Volume 5, Chapter 299 – If He is Thousand Shadows, Then Who Am I?

“You are… a cat demon? No… a cat spirit!”

The shadowy figure scrutinized the young girl before making his judgment. His face was concealed beneath a hood, and he wore a long fur robe that shrouded his entire body.

The cat-eared girl stared fixedly at the shadow, her crimson vertical pupils locked onto that fur robe—because it was made from the pelt of a Nine Nether Demon Cat, a material capable of completely shielding one from divine sense detection.

“You dare use the fur of my kin to make clothing? You will die.”

The cat-eared girl’s slit pupils burned like blood, and an overwhelming surge of yin energy erupted from her body, distorting and corroding the surrounding space.

“Hmph, a cat spirit at the mid-stage of the Demonic Realm, strong indeed. But if you think you can kill me, you’re sorely mistaken!”

The shadow snorted coldly, not bothering to engage further. His figure vanished from the spot in an instant, transforming into a streak of black lightning as he fled into the distance.

The cat-eared girl’s pupils contracted sharply, locking onto the fleeing shadow before she, too, disappeared like a ghost.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang, having just slain the bear-tiger hybrid, was being worshipped by the crowd.

“Who is this person? He’s terrifyingly strong! He killed that monstrous fiend in a single strike!”

“No idea. I didn’t even see how ‘he’ attacked.”

“The sect leader said General Zhang’s strength rivals that of a mid-stage Incarnation Realm cultivator. If that’s the case, then that tiger-masked man must’ve been equivalent to a late-stage Incarnation Realm expert. To kill him so effortlessly… could this person be a supreme powerhouse of the Divine Realm?”

“Impossible! The Western Radiance Dynasty only has three supreme powerhouses at the Divine Realm—the Peak Master of Poyun Peak, Ye Donglai of the Donglai Sect, and the Left Elder of the Immortal Alliance. ‘He’ is addressed as Lord Thousand Shadows, clearly none of those three.”

“Even if not at the Divine Realm, ‘he’ must at least be at the peak of the Incarnation Realm. How could such an expert willingly serve the imperial family?”

“You ask me? Who am I supposed to ask?”

The onlookers gazed up at Qi Huang with reverence, as if beholding a deity descended to the mortal realm.

“Lord Thousand Shadows is truly mighty, eliminating such a notorious murderer in a single strike.”

General Zhang spoke with deep admiration. One reason he firmly believed this person to be the imperial guard captain was that the Emperor would never entrust such an important mission solely to him. After all, the fate of the Imperial Consort concerned not only the Emperor’s dignity but also the royal family’s future.

“Just a normal performance.”

Qi Huang proudly lifted her chin.

“Many thanks, Lord Thousand Shadows. Were it not for you today, I would have perished here.”

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General Zhang bowed respectfully.

“A trivial effort, hardly worth mentioning. Rest assured, with this Thousand Shadows here, even if the three supreme powerhouses of the cultivation world were to come together, not a single hair on her head would be harmed.”

Qi Huang continued boasting, her excitement making it clear she was thoroughly immersed in her role.

“Oh? Is that so?”

But just then, the voice of an elderly woman rang out from afar. Though she had yet to arrive, a faint pressure had already begun to spread, enveloping the entire Honghua Sect.

“Again?”

Qi Huang was unfazed. Extending her divine sense, she scanned the distant horizon. Several li away, a hunched figure was rapidly approaching, covering dozens of zhang in a single breath, an impossible speed for anyone below the Divine Realm.

‘A Divine Realm expert? Finally, someone worth my time.’

The corners of Qi Huang’s lips curled slightly. To be honest, acting against those small fries earlier had been utterly boring, she hadn’t even broken a sweat.

As the old woman drew closer to the Honghua Sect, the pressure of her divine sense intensified. The sect’s disciples felt as though they had been plunged into an invisible quagmire, the air around them growing thick and stifling, making even breathing difficult. The elderly and children, their bodies weaker, began trembling violently, their legs on the verge of giving out. The younger men and women rushed to support them, but even they soon found it hard to remain standing.

The birds and beasts fared even worse, all prostrating themselves in submission. The entire Honghua Sect fell deathly silent.

“Such terrifying divine sense! Though not fully unleashed, it carries the oppressive weight of a superior. This newcomer is undoubtedly a supreme powerhouse of the Divine Realm!”

General Zhang muttered to himself, his expression grave.

“What? A Divine Realm supreme powerhouse? Who could it be? The Grand Elder of the Donglai Sect? The Peak Master of Poyun Peak? Or the Left Elder of the Immortal Alliance?”

Some nearby disciples couldn’t help but speculate.

“If it’s one of them, then we’re in luck. They’re surely allies, not enemies. Given their long-established reputations, they wouldn’t trouble us, much less oppose the imperial court.”

Someone clung to hope.

Qi Huang, however, merely smiled without a word. This world was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, what was visible on the surface was never the whole picture.

“Lord Thousand Shadows, what should we do? Should you take the Imperial Consort and leave first? This general will hold her off!”

General Zhang proposed anxiously. He feared not death, only the failure of his mission and the repercussions it would bring upon his family.

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“Do you remember what this Thousand Shadows said earlier? Even if the three supreme powerhouses of the cultivation world were to come together, not a single hair on her head would be harmed.”

Qi Huang reiterated.

The old woman finally hovered above the Honghua Sect, looking down at the struggling crowd with disdain.

“If you can’t endure, why force yourselves? Just kneel! Kneeling before this old woman is no disgrace!”

“How about you come down and kneel before everyone instead?”

Qi Huang snorted coldly. Her divine sense erupted from her body like ignited gunpowder in a swamp, violently overturning the old woman’s oppressive force.

The people of the Honghua Sect gasped in relief, straightening themselves with difficulty. The cries of the elderly, the wails of children, and the whimpers of dogs and chickens gradually filled the air, as if the sect had just returned from the gates of the underworld.

“Ants beneath my feet, why resist? Can a mere anthill withstand the collapse of the heavens?”

The old woman locked her gaze onto Qi Huang and unleashed her divine sense once more, this time blotting out the night sky. With the might of heaven and earth behind her, she sought to obliterate the Honghua Sect in a single strike.

The sect members looked up in horror as the heavy clouds above seemed to plummet downward, crashing straight toward them. None had ever witnessed such a terrifying sight.

“The sky is falling! Run! The sky is truly falling!”

“What lies beneath your feet may not be ants, but nails.”

Qi Huang shot into the sky, her divine sense coalescing into a colossal sword that pierced through the darkness. With a single Mountain-Splitting Strike, she cleaved the oncoming clouds in two, as though splitting the firmament itself.

“Ah!”

The old woman let out a pained groan, her head nearly splitting apart. Unable to maintain her divine sense, she swayed unsteadily before plummeting to the ground.

Qi Huang pressed her advantage. The divine sense greatsword descended upon the old woman, the friction of its passage creating a terrifying sonic boom.

Boom!

Unable to dodge, the old woman was swatted down like a fly, smashing into the street and creating a massive crater. She tried to stand, but the impact was too great, her legs gave out, forcing her to her knees.

“Now, who is beneath whose feet? Tell me.”

Qi Huang slowly floated toward her.

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“How… is this possible?”

Disheveled and panic-stricken, the old woman shot up from the rubble and fled like a startled stray dog.

Qi Huang didn’t pursue. Not out of mercy, but because she knew she couldn’t defeat the old woman in a direct confrontation. The crone’s mistake had been overconfidence, she had tried to suppress Qi Huang with divine sense alone, pitting her weakness against Qi Huang’s strength. Had she used her divine abilities from the start, the outcome might have been entirely different.

“Lord Thousand Shadows is truly formidable! With you here, who would dare harm even a single hair on the Imperial Consort?”

General Zhang exclaimed excitedly, a rare smile appearing on his face. He knew now that his return home was assured.

“Naturally! General Zhang, handle the aftermath. Leave the safety of the sect to this Thousand Shadows.”

Not wanting to be recognized, Qi Huang swiftly vanished from the scene.

Outside the Honghua Sect, Qi Huang soon encountered the cat-eared girl, Yaoyao.

“So, how many demon cats did you rob this time?” she asked eagerly.

“Rob your head! You didn’t even realize you were being watched, did you? I had to clean up your mess!”

Yaoyao berated her with a delicate scowl.

“I was being watched? By whom? Impossible! At my current level, no one could evade my divine sense!”

Qi Huang was stunned.

“That human was wearing a robe stitched together from the pelts of our Nine Nether Demon Cat kin. It completely blocks divine sense, of course you didn’t notice.”

Yaoyao explained irritably.

“How cunning!”

Qi Huang was taken aback. “Where is he now?”

“He got away. That human is strong, though just a martial artist, he wasn’t far behind me. Luckily, I’d stashed the demon cats I robbed elsewhere. Otherwise, suspicions might’ve been raised.”

Yaoyao gnashed her teeth. With cultivation sects being robbed left and right these days, if anyone had seen her holding a Nine Nether Demon Cat, rumors could have spread, potentially exposing them.

“The Western Radiance Dynasty actually has a martial artist on your level? Who is he?”

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Qi Huang murmured in shock.

“Probably that so-called ‘Thousand Shadows’.”

Yaoyao recalled after a moment’s thought.

“What? He’s Thousand Shadows? Then who am I?”

Qi Huang reflexively blurted out.

“Duh! Aren’t you my litter-servant, Qi Huang?”

Yaoyao rolled her beast-like eyes.

“Ah! Right, right! He’s the real Thousand Shadows. I just got too into my role.”

Qi Huang smacked her forehead. She hadn’t expected the Emperor to actually send a top-tier expert to shadow her. But upon reflection, it made sense—such an important mission couldn’t be entrusted solely to the visible operatives.

“He dared use my kin’s fur for clothing. Now that I know who he is, I will kill him.”

Yaoyao’s voice dripped with venom.

Qi Huang’s single battle established her dominance, shocking the entire Western Radiance Dynasty. From that day onward, no outsider dared set foot in the Honghua Sect. Who would dare provoke a supreme powerhouse at the late-stage Divine Realm?

As the first day of the month approached, the Immortal Alliance’s representatives were still nowhere to be seen. Qi Huang was baffled, were they so confident she was lying that they couldn’t even be bothered to verify?

“Heh, this is on you. Don’t blame me when you get humiliated later.”

Qi Huang grinned. She had been itching for a chance to mess with the Immortal Alliance—who knew they’d hand her the opportunity themselves?

When the day arrived, Qi Huang returned to her true self, patiently waiting for Chief Steward Zhong to show up. She wanted to see, now that her true qi had been restored, whether the Emperor would still dare take her into his harem.