Volume 7, Chapter 413 – Looks Like I’ll Have to Eliminate You Twice (Part 2)

Lü Er, upon hearing these provocative words, remained as shameless as a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, continuing to sweep his greedy gaze up and down Qi Huang’s figure.

“Excellent. The two of you shall compete. The winner takes the lot.”

Steward Cai wore a faint, malicious smile. Although the outcome of this battle for the lot wouldn’t determine who stayed or left, once swords were drawn, accidents could happen. If this bratty girl got injured, it would undoubtedly affect her performance in the subsequent matches.

Moreover, Lü Er had no intention of letting Cheng Hongling build her reputation, there was no way he’d go easy on her.

“Young Friend Lü, you must give it your all! Cheng Hongling is the number one genius of our Western Radiance Dynasty. Don’t embarrass us out-of-town cultivators.”

Steward Cai turned his head slightly, shooting Lü Er a meaningful glance.

Qi Huang frowned inwardly. Even though she had once been a man, she found that invasive stare unbearable. If it were her main body, she would’ve already drawn her sword.

‘Can’t get enough of looking, huh? I swear, after this match, you won’t dare to so much as glance at me again.’

Qi Huang silently made up her mind.

“This is going to be good! On one side, we have the Western Radiance Dynasty’s top genius, and on the other, the unfathomable out-of-town cultivator Lü Er, both arrogant as hell. I really want to see who’ll come out on top.”

“These two are idiots, fighting over a single lot.”

“Idiots? That’s double the rewards!”

“Double rewards? You fool! If their strengths are comparable, no matter who wins, both will inevitably suffer injuries. If that affects their later matches, the losses would outweigh the gains. Otherwise, why do you think only they’re competing?”

“Ah, that makes sense! But why worry about that? Let’s just enjoy the show. I’m rooting for Fairy Hongling to win, it’d be a slap to all those out-of-town cultivators!”

“Pfft, acting all noble, are we? You’re just a simp! Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been buying her discarded melon seed shells to brew tea.”

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“As if you’re any better! Who’s the one sneaking to the spots Fairy Hongling stood in, inhaling her lingering fragrance for half an hour after she leaves?”

The cultivators below grew excited once more.

“No need. Since she wants this lot, I’ll graciously yield it to her.”

Contrary to his usual belligerent arrogance, Lü Er acted the “gentleman” and withdrew outright.

“What?”

Qin Quan blurted out in shock, blinking rapidly.

“Why?”

Qi Huang was also caught off guard. It felt like punching cotton, all her force met empty air.

“How could I fight my future concubine over something? If you want it, I’ll let you have it. Consider it my greeting gift.”

Lü Er smirked as he turned and leaped off the stage with a flourish.

Qi Huang clutched the lottery tag, her heart brimming with frustration. She had wanted to teach this bastard a lesson, but he had chickened out like a cowardly lizard.

“See? The ‘concubine’ he mentioned was Cheng Hongling all along!”

“Hah! A toad lusting after swan flesh! The emperor of a nation couldn’t even obtain one of Cheng Hongling’s clones, who does this guy think he is?”

“Isn’t this great? Now that we know his intentions, we can spread the word that he’s a simp for the women of the Western Radiance Dynasty! Humiliate him to death!”

“Will that even work? What if he enjoys being a simp?”

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“Sounds like you’re projecting! Admit it, you’re the one who wants to simp for her!”

“Caught me, huh? Fairy Hongling, the most beautiful woman in the Western Radiance Dynasty, even the melon seed shells her clone discards sell for several taels of silver each! Who wouldn’t want to simp for her? Most importantly, if you marry her, you’d be cuckolding the emperor himself! That sense of achievement probably surpasses even immortality!”

The cultivators below erupted into another heated discussion.

“Tsk.”

Steward Cai sighed in disappointment before announcing, “In that case, this lot shall belong to—”

“Wait! Our Jinliu Sect also has an interest in that lot!”

Just then, a young man’s voice rang out.

Qi Huang turned to look and saw a burly youth stepping out from the crowd. She would recognize that face even if it were ground to ashes!

Indeed, the newcomer was none other than Jin Hu, the top immortal seedling of the Jinliu Sect, the very man who had personally eliminated Cheng Hongling six years ago.

“What… What’s the Jinliu Sect doing here? Don’t they know the lot’s opponent is themselves?”

“So what? The Immortal Alliance never forbade opponents from competing for the same lot!”

“But why would they do this?”

“Are you stupid? If they win, they eliminate an opponent for this round. If they lose, they still get to scout their rival’s strength. It’s a win-win situation. Stuff like this happens all the time.”

“Ah, I see. Today’s been enlightening.”

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Cultivators from various sects buzzed with chatter once more.

Jin Hu strode onto the stage with his hands behind his back. Each heavy step thundered like muffled drums, his towering frame radiating overwhelming pressure.

“Qi Huang, was it? If you want this lot, you’ll have to ask for my permission first.”

Jin Hu loomed over her, looking down with a sneer.

“I knew you’d try to interfere.”

Qi Huang merely smiled confidently.

“You knew we’d interfere?”

Jin Hu’s brows twitched slightly.

“Of course. As the opponent assigned to this lot, if you compete and win, you eliminate a rival for this round. If you lose, you still get to scout my strength. Since this isn’t an official match, the result won’t affect your standing, it’s a risk-free gamble.”

Qi Huang laid out her reasoning methodically before adding, “Besides, there’s already bad blood between us. There’s no way you’d let the Honghua Sect face two opponents at once in this round. Even if you won, you’d be accused of ganging up on the weak. And if you lost? Utter disgrace!”

Down below, Cheng Hongling’s delicate face flickered with complex emotions. She hadn’t expected her clone to strategize to this extent.

“So what’s your goal? Seeking revenge?”

Jin Hu composed himself and asked calmly.

“Revenge? No, no. I’m here to return the favor tenfold! I’ll eliminate you once in this lottery-tag battle, and then again in the official match!”

Qi Huang wagged a slender finger.

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“Damn! She actually said she’d eliminate the Jinliu Sect’s disciple twice? That’s insane! That’s the third-largest immortal sect in the Western Radiance Dynasty!”

A cultivator below gasped in awe.

“Bold words! But alas, six years ago, I was the one who eliminated you. Six years later, I’ll do it again. I’ll show the world that a rat’s nest will never produce a phoenix! I believe your name is Qi Huang? Change it now, or prepare to be ridiculed ¹ Reminder: The “Huang” in her name means phoenix !”

Jin Hu shot back with equal venom.

“Good. Let’s see if you have what it takes to make me change it.”

Qi Huang’s smile widened. After all, crushing an opponent like this would be far more satisfying.

“Are there no other competitors? This is double the rewards! If you miss this chance, you may never get another. Think carefully!”

Steward Cai’s wrinkled face once again twisted into a gloating smirk as he egged on the crowd.

“Steward Cai is right! Double rewards! How can you not be tempted? Where are the immortal seedlings of the Donglai Sect? The Huxiao Sect’s geniuses? Don’t you want a shot?”

Instead of panicking, Qi Huang seemed delighted, even helping Steward Cai “advertise”.

Steward Cai froze. He had no idea what this brat was planning, why would she willingly increase the difficulty for herself?

“What’s wrong? Could it be that the mighty Donglai Sect and Huxiao Sect are scared? Relax! This isn’t an official match, just a lottery-tag battle. Losing won’t affect your standing.”

Qi Huang continued provoking them on her own. Her goal was obvious, she wanted to humiliate them multiple times. Only then would it be satisfying.

Even the confident Jin Hu paled slightly. If the top disciples of the Donglai and Huxiao Sects joined in, it would be nothing short of a disaster for him.