Volume 10, Chapter 689 – Golden Fate Blossoms (Part 4)

Qi Huang knew she only had five days, so she had already prepared herself for the worst outcome of returning empty-handed. Who would have thought that within just half a day of entering this Kapok Valley, she would encounter a Lightning Hawk.

That Lightning Hawk had clearly reached the level of a demonized beast. Its speed was like teleportation, darting into a patch of sunlight in the blink of an eye. When it saw a group of people, it froze for a moment, but its eyes instantly turned determined, and then it spread its slender, razor-sharp claws, lunging straight toward Cheng Hongling. It might feed on Golden Fate Blossom seeds, but that didn’t mean it rejected meat, especially prey radiating the fragrance of Golden Fate Blossoms!

The scent of the Golden Fate Blossoms lingering on Cheng Hongling’s body had been triggered, making her the prime target of its attack. If she had been alone today, she would likely have died here, because her cultivation was only at the early Divine Realm. Even if her Divine Sense was stronger than most cultivators of the same level, she couldn’t possibly lock onto a Lightning Hawk that was at the peak of the Divine Realm.

Qi Huang naturally would not just stand there and watch her main body be endangered. Her Divine Sense shot out, instantly forming a massive net that soared into the sky, wrapping tightly around the Lightning Hawk and yanking it downward.

BOOM…!

The Lightning Hawk plummeted like its wings had been cut off, crashing helplessly to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

“What happened?”

The girls who were busy picking herbs looked over in confusion.

Cheng Hongling’s expression shifted slightly. Only at the very last moment did she realize the Lightning Hawk had been targeting her. Without her doppelgänger’s intervention, she wouldn’t have been able to react in time. The outcome would surely have been crippling, if not death.

“Wow! That really looks like a Lightning Hawk!”

Several disciples from Honghua Sect rushed over excitedly to surround it, snapping pictures with their Shadow-Retaining Mirrors, while the others followed suit.

The Lightning Hawk, seeing so many strangers, began to struggle and cry out. But the result was just like that pitiful “little skeleton” before, it couldn’t break free at all.

“Is that really a Lightning Hawk?”

Qi Huang turned toward Elder Kang for confirmation.

“Yes, yes, yes! That is indeed a Lightning Hawk. Teacher, you truly are heaven’s chosen. Barely half a day in here and you’ve already run into one of these creatures.”

Elder Kang quickly flattered her. Qi Huang’s power was so terrifying that he wouldn’t dare lie.

“Wow, it really is a Lightning Hawk! Our luck is too good!”

“Didn’t they say these creatures are already extremely rare? How did we encounter one so quickly?”

“This only proves how clever Junior Sister Qi Huang is. All of us gathered together, the Golden Fate Blossom fragrance became especially strong, making it easier to attract a Lightning Hawk.”

The Honghua Sect disciples chattered on as they took more pictures.

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After receiving confirmation, Qi Huang took out a Tracking Talisman and pressed it against the Lightning Hawk’s body. She softly reassured it, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

“So what do you plan to do now? Just track this one Lightning Hawk, or…?”

Cheng Hongling stepped forward to ask.

“This place greatly suppresses Divine Sense. Even I can only probe a few dozen li around me, and the deeper we go, the smaller that distance becomes. Since we can’t split up, we might as well focus on tracking this one.”

Qi Huang understood well that greed leads to failure, so she quickly made her decision.

“That works, but it means we’re placing all our hopes on it.”

Cheng Hongling’s gaze was solemn as she looked at the Lightning Hawk.

“No problem. If we don’t find anything this time, we can always return later. Once my strength grows much further, coming here will be as simple as stepping into my own backyard. Why would I need Immortal Alliance’s permission?”

Qi Huang’s tone brimmed with confidence.

Hearing that, Cheng Hongling’s frown gradually eased. After all, no one understood her doppelgänger’s growth rate better than she did.

“So now we just release it and track it, right?”

Qi Huang turned again toward Elder Kang for confirmation.

“Yes, but the more Yin energy clings, the shorter the musk’s lingering scent lasts. Over time even the talisman paper will corrode. Teacher, you must follow it closely.”

Elder Kang reminded her, desperate to ensure his survival.

“You all heard that. From now on, I have to follow the Lightning Hawk. Since your speed isn’t enough to keep up, I’ll have to store you all in the spatial ring. Collecting herbs and medicines ends here. Next time, I’ll bring you again.”

Qi Huang explained to the group of girls.

“Since my task is already done, can’t you let me leave? I still have to save my father, the emperor!”

Tang Yuníng spoke in a testing tone. The other girls also stepped forward to plead.

Qi Huang had originally wanted to tell the truth, but with Elder Kang standing by, she chose reason instead: “First, even if I let you leave now, can you make it out of Kapok Valley alive? Second, you all saw the strength of that creature. Can you possibly rescue your emperor father yourselves?”

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The girls looked at each other helplessly, their faces showing nothing but resignation.

“We’ll only stay here five days. Be patient and follow along. Once we’re out, I’ll help you save your emperor father.”

Qi Huang solemnly promised.

“Really?”

Tang Yuníng asked, trembling with excitement.

“Of course. I guarantee I’ll save your emperor father.”

Qi Huang patted her chest with assurance. Her exaggerated motion made her whole figure shake, causing Cheng Hongling to frown again.

“Great! Then we’ll stick with you. Just say the word if you need us.”

The girls rejoiced and chose to remain. Having personally witnessed Qi Huang’s strength, they knew that with such a powerful ally, the chance of rescuing their loved ones would rise sharply.

Cheng Hongling’s face showed a trace of doubt. Through mental transmission, she asked: “You didn’t tell them the truth because you were worried Elder Kang would inform the Immortal Alliance’s leader, right?”

“Exactly. I only want to give the Wenren clan a surprise. I don’t want to invite trouble. If I admit to saving these people and word leaks, the Immortal Alliance would endlessly hunt me down. They would never let these baits and their families go.”

Qi Huang explained.

“You really love stirring up trouble. If you just kill this Elder Kang, we can take the Golden Fate Blossoms and leave immediately. Wouldn’t everyone be happy then?”

Cheng Hongling voiced her idea.

“Absolutely not. The Wenren clan sees us as scapegoats. I have to let Elder Kang return alive to deliver them that ‘surprise’. Otherwise, how could I enjoy it?”

Qi Huang insisted stubbornly.

“Suit yourself. Just be careful not to set yourself on fire.”

Cheng Hongling shook her head helplessly, then asked: “Then why don’t you just send these baits and their families out right away? With your strength, it wouldn’t be difficult.”

“But have you thought about this? Right now we only have this one Lightning Hawk. What if something happens to it on the way? With the Golden Fate Blossom scent on us, it’ll be hard to attract another one. We must leave ourselves a backup plan. ”

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Qi Huang laid out her reasoning.

“That’s actually a good idea.”

Cheng Hongling realized, though she added, “Still, you could secretly tell them the truth behind Elder Kang’s back. That way they wouldn’t be so anxious.”

“That won’t do. If they knew now, they might slack off or even give up entirely. If I forced them, that’d be coercion, wouldn’t it? No, I need them to work for me willingly.”

Qi Huang replied.

“You really are cunning! You should’ve studied business under Father instead of cultivation with me.”

Cheng Hongling mocked.

“So you’re saying Father’s just as cunning as I am?”

Qi Huang burst into joy.

Cheng Hongling, fuming, rushed forward to kick Qi Huang.

Qi Huang dodged nimbly, begging for mercy.

The onlookers were dumbfounded. They had never seen someone’s main body and doppelgänger actually fighting each other.

“Sigh! Junior Sister’s main body and doppelgänger are at it again.”

Ruan Lingyu shook her head in helplessness.

“Should we stop them?”

Shen Yuan asked anxiously.

“How? Who would we even side with?”

Yun Fei asked leisurely.

“Of course we help…”

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Shen Yuan blurted without thinking, but realized mid-sentence it was a death trap of a question. Furious, she snapped, “Yun Fei, are you really trying to scheme against your own junior sister?”

“What scheme? I didn’t scheme against anyone.”

Yun Fei put on an innocent face, though the smile at the corner of her lips betrayed her.

“I’ll fight you!”

Shen Yuan roared, leaping at Yun Fei. The two of them wrestled together.

“Senior Sister, then who should we try to stop now?”

Miao Xiang asked Ruan Lingyu, panicked.

“Of course we should stop…”

Ruan Lingyu started to answer on reflex, but suddenly Yun Fei and Shen Yuan stopped fighting, turning together to glare at her.

Ruan Lingyu shuddered, then snapped at Miao Xiang in embarrassment: “You little brat, are you trying to trap me too?”

Miao Xiang’s face went blank with confusion. Before she could respond, Senior Sister Ruan pinched her rosy cheeks.

“Tch, what a bunch of childish fools.”

Su Qingying rolled her eyes, stepping aside quickly, afraid outsiders might think poorly of them.

“This is Kapok Valley, one of the most dangerous places in the cultivation world, and they’re horsing around like this?”

The other girls looked on in stunned disbelief.

Qi Huang eventually coaxed her main body back into calm, then collected everyone into the prepared spatial ring and released the Lightning Hawk.

The Lightning Hawk, once free, fled in panic. Its great wings beat so fast they left afterimages, flying away even faster than it had come, shrieking shrilly like a maiden assaulted by a lecher.

“Am I really that terrifying?”

Qi Huang chuckled, vanishing instantly from the spot. She knew that as long as she followed this Lightning Hawk, she would have a chance to find the Golden Fate Blossoms.