Volume 12, Chapter 794 – Blood Sacrifice

The reason Cheng Hongling didn’t give the other woman a pleasant expression was that all the calamities that had befallen Huangtian County over the past few thousand years were caused by the woman before her. As a disciple of the Honghua Sect, she naturally harbored resentment, something that could not be dispelled by a mere few days of acquaintance.

Qi Huang didn’t step in to smooth things over. She had already done more than enough. If this woman still refused to appreciate her goodwill, then she would have no choice but to destroy the flower with a ruthless hand.

Zhen Feiyan froze for a moment, then looked away. “Hehe, it seems our Alliance Leader Cheng really is setting off a few fires as soon as she takes office. Since you’ve said so, then this little woman can only obey.”

“Hmph!”

Cheng Hongling snorted coldly and said nothing more.

“Stop speaking in that sarcastic tone,” Jiang Feng frowned and rebuked Zhen Feiyan. “Don’t you understand? My granddaughter is doing this to protect our relationship. That’s why she wants us to move to another planet. Don’t fail to appreciate her kindness. After all, given the harm you’ve caused Huangtian County over the past millennia, she could have simply taken action directly instead of wasting words with you.”

Zhen Feiyan took a deep breath, then stood up and bent her knees in a respectful bow. “I apologize. I was rude before, please accept my apology.”

“It’s good that you understand my intentions.”

Qi Huang smiled with satisfaction, then said, “Since that’s settled, prepare yourselves. Pack your belongings, gather any attendants you wish to bring along. We may depart at any time.”

“What about me? Do I have to leave as well?”

Beside them, Yaoyao asked cautiously.

“Do you want to leave?”

Qi Huang asked calmly in return.

“……”

Yaoyao opened her mouth but looked troubled. She was the clan leader of the Nine Nether Demon Cats, how could she abandon her ‘people’ and leave alone?

“I understand. If you don’t wish to leave, then stay.”

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Qi Huang said kindly.

“Everyone here is a spirit or specter. Why is she the only exception?”

Bai Yun protested anxiously.

“Do I have to explain again? I already said it earlier. I asked you to leave not because I distrust you, but because I don’t trust those weak spirits under your command. They must survive by sucking blood or devouring souls, but they cannot control themselves. Yaoyao is different. She’s the only spirit of her kind, so I can be completely at ease.”

Qi Huang repeated herself, clearly growing impatient, then added, “Of course, if you’re confident you can restrain every subordinate of yours, you may choose to stay. I won’t force you, nor will I show mercy.”

“No need to say more, we’ll leave.”

Zhen Feiyan raised her hand to stop Bai Yun.

Once their intentions were made clear, Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling returned to the Honghua Sect.

“My dear,” Qi Huang sighed helplessly, “you know, making these spirits relocate to another planet is actually quite a strain on me. After all, we have to take care of all their needs, food, shelter, everything, and send supplies regularly.”

“We can’t help it,” Cheng Hongling reminded her. “Now that we’re leaders of the Dao Alliance, since we’ve chosen to serve the people of the cultivation world, we must endure hardship without complaint.”

“Serving the people of the cultivation world is only one reason,” Qi Huang said with a faint, knowing smile.

“What other reason is there?” Cheng Hongling asked curiously.

“Do you remember? I once promised that when the time came, I’d reveal my true identity. That way, we could be together openly, and so that your parents could finally rest easy.”

Qi Huang’s gaze turned distant as she spoke.

“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. I think things are fine as they are,” Cheng Hongling comforted, though her words lacked conviction.

“Fine? Not at all. Whenever others are around, I have to call you my subordinate or doppelgänger. That guilty feeling eats away at me… I can’t bear it anymore.”

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Qi Huang spoke from the depths of her heart, then added, “Besides, if I can’t even give you a proper title, how can I call myself a husband, or a worthy son-in-law?”

Cheng Hongling took a deep breath, her expression turning serious. “Then you could simply be my wife instead.”

“Hehe…”

Qi Huang smiled bitterly and shook her head.

“What’s wrong? Can’t let go of your pride as a man? You remember what you’re like at night, don’t you? Do you still look anything like a man? As long as you don’t let those two souls of yours switch bodies, I believe you can accept being a woman wholeheartedly.”

Cheng Hongling spoke with certainty.

“Male pride isn’t the main issue. The most important thing is that I can’t be so selfish. If I willingly became a woman, then everything I just said would fall squarely on your shoulders. You’re not as strong as I am, how could I let that happen?”

Qi Huang still refused.

Cheng Hongling’s face showed a flicker of guilt, and after a moment she said, “Then just reveal yourself. Now that no one in the cultivation world can threaten you, if anyone dares to scheme against us, we’ll simply kill them.”

“If they come at us with force, I’m not afraid. But what if they come with honeyed words?”

Qi Huang voiced her concern.

“Honeyed words?” Cheng Hongling’s pretty face showed confusion.

“Yes. What if they approach us claiming they want to solve the gender imbalance in the mortal world, and beg us to intervene? As leaders of the Dao Alliance, would we grant them that?”

“Of course not. Though the mortal realm has more men than women, in the overall balance including cultivators, women actually outnumber men. As the spirits are being eliminated, many women will eventually return to the mortal realm, easing the imbalance. In that case, if you grant that assimilation power to those with ulterior motives, it’ll only worsen the situation. Women will grow ever more numerous, and whether in the mortal or cultivation world, their fates will be even harsher.”

Cheng Hongling said solemnly.

“It’s not that simple. The cultivators of today’s world have all been traumatized. Once bitten by a snake, they fear even a rope. As long as a single spirit remains, few female disciples will want to return to the mortal realm.”

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Qi Huang shook her head with a bitter smile.

“You’re right. In Huangtian County, the spirits have nearly all been purged, but even so, few disciples from Honghua Sect wish to return.”

Cheng Hongling nodded thoughtfully.

“So our only option now is to wipe out every last spirit in the cultivation world, kill those who must be killed, and relocate the rest. Once the girls return to the mortal world en masse, they’ll have no reason to demand the assimilation power. Then I’ll reveal my true identity, and anyone who dares to cause trouble, I’ll kill without hesitation.”

Qi Huang laid out her plan.

“I understand. I’ll do everything I can to help you achieve it.”

Cheng Hongling said resolutely.

Meanwhile, in another part of the realm, the Cao Clan had already gathered a great number of qi and blood-replenishing elixirs all in preparation for Cao Meng’s blood sacrifice.

Cao Meng didn’t keep his descendants waiting. He chose an auspicious day to perform the ritual, and every member of the Cao family came to witness it.

He had the servants place an offering table before the Immortal Stele, setting out tributes, then produced a large bowl and a small knife.

All the members of the Cao Clan stared wide-eyed, not daring to blink for fear of missing a single instant. After all, they had never seen “immortal blood” before, nor had they ever heard of communicating with an immortal ancestor.

Cao Kun’s lineage didn’t interfere, as they couldn’t determine Cao Meng’s true purpose.

Under countless eager gazes, Cao Meng drew out a jade vial. Opening the lid, he poured a drop into the bowl. A bead of dark red blood indeed trickled out.

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“So this is the blood of Ancestor Cao Yin? He ascended thousands of years ago, yet his blood hasn’t dried… This is unbelievable.”

A clansman exclaimed.

“What’s so strange about that? Ancestor Cao Yin left behind only this Immortal Stele, and it allowed our Cao Clan to dominate the cultivation world for millennia. You can imagine how powerful he was.”

Another replied.

“Haha, if that’s true—”

Cao Meng didn’t waste time. He took the small knife, cut open his wrist, and forced out his essence blood, letting it drip into the bowl. Soon, his blood merged with that single drop of immortal blood.

He slowly closed his eyes. A faint connection of bloodline began to stir in his heart, growing stronger and stronger. Yet his own essence blood rapidly thinned. Once a man grew old, such blood could no longer regenerate. He was draining his life away.

Moment by moment, time slipped past. Half the bowl was filled with his essence blood. He quickly swallowed several qi and blood-restoring pills, but they had little effect.

“Why isn’t anything happening yet? Did the ritual fail?”

“If it failed, that’s one thing. But what if something’s happened to Ancestor Cao Yin?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

The clansmen whispered nervously, worry written all over their faces.

Cao Meng himself grew anxious, he knew he couldn’t last much longer. If this failed, it would all be for nothing.

“Which descendant dares to summon me?”

Just then, an old man’s voice echoed in Cao Meng’s mind.