Volume 7, Chapter 424 – Just Who Does She Think She Is?

The group of fellow disciples never expected the Huxiao Sect to interfere so abruptly. For a moment, they were at a loss, their questioning gazes all turning toward Qi Huang. After all, this opponent was far too tough for them to handle.

“Oh? Fellow cultivators from the Huxiao Sect also want to spar?”

Qi Huang’s interest was instantly piqued.

“Indeed. Didn’t your senior sister just say it? The path of cultivation is long and arduous. Only through frequent sparring can we all progress together.”

Zhou Ming wore a smirk that was anything but friendly.

“I’d love to, but the problem is, this is the competition period. Our opponents are the Quanda Sect. How would we have time to spar with you?”

Qi Huang glanced at the trembling Quanda Sect members below the stage, her meaning crystal clear. ‘If you really want to spar, go swap tags with them first, and I’ll gladly oblige. ‘

Unfortunately, her actions were misinterpreted by others as an excuse to dodge the challenge, earning disdainful looks from the surrounding cultivators.

“Hah! Too scared to fight and resorting to such a flimsy excuse? Everyone knows lots can be swapped.”

“I’m dying of laughter. Just now, you were bullying the Quanda Sect, trying to lure them onto the stage for a beating. Now that you’ve met us, you’ve become the Quanda Sect yourselves!”

“We’ll swap tags with the Quanda Sect right away. Let’s see how you like being trapped and mocked by thousands!”

The disciples of the Huxiao Sect took turns taunting.

“They might be celebrating too soon. Cheng Hongling’s performance last time clearly showed she’s already at the mid-stage of the Incarnation Realm. Even against the Huxiao Sect, her chances of winning are high!”

A cultivator voiced his skepticism.

“You’re too naive. Qi Huang’s behavior just now was clearly her trying to find an excuse to avoid the fight. If even she lacks confidence, how much of a chance do you think she really has?”

His companion beside him reminded him.

“That’s not necessarily true. She doesn’t realize how beautiful she is. If even a single disciple from the Huxiao Sect hesitates out of pity, her odds will skyrocket. I even suspect those who lost to her before did so because they couldn’t bear to harm her.”

“Oh, please. Not everyone is as lust-addled as you.”

“As if you’re any better. Others buy the melon seeds she’s eaten just to steep the shells in water and drink it. But you? When you couldn’t get any, you made your own, shelling melon seeds, tossing the husks into your tea, and then bragging to others that they were Cheng Hongling’s.”

“Uh…”

The two cultivators bickered back and forth. Strangely, any conversation about Cheng Hongling always ended up taking a suggestive turn.

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“You heard them, lots can be swapped! So whether we spar today isn’t up to you. It’s up to the Quanda Sect!”

Zhou Ming sneered, then strode toward the Quanda Sect.

Seeing this, the Quanda Sect members acted as if they had grabbed onto a lifeline, waving their arms excitedly.

“Fellow cultivators, care to swap lots?”

Zhou Ming asked the Quanda Sect’s leader once he was close enough.

“May I ask who your current opponents are?”

Though excited, the Quanda Sect leader retained a shred of rationality and decided to clarify the situation first.

“Some third-rate sect, about the same strength as yours.”

Zhou Ming brushed him off.

“Really?”

The Quanda Sect leader was skeptical.

“If I said no, would you refuse to swap?”

Zhou Ming narrowed his eyes, his gaze icy.

The Quanda Sect leader shuddered, his mind quickly sobering up. The world of cultivation respected strength above all. The moment Zhou Ming approached him, he had already lost the right to choose.

“We’ll swap! Of course, we’ll swap!”

Zhou Ming curled his lips slightly, then exchanged the tags.

“Fellow cultivators of the Honghua Sect, the eighth tag is now in my hands. Well? Ready to spar now?”

Zhou Ming raised the tag triumphantly.

“Wonderful! Since you’re so enthusiastic, how could we refuse?”

Qi Huang smiled brilliantly, thinking to herself. ‘I was just wondering how to find an opportunity to teach you a lesson, and here you are, delivering yourselves to me.’

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“You heard her. Go up and spar with the Honghua Sect’s disciples. Learn from each other, fill in the gaps, and progress together!”

Zhou Ming then turned to his disciples.

“Ah! Elder Zhou, I must clarify. The one who said ‘progress together’ wasn’t me. It was one of my senior sisters!”

Qi Huang quickly corrected.

“What’s the difference?”

Zhou Ming asked dismissively.

“There’s a huge difference. With her, you can indeed ‘fill in the gaps and progress together’. But with me? Your Dao hearts will shatter. You won’t learn anything. You won’t improve at all.”

Qi Huang’s tone was almost pitying.

“Heh…”

Elder Zhou was so angry he laughed.

“You little bitch, don’t get too cocky. Just wait, I’ll tear your mouth apart so you can never speak again!”

Lu Zhen snarled, his face flushing with humiliation.

“How ridiculous. If you were actually capable, the Huxiao Sect wouldn’t need to hire outside help.”

Qi Huang scoffed.

“You—!”

Lu Zhen’s face turned red with fury.

“Enough nonsense. Get up there!”

Elder Zhou urged impatiently.

“Yes!”

The group of Huxiao Sect disciples obeyed and filed onto the stage.

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“Now this will be a good show. The Huxiao Sect is the top immortal sect in Yongning Prefecture, and they’ve brought two outside helpers at the fourth layer of the Incarnation Realm. Meanwhile, Cheng Hongling is rumored to have already reached the fifth layer. This is a true clash of titans.”

“I’m still betting on Cheng Hongling. At this level of cultivation, even a single layer’s difference is a chasm. Numbers can’t make up for it. Besides, her innate talent is exceptional, and her techniques are overwhelming.”

“Not necessarily. As the saying goes, ‘No matter how high your cultivation, a kitchen knife can still kill you.’ The Huxiao Sect has deep reserves, they’re never short on magical treasures and talismans. Cheng Hongling’s chances of winning are slim.”

The cultivators from various sects below perked up, eager for the spectacle.

“What do we do? You said I couldn’t act until after we eliminated the Jinliu Sect. But now the Huxiao Sect is interfering, and they’re clearly trouble. If I don’t step in, can you handle this?”

Qi Huang asked Cheng Hongling quietly.

“No matter who interferes, you cannot act until the Jinliu Sect is eliminated.”

Cheng Hongling’s stance was as firm as ever.

‘This is troublesome!’

Qi Huang rubbed her temples, her mind racing for a solution.

The Huxiao Sect disciples quickly took their positions on stage. Leading them were the two fourth-layer Incarnation Realm outside helpers and Lu Zhen himself. They cracked their knuckles, clearly itching to vent their pent-up frustration.

Yet, down below, Steward Cai at the grand hall’s entrance frowned. For some reason, he felt uneasy.

“Is it really wise to let the Huxiao Sect take the lead like this?”

Steward Cai muttered to himself.

“What’s wrong?”

Elder Zuo beside him asked.

“Master, I feel our earlier plan wasn’t perfect. We should’ve let the Jinliu Sect take the lead first. After all, we still don’t know Cheng Hongling’s upper limits or how many hidden cards she has left. Sending the Huxiao Sect in blindly is risky.”

Steward Cai voiced his concerns.

“You’re only realizing this now? What were you doing earlier?”

Elder Zuo scolded, though his tone wasn’t too harsh since this wasn’t his direct responsibility.

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“……”

Steward Cai took a deep breath, his face twisting with regret.

Just then, inspiration struck Qi Huang. She turned to her main body and asked, “What if we make them swap the order? Have the Jinliu Sect go up first.”

“Wishful thinking. Why would they listen to you?”

Cheng Hongling rolled her eyes prettily.

“Don’t worry, they will.”

Qi Huang was utterly confident, because she knew about Steward Cai’s connections to the Huxiao Sect.

“Are both sides ready?”

The Immortal Alliance disciple on stage asked.

“Wait!”

Qi Huang seized the moment to speak up. “I’d like to request a change. Let the Jinliu Sect face us first. Since both matches are back-to-back, the order shouldn’t matter.”

“Just who does Qi Huang think she is? Requesting rule changes? Since when can the Evergreen Conference’s rules be altered on a whim?”

“Exactly. Following the tag order has always been the rule. Besides, the Immortal Alliance already has a grudge against her. Why would they agree?”

“But why would she do this? They’ll have to face them eventually anyway.”

“Obviously, she wants to pick the easier fight first to secure at least one guaranteed win. If they fight the Huxiao Sect first and exhaust themselves, they might not have enough left for the Jinliu Sect.”

Discussions erupted below the stage. Every cultivator present thought Qi Huang was daydreaming. Even her fellow disciples on stage looked at her in astonishment, thinking their junior sister was being hopelessly naive.

Meanwhile, the Jinliu Sect’s members wore ugly expressions. They were the third-largest immortal sect of the Western Radiance Dynasty, yet they were being treated as pushovers.

But no one noticed Steward Cai at the grand hall’s entrance. His eyes widened in excitement, for this was exactly what he had been hoping for.

“I approve your request!”

In a flash, Steward Cai appeared on the stage, his voice eager.