Volume 4, Chapter 250 – The Great Battle Begins (Part 4)

“Surprised? Shocked? Didn’t see this coming?”

Standing tall and looking down with an expressionless face, Qi Huang teased coldly.

“That’s… that’s Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger! Why did she suddenly wake up?”

“Damn that Bi Xin! Why didn’t he warn us? When I get back, I’ll chop him into pieces!”

“If the doppelgänger is here, can the main body be far behind?”

“This Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger… is she strong? Maybe we should take this chance to kill her and end this once and for all!”

The remaining high-ranking members of the Severed Immortal Sect whispered among themselves, some even itching to make a move.

“Run!”

But Hallmaster Pan didn’t hesitate for even a second. He turned and fled in panic toward the foot of the mountain, because from Bi Xin, he already knew just how terrifying this doppelgänger was.

“Thinking of running now? Too late.”

Qi Huang sneered, unleashing an overwhelming divine sense that crushed down like the collapse of the heavens.

“Ahhh—!”

The Severed Immortal Sect’s elites below were either instantly pulverized into bloody paste or sent tumbling into the ravine. The agonized wails of the dying echoed through the mountains, startling flocks of birds into flight.

Qi Huang scanned the area with her divine sense, and after confirming no survivors remained, she continued drifting down the mountain. These dozen or so men were merely the vanguard sent to assassinate her, the main force of the Severed Immortal Sect was still lying in wait. Today, she would eradicate them all, roots and all.

At the foot of the mountain, over a thousand members of the Severed Immortal Sect were divided into four factions, surrounding the Honghua Sect from all directions, east, west, north, and south. Some were locals, while others had come from other provinces, a testament to how seriously the sect’s higher-ups regarded this mission.

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Among the eastern faction, a lean, dark-skinned middle-aged man sipped tea leisurely, occasionally glancing toward the mountaintop as if he were merely sightseeing. His name was Lei Zhen, another hallmaster of the Severed Immortal Sect, with strength comparable to Xiao Sha’s. Originally assigned to another province, he had been dispatched here under direct orders from the sect leader.

“Hallmaster, why hasn’t Hallmaster Xiao sent word yet? Their efficiency is abysmal!”

One of Lei Zhen’s younger subordinates, a hallmaster himself, couldn’t hold back his frustration. They had been waiting here for Cheng Hongling’s death before storming in to wipe out the Honghua Sect’s disciples, that was the plan.

“If he weren’t useless, why would he be stationed in a backwater like Yongning Province? A measly Honghua Sect with barely a hundred disciples, their strongest just a little girl who barely stepped into the Incarnation Realm, yet the Holy Sect had to mobilize forces from other provinces just to deal with them!”

Another middle-aged hallmaster shook his head in disdain.

“Now, now, that’s not entirely fair.”

An older high-ranking member disagreed. “The weaker the Honghua Sect, the better for us, no? We barely have to lift a finger, just stroll around and claim credit. What’s not to like?”

“Hah… Hallmaster Ding, easy for you to say. Do you think we’re all here just for credit? Who isn’t eyeing those female cultivators?”

“Exactly! I heard your youngest son has cultivation talent, didn’t he? You’ve already got what you wanted. What about the rest of us? If we don’t take this chance to snatch a few female cultivators to bear descendants, our future generations will just end up as lowlifes like us.”

The two hallmasters voiced their grievances.

Hallmaster Ding merely smiled, though the smugness on his face was unmistakable.

“You don’t think that bastard Xiao plans to hog all those female cultivators for himself and then call us in to clean up his mess, do you?”

Lei Zhen set down his teacup and stood up.

“That’s definitely it. As the saying goes, ‘no profit, no early rising’. That Xiao isn’t stupid, why would he let us reap rewards for free while he takes the brunt of the fight? Unless he’s planning to monopolize those female cultivators.”

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The youngest hallmaster made his deduction.

“Hah, you underestimate him. With Cheng Hongling around, only a fool would focus on the others.”

Lei Zhen chuckled meaningfully.

“Hallmaster, are you saying his target is Cheng Hongling? But didn’t the higher-ups explicitly order her execution? Would he dare disobey?”

Hallmaster Ding asked in disbelief.

“She’s from the Immortal Alliance, so of course she must die. But if she can be tamed and made into one of us, then execution won’t be necessary.”

A trace of greed flashed across Lei Zhen’s face—clearly, he was interested too.

“Hallmaster Lei is wise. That Cheng Hongling’s talent is extraordinary, any offspring would undoubtedly inherit her gifts. Whoever claims her could change their family’s destiny. For her, any risk is worth taking.”

“And the girl is breathtakingly beautiful, hailed alongside the Holy Maiden of Shuiyu Valley as one of the Twin Moons of the Western Radiance Dynasty. Even if her descendants couldn’t cultivate, they’d still be stunning beauties or dashing men, destined for high status in the mortal world. She’s practically flawless. I bet that’s exactly what Xiao is thinking.”

The two hallmasters didn’t hesitate to voice their speculations.

“Calm down. Let’s wait a little longer. If that bastard Xiao still doesn’t send word, we’ll storm the Honghua Sect ourselves.”

Lei Zhen made the decision, then added bluntly, “This time, no one better dare try to take Cheng Hongling from me—whether it’s her main body or her doppelgänger, I’m claiming both.”

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Meanwhile, a hundred zhang ¹ ~300 m/328 yards outside the camp, Qi Huang hovered silently in the air, her divine sense already mapping out the enemy’s situation.

“You? Claim both?”

Qi Huang curled her lips in disdain. Suddenly, her hair lengthened explosively, surging forward like a black flood toward the Severed Immortal Sect’s camp. But as the strands dispersed, they quickly thinned to near-invisibility, blending seamlessly into the environment. Too fine to be seen, they moved without a sound.

In the blink of an eye, the hair infiltrated the camp, slithering like venomous snakes as they silently struck the cultists, all at the same time, all targeting vital points: temples, hearts.

“Ah—!”

Moments later, agonized screams filled the camp.

“What’s happening?!”

Lei Zhen finally sensed something amiss, just as a single strand of hair shot toward his left chest from behind.

Shing—!

Lei Zhen was no weakling. His reflexes were sharp, and he twisted aside at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the fatal strike. But his subordinates weren’t so lucky. From hallmasters to lowly cultists, none could evade, each was pierced through a vital spot. Death was only a matter of time.

“What the hell is this? Hair?!”

Lei Zhen yanked out his saber, bellowing, “Who’s there?! Show yourself! Sneak attacks are the tactics of cowards!”

“Giggle… I suppose I can’t exactly call myself a ‘hero’ right now.”

Before the words faded, a slender figure materialized in the clearing before Lei Zhen. Her long hair fluttered gently, a pink lotus mark adorning her fair forehead. Her emerald-green Feathered Dress rippled in the wind, and a refreshing fragrance drifted through the air.

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“You… you’re a doppelgänger?”

Lei Zhen’s face twisted in shock. “You’re Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger?!”

“That’s me. Surprised? Shocked? Didn’t see this coming? You said you wanted both, so here I am.”

Qi Huang smirked.

“Weren’t you in a coma? Why did you wake up?!”

Lei Zhen forced himself to steady his nerves. From Xiao Sha’s informants, he knew this girl was terrifying, even more so than the main body. He didn’t know if it was true, but that eerie attack just now had left him wary. Best to stall for now.

“To give you all a little surprise!”

Qi Huang laughed mockingly.

“What do you want?!”

Lei Zhen hadn’t expected her to speak in riddles, leaving him flustered.

“What do I want? Simple. Today, I’m taking the lives of every last one of you from the Severed Immortal Sect.”

Qi Huang narrowed her striking phoenix eyes, dark pupils glinting with icy resolve.

“Arrogant brat! A mere doppelgänger only has 80% of the main body’s talent. How strong can you possibly be? I refuse to believe you’re stronger than the original!”

Lei Zhen took a deep breath, steeling himself for a desperate fight.