Volume 7, Chapter 464 – You Dare Lay Hands on an Immortal Alliance Disciple? (Part 2)

Cai De never dreamed that Qi Huang would actually dare to strike him. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees, slamming into the ground hard enough to leave a crater. He struggled, but the gap between their strengths was too vast, he couldn’t even twitch a finger. All he could do was bare his teeth like a rabid dog pinned under a boot.

“This Qi Huang is truly audacious! She actually dared to attack an Immortal Alliance steward! She’s gambling with the lives of everyone in the Honghua Sect!”

The surrounding cultivators paled in fear, hastily retreating to avoid being implicated.

“Well, well, Cai De. Just because your master fainted, you thought you could act recklessly? Daring to embezzle the rewards of the Evergreen Conference, how could I let that slide?”

Qi Huang’s reprimand carried a mocking smile. She knew full well she wasn’t yet in a position to openly defy the Immortal Alliance, so she fabricated a plausible excuse to justify her actions.

Cai De lay sprawled on the ground, unable to move or retort. His eyes bulged with rage, his nails digging into the earth until they snapped.

Qi Huang ignored him, leisurely retrieving the Shadow-Retaining Mirror and fiddling with it.

Not a single Honghua Sect disciple stepped forward to stop her, this was a clear sign of their absolute trust in Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling.

Soon, Qi Huang found the recording of Cai De’s secret meeting with Elder Ren of the Juying Sect at the inn. She shoved it in the old man’s face, taunting, “Look at how pathetic you are. You’ve disgraced the Immortal Alliance.”

At first, Cai De thought it was just an ordinary bronze mirror and desperately tried to turn away. But when he was forced to see the images playing inside, his face twisted in horror. His body went limp as if all the air had been punched out of him.

“Well? Ready to take us to collect our rewards now?”

Qi Huang withdrew her divine sense.

Gritting his teeth, Cai De finally stood up silently and led the way toward the main hall.

The Honghua Sect disciples exchanged glances, astonishment written across their faces. None of them had expected Qi Huang to be this shrewd. What should have been a mutually destructive situation had been forcibly turned into submission.

The cultivators from other sects also looked at each other in confusion, unable to comprehend why Cai De had caved so easily.

“It’s over, nothing left to see!”

“Steward Cai, you’re an Immortal Alliance steward! How could you be this spineless?”

“Exactly! Not only have you humiliated yourself, but you’ve also dragged the Immortal Alliance’s reputation through the mud!”

“Save your breath. The outcome is decided. This Qi Huang may just be a doppelgänger, but she single-handedly won first place in the Yongning Prefecture Evergreen Conference, unprecedented in history!”

“True. I’d call her the strongest doppelgänger in the history of the Evergreen Conference!”

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Seeing that the situation was settled, the cultivators from various sects could only sigh and disperse.

Before long, the Honghua Sect received their first-place rewards. The most valuable among them were undoubtedly the four spiritual herbs essential for breaking through to the Incarnation Realm: the Goldenback Sunflower, the Red-Haired Parasol, the Dragon Lotus Basin, and the Heaven’s Gate Grass.

“These herbs are only useful for the Incarnation Realm. I’ll be taking them for my main body, any objections?” Qi Huang asked politely.

“None at all!”

The entire Honghua Sect shook their heads. There were two reasons: first, without Qi Huang, they wouldn’t have obtained these herbs; second, these herbs were useless to them anyway.

“Then my thanks. As for the other rewards, let Sect Leader Qin distribute them.” Qi Huang waved generously.

“What about you?” Cheng Hongling frowned.

“Me? I have no use for these things. Better to give them to those who need them.”

Qi Huang was indifferent. Her growth was unconventional, spiritual herbs held little appeal to her.

“How can that be? Without the Blue-Scale Stones you got for us, we wouldn’t have even passed the first round!” Wang Zong protested, more agitated than if he had suffered the loss himself.

“I genuinely don’t need these. You all know my actual cultivation is only at the Spirit Gathering Realm. If you find any herbs useful for that level in the future, then you can give them to me.”

Qi Huang brushed it off. With her strength, why would she need others to fetch low-level herbs for her?

“Understood! We’ll do our best to help!”

Her martial brothers and sisters took her words to heart, vowing earnestly.

Meanwhile, Steward Cai stood meekly to the side, his face ashen but not daring to make a scene. He knew that if his private scheming against Immortal Alliance disciples were exposed, his future would be ruined.

“Steward Cai, let’s speak plainly. You’ve seen the recording. You know what exposure would mean. From now on, let’s keep to our own paths. No more tricks, or I won’t hold back.”

Qi Huang cut straight to the point. Her strength was growing rapidly. If she could buy a few years of peace, she’d soon be untouchable.

“Y-Yes! This old man won’t trouble you again! But I hope you’ll keep your word. Don’t let anyone else see that recording!”

Cai De didn’t dare argue.

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Qi Huang had no interest in dragging it out. She led the Honghua Sect members out of the branch hall.

“Junior Sister, I never expected you to be this clever! Using that recording to threaten Cai De. Otherwise, today would’ve ended badly.”

Ruan Lingyu sighed in relief. The others also wiped cold sweat from their brows.

“Don’t you trust me? I knew that old man wouldn’t hand over the rewards easily. That’s why I didn’t reveal the recording right away. Its true value lies in using it at the critical moment.”

Qi Huang smugly stroked her smooth chin.

“You predicted this from the start? Wow! Junior Sister, you’re practically omniscient!”

Ruan Lingyu’s delicate face filled with admiration.

“With this recording, we don’t have to fear the Immortal Alliance causing trouble for the Honghua Sect!” Shen Yuan exclaimed excitedly.

“Senior Sister, you’re too naive.”

Cheng Hongling’s cold voice cut in.

“Huh? Why?” Shen Yuan blinked in confusion.

“Cai De is just a minor steward. If the Immortal Alliance is determined to target us, they can easily sacrifice him as a scapegoat and pin all the blame on him.”

Cheng Hongling voiced her thoughts.

“Exactly. That’s why I never expected the recording to solve the Immortal Alliance problem entirely. Getting the rewards was already worth it. As for the rest, we’ll stall as long as possible. Give me ten years, and the Immortal Alliance won’t be a concern.”

Qi Huang brimmed with confidence.

“Then what now? Do we return?” Shen Yuan sought opinions.

“Have you forgotten the Lü family trouble? We’ll stay in the prefectural capital for a couple more days. Once Elder Zuo wakes up, we’ll talk to him. And we’ll welcome the Shuiyu Valley sisters.”

Qi Huang reminded them.

“Right. Hongling’s name was carved into the Immortal Stele by that Lü family monster. Who knows when their wedding date is set? We can only rely on Elder Zuo to buy time.”

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Xu Mei agreed.

With their plan set, the Honghua Sect returned to the inn to rest.

Qi Huang took out the Thousand-Mile Communication Tube to contact Yaoyao, but the cat-eared girl still didn’t respond. Worry gradually crept into her heart.

“Did something happen? But with Ye Donglai in Yongning Prefecture, there shouldn’t be anyone in the Donglai Sect capable of threatening Yaoyao!”

Qi Huang couldn’t make sense of it.

The next day, the Honghua Sect learned that Elder Zuo had regained consciousness. Without delay, they rushed to the Immortal Alliance branch.

Elder Zuo currently loathed the Honghua Sect, but due to his position, he had no choice but to receive them.

“Fellow Daoists, your Honghua Sect won first place in the Yongning Prefecture Evergreen Conference and claimed the rewards. What else do you seek from me?”

Elder Zuo’s face was ashen. Already advanced in years and in poor condition, he looked like a walking corpse.

“Elder Zuo, I heard your granddaughter also married into the Lü family?”

Qi Huang cut straight to the point. Since there was no common ground, there was no need for pretense.

“Who told you that?” Elder Zuo frowned.

“That’s irrelevant. Today, I’m here to propose cooperation. Since your granddaughter married into the Lü family, arranging a delay of a few years for my main body’s wedding shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Qi Huang made her demand without courtesy.

“Heh. It’s not a problem. But why should I help you?”

Elder Zuo smirked disdainfully.

“Because you don’t want me joining the Lü family either, do you?”

Qi Huang spoke with certainty.

“What does that have to do with me?”

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Elder Zuo remained expressionless.

“Don’t play dumb. I know a bit about the Lü family. The different branches will stop at nothing to compete for the clan leader’s position, because whoever sits there gains control of the Immortal Stele. Who wouldn’t covet that? Doesn’t your granddaughter’s faction want it? If my main body and I marry that monster Lü Yi, what chance does she have left?”

Qi Huang’s patience wore thin.

“I don’t know who told you these things, but I’ll say it again, why should I help you?”

Elder Zuo paused before countering.

“You know I never wanted to be the Lü family’s young madam. If you buy me ten years, I can refuse this marriage.”

Qi Huang stated her purpose.

“What? Do you know what it means to have your name carved on the Immortal Stele by Lü Yi? To refuse this marriage, you’d need power to defy immortal might! You’ve seen what happened to Shuiyu Valley, the entire sect was wiped out, the land barren for miles. That’s why none of the women he fancies can escape. Ten years? Don’t delude yourself.”

Elder Zuo shook his head.

“Elder Zuo, before the Evergreen Conference, did you think I could take first place? Ten years, how can you be so sure I won’t have the power to oppose the Immortal Stele? Besides, do you have any other choice? Would you rather stand by and do nothing? That’s your granddaughter we’re talking about.”

Qi Huang fired back.

Elder Zuo’s expression flickered. After a long silence, he finally spoke. “How much time do you need?”

“I said at least ten years. Of course, the longer, the better!”

Qi Huang reiterated.

“Ten years… Even for cultivators, that’s too long. I can try, but no guarantees. After all, in the Lü family, Lü Yi’s grandfather holds the final say.”

Elder Zuo answered cautiously.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. If you can delay this for ten years, I’ll be the first woman to erase her name from the Lü family’s Immortal Stele.”

Qi Huang’s confidence was unshakable.