Volume 4, Chapter 265 – Why Have All My Brothers Turned into Sisters?

According to the Spiritual Wisdom Soul’s expectations, the moment she stepped out of the Heart’s Door, she should have immediately taken over the body and awakened. Yet, the scene before her eyes now was completely beyond her imagination—wasn’t this just like seeing a ghost?

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul blankly surveyed her surroundings, then glanced at the nine “sisters” around her. A relieved smile spread across her face. “I understand now. The main body must have recalled the impostor back into the Sea of Consciousness. Since there’s no physical body left, I ended up here the moment I emerged. No wonder the energy I was absorbing suddenly cut off earlier.”

“Fifth Sister! How did you suddenly split like this for no reason?”

The Heavenly Soul steadied herself before cautiously asking.

“Yeah! I’ve never heard of a single soul fragment splitting on its own!”

The Earthly Soul’s delicate face revealed a trace of wariness.

“It’s not a split! She is her, and I am me!”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul sneered before turning to look at the unconscious Qi Huang. Her cheeks twitched slightly, her pearly teeth grinding together with an audible creak.

“I’m a bit confused. Aren’t you both the Spiritual Wisdom Soul?”

The Human Soul asked in bewilderment. The other sisters, having regained some composure, also gathered around.

“That’s likely not the case. I am the true Spiritual Wisdom Soul, while she…”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul let out a disdainful chuckle. “She’s just an impostor!”

“An impostor?”

The sisters exchanged glances, their identical pretty faces all clouded with doubt.

“Never mind, I can’t explain this clearly to you. I need to speak with the main body!”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul grew impatient and immediately sent a mental message to Cheng Hongling.

At that moment, Cheng Hongling was just about to clean up the battlefield. Hearing “Qi Huang’s” call, she was overjoyed and instantly projected her consciousness into the Sea of Consciousness. However, upon seeing the scene before her, even her usually unshakable composure shattered, because there were now two “Qi Huang” figures in the palace, one conscious and the other unconscious!

“What kind of trick are you pulling now? How did you start splitting apart after just a short while apart? Don’t you think this palace is already crowded enough?”

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Cheng Hongling’s anger flared up instantly. She thought to herself that this troublemaker was up to her old antics again the moment she woke up, utterly incorrigible.

“A short while apart? Heh, it’s been over half a year since we last saw each other. The last time was outside the Honghua Sect’s gates, where you ambushed me without honor and knocked me out.”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul replied with an indifferent smile.

“What do you mean?”

Cheng Hongling’s willow-like brows furrowed.

“What I mean is simple, I am the true Spiritual Wisdom Soul, one of your three ethereal and seven corporeal souls. As for her… she’s a fake!”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul turned and pointed at Qi Huang.

“What?! A fake?”

For an instant, Cheng Hongling’s expression drastically changed, because she had always felt that the doppelgänger didn’t resemble her. She had long harbored such suspicions.

Yet, mere moments later, she steadied herself. After all, this matter was utterly fantastical.

“You take me for a fool? Not only do you two look exactly alike, but I also share a Soul Tether with her. How could she possibly be an impostor?”

To prove her point, Cheng Hongling activated the Soul Tether, confirming that she could indeed establish a connection with Qi Huang.

“That’s only because she’s already been assimilated by me. Her true identity is… Huang Qi!”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul explained.

“What?! You’re saying she’s Huang Qi? That Huang Qi from Huatian Village? Disciple of Elder Hu?”

Cheng Hongling asked in disbelief.

“Correct. Do you remember when you first refined me into a doppelgänger? You collapsed from exhaustion, and I, fearing continued imprisonment, secretly escaped the Honghua Sect by attaching myself to that Human Skin Mask. Along the way, this guy picked it up! To deal with his family, he wore the mask and disguised himself as a woman. Over time, under my assimilation, his soul and body became identical to mine.”

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The Spiritual Wisdom Soul kept her explanation brief.

“Assimilation? What assimilation?”

Cheng Hongling’s frown deepened, her breathing growing heavier. Things were unfolding in a direction she did not wish to see.

“After becoming a doppelgänger, I gained a unique power, the ability to make others’ souls and bodies identical to mine. I can even turn men into women. I call this energy ‘Assimilation Qi’”.

Gradually, a trace of confusion surfaced on the Spiritual Wisdom Soul’s face, because her main body’s reaction was completely unexpected.

“Your claims are far too unbelievable. Do you have any concrete evidence?”

After a moment of contemplation, Cheng Hongling demanded proof.

“Evidence? Do you need evidence? Just think about it, does she resemble you in any way? Not only does she act without any sense of propriety, but her fondness for women alone proves that deep down, she’s a man! Add to that her obsession with Elder Hu and the people of Huatian Village, doesn’t that confirm she’s Huang Qi?”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul’s emotions grew agitated. She knew that, just like Qi Huang, she had no margin for error.

Cheng Hongling’s expression gradually softened. She had to admit that Qi Huang’s behavior was suspicious.

“Stop hesitating! Help me destroy her now while she’s still unconscious. If she wakes up, it’ll be too late. Earlier, to deal with that Altar Master Xu’s killing intent, I erased her fear. Your intimidation won’t work on her anymore. As she is now, she has no weaknesses left.”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul urged impatiently.

“I already told you, these are just speculations! Unless you can make her reveal her true form, I won’t condemn her to death based solely on your words.”

After some thought, Cheng Hongling still shook her head.

“Since when did the mighty Fairy Hongling become so indecisive? Do you not trust me, or is there another reason?”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul sighed in disappointment.

“Don’t try to provoke me. It won’t work!”

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Cheng Hongling remained firm. Though decisive in battle, she never acted recklessly.

“Revealing her true form is impossible. As I said, her appearance has been completely assimilated, she’s now my duplicate. Otherwise, how could you have formed a Soul Tether with her? However, there are still three unassimilated male soul fragments in her Sea of Consciousness. See for yourself!”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul did her utmost to explain.

“You overestimate me. I can’t peer into her Sea of Consciousness. Why don’t you extract those three male souls and show them to me?”

“How is that possible? I’m not her true Life Soul, I don’t share a Soul Tether with them!”

“Then there’s nothing to be done.”

Cheng Hongling remained unmoved.

“You’ve disappointed me.”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul sighed and shook her head.

“My apologies, but I don’t exist to satisfy you.”

Cheng Hongling remained indifferent.

“Wait! There’s one thing that can expose her identity. She cultivated a male doppelgänger to replace herself, and he’s currently at her home in Ping’an County. If you can capture him, the truth will come to light!”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul suddenly recalled this detail.

Cheng Hongling’s face once again showed hesitation. After all, her home and the Honghua Sect had just been attacked, there was still much aftermath to deal with. How could she leave so easily?

“What’s there to hesitate about? At your speed, Huatian Village is only an hour or two away. If you’re worried, just store Mother in your spatial ring and take her with you.”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul pressed anxiously. She knew Qi Huang could wake up at any moment.

Cheng Hongling bit her lip, then exited the Sea of Consciousness. Once she regained control of her body, she turned to her mother.

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“Mother, I need to make a trip. It’s not safe for you to stay here, so I’ll have to trouble you for a bit.”

“Don’t worry about me. It’s my fault for always being a burden to you.”

Jiang Linian smiled weakly.

Cheng Hongling shook her head, then stored her mother in her spatial ring before darting off toward Huatian Village.

An indeterminate amount of time later, Qi Huang groggily awoke. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a familiar palace.

“So I’m back in my Sea of Consciousness. If I can still wake up, that means the Spiritual Wisdom Soul failed!”

The thought eased her mind considerably. She looked around and saw her nine “sisters” staring at her with complex expressions.

“Hello, sisters! I thought I’d never see you again, I actually missed you all!”

Qi Huang teased with a cheeky grin. Being able to wake up again made the world feel incredibly beautiful. Yet, something felt… off.

“Only greeting your sisters? Not saying hello to your brothers?”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul sneered, her tone laced with mockery.

Qi Huang’s expression froze. She had finally realized what was wrong.

‘Why are there only sisters? Where are my three brothers?’

Her breath hitched as her panicked gaze swept across the hall, searching desperately.