Volume 7, Chapter 368 – The Pride of Cheng Hongling

“That won’t do. Unless I’m completely incapacitated, she can’t step in.”

Cheng Hongling opposed without hesitation.

“Why not?”

Xu Mei asked knowingly.

“No reason!”

Cheng Hongling replied tersely.

“Oh? Are you afraid I’ll steal your spotlight?”

Qi Huang teased with a smirk.

“Nonsense!”

Cheng Hongling’s willow-thin brows furrowed.

“Hongling, everyone knows your temperament. You’re just afraid people will find out your doppelgänger is stronger than you, aren’t you?”

Xu Mei couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What’s wrong with a doppelgänger being stronger? It’s still you. Or are you jealous of yourself?”

Elder Ruan also joined in the teasing.

“Who said I’m jealous of her? I just… I just want to make the most of this opportunity to train. If a cultivator wants to grow stronger, they can’t afford to waste such chances.”

Cheng Hongling argued stubbornly, her fair cheeks flushing slightly.

“Yes, yes, you’re not jealous of her, we are. We’re the ones jealous. Here we are, decades old, yet we can’t compare to a teenage girl’s doppelgänger. We’re so jealous we could die.”

Xu Mei struggled to hold back her laughter.

“Anyway… I’ve made myself clear. Unless I’m completely spent, you are not to intervene.”

Cheng Hongling turned to Qi Huang with a commanding tone, though there was an undeniable hint of coquettishness in her words.

“Fine, fine!”

Qi Huang conceded with a helpless smile. She understood her main body’s temperament and had expected this outcome.

“Alright, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Qin Quan raised a hand to quiet the room. “In fact, the Immortal Alliance’s rule changes don’t stop there. They’ve unprecedentedly allowed cultivators’ doppelgängers to register independently for the Evergreen Conference, regardless of household registration or nationality.”

“What?!”

The entire hall erupted in shock, and even Cheng Hongling’s expression shifted slightly.

“If doppelgängers are allowed to participate independently, this Evergreen Conference in Yongning Province will become a bloodbath.”

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“Exactly. Though Yongning Province doesn’t have many noteworthy geniuses, there are plenty of prodigies from outside. If they send their doppelgängers to compete here, it’ll pose a serious threat to Hongling.”

“Doppelgängers? You’re thinking too small. Since there are no restrictions on nationality or registration, they could even come in person, and it’d still be within the rules.”

“Thank goodness we have Qi Huang. Otherwise, we’d be in real trouble this time.”

The higher-ups exchanged uneasy glances, their faces filled with astonishment.

“Heh. Seems the Immortal Alliance truly despises me if they’re resorting to such tactics.”

Qi Huang sneered dismissively.

“Sect Master, the cultivation world is vast, with countless nations and hidden dragons and crouching tigers. In your opinion, are there any cultivators under thirty who could defeat Qi Huang?”

Xu Mei cautiously inquired.

“Indeed. This is our last chance to obtain the Golden Fate Blossom seeds. We must consider every possible variable.”

Elder Ruan chimed in.

“Certainly. From what I know, in the great nations of the Central Continent, there are more than one or two prodigies who’ve reached the Divine Realm before thirty. They’re descendants of true immortals.”

Sect Master Qin replied.

At these words, the hall fell silent. A genuine Divine Realm cultivator was no match even for a watered-down powerhouse like Qi Huang.

“Then, are there any who’ve reached the Heavenly Tribulation Realm before thirty?”

Qi Huang asked nonchalantly.

“Absolutely not! If someone reached the Heavenly Tribulation Realm before thirty, who would dare say the path of cultivation is long and arduous? Besides, even if such a person existed, they wouldn’t be able to move around freely due to the Heavenly Tribulation’s restrictions.”

Qin Quan shook his head without hesitation.

“Good!”

Qi Huang was completely reassured. Even if she was a “watered-down” Heavenly Tribulation cultivator, crushing a few Divine Realm prodigies would be as easy as squashing ants.

The others exchanged puzzled glances, unsure why she had asked such a question.

“No need to worry. The chances of those prodigies participating are practically zero, for two reasons. First, the Western Radiance Dynasty is a remote minor nation in the cultivation world, and Yongning Province is its most backwater region. News won’t spread far. Second, people always act based on self-interest. Those prodigies are thousands of miles away, why would they come all the way to Yongning Province for such meager benefits? They’d have to be utterly bored.”

Qin Quan reassured them.

The group murmured among themselves before nodding in agreement.

“Still, as the saying goes, ‘caution preserves longevity.’ Hongling and Qi Huang, you must use this year to train hard. We can’t leave our fate in others’ hands, can we?”

Qin Quan’s tone shifted, not wanting the future of the Honghua Sect to grow complacent based on his words.

“Fine. But I must ask everyone, please don’t reveal my true strength before the Evergreen Conference.”

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Qi Huang requested earnestly.

With that, the meeting concluded. As the attendees dispersed, still digesting Qin Quan’s words, they couldn’t help but marvel at the Immortal Alliance’s unprecedented rule changes.

“Just focus on your training. If you need any spiritual herbs or medicines, let me know. I’ll make sure you’re fully supplied.”

Qi Huang reminded her original self once more.

“You… Do you think I’m useless?”

Cheng Hongling hesitated before suddenly voicing the question.

“Huh? Why would you think that?”

Qi Huang was taken aback.

“The original me is weaker than my own doppelgänger. Doesn’t that make me useless?”

Cheng Hongling laughed self-deprecatingly.

“Do you… see me as an outsider? Otherwise, why would you feel this way?”

Qi Huang asked, puzzled.

“Then what about you? Do you want me to treat you as a doppelgänger, or as an independent person?”

Cheng Hongling’s beautiful eyes shimmered.

Qi Huang froze, then fell silent. Of course, she wanted Cheng Hongling to see her as an independent individual, that was the only way to unlock infinite possibilities. But she also feared losing her trust, leaving her unsure how to respond.

“Next time you ask me that, ask yourself first.”

Cheng Hongling left behind these cryptic words before turning away.

“What did she mean by that?”

Lost in thought, Qi Huang wandered back home in a daze.

Life soon returned to its usual rhythm, and she busied herself with gardening once more.

The sect, however, grew busier. Before the provincial Evergreen Conference, the Honghua Sect had to hold a prefectural-level selection to determine their representatives.

Of course, given that the other sects in Huangtian Prefecture were little more than small-time frauds, the prefectural conference was largely a formality. But rules were rules.

One day, Yaoyao returned, preparing for another round of banditry. But first, she had to escort her kin and Liu Zhengxian to the Honghua Sect.

When Qi Huang took the storage ring, she was stunned to find another “Yaoyao” inside, identical in appearance save for the eyes. While Yaoyao’s pupils were an eerie crimson, this one’s were a vibrant green, giving off an entirely different aura.

“Is this your doppelgänger?”

Qi Huang gaped.

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“I’m a cat spirit. I don’t have doppelgängers. This is my elder sister, Mimi. She reached the Incarnation Realm and took human form.”

Yaoyao explained.

“Really? That’s perfect!”

Qi Huang’s face lit up with joy. Who wouldn’t adore a timid cat-eared loli? Especially one who looked so easy to bully.

“Don’t grin so creepily. If you bully her, I’ll make sure your future children starve.”

Yaoyao warned sharply.

“Creepy? My smile is pure innocence! If you think it’s creepy, teach me how to smile properly!”

Qi Huang feigned indignation.

“Sorry, I’m not qualified. Creepiness is in your bones.”

Yaoyao “apologized” politely.

Qi Huang was speechless, though she couldn’t help but admire the catgirl’s sharp perception.

After Yaoyao left, Qi Huang eagerly introduced herself to Mimi. As expected, the green-eyed catgirl was meek, every word seeming to take immense courage, her gaze darting away shyly.

“Perfect. Next time you mess with me, Yaoyao, I’ll take it out on your sister.”

Qi Huang made a bold decision.

Time passed, and one night, as Qi Huang slept, she saw another fragment of Cheng Ling’s memories.

Cheng Ling remained hidden in the cave. Without a complete human form and fearing capture by her original self, she dared not wander outside, leaving her days dull and uneventful.

Qi Huang grew anxious. She didn’t know how much longer she’d have to wait to uncover the truth she sought.

Eventually, Cheng Ling fell asleep, and dreamed again of “Yao Yao”.

Qi Huang opened her eyes to find Yao Yao and her father, Ah Hua, sharing a meal.

Ah Hua set down his chopsticks after a few bites, his appetite seemingly absent for unknown reasons.

“Dad, why aren’t you eating?”

Yao Yao asked worriedly.

“Yao Yao, I’ve been feeling unwell these past few days. I thought I’d visit the clinic in town later.”

Ah Hua hesitated before confessing.

“Unwell? Where does it hurt?”

Yao Yao pressed urgently, still haunted by her grandparents’ fate.

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“It’s nothing, probably just an upset stomach.”

Ah Hua forced a relaxed smile.

“I’ll go with you.”

After a brief pause, Yao Yao made up her mind.

Ah Hua instinctively refused, but unable to dissuade his filial daughter, he reluctantly agreed.

After breakfast, father and daughter set out empty-handed. Qi Huang wasn’t worried, this world seemed devoid of wandering spirits, or at least they were rare.

By noon, they arrived at a clinic in town. With no other patients, they were seen immediately.

“It’s you! You’re Lu Hua, right?”

The physician recognized Ah Hua ¹ I kind of forgot to mention this but Ah is not his surname, it’s more of an informal, affectionate prefix added to names to create nicknames or terms of endearment at once .

“Yes, Doctor Kong. My family are regulars here.”

Lu Hua managed a weak smile.

“Is this your daughter? What a lovely girl.”

Doctor Kong was unexpectedly warm.

“Yes, this is my daughter, Lu Yao. She’s twelve this year.”

Lu Hua glanced at his daughter tenderly.

“Twelve? Almost marriageable age. With her looks, she’ll surely find a good match.”

Doctor Kong praised.

“Thank you for the kind words.”

Lu Hua replied politely.

“By the way, is Gu Yuan your wife? How is she? I prescribed her medicine, but she refused to take it.”

Doctor Kong suddenly changed the subject.

“My wife? What’s wrong with her? What medicine?”

Lu Hua froze.

“She has a tumor. I diagnosed her over a month ago. She didn’t tell you?”

Doctor Kong looked surprised.

The news struck Lu Hua like a thunderbolt. He spat out a mouthful of blood, then collapsed unconscious.