Volume 1, Chapter 61 – I Really Want to Be Kicked by Her a Few Times
Volume 1, Chapter 61 – I Really Want to Be Kicked by Her a Few Times
When Qi Huang regained her vision, she found herself standing in a vast square. Elder Xu and Sect Leader Qin stood at the forefront, while several female disciples flanked her sides. Behind them stood a few male disciples, including Wang Zong.
Aside from the Honghua Sect, the square was packed with hundreds—if not thousands—of people, all dressed in various sect uniforms. They crowded like ants around a high platform, murmuring among themselves.
Through Cheng Hongling’s eyes, Qi Huang surveyed the surroundings. Large banners flapped noisily in the wind along the square’s perimeter, their surfaces bearing the bold, vigorous characters: “Evergreen”.
‘The Evergreen Conference!’
Qi Huang immediately understood—Cheng Hongling had kept her promise and actually come to participate in the Evergreen Conference.
‘No wonder I’d never heard of Fairy Hongling’s reputation before. She must have risen to prominence only after I left. And judging by the arrogant provocations from those male Honghua Sect disciples earlier, it seems she rarely ever fought within the sect.’
Qi Huang quickly pieced it together. As for the reason, she could guess—
First, the saying “wealth should not be flaunted” applied to geniuses as well. The Honghua Sect’s higher-ups were banking on this once-in-a-century talent to elevate their sect. If word got out, other major sects would surely try to poach her—how could they possibly keep her then?
Second, even if Cheng Hongling was loyal and unwilling to leave, rival sects would still find ways to target her in advance, making the Evergreen Conference exponentially more difficult. And the Evergreen Conference was, after all, the primary means for smaller sects to obtain cultivation resources.
Third, Cheng Hongling herself needed to secure Pink Bamboo Water as soon as possible. Keeping her hidden was, without a doubt, the Honghua Sect’s wisest decision.
“Heavens, please don’t let us draw an opponent from the Huxiao Sect!”
“Yeah, yeah! We have to draw a Honghua Sect disciple—that’d be like a free pass in the first round!”
“Aren’t you ashamed? Last conference, you already drew the Honghua Sect! This time, you deserve a Huxiao Sect disciple as punishment!”
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“Exactly! You can’t hog all the good luck. We’re all sects under the Immortal Alliance—we should know how to share!”
“It’s not like we can decide who we draw—how are we supposed to ‘share’?”
“Simple. If you draw a Honghua Sect disciple, trade with us! Let us have a taste of crushing weaklings.”
Whispers like these floated among the surrounding sects.
“So the drawing of lots has only just begun!”
Qi Huang suddenly realized why no actual matches had started yet.
“These snobbish bastards, treating us like pushovers!” Shen Yuan gritted her teeth in anger.
“Well, our past performance hasn’t exactly been impressive,” Qin Quan said with a helpless smile.
“Heh, but this time is different. With Junior Sister Hongling participating, anyone who thinks they can crush us will regret it.” Shen Yuan clenched her silver teeth.
At that moment, an elderly man with white hair and an immortal aura stepped forward on the high platform to address the crowd.
“Greetings, everyone. My name is Cai De, a steward of the Immortal Alliance. I will be presiding over this Evergreen Conference in Yongning Province. I hope for your cooperation.”
As soon as the crowd heard he was a steward of the Immortal Alliance, silence fell instantly.
A steward wasn’t a high-ranking position—just a low-level administrator, at least among ordinary sects.
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But the Immortal Alliance was no ordinary sect. They governed over a hundred nations in the cultivation world. In small countries like the Western Radiance Dynasty, a steward’s authority was nothing to scoff at.
‘Evergreen Conference in Yongning Province?’
Qi Huang’s sharp mind immediately caught this detail—it meant Cheng Hongling had already participated in the prefectural-level Evergreen Conference before this.
How did she know? Simple—her master had once explained the Evergreen Conference’s structure
Held once every three years, the conference had three stages:
- Prefectural-level (qualifiers)
- Provincial-level (main selection)
- National-level (true Evergreen Conference)
Every cultivator had to climb step by step.
There was even a legendary world-level Evergreen Conference, but the requirements were so stringent that barely anyone from the Western Radiance Dynasty had ever qualified in history.
In Qi Huang’s eyes, the Honghua Sect was already the strongest in Huangtian Prefecture. Combined with Cheng Hongling’s once-in-a-century talent, the prefectural level must have been a breeze for her. Her presence here was proof enough.
“Though the cultivation world is vast, immortal sects are as numerous as stars. To ensure our immortal path endures, cultivation resources must be allocated wisely—as the saying goes, ‘good steel must be used for the blade’s edge.’ The Evergreen Conference exists to select talented seedlings and nurture them intensively.”
Steward Cai first explained the conference’s origins before continuing:
“Since you’ve all made it here, you are the elites of your respective sects in this province. As elites, you must fight not just for yourselves, but for your sect’s honor—even for the common people of your prefecture. Do not disgrace your homeland’s name. And if any of you reach the world-level Evergreen Conference, you will represent the entire nation. I doubt any immortal seedling would refuse such glory, no?”
His speech, though somewhat embellished, was effective. The crowd of “immortal seedlings” below grew visibly fired up.
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‘You’re wasted as a steward—you should’ve been a strategist’, Qi Huang inwardly mocked.
“Alright, I wish you all success. But first, we must draw lots to determine opponents. When your name is called, step forward and draw a slip from the bamboo tube. Each slip bears a number. No loud noises or unnecessary movements during the process.”
Steward Cai pointed to a large bamboo tube nearby.
The drawing commenced.
A disciple began calling names one by one. Each participant stepped up, drew a slip, and returned. With only 132 prefectural-level immortal seedlings participating, it didn’t take long.
Qi Huang paid special attention and noted that the Honghua Sect had five participants—three women and two men:
- Cheng Hongling
- Ruan Lingyu (Fairy Lingyu)
- Su Qingying
- Wang Zong
- One other male disciple
These five were undoubtedly the sect’s most outstanding talents.
As an observer, Qi Huang almost felt embarrassed. Unlike other prefectures—where multiple sects competed—Huangtian Prefecture had only the Honghua Sect. The reason? The “rat’s nest” (as outsiders called it) had such poor innate talent among its populace that it couldn’t sustain multiple immortal sects.
“Next—Honghua Sect, Cheng Hongling!”
After what felt like forever, Cheng Hongling’s name was finally called.
She stepped forward calmly. Though only twelve, the Golden Fate Blossom had accelerated her growth, making her appear like a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old maiden—slender yet curvaceous in all the right places.
Her long, fair legs peeked subtly from beneath her skirt, igniting primal desires in many male onlookers.
“Huh? That girl’s from the Honghua Sect? Did I hear wrong?”
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“Yeah, how could a backwater ‘rat’s nest’ produce such a beauty? She could rival the legendary ‘Moon-Veiling Ranking’ fairies!”
“As if you’ve ever seen a Moon-Veiling fairy! Our Western Radiance Dynasty hasn’t had one in centuries!”
“I haven’t, but I refuse to believe anyone could surpass her.”
“Spoken like a true frog in a well!”
“She must be from another region. Those short, ugly lowlifes from Huangtian couldn’t possibly have such fine bloodlines.”
The male disciples’ gazes burned with lust. Cheng Hongling’s beauty—forged from superior bloodlines and the Golden Fate Blossom—was peerless even in the wider cultivation world.
The Moon-Veiling Ranking was a list compiled by idle immortals, ranking the most renowned fairy maidens by appearance. Only 100 female cultivators in the entire world could make the cut. For minor nations like the Western Radiance Dynasty, it was common to go centuries without a single entry.
Cheng Hongling reached into the bamboo tube and drew a slip—Number 51. Since it bore no name, she barely glanced at it before descending the platform.
“Whoever her opponent is, they’re so damn lucky!”
“Right? I’d kill to be kicked by her jade-like feet a few times!”
“Pfft—with your face? She’d never ‘reward’ you. If anyone’s getting rewarded, it’s me!”
…Unusual sentiments echoed among the crowd.