Volume 8, Chapter 526 – Tell Me, Who Is the Real Monster (Part 7)

“Hah!”

Hua Yu wasn’t the least bit angered. Instead, she strolled leisurely through the grand hall, her face brimming with unshakable confidence. “You know, before you arrived, Huarong Sect wasn’t without disciples possessing eight-parts bloodline. There were more than one or two. Every single one of them, upon entering the sect, foolishly declared they would surpass me. So why is it that none of them dare make a sound now?”

She paused, then turned her gaze toward Qi Huang. “Because as they cultivated, they came to realize their own arrogance and ignorance. They understood the difference between a genius and a true monster. That’s why they don’t even have the courage to boast anymore.”

Hua Yu paused again, sweeping her eyes across the hall. “Am I right, elders? You know your own disciples best!”

The high-ranking members of the sect lowered their heads in shame. The truth was exactly as she said, compared to Hua Yu, their personal disciples were like fireflies trying to outshine the full moon.

Satisfied, Hua Yu smirked before turning back to Qi Huang with undisguised arrogance. “I believe you’ll be the next one to learn this lesson.”

“Oh? Then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.” Qi Huang calmly reiterated, “I said I would be the first to shake your position as Holy Maiden, and I meant tomorrow. I always keep my word.”

“Fine! Since you’re so confident…” Hua Yu turned to Hua Ruyi. “Then I hope Master will prioritize the sect’s greater interests. Before Jiang Ling’s talent is acknowledged by the elders, there should be no hasty decisions to depose the old and establish the new. Otherwise, it may be difficult to convince the masses.”

“Naturally. As your master, I should at least make sure you lose convincingly.”

Hua Ruyi was surprisingly agreeable this time, clearly brimming with confidence in Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang.

The meeting concluded amidst clamor, and the crowd dispersed noisily. Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling hurried back to Biyu Peak to continue their cultivation.

“Don’t disappoint the Sect Master, and don’t disappoint me either.”

On the way, Shi Yuqi gave them a pointed reminder.

“Don’t worry, Master. By tomorrow morning, I will have taken the title of Holy Maiden for myself.”

Qi Huang’s confidence was unshakable.

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Located in the Liujin Empire of the Central Continent, the Cao Family stood as the foremost power in the cultivation world. With two Heavenly Tribulation Realm experts overseeing the family, one of whom was even the deputy leader of the Immortal Alliance, and a prodigy like Cao Yang among the younger generation, their dominance was unshakable, both now and in the future.

Upon returning home, Cao Yang immediately headed to his grandfather’s secluded training grounds in the back mountains. He needed to report his dealings with Hua Yu, as this matter concerned the Cao Family’s future.

Cao Yang’s grandfather, Cao Meng, was the current strongest cultivator in the Cao Family. In the entire cultivation world, only the leader of the Immortal Alliance and the Grand Elder surpassed him. At the fourth layer of the Heavenly Tribulation Realm, his power was immense. However, with his lifespan nearing its end, he had entered closed-door cultivation over a decade ago and was rarely seen.

Thanks to his privileged status, Cao Yang passed through the barriers unimpeded. The moment he crossed the sound-isolation talisman’s protective shield, a series of earth-shaking booms reverberated from within. The surrounding space trembled violently, as if on the verge of collapse.

Cao Yang knew those were the sounds of his grandfather attempting to shatter space, so he wasn’t alarmed. He continued forward, heading toward the central training field.

As he approached, the booms grew clearer. With each reverberation, visible spatial distortions rippled outward. Wherever they passed, all things withered, plants decayed, walls cracked, and everything in sight bore signs of ruin.

Cao Yang’s steps grew heavier, and sweat beaded on his forehead. The spatial tremors were not something a mere Divine Realm cultivator like him could withstand.

“Grandfather!”

Finally, Cao Yang could endure no more and called out with difficulty. The moment his voice rang out, the thunderous booms ceased.

“Not bad. This time, you walked two steps farther than last time. It seems you haven’t been slacking off.”

An aged voice echoed from the distance.

“Grandfather’s repeated warnings, how could this grandson dare neglect them?”

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Taking a deep breath, Cao Yang stepped forward, and the training field came into view.

An elderly man with white hair and a hunched figure stood there. His limbs were withered, his face covered in age spots, and his lips cracked with layers of dead skin. His thin robes clung to his skeletal frame, soaked in sweat, making him resemble a gnarled, lifeless tree. The aura of death clung to him like a shroud.

This was Cao Meng, the current strongest expert of the Cao Family.

Before him hovered a strange indentation in space, roughly circular, about a foot in diameter, suspended in midair. Tiny fractures spiderwebbed outward from it, as if someone had punched a mirror but failed to fully shatter it.

“Grandfather, how is it progressing? How much longer until you can break through space?”

Cao Yang studied the spatial distortion.

“If my cultivation doesn’t advance, I’ll likely die before succeeding.”

Cao Meng shook his head helplessly.

“That can’t be. I can see the indentation is deeper, and the cracks have expanded. Isn’t that progress?”

Cao Yang stepped closer to inspect it.

“That’s just your imagination.”

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Cao Meng dismissed the idea before changing the subject. “Now, tell me about your affairs. I heard you had your father activate the Immortal Stele?”

“Grandfather already knows?”

Cao Yang was surprised.

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“I’m in closed-door cultivation, not dead. Not a single thing in the entire Liujin Empire escapes my notice, let alone within the Cao Family.”

Cao Meng’s tone was filled with pride, and rightfully so. With his mid-stage Heavenly Tribulation Realm divine sense, he could cover the entire empire.

“As expected of Grandfather!”

After a brief flattery, Cao Yang recounted the entire incident in detail.

“To think Huarong Sect would be so ungrateful. A proper punishment is warranted.”

Cao Meng nodded in approval.

“Thank you, Grandfather. I was afraid you’d scold me.”

Cao Yang let out a relieved sigh.

“Why would I? For the sake of the Cao Family’s future, you must marry Huarong Sect’s Holy Maiden. A swift, heavy-handed approach is necessary, delay risks complications. After all, she has no shortage of suitors.”

“Exactly. That’s what I thought too. After this warning, they’ll have no choice but to accept Hua Yu’s proposal, the one about ‘easting in the east and resting in the west’ ¹ 东食西宿 (dōng shí xī sù), means taking advantage of different people for different needs, something along that line. .”

A smug grin spread across Cao Yang’s face.

“Hah! What else can they do? Since they can’t stop it, they’ll have to ensure Huarong Sect doesn’t lose Hua Yu entirely. Keeping her as Holy Maiden is their only option.”

Cao Meng’s lips curled into a cold smile.

“This way, not only will Huarong Sect have prepared a bride for the Cao Family, but they’ll also raise her for us for centuries. Rather than a maternal family, they’re more like adoptive parents. How dutiful of them!”

Cao Yang burst into laughter.

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“All because you, brat, have the skills to secure such a fine granddaughter-in-law. ‘Easting in the east and resting in the west’, only she could come up with such a clever plan!”

Cao Meng stroked his beard, chuckling before adding a warning. “But don’t let your guard down. If Huarong Sect refuses to let her go, come to me. Even if I have to wipe out their legacy, I’ll get this granddaughter-in-law for our family!”

“Thank you, Grandfather!”

Cao Yang bowed deeply.

After a night of cultivation, Qi Huang had advanced her main body’s cultivation to roughly one-third of the third layer of the Incarnation Realm. Such an absurd rate of progress was obvious not just to divine sense, even the naked eye could see the difference.

‘Hua Yu… Hua Yu! You could never have dreamed that an eight points bloodline cultivator could progress at such a monstrous speed, could you?’

Qi Huang couldn’t help but gloat inwardly.

“Disciple, are you awake? How was your cultivation? It’s time to head to the assembly hall at Tiandu Peak.”

Shi Yuqi’s voice called from outside the door.

“Good. Today, I’ll show them what a true monster looks like!”

Qi Huang could hardly wait.