Volume 11, Chapter 753 – Whoever Dares to Obstruct, Dies (Part 5)

“Grandson!”

Only then did Cao Hong react. He no longer cared about revenge, but like a dog who had lost its home, he rushed up in panic, carefully using his Divine Sense to catch his grandson’s body.

“My heavens, with a single strike she killed the arrogant Cao Guang in an instant. Among the younger generation, aside from that legendary Holy Maiden of Huarong Sect, who else could do such a thing? It really must be Jiang Ling without a doubt!”

“But that Cao Guang was a mid-stage cultivator of the Divine Realm. Then what is Cheng Hongling’s cultivation? Late Divine Realm? Or the Heavenly Tribulation Realm?”

“She doesn’t even have any immortal bloodline. How in the world did she cultivate to such a level?”

“You’re asking me? Who the hell am I supposed to ask? If I knew, then the one beating Cao Guang into the ground right now would be me!”

Several cultivators exclaimed in amazement.

“But Cheng Hongling shouldn’t celebrate too early. This isn’t the Evergreen Conference. She beat the young one, do you think the old one will let it go? No matter how strong she is, can she really stand against an old monster like Cao Hong?”

“Exactly, Cao Hong came today specifically to stir up trouble. And she went and poured oil on the fire, now there’s no chance of reconciliation. Not only will Honghua Sect suffer, but Huarong Sect will be dragged down with them too!”

“Don’t forget Shuiyu Valley. That Qi Huang is their Grand Elder!”

“Haha, Shuiyu Valley is really unlucky. Who knows, they might suffer suppression under immortal might again. I remember the last time it was also because of this Cheng Hongling. She really is a walking disaster!”

Nearby cultivators gloated with schadenfreude.

But the people of Honghua Sect and Shuiyu Valley showed no fear at all, because their trust in Qi Huang had always been absolute. After all, she had created far too many miracles before.

At that moment, Cao Hong was examining his grandson’s injuries, his aged face gradually twisting into something ferocious.

Cao Guang’s condition was extremely severe. His chest cavity had collapsed, more than a dozen ribs were broken, his internal organs ruptured, causing massive internal bleeding. Though it wasn’t enough to claim his life immediately, he certainly wouldn’t be getting out of bed anytime soon.

“I’m sorry, grandson! She must have spilled some Heaven-Deceiving Water on herself. My Divine Sense couldn’t lock onto her, so I failed to save you in time.”

Cao Hong spoke with deep guilt.

“No… cough cough… Grandfather… it was my uselessness… I shamed you and the entire Cao clan.”

Cao Guang wheezed heavily, apologizing with difficulty.

“It’s nothing… nothing at all… The path of cultivation is immeasurably long. Don’t dwell on temporary victories and defeats. At worst, you’ll win back the dignity someday.”

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Cao Hong comforted him, while pulling out the finest healing medicine to feed his grandson.

“Can I really win it back? She’s just… just too strong…”

Cao Guang’s tone was dispirited, clearly his Dao heart had collapsed.

“You can! You definitely can! Rest for now. Leave what comes next to me.”

Cao Hong soothed him against his conscience, then tucked his grandson away into his spatial ring.

Only then did he free his hands. He fixed his gaze upon Cheng Hongling, his eyes brimming with murderous intent: “You struck him down so recklessly, did it never occur to you my grandson might carry the protection of an Immortal Stele?”

Cheng Hongling said nothing. Of course she had considered this, but since she herself possessed a doppelgänger whose Divine Sense had reached the Immortal Realm, what was there to fear?

“You deliberately brought him to polish his reputation. If his body was still protected by the Immortal Stele, then defeating him would be meaningless anyway.”

From below, Qi Huang spoke with a calm, unhurried tone.

“So that’s how it is. You do have some cunning.”

Cao Hong sneered coldly, then looked directly at Cheng Hongling. “Just how strong are you really? I truly want to find out!”

“What’s the matter? You want to try me too?”

Cheng Hongling retorted without flinching.

“Alliance Leader Cao, victories and defeats are common among cultivators. Surely as a senior you wouldn’t stoop to striking at a junior?”

From below, Qin Quan quickly tried to mediate.

“This Alliance Leader is merely curious, that’s all.”

Naturally, Cao Hong would not be foolish enough to retaliate openly at such a time. As the Vice Alliance Leader of the Immortal Alliance, every move had to be calculated.

“Since the spar is over, it’s time we return to business. I’ll repeat myself: hand over the Golden Fate Blossom seeds and tree to the Immortal Alliance immediately.”

Cao Hong suddenly shifted the subject.

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“And what if we refuse?”

Qi Huang asked calmly in return.

“Refuse? Alliance Leader Lu’s decree was clear: those who refuse will be killed without mercy. Whether buyer or seller, none will escape.”

Cao Hong’s eyes gleamed with murderous light, his intent barely restrained.

“Then I’ll tell you this: today, whoever dares to stop me from distributing the Golden Fate Blossom seeds dies!”

Qi Huang’s words were like steel.

“I really want to know where you get such confidence from. From the dying Huarong Sect? Or from your own pitiful strength?”

As soon as Cao Hong finished speaking, his figure vanished. In his place, a sword shadow slashed through space, sweeping toward Cheng Hongling.

Cheng Hongling lifted her sword casually. Profound ice coiled around its edge, freezing the air along its path, spreading outward swiftly to form a domain of ghostly blue.

The sword shadow entered the domain, and slowed abruptly!

CLANG…!

A piercing metallic wail rang out. Cao Hong’s treasured sword fractured instantly, shards of metal mixed with profound ice blasting outward, rippling the surrounding space.

“Ah…”

The people below cried out in terror, scattering in panic.

Qi Huang extended her Divine Sense outward, easily compressing the rippling energy waves within a confined space.

“So young, yet your cultivation has reached the Heavenly Tribulation Realm. Just how did you cultivate to this point?”

Cao Hong roared in unwilling fury, his body surging with flames that evaporated the icy True Qi. His figure vanished once more.

“Hmph!”

Cheng Hongling snorted coldly, her form ghosting into disappearance as well. Wherever her jade-like feet touched, great swaths of profound ice spread, hanging suspended in the sky.

Cao Hong retaliated, flames surging wildly around him, scorching heat distorting the very air.

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Though Cheng Hongling’s cultivation was a layer weaker, with her Dancing Butterfly Movement Technique in full display mid-air, her speed matched Cao Hong’s perfectly.

Clang clang clang…!

Their figures tangled ceaselessly in the sky. Each clash unleashed dazzling bursts of light, each shockwave detonating with terrifying power, shaking the heavens and earth.

“Ah…”

Among the millions of spectators, many were swept away by the aftershocks, reduced instantly to ash. The rest screamed, fleeing like startled birds and beasts.

“Well, shall I step in and finish him in one strike?”

Qi Huang’s mental voice transmitted to Cheng Hongling.

“You’d better not. I finally encountered an opponent evenly matched. I have to seize this chance to temper myself. Following you every day leaves me little chance to fight; my sword is practically rusting.”

Cheng Hongling replied unhurriedly.

Qi Huang feared displeasing her beloved, so she abandoned the thought. Instead, she carefully shielded Honghua Sect and the nearby Shuiyu Valley, taking on the dirty, thankless work.

“Wow, since when did Junior Sister Hongling become this powerful? She’s actually pressing the Immortal Alliance’s Vice Alliance Leader down!”

“Right? If she’s this strong, then isn’t Junior Sister Qi Huang even stronger?”

“With juniors like these, why bother cultivating? Better to just learn flattery!”

Ruan Lingyu and the other three sisters leapt about in excitement.

“To fight the Vice Alliance Leader of the Immortal Alliance to such a degree, it’s no wonder she dares to defy them!”

The onlookers thought so while fleeing.

But Jin Xue and the others weren’t surprised. Back at the Kapok Valley Treasure Land, Qi Huang had already displayed terrifying strength, so it was only natural for her main body to be this powerful.

“Don’t just stand around, distribute the Golden Fate Blossom seeds!”

Qi Huang immediately ordered the disciples.

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They obeyed at once, hastily handing out the Golden Fate Blossom seeds.

Cao Hong wanted to intervene, but Cheng Hongling kept him pinned down. He could only command his men on the ground.

“Don’t you dare!”

The Immortal Alliance cultivators, following his orders, charged in to block.

The civilians who had come to buy Golden Fate Blossoms cried out in horror, huddling toward the Honghua Sect leaders for safety.

“I said it before. Whoever dares to block, dies!”

Qi Huang’s eyes narrowed. Her Divine Sense crashed down, instantly grinding dozens of Immortal Alliance cultivators and disciples into pulp, leaving not even their souls.

“Go ahead and buy, I promise you’ll be safe.”

Qi Huang reassured the civilians.

Seeing her overwhelming dominance, their hearts steadied. They quickly pulled out silver to exchange for seeds, some even feeding them to their children on the spot for fear of delays.

Others followed their example, making their children swallow the seeds right away.

Thus, throughout Huangtian County, the entire younger generation consumed Golden Fate Blossom seeds. In just a decade or so, they would grow into tall, handsome men and fair-skinned, beautiful women. Though their looks could never surpass most cultivators, they would far outshine ninety percent of ordinary folk.

“You Honghua Sect dare defy the Immortal Alliance? Prepare for your sect’s extermination!”

Realizing the situation was hopeless, Cao Hong turned tail like a beaten dog, fleeing at full speed.

“He ran just like that?”

Cheng Hongling muttered, still unsatisfied.

“Want to keep fighting? That’s easy enough.”

Qi Huang’s lips curled in a faint smile. Her Divine Sense shot out, spanning dozens of miles, seizing Cao Hong and dragging him back by force.

“Running, are we? As the dignified Vice Leader of the Immortal Alliance, don’t you have any pride? Get back here and keep fighting!”