Volume 8, Chapter 511 – The Young Master of the Cao Family Arrives

“You scared me to death!”

Shi Yuqi jumped in fright once again, then patted her ample chest in complaint. “Disciple, are you trying to scare me to death so you can inherit my legacy? Don’t just suddenly summon your doppelgänger like that, alright?”

Cheng Hongling’s expression turned awkward. She had no control over when her doppelgänger appeared or disappeared, but no one would believe her even if she explained.

Shi Yuqi took a deep breath to steady herself before continuing, “I know you’re ambitious, but some things can’t be changed no matter how hard you try. As I’ve said before, the cultivation world is divided into two types of people: ordinary cultivators and descendants of immortals with bloodline purity of nine points. So long as Hua Yu remains the Holy Maiden of the Huarong Sect, no one else stands a chance.”

“But isn’t Hua Yu supposed to marry into the Cao Family? Do you think there might still be variables?” Qi Huang asked doubtfully.

Shi Yuqi pondered briefly before replying, “There are definitely variables. First, whether Hua Yu would truly disregard her sect for so-called love; second, whether the sect master would risk clashing with the Cao Family over sect rules. Both are unknowns.”

Then she abruptly shifted her tone. “But let’s set aside these variables for now. Even if Hua Yu marries into the Cao Family, she’ll likely remain our sect’s Holy Maiden.”

“Why?” Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling asked in unison.

“The reason is simple. Before Hua Yu, the Hua Clan hadn’t produced a descendant with nine-point bloodline purity in over a thousand years. Who knows when the next nine-point genius will appear? If we sever ties with her completely, not only will all the resources invested in her go to waste, but the sect’s future will also be left without hope. So, keeping her as Holy Maiden to maintain relations is the wisest choice.”

Shi Yuqi’s explanation was earnest.

“Is this the sect master’s intention?” Cheng Hongling frowned. After all, from what they saw in the Shadow-Retaining Mirror, Sect Master Hua’s opposition had seemed resolute.

“Of course not. This is the solution Hua Yu herself proposed.”

Shi Yuqi answered, then added, “However, most of the sect’s higher-ups agree with this method, so they plan to persuade the sect master soon.”

“Heh, wanting to marry into the Cao Family while still remaining the Huarong Sect’s Holy Maiden, isn’t this just trying to have one’s cake and eat it too? If she goes back on her word, wouldn’t you all just become the Cao Family’s milk cows, drained dry until death?” Qi Huang voiced her skepticism.

“Exactly. Once she marries into the Cao Family, she’ll be their daughter-in-law. A mere Holy Maiden title won’t be enough to restrain her.” Cheng Hongling also expressed doubt.

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“What else can we do? Right now, we can only hope she has some conscience. Otherwise, should we sacrifice the entire sect for her?”

Shi Yuqi let out a helpless laugh.

Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling exchanged glances, their brows furrowing.

“What should we do? If they really adopt this method, do we still need to replace Hua Yu as Holy Maiden?” Qi Huang transmitted her thoughts silently.

“Here’s what I think. Since we’ve decided to join the Huarong Sect, we can’t just consider our own interests, we must also think of the bigger picture. Only by sincerely helping others will they sincerely help us in return. Besides, our new master here has taught me quite a bit. I owe her this much.”

Cheng Hongling replied after some thought.

“True. That’s why I told her earlier that I wanted to be Holy Maiden. After all, Hua Yu is ultimately an unstable factor.” Qi Huang explained.

“So the key now is whether Hua Yu is telling the truth. If she is, then this ‘having one’s cake and eating it too’ approach might still be a viable solution. What worries me is if this is just a ploy to marry Cao Yang while stringing the sect along.”

Cheng Hongling pondered before answering.

“Finding out the truth is simple. We just keep observing her, she’ll slip up sooner or later.”

Qi Huang smirked slightly. With an overpowered surveillance treasure like the Shadow-Retaining Mirror, no one’s actions could escape her notice.

Thus, starting that very night, Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling secretly monitored Hua Yu using the mirror. Unexpectedly, the very next day, the woman revealed her true colors.

Perhaps bored from being confined alone in the stone chamber, Hua Yu erected a divine sense barrier and took out a Thousand-Mile Communication Tube to contact her lover.

“What? You still haven’t convinced your master?” Cao Yang’s voice came through the tube.

“Convince her? Hah! She’s the one who’s confined me, now she’s trying to convince me!” Hua Yu laughed self-deprecatingly.

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“How outrageous! She knows we’re in love, yet she dares to confine you?” Cao Yang roared in anger. “Wait for me. I’ll bring men to rescue you immediately.”

“Wait!” Hua Yu quickly stopped him. “She’s still my master. Unless absolutely necessary, I don’t want you crossing blades with her.”

“You’re already confined, isn’t that ‘absolutely necessary’?” Cao Yang retorted heatedly.

“It’s fine. She might not fear death, but there are plenty in the Huarong Sect who do.” Hua Yu’s tone was eerily calm.

“What do you mean?” Cao Yang sounded puzzled.

“Heh, nothing much. I proposed a solution, marrying into the Cao Family while remaining the Huarong Sect’s Holy Maiden. That way, they won’t lose a genius like me. With such a perfect compromise, the higher-ups will surely pressure her.”

Hua Yu’s voice dripped with cold amusement.

“Hah, isn’t that just trying to have your cake and eat it too? Aren’t you afraid of gossip?” Cao Yang teased.

“Who made me fall for a scoundrel like you? For you, I’d give up everything.” Hua Yu’s voice turned infatuated.

“Turn it off! That’s nauseating!”

Cheng Hongling couldn’t take it anymore and urged Qi Huang to stop.

Qi Huang put away the Shadow-Retaining Mirror and sighed. “Seems we really have no choice but to take over as Holy Maiden.”

“Agreed. We must stop the higher-ups from pressuring Sect Master Hua. If this shameless woman has her way, even if the Immortal Stele is preserved, the Huarong Sect will soon be sucked dry.”

Cheng Hongling nodded firmly.

“With the evidence from the Shadow-Retaining Mirror, convincing them shouldn’t be hard.”

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Qi Huang smiled confidently.

The main body and doppelgänger returned to Biyu Peak and immediately sought out Shi Yuqi, replaying the recorded scene for her.

“Now it’s truly over…”

Shi Yuqi’s face paled in despair. The only viable solution had just crumbled.

“There’s still us… well, me! As I said before, we… I came to the Huarong Sect to become Holy Maiden.”

Qi Huang corrected herself hastily. Referring to herself as plural would raise suspicions.

“You?” Shi Yuqi looked at her doubtfully.

“If you can help me shed Biyu Peak’s reputation as the ‘worst-ranked peak’, I’ll thank the heavens!”

Shi Yuqi sighed helplessly.

Qi Huang wanted to argue, but her main body cut in via divine sense transmission.

“We haven’t mastered the Doppelgänger Method yet.”

Cheng Hongling’s reminder was stern.

“Ah…”

Qi Huang’s expression froze. For the first time, she found boasting to be such a difficult task.

Indeed, Qi Huang currently lacked the qualifications to back up her claims, unless she recklessly revealed her early-stage Heavenly Tribulation Realm divine sense strength. But doing so would mean losing her trump card for the future.

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“I should go inform the other higher-ups.”

Shi Yuqi stood up, ready to act.

“Wait! If you go without evidence, why would they believe you?”

Qi Huang quickly stopped her.

“……”

Shi Yuqi stiffened mid-step.

“Here’s what we’ll do. When the time comes to persuade Sect Master Hua, I’ll go with you. We’ll present the evidence in front of all the higher-ups, that’ll be far more convincing.”

Qi Huang proposed.

After careful consideration, Shi Yuqi agreed and suppressed her impulse for now.

But fate had other plans. The Cao Family didn’t play by the rules, they arrived just three days later.

Hearing the commotion, Qi Huang and her main body rushed to investigate.

Hovering outside the Huarong Sect’s gates were hundreds of figures, densely packed like a swarm of locusts.

“Young Master Cao Yang of the Cao Family has arrived! Sect Master Hua, come out and meet us!”

An elder’s voice boomed across the heavens.