Volume 9, Chapter 643 – The Immortal Stele Is Not an Imperial Decree (Part 7)

“Fine, but before you go, you’d better compensate my Huarong Sect for our losses first. Otherwise, I fear you might never return.”

A teasing smile spread across Hua Man’s face.

“Why? Didn’t you just say that their Immortal Stele is nearly exhausted? The Lü Clan only has an old man at the first level of the Heavenly Tribulation Realm guarding it.”

Qi Huang asked doubtfully.

“I said ‘nearly’, not ‘completely’. Don’t forget, the Lü Clan’s Immortal Stele is a whole tribulation higher than our Huarong Sect’s!”

Hua Man reminded her.

“That’s right. You need to understand, the primary function of an Immortal Stele is to protect its clan, not to attack. That’s why every Immortal Stele in the cultivation world has a common mechanism: no matter what happens, it will always retain one-tenth of its immortal might to guard the clan! That is precisely why we dared agree to confront the Lü Clan alongside you! If the Stele could truly be unleashed in full, how could you possibly have survived? How could we ever dare agree to such a deal?”

Hua Ruyi carefully explained.

“So you’re saying that the Lü Clan’s Immortal Stele still retains one-tenth of its immortal might?”

Qi Huang confirmed.

“Exactly. Now, do you still intend to destroy it?”

Hua Man teased.

“Forget it. This fairy… this immortal will let them go this time.”

Qi Huang wiped away cold sweat. She had only just escaped death, there was no way she would foolishly think she could withstand even one-tenth of that immortal might.

“Then let’s leave this place first. You all look heavily drained. Go back and rest well.”

Hua Ruyi said with genuine concern. The girl before her was the future hope of Huarong Sect. Nothing must happen to her.

“Elder Hua, I suddenly have a question.”

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At that moment, Cheng Hongling spoke. Looking up at the spatial rift overhead, she asked: “A cultivator at the Heavenly Tribulation Realm ascends by shattering the void. If you were to enter the Immortal Realm through this spatial rift right now, wouldn’t that count as ascending?”

“That’s true. Since this rift was created here in the cultivation world, the other side must lead to the Immortal Realm. Elder Hua, isn’t this a bargain for you? Why struggle to ascend on your own?”

Qi Huang also caught on quickly and immediately urged.

“Hehe…”

Hua Man gave a helpless chuckle. “If only the path of cultivation allowed shortcuts. The Heavenly Dao knows everything. How could it possibly let you cheat? If one shatters the void by their own strength, the tribulation will immediately cease, and their cultivation will surge by a great margin, stepping into true immortality! But if I were to rely on this rift, not only would the tribulation not stop, I would face the Immortal Realm’s own tribulation instead. At my mere first level of the Heavenly Tribulation Realm, that would be nothing short of suicide.”

“There’s such a thing? How do you know that?”

Qi Huang was surprised, not by the Heavenly Dao’s omniscience, but by Hua Man’s knowledge of such details.

“Hehe. The cultivation world has existed for countless ages. Many have tried to cheat. Do you think not even a little experience would be left behind?”

Hua Man smiled calmly.

“Once, there was an ascender who attempted to bring a Heavenly Tribulation Realm companion with him, hoping to bypass their tribulation. The ascender himself surged in power, but that companion was instantly obliterated by the Immortal Realm’s tribulation.”

Hua Ruyi added.

“So that’s how it is.”

Qi Huang nodded in realization. She then gathered the small amount of Divine Sense she had just recovered and sent it flying toward the rift.

“What are you doing?”

Cheng Hongling asked warily.

“She won’t go, so I will!”

Qi Huang replied calmly.

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“What are you planning? That’s the Immortal Realm! What if you encounter danger?”

Cheng Hongling quickly tried to stop her.

“She’s right, come back at once! The Immortal Realm must be filled with terrifying experts. With just your Heavenly Tribulation Realm cultivation, entering would be like a lamb walking into a pack of wolves!”

Hua Ruyi also called out anxiously.

But Qi Huang ignored them and plunged headfirst into the rift, her voice still echoing as she went: “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. I have to see if there’s anything good in there!”

The reason Qi Huang was so stubborn was because of the lucky fortune she once had at the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground. She wanted to see if such luck would strike again.

The moment Cheng Hongling saw the doppelgänger vanish, she followed without hesitation.

Hua Man and Hua Ruyi stood before the rift, exchanging helpless glances, secretly worrying if their investment was about to go down the drain.

Inside the rift, Qi Huang looked around. Disappointment quickly set in, the rift opened into an empty void within the vast cosmos with not a single planet in sight.

‘I really am too naïve. How could such fortune strike twice?’

Qi Huang smiled bitterly.

“What exactly are you trying to do?”

Cheng Hongling’s voice came from behind.

“Nothing!”

Qi Huang gave an awkward grin, then withdrew the main body from the rift.

When Hua Man and her disciple saw both main and doppelgänger return, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

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“Let’s leave quickly. The commotion here will definitely draw attention. If someone sees you and word spreads to the Central Continent, the Lü Clan will surely grow suspicious.”

Hua Ruyi reminded with sharp vigilance.

“That’s not enough. Ruyi, once we return, have people issue a public announcement that a meteorite fell from the heavens last night, causing the disturbance. Understand?”

Hua Man instructed, intending to minimize suspicion.

“Understood!”

Hua Ruyi acknowledged.

The group swiftly made their way back to Huarong Sect.

By then, the sect was already bustling with noise. The great tremors from earlier had shaken the surroundings like an earthquake, and countless disciples had gathered in the streets to gossip.

“Do not panic. Everyone return to rest. A meteorite fell in the west, and I have already taken care of it.”

Hua Ruyi projected her voice with True Qi.

Hearing the sect leader’s explanation, the disciples finally set their hearts at ease.

The four then went to the Immortal Stele and erased the true names of Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling.

Qi Huang gazed at the stele, which had now become an ordinary stone, stripped of all might. A pang of guilt stirred in her heart, and she grew even more resolute in her decision to protect Huarong Sect.

“What are your plans now? Will you remain here in Huarong Sect?”

Hua Ruyi asked, a trace of hope in her eyes.

“I’m afraid not. Huarong Sect cannot provide the resources we need for cultivation, so we must return.”

Qi Huang replied awkwardly. For some reason, she felt like she was eating a meal she hadn’t paid for, trying to leave without even wiping her mouth.

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“Leader Hua, you should understand. With our current strength, even if we stay, we cannot replace the Immortal Stele. So remaining here won’t be of much use.”

Cheng Hongling unexpectedly offered the explanation herself.

“Very well, then.”

Hua Man and Hua Ruyi had no choice but to agree. It wasn’t that they distrusted Qi Huang or Cheng Hongling, it was just that as Huarong Sect’s Holy Maiden, it would seem improper for her to be absent for so long.

“Never mind. I’ll leave a doppelgänger here. She can handle the duties of a Holy Maiden. If anything arises, tell her, and she will relay it to me.”

Cheng Hongling ultimately did not want to make things difficult.

Qi Huang’s eyes lit up. This was undoubtedly the best solution.

“That would be best!”

The gloom on Hua Man and Hua Ruyi’s faces lifted instantly.

Cheng Hongling then left behind her first doppelgänger, Cheng Tian. As the eldest among her three ethereal souls and seven corporeal souls, she was steady and reliable, perfect for the role of Holy Maiden.

Cheng Tian herself welcomed the chance. Though it felt a little like being a hostage, it also meant maximum freedom and unlimited cultivation resources.

With that arranged, the main body and other doppelgänger departed for Biyu Peak, leaving Cheng Tian behind as the Holy Maiden of Huarong Sect.

“Now we must think about the Golden Fate Blossoms seed. By next year, its rightful owner will come seeking it.”

On the road, Cheng Hongling reminded.

“Indeed. But the nature of the matter has changed. They won’t be coming to claim it. I’ll be the one demanding they take me to find it.”

Qi Huang’s face curved into a mischievous smile. No matter who the other party was, with her current strength she was more than capable of turning the tables.