Volume 4, Chapter 267 – Identity Exposed (Part 2)

Cheng Hongling, a peerless fairy whose name struck fear into the hearts of all evil cultivators and demonic practitioners across Huangtian Prefecture. The reason? She was decisive in slaughter, never showing mercy. Once her sword was drawn, death was certain.

Qi Huang had spent enough time with her main body to know that this wasn’t an exaggeration. It was why she reflexively withdrew her doppelgänger the moment Cheng Hongling made a move. In her memory, the main body had never made empty threats.

Unfortunately, this time, Cheng Hongling was bluffing.

She was indeed ruthless in battle, but she never killed indiscriminately. Without concrete evidence, how could she recklessly take a life?

Thus, her sword strike this time was merely a test, and it worked. Qi Huang had fallen for it.

Moreover, Cheng Hongling’s reckless attack had even startled her own Spiritual Wisdom Soul, which had taken over Qi Huang’s original Spiritual Wisdom Soul. If Qi Huang died, she would perish as well.

Almost instantly, Cheng Hongling’s Spiritual Wisdom Soul leaped out, voluntarily separating from Qi Huang’s.

Qi Huang’s Spiritual Wisdom Soul blinked in momentary confusion before regaining self-awareness. Though she was no longer a puppet, the effects of her feminization remained, so her gaze toward Qi Huang was still filled with hostility.

Qi Huang, devoid of fear, remained eerily calm. If she was going to die, she at least wanted to die “whole”. So, she released her Soul Tether once more, forcibly dragging her Spiritual Wisdom Soul back into her Sea of Consciousness.

Cheng Hongling’s Spiritual Wisdom Soul wasn’t in a hurry. Now that the imposter had been exposed, she could always seize control later.

Outside, Cheng Hongling’s expression was frosty. Her sword vanished from her hand as her Life Soul instantly appeared within the grand hall of her Sea of Consciousness.

Inside the palace of the mind, all the souls stared at Qi Huang in disbelief. They could hardly believe what they were seeing, how could a doppelgänger cultivate another doppelgänger? And one of them was even male?!

“Cheng… Cheng Ling, were you telling the truth?”

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One of the sisters asked Cheng Hongling’s Spiritual Wisdom Soul in shock.

‘So her name is Cheng Ling.’

Qi Huang silently noted the name of the culprit responsible for her feminization.

“How could it be false? Everyone saw it, she just used a Soul Tether to recall that ‘Huang Qi’ into her Sea of Consciousness!”

Cheng Ling emphasized before turning her sharp gaze back to Qi Huang. “Now, what excuses do you have left?”

Qi Huang knew the game was up. She remained silent.

“I demand an explanation.”

Cheng Hongling stepped forward, her starry, emotionless eyes fixed on Qi Huang like a frozen night sky, beautiful, yet devoid of warmth.

Qi Huang met her gaze. She wanted to speak, but an inexplicable surge of guilt rendered her unable to lie.

“I have nothing to say. Do what you will. But this was my doing alone, spare my family.”

“So, everything Cheng Ling said is true?” Cheng Hongling pressed.

“Yes.”

Qi Huang nodded without fear. With her emotions of terror erased, death held no meaning for her.

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Of course, Qi Huang had considered resisting, but against Cheng Hongling’s Killing Intent, she stood no chance.

“I have a question.” Cheng Hongling turned to Cheng Ling. “Where have you been these past six months? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“You know the Heart’s Door in the Sea of Consciousness is controlled by the Life Soul. Her divine sense was too strong, I couldn’t break through alone. So, I had to assimilate the Three Ethereal Souls and Seven Corporeal Souls one by one, enlisting their help. It wasn’t until recently that I managed to assimilate six of them. If this impostor hadn’t fallen unconscious, who knows how much longer I’d have been trapped?”

Cheng Ling’s explanation was concise.

Cheng Hongling fell into thought before turning back to Qi Huang.

“You knew exhausting your divine sense would give her an opening. Why risk it to save my father?”

Qi Huang took a deep breath.

“As she said, several of my souls were already assimilated. I couldn’t help but… start seeing your father as my own.”

A self-deprecating smile tugged at her lips.

For the first time, Cheng Hongling’s icy expression flickered. She stood frozen, like a beautiful statue, lost in thought.

“What are you waiting for?” Cheng Ling urged impatiently.

“What do you want me to do?” Cheng Hongling finally asked.

“Expel her physical body. Once I take over, it won’t take long to assimilate those three male souls, two men and one… whatever that other thing is. Once they’re gone, she’ll vanish from this world completely.”

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Cheng Ling’s demand was ruthless.

“And then? You’ll seize her body, become its Life Soul, and break free from me. Is that it?”

Cheng Hongling’s voice was deceptively calm.

“What’s wrong with that? We’re the same person. Even without a Soul Tether, I’d still be more reliable than some outsider.”

“It does sound ideal.” Cheng Hongling’s lips curled coldly. “But tell me, what right do we have to steal another’s body?”

‘Huh? Her reaction isn’t what I expected…’ Qi Huang stared in surprise.

“She’s a man who impersonated me, deceived everyone, and took advantage of you and our sisters! Just the crime of defiling innocent girls’ purity is enough to execute her ten thousand times over!”

Cheng Ling listed Qi Huang’s sins with venom.

‘Was I really that shameless?’

Qi Huang’s face burned, but she retorted indignantly, “Accuse me if you must, but don’t slander me. Who did I take advantage of? I kept my distance, they were the ones who clung to me!”

“First, she’s a woman now, inside and out. What ‘advantage’ are you talking about?” Cheng Hongling countered. “Second, you only see her supposed crimes but ignore everything she’s done for us. The first time she came to the Honghua Sect, she saved us from annihilation. Time and again, she helped us, everyone saw it. And this time? She knew exhausting her divine sense would give you an opening, yet she still chose to save my father. How can I possibly strike her down?”

Her words were measured, each syllable heavy with conviction.

“So… you’re just going to let this go? Then why investigate in the first place?”

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Cheng Ling was dumbfounded.

“I investigated for answers, not to kill her.”

Cheng Hongling’s gaze softened as she looked at Qi Huang, her frosty demeanor melting into something warmer.

Qi Huang’s lips trembled. If she had a physical body, she would have burst into tears right then.

“Let me remind you of one thing,” Cheng Ling hissed, switching tactics. “Her Sea of Consciousness still holds three souls, two men and one… abomination. If they aren’t assimilated, anyone with Yin-Yang Eyes could expose us. Do you understand the consequences?”

“What consequences?” Cheng Hongling frowned.

“You’re supposed to be smart—why are you acting dense now? The mortal world’s gender imbalance is catastrophic. Every faction, from the government to the Severed Immortal Sect, is desperate for a solution. If they find out she was once a man, do you think they’ll just let us go? They’ll dissect us alive! Who’ll protect us then? The Immortal Alliance? For our own survival, her soul must be fully feminized!”

Cheng Hongling’s expression darkened. She was sharp enough to grasp the severity immediately.

Qi Huang had no rebuttal. She had always known her true identity was a ticking time bomb, anyone close to her would be dragged into the fallout.

“I’m sorry. Without her, neither I nor the Honghua Sect would have survived this long. Your argument still doesn’t convince me.”

Once again, Cheng Hongling refused to yield.

Cheng Ling’s eyes widened in shock. Realizing her plan had failed, she lunged toward Qi Huang’s head, if she couldn’t persuade Cheng Hongling, she would forcibly re-enter the impostor’s Sea of Consciousness and seize control from within!