Volume 8, Chapter 480 – Deepening Feminization

“Of course I know whether I’m a man or a woman, but do you know?”

The Essence Soul, Huang Jin, turned around, a strange smile creeping onto his face.

“Whether I’m a man or a woman?”

Qi Huang shuddered slightly, then began to ponder: “Am I a man or a woman? I’m Huang Qi, of course I’m a man… No, no… I’m Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger, and Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger must be a woman!”

As Qi Huang spiraled deeper into thought, a sharp pain erupted in her head, spreading through her limbs and seeping into her very soul.

“Ahh!”

She clutched her skull, writhing in agony.

“Big Brother! Big Brother! What’s wrong?”

The Humanly Soul cautiously approached, concern lacing its voice.

“Big Brother? Right… I’m Qi Huang!”

Hearing that title, the chaotic storm in her mind instantly dissipated, and the pain gradually subsided. She lifted her head, glaring venomously at Huang Jin. “You treacherous bastard! Even your own elder brother isn’t safe from your schemes!”

“Treacherous? I’m the assimilator of Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger, you’re the impostor here. So tell me, who’s the real traitor?”

Huang Jin’s face twisted with disdain.

“Has he really been completely assimilated?”

A sliver of dread coiled in Qi Huang’s heart. If Huang Jin had truly been overtaken, it meant her own sexual orientation had already been irreversibly altered.

Panicking, she lashed out with a Soul Tether, yanking Huang Jin forward before immediately reaching for his pants.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Huang Jin flushed crimson, struggling desperately, but the sturdy Soul Tether held firm.

The six female Corporeal Souls nearby moved to intervene, but a single icy glare from Qi Huang froze them in place.

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With practiced efficiency, Qi Huang stripped Huang Jin’s pants down and inspected him closely. After a moment, she exhaled in relief. Though it had shrunk yet again, at least something remained.

Without hesitation, she raised her hand and delivered a stinging slap across Huang Jin’s face, then barked, “Look at what’s between your legs! Snap out of it!”

The slap seemed to jolt Huang Jin awake. He blinked dazedly at his exposed lower half, his eyes slowly clearing. Clutching his reddened cheek, he muttered in confusion, “What… happened?”

“You don’t remember? You betrayed us, again.”

Huang Ren stepped forward to remind him.

“What?! Again? But I just switched sides yesterday!”

Huang Jin’s face paled before twisting in horror. He turned to Qi Huang, pleading, “Big Brother, it must be the deepening feminization! You have to find a solution soon. Look at this thing, it’s getting smaller by the day!”

“You don’t need to tell me that!”

Qi Huang scoffed, releasing him with a frustrated flick of her wrist before exiting the Sea of Consciousness.

Seated cross-legged on her bed, Qi Huang’s mood was heavy. Though the recent dream had yielded some gains, she still hadn’t found a way to halt the mental fracturing and feminization. The root problem remained unsolved.

Of course, she couldn’t afford to focus solely on herself. As the strongest cultivator in the Honghua Sect, she had responsibilities.

Steeling herself, she unleashed her Divine Sense, sweeping it across the sect’s grounds.

Under Cheng Yuan’s leadership, the Honghua Sect was undergoing massive reconstruction. New courtyards rose from the earth, serving as temporary lodgings for female disciples from Shuiyu Valley, housing for new recruits, and even rental spaces for commoners seeking refuge within the sect’s walls, a win on all fronts.

After Qi Huang’s stunning performance at the Evergreen Conference, the Honghua Sect had become the most sought-after immortal faction in the Western Radiance Dynasty. Cultivators and commoners alike flocked to join. Once the housing crisis was resolved, the sect’s strength would skyrocket.

Soon after, Qi Huang received a Thousand-Mile Communication from Elder Zuo.

“The dynasty-level Evergreen Conference begins in half a month, held in the imperial capital.”

Elder Zuo’s voice was matter-of-fact.

“Understood.”

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Qi Huang’s response was distracted. Compared to the Golden Fate Blossom seeds, her own condition was far more urgent.

“You should know, Lü Yi’s father recently asked me to suppress you at the conference. He fears your brilliance will attract… undesirable attention from greater powers.”

Elder Zuo’s tone was almost amused.

“Predictable.”

Qi Huang smirked bitterly. It was a twisted form of “keeping the beauty hidden away in a golden house”.

“So what’s your plan?”

She countered.

“Mine? I’ll pave the way for you. At the very least, I can secure your position as the Western Radiance Dynasty’s #1 Immortal Seed.”

Elder Zuo’s confidence was unshakable.

“Hah! So you’ll polish me up and sell me off to the highest bidder? Use them to eliminate your ‘problem’?”

Qi Huang’s laugh was icy.

“Must you phrase it so crudely? I’m helping you. If we want to stall the Lü Clan, we must employ the ‘Wolf-Rearing Tactic’. Buying time is the only way to secure those ten years you need.”

Elder Zuo’s righteousness was paper-thin.

“Wolf-Rearing? And when the wolf turns on me?”

Qi Huang pressed. She couldn’t even handle the Lü Clan yet, how could she contend with a force even stronger? This wasn’t strategy, it was suicide.

“We’ll delay as long as possible. It’s the only option.”

Elder Zuo brushed her off before adding, “Of course, if you refuse, you can always withdraw from the conference.”

“Heh…”

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Qi Huang’s chuckle was noncommittal. “If I become the dynasty’s top seed, can you secure me a spot in the continental-level Evergreen Conference? If you want to play with wolves, why not go all the way?”

“I wish I could. But my influence is limited, and you lack backing. It’s impossible.”

Elder Zuo sighed.

Qi Huang cut the connection, seething. “Pathetic excuse for an Immortal Alliance Elder. Useless. I’ll have to handle this myself.”

Three days later, Qin Quan urgently summoned the sect’s upper echelon to the assembly hall.

“Bad news. The Immortal Alliance has revoked our eligibility for the dynasty-level Evergreen Conference.”

His expression was grim.

Qi Huang and her main body exchanged glances, both stunned.

“I thought Elder Zuo was going to crown you the dynasty’s top seed?”

Cheng Hongling’s telepathic jab was laced with sarcasm.

“Who the hell knows what’s going on?”

Qi Huang could only shake her head.

“What?! On what grounds?”

Xu Mei, their master, slammed a fist onto the table, her voice trembling with outrage.

The other elders broke into hushed, anxious murmurs.

“According to Steward Cai, the reason is… Qi Huang’s ‘disrespect toward the Immortal Alliance.’ A ‘minor punishment’.”

Qin Quan’s gaze settled on Qi Huang.

“Disrespect? That’s rich!”

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Qi Huang barked a laugh. “I may despise the Immortal Alliance, but I’ve been nothing but restrained at the conference. Everyone saw it!”

“The Alliance doesn’t need reasons to target someone.”

Cheng Hongling’s voice was calm.

“But Elder Zuo promised to delay the marriage for ten years! Why sabotage us now? Is he really that petty?”

Xu Mei’s teeth gritted audibly.

“Steward Cai clarified, this wasn’t his decision, nor Elder Zuo’s. The order came directly from the Immortal Alliance’s Vice-Leader.”

Qin Quan’s words sent a chill through the room.

“The Vice-Leader? Why would he target us? And how would he even know about Qi Huang’s ‘disrespect’?”

Xu Mei’s eyes darted between them, but no one had answers.

“This has Lü Yi’s fingerprints all over it.”

Cheng Hongling’s deduction was swift.

“Exactly. The Lü Clan’s faction is the only one with both motive and means to suppress us. Seems Elder Zuo’s ‘Wolf-Rearing’ plan was sniffed out early. No wonder the old fool didn’t have the guts to tell me himself.”

Qi Huang’s voice was laced with venom as she laid out the Lü Clan’s motives.

“Steward Cai implied the same.”

Qin Quan nodded.

“Assigning blame won’t help. If the Vice-Leader himself issued the order, there’s no appealing it. But what about the Golden Fate Blossom seeds?”

Xu Mei’s gaze swept the room, the unspoken question hanging heavy.