Volume 4, Chapter 247 – The Great Battle Begins (Part 1)

The two of them chatted idly, with Qi Huang unable to move and thus forced to obediently let her main body carry her.

In the world of cultivation, there had always been a consensus: the physical body was the vessel the Heavenly Dao used to punish mortals, a thing that harbored filth, plagued by ailments both great and small.

But Cheng Hongling was different.

She was the peerless fairy of the Honghua Sect, having reached the Incarnation Realm at just sixteen years of age. Her jade-like body had long been refined to purity and flawlessness, further enhanced by the Golden Fate Blossoms. Despite her youth, her curves were enchantingly voluptuous, exuding a mature femininity. Paired with her aloof expression, she radiated an intense sense of contradiction, intimidating enough to make timid men feel inferior while stirring a desire to conquer in the bolder ones.

Qi Huang lay sprawled across her main body’s back, the fragrance of the Golden Fate Blossoms now familiar to her. Yet the natural, youthful scent of the girl still made her heart race. Pressed so tightly against her main body, she could feel the soft, jelly-like elasticity of that delicate frame, its smoothness and tenderness making her feel as though she were sinking into an intoxicating bliss. She almost wished she could stay like this forever.

Of course, there was regret as well, without the support of male hormones, no matter how much her heart stirred, it always felt like scratching an itch through a boot, lacking the intense stimulation she had once known. Perhaps this was the nature of a woman’s emotions: subtle and restrained.

Cheng Hongling, too, soon fell into a state of distracted musings, though not because of their physical contact, but because she was reflecting on her earlier loss of composure.

‘How strange. I am her, and she is me. I’ve faced life-and-death situations countless times over the years, why did I lose control this time?’

No matter how much she pondered, Cheng Hongling couldn’t make sense of it. She had never considered herself a coward, so there was no reason for her to panic just because her doppelgänger was in trouble. Recalling how even more flustered she had been upon finding Qi Huang unconscious, she burned with shame.

‘With a mindset like this, how can I have the nerve to cultivate immortality? How can I let people call me a fairy?’

She mocked herself relentlessly, desperately searching for answers, but none came.

In truth, the saying held: Those involved are blinded, while onlookers see clearly. Because Qi Huang possessed her own personality, Cheng Hongling no longer saw her as just a mere doppelgänger, but as an independent individual.

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And as their bond deepened, Qi Huang’s importance in Cheng Hongling’s heart grew heavier, hence her loss of composure. Of course, this also revealed that Cheng Hongling now valued Qi Huang even more than herself.

Naturally, the same was true in Qi Huang’s heart, which was precisely why she hadn’t immediately brought her two brothers to the Honghua Sect.

Lost in their thoughts, the two returned to the Honghua Sect. Cheng Hongling followed Qi Huang’s wishes, doing her best to shoo away visitors. For the particularly stubborn ones, like those senior sisters, she made sure they didn’t get too close.

Though Qi Huang appeared to be lying there like a corpse, she was actually busy with her own task, using her divine sense to monitor that disciple of the Severed Immortal Sect. In truth, from the moment she saw the two meet, her divine sense had never left him.

Since the disciple wasn’t a cultivator, he had no way of detecting the surveillance. He continuously communicated with his fellow sect members outside, using a Thousand-Mile Communication Tube to report Qi Huang’s condition.

During this time, Qi Huang learned more about him. His name was Bi Xin, ostensibly an ordinary person who had come to the Honghua Sect to purchase residency rights, but in reality, he was a spy planted by the Severed Immortal Sect.

She also observed the so-called Eavesdropper’s Ear, which looked like an ordinary bamboo tube but was, in fact, an extraordinary magical artifact. Placing it against one’s ear allowed the user to hear sounds from dozens of miles away, with adjustable range and distance.

The more Qi Huang observed, the more her fingers itched with desire. If she could get her hands on this thing and pair it with Yaoyao’s divine sense-blocking ability, wouldn’t she essentially become invisible? From then on, no matter if it were a dragon’s pool or a tiger’s den, she could come and go as she pleased. The more she thought about it, the firmer her resolve to claim it for herself grew. After all, when something was delivered right to her doorstep, wasn’t it only right to take it?

In a courtyard residence within the prefecture, four or five men were gathered in the main hall for discussions. Seated at the head was none other than Xiao Sha, the altar master of the Severed Immortal Sect who had once chased Qi Huang to the brink of despair.

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“Gentlemen, I’ve called you here today to discuss a matter of great importance. It seems we must launch a large-scale operation.”

Xiao Sha’s voice was low and rough. He was a burly man with dark, oily skin, exuding a bestial aura.

“Altar Master, what kind of operation?”

The high-ranking members below exchanged glances before one of them spoke up.

“Hall Master Pan, you oversee our sect’s affairs in Huangtian Prefecture. Brief everyone on the situation.”

Xiao Sha glanced at a refined middle-aged man with a goatee sitting below.

“Yes!”

Hall Master Pan acknowledged the order, standing up and cupping his fists in salute before asking, “I assume everyone has heard of the Honghua Sect?”

“Of course! They’re the weakest cultivation sect in Yongning Province!”

“That was before. In recent years, they’ve produced a genius girl who reached the Incarnation Realm at just sixteen. So now, the Honghua Sect is no longer at the bottom of Yongning’s hierarchy.”

“You’re talking about that Cheng Hongling, right? I’ve heard of her. Reaching the Incarnation Realm at sixteen, such talent is on par with the top prodigies of the super sects in the Central Continent. If she’s allowed to grow, our Severed Immortal Sect will have another formidable enemy.”

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The hall masters below whispered among themselves, their expressions grave.

“It seems everyone is familiar with the Honghua Sect! Indeed, a few years ago, they were the weakest immortal sect in Yongning Province. Following the principle of avoiding the strong and attacking the weak, our altar master has long focused our efforts there, ordering me to monitor their movements and strike at the first opportunity. But then Cheng Hongling suddenly rose to prominence, forcing us to shelve the plan.”

Hall Master Pan spoke methodically, his eyes gleaming as he continued, “However, heaven rewards the diligent. Recently, I received word from our informant that Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger has fallen into a coma for some unknown reason, and she can’t even recall it to her Sea of Consciousness. It’s just lying there, completely vulnerable.”

“What? Such a thing actually happened? Heaven truly favors us!”

The hall masters immediately erupted in excitement, for they all understood the implications.

“I’m sure everyone has already realized, killing an Incarnation Realm cultivator is no easy task. But killing a comatose doppelgänger that can’t be recalled? Easier than slaughtering a chicken.”

Hall Master Pan’s voice was icy with disdain.

“This is why I’ve gathered you all. Opportunity knocks but once. If we can seize this chance to eliminate Cheng Hongling, the Honghua Sect will be left with nothing but small fry. Wiping them out would then be effortless. And when that happens, the tens of thousands of women trapped inside will finally be liberated, to the benefit of all men in Huangtian Prefecture.”

Xiao Sha delivered the concluding remarks.

“Altar Master, give the order! For the sake of all men, I will paint the Honghua Sect’s gates red with blood!”

“Indeed! Even if it costs my life, I’ll make those women understand, immortal sects aren’t paradise. Even if they enter one, they’ll never truly become untouchable fairies. I’ll drag them back to reality!”

“And let the women of the mortal world see, there are plenty of women out there. What nonsense about scarcity increasing value! Once an immortal sect falls, tens of thousands of women will flood the market, competing with them. Soon enough, their status won’t even match that of dogs!”

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“Our Severed Immortal Sect has lain dormant for too long. It’s time to remind the world of our existence, lest the outside world forgets that we don’t fear the Immortal Alliance!”

The hall masters declared their resolve one after another, their fighting spirit blazing.

“Good! I’ve seen your determination! But determination alone isn’t enough, we must devise a complete plan. After all, our goal isn’t just to kill Cheng Hongling, but to annihilate the entire Honghua Sect.”

Xiao Sha smiled in satisfaction before beginning to outline their strategy in detail.

Qi Huang spent three days lying in bed like a corpse, until the Severed Immortal Sect finally made their move!

That morning, thousands of martial artists converged from all directions, surrounding the Honghua Sect.

Leading them, Xiao Sha moved through the forest like a beast, leaping between trees before landing before the Honghua Sect’s main gate. His voice thundered like a storm as he issued his challenge:

“Cheng Hongling of the Honghua Sect, hear me! I am Xiao Sha, altar master of the Severed Immortal Sect! Word has it you’ve reached the Incarnation Realm, today, I’ve come to test your skills in martial discourse! Come out and enlighten me!”