Volume 8, Chapter 538 – Just How Many Fake Identities Do You Have? (Part 3)

At this moment, Elder Zhou was pacing restlessly in her room, her face clouded with gloom. She knew all too well that after the recent incidents, she had become a thorn in the side of the newly appointed Holy Maiden! Worse still, the Holy Maiden was the sect master’s successor. If she didn’t do something to salvage the situation, her future would be in peril.

“Most of the sect’s higher-ups have already sided with that brat. I’m practically standing alone, what can I even do?”

Elder Zhou let out a self-deprecating laugh. After much deliberation, the only person she could rely on was Hua Yu, the former Holy Maiden. Before leaving, Hua Yu had even left her a message, expressing her desire to continue their collaboration.

Elder Zhou wanted to contact Hua Yu, but she also knew that doing so would be tantamount to treason. If discovered, the consequences would be dire. Thus, she hesitated.

“No, I can’t just sit here and wait for death.”

After a long internal struggle, Elder Zhou gritted her teeth and made her decision. She extended her divine sense, probing her surroundings, especially the residence of the new Holy Maiden at Biyu Peak. After all, that brat had a Shadow-Retaining Mirror. If she were caught, it would be the end of her.

Elder Zhou carefully inspected the Holy Maiden’s residence and found that the other party had shielded the courtyard with her divine sense, making it impossible to see inside unless she forcibly broke through.

This didn’t surprise Elder Zhou. Everyone in the Huarong Sect did the same, no one wanted their secrets exposed to prying eyes. The world of cultivators was far different from the mortal realm; mere earthen walls provided no concealment, so divine sense barriers were a necessity.

“It seems she’s at home.”

Elder Zhou instinctively assumed as much. Still, she remained cautious and swept her divine sense around Huixin Peak to confirm that neither the new Holy Maiden nor any of her doppelgängers were nearby. Only then did she feel at ease.

Elder Zhou set up a divine sense barrier and crushed a Sound-Blocking Talisman before finally taking out the Thousand-Mile Communication Tube to contact Hua Yu. Little did she know, every move she made was being recorded by an “invisible” observer nearby using a Shadow-Retaining Mirror.

“Elder Zhou, you’re only contacting me now? I thought you’d given up on our collaboration.”

Hua Yu’s voice dripped with sarcasm, making it clear she still clung to the title of Holy Maiden.

“How could that be? You know my character better than anyone, Holy Maiden!”

Elder Zhou immediately began whitewashing her image.

“Oh, I know your character well, Elder Zhou. But I also know your current predicament. When we worked together before, you offended that little bitch. Do you really think she’ll let you off easy once she becomes sect master?”

Hua Yu struck right at the heart of the matter.

Qi Huang was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Hua Yu to be far more cunning than she’d imagined, she had even anticipated Qi Huang’s desire for revenge.

“What exactly are you trying to say, Holy Maiden?”

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Elder Zhou’s voice carried a trace of irritation.

“Isn’t it obvious? You have no other choice but to continue working with me. I hope Elder Zhou understands that.”

Hua Yu spoke bluntly.

“Of course I understand, that’s why I reached out to you, isn’t it? This time, I bring good news: the new Holy Maiden’s name is fake.”

Elder Zhou hurriedly ingratiated herself.

“What?!”

Hua Yu’s voice suddenly sharpened.

“What’s wrong?”

Elder Zhou was startled by the reaction.

“How is this good news? This is nothing but bad luck, the worst kind!”

Hua Yu nearly roared.

“Why? If her name is fake, then the Cao family’s engraving on the Immortal Stele is meaningless. No one will compete with you for your husband, isn’t that a tremendous advantage?”

Elder Zhou couldn’t fathom her reasoning.

“Elder Zhou, do you truly think my vision is so narrow? Of course my husband matters, but attaining the Dao and ascending to immortality matters more! That Jiang Ling possesses a secret technique. With only eight points of bloodline purity, her cultivation speed is already absurd. Imagine if I obtained it?”

Hua Yu’s words were a pointed reminder.

Though Qi Huang had long suspected her opponent’s motives, hearing it firsthand still sent a chill down her spine. She had assumed Hua Yu was nothing more than a lovesick fool, who knew the woman was a calculating lovesick fool?

“So… you want her to enter the Cao family, then slowly pry the secret technique from her?”

Elder Zhou finally grasped her plan.

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“You’re not entirely stupid. Once that Incarnation Realm novice enters the Cao household, she’ll be at my mercy. I’ll make sure she spills her secrets, then I’ll kill her. That way, all my goals will be achieved.”

Hua Yu laid bare her ambitions.

“The Holy Maiden is truly wise and resourceful! I admire you from the bottom of my heart!”

Elder Zhou couldn’t help but praise her.

“Hmph. Did you think one could become Holy Maiden on cultivation alone? Stick with me, and when all is said and done, you won’t be left empty-handed.”

Hua Yu dangled a tempting promise.

“I will follow your orders without question.”

Elder Zhou quickly pledged her loyalty. Seeing the former Holy Maiden’s cunning, she solidified her resolve to play the traitor.

“Your most urgent task is to confirm that little bitch’s real name. I must ensure she enters the Cao family.”

Hua Yu issued her command.

“No need. To reassure the sect’s higher-ups, she already revealed it herself. Her real name is Huang Ling, ‘Huang’ as in the color yellow, ‘Ling’ as in a bell.”

Elder Zhou held nothing back.

“Excellent. I won’t forget this merit of yours. Once our plan succeeds, I’ll ensure you become a Grand Elder of the Huarong Sect. Even my master will have to bow before you.”

Hua Yu painted an even grander future.

“Thank you, Holy Maiden!”

Elder Zhou’s voice trembled with excitement. With the backing of the Cao family’s young madam, she could practically strut through the Huarong Sect unopposed.

Their conversation ended there, and Elder Zhou put away the Thousand-Mile Communication Tube.

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“Elder Zhou, oh Elder Zhou… forget ‘Grand Elder’. ‘Elder Six Feet Under’ suits you far better.”

A mocking smile curled on Qi Huang’s lips before she vanished like a ghost. With this evidence in hand, Elder Zhou’s fate was sealed.

Returning to her residence, Qi Huang relayed the good news to her main body.

“When do you plan to present this evidence to the sect master?”

Cheng Hongling asked.

“No rush. What we need most right now is time. If we eliminate Zhou immediately, who knows what tricks Hua Yu might pull next? Let’s toy with them for now. That Cao Yang loves engraving names, doesn’t he? This time, I’ll let him engrave to his heart’s content!”

After a brief contemplation, Qi Huang made her decision.

Meanwhile, at the Cao residence, Hua Yu immediately informed her husband, Cao Yang, of the new development.

“What?! She’s not Jiang Ling, but Huang Ling?”

Cao Yang was caught off guard.

“Yes. Elder Zhou confirmed it personally. That little wretch admitted that ‘Jiang Ling’ was a fabricated identity to gain the Huarong Sect’s trust.”

Hua Yu explained.

“Can we trust Elder Zhou?”

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Cao Yang remained wary.

“Absolutely. She’s already crossed that bitch during our collaboration, there’s no turning back for her now.”

Hua Yu sneered.

“As expected of my wif, far-sighted as always. Without you, the Cao family would’ve been humiliated yet again. I’ll head to the Immortal Stele at once and add ‘Huang Ling’ to it.”

Cao Yang flattered her before eagerly turning to leave.

“Add it? Why not change the existing name?”

Hua Yu was puzzled.

Cao Yang paused, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

“My dear, that’s where you’re mistaken. What if this is a ruse by the Huarong Sect? A ploy to trick us into altering the name?”

Hua Yu’s expression shifted.

“I hadn’t considered that!”

“Exactly. By adding ‘Huang Ling’, whether she’s ‘Jiang Ling’ or ‘Huang Ling’, she won’t escape my grasp.”

Cao Yang clenched his fist with domineering confidence.

With that, Cao Yang proceeded to inscribe “Huang Ling” onto the Immortal Stele. As one of the Cao family’s prodigies, adding one or two more names to his list of concubines was well within his rights. No one would dare question him, so there was no need to consult the family.

“Uncle Wang, make another trip to the Huarong Sect. Inform them that I’ve uncovered ‘Jiang Ling’s’ true identity and engraved ‘Huang Ling’ on the Immortal Stele. She must enter the Cao household by the end of this month, or face the suppression of immortal might.”

Cao Yang issued his command.

“Understood!”

Uncle Wang accepted the order and immediately set off for the Huarong Sect without delay.