Volume 7, Chapter 462 – Who Wants the First Place Lot?

Qi Huang dared to provoke them for two reasons. First, if she defeated this group, the only opponent left would be the Longchang Sect. Given the Sixth Princess’s character, she would never agree to let the Immortal Alliance intervene. Second, even if the Sixth Princess were willing to resort to underhanded tactics for victory, Elder Zuo was in no condition to craft even a single talisman anymore. Thus, Qi Huang had all but secured first place.

Steward Cai was well aware of his predicament. Like a defeated rooster, he hung his head in dejection, lacking the confidence to utter any more threats.

‘She actually subdued the Immortal Alliance single-handedly.’

Cheng Hongling silently stared at the doppelgänger on the stage, her emotions in turmoil. At this moment, she felt an overwhelming desire to grow stronger, more intense than ever before.

Qi Huang, however, returned to her team as if nothing had happened. Truthfully, crushing weaklings held little sense of accomplishment.

“Let’s go. I think the outside world will welcome us more warmly,” Qi Huang gestured toward the exit and led the way, with the Honghua Sect members following behind.

As soon as Qi Huang stepped out of the branch hall’s gates, the crowd of ordinary people immediately lined up to welcome her, treating her like a triumphant general returning from battle.

“After this Evergreen Conference, the Honghua Sect’s influence in the mortal world will skyrocket. We’ll never lack talent again,” Qin Quan said excitedly.

“Indeed, all thanks to Hongling and Qi Huang,” Xu Mei remarked with emotion.

“No need to include me when praising her,” Cheng Hongling replied coldly.

“Why not? You eliminated two sects too. Your contribution is no less than mine,” Qi Huang quickly reassured, speaking as if coaxing a child. In truth, given their real ages, Cheng Hongling was indeed a young girl in her eyes.

“Aiyo, Junior Sister is jealous of herself again,” Shen Yuan sighed helplessly.

“Right? Whether it’s the main body or the doppelgänger, it’s still her. Why draw such a clear line?” Ruan Lingyu chimed in teasingly.

“Tsundere, that’s why. If she didn’t act like this, how else could she assert her presence?” Su Qingying mercilessly pointed out.

“T-Tsundere?!” Cheng Hongling’s face flushed red with anger. If not for her need to maintain her aloof image, she would’ve pinned this sharp-tongued girl to the ground and spanked her.

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Lin Ran sat silently in her guest room, her mind heavy with worry. Just as everyone had predicted, she was trapped in a dead end. If she fought, she stood no chance, it would only bring humiliation. If she forfeited, she’d be labeled a coward, which was even worse. There was no good choice.

“No. Even if I die, I’ll die standing!”

After much deliberation, Lin Ran decided to step onto the stage. When faced with two evils, one must choose the lesser.

Knock, knock.

“Sixth Princess, Chief Steward Zhong from the palace has arrived. He says he brings an oral decree from His Majesty,” the voice of Longchang Sect’s leader, Xiang Yang, sounded from outside the door.

“Chief Steward Zhong?”

Lin Ran froze, then her expression darkened further. She knew that if he had come at this critical moment, it could only be about the Evergreen Conference.

Though reluctant to face him, Chief Steward Zhong carried her father’s decree, she had no choice but to receive him. “Please escort him in, Sect Leader Xiang,” she said, straightening her robes before rising from the bed.

Moments later, Chief Steward Zhong entered and respectfully knelt in greeting. “This humble servant pays respects to Your Highness!”

“Rise, Chief Steward Zhong. The journey from the capital spans thousands of miles. You’ve worked hard.” Lin Ran gestured for him to stand.

“Serving His Majesty and Your Highness is this old servant’s greatest honor. No hardship at all!”

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Chief Steward Zhong slowly rose to his feet. Outwardly, he looked like any frail old man on the brink of death. No one would ever guess he was the foremost expert in the imperial palace.

“Chief Steward Zhong, Sect Leader Xiang mentioned you bear an oral decree from my father?” Lin Ran cut to the chase.

“Indeed. His Majesty commands that you must win the final round of the Evergreen Conference. Defeat is not an option.”

“Must win?”

Lin Ran was stunned. She had already resigned herself to inevitable defeat, why else would she be so conflicted?

“Yes. His Majesty decreed that if you lose, you shall never return to the palace.” Chief Steward Zhong delivered the words carefully.

“Hah. He overestimates me.”

Lin Ran laughed bitterly. “Chief Steward Zhong, do you know what happened this morning? Four great immortal sects gathered thirty elite disciples to deal with her, half of them were in the Incarnation Realm. Yet she suppressed them all with a single thought. Do you truly believe I stand a chance? It seems my father is merely using this as an excuse to bar me from the palace.”

“Your Highness, you misunderstand. His Majesty also instructed that if you cannot resolve this matter, this old servant is to handle it for you.”

“Handle it? By killing Qi Huang?”

“Your Highness jests. Qi Huang is a personally appointed Imperial Consort. This old servant wouldn’t dare, even with the courage of a bear or leopard.”

“Then how do you intend to ‘handle’ it? If you won’t kill her, yet must preserve the royal family’s dignity, that seems quite difficult.”

“If Your Highness agrees, this old servant will naturally resolve the issue for you and His Majesty.”

“And if this princess refuses? Will Chief Steward Zhong then abstain from interfering?”

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Chief Steward Zhong did not answer. His silence spoke volumes.

Though this was the final match, the Immortal Alliance still held a symbolic drawing of lots. In the end, the Honghua Sect drew the second pick, while the Longchang Sect drew the first.

According to Evergreen Conference rules, the final match would take place three days later.

For Qi Huang, these three days were torturous. The Sixth Princess was a woman of outstanding character, and she owed her a debt of gratitude. How could she possibly bring herself to strike her down?

Yet no matter how reluctant she was, she had no choice. The three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of the fourth day, when Qi Huang led the Honghua Sect members to the Immortal Alliance branch, she found it as bustling as ever. Though everyone knew the outcome was a foregone conclusion, they still held onto hope that the Sixth Princess might pull off a miracle.

But reality was cruel. When the appointed time arrived, not only was the Sixth Princess absent, the entire Longchang Sect had failed to appear.

“Could the Sixth Princess really have fled like a coward?” Shen Yuan speculated. In truth, many other cultivators present shared the same suspicion.

“Impossible. Someone of her character would never retreat without a fight,” Ruan Lingyu immediately refuted.

“Agreed. Moreover, she’s far too intelligent to think that fleeing would be less shameful than losing,” Qi Huang added.

“Something must have delayed her. Even if she fled, what about the rest of the Longchang Sect? Would they really leave without even returning the lot? This is the Evergreen Conference,” Yun Fei reasoned.

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Just as everyone was lost in speculation, several Longchang Sect disciples rushed into the branch hall in a panic. They handed the lot to Steward Cai and announced their forfeiture.

“What happened? Where is your sect leader?” Steward Cai was caught off guard, and the surrounding cultivators craned their necks to listen.

“Reporting to Steward Cai, we were ambushed by a powerful expert on our way here. The Sixth Princess was injured and can no longer participate in the Evergreen Conference.”

“What?!”

Steward Cai stood frozen in shock, while the cultivators exchanged bewildered glances. No one had expected such a turn of events.

Qi Huang was initially startled, but then a weight lifted from her chest. This was the best outcome. The Sixth Princess retained her honor, and Qi Huang wouldn’t have to repay kindness with cruelty.

“Who would dare attack the Sixth Princess in broad daylight? They’ve ruined our last hope!”

“Who knows? Rebel factions have been running rampant these past few years. Probably one of them.”

“Now the finals are over before they even began. With Qi Huang taking first place, how are we cultivators supposed to hold our heads high?”

“Exactly! This is unbearable! How could we lose to a lowly-blooded doppelgänger?”

The cultivators grumbled in frustration.

Steward Cai, too, was unwilling to let the finals end like this. He stepped onto the stage, holding up the lot.

“Fellow Daoists, the Longchang Sect has forfeited. This first place lot is now unclaimed. Which sect wishes to take it?”