Volume 1, Chapter 60 – In One Breath, Become a Woman (Part 4)

“Cheng Hongling, get the hell out here! You’ve hogged all the sect’s resources—you owe us an explanation!”

“Yeah, everyone talks about your ‘peerless talent,’ but no one’s ever seen you fight. Is it all just a lie?”

“And Elder Xu Mei—how did you secure so many resources for your disciple? Did you sell your body?”

Outside the Orchid Courtyard, dozens of male disciples hurled insults, each cruder than the last.

Among the onlookers stood several Honghua Sect elders, including Elder Wu, whose smug grin all but confirmed his involvement in this farce.

Then—

Cheng Hongling appeared.

So fast that Qi Huang couldn’t even track her movement.

“Finally decided to show your face? Thought you’d hide like a coward forever!”

“Don’t blame us for bullying a junior. You took what wasn’t yours.”

“Well? How do you plan to compensate us?”

The men showed no mercy—why would they? In this world, survival trumped chivalry. Beauty meant nothing without strength.

“Come at me together. If you win, I’ll return every resource I’ve consumed.”

Cheng Hongling’s challenge was blunt.

“You asked for it!”

Enraged, the disciples drew their swords and charged—a “righteous” gang-up in the making.

“Swamp of Corpses.”

With a cold snort, Cheng Hongling unleashed a surge of water-type True Qi from her feet. It rippled outward, saturating the unpaved earth until the ground liquefied into a vast quagmire.

The charging men sank knee-deep instantly.

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“Three Feet of Ice.”

Her lips parted again.

The sodden earth froze solid, encasing their legs in ice.

These disciples, barely into the Body Refinement Realm, were powerless against such a technique.

“True Qi Externalization… water-to-ice conversion… She really has reached the Unity Realm!”

“Impossible! She’s only thirteen!”

“Yet here we are. Her talent dwarfs ours—she rivals the prodigies of major sects.”

Defeated, the men bowed their heads.

“Sect Leader Qin’s rule is clear: strength determines privilege. Since none of you can best me, those resources are mine by right. If you disagree, petition him to change the rules.”

Her tone brooked no argument.

“Why can’t we just work harder to surpass you?”

One disciple gritted his teeth.

“Because changing the rules is easier.”

With that, she vanished—reappearing instantly at her doorstep.

“Little Ling! Are you alright?”

Her mother, Jiang Linian, rushed forward.

“Don’t worry, Mother. They were never a threat.”

Cheng Hongling smiled reassuringly.

“Let’s see who dares question you now!”

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Xu Mei smirked triumphantly.

“Master, I’ve decided to compete in this year’s Evergreen Tournament.”

The declaration stunned everyone.

“What? Are you certain?”

Xu Mei’s voice trembled with excitement.

“However justified my resource allocation, it weighs on me. The sect deserves proof of its investment.”

Cheng Hongling’s gaze was resolute.

“But the earlier you compete, the sooner rival sects will mark you. If you fail to rank top 100 now, the next attempt will be twice as hard. Wait three more years—with your talent, victory would be assured.”

Xu Mei pleaded pragmatically.

“Master, what in life is ever assured? I have no time to wait. After obtaining the Pink Bamboo Essence, I must cleanse Huangtian County of demons. If I delay, who will protect Honghua Sect? Its people?”

“Ah… All this stems from that accursed Golden Fate Blossom seed!”

Xu Mei clutched her forehead in anguish.

“Forgive us, Master! This is our fault!”

“We pressured her into eating it!”

“No! I stole the seed—the blame is mine alone!”

The sisters broke into tearful confessions, their guilt so palpable even Qi Huang’s heart ached.

“M-Master… When the seed’s owner comes… let me be the bait.”

Ruan Lingyu’s tear-streaked face was uncharacteristically solemn.

“You? They seek one who exudes the blossom’s fragrance. How could you qualify?”

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Xu Mei frowned.

“But I do carry the scent now! Smell me!”

Ruan Lingyu thrust out her sleeve like a child presenting a treasure.

Xu Mei inhaled—then startled.

“It’s faint… but unmistakable. How?”

“Uh…”

Ruan Lingyu froze, tears still glistening.

“Master! I have it too!”

“Me as well! Use me as bait instead!”

Su Qingying, Yun Fei, Shen Yuan, Miao Xiang—all stepped forward, baring wrists and necks for inspection.

“Explain this. Now.”

Xu Mei massaged her temples.

“So this is why… All those nights sneaking into my bed… Not to save on perfume costs—but to inherit my fate.”

Cheng Hongling’s voice cracked.

Qi Huang was floored. She’d assumed Ruan Lingyu a lecher—but no. These women had spent years selflessly absorbing their junior’s curse, preparing to die in her stead.

Their silence now spoke volumes.

“Your loyalty moves me. But diluted fragrance won’t suffice.”

Xu Mei sighed.

“Then we’ll keep sleeping with her! The scent grows stronger each time!”

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Ruan Lingyu blurted.

“Exactly! Hongling is the sect’s future—we’re expendable!”

The sisters chorused.

“No. From tonight, no one enters my room. Or approaches within three paces.”

Cheng Hongling’s decree was ironclad.

“Try stopping us. We’ve proven you can’t.”

Their retort was gentle but unshakable.

Qi Huang awoke, her soul still reverberating from such sisterhood. Compared to these women, her own cousins were vipers.

Sighing, she lifted her skirt—and smiled.

Her right leg was now fully feminized: slender, flawless, with porcelain skin unmarred by pores. Best of all, the foot had shrunk several sizes, dainty and pearl-white, toes like rosy petals begging to be nibbled.

“Just one foot left.”

She took a steadying breath, swallowed more sedative—but this time, no dream came.

Another dose. Still nothing.

Now only a single portion remained.

“Heavens… Let this work. Or all I’ve sacrificed is for nothing.”

Praying to every god she knew, Qi Huang took the final dose.