Volume 5, Chapter 308 – The Fourth Doppelgänger (Part 1)

“A strand of hair? How can a strand of hair kill someone?”

Consort Jin was stunned.

“Of course it can. You should know that Heavenly Tribulation Realm experts cannot manifest in this world. Otherwise, even a single strand of their hair could summon divine retribution, though the intensity may vary.”

Empress Zheng explained patiently.

“I still don’t understand. What does this have to do with killing Qi Huang?”

Consort Jin grew even more confused.

“It has everything to do with it. What do you think would happen if I had someone place this strand of hair on that little vixen?”

The smile on Empress Zheng’s face grew increasingly sinister.

“Ah! Then she would undoubtedly die. The Heavenly Tribulation is incomparably terrifying. Even the retribution summoned by a single strand of hair would be impossible for anyone below the Heavenly Tribulation Realm to withstand.”

Consort Jin answered without hesitation, but then her tone shifted. “But that’s simply impossible to pull off. No one can carry around a strand of hair from a Heavenly Tribulation expert, because the moment they do, they’d be the first to suffer the backlash.”

“Not necessarily. Since you hail from the Central Continent’s immortal sects, you must have heard of how Heavenly Tribulation Realm experts evade divine retribution, right?”

Empress Zheng countered calmly.

“I’ve heard a little. To evade the Heavenly Tribulation, one must shield themselves from the scrutiny of the Heavenly Dao’s will. The only way is to use something called ‘Heaven-Deceiving Water’, scattering it over one’s body.”

Consort Jin pondered for a moment before answering.

“Exactly—Heaven-Deceiving Water. This substance is incredibly miraculous. It can conceal the aura of a Heavenly Tribulation expert, allowing them to escape divine retribution. However, because it’s so rare, it’s considered one of the most precious treasures in the entire cultivation world. That said… to mask the aura of a single strand of hair, just one drop is enough.”

At this point, Empress Zheng’s crimson lips curled slightly. “And as luck would have it, the martial family my younger sister married into happens to possess both.”

“Judging by your tone, Elder Sister, you’ve already obtained these two things?”

Consort Jin’s eyes gleamed.

Reаd oո ΚαtRеαԁiոɡCаfе

“All thanks to my sister. She knew I was in dire straits, so she pleaded with the patriarch of that martial family. It wasn’t easy, but she managed to secure a strand of hair and a single drop of Heaven-Deceiving Water for me. Otherwise, there truly would have been no way to deal with that little seductress.”

A trace of lingering fear flashed across Empress Zheng’s face.

“It seems your sister holds a high status in that martial family if she could obtain something like this.”

Consort Jin was astonished.

“Naturally. She is the principal wife and only recognized consort of the young master of that martial family. As the sister of the Empress of the Western Radiance Dynasty, a member of the imperial family, how could she be treated shabbily?”

Empress Zheng’s pride was unmistakable.

“Then, Elder Sister, how did you manage to place that strand of hair on Qi Huang? Right now, countless eyes are watching her, including experts like Thousand Shadows and Chief Steward Zhong.”

Consort Jin asked curiously.

“Though that strand of hair belongs to a supreme expert, once coated with Heaven-Deceiving Water, it looks no different from an ordinary person’s hair. Placing it on her simply required a bit of cleverness. Have you heard, Consort Jin, that His Majesty recently bestowed that little vixen with a Feathered Dress?”

“Elder Sister, are you saying you placed the strand of hair on the Feathered Dress?”

Consort Jin gasped in shock.

“Correct. The Feathered Dress was crafted by the Imperial Household’s workshop. Adding a single strand of hair was child’s play.”

Empress Zheng’s lips curved into a smile as sharp as fresh blood. “By my calculations, the Heaven-Deceiving Water’s effect should be wearing off soon. I’d love to see who can save her now, under the might of the Heavenly Tribulation.”

“Elder Sister’s scheme is truly flawless. Thankfully, you didn’t use this method against me back then, otherwise, I might not have survived long enough to enter the palace.”

Consort Jin inhaled sharply.

“You flatter me. With your intelligence, how could I ever outmaneuver you?”

Empress Zheng’s tone was laced with veiled sarcasm.

Rеаԁ оո ΚatRеаdіnɡСafe

“More like my circumstances weren’t threatening enough to warrant such measures, right?”

Consort Jin laughed self-deprecatingly.

Qi Huang sat inside her palanquin as it traveled northward. Outside, hundreds of elite soldiers stood guard, with Yao Yao protecting her at her side and Cheng Hongling following behind as backup. Yet, an unshakable unease lingered in her heart, perhaps a woman’s intuition.

‘Could there still be an expert lying in wait?’

Qi Huang couldn’t help but speculate. Yet, no matter how much she pondered, she couldn’t think of anyone in the Western Radiance Dynasty who could threaten her under these circumstances. Still, the gnawing anxiety clung to her like a shadow.

‘No. If I truly encounter danger, what should I do? Have my main body summon me back? But summoning isn’t foolproof, certain things can disrupt it. For instance, overwhelming killing intent can scatter divine sense, severing the connection to the main body. Or powerful divine sense suppression could directly block the Soul Tether.’

Qi Huang began considering the possible dangers she might face.

‘If even summoning fails, should I act? If I reveal my strength, it’ll jeopardize my plans for the Evergreen Conference! Worse, what if even exposing my power isn’t enough to handle the threat?’

The more she thought, the colder her spine grew. She needed a contingency plan.

After much deliberation, Qi Huang’s mind returned to the “Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell” tactic she had employed multiple times, releasing a doppelgänger to take her place while she disguised herself as another to provide covert protection.

This method had two advantages: First, even if she had to act, her true strength wouldn’t be exposed. Second, if she encountered an enemy she couldn’t defeat, she could immediately recall the doppelgänger to her side and escape. Since her divine sense surpassed Cheng Hongling’s, her Soul Tether would be harder to sever.

After careful consideration, Qi Huang settled on this plan and discussed it with Yao Yao and her main body.

Both Yao Yao and Cheng Hongling agreed, finalizing the decision.

“There’s still one problem. I’m on the move and constantly need to interact with those around me. Using that brainless Huang Tian is out of the question, she can’t move, which would cause suspicion.”

Rеаԁ οո ΚаtRеаԁіոɡСαfе

Qi Huang voiced her dilemma.

“Can you still cultivate another doppelgänger?”

Cheng Hongling inquired.

“I can still create one more.”

Qi Huang replied. After her divine sense reached the Divine Ability Realm, she could cultivate four doppelgängers in total. The first was Huang Tian ¹ 天 (tiān) = heaven/sky , the male doppelgänger she created early on to deal with her family. The second was Huang Tian ² 甜 (tián) = sweet/pleasant , the female doppelgänger she made later to handle the Honghua Sect. Recently, to assist Liu Yingyue, she had created another male doppelgänger, Huang Di. That left her with the capacity for one final doppelgänger.

“Then cultivate another one. With your Divine Realm divine sense, it shouldn’t take long, right?”

Cheng Hongling suggested.

“The problem is, those female doppelgängers don’t listen to me. As you know, they’ve been assimilated by your Spiritual Wisdom Soul. I still haven’t found a way to fix that.”

Qi Huang hesitated.

“What does that matter? They’re just rebellious, not unreasonable. Right now, we’re all in the same boat. If you explain the situation, I’m sure they’ll help.”

Cheng Hongling reassured her patiently.

After a brief contemplation, Qi Huang realized she had been overcomplicating things and decided to act. She guided her Life Soul, her core consciousness, into the palace within her Sea of Consciousness.

“You’ve all seen the situation outside. Those imperial consorts will never let me enter the palace without a fight. To be safe, I need one of you to take my place in the procession. Who’s willing to be the fourth doppelgänger?”

Qi Huang cut straight to the point.

The female souls glanced at each other, none speaking up. Though freedom was appealing, none wished to cooperate with the one who had harmed their eldest sister.

“No one? Then I’ll decide. You—Huang Ling.”

Qi Huang pointed at the Spiritual Wisdom Soul.

Rеaԁ оn ΚαtReаdіոgСаfе

“Why me?”

Huang Ling asked, puzzled.

“Because Huang Tian, the Heavenly Surge Soul, is already a doppelgänger. Among the female souls, you’re now the eldest.”

Qi Huang stated her reasoning.

“And why should I obey you? Aren’t you afraid I’ll cause trouble once I’m out there?”

Huang Ling’s translucent lips curled slightly.

“Because I believe you’re rebellious, not foolish. You understand what’s at stake, prosperity and ruin are shared fates.”

Qi Huang’s tone was grave.

“Let me discuss it with my sisters first.”

Huang Ling’s eyes flickered.

“Go ahead.”

Qi Huang permitted generously.

And so, the souls began their deliberations.

“Are you really going to do this? Think carefully, they’re unstable variables.”

“Exactly. Even if I don’t fully grasp the situation, I’m certain that Cheng Ling isn’t just Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger. These assimilated female souls are far from simple.”

The two remaining male souls, Human Soul Huang Ren and the partially feminized Essence Soul Huang Jing, approached to dissuade her.