Volume 11, Chapter 768 – A Funeral Turned Celebration

“sob… it’s the Immortal Might… it’s our Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele… Huarong Sect… Huarong Sect is saved!”

At that moment, all the disciples of the Huarong Sect burst into sobs; even Hua Man and Hua Ruyi had tears welling in their eyes. After all, the Immortal Stele was their spiritual pillar.

“But where is this Immortal Might coming from?”

Hua Man and her disciple exchanged a glance; the doubt on each of their faces was so plain.

“Mother, thank goodness we didn’t bear ill will toward the Huarong Sect, or we’d be like that centipede right now.”

“You really gild your own face. With your pitiful cultivation, if someone wanted you dead they wouldn’t need Immortal Might; even a display of force would be too much for you.”

“This Immortal Alliance is way too unreliable. They kept saying the Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele was defunct, so what is this now?”

“Unreliable? I think they did it on purpose.”

“What do you mean?”

“Think about it: the Immortal Alliance is bent on eradicating the Huarong Sect. They spread fake news to lure some fools into exhausting Huarong’s Immortal Stele for them, and then they sit back and reap the benefits.”

“That makes sense. No wonder the grand Immortal Alliance would put out false information. The Huarong disciples celebrated too soon; when the first day of next month arrives they’ll still face annihilation. One Immortal Stele like this can’t handle the Alliance.”

“Who’s to say? Still, I hope the Huarong Sect holds on; otherwise the Mingyue Empire will be in complete chaos.”

“You’re fussing over nothing. Even without the Huarong Sect there’s still the Huarong School and Huarong Valley. As long as the Immortal Alliance exists, the Mingyue Empire won’t collapse. At most they’ll replace one supreme sect with another to manage things.”

The cultivators buzzed with talk, some elated, some anxious.

Because the source of the Yin energy had been destroyed, the evil spirits lost their anchor and fled in panic.

Hua Man placed the unconsciously fainted Cheng Tian into her storage ring, then led Huarong Sect people in pursuing the fleeing evil spirits.

On the other side, Huang Jing, disguised as a mysterious expert, also stepped in to help, continually clearing out the evil spirits that escaped from the Bottomless Cave of Panyun Mountain.

Seeing that the overall situation was settled, Qi Huang couldn’t wait to move the plan to eliminate the Immortal Alliance up the agenda.

“Now it looks like the Huarong Sect’s trouble is solved, but it’s only a temporary fix. Shouldn’t you consider clearing out the Immortal Alliance, the real culprit?” Cheng Hongling asked again.

“Of course. I’m planning to issue a proclamation in the name of the Grand Elder of the Honghua Sect: on the thirtieth of this month we’ll destroy the Immortal Alliance’s main hall.”

Qi Huang stated her plan.

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“Do you need to be so conspicuous?”

Cheng Hongling was displeased.

“Absolutely. I’ve already prepared a funeral for them at the entrance of the Alliance’s main hall. We’ll set up a banquet table procession for three days and three nights; if the whole world doesn’t know, wouldn’t that be a waste of the food? Wasting food isn’t good, my lady!”

Qi Huang argued with reason.

“You really gild your own face. You’re just showy, aren’t you? Hosting a funeral for the Immortal Alliance, who in their right mind would take that job?”

Cheng Hongling rolled her beautiful eyes.

“It’s fine. As long as I don’t reveal my identity, there’ll be plenty of people willing to take it.”

Qi Huang grinned mischievously.

“Isn’t that putting people in danger? If they knew the true purpose of this banquet they’d probably die of fright.”

Cheng Hongling reproached.

“No problem. With me around no one can harm the cooks. We’ll give them some compensation for the distress afterward.”

Qi Huang winked.

Cheng Hongling shook her head speechlessly, but didn’t object outright, proof of how doting she was toward her lover.

At this moment the Immortal Alliance’s main hall had received word that their forces were annihilated and that the Huarong Sect still had Immortal Might protecting them.

“What’s going on?”

That was the thought of every high-ranking member of the Alliance.

“Could we have underestimated the strength of Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele?”

Lu Lin asked uncertainly.

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“Impossible. I investigated secretly. After being suppressed by the Cao family’s stele, Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele is only at the Master-grade Fourth Tribulation level, one rank lower than the Lü family’s stele.”

Elder Kang said with certainty.

“Then if back when our Lü family suppressed that demoness she really was protected by the Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele, it should now be defunct; it couldn’t possibly produce Immortal Might again. Could it be she didn’t escape thanks to Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele?”

An elder from the Lü family guessed.

“Even less likely. In the cultivation world, nothing but an Immortal Stele can counter another stele.”

Elder Kang immediately denied.

“Forget it, it’s just one Master-grade stele. There are nine Immortal Steles in the cultivation world; most are stronger than Huarong Sect’s, and except for the Ning family, they all stand with us. When the time comes we’ll strike and kill, why worry so much?”

Cao Kun waved his hand impatiently to stop further fuss.

“Elder Cao speaks wisely.”

The other leaders nodded in agreement.

Qi Huang acted on her word. The next day she had disciples of the Honghua Sect issue, in her name, a notice to destroy the Immortal Alliance on June thirtieth, inviting anyone who had grievances with the Alliance to come to Wuye City and watch the spectacle.

After settling that matter, Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling set off for Wuye City. Soon after they cloaked themselves and entered a tavern near the Alliance’s main hall.

“You’re Manager Bao, right? I have a big job, interested?”

Qi Huang asked the innkeeper behind the counter with grand manners.

“May I ask, esteemed guest, what sort of big job do you mean…?”

Manager Bao asked curiously.

“On the first day of next month, I plan to set up a banquet procession on the street in front of the Immortal Alliance’s main hall, one thousand tables in total. Would this count as big business?”

Qi Huang asked with a half-smile.

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“How many? Say it again?”

Manager Bao was startled awake.

“So young and with poor hearing… I truly worry for this inn’s future, ah—”

Qi Huang mocked, about to repeat herself, but Cheng Hongling stopped her.

“One hundred tables.”

Cheng Hongling said succinctly.

“Ohhh!”

Manager Bao visibly relaxed; after all, his inn wasn’t large enough to host a huge feast.

“One hundred tables? That’s not nearly enough. The whole cultivation world will want to watch.”

Qi Huang grumbled, annoyed.

“True, but few will dare to take a seat.”

Cheng Hongling teased.

Qi Huang had no refutation and sulked.

“What do you mean watch the spectacle?”

Manager Bao asked in confusion.

“Never mind, one hundred tables it is.”

Qi Huang changed her tone.

“May I ask what caliber of dishes and drinks you provide per table?”

Manager Bao inquired carefully.

“Since it’s a funeral on the thirtieth, each table should have thirty dishes. Use your best ingredients and serve renowned wines.”

Qi Huang was generous, not like she was short on money anyway.

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“Very well. I’ll make sure it’s all arranged properly for you.”

Manager Bao’s excitement was plain, then he added, “But setting up a banquet procession on the street will affect pedestrians. You must obtain permission from Wuye City’s government office.”

“I’ll take care of that.”

Qi Huang patted her trembling chest, but Cheng Hongling grabbed her hand.

Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling then went to the local government office; since they could solve matters with money, they met no obstacles.

With the permit secured, the two went to find the city’s best ‘ritualist’. Since it was a funeral for the Immortal Alliance, they couldn’t skip the rites.

“Can we go back now?”

Cheng Hongling asked.

“Not yet. We need to stop by the brothel.”

Qi Huang used an as-serious-as-she-could voice.

“What? A brothel?”

Cheng Hongling’s expression changed; she narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly. “Prefer the wild flower to the home-grown one, huh?”

“You’re misunderstanding.”

Qi Huang broke out in a cold sweat and hurried to explain, “I’m not going for pleasure. I want to hire some courtesans to perform at the Alliance’s funeral.”

“Perform at a funeral?”

Cheng Hongling confirmed, astonished.

“Of course. Sending the Immortal Alliance to their graves is a joyous occasion for us. Naturally we should hire singers and dancers to liven things up. This is what people mean by turning a funeral into a celebration.”

Qi Huang winked.

“If the Alliance’s people knew your idea, they might die of rage without you lifting a finger.”

Cheng Hongling couldn’t help laughing.