Volume 8, Chapter 529 – The Holy Maiden Ceremony (Part 1)

Qi Huang pondered briefly before asking, “Given the current situation, if we were to tell the truth, do you think they’d let us inscribe our names on the Immortal Stele?”

“How could that be possible? Right now, Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele only has enough capacity for four tribulations at the Master-grade level, one less than the Lü Clan’s. If they wanted to protect us by force, the only way would be to trade one Immortal Stele for another. Do you really think we’re worth that much to them?”

Cheng Hongling countered.

“No, at least not right now,” Qi Huang admitted with self-awareness before adding, “Besides, even if they agreed, we still couldn’t reveal our true identities immediately. If the Lü Clan found out, who knows what kind of trouble they’d stir up? We’d just end up having to deal with more problems.”

After another moment of contemplation, Qi Huang quickly made a decision. “In that case, when the time comes, just carve a fake name onto the Immortal Stele. We’ll reveal our true identities to Huarong Sect’s higher-ups once the timing is right.”

“That’s the only way,” Cheng Hongling agreed after some consideration.

The two then returned to their residence to continue cultivating while preparing for the upcoming Holy Maiden Ceremony.

As for Hua Yu, perhaps due to her excessive pride, she never informed the Cao Clan about her dismissal as Holy Maiden. Instead, she clung to the hope that, given enough time, Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang would eventually slip up and reveal their “true colors”.

Since the Holy Maiden was the successor to the sect master, news of the “dethroning and replacement” spread throughout Huarong Sect that very day. Cheng Hongling instantly became the center of attention, with a steady stream of visitors coming to offer congratulations.

Too preoccupied with cultivation to entertain them, Cheng Hongling delegated all social obligations to her master, Shi Yuqi.

Shi Yuqi was more than happy to oblige. Having long been the head of the lowest-ranked peak, she was desperate for any chance to bask in the limelight.

Four days later, with Qi Huang’s assistance, Cheng Hongling successfully broke through to the fourth layer of the Incarnation Realm. With only two days left before the Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony, she had no choice but to shift her focus to the event.

Hua Ruyi, still uneasy, personally visited to instruct her on the proper etiquette and ceremonial details required of a Holy Maiden.

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Though inwardly impatient, Cheng Hongling forced herself to endure the lessons. She needed to earn the sect’s trust.

Qi Huang, meanwhile, was grateful to be a doppelgänger. Just watching the tedious rituals gave her a headache.

Before they knew it, the two days had passed, and the Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony commenced.

Huarong Sect was bustling that day. Not only did most of the sect’s higher-ups and disciples attend, but even female members of the Mingyue Empire’s imperial family were present, along with female representatives from various major sects.

Qi Huang was relieved that Huarong Sect was located in the Mingyue Empire of the Southern Continent, far removed from both the Central Continent and the Western Radiance Dynasty of the Western Continent. Even with veils concealing their faces, she and her main body’s true identities would have been exposed quickly otherwise.

As the ceremony began, Cheng Hongling strode gracefully into the center of the gathering, clad in a grand, wide-sleeved Feathered Dress of vivid red. A pure gold Holy Maiden crown adorned her head as she walked step by step toward the Immortal Stele. The long train of her dress was carried by several senior sisters from Biyu Peak, exuding an air of noble elegance. The only regret was that her face remained veiled, though since the audience was entirely female, no one minded.

At this moment, not only was Cheng Hongling the center of attention, but Qi Huang, standing outside the ceremonial grounds, also drew many gazes. After all, as a doppelgänger, she was indistinguishable from the main body in the eyes of others.

“I, Jiang Ling, swear before the Immortal Stele of Ancestor ‘Hua Yan’ that as Holy Maiden, I shall never marry, devoting my life to the propagation of Huarong Sect’s legacy. I shall honor my elders and cherish my juniors…”

Under the guidance of the Grand Elder, Cheng Hongling began reciting her vows to the Immortal Stele. Since she was using a pseudonym, she felt no psychological burden in making these oaths.

“Very well. Now, the Holy Maiden shall personally inscribe her name upon the Immortal Stele.”

The Grand Elder then handed her an exquisitely crafted, razor-sharp dagger.

Cheng Hongling took the dagger and approached the stele. Perhaps because Huarong Sect was an all-female sect with strict naming conventions, the surface of Hua Yan’s Immortal Stele was pristine and orderly, with large blank spaces, unlike the Lü Clan’s, which was cluttered and crowded.

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Upon closer inspection, Cheng Hongling noticed that the names on the stele were divided into three sections: one beneath the title “Sect Master”, another beneath “Grand Elder,” and the last beneath “Holy Maiden”. Clearly, only those who held these three positions in Huarong Sect were qualified to leave their mark here.

Just as Cheng Hongling was about to carve her pseudonym into the Holy Maiden section, Hua Ruyi stopped her.

“Wait! Since Hua Yu was stripped of her Holy Maiden title for violating sect rules, her name no longer deserves to remain on the Immortal Stele. First, use the dagger to scrape it off.”

Hua Ruyi commanded.

“This is utter humiliation for Hua Yu! How could Sect Master Hua give such an order?”

“She deserves it. Who told her to be so ungrateful? Sect Master Hua exhausted every means to persuade her, even lowering herself to beg, yet Hua Yu not only refused to listen but even bit the hand that fed her.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hua Yu once said that if the Cao Clan retaliated because she couldn’t marry, it would all be the sect master’s fault for prioritizing sect rules over everything else, and that the sect master should bear all consequences. Most of Huarong Sect knows about this.”

“How shameless! Regardless of right or wrong, the sect master is her master! Does she have no moral bottom line at all?”

“That’s exactly why I say she deserves this! What right does someone like her have to keep her name on the Immortal Stele?”

Hua Ruyi’s words turned the plaza into a hive of murmurs, with discussions rising and falling like waves.

Meanwhile, Hua Yu, standing among the crowd, turned ashen-faced. As one of the top three on the Sinking Fish Grand Ranking, her features now twisted into something monstrous with fury.

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Without hesitation, Cheng Hongling raised the dagger to scrape off Hua Yu’s name.

“Wait!”

At that moment, Hua Yu shouted, clearly unable to endure any longer.

None of the tens of thousands of spectators had expected Hua Yu to dare cause trouble during the Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony. A stunned silence fell over the crowd.

“Hua Yu, what are you doing? This is the Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony, no disruptions are allowed. Do not force me to take action.”

Hua Ruyi rebuked sharply.

“Master, I’m not here to cause trouble!”

Hua Yu dismissed the warning with a casual remark before leaping lightly into the center of the plaza.

Qi Huang frowned. What kind of scheme is this woman plotting now?

“Everyone knows that the Holy Maiden is the successor to the sect master. Therefore, selecting a Holy Maiden concerns the future of Huarong Sect and must not be treated carelessly.”

Hua Yu spoke loudly to the crowd before fixing her gaze on Cheng Hongling. “Junior Jiang, given your cultivation speed, you should have reached the fourth layer of the Incarnation Realm in these six days, correct? Would you allow me to test you? If you haven’t, it would only prove that you previously used underhanded methods to temporarily boost your cultivation. In that case, you would be unworthy of the Holy Maiden title.”

The crowd held its breath. None had ever witnessed such audacity at a ceremony like this.

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Cheng Hongling scanned the surroundings and realized there was no way to evade the challenge. “How do you propose to test me?” she asked.

“By fighting me, of course!”

Hua Yu sneered. “Don’t worry—I’ll suppress my cultivation to the fourth layer of the Incarnation Realm. I won’t hurt you.”

Cheng Hongling’s brows furrowed slightly. She didn’t trust Hua Yu at all. Accepting this challenge would come with great risk.

“Wait!”

Qi Huang’s voice cut in at just the right moment. She pushed through the crowd and stepped forward. “Senior Hua, you’re about ten years our senior, both in age and status. How could you lower yourself to spar with us? Besides, today is my main body’s inauguration ceremony. With so many distinguished guests present, engaging in physical combat would be undignified.”

“Indeed, having the Holy Maiden brawl during her inauguration would be a disgrace,” Hua Ruyi chimed in. As sect master, she knew that avoiding unnecessary conflict was the wisest course.

“Oh? Feeling guilty?” Hua Yu mocked.

“Guilty?”

Qi Huang chuckled dismissively. “Just because we can’t fight doesn’t mean we can’t use Divine Sense!”

She then turned to the crowd and announced, “Is there any senior or fellow disciple here at the fourth layer of the Incarnation Realm? Would you be willing to test my main body’s Divine Sense and confirm whether she’s reached that level?”