Volume 7, Chapter 441 – Fourth Round Draw (Part 3)

“Did you hear that? It’s her again! That Qi Huang!”

“Has this woman’s madness worsened? Lü Er is a doppelgänger of that monstrous genius from the Central Continent, a peak Incarnation Realm expert! Everyone else avoids him like the plague, yet she actively seeks him out?”

“Does she really think she’s a peak Incarnation Realm cultivator too? Just because her divine sense is strong, how can she compete with a true peak Incarnation Realm expert? It’s like a cripple challenging a healthy man to a race, utterly laughable.”

“I’m not so sure. She’s deliberately trying to catch Lü Er’s attention.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t Lü Er say he admires her arrogant, overbearing personality? The more audacious she acts, the more he’ll favor her.”

“That makes sense. Given the current situation, if she fights normally, she has no chance of advancing to the final round. Rather than waiting for defeat, she’s taking a risky gamble. Using her eccentricity to stand out and draw Lü Er’s eye.”

“Exactly. If Lü Er takes a liking to her, he might even take her as a concubine. Becoming a madam of the Lü Family is far more appealing than any tournament prize.”

As Qi Huang’s words echoed, the square erupted in an uproar. Most cultivators viewed her actions negatively, labeling her with terms like madwoman, arrogant, scheming bitch, and worse. Aside from her own sect’s elders and fellow disciples, not a single person supported her.

This reaction was hardly surprising. The Nine Great Monsters of the cultivation world were all descendants of immortals, their veins flowing with celestial blood. They were not opponents mere mortals could challenge.

Yet Qi Huang showed no anger. Instead, she strode onto the stage with light, confident steps.

Even the presiding steward, Steward Cai, was baffled. He couldn’t fathom why this brash young woman would willingly pick such a formidable opponent. While holding two draw slips gave her one chance to lose, the matches for slots three and four took place before five and six. If she exhausted herself here, she’d have no strength left for the next round, effectively digging her own grave.

‘Is she really trying to pique Lü Er’s interest this way?’ Steward Cai couldn’t help but speculate.

“Are you certain about this?”

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Lü Er’s voice was low, cold as a midwinter gale. Deceptively calm yet piercing, sending shivers through the crowd.

“Since when have I lied?” Qi Huang brushed him off before turning to Steward Cai. “Can I have the lot now?”

“You think this method will catch my attention?” Lü Er smirked, narcissistically interpreting her actions before offering a “kind” warning: “I underestimated your cunning. But let me remind you, while I do admire prideful women, I will never tolerate one who dares challenge my authority. If you take that slip, the only way you’ll become a woman of the Lü Family is by defeating me.”

“Hah! Now Qi Huang’s trapped. Her little scheme’s been exposed!”

“Lü Er, as a doppelgänger of that Central Continent monster, never goes back on his word. Cheng Hongling’s dream of becoming the young madam of the Lü Family is over.”

“Serves her right for being too clever!”

“She had no choice. If she fought normally, she wouldn’t even make it past this round, let alone the finals. She had to take a gamble.”

The cultivators below erupted in mocking laughter, reveling in her misfortune.

“This fairy does intend to defeat you, but not to become some Lü Family madam. I just want to shut your dog mouth and send you crawling back home.”

Qi Huang didn’t hold back, cursing him outright before snatching the lot number four from Steward Cai’s hand.

“Good. You’re the first woman bold enough to insult me like this.” Lü Er’s killing intent flared. “I may have had some interest in Cheng Hongling, but that doesn’t mean I’ll indulge a lowly doppelgänger of inferior blood. Prepare to have your body destroyed on that stage. I’ll send your consciousness back to your main body’s Sea of Consciousness!”

“Fine. Since we’re both doppelgängers, let’s see who sends whom back!” Qi Huang met his glare without flinching. “I’ll use you, a so-called ‘immortal descendant’, to prove that the cultivation world’s bloodline supremacy is nothing but bullshit!”

“Well said.” Lü Er bared his teeth in a cruel grin. “Then I’ll use you, a low-blooded wench, to prove that bloodline supremacy is an unshakable law. Prepare for a death duel. See you on the stage.”

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“Now we’re in for a show! Both of them are out for blood!”

“What’s the point? The Evergreen Conference rules explicitly forbid killing.”

“Rules are dead; people are alive. If they sign a waiver, it becomes a death duel, ‘settle the match, end the life.’ It’s happened before.”

“A death duel? You think they’ll go that far?”

“Very likely. Lü Er is the doppelgänger of that monster from the Weiyuan Empire. A descendant of immortals, his status surpassing even royalty. How could he tolerate being called a dog?”

“Good. Sending Qi Huang back to Cheng Hongling’s Sea of Consciousness early would be doing the world a favor.”

“How can you say that? Qi Huang is a cultivator from our Western Radiance Dynasty! If she wins, it’ll be our glory. Have you forgotten how Lü Er belittled us earlier?”

“Glory my ass! Did you not hear her calling bloodlines ‘bullshit’? She represents low-blooded commoners, not us cultivators!”

“Exactly. Lü Er may be arrogant, but if he wins, we at least remain exalted cultivators. If that low-blooded Qi Huang wins, we’re truly worth nothing.”

The crowd erupted into heated debate. Shockingly, nearly 90% of the cultivators sided with Lü Er, a stark contrast to the support Cheng Kang and Lin Ran had received.

Yet Qi Huang’s lips curled into a smirk.

Her goal in joining the Evergreen Conference wasn’t just to win the Golden Fate Blossom seed. More importantly, she wanted to prove her adoptive father’s philosophy. The more intense their reactions, the more excited she became.

“Very well. Since this is decided, the lot number four now belongs to the Honghua Sect. If you can defeat either of your opponents, you advance. Lose both, and you’re eliminated.”

Steward Cai made the official declaration.

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Qi Huang descended the stage, slip in hand, thoroughly satisfied. She’d long despised Lü Er, now she finally had a legitimate reason to crush him.

“Qi Huang, were you serious on stage? About sending Lü Er back to his main body’s Sea of Consciousness?” Qin Quan asked worriedly.

“Of course. When have I ever gone back on my word?” she replied breezily.

“So you mean to kill him? As satisfying as that’d be, the Evergreen Conference rules prohibit lethal force,” Ruan Lingyu pointed out.

“Not if they sign a waiver. Then it becomes a death duel,” Cheng Hongling explained.

“Even so, is this wise? He’s the doppelgänger of that Lü Family monster. From what I’ve heard, the Lü Family has a Heavenly Tribulation Realm expert backing them,” Qin Quan fretted, clearly intimidated by their influence.

“Sect Leader Qin, let me remind you.” Qi Huang raised a finger. “First, I’m not the one starting this. He threatened to kill me first. I’m merely returning the favor. Second, if we duel on the Evergreen Conference stage with a signed waiver, what right does that so-called Heavenly Tribulation Realm expert have to come after me? If he does, he’d be openly spitting in the Immortal Alliance’s face.”

“Uh…” Qin Quan was left speechless.

“Junior Sister is right,” Ruan Lingyu backed her up. “The saying goes, ‘If others don’t offend me, I won’t offend them.’ Since this bastard provoked us, he must pay the price, or else everyone will think they can disrespect us.”

“Exactly,” Yun Fei added quietly. “Junior Sister is a late-stage Divine Realm expert, no weaker than that monster. Why should she tolerate a mere doppelgänger insulting her to her face?”

The other disciples quickly voiced their support, leaving Qin Quan isolated. With no allies, he had no choice but to drop the matter.

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Meanwhile, Lü Er stormed back to his residence, his face dark with fury. Being publicly humiliated by a woman he’d taken an interest in had put him in a foul mood.

The moment he returned, he relayed the day’s events to his main body through telepathic transmission.

“You did well.” Lü Yi’s voice was icy. “As an immortal descendant, the future master of the Lü Family, even emperors bow before me. How dare some low-blooded wench disrespect me? The moment she challenged you, Cheng Hongling lost all worth as my concubine, unless she proves her strength.”

“Impossible. I’ve seen through her, strong divine sense, but weak attacks. She’s undoubtedly at the Spirit Gathering Realm,” Lü Er declared.

“Whether or not Cheng Hongling becomes my concubine is secondary. Her current talent is mediocre at best. What truly intrigues me is how she and that doppelgänger strengthened their divine sense so far beyond their cultivation.”

Lü Yi’s tone brimmed with curiosity before turning serious. “Especially that Qi Huang. To grow her divine sense so much in just two or three years… I’ve seen artifacts that enhance divine sense, but none with such terrifying speed. I’ve never even heard of such a method.”

“Elder Brother, honestly? While everyone says a strong divine sense is useless, this conference has made me reconsider. If divine sense reaches an overwhelming level, it’s far from trivial. Take Qi Huang, if not for me, she might’ve actually won this tournament.”

“True. A mere Spirit Gathering Realm doppelgänger, yet she crushed Incarnation Realm cultivators with divine sense alone. But to achieve that, she must possess a unique method. After the conference, investigate this thoroughly.”

“Understood.”

“But first, you must annihilate Qi Huang. I will not tolerate anyone questioning bloodline supremacy.”

Lü Yi’s command was absolute.

“It will be done.”