Volume 5, Chapter 297 – I Can Crush Him with a Single Finger

“I… my… heavens, how is this… possible?”

Dou Yuan’s eyes bulged like copper bells, his tongue so stiff he could barely speak. He couldn’t reconcile that youthful, peerlessly beautiful face with the image of an ancient monster capable of crushing him effortlessly. It completely shattered his understanding of the world.

Indeed, the cultivation world was never short of geniuses, especially in the superpowers of the Central Continent. However, the path of cultivation was widely regarded as long and arduous, with each step growing exponentially more difficult. Reaching the Divine Realm before the age of thirty was unheard of, let alone achieving it as a teenager.

“The Sixth Princess… is finished.”

A look of desolation crept over Dou Yuan’s face. He knew that once this girl entered the palace, the Sixth Princess would lose favor instantly, no need for heirs or schemes.

“What a loyal servant!”

With a mere thought, Qi Huang’s divine sense condensed into a massive hand, crushing Dou Yuan’s Life Soul into nothingness.

“The Peak Master of Poyun Peak… I’ll remember you.”

Qi Huang smirked coldly, murmuring to herself, “As for that Sixth Princess… since she has nothing to do with this matter, I’ll be merciful and not add her to my blacklist.”

Having casually disposed of trash, Qi Huang didn’t let her guard down. She knew that as the deadline approached, more and more assassins would come for her.

‘That damned emperor has really caused me a lot of trouble this time. If not for these annoying flies, I would’ve already entered the dream realm to find a cure for my split personality.’

She cursed inwardly. Because she was constantly being watched, she hadn’t dared to sleep deeply. Every time she tried to ponder the profound question of whether she was male or female, she was tormented by splitting headaches.

“No, a true gentleman repays both kindness and grudges. Once I become invincible, I’ll make sure to teach that damned emperor a lesson.”

Qi Huang plotted silently. She had always been one to settle scores, no matter how small.

As expected, over the next few days, two more waves of assassins arrived. Though their skills were decent, General Zhang disposed of them effortlessly, all thanks to the suppression of killing intent.

This also proved one thing: those who wielded killing intent were virtually invincible within the same realm.

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Qi Huang grew increasingly convinced that Killing Intent was an unbalanced force. After all, among the people she knew, martial artists who could use killing intent were the majority, while cultivators were rare—Cheng Hongling being the only exception.

Did this mean that, in most cases, cultivators of the same level would be crushed by martial artists? What kind of joke was that? Might as well call cultivators useless cowards.

Unable to make sense of it, Qi Huang complained to her main body. Strictly speaking, cultivation was just a side pursuit for her, but she had a strong sense of justice.

“To objectively assess this issue, you must first understand one thing: cultivators and martial artists are not inherently superior or inferior to each other. Both seek immortality, they just take different paths. Martial artists focus on body refinement, while cultivators train in Qi.”

Cheng Hongling first clarified this point before continuing, “Since both are equal, the heavens wouldn’t completely favor one side. Cultivators can use divine sense, fly, scout their surroundings, and even preserve their Life Souls after death. If martial artists didn’t have something formidable like killing intent, how could they possibly compete?”

Qi Huang had no rebuttal. Upon reflection, cultivators did possess far more abilities than martial artists.

“Secondly, who said cultivators can’t counter killing intent? If you overcome fear in your heart, killing intent won’t affect you. The path of cultivation demands detachment from emotions and desires. If you can’t do that, you’re simply not a qualified cultivator.”

Cheng Hongling added.

Qi Huang felt a little embarrassed. She wasn’t a qualified cultivator, just a shameless cheater.

“Third, cultivators can comprehend killing intent. It’s not exclusive to martial artists. I’m living proof.”

Cheng Hongling continued.

“Speaking of which, there’s something I’ve never understood. Why are there so many more martial artists with killing intent than cultivators? What exactly are the conditions for comprehending it?”

Qi Huang seized the chance to ask.

“I wasn’t sure at first either, but after consulting records and seeking advice from seniors, I’ve pieced together the mystery. Only those with enough blood on their hands have a chance to comprehend killing intent. Right now, we’re in an era of chaos. Martial artists serve the imperial court, how many haven’t spent years on the battlefield? Those who survive are drenched in blood, something pampered cultivators can’t compare to.”

Cheng Hongling explained.

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Qi Huang was inwardly shocked. “So, does that mean if I kill enough evil people, I can comprehend killing intent?”

“That should be the case. But I suspect killing is just the foundation, true comprehension must require innate talent.”

Cheng Hongling speculated.

“Heh, seems I’m still too kind. Haven’t killed enough bad guys.”

Qi Huang shamelessly praised herself.

“Naturally. The number of villains you’ve slain doesn’t even compare to a fraction of mine.”

Cheng Hongling chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Feeling slightly better, Qi Huang returned to her vigil.

The next day, another attacker arrived. Once again, General Zhang disposed of them effortlessly, relying on killing intent. However, since he couldn’t use divine sense, he could only watch helplessly as the enemy’s Life Soul fled, leaving Qi Huang to clean up.

At first, Qi Huang interrogated every Life Soul she killed, but she soon stopped wasting her breath, every assassin was sent by a concubine from the imperial harem. Without exception.

Soon, only five or six days remained before the first day of the month.

Then, the real trouble arrived.

A demonic figure descended from the north, charging through the mountains like a wild bull, obliterating everything in his path. Despite his reckless destruction, his speed matched that of a peak Incarnation Realm cultivator.

Qi Huang’s lips curled slightly. ‘Finally, my turn.’

If this man could resist Killing Intent, General Zhang would be no match for him.

The demonic figure wore a tiger mask, clearly unwilling to reveal his identity. In truth, every intruder these past few days had been disguised.

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Qi Huang understood the reason perfectly. No matter where these experts came from, they were all renowned figures in their own right. Engaging in such treasonous acts required concealment, if recognized, even success would bring endless trouble.

The Tiger-Masked Man stormed straight into the Honghua Sect, leaping onto a rooftop to survey his surroundings. His speed was so overwhelming that apart from Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling, no one else noticed his arrival.

“Do you need me to intervene?”

At that moment, Qi Huang received a telepathic message from her main body.

“No need. Focus on purging the Qi-Leaking Powder. This weakling? I can crush him with a single finger.”

Qi Huang was brimming with confidence.

“Then be careful.”

Cheng Hongling’s warning lingered before the connection severed.

The Tiger-Masked Man stood still, listening intently. His hearing was so acute that not even the faintest rustle within several miles could escape him.

Qi Huang observed him through the Shadow-Retaining Mirror. Relying solely on hearing to gather information might seem impressive, but it had a glaring flaw, it couldn’t detect silence. Just like her “Eavesdropper’s Ear”, if the target made no sound, they remained hidden. Unfortunately, her current brainless clone couldn’t speak.

Sure enough, after a moment of fruitless listening, the Tiger-Masked Man’s patience wore thin. He roared:

“Qi Huang! Where are you?! Come out and die!”

His voice thundered like divine punishment, the terrifying sound waves rippling outward, reverberating through every corner of the Honghua Sect. The vibrations alone exterminated all insects and rodents nearby, while people clutched their ears, screaming in agony.

Not far away, on a nearby street, General Zhang’s expression darkened.

“How… how is he here? A convict of that level, how did he escape the Ministry of Justice’s prison?”

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“Commander, you know this man?”

Jiang Wuwei, standing beside him, asked gravely.

“He’s a Special-Class Convict from the Ministry of Justice’s prison!”

General Zhang enunciated each word.

“What?! A Special-Class Convict?!”

Jiang Wuwei’s face turned deathly pale.

In the current Western Radiance Dynasty, criminals were typically classified into four tiers—A, B, C, and D—based on the severity of their crimes, and were imprisoned locally.

However, one category was exempt: Special-Class Convicts. These individuals were so dangerous that only the Ministry of Justice’s prison could hold them. To earn such “treatment”, one had to be a monster among monsters.

Knowing the sheer lethality of the newcomer, General Zhang wasted no time. Gripping his spear, he lunged toward the source of the voice.

“Commander Zhang, I’ll go with you!”

Jiang Wuwei moved to follow.

“No. He’s too strong, you’d just die for nothing. I’ll hold him off. You must evacuate Imperial Consort Qi Huang immediately. Otherwise, none of us will live to see tomorrow’s sunrise.”

Without looking back, General Zhang issued his command.

Though worried, Jiang Wuwei was a soldier, orders were absolute. Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted toward the Cheng family courtyard.

Meanwhile, the higher-ups of the Honghua Sect had also been alarmed. Despite their fear, they steeled themselves and rushed to investigate.