Volume 11, Chapter 779 – Exterminating the Immortal Alliance (Part 5)

“Heh heh, do you think my… my doppelgänger would tell you?”

Cheng Hongling answered first; she understood that her beloved’s personality at night was fragile and in great need of her care.

“If she can truly block Immortal Might, does that mean she can strike at us without any restraint?”

At that moment the voice of Xiao Dian, the master of Zhizun Peak, rang out abruptly.

Lu Lin’s expression changed violently when he heard this; he stepped back while shouting, “Retreat! Everybody fall back! Return to the Immortal Alliance main hall!”

The Alliance members were scolded into action; their minds snapped awake and they immediately retreated, tail-between-legs, shrinking back toward the main gate of the Immortal Alliance, no longer caring about any missions.

More than half of the “honored guests” specially invited by the Alliance also moved inside, among them the Lü family of the Weiyuan Empire, the Zheng family of Zhizun Peak, and the Xiao family of the Jingtian Sect. Since they were locked in a life-or-death conflict with Qi Huang, they naturally sought solidarity.

Of course, many of the invited parties chose to remain neutral for various reasons; they simply stepped back instinctively, afraid of being dragged into trouble.

Among the immortal clans, the ones clearly standing with the “rebels” were only the Huarong Sect and the Ning family. Huarong Sect needed no explanation; as for the Ning family, they had been persecuted by the Alliance for their loyalty and righteousness, so they supported Qi Huang without condition. At this moment Ning Wuxia and her father were sitting at a nearby table, drinking tea.

Besides them, another outlier existed. The Cao family, who, because of hidden motives, were split in their choice of camp.

First, Cao Hong’s branch. Since he had died at Cheng Hongling’s hands, they firmly stood with the Alliance; their leader was Elder Cao Kun.

Cao Hui’s side was different. He still fantasized about marrying Cheng Hongling to his son Cao Yang, so he was unwilling to sever ties and chose to stay outside, acting like a fence-sitter.

“Nephew Cao Hui, what are you standing there for? Aren’t you going to bring Cao family relatives in?”

Cao Kun pressed, seeing his nephew foolishly rooted to the spot.

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Cao Hui acted as if he hadn’t heard. He knew that if he went into the Alliance, his son could forget ever marrying Cheng Hongling. If they lost, he might die horribly on the spot.

Cao Kun’s face darkened; even a fool could tell Cao Hui had a second thought, hence his indecisive behavior.

“Holy Maiden! Why don’t we go in with the Alliance people?”

A female disciple from Youxuan Palace couldn’t help asking the Holy Maiden Yang Jin.

“Are you stupid? Didn’t you hear Qi Huang say she specifically came for the Alliance today? We have no grievance with her, why pick sides? What if the Alliance loses? Wouldn’t that be a pure suicide?”

Yang Jin scolded in a coquettish voice.

“But won’t this offend the Alliance?”

The disciple worried.

“At most this makes us neutral. We haven’t joined Cheng Hongling and the others; what Alliance are we offending? You’re worrying too much.” …

Yang Jin rolled her eyes at the girl.

Other immortal forces without grudges against the Alliance thought similarly and chose not to support either side.

“Finally quiet.”

Qi Huang smiled in satisfaction, then turned back to friends and family: “Everyone, does anyone else want to add to the list of crimes the Immortal Alliance has committed?”

“I will… I will…”

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Ruan Lingyu and several fellow disciples jumped up eagerly, chattering away as they began to lambaste the Alliance. Rather than exposing crimes, it was more like they simply wanted to swear at them.

Qi Huang’s senior sisters vented to their hearts’ content before she finally spoke: “Alright, I’ll add the last piece. The crimes of the Immortal Alliance are far more than these. The disciples of Elder Zuo, stationed in the Western Radiance Dynasty, committed countless vile acts…”

Qi Huang then recounted all the crimes the Alliance had inflicted on her and the Honghua Sect, including secretly awakening the dark aura root at Pingshan Mass Burial Ground, Zhen Feiyan, which had nearly led to the destruction of the entire Huangtian County.

“Is that Elder Zuo even human? To take revenge on a cultivator under his command and yet not care for the lives of the county’s people, awakening such a horrifying fiend?”

“Not just the county. If Zhen Feiyan’s strength truly matched a mid-stage Heavenly Tribulation cultivator, then don’t just talk about Huangtian County; the whole Western Radiance Dynasty, even the entire cultivation world, would be pillaged!”

“Indeed. In the entire cultivation world only Alliance Leader Lu has reached mid-stage Heavenly Tribulation, and he was wounded by her last time. If Qi Huang hadn’t found a way to stop it, it’s hard to imagine what the cultivation world would look like now.”

Millions of onlookers began to curse again.

“Friends watching, we have said what we wanted to say.

Among you there must be people who suffered persecution by the Alliance. Why not take this chance to speak out so everyone can see the Alliance’s true face? There are so many people here, you need not fear reprisals.”

Cheng Hongling stepped forward to mobilize the crowd.

“I will… I will…”

After a moment’s silence, voices rose one after another; the spectators began to step forward and reveal the Alliance’s secret crimes.

“Husband, this Alliance really is wicked!”

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Qi Huang sent a telepathic message to Cheng Hongling.

“Yes, my lady! It seems everyone has long suffered under the Alliance; our actions align with public sentiment.”

Cheng Hongling smiled indulgently, her expression identical to how Qi Huang saw her in her male persona.

Behind the main gate of the Alliance’s headquarters, Lu Lin and his allies could only stare helplessly; there was nothing they could do.

“Allied Lord, is what they say true? Has our Immortal Alliance really committed so many heinous acts?”

Elder Kang asked cautiously.

“How would I know…”

Lu Lin started to reply instinctively, but quickly snapped, swearing, “Nonsense. This is obviously mudslinging, can’t you see?”

“Then who fed them this list? A pack of ants.”

Elder Kang asked angrily.

“Who else? Isn’t it that little demoness?”

Lu Lin’s eyes flared as he looked at Qi Huang, then he roared, “You families of immortal lineages still won’t act? Fine for that little demoness to swagger, but even those ants dare come out and slander the Alliance. This is simply unbearable.”

“We of Zhizun Peak have already set an example, and lost one expert because of it. Are you other immortal clans happy to watch?”

Sect Master Zheng Qian of Zhizun Peak rebuked angrily, referring of course to the Elder Zheng who was now reduced to only his Life Soul.

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“Don’t look at us; Jingtian Sect also lost an expert.”

Sect Master Xiao Xi retorted bitterly, referring to the Elder Xiao who had sat beside Elder Zheng, also left with only his Life Soul.

Hearing this, the crowd turned their gaze to the Lü family, because within the main hall they were the only immortal clan that had not acted.

“What use would our intervention be? First, the Lü family’s immortal stele is weaker than Huarong Sect’s; second, Zhizun Peak’s Elder Zheng already tried, passive Immortal Might defenses had no effect on that demoness.”

Lü Yi’s father, Lü Gao, defended.

Hearing this, people sighed and shifted their attention back to Lu Lin.

“Leader, since passive Immortal Might defenses don’t work against her, it’s up to you to go face her head-on. Perhaps she’s weaker than you.”

Elder Cao suggested.

Lu Lin hesitated, then finally sighed in resignation. After all, he was the Alliance leader and had to charge forward even without certainty.

Outside the gate Qi Huang was growing impatient listening to the endless chatter of onlookers. She cupped her fists in salute: “Friends, it’s getting late. If you have anything else to say, wait until I’ve annihilated the Immortal Alliance and we can discuss it. I’ll be holding this banquet for three days and three nights.”

With that she walked with lotus-like steps toward the main gate of the Alliance hall, then crisply warned, “I came today specifically to annihilate the Immortal Alliance. If any of you want to live, leave now while there’s still time. When I strike, it will be too late to run.”

“Empty boasting. I’d like to see what confidence you little demoness have to say such things.”

Lu Lin exploded in a shout, and finally charged out with an earth-shattering aura.