrow sword – the reason was simple. Her cultivation was only at the third layer of Spirit Gathering Realm, and blue scale stone was extremely heavy. A larger sword would have been too cumbersome.

Qi Huang examined it carefully. The sword matched her specifications perfectly. The scabbard was silvery-white, forged from mithril with beautiful patterns. Drawing the blade revealed a blue flash like lightning – the slender blade was thin as a cicada’s wing with scale-like patterns, a natural characteristic of blue scale stone. The hilt was made of ebony, smooth yet tough, while the crossguard spread out like bat wings, creating a striking contrast with the white scabbard that exuded a unique allure.

“Excellent! All my efforts weren’t wasted!”

Qi Huang couldn’t put it down, sighing with admiration.

“Such a thin sword – even if forged purely from blue scale stone, it couldn’t withstand intense combat. I don’t know what you plan to do with it.”

Cheng Hongling’s reaction was completely opposite, her face showing disdain.

“Oh my dear sister! Haven’t you heard the saying – swords value lightness while sabers emphasize heft?”

Qi Huang argued logically, not about to admit it was because of her weak strength.

Rеad оո КatRеаdіոgСаfе

“That refers to sword techniques, not the sword’s weight. If we only considered weight, then peach wood swords would be even lighter.”

Cheng Hongling was even more dismissive.

Qi Huang just smiled foolishly, not planning to argue further.

“Clearly lacking strength but still making excuses.”

Cheng Hongling wouldn’t let it go.

“Can’t you leave me some face?”

Qi Huang immediately made a bitter face.

“By the way, have master and our senior sisters’ swords been forged too?”

Qi Huang quickly remembered this matter.

“All finished.”

Cheng Hongling answered casually.

“Great! The female disciples of our Honghua Sect are about to see their combat power skyrocket.”

Qi Huang said happily.

“Skyrocket what? Do you know what our Honghua Sect is most lacking right now?”

Cheng Hongling countered.

“What?”

Qi Huang was stunned, but quickly realized: “Cat tears, right?”

Rеаd οո ΚatRеаԁіոɡCαfе

“Exactly. No matter how good our equipment is, if we can’t see the ghosts we’re fighting, it doesn’t solve the fundamental problem. Recently many more male disciples have died on missions. It’s only because our master only has female disciples that the sect leader took pity and didn’t assign mandatory missions – otherwise who knows how many of our senior sisters would be left.”

Cheng Hongling’s expression was serious.

“Sigh!”

Qi Huang also sighed helplessly. Other problems could be solved, but this one was truly difficult. She had her own matters to attend to – she couldn’t follow those senior sisters around like a nanny all day. It seemed the cat tear issue still needed solving.

Night deepened over Yongning Prefecture, but with its large population and abundant yang energy, the night market remained lively with lanterns and decorations everywhere, especially near a peculiar circular building at the city center.

This building stood out starkly from its surroundings. Not only was it enormous in area, but it rose five stories high with each floor divided into private rooms of varying sizes where richly dressed nobles currently sat.

The building’s center was designed as an open platform. With no obstructions, people in the surrounding rooms could clearly see whoever or whatever was on it.

This was the Yongning branch of the Western Radiance Dynasty’s largest auction house, the Gathering Gold Auction House. Every night they held two-hour auctions, and tonight was no exception.

The auction hadn’t begun yet, but Cheng Yuan couldn’t wait to enter. He had come to purchase a rare medicinal herb his daughter urgently needed.

Cheng Yuan entered a private room with two attendants. When the auction began, he watched anxiously until finally the herb he wanted appeared.

Gritting his teeth, Cheng Yuan successfully won the bid for the herb and left satisfied. Although the price exceeded his expectations, for his daughter no cost was too great. Little did he know, he had already been marked.

“Smile? You’re just holding that temporarily for me.”

In a luxurious room on the third floor, a man said disdainfully.

“Exactly. Only fools spend big money here. Truly smart people wait halfway to get it for free.”

An attendant nearby flattered.