Volume 3, Chapter 217 – Who Dares Call Themselves a Genius Before Me? (Part 3)

“Who is she?”

Cheng Hongling instinctively turned her head to ask, and the others also looked toward Qin Quan.

“She… she seems to be a female disciple from the Honghua Sect from two hundred years ago.”

After carefully examining the bewitching woman, Qin Quan spoke up.

“Right, right! Now I remember—she’s Zeng Cai!”

Elder Ruan suddenly exclaimed in realization.

“Hehe, who would’ve thought that after over two hundred years, there are still people in the Honghua Sect who remember me? Though, looking around Huangtian Prefecture, there really aren’t any great beauties. No wonder you all cling to my memory so fondly.”

Zeng Cai, her face heavily made-up, wore a smug expression.

“Weren’t you sent to suppress the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground back then? Why are you here? And why have you become a ghost?”

Qin Quan frowned slightly before voicing his confusion.

“Why else? I was ordered to come welcome our Crown Princess, of course!”

Zeng Cai smirked without directly answering.

Qin Quan’s brows furrowed deeper before a flash of understanding crossed his face. “I see now. You must have perished there, and due to the Yin energy of that cursed land, you turned into a malignant ghost. Then, this ‘Crown Prince’ you serve must be the source of that evil, correct?”

“Apologies, but the Crown Prince is not someone lowly commoners like us can casually discuss.”

Zeng Cai neither confirmed nor denied, merely smiling ambiguously.

“Ridiculous! A disciple of an immortal sect, yet so fearful of a mere mortal crown prince from a fallen dynasty—even colluding with evil! Do you even realize this was once your sect?”

Qin Quan rebuked sharply.

“What sect? Don’t flatter yourselves. I was just a hired façade for your reputation. My true sect is that supreme immortal sect in the north!”

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Zeng Cai sneered in retort.

“Sect Leader, just who is this woman? Why would you recognize a female disciple from two hundred years ago?”

Xu Mei asked in astonishment.

“She was different from the other disciples. Before Hongling arrived, she was hailed as the greatest beauty the Honghua Sect had ever seen. The sect leader at the time paid a steep price to poach her from a northern sect as a ‘face’ for our reputation—to prove that Huangtian Prefecture wasn’t devoid of beauty. When I first arrived here over a century ago, her legends and portraits were still everywhere.”

Sect Leader Qin explained carefully.

“A ‘face’? What kind of face?”

Xu Mei asked, puzzled.

“A face for looks, of course! Otherwise, with all the Honghua Sect members being ugly freaks and dwarfs, you’d be laughed at wherever you went!”

Zeng Cai’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

“No wonder she’s just a decorative vase—though she does have some charm.”

Qi Huang suddenly understood.

“Using an outsider to prove that the locals aren’t ugly freaks and dwarfs?”

Xu Mei asked, incredulous.

“Exactly! Hilarious, isn’t it? I thought so too! But what can you do when everyone in Huangtian Prefecture is so unimpressive? Look around—all of you have the faces of rodents, not a single decent-looking one among you.”

Zeng Cai shook her head disdainfully.

“Watch your words! It’s not like you’re some peerless beauty either.”

Cheng Hongling frowned.

“Oh? Seems you’re quite confident in your looks? I’ve heard you and the Holy Maiden of Shuiyu Valley are now called the Twin Moons of the Western Radiance Dynasty?”

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Zeng Cai wasn’t angered, instead shifting the topic.

“Sorry, but I have no interest in such idle gossip. As a cultivator, the only thing I care about is strength.”

Cheng Hongling replied impatiently.

“You may not care, but I do!”

Zeng Cai’s tone suddenly turned sharp. “Back when I was in the Honghua Sect, my beauty was said to be unparalleled, past or future. Now, that title has been stolen by you. If my sect were to hear of this, it would be an unbearable humiliation. Don’t you think I should reclaim the honor of this face?”

“Oh ho! So this woman wants to compete with my main body in looks? How delusional can she be?”

Qi Huang couldn’t help but laugh. Though Zeng Cai was indeed stunningly beautiful, compared to Cheng Hongling—who was enhanced by the Golden Fate Blossoms—she paled in comparison.

“Sorry, I’ll gladly compete in martial arts, but I have no interest in comparing appearances.”

Cheng Hongling shook her head.

“No interest, or no confidence? Huangtian Prefecture has been mocked by the entire cultivation world for centuries. Don’t you want to restore your hometown’s reputation?”

Zeng Cai taunted, clearly provoking her.

Cheng Hongling’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly—those words had struck a nerve.

“Hongling, if she wants to compete, then compete! Do it for the people of Huangtian Prefecture!”

Xu Mei urged from behind.

“Fine. How do you want to compare?”

Cheng Hongling took a deep breath and sheathed her sword.

“Simple. This armored general here is named Li Hua. He was the deputy commander of the imperial guards in the previous dynasty and is intimately familiar with the selection criteria for imperial consorts. His judgment will be the fairest.”

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Zeng Cai gestured toward the armored general.

“Do you take me for a three-year-old? Having your own people judge? How do I know he won’t favor you?”

Cheng Hongling nearly laughed in anger.

“Exactly! Why should he be the judge? Why not one of us? I’d say my taste is far more refined than his. Just look at the rags he’s wearing—what kind of aesthetic sense does that even show?”

Qi Huang also cried foul, attacking Li Hua’s fashion sense.

“Fairy Hongling, I understand your concern, but please don’t worry. You are the Crown Princess personally chosen by His Highness. This lowly general wouldn’t dare to disrespect you by commenting on your appearance.”

The silver-armored general Li Hua first flattered before continuing, “Though I cannot judge, there is something that can.”

He then turned and called out, “Little Ping, bring me the Phoenix Selection Token!”

“Yes, General!”

A female zombie responded, handing him a large pink jade token about half a foot long. The edges were exquisitely carved with lifelike phoenixes, while the center bore a row of characters listing criteria such as figure, face, scent, skin, and more.

“This is the Phoenix Selection Token. I’m sure some here have heard of it. It was used by the imperial palace to evaluate a woman’s beauty—from her face to her figure, even her skin—leaving no detail unassessed. Just hold it, and it will grade every aspect before giving an average score. The higher the number, the more outstanding the beauty. Now, Crown Princess, are you reassured?”

Li Hua held up the token confidently.

“Hmph! General Li carries such a thing with him? Seems you came prepared.”

Xu Mei snorted coldly.

“Naturally. His Highness decreed that to become the Crown Princess, one must score at least a nine. Otherwise, she can only be a corpse.”

Li Hua smirked.

“I’ve seen this before—it’s genuine.”

Qin Quan confirmed from the side.

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“Fine. Then I’ll compete with her.”

Cheng Hongling agreed decisively.

“Wait!”

Qi Huang suddenly interjected. “A competition needs stakes. What do we get if we win? And what happens if you lose?”

“If you win, you can deal with me as you please. If I win, then you must obediently slit your own throat and return with us as the Crown Princess.”

Zeng Cai proposed after some thought.

“Deal! No take-backs!”

Qi Huang immediately agreed. This was free prey delivered to their doorstep—why let it go?

Meanwhile, the ordinary onlookers hiding in the shadows peeked out with keen interest.

Zeng Cai wore a confident smile as she took the Phoenix Selection Token from Li Hua. Pink light shimmered across its surface, displaying evaluations for each category. Her highest score was an eight for her figure, while her lowest was a five for scent. The final average displayed was a seven.

“Only a seven?”

Zeng Cai was visibly displeased.

“A seven is quite good. This is the Phoenix Selection Token—meant for imperial consorts, not some brothel madam who claims all her girls are beauties.”

Li Hua chuckled.

Though dissatisfied, Zeng Cai tossed the token to Cheng Hongling.

Cheng Hongling caught it casually, and pink light immediately began flickering across its surface.

The Honghua Sect members, burning with curiosity, all crowded around to see.