Volume 9, Chapter 639 – The Immortal Stele Is Not an Imperial Decree (Part 3)

Time slipped away like a white horse passing through a crack, and before long it was already the late Hai hour of the night. At this moment, the guests finally began to sense that something was wrong.

“It’s already Hai hour. Have you seen the bride?”

“No. Maybe she already entered the manor?”

“How could that be possible? When the bride enters the gate, there should be firecrackers and drums resounding to the heavens. There’s no way we wouldn’t notice it at all.”

“Indeed, it seems the bride really hasn’t arrived.”

“How strange! Only one more hour remains before midnight, how could she still not be here?”

“The emperor isn’t anxious, but the eunuch is? The people of the Lü family haven’t said anything, so why are you talking nonsense here? It’s not like she’s your bride.”

“Exactly, we’re just onlookers here. If the bride doesn’t arrive, all the better. There’ll be an even bigger spectacle to watch.”

The guests began to grow restless.

The Lü family members also couldn’t remain calm. In the past, even if a woman didn’t want to marry into the Lü family, it would never be delayed until the very last hour. After all, even ants cling to life.

The most anxious of them all was Second Master Lü Ze.

Lü Ze was Lü Dao’s younger brother. By logic, since the position of clan head was at stake, he ought to oppose the marriage of Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang to Lü Yi. Indeed, he had resisted in every way at the start. But later, because of a certain matter, his attitude made a complete one-hundred-eighty-degree turn.

Lü Ze’s cultivation had already reached the late stage of the Divine Realm, only a step away from the Heavenly Tribulation Realm. If he broke through, his lifespan would immediately extend by another hundred years. If not, he had only a few decades left.

At that very time, however, his elder brother’s household let slip the news: on the day of Lü Yi’s grand wedding, Lady Zhuo’s family would give a Blazing Breakthrough Pill as a congratulatory present. That pill was of enormous help to breaking through the Divine Realm!

Thus, for the past half year Lü Ze hadn’t stirred up any more trouble. He had spent the entire day monitoring the gift registry to confirm whether it was true.

Heaven favored him, the gamble paid off. When Lady Zhuo’s family arrived, they did indeed present a Blazing Breakthrough Pill. At once, the entire Lü household was thrown into an uproar.

Lü Ze almost burst into tears of excitement. At present, in the entire Lü clan, only he was qualified to take that pill. Once his elder brother died, he could claim it for himself. After breaking through to the Heavenly Tribulation Realm, the Lü clan’s future would be in his hands.

But alas, ideals are plump while reality is skinny. First, the Blazing Breakthrough Pill was fake, merely part of an act put on in collusion between Lady Zhuo’s family and Lü Dao’s household. Second, Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling had never intended to come in the first place.

Now, with Hai hour already upon them and no bride in sight, how could Lü Ze not be anxious? If the marriage failed, all those congratulatory gifts would have to be returned intact.

“Big brother, what on earth is happening? Where’s the bride?”

Lü Ze’s face flushed as he pressed his elder brother’s family for answers, as though his own grandson had been left standing at the altar.

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“Who knows! Could it be that she really intends to die to prove her resolve?”

Lü Dao said darkly.

Lü Ze fell into silence. After all, such things had happened before. If that were the case, then all his joy was for nothing. Compared to the Blazing Breakthrough Pill, what was Cheng Hongling, a mere slip of a girl, worth?

“There’s another possibility. Perhaps Cheng Hongling thinks she’s valuable enough that our Lü family won’t dare take action. She believes that at the critical moment we’ll strike her name off the stele, and thus she’s fearless.”

Lü Gao suddenly interjected. What he meant by “value” was naturally that mysterious method of strengthening Divine Sense.

“That’s possible too!”

Several relatives around them nodded in agreement.

“If Hai hour passes and she still hasn’t arrived, then what will you do? Erase her name? Or have Lü Yi continue to pursue her?”

Lü Ze asked.

“Pursue my ass! Who does she think she is? If she wants to die, then let her. We’ll oblige.”

Lü Yi swore. As a spoiled dandy, he would never bow his head to a woman, no matter how beautiful. Besides, he already had three hundred beauties in his harem.

“Exactly. If she thinks that way, she’s utterly delusional. The dignity of an immortal clan surpasses everything. If we compromise today, how could we stand in the cultivation world tomorrow?”

Lü Dao took over the words.

“Father is absolutely right.”

Lü Gao echoed.

Lü Ze wanted to say more, but in the end he gave up. He thought to himself, ‘Anyway, that playboy Lü Yi will marry sooner or later. The Blazing Breakthrough Pill will fall into my hands eventually. If I don’t live to see that day, then it’s simply fate.’

“Father, if Cheng Hongling really doesn’t arrive before midnight, how should we handle the guests? Someone might seize the chance to gossip.”

Lü Gao asked with a pained look.

“No need. Simply invite them to witness the grandeur of the Immortal Stele’s activation. Then no one will dare speak idly. After that, return all the gifts.”

Lü Dao ordered calmly.

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“Yes!”

Lü Gao was overjoyed, then strode briskly out the door.

Lü Ze too felt awkward staying, so he quickly made an excuse and departed.

“Hmph, that old man suddenly acting so concerned about my marriage. He’s nothing but a weasel paying New Year’s greetings to a chicken! ¹ 黄鼠狼给鸡拜年 (huángshǔláng gěi jī bàinián), the english equivalent of this saying would be “A wolf in sheep’s clothing” ”

Lü Yi cursed without restraint.

“All because of that Blazing Breakthrough Pill. If you don’t wed today, the duck in his mouth flies away ² 到嘴的鸭子飞 (dào zuǐ de yāzi fēi le), the english equivalent would be “Slipping through one’s fingers” .”

Lü Dao mocked.

“Tsk, tsk… he doesn’t even know it’s fake, does he?”

Lady Zhuo’s face curved with a trace of mockery.

Mea nwhile, in the dense forest four or five li east of Huarong Sect, Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling quietly awaited the arrival of midnight.

“This time the Immortal Stele confrontation won’t end quickly like last time. It’ll be a fight to the death.”

Qi Huang spoke.

“Isn’t that obvious? If they don’t kill us, how will the Lü family preserve their face?”

Cheng Hongling said flatly.

“What do you think it’ll look like when the Immortal Stele unleashes its full power?”

Qi Huang gazed at the sky.

“I think its force will likely surpass even the Heavenly Tribulations of the cultivation world. After all, immortals are beings who’ve endured tribulation. Naturally, the Immortal Might should exceed heavenly tribulation.”

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Cheng Hongling analyzed.

“Yes, but only compared to the cultivation world’s tribulation.”

Qi Huang added.

“What do you mean?”

Cheng Hongling frowned slightly.

“Do you know? Even after ascension to the Immortal Realm, cultivators must still face tribulation.”

Qi Huang teased, dangling the answer.

“What? Even after ascension to the Immortal Realm they still face tribulation?”

Cheng Hongling’s interest was successfully piqued.

“Of course. Didn’t I say before? Above the Immortal Realm lies the Celestial Realm. To keep ascending, naturally one must endure tribulation again. The tribulation of the Immortal Realm is far stronger than any so-called Immortal Might.”

Qi Huang said with an air of profundity.

“So? After saying all that, what exactly are you trying to prove? That you’re well-read?”

Cheng Hongling’s patience wore thin.

“If that’s the case, then have you ever thought about this? When the offspring of immortals at the Heavenly Tribulation Realm ascend, why doesn’t the Immortal Might help shield them from tribulation?”

Qi Huang pressed on.

“Are you an idiot? You yourself said most immortals in the Immortal Realm are subservient to the Heavenly Dao. Tribulation is of the Heavenly Dao. Do you think they dare resist? If they did, they might doom themselves too.”

Cheng Hongling rolled her eyes playfully at her companion.

“Uh…”

Qi Huang’s attempt at profundity collapsed. She could only change the subject: “Anyway, back to the point. If the Immortal Stele’s clash exceeds a tribulation, the shockwaves will be more than we can endure. We can’t just wait defenseless.”

“So what’s your plan?”

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Cheng Hongling finally turned serious.

A proud smile spread across Qi Huang’s face. Her pale hands stretched out, and more than a dozen spatial rings appeared in her palms.

“Where did you get so many spatial rings?”

Cheng Hongling was stunned.

“From killing… I mean, from slaying villains and redistributing their wealth. The materials of these rings are extremely durable. Once the Immortal Stele starts clashing, we’ll hide inside them. If one isn’t enough, then two. If two aren’t enough, then three. I refuse to believe more than a dozen can’t block the aftershocks.”

Qi Huang explained her strategy.

“That’s actually a good idea. How did you think of it?”

Cheng Hongling asked in surprise.

“Hehe, of course I thought of it myself.”

Qi Huang said shamelessly. In truth, the method had been told to her by Mu Ruoyi. Back when Shuiyu Valley was destroyed, Wen Yunmei had used this very tactic to save her daughter and Elder Zhou.

A peculiar light flashed in Cheng Hongling’s eyes, lingering for quite a while before fading.

As midnight drew near, the Lü household boiled over. All the guests were demanding to know what was happening: was the wedding still going to be held or not?

“My apologies, everyone! It seems our so-called daughter-in-law has no intention of entering the gate today.”

With confidence, Lü Gao strode into the courtyard and called out loudly.

Translator Note

I’m picking up a new series “ The Strongest Person in the World is Actually a Loli?!”, uploaded on this very same site. This time it’s a TS regression type novel… Check it out if you’re interested~