Volume 7, Chapter 430 – How Did You Do That?

“Of course it’s true. Truer than the integrity of your Immortal Alliance.”

Qi Huang teased, never missing a chance to mock the Immortal Alliance.

“This…”

The Immortal Alliance disciple hesitated, then turned to glance at Elder Zuo and Steward Cai at the entrance of the grand hall, seeking guidance.

“What is she doing?” Steward Cai asked in bewilderment.

Elder Zuo didn’t answer, he was equally baffled.

“Is she really planning to face the Huxiao Sect alone? What a joke! I heard her cultivation is only at the Unity Realm. Isn’t this just handing them a free kill?”

“She’s just putting on a show. Her main body is right below the stage and can intervene anytime.”

“Not necessarily. In battles between experts, victory or defeat is decided in an instant. Her main body is only at the Incarnation Realm’s second layer. Even if she personally fought the Huxiao Sect, she’d lose more often than win. How could she possibly turn the tide?”

“Then why is she doing this?”

“You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?”

The cultivators below chattered among themselves, but none could decipher Qi Huang’s intentions.

“Cheng Hongling, are you seriously sending a doppelgänger to fight us? Are you trying to insult us?”

Lu Zhen angrily protested. As the Huxiao Sect’s top-ranked immortal seedling, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

“Indeed. My main body said you’re not even worthy of her direct attention.”

Qi Huang, knowing her main body disdained petty arguments, interjected on her behalf.

“Disdain? Or fear?” Cao Wei sneered.

“You’re sacrificing a pawn to save the king, aren’t you? Knowing you can’t win, you send a doppelgänger to die in your place. First, to humiliate us. Second, even if you lose, you can still save face with excuses. Right?”

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Cao You then directed his accusation at Cheng Hongling below the stage.

“Right, right, that must be it. You have to admit, Cheng Hongling is quite clever. This way, even if she loses, the damage to her and the Honghua Sect will be minimized.”

“Won’t work. Now that the Huxiao Sect has exposed her publicly, her plan’s already failed.”

“Seems the Huxiao Sect’s people are the smarter ones after all!”

The cultivators from various sects below the stage had an epiphany. They all believed Cheng Hongling was “sacrificing a pawn to save the king”.

“A very logical analysis. Even I almost believed it. But the premise is that you can actually win. Otherwise, I won’t be the sacrificial pawn. I’ll be the reaper.”

Qi Huang smirked, neither confirming nor denying.

“Cheng Hongling, aren’t you going to struggle a bit more? I’ve said it before, if you get eliminated now, I can’t guarantee I’ll take you as my concubine. After all, space on my ancestor’s stele is limited. Not just any woman can have her name inscribed there.”

Lü Er offered his “kind advice”.

“No need for your concern. I’ll prove with my strength that your ancestor’s tombstone isn’t worthy of my main body’s name.”

Qi Huang replied casually. In her subconscious, a stele could only mean a tombstone.

“Tombstone? Truly the mindset of a commoner from a backwater kingdom. To you, a stele can only be a tombstone, right?”

Lü Er shook his head in resignation.

“Not a tombstone? Then what? A teacup, a wine cup? Those really can’t fit many names. And if any woman dared to leave her name on it, wouldn’t she be licked by your ancestor every day? Your Lü family’s tastes are… quite something!”

Qi Huang rambled nonsensically.

“Hahaha—”

Several Honghua Sect disciples burst into laughter.

The cultivators below exchanged glances, thinking this brat’s mouth was far too vicious.

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“Shut up! Don’t ruin your main body’s image in my mind, or I’ll make sure you’re sent back to her Sea of Consciousness!”

Lü Er flew into a rage. After all, the Lü family’s immortal ancestor was a sacred figure in their hearts.

“Fine. Let’s see who sends whom back first.”

Qi Huang narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly.

“What about them? Why are they still sitting on the stage? Do your earlier words still count?”

Lü Zhen, standing at one side of the arena, glared at the group of Honghua Sect disciples leisurely cracking melon seeds.

“Of course. If you can make even one of them leave their seat, I’ll concede defeat on behalf of the Honghua Sect.”

Qi Huang replied as indifferently as ever.

“Why ask so much? Do you think we can’t handle a mere Unity Realm doppelgänger?”

Cao You questioned irritably.

“Better safe than sorry!”

Lü Zhen quickly explained. Though displeased, he couldn’t afford to offend someone stronger.

Elder Zuo and Steward Cai deliberated for a long time but still couldn’t reach a decision. However, since this brat was eager to hand the Huxiao Sect an advantage, they were happy to oblige.

Steward Cai, fearing Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling might back out, hastily urged the Immortal Alliance disciple on stage:

“What are you staring at? Whether someone uses their main body or a doppelgänger is their personal choice. Just announce the start already!”

“Understood!”

The disciple complied and declared:

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“Match Seven versus Eight, begin!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the ten immortal seedlings of the Huxiao Sect followed suit, each pulling out a protective talisman from their pouches. Instantly, ten powerful divine sense shields enveloped them.

“Haha! Surprised? Today, whether your main body joins or not, your Honghua Sect is going home in disgrace!”

Lü Zhen laughed triumphantly.

“Oh? Protective talismans again? Seems you’ve been colluding with the Jinliu Sect behind the scenes!”

Qi Huang was slightly taken aback. These ten talismans couldn’t have been crafted overnight, meaning the Huxiao Sect had prepared in advance. She just didn’t know which sect had uncovered her main body’s secret first.

“What collusion? Your main body is all bark and no bite. A single talisman is enough to deal with her. Even an idiot could see that!”

Lü Zhen flatly denied it. Since the Immortal Alliance had brokered the deal, no trace of the scheme could be exposed.

“Is that so? Then you’ll have to get past me first.”

Qi Huang smirked, then turned to Elder Zhou below the stage:

“Elder Zhou, remember our agreement? Starting today, I’ll show you how I break the Immortal Alliance’s rules.”

“Very well. I’ll be watching.”

Zhou Ming raised an eyebrow mockingly.

“She actually said she’ll break the Immortal Alliance’s rules? Has her madness worsened?”

The cultivators below were stunned.

Elder Zuo and his disciple exchanged glances, their expressions darkening. This was the first time someone had openly challenged the Immortal Alliance’s authority.

“Enough talk. Every second you remain on this stage is an insult to me.”

Cao Wei “shing!” drew his sword and vanished in a blur, so fast that the naked eye couldn’t track him.

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“Such speed! Is this the power of the mid Incarnation Realm?”

The cultivators below were awed, but what happened next shocked them even more.

At that moment, Qi Huang disappeared like a ghost. Most below the stage couldn’t even trace her movements with their divine sense.

Cao Wei hadn’t expected such an absurd turn of events. Before he could react, a faint fragrance brushed past him.

“What just—?”

Slowing down, Cao Wei looked around in confusion, only to find Qi Huang already standing behind him, a slender sword as thin as a cicada’s wing in her hand.

“When did she—?”

Before he could finish, a sharp pain shot through his wrist.

Looking down, Cao Wei watched in horror as a wound slowly but steadily split open on his wrist, blood gushing like a spring.

“Ah—!”

A delayed scream escaped him as he dropped his sword, clutched his wrist, and staggered back in terror.

“You… how did you do that?”

“Whoa—!”

The crowd below held their breath for a few seconds before erupting into thunderous exclamations.

“Hmm?”

Ye Donglai abruptly stood from his seat.

Elder Zuo and Steward Cai also stepped forward in shock, eyes wide, faces frozen in disbelief.