Volume 10, Chapter 683 – She Is My Life Mentor

Qi Huang watched with relish, secretly glad that she had not completely destroyed Elder Kang earlier. Otherwise, how could there be such a wonderful show to watch?

“Kang Sheng, if I remember correctly, what shattered before was your heart, not your brain, right? I haven’t even held you accountable yet for fleeing the battle last time, and now you dare to stir up trouble again? Are you tired of living?”

Elder Zheng Chi threatened as he released the suppression of his Divine Sense.

Kang Sheng was so startled that he stammered and dared not speak further.

“Elder Kang, why don’t you argue back? Your own interests must be fought for by yourself. If you don’t fight, do you still expect others to fight for you?”

Qi Huang said in disappointment at his lack of spirit.

Elder Kang’s eyes suddenly lit up as if struck by lightning. Clenching his teeth, he said, “Elder Zhao, what do you mean by causing trouble? They themselves say the cultivation world respects strength above all, so deciding the ownership of the baits by dueling is the most reasonable thing to do. On what grounds do you stop it? Do you have selfish motives? Should I go inform the Alliance Leader right now?”

Emboldened by Qi Huang’s words, Kang Sheng grew more daring.

“Well argued, Elder Kang.”

Qi Huang added with feigned praise. She then took a table and small stools out of her spatial ring, set them up, placed fruits and snacks upon them, and warmly invited her sisters: “Don’t be shy, everyone. Sit and rest. From the looks of it, they won’t be reaching a conclusion any time soon, so let’s just treat it as a play!”

The baits exchanged glances, each with fear written on their faces, thinking: ‘Who dares watch several elders of the Immortal Alliance as if they’re putting on a play?’

Cheng Hongling and a few senior sisters, of course, dared. They sat down unceremoniously to rest.

Meanwhile, Zheng Chi’s features twisted in fury. Yet, unwilling to bear the reputation of injustice, he could only compromise: “In that case, I’ll grant your request.”

He took a deep breath and announced, “The ownership of the baits will be decided through duels. There are twenty-one remaining, just enough to split into three groups. The three of you elders will duel one-on-one in single-elimination matches. The final ranking will determine the order of choosing the baits, and no one may raise further objections. As for me, I have more important matters and will not join in the search for Golden Fate Blossom seeds.”

Hearing this, everyone fell silent. Indeed, it was the most fair and impartial solution.

“Elder Zheng, don’t tell me you’re scared?”

Qi Huang teased.

“That’s right, are you afraid of being exposed and deliberately finding excuses to escape? I was already using tricks like that when I was three years old.”

Ruan Lingyu echoed mockingly.

“A dignified Grand Elder of the Immortal Alliance, yet afraid to fight? Did you perhaps get your position through nepotism?”

Yun Fei added malicious speculation.

“Silence! Dare spout nonsense again, and I’ll take your lives right here!”

Elder Zheng shouted harshly.

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“See? He’s flustered. Looks like we guessed right.”

Qi Huang pointed at Elder Zheng boldly as she ridiculed him.

“She must be tired of living.”

The surrounding baits paled and scrambled back in fear, lest blood splatter onto them.

“Why are you running? Sit back down. They still need to duel, and afterward they’ll need to recover. They won’t be done in less than seven or eight hours.”

Qi Huang invited again, undisturbed.

“Courting death!”

Zheng Chi could no longer endure and was about to strike.

“Wait!”

Elder Kang hastily intervened, warning, “Grand Elder, we don’t know how long these duels will take. If you kill them now, and their rotting corpses cover the fragrance of the Golden Fate Blossoms, wouldn’t that be a waste of bait?”

“That’s right! Please, Grand Elder, think of the bigger picture.”

Elder Gao also advised.

“Fine, let them live a bit longer.”

Zheng Chi exhaled deeply and then commanded hundreds of Immortal Alliance disciples: “Watch them closely. If even one escapes, you’ll take her place as bait.”

“Yes!”

The disciples answered quickly, encircling the twenty-some pitiful girls.

“Looks like we’ll be watching this drama to the end!”

Qi Huang remarked, amused. She had thought provoking Elder Zheng would end this boring scene, but who knew he could actually restrain himself. Truly befitting a Grand Elder.

“You deliberately provoked him to draw Wenren Clan’s hatred, didn’t you?”

Cheng Hongling asked through mental transmission.

“Of course. They dared treat us as scapegoats; naturally, I’ll give them a little surprise.”

Qi Huang answered smugly.

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“But have you considered this, Wenren Clan knows our secret. If they tell the Immortal Alliance, you’ll only be creating trouble for yourself.”

Cheng Hongling cautioned.

“No matter. I already planned to clash with Wenren Clan.”

Qi Huang said through gritted teeth.

“Speak properly!”

Cheng Hongling’s tone grew stern.

“Don’t worry, I’m going big this time. Afterwards, Wenren Clan certainly won’t dare admit they used scapegoats, so they won’t be able to expose us.”

Qi Huang spoke with a sly smile.

“Not admit? How could they deny it? Weren’t we personally delivered to the Alliance’s headquarters by Wenren Qing? How could they deny that?”

Cheng Hongling questioned.

“It’s fine. I trust Old Master Wenren’s wisdom. As long as he dares to cut off the rot, he can minimize the loss. That’s the ‘surprise’ I want to give him.”

Qi Huang’s lips curved upwards.

“And if Wenren Clan can’t cover it up?”

Cheng Hongling pressed, still uneasy.

“It doesn’t matter. By the time they investigate, I’ll probably already be an immortal. Besides, I have Zhen Feiyan as a powerful ally. If the Immortal Alliance dares to cause trouble, then it will be time to settle accounts once and for all.”

Qi Huang replied with full confidence. After all, she had already reached the eighth layer of the Heavenly Tribulation Realm, not far from immortality.

Cheng Hongling didn’t argue. She was long used to trusting the doppelgänger.

“Also, how many Golden Fate Blossom seeds do you intend to find before leaving this time? I remind you, the Doppelgänger Method cannot be left incomplete, unless you really want to become a woman through and through.”

Cheng Hongling asked again.

“I know. Five days. However many I find in five days will suffice. I never expected to gather tens of thousands at once for all the children in Huangtian County anyway. Taking them back to cultivate slowly is enough.”

Qi Huang explained her plan.

“But you must understand, taking living Golden Fate Blossom seeds out is strictly forbidden by the Alliance, let alone cultivating them. That will surely invite trouble.”

Cheng Hongling said worriedly.

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“Unless Wenren Clan exposes us, who would know we smuggled them out? Besides, isn’t there a rumor that someone once managed to cultivate even cooked seeds from the Alliance? If he could do it, why couldn’t I?”

Qi Huang said mockingly, then added, “And if the Alliance doesn’t believe and insists on finding fault? Same as I said: would I fear them? If they have the guts, let them come! With Zhen Feiyan’s help, I’ll strike them down instantly.”

“You really are fearless.”

Cheng Hongling shook her head helplessly.

“No helping it. Who told me, this immortal-to-be, to have such strength?”

Qi Huang laughed triumphantly.

By then, the three elders had moved to an open field in the distance to draw lots for their duels. Since there was only one chance, the drawing was especially important, everyone hoped to draw number three.

“This isn’t fair, is it? If one and two fight first, then the third gets the advantage of facing the winner with full strength. Even if they lose, they’re still second.”

Shen Yuan raised a question.

“Time is limited. How could you expect absolute fairness? Do you think they’ll do a round-robin? Then we might as well celebrate New Year here.”

Ruan Lingyu rolled her eyes.

“You misunderstood. I wasn’t complaining about the system. I just wanted to see more rounds of fighting.”

Shen Yuan whispered.

The drawing soon ended. Elder Kang was lucky and drew number three, meaning he’d at least be able to choose second.

“Hahaha, Wenren Clan’s girl spoke well! My own interests must be fought for by myself. If I don’t, who else will?”

Elder Kang laughed as he looked at Qi Huang.

“Elder Kang flatters me. If you truly think my words make sense, might you spare this little girl’s life later?”

Qi Huang probed.

“No problem! If I get to choose you, I’ll surely spare you.”

Kang Sheng replied generously.

Qi Huang grinned. As the saying goes, courtesy demands reciprocity. For that, she was willing to spare the old man once more.

The duels began. Yet luck could not make up for strength. Elder Gao defeated both Elder Kang and Elder Dong within less than an hour, leaving them convinced of their loss.

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“Elder Kang, you’ve really disappointed me. You couldn’t even beat that old man.”

Qi Huang shook her head, dismayed.

“Sorry, I did my best.”

Elder Kang said awkwardly.

“Are you brainless? Why apologize to a bait?”

Elder Zheng roared angrily at him.

“She awakened me like a dreamer roused. She can be considered my life mentor.”

Elder Kang said solemnly.

“Madman!”

Elder Zheng cursed again, then turned to Elder Gao: “Elder Gao, you are the winner. You may choose first!”

“Good, I’ve been waiting impatiently.”

Elder Gao walked forward arrogantly and commanded, “All those who triggered the Golden Fate Blossom fragrance, step out now.”

The girls, knowing stepping forward meant being torn apart, showed fear on their faces, none daring to move.

Cheng Hongling was the exception. She wasn’t afraid, she simply didn’t take him seriously at all.

“Elder Gao, we’ve at least worked together. Leave me one of the girls who triggered the fragrance, won’t you? Must you be so ruthless?”

Elder Kang pleaded.

“Fine! If you want one, pay for her!”

Elder Gao sneered, then turned to the girls and threatened: “What? Still not stepping forward? Whoever comes last will die first!”

“What should we do?”

Jin Xue panicked and asked Cheng Hongling and the others.

“Is the farce finally over?”

Qi Huang clapped her hands lightly, then stood and declared: “Sisters, don’t listen to him. From this moment, you are no longer the Immortal Alliance’s baits, you are this fairy’s baits.”