Volume 11, Chapter 759 – I Am Qi Huang

Inside the grand discussion hall of the Huarong Sect, dozens of high-ranking members sat restlessly, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.

On the sect leader’s throne sat Hua Ruyi, her phoenix eyes filled with gloom. She had thought that sacrificing their sect’s Immortal Stele would buy the Holy Maiden seven or eight years of growth. Who would have imagined that only three years later, things would spiral into such an irretrievable state?

Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger, Cheng Tian, sat just below Hua Ruyi’s left side. Her expression remained calm and unruffled.

“Sect Leader, are the rumors outside true? They say our Holy Maiden of Huarong Sect is the Honghua Sect disciple who killed Alliance Leader Cao.”

“They also say the Immortal Alliance has expelled us, that all of our disciples have been declared wanted fugitives!”

“Yes, and they say that after the Immortal Alliance eradicated Honghua Sect and Shuiyu Valley, we are next in line.”

The high-ranking members could no longer contain themselves and pressed for answers.

Hua Ruyi did not speak. Instead, she turned her eyes to Cheng Tian, as though seeking her opinion.

Cheng Tian rose gracefully, descended the steps without hesitation, and decisively removed the veil covering her face. “It’s true. My main body is that very disciple of Honghua Sect, Cheng Hongling. And yes, she did indeed kill the Deputy Alliance Leader of the Immortal Alliance!”

“What? Then what will become of our Huarong Sect? The Immortal Alliance has already marked us for vengeance.”

“What’s there to fear? Don’t we still have the Immortal Stele’s protection?”

“But the word outside is that our Immortal Stele is nothing but an empty shell now.”

“What? If that’s true, we won’t even need the Alliance to act. The old enemies we’ve accumulated will make sure the Huarong Sect is torn to pieces.”

“Yes, I’ve already heard whispers. Those petty enemies of ours are preparing to move against us. Many of our disciples are now too afraid to leave the sect gates.”

“Not preparing, they’ve already begun. These past days, disciples have been ambushed every so often. If not for our high-level members rushing to save them, the losses would have been irreparable.”

“Then what are we to do? If disciples cannot leave the sect, no one will be able to deal with malevolent spirits. What will happen to the mortals of the secular world?”

The leaders below grew anxious, pressing their concerns.

“Everyone, rest assured. The Immortal Stele is intact.”

With no other choice, Hua Ruyi could only grit her teeth and lie.

“Is that true? If the Holy Maiden is really that Honghua Sect disciple, years ago she was once suppressed by the Lü Family’s Immortal Stele. Everyone in the cultivation world knows of it! Tell me, if Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele hadn’t sheltered her, how did she escape alive?”

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“Indeed, after suppression by the Cao Family’s Immortal Stele, the strength of our stele should not differ much from that of the Lü Family’s. Helping her would have come at the cost of mutual destruction. Its destruction is entirely possible. The rumors outside have much credibility!”

“Sect Leader, why not unleash the Immortal Might? At least it would scare off those who harbor ill intentions, so our disciples could venture out again with peace of mind!”

These seasoned elders, each with centuries of experience, would not be so easily deceived.

Hua Ruyi’s face turned awkward in an instant. If she could summon Immortal Might at will, would there be any need to fear the Alliance?

“No need. I, the Holy Maiden, will soon step outside openly. Those with sinister designs will surely act. By then, whether Immortal Might exists or not will be clear for all to see.”

Cheng Tian spoke decisively.

“Holy Maiden, think carefully!”

Startled, Hua Ruyi quickly interjected. She could not bear to see her own investment washed away in vain.

“No harm. Sect Leader, don’t worry.”

Cheng Tian brushed it off casually.

“That’s good, that’s good.”

“Good? Have you forgotten? The Cao Family’s Immortal Stele was far stronger than ours. Even if ours is unharmed, it may not be able to shield the sect.”

“Yes, because of Hua Yu, we too were once suppressed beneath the Cao Family’s stele. Have you already forgotten?”

“Sect Leader, why don’t you go and plead with Alliance Leader Lu and the Cao Family? As long as the sincerity is genuine enough, there is no grudge that cannot be resolved.”

“Yes, at worst we can sacrifice everything we have to compensate them for their losses.”

The high-ranking members began to scheme ways to save themselves.

“Sacrifice everything? Spare me. I fear your little fortunes won’t even scratch the surface. Three years ago, in the Kapok Valley Treasure Land, it was also my main body who killed three elders of the Immortal Alliance.”

Cheng Tian dropped her words like a thunderbolt.

“What?”

The elders shuddered.

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“And that’s not all. Just recently, in the Western Radiance Dynasty, she also killed Elder Zuo. And as for—”

Cheng Tian pressed on ruthlessly.

“Heavens above! How many high-ranking Alliance members have you killed? Will it never end?”

“Stop! Stop! I beg you, no more!”

“It’s over. The Immortal Alliance will not rest until we are destroyed. Huarong Sect faces utter calamity.”

Many high-ranking members collapsed to the ground in fright.

“There’s no need to panic. Since my main body dared to act, naturally there are means prepared to deal with the Alliance. Eat when you should, drink when you should.”

Cheng Tian tried to soothe them, then changed tone: “Of course, if anyone lacks faith in us, they’re free to leave Huarong Sect. I will not stop them.”

At this point, no one dared to argue further. They decided to wait until Cheng Tian went out to test the waters.

Cheng Tian returned to her quarters and immediately relayed all that had happened to her main body.

Qi Huang needed no messenger. Her Divine Sense now blanketed the entirety of the cultivation continent without detection. Spying on the Huarong Sect, or even the Immortal Alliance’s headquarters, was effortless.

“Let her go out as she pleases. I’ll provide Immortal Might at any moment.”

Qi Huang instructed Cheng Hongling.

“Why not just tell Sect Leader Hua that you’ve already reached the Human Immortal Realm?” Cheng Hongling asked in puzzlement.

“There are three reasons. First, I want to temper the Huarong Sect, to refine it so that only those disciples who endure remain, Honghua Sect and Shuiyu Valley were no different. Second, I want to lure snakes from their holes, to use this chance to eliminate those plotting against the sect. Third, our main target now is the Immortal Alliance and those steles. Until we act, exposing my trump cards is unwise.”

Qi Huang laid out her reasoning.

“Isn’t that being overly cautious? If I had your strength, I’d wipe out any obstacle within ten days or stop calling myself Cheng!”

Cheng Hongling shook her head helplessly. Even with just a little thought, she knew that there was no other true immortal in this world. Her doppelgänger was invincible.

“Better to be cautious and live long.”

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Qi Huang explained. Born low, it had been hard enough to reach this point. She would not risk being capsized in a gutter.

Meanwhile, in the imperial capital, Lin Ran kept her promise and issued a decree: the entire Western Radiance Dynasty would stand with Huangtian County.

The people of Huangtian County wept with gratitude. Outsiders, however, were unhappy. They knew Huangtian was in dire straits, and none wanted to step into the muddy waters. Opposition rose, and turmoil spread across the nation.

Thus Lin Ran’s throne began to waver.

One morning court, ministers who knew time was short pressed her to abdicate.

“Your Majesty, is it truly worth endangering the Western Radiance Dynasty for the mere tens of thousands in Huangtian County?”

“Yes, you surely don’t know the Alliance’s might. Powerhouses like Elder Zuo number in the hundreds. And their Alliance Leader, capable of sundering heaven and earth, he could erase us in the time it takes to eat a meal. We stand no chance.”

“Your Majesty, we ministers know you are benevolent. But the Alliance never said what they’d do with those children. Perhaps they merely wish to raise them themselves. For the children, that may even be a chance.”

The ministers pleaded with “sincere concern”.

“I don’t know what the Alliance wants with those children. But as the Empress, I do know this: never can I place the fate of my people in another’s hands.”

Lin Ran declared firmly.

“Their lives are lives. But ours aren’t? Knowing the Alliance cannot be defeated, yet you insist on sacrifice and endangering tens of millions for tens of thousands. That is not what an empress should do!”

Minister of Rites Zhang Yi snarled, utterly without reverence.

“And in your view?” Lin Ran frowned.

“In mine, Your Majesty must act decisively. Cut Huangtian County out of our territory. From then on, their lives and deaths are no concern of ours!”

Zhang Yi gestured grandly.

“What?”

Lin Ran burst into angry laughter, but restrained herself. “Zhang Yi, have you not heard that though vast, every inch of our land must be defended? This realm was won by our ancestors, inch by inch. And now, at the mere threat, you would sever Huangtian? Can you face them? Today it is Huangtian. Tomorrow if the capital is threatened, will you tell me to abandon the capital? If one day the entire dynasty is threatened, shall I then surrender the whole kingdom?”

“Your Majesty, we are not here to argue reason. If you insist on this path, you will not hold the throne even today.”

The Minister of Rites threatened coldly.

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“Yes, if you do not cut away Huangtian county, we must commit treason and ask you to step down.”

The cowardly ministers pressed forward menacingly.

“Do not forget… I am a cultivator!”

Lin Ran’s beautiful eyes shone with dangerous light.

“And so? If you dare, slaughter the entire court.”

Zhang Yi sneered fearlessly.

Lin Ran bit her lip, her elegant face full of helplessness. She knew killing two would not solve the crisis.

“She ascended the throne with the support of this National Preceptor. Who dares unseat her?”

At that moment, Qi Huang who’s disguised as the National Preceptor, strode into the hall.

At the sound of her voice, Lin Ran’s gloom vanished, joy spreading across her face.

The traitorous ministers shuddered and lowered their heads, for the “National Preceptor’s” deeds were known to all in the dynasty.

“And what if you are National Preceptor? Can you defeat the entire Immortal Alliance?”

Zhang Yi dared to challenge.

“Those who would divide the land… die.”

Qi Huang whispered softly. Without so much as a glance, Zhang Yi’s body erupted, bursting into a foul cloud of blood, drenching the nearby rebels.

“Ahhh!”

The traitors scrambled in terror.

Rip—

Qi Huang wasted no words. With a motion, she tore off the hooded robe draped over her, revealing a green long dress and her true face. “Look carefully. I, the National Preceptor of the Western Radiance Dynasty, am Qi Huang of the Honghua Sect!”