Volume 7, Chapter 429 – Let Me See Just How Strong You Really Are

“Elder Zhou, how can you be so sure? You’re not me, how do you know I’ve run out of trump cards?”

Qi Huang countered unhurriedly.

“Still stubborn? Everyone saw how your main body performed just now. If not for the fact that those two immortal seedlings from the Jinliu Sect had old injuries, giving her an opening, she would’ve lost long ago.”

Zhou Ming delivered his judgment with absolute certainty.

Cheng Hongling’s expression shifted slightly. She couldn’t help but admire the old man’s sharp eyes. She had indeed exhausted all her hidden cards. If she were to face the Huxiao Sect next, a sect with two Immortal Seeds at the fourth layer of the Incarnation Realm, her chances of victory would be slim.

“That only proves my main body is clever, knowing to strike the snake at its weak spot. Not everyone is like you, charging in recklessly when there’s a smarter way.”

Qi Huang refused to back down. Her main body, despite her young age, carried the entire Honghua Sect on her shoulders. That kind of mental fortitude and strength was something to be revered. How could a petty man like Zhou Ming ever understand?

“Enough nonsense. We’ll see the truth on the stage. Whether she’s truly at her limit will be clear once we test her.”

Zhou Ming wasn’t about to waste time bickering with a mere girl. He cut the conversation short.

“Fine! I’d love to see if your Huxiao Sect’s seedlings have what it takes.”

Qi Huang suddenly smiled. ‘You want to test my main body? Then you’ll have to get through me first.’

Since half the stage had been destroyed in Cheng Hongling’s last match, the next round had to be delayed. Fortunately, this was the cultivation world. Repairing a stage was as simple as eating or drinking for earth-attribute cultivators.

The Honghua Sect’s disciples remained seated on the stage, leisurely snacking on melon seeds, showing no intention of stepping down to prepare. Their blatant disregard for the Huxiao Sect was palpable.

Cheng Hongling, however, wasn’t one for such theatrics and had already left the stage.

Qi Huang didn’t stop her. She knew her main body’s personality. She would never clown around like this.

Just then, the Sixth Princess, Lin Ran, approached.

“Junior Sister Cheng, would you like me to swap match lots with the Huxiao Sect?”

Lin Ran offered kindly.

Cheng Hongling’s willow-thin brows furrowed slightly. “Are you worried we can’t handle them?”

“If you’re feeling pressured, we can have our match first. The Huxiao Sect will likely honor this request for my sake.”

Lin Ran didn’t mince words.

“Ask her.”

Cheng Hongling glanced at the figure still on stage.

“Why? Aren’t you the main body?”

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Lin Ran was puzzled.

“I am. But she’s the one who was chosen as the Imperial Consort. She said she wants to settle the karma between you two personally.”

Cheng Hongling’s explanation was brief.

“What? You’re sending a doppelgänger to fight me? Are you looking down on me?”

Lin Ran was stunned.

“If I fought you, that would be looking down on you.”

Cheng Hongling smiled faintly, almost self-deprecatingly.

“What do you mean?”

Lin Ran grew even more confused.

“You’ll understand soon enough.”

Cheng Hongling’s tone was cryptic.

Lin Ran took a deep breath, thinking to herself that this girl was far more cunning than she appeared. By sending a doppelgänger, even if she lost, she could justify it as not being her true strength. Meanwhile, if Lin Ran won, it wouldn’t even be a proper victory.

Though displeased, Lin Ran couldn’t force the issue. With no other choice, she left in frustration.

“Master, your insight is as sharp as ever. Cheng Hongling is only at the Incarnation Realm’s second layer. Given how much effort she expended against those two Jinliu Sect disciples, the Huxiao Sect will likely be her limit.”

In the Donglai Sect’s camp, Cheng Kang spoke with disinterest.

“Isn’t that a good thing? Your goal in this Evergreen Conference is clear, You must retain your position as the top immortal seedling. Otherwise, you’ll be mocked.”

Ye Donglai’s expression relaxed slightly.

“I just find it all a bit dull. In the end, I’ll probably still have to face that Lin Ran.”

Cheng Kang shook his head listlessly.

“Don’t get careless. Remember, Lü Er is still lurking in the shadows. We still don’t know his true limits, and he hails from the Central Continent, a place teeming with hidden dragons and crouching tigers.”

Ye Donglai warned.

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“Heh. I hope he’s at least somewhat capable. Otherwise, what’s the difference between this conference and the past ones?”

Cheng Kang smirked disdainfully.

Meanwhile, Elder Zuo and his disciple finally wore smiles they hadn’t shown in a long time.

“Master, judging by Cheng Hongling’s performance earlier, she’s clearly reached her limit. There’s no way she can overcome the Huxiao Sect.”

Steward Cai said excitedly.

“Indeed. But this little girl is truly remarkable. With all her tricks, she’s somehow made it this far. Fortunately, we were prepared. Otherwise, who knows how much further she could’ve gone?”

Elder Zuo couldn’t help but sigh.

“What a shame. The Western Radiance Dynasty finally produces a genius, only for her to be rebellious. If we can’t tame her, she might become a threat.”

Steward Cai lamented.

“Once she’s eliminated, go with the Huxiao Sect to recruit her. If she still refuses, tell her this: The rules of the Yongning Province’s Evergreen Conference will never change. She won’t receive a single reward from now on.”

Elder Zuo commanded coldly.

“Understood!”

Steward Cai accepted immediately but then hesitated. “What about Lü Er? We still don’t know his stance.”

“Don’t worry. Given Lü Er’s temperament, he wouldn’t settle for a mere vase. If Cheng Hongling can’t even make the top ten in Yongning Prefecture, a little persuasion should make him give up. After all, space on the Immortal Stele is limited.”

Elder Zuo analyzed.

“Good!”

Steward Cai finally relaxed completely.

Before long, the stage was fully repaired, and the Honghua Sect’s second match began.

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“Next, we have Match Seven versus Match Eight.”

An Immortal Alliance disciple announced from the stage.

Since the Honghua Sect’s disciples had never left, they skipped the usual entrance.

Meanwhile, the Huxiao Sect’s immortal seedlings strode onto the stage, cracking their knuckles. Leading them were their two strongest external recruits, Cao You and Cao Wei from the Linzhen Sect, followed by Lu Zhen. In the cultivation world, strength dictated hierarchy.

“Cheng Hongling struggled so much against a mere third-layer Incarnation Realm cultivator. Do we really need to all come up together?”

Cao Wei complained the moment he stepped onto the stage.

“You’ll have to ask Elder Zhou about that. Sending all of us against a second-layer Incarnation Realm cultivator? Clearly, he doesn’t trust us cultivators from Xitong Kingdom.”

Cao You’s face was full of displeasure.

“Big Brother, looks like we’ll have to use Cheng Hongling to prove ourselves today. Let’s go all out and show these Western Radiance Dynasty cultivators what real genius looks like.”

Cao Wei grinned maliciously.

“Oh? So you two plan to use my main body as a stepping stone? Too bad, you’ll have to get through me first.”

Qi Huang teased.

“You?”

Cao You’s face twisted in mockery. “I heard you took a bloodline test in the palace. The result was low-tier.”

“That’s right. So what?”

Qi Huang admitted freely.

“Then what gives you the right to talk like this? Forget that you’re just a recently cultivated doppelgänger of Cheng Hongling. Even if you’d trained since birth, what could a low-tier bloodline achieve in just over a decade? Spirit Gathering Realm? Body-Tempering Realm?”

Cao You’s words dripped with condescension.

“Body-Tempering Realm? A low-tier bloodline like hers can only cultivate at all thanks to the scraps of True Qi her main body tossed her way.”

Cao Wei’s disdain was even more blatant.

“Bloodline? To me, that’s utterly worthless!”

Qi Huang shook her head pityingly.

“What? You dare say bloodline is worthless?”

Lü Er’s voice suddenly cut in.

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“Ignorance truly is bliss. Do you know that the nine most talented immortal seedlings in the cultivation world today are all descendants of immortals? No one else even comes close. That alone proves the importance of bloodline.”

Lü Er refuted with clear logic.

“That’s only because they haven’t met me. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be nine top immortal seedlings, there’d only be one.”

Qi Huang’s lips curled confidently.

“Ridiculous! Living in a backwater like the Western Radiance Dynasty, you probably don’t even know how strong those nine truly are.”

Lü Er laughed in disbelief.

“Then do you know how strong I am?”

Qi Huang countered calmly.

“I really don’t. After all, it’s always been your main body fighting. The only thing clear is that your ability to boast is unmatched, even I can’t compare. Now that the Huxiao Sect’s seedlings are here, why don’t you prove yourself? Defeat them without relying on your main body. Let me see just how strong you really are.”

Lü Er goaded.

“Gladly. I was just thinking the same thing.”

Qi Huang’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

The cultivators below the stage didn’t believe Qi Huang would dare face the Huxiao Sect alone. To them, she was just running her mouth.

“Alright, are both sides ready?”

The Immortal Alliance disciple asked.

“We’ve been ready. Hurry up and start.”

Lü Zhen said impatiently.

“What about you? Why hasn’t Fairy Hongling come up yet?”

The disciple turned to the Honghua Sect’s group in confusion.

“Did you think I was joking? I said if they want to see her, they’ll have to defeat me first.”

Qi Huang repeated firmly.

“You’re serious?!”

The disciple was stunned.