Volume 10, Chapter 646 – This Is My Last Chance

Qi Huang knew very well that if Liu Yingyue announced the suspension of business now, those ordinary sellers would definitely become disheartened and destroy the Ghost Tomatoes in their hands. However, in order to buy Elder Zuo’s stock at a low price, sacrificing a few thousand Ghost Tomatoes was worth it.

Qi Huang did not head straight to the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance but returned directly to her own residence. She needed to let the news spread for a while.

Not long after she got back, that old fellow Qin Quan summoned her to attend a council meeting with her main body, and he had also invited all the sect’s senior members.

Qi Huang, Cheng Hongling, and their master Xu Mei went together to the council hall. Along the way, the three could not help speculating about Qin Quan’s intentions.

“He made such a big fuss; it must be about the Golden Fate Blossom seed. The deadline has arrived, and its owner could come to claim it at any time.”

Xu Mei made her judgment decisively.

“Exactly. After all, the seed was entrusted to him. Naturally, they will look for him to return it, so of course he’s anxious.”

Qi Huang teased.

“What plans do you two have? If nothing else works, you can just participate in this year’s Evergreen Conference. With your strength, you could make the top twenty with your eyes closed.”

Xu Mei suggested.

“Master, precisely because we are strong now, we cannot be content with merely returning the Golden Fate Blossom seed. We must set our sights further ahead. The people of Huangtian County have always suffered discrimination in the cultivation world because of their stature, and they were nearly persecuted by their own emperor. I must change this situation.”

Qi Huang spoke with a determined expression.

“So you mean to step into the game yourself, to find more Golden Fate Blossom seeds? I understand. But I truly worry for your safety. The Kapok Valley Treasure Land is not only guarded by the Immortal Alliance’s strongest forces, but the land itself is more dangerous than ninety-nine percent of the deadly zones.”

Xu Mei’s face showed concern. Since it was a Feng Shui treasure site, it naturally attracted terrifying aberrant beings.

“Don’t worry. At the very least, I am a high expert at the seventh layer of the Heavenly Tribulation Realm. So what if I’m crippled? I don’t believe anything in this cultivation world can threaten my life.”

Qi Huang reassured her with confidence.

Xu Mei opened her mouth but ultimately shook her head helplessly.

Rеad οո ΚαtRеаⅾiոɡСαfe

“Master, don’t worry! We don’t even know if what Sect Master Qin said is true.”

Cheng Hongling spoke up.

“You think he lied?”

Xu Mei was startled.

“Whether he lied or not, I don’t know. But no matter how I look at it, this matter doesn’t make sense. Think about it carefully, since the owner of the Golden Fate Blossom seed was able to obtain it, how could they possibly lack the ability to protect it? Why would they send it to this remote Honghua Sect? Is Honghua Sect stronger than them?”

Cheng Hongling reminded her.

“Not necessarily. Maybe their strength is limited. Hiding it away is safer than openly guarding it. For that, a small, secluded sect like Honghua is the best choice.”

Xu Mei offered a different opinion.

“But the other side openly said they wanted to use it as bait to obtain more Golden Fate Blossom seeds. That doesn’t sound like someone with limited strength. Anyone with half a brain knows that only the Kapok Valley Treasure Land produces that thing.”

Qi Huang countered.

“Indeed, after thinking about it, it truly doesn’t make sense.”

Xu Mei muttered after a pause.

“So don’t worry. We’ll take things one step at a time. I want to see what trick is hidden behind all this.”

A sharp glint flashed in Cheng Hongling’s beautiful eyes. With the help of her doppelgänger, her cultivation had already reached the third layer of the Divine Realm, and her confidence was gradually showing again.

The three of them soon arrived at the council hall, where the senior members of Honghua Sect were already present.

By now, Honghua Sect ranked among the top five sects in the Western Radiance Dynasty. Its leadership had expanded accordingly, with two Protectors beneath the Sect Master, and beneath them ten Elders.

Of course, everyone in Honghua Sect still acted according to the wishes of Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang.

Rеad оո KatRеαⅾingСαfе

“Hongling, about the Golden Fate Blossom seed… may I tell them?”

Qin Quan carefully sought approval.

“Mm.”

Cheng Hongling gave an almost imperceptible nod. After all, this was not some unspeakable secret.

Qin Quan breathed a sigh of relief, then retold the entire story. Most of the elders were new recruits or defectors from other sects and had no idea of the matter.

“That’s odd. Golden Fate Blossom seeds are rare, yes, but is it necessary to make such a fuss? Every year the Immortal Alliance distributes tens of thousands as rewards to nations. Would anyone really go to the trouble of sending one to hide in Honghua Sect?”

The quick-witted Right Protector immediately voiced his doubts. His surname was Fang. Although he had only joined Honghua Sect recently, his cultivation was already at the mid-stage of the Incarnation Realm. With his intelligence and resourcefulness, he had quickly risen to this position.

“Perhaps the force behind that person isn’t very strong. For ordinary sects, getting even one Golden Fate Blossom seed is not easy.”

An elder speculated.

“But the other side said outright they wanted to use it as bait to get more seeds. Is that something an ordinary cultivator would dare to say?”

Protector Fang shook his head in disagreement. His thoughts were exactly the same as Qi Huang’s.

“It doesn’t matter what he thinks.”

Qin Quan waved his hand. “The important thing is the deadline has come. What are we going to use to explain ourselves to him?”

“That’s simple. The Evergreen Conference is about to start. With Hongling’s strength, she could reach the top twenty of the Western Radiance Dynasty even with her eyes closed. Once she gets the reward, we can give it to him.”

Protector Fang suggested, and many nodded in agreement.

“But what if he comes to demand it before then? Will he give us the time?”

Rеad οո КαtReαdіոɡСafе

Qin Quan retorted. Silence fell over the hall.

“No need to discuss further. I never planned to join the Evergreen Conference, nor to return the Golden Fate Blossom seed. The force behind that man wants to use the seed’s fragrance to lure Lightning Hawks to find more Golden Fate Blossom seeds, right? The scent on me is no weaker than that of the seed. I’ll follow him as bait instead.”

Qi Huang spoke impatiently.

“Why?”

Protector Fang asked, puzzled.

“Because I want Golden Fate Blossom seeds too. Since someone is willing to lead the way, why not?”

Qi Huang’s eyes burned with intensity.

“But what if he refuses?”

An elder voiced another doubt.

“Refuses? The seed is gone anyway. Will he return empty-handed?”

Qi Huang countered, then added, “Besides, I never intended to ask for his opinion.”

“Qi Huang, Golden Fate Blossom seeds may be good, but they only exist in the Kapok Valley Treasure Land at the southernmost edge of the cultivation world. That place is not only tightly guarded by the Immortal Alliance but also crawling with countless wandering spirits and aberrant creatures. It is said to be even more dangerous than the top ten deadly zones. Isn’t this too risky?”

Protector Fang reminded her kindly. He didn’t know Qi Huang’s true strength, only that Cheng Hongling had reached the Divine Realm.

“Yes, Qi Huang. You are the future of Honghua Sect. You must not act recklessly.”

Elder Ruan, Fairy Lingyu’s grandfather, also urged her with kind words.

“Relax, I know what I’m doing. This matter is settled. No more discussion.”

Qi Huang’s tone carried authority. The others glanced at each other but dared not object.

Rеаⅾ оn КαtRеaԁіոɡСαfе

“Sect Master Qin, if the owner of the Golden Fate Blossom seed comes to claim it, inform me immediately. Do you understand?”

Qi Huang reminded him again. She was truly afraid her senior sisters might interfere.

“Understood.”

Qin Quan nodded hurriedly.

Qi Huang then left the council hall. Cheng Hongling followed, preferring to let her doppelgänger handle such matters whenever possible.

Seeing her disciples depart, Xu Mei quickly followed after them.

“Master, the deadline has come. Please keep a close eye on my senior sisters. I know they’ve been investigating the seed’s owner for years. Who knows what they’ve discovered? You mustn’t let them act recklessly.”

Cheng Hongling reminded anxiously.

“Don’t worry. I’ll watch them carefully.”

Xu Mei nodded in understanding.

Back home, Qi Huang continued to help strengthen her main body’s power, and then it was time to sleep.

She hadn’t forgotten the real matter. She took a strong sleeping drug and soon drifted off.

Not long after, Qi Huang began to dream. After several months, she once again saw Lu Yao.

At this moment, Lu Yao was traversing swiftly through the vast expanse of the Immortal Realm, searching for Heaven-Deceiving Water and Ghost Tomatoes. The former was to conceal her aura, and the latter to nourish the Boundless Demonic Hair.

‘The seductive diversions of my main body are only temporary fixes. This may be my last chance. I must figure out how to use Assimilation!’

Qi Huang prayed inwardly. The intervals between her dreams of Cheng Ling had grown longer and longer, which meant the memories carried by that Human Skin Mask had almost been completely absorbed. If she failed again to find a way to wield the power of Assimilation, she would be left to watch her soul be fully feminized, becoming a woman through and through.