Volume 8, Chapter 544 – Just How Many Fake Identities Do You Have? (Part 9)

“Good? What’s so good about it?”

Cao Meng’s brows furrowed slightly as he spoke, “First, the second branch of the family has already reached their limit. If you keep engraving irrelevant names, they’ll come at me with everything they’ve got. Second, you should understand that while the Immortal Might is formidable, it has one flaw when dealing with experts, its activation is too slow. The initial pressure alone isn’t enough to restrain anyone. If you engrave someone else’s name, the Honghua Sect’s other experts will have already fled far away with that little girl before the Immortal Might fully descends.”

“Exactly,” Cao Hui added. “The reason no one can escape the suppression of an Immortal’s might is because it has a tracking and locking ability. If it could be activated instantly, why bother engraving names at all? We could just unleash it directly on the Huarong Sect and not worry about any tricks they might pull.”

“Even so, I still won’t agree!”

Hua Yu interjected with feigned righteousness. “After all, the Huarong Sect is my maternal family. You absolutely must not involve innocent people.”

The Cao family members exchanged knowing smiles. ‘Of course you’d say that, you’re still leeching off your maternal family. If the Huarong Sect were destroyed, you’d have nothing left to exploit.’

“Daughter-in-law, don’t worry,” Cao Hui quickly reassured her, though his words dripped with hypocrisy. “We also have no intention of harming the Huarong Sect. We’re all family, after all!”

His excuse was flimsy, but his reasoning was sound, keeping the Huarong Sect as a source of resources was far better than destroying it. That was why the Cao family had never resorted to extreme measures.

“Fine. Let’s not rely on the Huarong Sect’s informants anymore. We’ll send people directly to investigate that little girl’s background.”

Cao Meng laid out a new plan and turned to Hua Yu. “Granddaughter-in-law, do you know where that girl is from?”

“She only said she was from the Northern Continent. Beyond that, she revealed nothing.”

Hua Yu thought back before answering.

“So young, yet so cunning.”

Cao Meng’s expression darkened further. “In that case, we’ll send people to the Northern Continent to investigate.”

“Father, the Northern Continent isn’t much smaller than the Central Continent. There are over a hundred nations and billions of people. Trying to track down one person’s identity there would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.”

Cao Hui voiced his concerns.

“What are you worried about?” Cao Meng countered. “That girl is strikingly beautiful and possesses extraordinary talent. She can’t possibly be some nobody.”

He then added, “Unless you have a better idea, we’ll just have to investigate patiently.”

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After a long silence, the younger generation could think of no alternative and reluctantly agreed to the plan. The Cao family immediately dispatched a large number of agents to the Northern Continent to dig up information on the Huarong Sect’s new Holy Maiden.

Meanwhile, Hua Yu instructed Elder Zhou to stand down, this method had clearly failed.

What the Cao family didn’t know was that Qi Huang was a habitual liar. Not a single word out of her mouth was true. How could they possibly find a Western Continent native in the Northern Continent?

By this time, Cheng Hongling’s cultivation had already reached the Incarnation Realm’s sixth layer, just one step away from the late stage of the Divine Realm.

Once Qi Huang learned that Hua Yu and the Cao family had given up, she found the whole affair rather dull. Without hesitation, she handed over all the evidence of Elder Zhou’s betrayal to Hua Ruyi.

Hua Ruyi wasted no time. She personally led a group of experts to apprehend Elder Zhou.

Knowing her crimes were unforgivable, Elder Zhou attempted to resist, but, unsurprisingly, he was swiftly suppressed.

Hua Ruyi then took the opportunity to purge the other conspirators, completely cleansing the Huarong Sect of traitors.

Qi Huang, however, had no interest in such trivial matters. She was entirely focused on helping her main body’s advance in cultivation. In just a few days, they would depart for the Continental-Level Evergreen Conference, leaving little time for further training.

That morning, Hua Ruyi summoned all the sect’s high-ranking members to discuss the Holy Maiden’s upcoming trip to the conference.

“As you all know, the Continental-Level Evergreen Conference will begin in just over half a month. As our Holy Maiden, Jiang Ling wishes to broaden her horizons by observing the event. This is a good opportunity, after all, the participants are all outstanding talents of the younger generation. Studying them closely will benefit her future cultivation.”

Hua Ruyi’s words were nothing but a polite veneer for Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling’s true intentions.

‘This Sect Master Hua is really going all out. I’m almost feeling guilty!’

Qi Huang’s expression turned slightly awkward. In truth, she was just going to beat up some juniors. The whole “learning” excuse was just a cover.

“Sect Master, I don’t mean to oppose this, but there’s one thing we must consider. After recent events, the entire cultivation world knows that the Holy Maiden engraved a fake name on the Immortal Stele. This journey to the Central Continent spans thousands of miles, what if we encounter ill-intentioned individuals along the way?”

Elder Jiang, the Head Seat, stepped forward to voice his concerns.

“Elder Jiang makes a valid point. Our Huarong Sect has existed for tens of thousands of years in the cultivation world. With great prominence comes great envy, we’ve inevitably clashed with both righteous and demonic factions. They won’t pass up this opportunity.”

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“Indeed. If the Holy Maiden insists on going, why not have her engrave her real name on the Immortal Stele before departure? With the stele’s protection, we’d all feel more at ease.”

“How can that work? What if there are still spies from the Honghua Sect? If the Holy Maiden’s true name is exposed to the Cao family, we’ll face another catastrophe.”

“Exactly. Past events have proven that walls have ears. I believe the Holy Maiden should stay. She is the future of our Huarong Sect.”

The other elders voiced their opinions one after another.

“Everyone, I’ve already decided. Before leaving, I will engrave my real name on the Immortal Stele.”

Qi Huang suddenly spoke up.

“Are you serious?”

Cheng Hongling immediately sent a telepathic message to confirm.

“What do you think?”

Qi Huang replied teasingly.

“I should’ve known. You’re nothing but lies.”

Cheng Hongling’s tone was laced with disdain.

“It’s called being smart. If we don’t shut them up now, who knows how long they’ll keep arguing?”

Qi Huang defended herself.

Sure enough, the moment she finished speaking, all objections in the hall ceased.

“Holy Maiden, are you certain about this? What if there are still traitors within the Huarong Sect?”

Hua Ruyi asked with an amused smile. She knew this sly girl was surely lying again.

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“Elder Zhou and her accomplices have been completely eradicated. I trust everyone here.”

Qi Huang didn’t waste words, she simply flattered the entire assembly.

“I also trust them.”

Hua Ruyi added.

The dozens of high-ranking members fell silent. After all, they couldn’t very well question their own loyalty.

“Now that this matter is settled, I’ll also send Protector Yuan and several elders to escort her. No one will be able to harm a single hair on her head.”

Hua Ruyi, fully aware of Qi Huang’s scheme, pressed further.

The elders finally relented, expressing their unanimous approval.

‘Finally got rid of them.’

Qi Huang sighed inwardly in relief.

With that, the meeting concluded, and the elders filed out of the hall.

Hua Ruyi erected a Divine Sense barrier before approaching Qi Huang with a smirk.

“Holy Maiden Jiang, were you serious earlier about engraving your real name on the Immortal Stele?”

“What do you think?”

Qi Huang raised an eyebrow. “If you really believed me, you wouldn’t have backed me up just now.”

“I knew it! You little devil, not a single word of truth comes out of your mouth.”

Hua Ruyi laughed helplessly. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined the Huarong Sect would one day choose a Holy Maiden who lied through her teeth.

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“Does it matter if it’s true or not? As long as it keeps those with ill intentions at bay, that’s enough.”

Qi Huang shrugged.

“True. Once this news spreads, no one will dare target my disciple.”

Shi Yuqi chimed in.

“Not necessarily. Have you forgotten about Hua Yu and the Cao family? If they take this seriously, they’ll spare no effort to uncover the truth.”

Hua Ruyi teased.

“Let them investigate! We’ll just keep playing the Hundred Family Surnames game. I’ve still got hundreds of fake names in reserve. From what Elder Zhou said, the Cao family is already in turmoil because of Cao Yang’s reckless name-engraving. I’d love to see who runs out first, my stock of names, or their family’s patience.”

Qi Huang grinned triumphantly.

“You’re truly wicked. You’re not a Holy Maiden, you’re a demoness!”

Shi Yuqi shuddered internally.

“Indeed. Your main body is the one who looks like a real Holy Maiden.”

Hua Ruyi glanced appreciatively at Cheng Hongling.

Qi Huang, however, was unfazed. ‘What’s the point of noble demeanor besides attracting unwanted attention? I’ve had enough of drawing flies.’

A few days later, Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling set out for the Continental-Level Evergreen Conference, accompanied by Shi Yuqi and dozens of powerful Huarong Sect bodyguards.

“This time, I’ll make sure the entire cultivation world knows there’s only one true prodigy, and that’s me, Qi Huang!”

Qi Huang’s confidence was unshakable. After all, this was the only way she could convince the Huarong Sect’s elders to exchange the Immortal Stele for her and her main body.