Volume 8, Chapter 505 – The Holy Maiden Wants to Marry

Wen Yunmei and her daughter quickly returned to the Honghua Sect, but as expected, their search yielded no results.

Though Qi Huang had long anticipated this outcome, hearing the mother and daughter sigh over Zuo Bo’s words still made her blood boil.

‘Zuo Bo, ah, Zuo Bo… Our cooperation failed, and now you’re targeting Shuiyu Valley like this. It seems we were destined to be enemies, not allies.’

Qi Huang couldn’t help but sigh, though in truth, she felt somewhat relieved. This way, she wouldn’t have to hold back when taking revenge on the Lü family.

“Don’t worry,” she reassured Mu Ruoyi and her daughter. “Since he wants proof from the Immortal Stele, I’ll make sure he gets his wish soon enough.”

Two months passed in the blink of an eye. By the time Qi Huang had finished massaging Cheng Hongling’s entire upper body, the state-level Evergreen Conference of the Western Radiance Dynasty had also concluded. The next event would be the continental-level Evergreen Conference, scheduled for early November.

Qi Huang knew nothing about the Central Continent’s situation, and since she also had some business to attend to there, she proposed setting out immediately.

Cheng Hongling naturally had no objections. After bidding farewell to their parents and informing the sect’s higher-ups, the two set off toward the Central Continent.

Qi Huang was completely at ease on this journey, so they traveled leisurely, as if they were merely sightseeing. Occasionally, she would even find a secluded spot to “massage” her main body.

Cheng Hongling cooperated fully, clearly trusting her doppelgänger implicitly. However, due to the remaining areas being far too private, the massages eventually came to a halt.

After a month of meandering travel, Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling finally arrived in the Xianyou Empire of the Central Continent.

Even Qi Huang, who hailed from the remote Western Continent, had heard of the Xianyou Empire. Not only was it the largest nation in the Central Continent, but it was also the largest in the entire cultivation world, and the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance. This was why the continental-level Evergreen Conference was always held here, and also why she and her main body had come straight to this place.

“You said you had business to take care of. Where are we going now?” Cheng Hongling asked.

“First, we’ll head to the imperial capital, Wuye City. I need to find a large auction house to sell a few things,” Qi Huang explained, somewhat awkwardly. After all, the origins of those items weren’t exactly honorable.

“Auction? What are you selling?” Cheng Hongling asked curiously.

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“Just some good stuff. Don’t ask too much, you’ll get your share later,” Qi Huang replied evasively.

Cheng Hongling frowned but, trusting her doppelgänger, chose to remain silent.

The two soon arrived in Wuye City. To avoid unnecessary trouble due to their striking appearances, they both wore veils. However, their near-identical looks still drew many gazes, with some passersby even mistaking them for twin sisters.

Qi Huang bought a bag of pastries from a street vendor and handed them to her main body before asking the shopkeeper about auction houses.

“Judging by your accents, you’re not locals, are you?” the shopkeeper asked curiously.

“That’s right. We just arrived in the Xianyou Empire,” Qi Huang answered vaguely.

“No wonder! The largest auction house in the empire, the ‘Thousand Wonders Auction House,’ has its main branch right here in Wuye City…”

The shopkeeper enthusiastically gave them directions, and soon, Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling arrived at the Thousand Wonders Auction House. There, Qi Huang presented the treasures she had looted from Ye Donglai for appraisal and consignment.

Cheng Hongling’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She had no idea where her doppelgänger had gotten so many rare and valuable treasures, but out of trust, she suppressed her curiosity and refrained from asking.

Qi Huang smoothly completed the formalities, inwardly marveling at how professional the auction house was. The manager hadn’t even batted an eye at her items. It seemed that in a place like this, such treasures were considered commonplace.

And indeed, in the Xianyou Empire’s cultivation world, there were dozens of Divine Realm experts. While Qi Huang’s spirit herbs and medicines were valuable, they weren’t exactly rare, especially not for the main branch of the Thousand Wonders Auction House.

With the formalities done, Qi Huang led Cheng Hongling out of the auction house. Now, all they had to do was wait patiently for the sales to conclude.

The two checked into an inn, where Qi Huang proceeded to order dozens of exotic delicacies.

“Are you hungry? You’ve been snacking nonstop the whole trip,” Cheng Hongling asked, puzzled. As an Incarnation Realm cultivator, she had long since transcended the need for mortal food.

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“Not exactly hungry, but since we’re here in the Xianyou Empire, we might as well try the local specialties,” Qi Huang said cheerfully, even wiping down Cheng Hongling’s seat for her.

As the saying goes, it’s hard to refuse earnest hospitality. Cheng Hongling couldn’t bring herself to decline, so she obediently took a seat.

Soon, the waiter brought out a table full of dishes, and the two began savoring the food while eavesdropping on the conversations around them.

“Everyone, the continental-level Evergreen Conference happens once every three years, and it’s starting in just two months!”

“So what? What does that have to do with ordinary cultivators like us?”

“You’re missing the point! Watching experts duel is incredibly beneficial for our own cultivation!”

“Cut the nonsense. You just want to see those three female prodigies among the Nine Great Monsters!”

“Well, duh! Who wouldn’t? They’re peerless fairies with immortal bloodlines, ranking in the top three of the Sinking Fish Grand Ranking!”

“I don’t care to look. Women like that are destined to never be mine, seeing them would just make me bitter.”

“Bitterness? Over what?”

“Over them getting married! Don’t tell me you’d be fine watching the girl of your dreams wed someone else. Unless… you’re into that cuckoldry stuff?”

“Who’s into that?! With their talents, why would they waste time on romance when they could aim for immortality?”

“To each their own. Take Hua Yu, the Holy Maiden of the Huazong Sect from the Southern Continent. She’s chosen to marry, hasn’t she?”

As the meal progressed, the chatter from the neighboring table reached Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling’s ears.

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The two exchanged startled glances. They hadn’t expected to hear news about the Huarong Sect here.

“What?! Hua Yu is getting married? To whom? How come I haven’t heard about this?”

“Exactly! What kind of man could move the heart of such a peerless beauty?”

“This news has spread across the entire cultivation world! How have you not heard? She’s marrying Cao Yang from the Cao family of our Xianyou Empire!”

“Wait, Cao Yang? That prodigy from the Cao family?”

“Who else? The Cao family is the strongest of the Nine Immortal Forces, and Cao Yang is the most talented of the Nine Great Monsters. He reached the mid-stage Divine Realm at just twenty-eight, and his looks are exceptional too. It’s no wonder Hua Yu fell for him.”

“Tch… So it’s him. Well, that crushes any other man’s hopes.”

The nearby diners continued their discussion.

“Twenty-eight years old… Mid-stage Divine Realm…”

Cheng Hongling’s expression darkened. She had to admit that compared to such a genius, her own talents were utterly insignificant.

“Don’t lose heart,” Qi Huang immediately consoled her via telepathy. “Once we master the Doppelgänger Method, your cultivation speed will surpass his by ten, even a hundred times.”

“Not necessarily. I heard the Huazong Sect has a rule forbidding their Holy Maidens from marrying.”

“Rules are meaningless. As the saying goes, when heaven wishes to rain, or a woman to marry, no one can stop it.”

“It’s when a mother wishes to remarry!” ¹ The original saying is 天要下雨，娘要嫁人 (Tiān yào xiàyǔ, niáng yào jiàrén) = Heaven wants rain, mother wants to marry. Meaning inevitable things that cannot be prevented. Qi Huang said “女” (nǚ) = woman/girl, instead of “娘” (niáng) = mother.

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“What’s the difference? Sect rules only bind their own disciples. The Cao family doesn’t care about that.”

“Are you saying the Cao family would force the marriage?”

“Exactly. They’ve already issued an ultimatum to the Huarong Sect: Release Hua Yu within this month, or face the consequences.”

“Both are Immortal Forces. Would the Huarong Sect really fear them?”

“Immortal Forces have hierarchies too. The Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele is only ‘Master-grade’, while the Cao family’s is ‘Monarch-grade’, two whole tiers higher. If the Cao family decides to act, the Huarong Sect will be annihilated overnight.”

“Ah… What a tragedy. All their efforts in nurturing a Holy Maiden, only for her to become another family’s bride.”

“Exactly. The Huarong Sect must be in utter despair right now.”

“If Hua Yu marries into the Cao family, who will represent the Huarong Sect in the continental Evergreen Conference?”

“Who knows? Either they’ll pick a last-minute replacement, or they’ll forfeit.”

The diners shook their heads in lamentation.

“Such a thing is actually happening?” Qi Huang muttered in disbelief.

“If the Huazong Sect refuses to let her go, our potential backer will be destroyed by the Cao family first, and our plans will collapse,” Cheng Hongling pointed out worriedly.

“You’re right. We’ll have to adjust our plans,” Qi Huang murmured, deep in thought. After a moment, she said, “Once all the auction items are sold, we’ll head straight to the Huarong Sect to assess the situation.”