Volume 5, Chapter 300 – Do You Still Dare to Take Me Into the Palace Now?

August 1st, clear skies, blazing sun—a rare sight in the Honghua Sect.

Qi Huang was in high spirits. She had risen early to tend to her Ghost Tomatoes. Thanks to her recent efforts, her cultivation scale had expanded dozens of times over. Inside the greenhouse, one to two hundred Ghost Tomato plants thrived, their branches heavy with fist-sized fruits. At a glance, the surreal, dreamlike purple hue made the place seem like a paradise.

Of course, the reality was far from it—this was no paradise, but hell itself. A single touch of these fruits would cause an ordinary person’s skin to fester, endangering their life. For safety’s sake, Qi Huang had stopped letting Yuan Jie handle them.

She inspected each plant carefully. Whenever she spotted a fruit that seemed too small, she drew her sword, nicked her finger, and fed it a bit of “fertilizer”. Thanks to the unique abilities granted by Water Exquisite Art, her farming skills had become effortless, allowing her to harvest an entire crop in just one season.

‘At this rate, I’ll definitely reach the Heavenly Tribulation Realm within a year.’

Qi Huang brimmed with confidence as she fantasized about her future. But then, a previously overlooked question surfaced in her mind:

‘Ordinary cultivators who step into the Heavenly Tribulation Realm immediately attract heavenly punishment, forcing them into seclusion to resist it. If I reach that realm, will I also face tribulation? If so, how can I participate in the Evergreen Conference? Damn it all!’

The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she became. She decided to consult Cheng Hongling.

“I don’t think you will,” Cheng Hongling mused after a long pause. “Ordinary cultivators suffer heavenly punishment because their bodies grow too powerful for this world to contain. But your actual cultivation is only at the Spirit Gathering Realm, your physical body is pathetically weak.”

“If that’s the case,” Qi Huang’s eyes lit up with excitement, “does that mean even if my divine sense becomes strong enough to rival an immortal’s, as long as my body remains weak, I can stay in the cultivation world?”

If given the choice, who would willingly abandon their loved ones? Certainly not her.

“Logically, yes. But this is just my speculation. Someone like you, with a divine sense far surpassing their cultivation, has never existed before.”

Cheng Hongling’s answer was cautious.

‘I hope she’s right. Otherwise, how will I compete in the Evergreen Conference a year from now? I can’t just suppress my strength for it, can I?’

Qi Huang prayed silently. She wasn’t one to tie her own hands willingly.

“I have a question,” Cheng Hongling suddenly asked. “Why hasn’t the Immortal Alliance made a move yet? Shouldn’t they be the most anxious right now?”

“Do you think Elder Zuo wants me to enter the palace?” Qi Huang countered.

“Of course not. In the eyes of outsiders, you’re just a doppelgänger, not an independent person. Whether you have True Qi or not, your entry would damage the Immortal Alliance’s reputation.”

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Cheng Hongling answered without hesitation but then added:

“But losses can vary in scale. If you truly had no True Qi, whether you’re a cultivator or even a person at all would be up to their interpretation. In that case, the Emperor could compensate for the Alliance’s losses if he took you in.”

“True. A behind-the-scenes deal is highly likely, which is why I initially thought the Alliance might stay silent.”

Qi Huang nodded in agreement before continuing:

“But upon further reflection, I changed my mind. While they hold the power of interpretation, public opinion isn’t under their control. To minimize losses, the Alliance will definitely send someone—first, to expose my lies publicly, and second, to showcase their seriousness. Even if I’m taken into the harem, they’ll face minimal backlash. It’s killing multiple birds with one stone.”

She paused, then added:

“Besides, what if I really have regained my True Qi? The Alliance can’t afford that loss. Elder Zuo didn’t rise to his position by being a fool. He knows what to do. So, they’ll come sooner or later.”

“Makes sense. But whether Elder Zuo is smart is another question, the Immortal Alliance is a den of corruption. What if he’s stupid enough not to send anyone? Will you hide your True Qi and obediently enter the palace as Chief Steward Zhong’s concubine? Or will you slap the Alliance in the face? Just a warning, the latter would have severe consequences.”

Cheng Hongling teased.

“A concubine? Never! Not in this lifetime! No matter the consequences!”

Qi Huang smirked darkly, completely unaware of the oddity in her self-reference.

“If Elder Zuo is truly that foolish, then don’t blame this fairy for being ruthless. This time, I’ll give the Immortal Alliance the slap of a lifetime.”

Cheng Hongling was momentarily stunned by Qi Huang referring to herself as “this fairy”, but she quickly realized it was due to excessive assimilation from her doppelgänger. Whether this was good or bad, she couldn’t say.

Near noon, Chief Steward Zhong finally arrived.

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His entourage was massive—hundreds of guards, dozens of palace maids—so extravagant it seemed less like an escort for an Imperial Consort and more like a procession for an empress.

“Such a grand display! Since when does a mere Imperial Consort warrant such treatment? Even an empress’s carriage isn’t this lavish!”

A bystander gasped.

“Ignorant fool. Any Imperial Consort handpicked by the Emperor is a future empress.”

Another scoffed dismissively.

“Then the current empress must be on pins and needles! If I were her, I’d do everything to eliminate Fairy Qi.”

“Exactly! Rumor has it she was behind the recent attack on the Honghua Sect.”

“Heavens! Thank goodness ‘Thousand Shadows’ was strong enough. Otherwise, not just Fairy Qi, but the entire Honghua Sect might have been wiped out!”

The crowd buzzed with gossip, crediting all the success to “Thousand Shadows”—the very role Qi Huang had played that night.

As for the real Thousand Shadows? Why refuse free credit? Naturally, he wouldn’t clarify things to Lin Tu, which was why no suspicions had been raised.

When notified, Qi Huang couldn’t even be bothered to change clothes. She knew they wouldn’t dare take her away, Immortal Alliance or not. Still, to uphold hospitality, she prepared to personally “clarify” the situation.

The two parties met in the square. Given the gravity of the matter, Qi Huang was flanked by her three family members, while the Honghua Sect’s higher-ups stood in full attendance.

“Qi Huang, as Prefect Dong must have informed you, His Majesty has selected you as an Imperial Consort. Today, this servant is here by imperial decree to escort you into the palace. Receive the edict!”

The portly Chief Steward Zhong stepped forward, holding the imperial decree.

Instead of accepting it, Qi Huang smiled faintly.

“Steward Zhong, there’s something I don’t understand. I’m merely a doppelgänger, strictly speaking, not even an independent person. Why would His Majesty select me as an Imperial Consort?”

“It seems Prefect Dong failed in his duties!”

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Steward Zhong snorted coldly.

“Thanks to His Majesty’s grace, your name has been entered into the household registry. You are now a complete person. Thus, you should be grateful. Accept the decree and enter the palace to serve His Majesty, this is your chance to repay his kindness.”

“Even so, I’m still a cultivator’s doppelgänger. Don’t I have the right to refuse?”

Qi Huang feigned ignorance.

“From your tone, it seems you don’t wish to enter the palace?”

Steward Zhong’s expression turned puzzled, this wasn’t the reaction he’d expected.

“Of course! What future is there in being an Imperial Consort compared to cultivation?”

Qi Huang answered without hesitation.

“I’m afraid this isn’t up to you!”

Steward Zhong’s face darkened.

“Your original body, Cheng Hongling, is indeed a cultivator. But you? Without True Qi, you’re just a commoner, a subject of His Majesty. Haven’t you heard the saying? If the monarch demands your death, you dare not refuse. You have no right to reject any of his demands.”

“Heh…”

Qi Huang chuckled lightly.

“Steward Zhong, how do you know I’ve lost my True Qi? What if I still have it?”

“Hmph! You clearly know nothing of the court’s intelligence network. A doppelgänger who ingested Qi-Leaking Powder, with such pitiful cultivation, how could you possibly still possess True Qi?”

Steward Zhong’s lips curled in mockery. After all, he knew this girl had offended the Emperor, her chance at becoming empress was long gone.

“It seems the court’s intelligence is lacking. You actually believe hearsay? Who told you I took Qi-Leaking Powder?”

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Qi Huang smirked, then extended her fair right hand.

“If you don’t believe me, have someone check!”

Steward Zhong narrowed his eyes. To be safe, he motioned for a maidservant, clearly a cultivator, to step forward and inspect.

‘Even a maidservant is a cultivator. They really think highly of me.’

Qi Huang couldn’t help but laugh at herself.

The maidservant gripped Qi Huang’s wrist, channeled a strand of True Qi to probe, then respectfully retreated after a moment.

“Well?”

Steward Zhong leaned in expectantly.

The maidservant whispered her findings into his ear.

“What?!”

His face twisted in shock.

“Well? Do you still dare to take me into the palace now?”

Qi Huang grinned brightly.

Steward Zhong’s expression flickered through countless emotions. For the first time, he was at a loss.

‘She actually still has True Qi?! Do I take her or not? If I do, we’ll provoke the Immortal Alliance. If I don’t, His Majesty’s dignity will be trampled!’

“Sect Leader, Steward Cai of the Immortal Alliance requests an audience!”

A disciple suddenly rushed in to report to Qin Quan.