Volume 7, Chapter 453 – I Will Uproot That Immortal Stele

“Sister Qi Huang, shouldn’t you consult Sect Leader Qin first?”

Mu Ruoyi hesitated. After all, Shuiyu Valley still had several thousand disciples left. If they sought refuge in the Honghua Sect, it would feel like doves occupying a magpie’s nest.

“Fine, I’ll inform you as soon as there’s a decision.”

Qi Huang had initially wanted to say that she now had the final say in the Honghua Sect, but to reassure the people of Shuiyu Valley, she decided to go through the formalities.

She quickly relayed the devastating news to everyone in the sect.

“The Lü Clan calls itself an Immortal Family? They’re nothing but a pigsty and a kennel, raising a pack of beasts!”

Ruan Lingyu trembled with rage, her curses sharp and unrestrained.

“That was hundreds of thousands of innocent lives! How could they do something so cruel? Don’t they fear divine retribution?”

Yun Fei’s eyes were red as she condemned the Lü Clan.

“Wuu… They were so pitiful. They didn’t provoke anyone, yet they were slaughtered for no reason.”

Miao Xiang burst into tears.

“This is all my fault. If I had firmly refused to let them carve my name on that stele, or if I had found a way to erase it sooner, none of this would have happened.”

Cheng Hongling gritted her teeth so hard they creaked. Though she was strong-willed, she wasn’t heartless. An entire city’s worth of people had been annihilated, all because of her name.

The others were equally heavy-hearted, their voices choked with grief as they denounced the Lü Clan.

“Sect Leader Qin, though the Lü Clan beasts are the ones who committed this atrocity, it still stems from us. Now that Shuiyu Valley’s people have lost their home, would it be acceptable for them to take temporary refuge in the Honghua Sect?”

Qi Huang posed the question politely, but if the old man showed even a hint of hesitation, she was ready to force him into retirement and take over as sect leader herself.

“Of course, there’s no issue. They’re welcome to settle here permanently if they wish.”

Qin Quan answered without hesitation. First, he didn’t dare oppose Qi Huang. Second, Shuiyu Valley’s female disciples were exceptionally talented, numbering over a thousand. Their addition would greatly bolster the Honghua Sect’s strength. Only a fool would refuse.

“Good. Then you should first inform Valley Master Wen of Shuiyu Valley.”

Qi Huang handed him the Thousand-Mile Communication Tube. After all, the sect leader’s word carried more weight than hers.

Valley Master Wen, moved by Qin Quan’s enthusiastic invitation, gathered the remaining high-ranking members of her sect to discuss the matter.

“Valley Master, though imposing on others isn’t ideal, we can’t let thousands of female disciples sleep on the streets. My suggestion is to temporarily seek refuge in the Honghua Sect. Once we find a permanent solution, we can reconsider.”

Zhao Li voiced her opinion after a moment of thought.

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“But… we’re still a state-level sect of Nansheng Prefecture. Is it really appropriate to leave just like that?”

An elderly guardian, Hu Hufa, frowned in hesitation.

“Guardian Hu, I said it’s temporary. Can’t you understand that?”

Zhao Li reiterated impatiently.

“Indeed, we’ve lost our home. The priority now is finding shelter. We can plan for the future later.”

Another elder nodded in agreement.

“What a shame. If only we had a few male disciples skilled in earth-attribute cultivation, we could’ve built a temporary shelter ourselves.”

Hu Hufa sighed.

“It’s not that simple. Constructing a habitable place with cultivation techniques requires at least an Incarnation Realm expert. That’s precisely why I suggested seeking refuge with the Honghua Sect.”

Zhao Li reminded him.

“True. Rebuilding Shuiyu Valley won’t happen overnight. Since no one objects, we’ll temporarily join the Honghua Sect.”

Wen Yunmei made the final decision, then added with a steely gaze:

“Rest assured, I won’t let our brothers and sisters die in vain. Once the disciples are settled, I’ll report the Lü Clan’s crimes to the Immortal Alliance. They must answer for the innocent lives they’ve taken.”

“Hongling, since Shuiyu Valley has already been attacked, it means your name has been carved onto the Immortal Stele by that Lü Second. What are you planning to do?”

In an inn within Yongning Province, Xu Mei sought out her beloved disciple.

“So what? If it can be carved, it can be erased.”

Cheng Hongling remained indifferent.

“Erased? The Lü Clan is one of the top Immortal Families in the cultivation world, with Heavenly Tribulation Realm experts guarding them. Forcing them to remove your name won’t be easy.”

Xu Mei sighed.

“No need for that trouble. I’ll uproot that Immortal Stele myself and make the entire Lü Clan pay for those innocent lives.”

Qi Huang’s icy voice cut in.

“Junior Sister, I believe in your potential. But will the Lü Clan give you the time to grow? I asked the Sixth Princess for more details about the Immortal Stele. She said that any woman whose name is inscribed must go to the Lü Clan within a set period, or face the stele’s suppression.”

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Xu Mei’s expression was grave.

“Set period? What set period?”

Qi Huang’s face remained impassive.

“I’m not entirely sure. My conversation with the Sixth Princess was brief.”

Xu Mei looked slightly embarrassed.

“No matter. I’ll go ask her myself.”

Qi Huang stood and strode out. She needed clarity before making plans.

“I’ll go with you.”

Cheng Hongling followed.

Soon, the two arrived at the inn where the Longchang Sect was staying and sought out the Sixth Princess, Lin Ran.

Setting aside pride, Qi Huang bluntly inquired about the Immortal Stele’s details.

“The so-called ‘set period’ refers to the Lü Clan’s predetermined wedding date. It could be a year, two years, or even three to five. No one knows for sure.”

Lin Ran, ever the dignified princess, answered without holding back.

‘A few years… That’s still too short.’

Qi Huang’s heart grew heavy. To oppose the Immortal Stele, she’d need to reach immortality. Even with her rapid growth, achieving that in just a few years was nearly impossible. If that were truly the case, her only option would be to act after arriving at the Lü Clan, but the risks were far too great. She might end up a mother before she knew it.

“If only there were a way to delay the Lü Clan’s wedding date.”

Qi Huang sighed.

“You… You don’t want to marry into the Lü Clan?”

Lin Ran looked puzzled. The Lü Clan was one of the most prestigious Immortal Families. Even an ordinary clansman lived more gloriously than royalty, let alone the future clan leader. Most women would beg for the chance.

“No. Not at all.”

Qi Huang’s answer was immediate. Cheng Hongling shook her head in agreement.

“But no one can defy the Immortal Stele. The destruction of Shuiyu Valley is proof. Resistance is futile.”

Lin Ran smiled pityingly.

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“Not necessarily. Give me ten years, and I’ll have the confidence to challenge it.”

Qi Huang clenched her delicate fist with determination.

Lin Ran froze, then fell into deep thought.

“I doubt you want me marrying into the Lü Clan either, Your Highness. After all, I was once an Imperial Consort candidate. If that Lü Second succeeds, how would your father save face?”

Qi Huang employed reverse psychology. She didn’t expect the Sixth Princess to solve her predicament, but she hoped for unreserved assistance.

“The Lü Clan’s monster wants Hongling, not you.”

Lin Ran corrected.

“Not necessarily. Lü Er said I wouldn’t escape either. You heard him.”

Qi Huang reminded her.

Lin Ran fell silent again. After a long pause, she spoke:

“If you truly need time… you could seek out Elder Zuo. He might be able to help.”

“What? Elder Zuo? Him?”

Cheng Hongling was stunned.

“Even if he has a solution, he won’t help us. To be frank, we’ve had… conflicts with him before.”

Qi Huang was blunt.

“It doesn’t matter. Helping you would benefit him as well. He’ll act.”

Lin Ran then explained Elder Zuo’s complicated relationship with the Lü Clan.

“So that’s why Lü Er suddenly showed up at the Evergreen Conference! That old schemer must’ve orchestrated it!”

Qi Huang seethed.

“I don’t understand. If Elder Zuo’s granddaughter married into the Lü Clan, shouldn’t he want me to marry Lü Yi instead? That would strengthen his family’s position.”

Cheng Hongling was confused.

“Junior Sister Cheng, do you think a clan that massive is united? Different branches scheme endlessly for the patriarch’s seat. For example, Elder Zuo’s son-in-law’s faction and Lü First’s faction are rivals. Do you still think he’d want you marrying into the Lü Clan?”

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Lin Ran revealed the deeper politics.

“Then why did he instigate Lü Er to target me?”

Qi Huang couldn’t make sense of it.

“Who knows? Maybe even he didn’t expect the Lü Clan’s monster to take a liking to you.”

Lin Ran speculated.

“How do you know so much about the Lü Clan?”

Cheng Hongling frowned slightly.

“My father and Elder Zuo were once close. They only fell out because of the Imperial Consort selection.”

A trace of resentment flickered in Lin Ran’s eyes.

Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling exchanged awkward glances.

“Thank you, Your Highness. After the Evergreen Conference, I’ll pay Elder Zuo a visit.”

Qi Huang clasped her hands in gratitude.

Meanwhile, in another inn within the prefecture, Hong Hufa of the Shixin Sect paced like an ant on a hot pan. He had sent all his disciples out, yet there was still no trace of the Divine-grade Protective Talisman.

“Tomorrow, we face the Honghua Sect. If I can’t find that talisman, what then? Forfeit? But after making it this far, how can I give up?”

He sighed in frustration.

“Elder Hong, Elder Zhou of the Huxiao Sect requests an audience.”

A disciple announced from outside the door.

“The Huxiao Sect? Did they find the Divine-grade protective yalisman?”

Hong Hufa’s spirits lifted. “Quick, let him in!”