Volume 6, Chapter 340 – Damn It, Where Did She Find Such an Expert?

Volume 6: What an Arrogant Maid

With the matter settled, Qi Huang’s next task was to focus entirely on preparing for the Evergreen Conference. It was already September, and by next spring, the Immortal Alliance would announce the rules for the next competition. The selection of state-level Immortal Seeds would officially begin at the start of the following year, leaving her with only about a year and three months to prepare.

To be honest, if anyone else were in her position, they would likely let their guard down by now. After all, her divine sense had already reached the late stage of the Divine Realm. In the entire Western Radiance Dynasty, few could match her. Why worry about something as trivial as the Evergreen Conference?

At first, Qi Huang had thought the same. But she soon dismissed her arrogance. Strength wasn’t just about cultivation level, it also included magical artifacts, talismans, formations, and more. And in these aspects, the Honghua Sect was far inferior to the major sects. Not to mention, there was still Steward Cai blocking her path. Who knew what kind of schemes he might devise?

Thus, Qi Huang had no choice but to improve her strength as much as possible, relying on sheer power to overcome all obstacles.

After that, she devoted all her energy to cultivating the Ghost Tomatoes. However, due to her low cultivation level, the nourishment from her bloodline was limited, and the growth rate still fell short of her expectations.

She had considered asking her main body for help but ultimately gave up. For one, Cheng Hongling didn’t believe the Ghost Tomatoes could enhance divine sense. Secondly, she couldn’t bear to make Cheng Hongling expend too much of her own vitality.

“If planting alone can’t meet my needs, then I’ll just have to speed up the acquisition process!”

That was Qi Huang’s conclusion. But the problem was, her acquisition shop was located in the Honghua Sect, a place so remote that even birds wouldn’t drop an aerial strike there. It was difficult to generate momentum like an auction house could.

“Wait… the auction house!”

A spark of inspiration flashed in Qi Huang’s mind. Perhaps she could ask Liu Yingyue for help. If they could assist with promotion and procurement, the speed would surely increase significantly.

Of course, before seeking out Liu Yingyue, Qi Huang needed to resolve her mental issues. She had already noticed something was off. While her core consciousness still believed she was male, if she didn’t deliberately correct herself, she often subconsciously referred to herself as “this fairy”, “this young lady”, or “this miss”. That was clearly abnormal, even Yaoyao had noticed.

Qi Huang didn’t know if this would eventually lead to complete feminization. Although she had been a woman for over a year now and had grown accustomed to it, that was only physically, not mentally. She still couldn’t cross the hurdle of sexual orientation, so she had to find a way to fix it.

The only solution Qi Huang could think of was to uncover what had happened to Cheng Ling after she left the Honghua Sect. If she could witness Cheng Ling’s experiences, she might find a way to control those female soul fragments. Then, her split personality issue would naturally resolve itself.

Fortunately, Cheng Ling had already been expelled, so Qi Huang could now enter her dreams without any reservations.

Thus, Qi Huang procured several large bags of sleep-inducing medicine, taking some every night to force herself to sleep. After all, she was now a cultivator, without such measures, she might only feel drowsy once every seven or eight days.

Reаⅾ оո КаtRеαԁiոɡСαfе

Unfortunately, while Qi Huang could control her sleep, she couldn’t control her dreams. The first few nights, she either didn’t dream at all or had chaotic, nonsensical dreams unrelated to Cheng Ling’s memories.

“Forget it, I’ll take it slow. At least it’s better than when I was first feminized.”

Qi Huang comforted herself. She could sense that the mental feminization was progressing much slower than the physical transformation had. Perhaps it was because her essence hadn’t been completely inverted.

Meanwhile, at the Golden Fortune Auction House in the state capital, Huang Di was meticulously reviewing the information of the registered consignors. His focused demeanor resembled that of a scholar burning the midnight oil. He knew very well that for the sake of his and his main body’s future, this auction house could not afford any more mishaps.

Knock, knock…

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door, followed by Liu Yingyue’s gentle, mature voice:

“Brother Huang, may I come in?”

“Please, enter.”

Huang Di smiled and invited her in.

The door opened, revealing Liu Yingyue carrying a cup of tea.

“Manager Liu, this is your auction house. You don’t need to knock to enter.”

Huang Di chuckled.

“Even as the manager, I must follow propriety. Knocking is necessary.”

Rеаԁ оո ΚatRеaⅾіnɡCafe

Liu Yingyue spoke earnestly, then respectfully placed the tea beside Huang Di.

“Brother Huang, you’ve worked hard. Have some tea to refresh yourself.”

“I already have tea in my room. I wouldn’t dare trouble Manager Liu to deliver it personally.”

Huang Di was somewhat flattered.

“It’s the least I can do. Ever since you took on this task, none of our consignors have encountered any accidents.”

Liu Yingyue elegantly folded her hands over her abdomen and gave a slight bow.

“You exaggerate, Manager Liu. It’s really nothing, just registering a few consignors’ information each day.”

Huang Di returned the courtesy with a relaxed smile.

But the reality wasn’t as simple as he made it sound. The ones who wanted the Golden Fortune Auction House to fail weren’t just Second Master Liu. Anyone else would have been unable to defend against those invasive divine senses.

“Brother Huang is too modest. Before you, no one could handle this job.”

Liu Yingyue wasn’t foolish. If it were truly this easy, she wouldn’t have been driven to desperation before.

“Brother Huang, please try it. This is Spirit-Calming Tea I bought especially for you. They say it helps cultivators strengthen their divine sense.”

Liu Yingyue gestured invitingly.

“Bought just for me? That’s too kind!”

Huang Di was even more taken aback.

Reаd oո КаtRеαdіոɡСαfe

“Having someone as capable as you assisting me is what’s truly too kind.”

Liu Yingyue shook her head humbly. She understood that without fate’s arrangement, no amount of money could have hired someone like him.

Huang Di could no longer refuse. He picked up the tea and took a sip. Instantly, his mental fatigue dissipated, and he sighed in admiration.

“Truly excellent tea. Manager Liu, you’ve gone to great expense.”

“As long as Brother Huang likes it, it’s worth it. I’ll bring the rest of the tea leaves to you later.”

A satisfied smile graced Liu Yingyue’s delicate face.

“Hm?”

Suddenly, Huang Di frowned, his expression turning serious.

“What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with the tea?”

Liu Yingyue’s heart immediately tightened.

Huang Di didn’t answer. At that moment, a divine sense was attempting to breach the defenses he had set up around the room. As it met resistance, it intensified its efforts.

‘Hmph, overestimating yourself.’

Huang Di snorted inwardly. Instead of retreating, his divine sense surged forward, crushing the intruding one.

Meanwhile, in a teahouse across the street, an elderly man with graying hair and beard suddenly groaned. He dropped a few copper coins and fled in a panic, muttering incoherently:

“How could there be a late-stage Incarnation Realm expert here? Impossible!”

‘Indeed, it’s impossible. Only my divine sense is at the late-stage Incarnation Realm. But scaring off a rat like you is more than enough.’

Reαd oո KаtRеаԁіոɡСаfe

Huang Di smirked faintly.

“Brother Huang, what exactly happened?”

Liu Yingyue couldn’t suppress her curiosity any longer and pressed for an answer.

“Nothing much. Just a fly trying to peek in. I scared it off.”

Huang Di replied nonchalantly.

The gray-haired old man stumbled away like a stray dog, completely disregarding appearances as he took to the skies right in the middle of the street. He didn’t stop until he had fled dozens of miles north, finally landing breathlessly.

After hiding for a while and confirming no one was chasing him, he took a deep, trembling breath.

“That old bastard Liu Biao told me the mission would be easy! He nearly got me killed!”

The old man cursed angrily before pulling out a Thousand-Mile Communication Tube to contact someone.

“Brother Bao, you’re as swift as ever. You’ve completed the task so quickly.”

Soon, the voice of Second Master Liu Biao, the Liu family’s second elder, came through with flattery.

“Complete my ass! The Yongning State’s Golden Fortune Auction House has a late-stage Incarnation Realm expert guarding it! You old fool, were you trying to get me killed?”

The old man, surnamed Bao, roared in fury.

“What? A late-stage Incarnation Realm expert? Damn it, where did that girl find someone like that? I don’t even know such a high-ranking expert!”

Liu Biao’s voice was filled with disbelief.