Volume 8, Chapter 546 – Are You Starting to Feminize Again?

Qili Kingdom was a mid-sized nation in the southern continent, with a population of over a hundred million and a north-south span of nearly five thousand miles. It was a vassal state of the Mingyue Empire.

Of course, half of the countries in the southern continent were tributary states of the Mingyue Empire, all thanks to the might of the Huarong Sect!

At this moment, deep in the forests of Hefeng Prefecture, the northernmost region of Qili Kingdom, dozens of figures lurked furtively, clad in black night-robes with their faces concealed. Their suspicious behavior made it clear they were up to no good.

“Steward Leng, do we, the esteemed retainers of the Cao Mansion, really need to skulk around like this? Hiding in this godforsaken wilderness in the middle of summer, swarmed by mosquitoes, this is unbearable!”

A burly middle-aged man couldn’t help but voice his complaints.

Indeed, this group had been dispatched by the Cao Mansion to test the Saintess’s escort team.

“What do you know? The master has ordered that if the newly appointed Saintess of the Huarong Sect lacks the protection of the Immortal Stele, we are to capture her and bring her back. This isn’t exactly an honorable mission, so it’s best we keep our identities hidden,” explained Steward Leng, the leader. Though not physically imposing, his tall, lean frame exuded an intimidating presence.

“Even if we’re exposed, so what? A small country like this probably doesn’t even have a cultivator at the late-stage Divine Realm. And the Saintess’s escort team only has that Protector Yuan who barely qualifies as a challenge in my eyes. If need be, we’ll just silence all witnesses, what’s there to fear?”

The middle-aged man continued grumbling.

“Wu Hua, you’ve been the Cao Mansion’s guard captain for decades, how have you learned nothing? Do you think I’m worried about these nobodies? I’m worried about the master!”

Steward Leng shook his head helplessly and elaborated, “The two branches of the Cao family are locked in a ruthless struggle for the position of clan head, and the Second Elder is the vice leader of the Immortal Alliance. We cannot afford to give him any leverage! If anything goes wrong, the master will abandon us servants without hesitation. Do you understand now?”

“So that’s how it is! Thank you for the explanation, Steward Leng!”

Wu Hua’s eyes widened in realization, a thin layer of sweat forming on his forehead.

“Steward Leng, there’s still one thing I don’t understand. How do you know the Huarong Sect’s Saintess will pass through Hefeng Prefecture?”

After calming down slightly, Wu Hua humbly sought clarification.

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“The reason is simple. The continental-level Evergreen Conference is just days away, and they set out too late. The only way they can make it in time is by taking the shortest route. Hefeng Prefecture lies directly between the Mingyue Empire and the Xianlin Empire, so they will undoubtedly pass through here.”

Steward Leng patiently explained.

“That makes perfect sense. Steward Leng, your wisdom and foresight are truly admirable. Wu Hua has learned much.”

The admiration on Wu Hua’s face grew even more pronounced.

“Young man, there’s always more to learn!”

Steward Leng didn’t mock him. Instead, he spoke earnestly, after all, the dumber his subordinates were, the harder it would be for them to threaten his position. He was more than happy to encourage such ignorance.

“Remember, the moment the Saintess’s escort team appears, we act immediately. Captain Wu, you’ll hold off that Protector Yuan from the Huarong Sect. The rest of you will deal with the other lackeys. I’ll test the new Saintess myself. Understood?”

Steward Leng issued his orders to the group.

“Yes!”

The subordinates responded respectfully.

“Listen carefully to my commands. If the new Saintess lacks the protection of the Immortal Stele, show no mercy. Kill everyone present! If she does have it, we retreat immediately!”

Steward Leng reiterated his instructions, unwilling to leave anything to chance.

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Meanwhile, the Huarong Sect’s Saintess escort team had already entered Qili Kingdom. Along the way, they had encountered nothing more than a few foolish evil spirits, facing no significant obstacles.

Qi Huang had been flying nearby, her divine sense enveloping a ten-mile radius. Not even the slightest disturbance escaped her notice.

With her current strength, Qi Huang could monitor the entirety of Qili Kingdom if she wished, but that would be pointless. Excessive consumption of energy would leave her vulnerable in case of an emergency. Unlike other cultivators, she relied primarily on divine sense for combat.

The Saintess escort team advanced north at astonishing speed, soon reaching the central region of Qili Kingdom.

However, at that moment, Qi Huang froze.

Huang Jin in her sea of consciousness had just informed her, the feminization that had been stagnant for so long was beginning to spread again.

“How is this possible?”

Qi Huang’s heart tightened. The feminization progress hadn’t changed for two or three months, leading her to believe the transformative force within her had been exhausted. Yet now, it was resurfacing.

“Why now, of all times?”

Qi Huang was exasperated. The Lü family had already stretched her thin, and now this even more critical issue had arisen, leaving her torn between conflicting priorities.

“Has the assimilation stopped progressing these past few days?”

Just then, Cheng Hongling’s telepathic voice reached her.

Qi Huang didn’t know how to respond and could only remain silent in embarrassment.

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“Not answering? Looks like the assimilation is acting up again.”

Cheng Hongling teased. Her doppelgänger was usually carefree and playful, only a crisis of this magnitude could make her show even a hint of frustration.

“Exactly. The assimilation of my Essence Soul hadn’t progressed for two or three months, so I thought it was over. But now, at this critical juncture, it’s flaring up again. With the Lü family’s deadline approaching, it’s like the heavens are conspiring against me.”

Qi Huang couldn’t help but complain. She truly needed someone she could trust completely to confide in.

“Then we can’t just focus on traveling anymore. Let’s find a town to rest in tonight. You’ll help me cultivate using the Doppelgänger Method for a night first.”

Cheng Hongling suggested.

“What does that have to do with my assimilation?”

Qi Huang asked anxiously.

“At this point, I won’t hide it from you. The Doppelgänger Method isn’t just beneficial for my cultivation, it also suppresses your feminization.”

Cheng Hongling stated bluntly.

“What? How?”

Qi Huang was stunned.

“Remember when we tricked Cheng Ling into talking? Those feminized female souls of yours told Cheng Jing something. They said the reason you’re slowly being assimilated is that you’re afraid of the headaches, so you avoid thinking about who you really are. Meanwhile, everyone around you treats you as a girl. Under this environmental influence, you’ve subconsciously accepted yourself as female. Over time, the assimilation progresses. In short, your thoughts have strayed, leading to this outcome.”

Cheng Hongling explained in detail. The “Cheng Jing” she referred to was her own Essence Soul.

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“Something so bizarre actually exists?”

Qi Huang was astonished. Merely thinking of herself as a girl could actually turn her into one, it sounded too fantastical.

“To curb this trend, you must subconsciously reinforce your identity as a man. And the most effective way to do that is to stir the desires in your heart. That’s why I suggested cultivating the Doppelgänger Method with me.”

Cheng Hongling continued her explanation.

“So, on the surface, the Doppelgänger Method is for me to help you boost your cultivation, but the real purpose is for you to use your body to awaken my masculine desires and remind me that I’m a man?”

After a moment of contemplation, Qi Huang caught on.

“Yes. Because we’ve been rushing nonstop these past few days, we haven’t had time to practice the Doppelgänger Method. That’s why the assimilation in your soul has started acting up again. We must find a place to cultivate for a night.”

Cheng Hongling proposed.

“I see! Then let’s find a place to rest immediately.”

Qi Huang urged eagerly. Such an arrangement was more than welcome.

Soon after, the Saintess escort team settled in an inn within a small town, staying until the next morning before departing. By then, the feminization progress of Qi Huang’s Essence Soul had stalled once more, because she and her main body had spent the night practicing the Doppelgänger Method, leaving her mind filled with lingering, tantalizing images.

The Saintess escort team flew north at high speed, arriving in Hefeng Prefecture by evening.

Qi Huang extended her divine sense and immediately detected a group of black-clad figures lurking in the dense forest dozens of miles ahead, skulking about like thieves.

Preferring to avoid unnecessary trouble, Qi Huang initially had no intention of provoking them. Unfortunately, the moment she tried to withdraw her divine sense, she was caught red-handed.