Volume 11, Chapter 754 – What Are You Risking Your Life For? (Part 1)

“This… this is impossible! I… I clearly sprinkled Heaven-Deceiving Water on myself, how did you lock onto me?”

Cao Hong struggled while questioning in a harsh yet hollow voice, but his words still trembled with fear.

“Mere Heaven-Deceiving Water, unable even to fool the Heavenly Dao, and you dare flaunt it before me?”

Qi Huang proudly lifted her smooth, jade-like chin.

Cao Hong struggled for a long while but could not shake off Qi Huang’s Divine Sense. His expression finally showed panic. “Y–Your Divine Sense, just how strong is it?”

“Want to know? Then struggle with all your might. Perhaps you’ll figure out where my limits lie. But only perhaps! Don’t get your hopes too high!”

Qi Huang teased, then turned her head toward Cheng Hongling with some regret. “Strange, though. This man is the Cao Clan’s Second Elder, yet he doesn’t even carry Immortal Might as protection! I was hoping to test the strength of Immortal Might.”

Shock flashed across Cao Hong’s face. He couldn’t tell whether this little demon girl was mad or simply foolish, wanting to test Immortal Might’s strength.

“Isn’t it obvious? Because of his confidence, he erased his own name from the Immortal Stele.”

Cheng Hongling swung her treasured sword as she spoke. As the Holy Maiden of Huarong Sect, she was well aware of the Immortal descendants’ habits in using the Immortal Stele.

For old monsters like Cao Hong, confident enough in themselves, they often erased their names from the Immortal Stele, saving that limited Immortal Might for their descendants who truly needed it.

“Makes sense.”

Qi Huang agreed, then ordered Cao Hong, “Why don’t you notify your family to carve your name back onto the Immortal Stele?”

Cao Hong froze. He couldn’t comprehend this demon girl’s twisted logic. Wasn’t that pure suicidal folly?

“You crazy thing, let him go! I still want to spar with him!”

Cheng Hongling said with a playful pout.

“Alright, alright…”

Qi Huang smiled dotingly, then turned back to Cao Hong. “You heard her. Be her sparring partner. If I’m pleased, perhaps I’ll spare your life!”

“…”

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Cao Hong’s mood was twisted to the extreme. Once, his mere name made rebels quake in terror, yet today he was reduced to a sparring partner for a snot-nosed girl. It was the ultimate humiliation.

“Take this!”

Cheng Hongling, sword in hand, impatiently lunged forward, once again clashing with Cao Hong.

Though Cao Hong’s cultivation was slightly stronger, his True Qi was weaker. With Qi Huang glaring at him from the side, he had no fighting spirit. He was chased about like a stray dog by Cheng Hongling.

“Is she really just in her twenties? She’s chasing down a several-hundred-year-old Vice Leader of the Immortal Alliance. How does that make sense?”

“Damn this cultivation path, so long and obstructed! I’d dig up my shortsighted master from his coffin just to scold him!”

“I thought Cheng Hongling was just the top talent of her generation, but now she seems to be one of the strongest in the entire cultivation world!”

“Qi Huang was right. Those so-called geniuses don’t deserve to be compared to her. In the cultivation world there is only one monster, and only one true genius!”

“Or maybe… is it possible Cao Hong’s just too weak? All reputation, no substance?”

“Very possible. These old fellows hide in the Immortal Alliance’s main hall, pampered and never stepping outside. If they could still fight, it’d be a miracle!”

From afar, the onlookers exclaimed in awe.

Cao Hong, treated as a mere sparring partner and stepping stone, heard every word with his Divine Sense. His chest burned with fury, but he was powerless. Already overwhelmed by Cheng Hongling alone, with the unfathomable Qi Huang looming nearby, he had no options.

Cao Hong knew that if this continued, even if he escaped, both his reputation and that of the Immortal Alliance would be utterly ruined. Rage surged to his crown, and he halted, roaring: “This is intolerable! To treat me, an Alliance Vice Leader, as a sparring partner… You deserve death!”

“Now that sounds like a Vice Leader!”

Cheng Hongling’s battle spirit soared, murderous intent surging like a tidal wave, manifesting into an army of thousands pressing down upon Cao Hong.

“Mere killing intent! You dare show it before me?”

With a twisted snarl, Cao Hong released his Essence Soul Doppelgänger, sealing it inside a spatial ring, suppressing his seven emotions and six desires.

Cheng Hongling’s killing intent swept over him, but caused not the slightest harm.

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She ignored it, charging in and scoffing: “You gave up your Essence Soul just to resist my killing intent. Your Divine Sense is weakened. How will you fight me now?”

“So what? You’re only at the second layer of Heavenly Tribulation Realm. Even if I sacrifice one Soul Fragment, what of it?”

Cao Hong replied confidently.

“You’re mistaken. My cultivation is indeed only at second layer of Heavenly Tribulation, but my Divine Sense is far beyond that!”

Suddenly Cheng Hongling’s Divine Sense surged to third layer of Heavenly Tribulation. With her Dancing Butterfly Movement Technique, her speed more than doubled. She skimmed across the air like a dragonfly touching water, leaving ripples in the void. Ice lotuses sprouted beneath her steps, quickly forming giant unopened buds that floated in the sky.

Cao Hong already couldn’t lock onto her with Divine Sense. Now, with her sudden burst of speed, even his eyes couldn’t keep up, only blurred afterimages assailed him.

“Not good!”

His face paled as he struggled to dodge. But without his Essence Soul, he couldn’t match her speed. He barely avoided fatal blows, yet deep bone-revealing sword wounds spread across his body.

Worse still, those wounds exuded biting cold. Threads of domineering Profound Ice True Qi seeped into his body, freezing his flesh wherever it passed.

Horrified, Cao Hong frantically pushed Fire True Qi to suppress the invading Profound Ice.

“Bloom! Profound Ice Mirror Lotus!”

Cheng Hongling whispered. The giant buds around her slowly bloomed, their petals rising like mirrors. Her figure multiplied into countless reflections.

Cao Hong, relying only on his eyes, could no longer lock onto her true form. He dared not hold back. His True Qi exploded in waves of heat, rippling outward to melt the ice lotuses. Yet it was useless.

Swish!

A shadow flashed. Icy pain seared his neck.

His hand reflexively touched his throat, only to find a neat wound splitting open, warm blood spurting like a fountain. His carotid artery was cut.

“Well struck!”

Qi Huang clapped happily.

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“The Vice Leader of the Immortal Alliance… is nothing special.”

Cheng Hongling retrieved her sword, standing proudly, disdain flashing in her beautiful eyes.

“Heavens, she slit his throat! That’s a fatal wound!”

“Yeah, is the battle already over? The Vice Leader couldn’t last even two rounds. Completely one-sided!”

“No, I heard that those in Heavenly Tribulation Realm can shift injuries to their Doppelgängers. As long as he has fragments left, he won’t die. The fight continues!”

“Ah, good, good! If the Vice Leader lost, the Honghua Sect would be so smug their noses would point to the sky!”

“Come on, Vice Leader!”

The distant spectators were shocked, but quickly rallied, shouting encouragement for Cao Hong.

“Vice Leader, you hear them? Don’t just stand there. If you don’t transfer that wound to a doppelgänger soon, you’ll be finished!”

Qi Huang kindly reminded him.

Of course Cao Hong knew his condition. He didn’t bother posturing. He decisively released another Doppelgänger and shifted the fatal injury onto it.

“You’ve already lost two doppelgängers. I wonder how many more you’ve cultivated?”

Cheng Hongling dashed forward like a ghost again, her multiplied figures filling the mirrored lotuses until countless shadows surrounded him.

“Hmph!”

Cao Hong snorted. A black net-like treasure instantly enveloped him.

Swish swish swish…

Cheng Hongling’s sword created endless afterimages, hacking furiously at the net, but not leaving the slightest mark.

“Hmph, this is the Cloud-Snaring Net, woven from the silk of a late Heavenly Tribulation zombie spider. Incredibly tough, with the property of yielding to overcome strength. How will you break it?”

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Cao Hong’s confidence surged. Fire True Qi erupted from him, striking the Cloud-Snaring Net.

Hissss…

Under the heat, the net oozed black mucus, reeking of Yin energy, sticky and corrosive.

Cheng Hongling struck it, only for her sword to be glued fast. No matter how hard she pulled, she couldn’t free it, while the mucus rapidly corroded the blade.

“Die!”

Cao Hong’s eyes went blood-red. True Qi surged out in violent waves, carrying with it the black mucus from the net, spreading in all directions.

Cheng Hongling decisively abandoned her sword and retreated at lightning speed, wrapping herself in Profound Ice True Qi.

Hissss…

The mucus splattered on her shield, Yin energy corroding her Profound Ice rapidly. Around her, the ice lotuses melted under heat and Yin energy alike.

Her brows furrowed as she replenished her barrier with True Qi. Yet the corrosive mucus invaded everywhere, draining her reserves alarmingly fast.

“Haha! Now it’s my turn to attack!”

Cao Hong roared with triumph, flipping the Cloud-Snaring Net toward Cheng Hongling to ensnare her.

“Stop, stop, stop…”

Qi Huang grew uneasy.

Her Divine Sense left her body, freezing the Cloud-Snaring Net in midair. Hands behind her back, she flew over, saying: “Weren’t you told to be her sparring partner? What life are you gambling with? Put that net away immediately! Strictly forbidden!”

“…”

Cao Hong’s eyes bulged like bronze bells. His face looked as though he had swallowed a dead fly.