Volume 7, Chapter 421 – Junior Sister, I Advise You to Choose Your Words Carefully

Qi Huang’s steps appeared casual, but inwardly, she felt a hint of smugness. The feeling of strategizing and outmaneuvering others was truly satisfying. After all, crushing them with intellect was still crushing them.

“Junior Sister, may I timidly ask. Since we won, shouldn’t we take that lot?” Yun Fei reminded her.

“Didn’t you ask Steward Cai for it?” Qi Huang asked in surprise.

“Uh… We saw you leave and just followed,” Ruan Lingyu replied awkwardly.

“Sect Leader Qin! What’s going on with you? Do I really have to handle such a trivial matter myself?” Qi Huang immediately redirected the blame toward Qin Quan.

“Hahaha… My apologies, I was just too excited earlier.” Qin Quan rubbed his head sheepishly before turning to Wang Zong. “Wang Zong, what’s wrong with you? Do I really have to handle such a small matter myself? Go get that lot from Steward Cai immediately!”

“Yes, yes, right away!”

Wang Zong dared not show his displeasure, nodding and bowing before scurrying off. He wasn’t a genius disciple, how could he dare talk back to the sect leader?

“Tch. Copying my words.” Qi Huang shot Qin Quan a disdainful look.

“What can I do? You were just too brilliant earlier, practically our little idol. Right, everyone?” Qin Quan shamelessly flattered her before wisely stirring the pot.

“Yes! Yes! Junior Sister was so dashing just now!” Shen Yuan exclaimed excitedly, her eyes sparkling with admiration, completely unaware that she had just been used as a tool.

“Senior Sister, which little junior sister are you referring to?” Su Qingying asked expressionlessly, mischief in her tone.

“Of course, I mean—” Shen Yuan’s worshipful gaze turned toward Qi Huang.

“Junior Sister, I advise you to choose your words carefully!” Yun Fei quickly interjected, deliberately glancing at Cheng Hongling.

“Uh…” Shen Yuan suddenly realized her blunder and awkwardly shut her mouth before shooting a glare at Su Qingying, that little troublemaker.

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“I think both Junior Sister Hongling and Junior Sister Qi Huang were quite dashing,” Ruan Lingyu, the eldest senior sister, hurriedly mediated.

Qi Huang subtly glanced at her main body. Cheng Hongling’s delicate brows were furrowed, clearly sulking again. So, she decided to strike first:

“If you want to praise her, just praise her. No need to force me into it.”

“Uh…” Shen Yuan’s face twisted in confusion. She wanted to explain but suddenly realized the situation was more complicated than she thought, so she could only shut up awkwardly.

Cheng Hongling also looked surprised, the coldness on her face melting away as she explained, “Senior Sister was clearly trying to compliment you just now.”

“How could that be? You alone defeated the Jinliu Sect, isn’t that dashing enough? Everyone heard the gasps from the crowd. Just listen to the people around us.” Qi Huang piled on the flattery before turning to Shen Yuan for confirmation. “Right, Senior Sister?”

“Ah, yes, yes, yes…” Shen Yuan reflexively agreed.

“Junior Sister, I advise you to choose your words carefully.” Yun Fei reminded her again.

“Ah, no! No! I was complimenting both of you…” Shen Yuan hastily corrected herself.

“What? Both of them?” The surrounding disciples turned to look at her.

“Just spare me already!” Shen Yuan nearly wept, wondering what she had done to deserve this.

The others couldn’t help but chuckle at her plight.

“Anyway, you were both amazing. Junior Sister Hongling never wastes words when she can act, and Qi Huang Junior Sister never wastes effort when she can scheme. You two complement each other perfectly, truly one and the same.” Ruan Lingyu praised them earnestly.

Hearing the word “complement”, Cheng Hongling’s pretty face flushed slightly, and she quickly turned away.

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Qi Huang, however, preened inwardly. To be considered complementary to such a heaven-defying genius was an immense honor for her.

Steward Cai hid in a secluded corner, not daring to make a sound. Not only had Qi Huang openly defied him earlier, but even a mere Honghua Sect female disciple had disrespected him to his face. The humiliation was unbearable.

“Daring to disrespect a steward of the Immortal Alliance? It’s time to teach them a lesson.” Cai De seethed inwardly, already plotting to collaborate with the Huxiao Sect.

“Steward Cai!”

A male voice suddenly called out.

Cai De turned and saw a Honghua Sect disciple standing before him. His expression darkened. “What do you want?”

“Esteemed Steward, this junior is Wang Zong of the Honghua Sect. I’ve come to collect the lot.” Wang Zong politely stated his purpose.

Though reluctant, Cai De handed it over to maintain his Immortal Alliance steward’s dignity.

“Many thanks, Steward Cai!”

Wang Zong accepted the lot with a satisfied smile and left.

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“Laugh now. In a few days, I’ll make sure you’re crying.” Cai De gnashed his teeth before immediately heading to the Huxiao Sect’s quarters. He pulled Elder Zhou aside for a private discussion.

“Elder Zhou, you saw Cheng Hongling’s performance earlier. The third round is about to begin. If we don’t stop the Honghua Sect here, they’ll claim the rewards. Surely that’s not something your sect wants?” Cai De “helpfully” reminded him.

“I saw it, but… Cheng Hongling displayed strength at the Incarnation Realm’s fifth layer, and with that Blue Scale Sword amplifying her power, even our sect’s geniuses may not be able to defeat her.” Zhou Ming hesitated, though whether from fear or ulterior motives was unclear.

“Elder Zhou, your sect has two fourth-layer Incarnation Realm reinforcements, plus that Lu Zhen. There’s still a chance,” Cai De pressed.

“The odds are slim. You know as well as I do that at this level, even a single layer’s difference is a massive gap. Divine sense suppression alone can cripple combat effectiveness.” Zhou Ming’s expression was troubled.

“What? Are you saying the Huxiao Sect wants to give up? Weren’t you always trying to force her to join? I’ve been helping you all this time!” Cai De was taken aback.

“Of course I haven’t given up. But wouldn’t it be better if the Donglai Sect or the Sixth Princess intervened? The odds would be much higher. Don’t you agree?” Zhou Ming suggested with a meaningful look.

‘So this old fox wants to reap the benefits without lifting a finger!’ Cai De immediately understood. After a moment’s thought, he feigned hesitation.

“That may be true, but will they even agree?”

“That’s where you come in, Steward Cai. Your daughter married our sect master’s son, we’re practically family. You wouldn’t want to see us suffer losses, would you?” Zhou Ming “kindly” reminded him.

Cai De nodded reflexively. His only daughter’s marriage to the Huxiao Sect’s young master was the reason he had been pulling strings for them all along.

“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask. Who exactly is that Lü Er? He seems rather close to your people.” Zhou Ming abruptly changed the subject.

“Uh…”

Cai De hadn’t expected this question. His face stiffened before he forced a vague reply.

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“I’m not sure either. We only kept him close to probe his background.”

“Really?” Zhou Ming’s expression was skeptical. “Then you’d better act fast. That man is unfathomable, and he’s also after Cheng Hongling. If he succeeds, won’t our Huxiao Sect’s efforts be for nothing?”

“Right, right…” Cai De agreed awkwardly.

This was precisely his dilemma. Both the Huxiao Sect and Lü Er were targeting Qi Huang. Logically, he should side with the Huxiao Sect, but Lü Er came from a central continent cultivation family, someone they couldn’t afford to offend.

Cai De wanted the Huxiao Sect to back down but feared losing face, so he had been stalling.

Not daring to linger, he excused himself, his mind racing as he plotted his next move.

When Cai De returned to the main hall, he found his master, Elder Zuo, had also come back.

“That Lü Er is utterly unreasonable! He doesn’t even respect me, an elder of the Immortal Alliance!”

Having been rebuffed, Elder Zuo couldn’t help but vent.

Cai De quickly asked for details. After understanding the situation, he too grew indignant.

“The Lü Family is too arrogant! Shouldn’t the Immortal Alliance teach them a lesson?”

“A lesson?” Elder Zuo chuckled dismissively. “To teach them a lesson, you’d first have to get past the Immortal Stele. Do you think the Immortal Alliance can afford that price? Besides, the Lü Family’s support is crucial to the alliance’s control over the cultivation world.”

“Master, if we make Cheng Hongling lose in this round, do you think Lü Er will still be interested in her?” Cai De suddenly had an idea.