Volume 7, Chapter 389 – The Evergreen Conference Begins (Part 3)

As Lin Ran approached, the disciples of the Honghua Sect tensed up. Everyone knew there was some unresolved conflict between the Sixth Princess of the dynasty and Cheng Hongling.

The surrounding cultivators immediately fell silent, their gazes flickering toward the scene.

“Are you all fellow Daoists from the Honghua Sect? Lin Ran of Poyun Peak greets you.”

Lin Ran offered a polite greeting.

“I am Qin Quan, Sect Leader of the Honghua Sect. Greetings, Sixth Princess!”

Qin Quan stepped forward with a stiff expression and bowed slightly. While cultivators weren’t bound by mortal etiquette, there was no harm in being courteous.

“Sect Leader Qin need not be so formal. We are all cultivators, after all.”

Lin Ran dismissed the gesture casually before shifting her gaze to Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang.

Qi Huang studied the imperial princess with curiosity. As the saying went, a renowned reputation is no empty boast. Lin Ran, one of the capital’s three great beauties, truly lived up to her fame. Her looks were on par with Liu Yingyue’s, but her royal lineage lent her an innate air of superiority, something ordinary women could never match.

For most men, such a woman would evoke deep-seated inferiority. But for powerful men, she would only ignite a fierce desire to conquer her.

“You must be Junior Sister Cheng Hongling, correct?”

Lin Ran’s eyes finally settled on Cheng Hongling’s true body.

“That’s me. Does Senior Sister Lin have any advice to offer?”

Cheng Hongling clasped her hands in a polite yet unyielding manner.

“Seeing you in person is better than merely hearing your name. No wonder my father personally selected you as an Imperial Consort.”

Lin Ran’s tone was calm, her jade-carved face betraying no emotion.

“Senior Sister Lin flatters me. Compared to Poyun Peak’s top-ranked immortal seedling, what does a mere Honghua Sect disciple like me amount to?”

Cheng Hongling returned the compliment with feigned humility.

“Junior Sister Cheng, though we’ve never interacted before, certain… unavoidable circumstances have led to misunderstandings between us. Rumors have spread. I assume you’ve heard them?”

Lin Ran’s words carried a subtle warning.

“I have. Since Senior Sister Lin understands that I had no choice in the matter, I hope you won’t take it to heart.”

Cheng Hongling attempted to explain. She wasn’t afraid of a fight, what she feared was needlessly attracting karma.

“Indeed, Sixth Princess. My escape from the palace should prove my stance. I have no interest in becoming a concubine, so the root of this matter lies with your father.”

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Qi Huang added her own explanation, as she was the true party involved.

“I understand. Unfortunately, some things cannot be resolved with words alone. That’s why I must use the Evergreen Conference’s stage to give the world a clear answer.”

Lin Ran did not back down, her words a veiled declaration of war.

“Thank you for the warning, Senior Sister Lin. If you wish to test me, I’ll oblige.”

Cheng Hongling wasted no more words. She had never been one for empty talk. If swords could settle things, all the better.

“Good. If we meet, be careful. I won’t hold back just because you’re younger.”

A flicker of admiration crossed Lin Ran’s face before she turned and walked away with regal grace.

“Why is this Sixth Princess so unreasonable? Her father is the one lusting after others, so why is she targeting Hongling?”

Xu Mei fumed.

“Exactly! Her father ignored all propriety and nearly violated Qi Huang’s chastity. We haven’t even sought justice, yet she dares to come at us first? How absurd!”

Ruan Lingyu chimed in.

“What does this have to do with our junior sister? Clearly, that dog emperor is at fault. She doesn’t dare confront her own father but lashes out at us instead, does she think we’re easy to bully?”

Yun Fei analyzed the situation logically.

“What a filial daughter. Her father is about to cuckold her mother, yet she only dares to act tough outside. I’d love a dutiful daughter like that.”

Su Qingying’s sarcasm was razor-sharp.

“Just because she’s a Sixth Princess doesn’t make her special. Cultivators don’t care about mortal status. If I meet her on the stage, I’ll teach her a lesson!”

Shen Yuan, ever the champion of justice, clenched her fists.

“Yeah! Bite her to death!”

Miao Xiang bared her little fangs.

“Actually, I think the Sixth Princess isn’t so bad. This matter can’t be resolved with words, only through strength. The fact that she came to declare her intentions beforehand shows she has integrity.”

Qi Huang, however, had a different perspective.

“Is it her integrity you admire… or her looks?”

Cheng Hongling narrowed her beautiful eyes.

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“O-Of course her integrity! As for looks, she’s nowhere near as stunning as you!”

Qi Huang shuddered and quickly resorted to flattery.

Cheng Hongling froze, her expression turning awkward again.

“Who praises themselves like that? Junior Sister, you’re so vain!”

Ruan Lingyu couldn’t help but tease, making everyone around them chuckle.

The news of the Sixth Princess’s challenge spread like wildfire, sweeping through the square in moments. Whispers and debates erupted everywhere.

Meanwhile, at the grand hall behind the square, several prominent figures of the cultivation world were also discussing the matter. The most distinguished among them was none other than Elder Zuo of the Immortal Alliance, who had stayed behind to personally witness Cheng Hongling’s elimination.

“Given the Sixth Princess’s current predicament, this is the only way to salvage her reputation. Her decision is hardly surprising.”

Elder Zuo analyzed.

“True. But both she and Cheng Hongling are at the second layer of the Incarnation Realm. Who is stronger?”

Ye Donglai, standing nearby, voiced his curiosity.

“I’d bet on the Sixth Princess. She’s nearly a decade older, her combat experience far surpasses that of a fledgling like Cheng Hongling.”

Steward Cai interjected.

“Steward Cai, that’s not necessarily true. Combat experience isn’t solely tied to age. Don’t forget, Cheng Hongling hails from Huangtian Prefecture, a place so harsh it’s incomparable to anywhere else.”

Ye Donglai seemed to disagree.

“Fair point, but Elder Ye, you must remember. The Sixth Princess is a dual cultivator of both immortal and martial arts. Her physical prowess exceeds that of any ordinary cultivator in the same realm. That’s why she’s only ever lost to your disciple by a hair’s breadth in past Evergreen Conferences.”

Elder Zuo offered a pointed reminder.

“A hair’s breadth? Elder Zuo, you truly know how to phrase things. No wonder you’re so close to the imperial family.”

Ye Donglai’s retort dripped with sarcasm. As the strongest among the three Divine Realm powerhouses present, he had no qualms about trading barbs with Elder Zuo.

“Elder Ye, I must correct you. It’s not that I am close to the imperial family, it’s that they seek closeness with me. As an elder of the Immortal Alliance, why would I need to curry favor with anyone?”

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Elder Zuo replied haughtily.

“Heh…”

Ye Donglai smirked but didn’t press further. Though arrogant, he wasn’t foolish enough to provoke an Immortal Alliance elder endlessly.

Time passed, and the square grew increasingly crowded. Every notable sect from the Western Radiance Dynasty had arrived, except for Shuiyu Valley.

“Strange. Why hasn’t Shuiyu Valley come? They’re the largest female sect in the dynasty, this isn’t like them!”

Ruan Lingyu wondered aloud.

“Mu Ruoyi told me a few days ago they wouldn’t be attending.”

Qi Huang answered.

“Why not?”

Ruan Lingyu pressed.

“Ah, it’s simple. Since my main body is technically her ‘wife’, if she came, it’d look like she was competing with her own spouse for rewards!”

Qi Huang explained awkwardly.

“Who’s her wife?! I’ll make it clear to her, I don’t like women.”

Cheng Hongling immediately refuted.

“What if she refuses? That Wen Jing buried in the grave isn’t someone to trifle with.”

Qi Huang warned. As for her main body’s claim of not liking women, she felt a secret thrill. After all, Cheng Hongling already knew Qi Huang had once been a man, so she’d never see her as a real woman anyway.

“You think I don’t realize she’s also being forced? Once her goal is achieved, she’ll let go.”

Cheng Hongling spoke firmly, as if afraid someone might misunderstand.

“Honestly, it’s not so bad. Mu Ruoyi is beautiful and gentle, better than most men!”

“Yeah, the Immortal Alliance never said two girls can’t be together, right?”

“Besides, you’re both cultivators. Just focus on immortality, no need to worry about descendants.”

Several senior sisters joined in teasing her.

“No. I have to shake her off. If you like her so much, go confess yourselves—don’t drag me into it.”

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Cheng Hongling remained stubborn.

Time flew, and the opening ceremony was about to begin.

“Master, that Lü Er still hasn’t arrived…”

Steward Cai reported uneasily to Elder Zuo.

“Still not here?”

Elder Zuo frowned and scanned the square.

“Brother Zuo, who is this ‘Lü Er’? Such a crude name…”

Ye Donglai asked curiously.

“Nothing important. A junior from my hometown wanted to see the Evergreen Conference in Yongning Province, so I brought his doppelgänger along.”

Elder Zuo brushed it off.

“Your hometown? The Weiyuan Empire?”

Ye Donglai’s expression turned thoughtful.

At the last possible moment before the ceremony, Lü Er finally arrived. Since there were many Incarnation Realm geniuses present, he didn’t bother hiding the doppelgänger mark between his brows.

“Elder Zuo, is that Cheng Hongling here?”

Lü Er cut straight to the point.

“She is. Over there, the one in the red ruqun.”

Elder Zuo gestured toward the Honghua Sect’s location.

Lü Er’s gaze followed the direction, and soon, a striking figure in red entered his vision.

His eyes widened, greed flashing across his face as his throat bobbed audibly.

“To think… a backwater like the Western Radiance Dynasty actually has such a peerless beauty!”

“So? Did I exaggerate? Interested?”

Elder Zuo smirked.