Volume 8, Chapter 527 – Tell Me, Who Is the Real Monster (Part 8)

Today, the main hall of Tiandu Peak was unusually lively. Not only were all the high-ranking members of the Huarong Sect present, but even the elusive Grand Elder Hua Man, who was rarely seen, had made an appearance. After all, replacing the Holy Maiden concerned the future of the entire sect.

Qi Huang was quite satisfied with this scene. The more people there were, the harder it would be for Hua Yu to go back on her word.

“She’s here! Jiang Ling is here!”

“Her doppelgänger said this morning that she would seize the title of Holy Maiden today. I wonder if it’s true.”

“With so many witnesses yesterday, how could she possibly renege?”

“But I just don’t understand where her confidence comes from? With just one day, even if she had nine points bloodline purity, how much True Qi could she possibly cultivate?”

“Exactly. Did you see Hua Yu’s cultivation progress yesterday? Even for her, advancing from the third to the fourth layer of the Incarnation Realm took a full year. That means, on average, she only increased her True Qi by one three-hundred-sixty-fifth each day.”

“It doesn’t matter. Everyone here is at least at the Incarnation Realm. The slightest change in Jiang Ling’s True Qi will be detectable. The stronger one will naturally be apparent.”

“Sigh… I hope she really has improved, even if just a tiny bit more than Hua Yu’s daily average. Otherwise, the Huarong Sect is doomed.”

“Ridiculous. To pin our hopes on a disciple with only eight points bloodline purity? We’d be better off currying favor with Hua Yu. Only if she’s in a good mood will she continue to look after us after marrying into the Cao Family.”

The high-ranking members whispered among themselves as they pointed at Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling.

“Is everyone here?”

Hua Ruyi confirmed the attendance before speaking. “Everyone knows what happened yesterday, so I won’t waste words. To ensure fairness, I’ve specially invited the Grand Elder to serve as a witness.”

“Selecting a Holy Maiden concerns the future of our sect, so we absolutely cannot be careless.”

Hua Man, ethereal as an immortal, stepped to the center of the hall, her snow-white hair fluttering lightly in the breeze.

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Hearing this, Hua Yu’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly. The Grand Elder had said “selecting” rather than “replacing”, which implied that she no longer regarded Hua Yu as the Holy Maiden.

“As you all know, there are three requirements for selecting a Holy Maiden: first, she must be unmarried; second, her character must be upright; and third, her talent must be outstanding. The first two should not be an issue for Jiang Ling, so we will focus on her talent.”

Hua Man spoke eloquently before walking up to Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang. “You should understand that in the Huarong Sect, disciples with eight points bloodline purity like you are not rare. To become the Holy Maiden, you must possess something extraordinary in cultivation. Otherwise, you will not command respect.”

“The Grand Elder speaks wisely. Sect rules grant every high-ranking member the right to participate in selecting the Holy Maiden. It is not a decision to be made by one or two individuals.”

Elder Zhou also chimed in with a mocking tone.

“I understand. That’s why I told everyone yesterday that I possess a secret ancestral technique that allows my cultivation speed to surpass Hua Yu’s.”

Qi Huang replied calmly.

“Good!”

Hua Man smiled in satisfaction before glancing around. “In truth, whether Jiang Ling has a secret ancestral technique is irrelevant. As long as her cultivation speed surpasses that of the previous Holy Maiden, I trust none of you will have further objections?”

“Of course! If her cultivation speed can exceed that of a nine points bloodline descendant of an immortal, she is more than qualified to be our Holy Maiden.”

Elder Jiang spoke eagerly, and the other high-ranking members nodded in silent agreement.

“In that case, allow me to explain Hua Yu’s cultivation speed during her time in the Incarnation Realm.”

Hua Ruyi stepped forward. “As you all saw on that slip of paper yesterday, it took Hua Yu four months to advance from the first to the second layer of the Incarnation Realm, eight months from the second to the third, and a full year from the third to the fourth. This means that during her advancement from the third to the fourth layer, her average daily True Qi growth was approximately one three-hundred-sixtieth.”

“Ah, comparing people is truly disheartening! When I was at the third layer of the Incarnation Realm, I would thank the heavens if my True Qi grew by even one one-thousandth per day.”

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One of the high-ranking members sighed upon hearing this.

“You all remember our agreement from yesterday, correct? If Jiang Ling’s True Qi growth within this single day exceeds Hua Yu’s average, then she shall be the new Holy Maiden of the Huarong Sect.”

Hua Ruyi added.

The high-ranking members nodded once more, including the usually troublesome Elder Zhou, who remained silent this time. Though she wished to curry favor with Hua Yu, she also wanted to leave herself a way out.

“Disciple, if Jiang Ling’s cultivation speed surpasses yours, do you believe she is qualified to become the new Holy Maiden?”

Hua Ruyi turned to Hua Yu for confirmation. After all, they were once master and disciple, and she did not wish for their relationship to become irreparably hostile.

“Of course she would be qualified!”

Hua Yu answered without hesitation, though she couldn’t help but add cautiously: “However, my cultivation speed during that year was not constant. There were times when it was faster and times when it was slower. The path of cultivation is like this, sometimes smooth, sometimes obstructed. I believe everyone understands this. So, for her to surpass me, she would have needed to increase her True Qi by at least one percent overnight.”

“What? One percent?”

The high-ranking members exchanged bewildered glances. Increasing True Qi by one percent in a single night would mean advancing from the third to the fourth layer of the Incarnation Realm in just three to four months. In the entire world of cultivation, no one could possibly achieve such a feat. Hua Yu was truly bold to make such a demand.

Hua Man also frowned upon hearing this. Having never witnessed Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang’s cultivation, she couldn’t help but feel a sliver of concern.

“Disciple, have you ever increased your True Qi by one percent in a single day? When did this happen? Why was I not informed?”

Hua Ruyi asked calmly.

“Master, though we are master and disciple, must I report every trivial matter to you?”

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Hua Yu retorted with a cold smile.

Hua Ruyi did not press further, thinking to herself that this disciple believed herself clever but was only cunning in petty ways.

“One percent?”

Qi Huang also feigned astonishment.

“What’s wrong? You don’t believe me? If I didn’t possess such extraordinary abilities, how could my bloodline purity reach nine points?”

Hua Yu smiled confidently.

“Indeed! It is precisely because of such an exaggerated cultivation speed that our Holy Maiden is hailed as a ‘monster’ throughout the cultivation world.”

Elder Zhou once again flattered from the sidelines.

“I believe you! Of course, I believe you!”

Qi Huang replied with a half-smile before teasing: “It’s just that I thought you’d exaggerate even more. Seems I overestimated you.”

“What do you mean?”

Hua Yu’s brows knitted together.

“Nothing much. I just feel sorry for you. If you’re going to boast, you might as well go all out. That way, your chances of winning would be higher.”

Qi Huang walked calmly up to her main body before suddenly declaring in a loud voice: “Behold my main body’s cultivation! Bid farewell to your title of Holy Maiden!”

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Cheng Hongling cooperatively withdrew her protective Divine Sense, exposing her cultivation base without any defense.

The high-ranking members in the hall immediately activated their Divine Senses to inspect her, and their faces quickly twisted in shock, as if they had seen a ghost.

“Heavens! Am I seeing this correctly? Her True Qi has reached one-third of the third layer of the Incarnation Realm!”

“Wasn’t it only one-sixth yesterday? Does this mean she increased her True Qi by another one-sixth overnight? This isn’t just a slight improvement, it’s a doubling!”

“Calculating this way, she would only need six days to advance from the third to the fourth layer!”

“I thought Hua Yu’s speed was already outrageous, but there’s always someone greater. Compared to her, Hua Yu is nothing, not even as fast as a tortoise!”

Exclamations of shock erupted among the high-ranking members. Even Hua Man, the Grand Elder, widened her eyes in astonishment.

“How is this possible? How is this possible?!”

Hua Yu’s face instantly turned deathly pale.

“Yes! Her bloodline purity is only eight points! How could this be?!”

Elder Zhou also panicked, stumbling over her words in agreement.

“Well? Now tell me, who is the true monster here?”

Qi Huang stepped forward and demanded loudly.