Volume 7, Chapter 454 – This Still Isn’t Her Limit (Part 1)

A short while later, Zhou Ming brought Lu Zhen into the guest room.

“Elder Zhou, how did it go?” Protector Hong asked anxiously.

“What about you, Protector Hong?” Zhou Ming teased.

“What else can I say? I haven’t even caught a glimpse of a Divine-grade protective talisman. At this point, I’m starting to think it’s just a baseless rumor spread by idle gossips. We got our hopes up for nothing, those people deserve to be sliced to pieces!”

Protector Hong’s face twisted with resentment.

“Sliced to pieces?” Zhou Ming narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Elder Zhou, to be frank, if we can’t find that Divine-grade protective talisman soon, we’ll have no choice but to forfeit. You saw Qi Huang’s performance today. Forget about competing with a so-called ‘immortal seedling’, even if I went up there myself, I wouldn’t be able to do anything to her. I don’t want the Shixin Sect to ruin its future over one Evergreen Conference.”

Protector Hong spoke from the heart.

“Don’t worry, Protector Hong. I’ve managed to obtain a few Divine-grade protective talismans.”

Only then did Zhou Ming leisurely deliver the news.

“What? Really?” Protector Hong’s expression wavered between belief and doubt.

Without wasting words, Zhou Ming pulled out a talisman. Instantly, an immensely powerful divine sense barrier enveloped his body.

“Protector Hong, your cultivation should be at the late-stage Incarnation Realm, correct? Feel free to test the strength of this barrier.”

Zhou Ming extended the invitation.

Protector Hong didn’t hold back. He gathered all his divine sense and launched a full-force assault against the barrier, only for it to be like an ant trying to shake a tree. Not even a ripple formed.

“Hahaha! It really is a Divine-grade protective talisman! Elder Zhou, you’re truly remarkable to have actually found one!”

Protector Hong was overjoyed.

“It was nothing. In Yongning Prefecture’s capital, if something exists, our Huxiao Sect can find it.”

A hint of pride flashed across Zhou Ming’s face before he stowed the talisman away.

“I believe it. Your sect is the master of Yongning Prefecture, with countless disciples. How could anything escape your notice?”

Protector Hong offered a flattering remark before cautiously asking, “But… what’s the exact level of this barrier? Can it really handle that little brat Qi Huang?”

“Rest assured. This is a Divine-grade protective talisman of the third layer, while Qi Huang has only demonstrated divine sense strength at the first layer.”

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Zhou Ming spoke with absolute confidence.

“If that’s really the case, then fine. But… what if she’s been hiding her true strength? What if her divine sense surpasses the first layer?”

Protector Hong hesitated for a moment.

“So what? Does Protector Hong lack even the courage to try?”

A trace of disdain flickered in Zhou Ming’s eyes as he pressed on, “Think carefully. If you succeed, with just this Divine-grade protective talisman, your Shixin Sect can secure first place in this Evergreen Conference.”

Protector Hong’s expression shifted slightly. He knew Zhou Ming wasn’t exaggerating. With a Divine-grade Protective Talisman, as long as they could eliminate Qi Huang, their biggest obstacle, the remaining opponents would pose no threat.

“Of course, I won’t force you. If Protector Hong isn’t willing to take the risk, you’re free to forfeit.”

Zhou Ming stood up, uninterested in wasting more words. There were plenty of other tools he could use, he didn’t necessarily need the Shixin Sect.

“Wait! I’ll take the gamble!”

Protector Hong panicked and quickly stopped him.

“Excellent! I knew Brother Hong wasn’t the type to cower in fear. As the saying goes, ‘Great wealth comes from great risks.’ Without courage, how can one ever achieve greatness?”

Zhou Ming smiled in satisfaction.

“But… you went through so much trouble to obtain these talismans. Wouldn’t it be improper for us to take them without compensation?”

Protector Hong probed further.

“No need for courtesy, Protector Hong. I’ve said it before, you’re our guests. As a local sect, the Huxiao Sect naturally must fulfill our duties as hosts. All we ask is that you reimburse us for the cost of acquiring these talismans.”

Zhou Ming wasn’t generous enough to give them away for free.

“How much do they cost?”

Protector Hong asked cautiously.

“One hundred thousand taels of silver per talisman. How many would you like?”

Zhou Ming seized the opportunity to demand an exorbitant price.

“How much?!”

Protector Hong’s face instantly paled.

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“One hundred thousand taels of silver.”

Zhou Ming repeated mercilessly.

“That’s… that’s far too expensive!”

Protector Hong’s expression twisted with reluctance. One hundred thousand taels! That was enough to buy a grand three-courtyard mansion in the imperial capital, equivalent to a county’s annual tax revenue!

“It’s certainly not cheap, but this is a Divine-grade Protective Talisman, rare beyond measure. We expended tremendous effort to acquire them, and this was the price we paid. We’re not charging you a single copper coin more than necessary.”

Zhou Ming lied without blinking.

“Sigh!”

Protector Hong exhaled heavily. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined the price would be so steep, far beyond what he could afford.

“What? Is there still room for hesitation? Protector Hong, you’re well aware of the rewards for first place in this Evergreen Conference. Those treasures are priceless! And with the additional rewards from later rounds, the total value far exceeds one hundred thousand taels.”

Zhou Ming began his sales pitch.

Protector Hong fell into thought. After a moment, he slammed the table.

“Enough! I’ll take it!”

“Decisive! How many do you need?”

A mocking smile crept onto Zhou Ming’s face.

“Elder Zhou, you have more than one?”

Protector Hong was stunned. They had searched the entire prefecture for days without finding even a trace.

“However many you need, I have.”

Zhou Ming boasted, though in truth, he only had three talismans on hand.

“I must admit, I’m truly impressed by you, Brother Zhou.”

Protector Hong sighed in admiration before forcing a self-deprecating smile.

“Of course, the more the better. But alas, my pockets aren’t deep enough. I’ll take two for now.”

“No problem.”

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Zhou Ming swiftly handed over two talisman pouches. Like regular protective talismans, these would activate immediately upon removal from the pouch. Crushing them, however, would render them useless.

“Just how powerful are these so-called ‘immortals’? With just a mental pressure, they can annihilate all life within dozens of miles.”

Qi Huang lay on the bed when her main body suddenly sent her a telepathic message.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen one.”

Qi Huang answered truthfully, though an image of Lu Yao flashed through her mind. While she didn’t know the zombie girl’s exact cultivation level, the fact that she could shatter space with a single hand undoubtedly placed her at an immortal’s strength.

“I’m only at the early-stage Incarnation Realm. My divine sense has just begun affecting physical objects. Compared to an immortal’s might, I’m less than an ant. Do you really think I can ever become that powerful?”

Cheng Hongling asked uncertainly.

“Of course! Have some confidence in yourself.”

Qi Huang reassured her.

“But the question is, how much time will the Lü Clan give me? Even if Elder Zuo manages to secure ten years, at my current cultivation speed, I’ll only reach the mid-stage Incarnation Realm by then. Forget erasing my name, I probably won’t even be able to step through the Lü Clan’s gates.”

Cheng Hongling responded skeptically.

“Don’t worry. If you can’t enter those gates, I’ll take you in. If you can’t erase your name, I’ll uproot the Immortal Stele itself. I swear it.”

Qi Huang made the promise without hesitation.

“Thank you. Without you, I wouldn’t have come this far.”

After a brief silence, Cheng Hongling expressed her gratitude.

“Why so formal between us? Without your Human Skin Mask, I wouldn’t be where I am today either.”

Qi Huang quickly deflected the praise.

“Speaking of that mask… have you ever wondered why a single piece of my skin could fuse with your body? Not only did it alter your gender and appearance, but it was almost like assimilation, something a mere doppelgänger shouldn’t be capable of!”

Cheng Hongling suddenly asked.

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“I don’t know.”

Qi Huang pondered for a long time before answering. Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this concealed an earth-shattering secret.

The next day, Qi Huang and the Honghua Sect arrived early at the Immortal Alliance’s branch. Today, she would face her second opponent, the Shixin Sect.

“Do you think the Shixin Sect will still dare to fight Junior Sister?”

Ruan Lingyu asked curiously.

“Definitely not. If I were them, I’d forfeit immediately. Only a fool would throw an egg at a stone when they know they stand no chance!”

Wang Zong replied without hesitation.

“Unless they’ve obtained those so-called Divine-grade protective talismans. In that case, they’d definitely take the gamble.”

Yun Fei added.

“Exactly. Once they eliminate me, with a Divine-grade protective talisman in hand, they’d practically secure first place. So they’d definitely risk it.”

Qi Huang agreed.

“Why hasn’t the Shixin Sect arrived yet? Did they chicken out?”

“Impossible. Even if they forfeit, they’d still have to return their token.”

“Haven’t you heard? The Shixin Sect has already gotten their hands on Divine-grade protective talismans. They’re not late because they’re scared, they’re just brimming with confidence.”

“What? There really are Divine-grade protective talismans? I thought it was just a rumor. After all these days, no one’s seen a single one.”

“What’s so strange about that? Divine-grade protective talismans aren’t cabbages. You can’t just stroll down the street and find a basket of them.”

“Now there’s suspense again. Who do you think will win?”

“Whoever wins this will basically secure first place in this Evergreen Conference. No other sect can counter a Divine Realm divine sense.”

“Not necessarily. Qi Huang has a grudge with the Immortal Alliance. Elder Zuo and Steward Cai will do everything they can to stop her.”

“Exactly. No matter how strong she is, does she really think she can fight the ones who make the rules? Her chances of winning first place are practically zero. Otherwise, where would Elder Zuo’s face be? What would become of the Immortal Alliance’s dignity?”

As the murmurs of the crowd buzzed around them, the atmosphere grew tense.