Volume 8, Chapter 551 – Reckless Words (Part 2)

Qi Huang had always been blessed with good luck, and this time was no exception. After spending several days in the imperial capital of the Xianlin Empire, she discovered that not a single Yin-Yang Eye cultivator had come to the Evergreen Conference to join in the excitement. This meant she could act freely… of course, only after Lü Yi suffered defeat and left.

Completely at ease, Qi Huang resumed her identity and returned to her main body’s side. Cheng Hongling, upon receiving the news, waited patiently. However, not everyone could remain calm, especially Ping Yan and her disciple.

“Holy Maiden, didn’t you say you wanted to broaden your horizons at the Evergreen Conference? Why have you delayed taking action?” Ping Yan openly questioned during dinner.

“That’s right. The venue for the continental-level Evergreen Conference is just a few dozen miles from Wuye City, barely the time it takes to finish a meal. Yet here we are, eating and drinking in this inn day after day. If word gets back to the sect, it won’t reflect well on us,” Hua Meng added with a mocking tone.

The women of the Huarong Sect all turned their gazes toward Cheng Hongling, their expressions mirroring the same confusion.

Cheng Hongling gave the master-disciple pair a puzzled look, unsure why they were in such a hurry.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang emerged from the Sea of Consciousness and replied leisurely, “My main body and I came here to gain experience, not to watch a spectacle. The Evergreen Conference has only completed one round so far, nothing but one-sided stomps or rookies pecking at each other. What’s the point in watching that?”

“Tch!”

Hua Meng scoffed inwardly. ‘Keep acting smug. Just wait until challengers come knocking, then we’ll see who’s crying. If you don’t kowtow to me a few times, you’ll go down as the shortest-lived Holy Maiden in Huarong Sect’s history.’

Since the Holy Maiden had spoken, the others dared not object and could only continue idling in the inn, eating and drinking.

News of the Huarong Sect’s Holy Maiden arriving in Wuye City quickly spread throughout the Xianlin Empire. However, since she had yet to appear at the Evergreen Conference’s venue, many factions began making discreet inquiries. After all, everyone was eager to crush a soft target.

“What could be more satisfying than defeating the Huarong Sect’s Holy Maiden?”

Even cultivators needed to gild their reputations, and many held such thoughts, especially those from sects with grudges.

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The second round of the competition soon concluded. Hua Yu delivered a dazzling performance, eliminating one of the lesser talents among the Nine Great Monsters. The event instantly sent shockwaves through Wuye City.

Rumors flooded the streets, claiming that the Huarong Sect didn’t dare show up. After all, with Hua Yu’s excellence, their absence would only invite ridicule.

Though furious, the Huarong Sect members could only grit their teeth, without the Holy Maiden’s permission, they were powerless to act.

The third-round draw results were soon announced. Lü Yi’s luck ran out, he was matched against another Nine Monster whose strength surpassed his own!

Upon hearing this, Qi Huang smiled. She knew her time to shine was approaching.

Having fought through two rounds, Cao Yang and Hua Yu grew restless at the Huarong Sect’s continued silence. They decided to investigate personally, arriving at the Dragon-Phoenix Inn. That day, the two top immortal forces, the Cao Family and the Huarong Sect, crossed paths in the inn, scaring off not only all the guests but even the innkeeper and waitstaff.

“Might I ask what business you have here?” Protector Yuan asked warily.

“Protector Yuan, what kind of question is that? I’m a disciple of the Huarong Sect. Hearing that my ‘family’ has arrived, isn’t it only natural for me to pay a visit?” Hua Yu replied with a hollow smile.

“Indeed. As the Huarong Sect’s son-in-law, accompanying my wife to visit her family is only proper, no?” Cao Yang added insincerely.

“If you’re here to visit, where are your gifts?” Qi Huang immediately stretched out a fair, delicate hand in demand.

Cao Yang and Hua Yu froze. “Are you a money-grubber? You know we’re just making excuses, how can you take it seriously?”

“What’s wrong? You come empty-handed and still have the nerve to call it a ‘visit’? Hua Yu, the man you married isn’t much, is he? So stingy!” Qi Huang taunted mockingly.

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Cao Yang’s liver ached with rage. Suppressing his fury, he forced out, “Then what do you want?”

“That depends on how much Hua Yu means to you!” Qi Huang replied with a cryptic smile.

Trapped, Cao Yang wore the expression of a broken man before waving his hand. Several small chests containing rare treasures materialized on the table. “Here are your gifts. Satisfied now?”

“Hehe!” Qi Huang giggled, sweeping all the chests into her spatial ring as if afraid someone might snatch them.

The Honghua Sect members exchanged bewildered glances, utterly lost.

“You actually gave them to her?!” Hua Yu turned to him, stunned.

“What else could I do? Who told me you weigh so heavily in my heart?” Cao Yang replied through gritted teeth. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that a simple reconnaissance mission would cost him a fortune.

Hua Yu opened her mouth but found no retort. Quickly changing the subject, she said, “I heard the Holy Maiden came to the Evergreen Conference to broaden her horizons. If so, why the delay?”

“Heh, no rush. I’m here to gain experience, not watch a spectacle. The Evergreen Conference has only completed two rounds, either one-sided stomps or rookies pecking at each other. What’s the point in watching that?” Qi Huang repeated her earlier excuse without a shred of sincerity.

“Rookies pecking at each other?!”

Hua Yu’s face twisted with fury. She had expended immense effort to eliminate one of the Nine Great Monsters in the previous round, and this little bitch had the audacity to call it “rookies pecking at each other”?!

“Holy Maiden Jiang, you speak quite boldly. Do you realize how difficult it is to qualify for a continental-level Evergreen Conference? The entire cultivation world only has sixty slots, many nations go millennia without a single candidate. And you dare call them rookies? If they heard this, do you think they’d let it slide?” Cao Yang threatened.

“Holy Maiden, mind your words!” Protector Yuan hastily cautioned.

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“No worries. Aren’t we ‘family’? Close kin! If you don’t blab, who’ll know?” Qi Huang deliberately flattered.

“Heh…” Cao Yang responded noncommittally.

“Then when do you plan to go?” Hua Yu pressed impatiently.

“What’s it to you?” Qi Huang replied coolly.

“Of course it matters! I may have left the sect, but I can’t just stand by while you squander the sect’s funds under the pretense of ‘gaining experience’!” Hua Yu declared righteously.

“Hah! ‘Squandering funds’? How amusing!” Qi Huang burst into laughter. Glancing around, she noticed everyone staring at her solemnly and awkwardly cleared her throat. “Don’t fret. I’ll be there in time for the fourth round!”

“Really?” Hua Yu pressed dubiously.

“Of course!” Qi Huang reaffirmed, and she wasn’t lying. The third-round draw had already sealed Lü Yi’s fate: matched against a monster superior in both talent and cultivation, his elimination was guaranteed.

“Fine! We’ll hold you to that. Don’t think you can weasel out. If you fail to appear at the ‘Immortal-Forging Platform’. I’ll report this to the sect!” With that warning, Hua Yu left with the Cao Family.

The so-called “Immortal-Forging Platform” was a specially constructed arena north of Wuye City, built by the Immortal Alliance headquarters for the continental-level Evergreen Conference.

Exchanging glances, Hua Meng and her disciple smirked gleefully. They knew the Cao Family would surely spread Qi Huang’s remarks, guaranteeing a flood of challengers seeking trouble.

“How can you be sure Lü Yi will leave immediately after losing?” Cheng Hongling found a moment to ask.

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“A prideful man like him won’t stick around to be mocked after defeat. He’ll bolt at the first chance,” Qi Huang explained.

“Makes sense.” After brief contemplation, Cheng Hongling agreed entirely.

Hua Meng and her disciple’s predictions proved accurate. By the very next day, word of the Huarong Sect’s Holy Maiden mocking the Evergreen Conference’s participants had spread like wildfire through Wuye City. If not for the city’s strict security, many sects would have stormed the inn.

Protector Yuan was beside herself with anxiety, pleading with Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang to leave.

“If we flee now, won’t you share the blame for ‘squandering funds’?” Qi Huang countered.

“Who cares about that now? If you attend the conference, countless people will challenge you. If it’s within the arena, fine. But what if it’s outside? Will you accept? If you lose, it’s humiliation. If you refuse, it’s surrender. Either way, the Huarong Sect is disgraced!” Protector Yuan argued desperately.

“How do you know I’ll lose?” Qi Huang replied with breezy indifference.

“Holy Maiden, the weakest participants in a continental-level Evergreen Conference are at least late-stage Incarnation Realm!”

“Only late-stage Incarnation Realm? Even my palanquin bearers are at that level. How underwhelming.” Qi Huang sighed in disappointment.

Left with no recourse, Protector Yuan could only relent for now.

As Qi Huang had anticipated, Lü Yi was swiftly eliminated by the stronger Nine Monster days later. Humiliated, he slunk away without a word.

“And this fool thought he could build a harem?” Qi Huang couldn’t resist mocking the news before cheering, “Haha! Finally, my turn to shine!”