Volume 9, Chapter 617 – She Alone Slaughters Through Four Nations (Part 4)

Wen Da and the five elders never dreamed that the opponent’s moves would be so strange and overwhelmingly powerful. Terrified out of their wits, their Life Souls flew out of their bodies and scattered in panic.

Qi Huang’s Divine Sense burst forth, manifesting as giant hands that struck faster than lightning, grabbing all six Life Souls tightly within her grasp.

“Master National Preceptor, please, we beg you! Don’t kill us! We came to the border to negotiate peace! If you kill me, what will happen to our people?”

“Yes, if you kill us, who will help you share the burden? These are four nations we’re talking about! No matter how strong you are, you can’t possibly handle them alone!”

“Master National Preceptor, please spare me! I was forced to charge forward! Everyone else was rushing in, I had no choice but to follow!”

The five high-ranking Life Souls wept and pleaded desperately.

‘Forced to charge? Aren’t you afraid of being wiped from existence?!’

Qi Huang couldn’t help but mock them inwardly, then said coldly, “Who charged first and who was forced, I, the National Preceptor, saw it all clearly. As for peace negotiations, my means reach the heavens. I alone am enough. Since you’re already dead, you may now rest in peace forever.”

“I am Lin Ran’s master! If you kill me, she will never let you go!” Wen Da screamed hoarsely, his voice breaking.

“Lin Ran? Heh. Do you think I would fear her?” Qi Huang sneered, then turned to the surviving Steward Cui and said, “You’re Steward Cui, right? Go back and tell Lin Ran that Wen Da led his men to attack me and that I killed him in retaliation.”

“Huh?” Steward Cui froze, completely dumbfounded. He couldn’t fathom what this demon was trying to do, as though he wanted the whole world to know about their ‘crime’.

“Don’t want to go? Then you’re volunteering to die alongside them?” Qi Huang said coolly.

“I’ll go! I’ll go!” Steward Cui didn’t dare hesitate, fleeing like he’d just been pardoned from death.

“Remember this: first, you are to tell only her; second, speak the truth exactly as it happened. If you dare utter a single lie, the first person I kill upon my return will be you.” Qi Huang’s voice cut sharply like a blade.

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“Y-Yes, yes!” Steward Cui stumbled backward, nearly tripping and falling.

“I am Lin Ran’s master! If she learns of your crimes, your days as National Preceptor will be numbered!” Wen Da barked, trying to sound fierce but sounding hollow.

“Master? What nonsense. I killed her father, her brothers, her entire family, and yet she still appointed me National Preceptor. If I kill you, I might even earn another promotion.” Qi Huang’s tone brimmed with arrogance.

“What did you say? You killed her imperial father?” Wen Da gasped in disbelief.

“Hmph. Who else could kill that dog of an emperor along with that Eunuch Zhong besides me?” Qi Huang mocked with a cold smile.

“Ah, unfilial daughter! Unfilial!” Wen Da wailed bitterly, as though his heart was being torn apart.

The other high-ranking elders paled to the shade of ash. If this demon didn’t even spare Lin Ran’s own father, how could they possibly expect mercy?

“Do you know why I haven’t killed you immediately? Because I want you all to understand clearly.” Qi Huang slowly removed her cloak and mask, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. At the center of her brows gleamed a lotus-shaped Doppelgänger Mark, lending her a holy and untouchable air.

“It’s you? You’re that Cheng Hongling! No… no, you’re her doppelgänger, Qi Huang!” Wen Da stammered, his jaw slack.

“She’s really Qi Huang… how is this possible? How can a doppelgänger be this strong?”

“Exactly! Even her true body is only eighteen or nineteen! Isn’t cultivation supposed to be nearly impossible? Heavens, why are you so unfair?!”

“This is the end… when she was chosen as Imperial Consort, the Peak Master even sent people to assassinate her!”

“Fairy Qi, spare us! There’s a saying: debts belong to their rightful owners! If you must kill someone, kill Wen Da, the one truly responsible!”

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The moment they recognized Qi Huang, the elders utterly collapsed. Some cursed the heavens’ injustice, while others wailed in despair.

“Wen Da, during the time I was chosen as Imperial Consort, you sent assassins after me, that’s your first crime! For the sake of the greater good, I originally intended to spare your worthless life. But instead, you repay kindness with betrayal and attempt to kill me, the benefactor who saved your disciple. That is your second crime! Tell me, do you not deserve death?” Qi Huang’s voice resounded like a verdict from the heavens.

“N-No! You can’t kill me! Lin Ran grew up on Poyun Peak under my care. To her, I’m closer than her own father! If you kill me, she will never forgive you!” Wen Da pleaded desperately, clinging to any leverage he had.

“Hmph. Do you still not understand your own disciple? Lin Ran is not the sort who confuses right and wrong. Otherwise, I’d never have allowed her to sit on the throne.” Qi Huang’s voice was calm as drifting clouds. With a flicker of thought, her Divine Sense constricted, crushing all six Life Souls into nothingness in an instant.

“Pathetic trash. Wasting my time,” Qi Huang spat lightly, then donned her mask and hat once more before flying north.

Qi Huang spared Steward Cui not out of mercy but because she acted with a clear conscience. If she hid what she had done and the truth surfaced later, explaining it would be troublesome, just as it had been when she killed that dog emperor.

The reason she told Cui to report only to Lin Ran was to avoid forcing Lin Ran into an impossible position. Killing one’s master was an unforgivable grudge; if word spread widely, things would spiral out of control.

Qi Huang sped northward, soon reaching the northern border where refugees flooded the lands below. She had intended not to delay, but upon seeing many hovering on the brink of death, she couldn’t ignore them and descended to render aid, slowing her pace significantly.

“Benefactor, may I know your name? If there’s ever a chance, I swear I’ll repay you someday,” one grateful refugee asked earnestly after she saved them.

“Don’t call me benefactor. I am Li Die, the National Preceptor of the Western Radiance Dynasty. ‘Li’ as in Zhang San Li Si ¹ 张三李四 (Zhāng Sān Lǐ Sì) is a common Chinese phrase meaning ordinary surname to show humility , and ‘Die’ as in ‘choosing the right plate for the right guest’ ² .看人下菜碟 (kàn rén xià cài dié), to treat people differently based on their status This is simply my duty.” Qi Huang casually gave a fabricated name.

“National Preceptor! You’re the National Preceptor!” The refugees gasped, tears streaming down their faces as they knelt to kowtow.

“You know of me?” Qi Huang asked, a little proud.

“Of course! You saved Her Majesty’s life! Since she ascended the throne, the conscription age was raised by three years. That spared my son from dying at the frontlines. You’re our family’s savior!”

“Yes, yes! Our family too!”

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“And Her Majesty even reduced the taxes! If not for the war, we’d have finally had full stomachs this year!”

Other refugees spoke sincerely, their gratitude pouring forth.

Qi Huang smiled warmly. So this was what it felt like to help others. It was… fulfilling.

“This wilderness is dangerous, with roaming enemies and wandering spirits. Head to the nearest town for safety as soon as possible,” Qi Huang advised, handing over several dozen taels of silver. “Take this for now to cover your living expenses. I promise you’ll return to your homes within ten days.”

“This… we can’t, National Preceptor! How could we take your silver without cause?” the refugee leader protested, flustered.

Qi Huang didn’t waste words, simply forced the silver into his hands and vanished without a trace.

She continued north, saving more refugees along the way. She even encountered deserters from her own country, soldiers who, by law, should be executed. But upon seeing their bloodied wounds and ragged forms, she couldn’t bring herself to raise her hand against them.

‘If it weren’t for that Human Skin Mask transforming me, I might be one of them right now,’ Qi Huang thought with quiet relief, then turned her gaze toward the Beiling Kingdom. It was the strongest enemy, and she deliberately chose it as her target. Wen Da had unwittingly given her the perfect idea: break the hardest bone first, and the other three nations would submit without a fight.

And there was another reason: revenge. According to Lin Ran, it was because Beiling’s envoy mocked Huangtian County at Lin Tu’s birthday feast that the dog emperor decided to purge Huangtian County. Now that she had the chance, she intended to settle the score properly.

Meanwhile, Steward Cui had arrived at the imperial capital of the Western Radiance Dynasty. He didn’t dare delay and immediately requested an audience with the Empress.

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Lin Ran was in the Imperial Study, diligently reviewing memorials. With both Qi Huang and her Divine Realm master handling the northern front, the boulder weighing on her heart had finally lifted.

“Your Majesty, someone seeks an audience outside, it’s Steward Cui of Poyun Peak,” a eunuch reported.

“Uncle Cui? Invite him in at once,” Lin Ran said quickly, rising from the dragon throne. Facing an elder of her sect, she neither wanted nor dared to put on airs; cultivators had little need to follow mortal court etiquette anyway.

Steward Cui stumbled into the study, his face pale with fright.

“Uncle Cui, what brings you here today?” Lin Ran asked politely, unaware he had just returned from the border.

“Lin… Junior Sister Lin… I… I have urgent news for you,” Steward Cui stammered, unsteady on his feet.

“What is it?” Lin Ran rushed forward to steady him, a faint sense of dread creeping into her heart.

“Dismiss everyone. This is for your ears alone,” Steward Cui whispered, trying to compose himself.

“Leave us,” Lin Ran commanded. The palace maids and eunuchs withdrew immediately.

Still uneasy, Steward Cui reinforced the room with a Divine Sense barrier and crushed a Sound-Blocking Talisman for good measure.

“Uncle Cui, you’re being so cautious… what on earth has happened?” Lin Ran pressed anxiously.

“Junior Sister Lin… your master is dead,” Steward Cui said gravely.

“What?” Lin Ran’s beautiful eyes widened in shock.