Volume 7, Chapter 418 – How Could Fairy Qi Possibly Be This Kind of Person?

Qi Huang strolled leisurely with her hands clasped behind her back, heading toward the spot where Jin Hu had crashed. Cultivators along the way quickly made way for her, knowing full well that a spectacle was about to unfold. The disciples of the Honghua Sect naturally followed close behind.

As Qi Huang approached, she saw that Jin Hu, true to his reputation for toughness, had already been helped up by his fellow sect members despite having smashed a crater into the ground. Only a faint trace of blood at the corner of his mouth betrayed any sign of injury.

“Seriously, brother? You’re built like a mountain, yet you got kicked so far it made my legs tired just walking here. All bark and no bite, huh?”

Qi Huang’s mockery was merciless.

“You—!”

Jin Hu seethed with rage, but as the defeated party, he had no ground to retaliate.

“And here you were, calling Huangtian County a ‘rat’s nest’. So what does that make you, getting knocked off the stage by a rat? What does that make the Jinliu Sect?”

Her words were sharp, pressing him relentlessly.

“Junior Qi, we’re all cultivators here. We’ll cross paths again sooner or later. Shouldn’t we leave some room for reconciliation?”

Jin Hu’s father, Elder Jin, stepped in, attempting to play the sympathy card.

“Oh? Can’t handle it now?”

Qi Huang’s expression turned icy as she retorted, “Huangtian County has endured ridicule from all corners of the Western Radiance Dynasty for years. Take your son for example, he’s been mocking me since six years ago. Did he ever show an ounce of mercy? Don’t you know the saying, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’?”

“Exactly! Six years ago, our junior sister was only twelve. Not only did your son eliminate her, but he also humiliated her in public. What kind of person does that? And you call yourselves cultivators? Worse than beasts!”

Ruan Lingyu, hearing this, couldn’t hold back her fury.

“Let me remind you, this is just the Token Contest. We haven’t been officially eliminated yet. Push us too hard now, and you might regret it in a few days.”

Elder Jin, unable to endure any further, issued a thinly veiled threat.

“Fine. Since this is the Token Contest, let’s settle the bet first.”

Qi Huang remained unruffled, speaking with calm logic. “Do you remember the wager between your son and me? Starting today, I expect him to change his name to Jin Shu ¹ Golden Rat .”

“Absolutely not!”

Elder Jin refused without hesitation.

“Keep dreaming.”

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A trace of hatred flashed in Jin Hu’s eyes. Losing to a “rat” from Huangtian County was a humiliation he couldn’t bear.

“Oh? Going back on your word now?”

Qi Huang feigned shock.

“You’re utterly shameless! How dare you renege in front of so many witnesses!”

Ruan Lingyu was aghast.

“Elder Jin, the agreement between these two juniors was witnessed by all the sects present. If you break your word now, it will damage the Jinliu Sect’s credibility. Who would ever trust anything you say in the future?”

Even Qin Quan, a man who usually preferred to avoid conflict, was provoked into speaking up.

“This is different. If it were any other sect, we’d honor the agreement, because we’re equals. But you? You’re just rats from Huangtian County, third-class citizens of the Western Radiance Dynasty. You don’t deserve our honesty.”

Jin Hu spoke with arrogance, though the prolonged separation from his Essence Soul was clearly taking its toll, his face twisted in pain. Beside him, Bao Gang was in a similar state. Without the protection of their physical bodies, their exposed souls were vulnerable to the relentless pressure of the Heavenly Dao’s will. That they had lasted this long suggested they were using some special method to endure.

“Third-class citizens? What nonsense! What gives you, an oath-breaking coward, the right to call us that?”

Shen Yuan was practically hopping mad.

“Since when are people from Huangtian County third-class citizens? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Qi Huang smirked coldly before raising her voice, infused with true qi, to call out, “Sixth Princess! As a member of the imperial family, you’re most familiar with the laws of the Western Radiance Dynasty. Tell me, which imperial decree ever declared Huangtian County’s people third-class citizens?”

“The Western Radiance Dynasty recognizes no hierarchy among commoners without official titles. All are equal!”

Princess Lin Ran’s composed voice rang out clearly. It wasn’t out of any sympathy for the Honghua Sect. As a royal, she naturally answered in a way that upheld imperial authority and social order.

“Well? Even Her Highness has spoken. What more do you have to say?”

Qi Huang smiled in satisfaction before turning her gaze back to the Jinliu Sect.

“So what? Her Highness didn’t order us to fulfill the bet. In the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme. If you have the power, make me submit!”

Jin Hu, like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, remained defiant.

“Don’t worry, I’ll ask you something first. Your head must be hurting terribly by now, right? Aren’t you going to recall your Essence Soul?”

Qi Huang’s lips curled into a knowing smile.

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“None of your business!”

Jin Hu snapped irritably.

“Fine, fine! I’ll mind my own business!”

Qi Huang replied breezily before raising her voice again, this time addressing Steward Cai in the distance. “Steward Cai, didn’t you say earlier that you’d act as guarantor for the wager made on stage? Now that this guy is clearly trying to weasel out of it, aren’t you going to do something?”

Steward Cai, already nursing a grudge, was in no mood to help Qi Huang now that she was in a tight spot. He and Elder Zuo pretended not to hear, turning away to enter the grand hall.

“You still have hope for the Immortal Alliance?”

Cheng Hongling’s voice transmitted directly into Qi Huang’s mind.

“Heh, I just wanted every sect to see the Immortal Alliance’s true colors.”

Qi Huang replied casually.

“And what good will that do? Do you think any of them would dare criticize the Immortal Alliance? They’ll just pretend they saw nothing.”

Cheng Hongling warned.

“No need. I just wanted justification for what comes next.”

Qi Huang explained. She didn’t want to always be seen as a madwoman.

“Hah! What now? I won’t change it. Go ahead, try and make me!”

Jin Hu, despite his throbbing headache, couldn’t resist taunting her.

Qi Huang remained unshaken. With light, deliberate steps, she took two ominous steps forward.

“Whoa!”

The surrounding cultivators, thinking she was about to strike, scrambled back in alarm.

“What are you doing? Private duels are forbidden off the stage! Do you want the Honghua Sect expelled from the Evergreen Conference?”

Elder Jin, treating her like a dire threat, “shing!” drew his sword. The Jinliu Sect disciples followed suit.

The Honghua Sect members, however, remained perfectly calm. They knew a mere clown like this couldn’t possibly threaten Qi Huang.

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“Private duel? Who dares to duel off-stage?”

At that moment, Elder Zuo’s voice suddenly rang out. Before the words had fully faded, he and Steward Cai materialized in the center of the scene.

‘You sure show up fast when it’s time to cause trouble.’

Qi Huang couldn’t help but grumble inwardly, though outwardly she feigned innocence. “Private duel? Who’s dueling? Elder Zuo, take a good look, only the Jinliu Sect has drawn their weapons.”

Elder Zuo glanced around and, seeing this was true, asked blankly, “Then what are you all doing?”

Elder Jin shuddered and hastily sheathed his sword. His disciples did the same.

“Hah! With Elder Zuo here, let’s see what you can do to me now!”

Jin Hu immediately grew bold again, laughing arrogantly.

“So what? We from Huangtian County are also subjects of the Western Radiance Dynasty. Yet you outsiders show no kinship, insulting and trampling on us whenever you please. Today, I will make an example of you.”

Cheng Hongling had had enough. She took several slow steps forward.

The Honghua Sect disciples, their hatred boiling over, surged forward as one.

“Let me remind you. If you dare to duel off-stage, you’ll be immediately disqualified from the Evergreen Conference. Given the Honghua Sect’s current state, can you afford that price?”

Steward Cai offered a “kind” warning, though his face betrayed his glee.

“Not only is Steward Cai refusing to mediate, he’s actually threatening the Honghua Sect now?”

“The rumors must be true, the Immortal Alliance has a grudge against them!”

“No kidding! During the Imperial Consort selection, Qi Huang forced Steward Cai to kneel. That story spread throughout the cultivation world. Did you really think he’d let her off easy?”

“Not just that, when Cheng Hongling took the stage earlier, she openly declared that she didn’t lose to her opponent but to the rules. That’s a direct slap to the Immortal Alliance’s face!”

Whispers spread among the surrounding cultivators.

“No need to rush. As Elder Jin said, we’re all sects under the Immortal Alliance. We’ll see each other again. Let’s discuss this reasonably. How about we have Senior Brother Jin recall his Essence Soul first?”

Qi Huang suddenly played peacemaker, her tone conciliatory, almost as if she were backing down.

“Scared now? I thought the famed ‘Fairy Hongling’ was some unshakable ice queen. Who knew even her doppelgänger would be this spineless?”

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Jin Hu, despite his splitting headache, couldn’t resist sneering.

“No way! This can’t be real! The Qi Huang I admire would never be such a coward!”

“Don’t even mention it. I drank so much tea brewed from her melon seed shells, and now I feel like vomiting! Ugh!”

“Everyone! I’ve got dozens of melon seed shells left! Selling cheap, just one copper coin per shell!”

The surrounding cultivators’ expressions shifted, some even letting out desolate wails as if witnessing the shattering of something precious before their very eyes.

“What are you doing? Stop embarrassing me!”

Cheng Hongling’s furious voice transmitted directly into Qi Huang’s mind.

“Relax. Even without lifting a finger, I’ll make him pay dearly.”

Qi Huang reassured her with absolute confidence.

Trusting her doppelgänger completely, Cheng Hongling suppressed her urge to act.

“Senior Brother Jin, your face is twisted in pain. Aren’t you going to recall your Essence Soul?”

Qi Huang offered another “kind” reminder.

“Thanks for your concern, Junior Sister Qi!”

Jin Hu scoffed disdainfully before activating his soul tether to summon his exiled Essence Soul back.

But the next moment, his face froze in shock.

There was no response.

“Where… where is my Essence Soul?”

He looked around in confusion.

“You’re asking me? How should I know?”

Qi Huang spread her hands innocently, though the mischievous glint in her eyes grew even more pronounced.