Volume 8, Chapter 510 – We’re Here to Become the Holy Maiden

Cheng Hongling found the reasoning sound and followed her doppelgänger out quietly.

Qi Huang had not retreated into her main body’s Sea of Consciousness. After all, the Huarong Sect was practically a kingdom of women, filled with beauties of all shapes and sizes. She wasn’t about to pass up the chance to feast her eyes up close.

The main body and the doppelgänger made their way toward Tiandu Peak. Since both Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling wore veils, they didn’t attract too much attention, certainly far less than if they had gone bare-faced.

Upon reaching Tiandu Peak, Cheng Hongling scanned the area thoroughly with her divine sense but found no trace of Hua Yu. She frowned. “I don’t know where they’re keeping her. Many places have divine sense barriers, and I can’t just break them by force.”

“Expected. To prevent the Cao Family from stealing her away, they’d naturally hide their Holy Maiden well.”

Qi Huang analyzed the situation seriously.

“Then what do we do? We’re newcomers, we can’t just ask around. Besides, ordinary disciples probably wouldn’t know anyway.”

Cheng Hongling grew anxious.

“Don’t worry. Don’t I have the Shadow-Retaining Mirror? This thing isn’t something divine sense barriers can block.”

With that, Qi Huang swiftly pulled out the mirror and began systematically checking the areas shielded by divine sense barriers. Before long, she pinpointed Hua Yu’s location.

“It should be here!”

Qi Huang pointed at the image reflected in the mirror.

Cheng Hongling leaned in to look. Inside was a simple stone chamber, sparsely furnished. At the center stood the beautiful sect master, and before her, seated on a meditation cushion, was a stunning woman dressed in a red high-waisted ruqun.

The woman appeared to be in her mid-twenties, with a bewitching “fox-like” face. Her crimson lips were as striking as flames, her delicate nose perfectly shaped, but her most distinctive feature was her long, narrow eyes. Their upturned corners and hazy pupils exuded an innate, soul-stealing allure. Combined with her voluptuous figure, barely concealed by the thin fabric of her dress, she was the very image of a living, breathing enchantress.

Qi Huang didn’t even need to look at the sect master to know this woman had to be Hua Yu. She was simply too beautiful, no wonder she ranked in the top three of the Sinking Fish Grand Ranking.

‘Ah… what a pity. Such a stunning woman, yet so lovesick.’

Qi Huang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

“Since the sect master is here, this woman must be Hua Yu.”

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Cheng Hongling also reached the same conclusion. From Shi Yuqi’s earlier introduction, she knew the Huarong Sect’s master bore the surname Hua and shared the same immortal ancestor’s bloodline.

“Little Yu, why won’t you speak? The deadline the Cao Family set is almost here. Do you really intend to stand by and watch Huarong Sect suffer losses because of you?”

Sect Master Hua finally broke the silence with a stern question.

“Master, don’t pin all the blame on me. I never asked you to confront the Cao Family head-on!”

Hua Yu replied calmly.

“Oh? So you just want me to resign myself to fate and hand you over to Cao Yang, is that it?”

Sect Master Hua let out a self-deprecating laugh before continuing, “You know better than anyone how much effort I’ve poured into you, how many resources the sect has expended to nurture you!”

“I’ve sworn before that even if I marry into the Cao Family, I’ll never forget the sect’s great kindness. I’ll repay it tenfold in the future. If you don’t believe me, what can I do?”

Hua Yu shook her head helplessly.

“You also swore in front of the Immortal Stele that you’d never marry in this lifetime. And now? How can I trust someone who breaks their vows so easily?”

Sect Master Hua pressed.

“Do you even have a choice? The probability of the immortal bloodline manifesting grows weaker with each generation. From the last nine-point bloodline bearer to my appearance, a thousand years passed. Who knows when, or if, the next one will emerge? If you trust me, Huarong Sect still has a sliver of hope. But if you cast aside our master-disciple bond, this sect will surely decline.”

Hua Yu smiled coquettishly, her confidence unshaken.

Sect Master Hua fell silent, lost in thought.

“Master, stop hesitating. There’s no other choice. It’s not like Huarong Sect has never had Holy Maidens marry out before. Why make such a fuss now?”

Hua Yu turned the tables, speaking as though victory was already assured.

“Little Yu, don’t you understand? Precisely because several Holy Maidens before you have already violated sect rules, I can’t let you go this time. Otherwise, what meaning would our regulations hold? Even if another nine-point genius appears, who would dare invest in their training?”

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Sect Master Hua’s tone was heavy with concern.

“So Master’s plan is to sacrifice me as a warning to others?”

Hua Yu’s smile turned icy.

“I never intended to sacrifice you. I only want you to give up on marrying Cao Yang.”

Sect Master Hua defended herself.

“Not marrying Cao Yang is no different from death to me.”

Hua Yu’s reply was indifferent.

“What kind of love-addled nonsense is this?”

Qi Huang couldn’t take it anymore. No matter how deep your love was, you couldn’t drag an entire sect down with you!

“Fine. Then think carefully. Do you want love, or do you want the sect and your kin?”

Sect Master Hua sighed.

“And I want Master to consider. Do you want so-called sect rules, or do you want the sect and your disciples?”

Hua Yu countered, seizing the initiative.

Sect Master Hua closed her eyes in anguish before slowly leaving the stone chamber.

“Seems Hua Yu is dead set on marrying Cao Yang!”

Qi Huang put away the Shadow-Retaining Mirror.

“And Sect Master Hua likely won’t release her easily either, not if she wants to uphold sect rules. This might really end in mutual destruction.”

Cheng Hongling analyzed.

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“I understand her perspective. As the saying goes, a nation thrives only with laws, the same goes for sects. Huarong Sect has already played the role of matchmaker too many times. With cultivation resources already scarce, if they don’t make an example now, their downfall won’t be far off. The only question is how far Sect Master Hua is willing to go for the sake of the rules.”

Qi Huang mused aloud.

“Regardless, she’ll have to clash with the Cao Family. It looks like we’ll have to stick to the original plan, replace Hua Yu as soon as possible, or the consequences will be dire.”

Cheng Hongling proposed.

“I don’t mind, but the issue is you. Without the Doppelgänger Method, we can’t take her place.”

Qi Huang trailed off meaningfully.

“Don’t worry. I’ll grit my teeth and endure it!”

Cheng Hongling declared firmly.

Qi Huang’s thoughts immediately ran wild. After all, taking this step meant Cheng Hongling would have no more secrets from her. For someone who had once been a man, the thrill was unimaginable.

The two hurried back to practice, but as it turned out, even immortal maidens could “lie”. Cheng Hongling still couldn’t overcome her mental barriers, and the final step ended in failure once again.

Qi Huang didn’t press the matter and reluctantly gave up.

The next morning, Cheng Hongling rose early to wash up. Biyu Peak had strict rules requiring disciples to attend morning lessons.

Shi Yuqi was dressed formally and had gathered everyone she could summon. Before the assembled crowd, she announced her acceptance of Cheng Hongling as her personal disciple.

“Isn’t Junior Sister Shi being too hasty? She’s only in her thirties, why is she in such a rush to take a personal disciple?”

“Exactly! What if she meets someone better later?”

“She won’t. I heard Jiang Ling’s bloodline purity is at eight points, that puts her in the top ten of our entire Huarong Sect!”

“Eight points?! No wonder Martial Aunt Shi values her so much! This is great! Our Biyu Peak finally has a genius disciple. Let’s see how the other peaks laugh at us now!”

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“Laugh? With Hua Yu’s situation, I heard the sect master is preparing to fight the Cao Family to the death. Who knows how long Huarong Sect will even last? Seems like Biyu Peak’s title as the ‘Last Place Peak’ is here to stay. Hehe…”

Whispers spread among the onlookers.

“Honored aunts, senior and junior sisters, and martial nieces, thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend. Today, I’ve specially prepared dozens of tables of fine medicinal cuisine.  I hope you’ll enjoy them.”

Shi Yuqi’s cheeks were flushed with excitement as she extended the invitation. Throwing a banquet just to celebrate taking a disciple, it was clear how overjoyed she was.

“She’s going all out. I almost feel bad.”

Qi Huang communicated telepathically with her main body.

“Yeah. Even though this is an act, the longer it goes on, the more we owe her. If I ever want to cut ties cleanly, it’ll be impossible.”

Cheng Hongling agreed wholeheartedly.

“Then let’s make the act reality. If we want their help, we have to give something in return. Becoming part of Huarong Sect is the best repayment, unless they reject us first.”

Qi Huang suggested.

Cheng Hongling had no better ideas, so she could only let things unfold naturally.

From then on, Shi Yuqi took her role as a master seriously, patiently instructing Cheng Hongling.

Cheng Hongling also listened attentively, after all, Huarong Sect’s foundation was far deeper than Honghua Sect’s.

“My disciple, though your talent may make becoming Holy Maiden difficult, carrying on Biyu Peak’s legacy is well within your reach.”

Shi Yuqi spoke earnestly.

“Who says? We joined Huarong Sect precisely to become the Holy Maiden!”

Qi Huang jumped in, refuting the claim with fervor.