Volume 12, Chapter 797 – The Descent of an Immortal (Part 3)

“Grandfather Cao Meng, is this how you claim to safeguard the interests of the Cao Clan? You don’t even dare to avenge Grandfather’s blood debt?”

“I remember the clan rules clearly state that the patriarch is responsible for protecting every member’s life within the Cao Clan. Since you can neither do that nor avenge their deaths, shouldn’t you step down and let someone more capable take your place?”

Cao Hong’s grandsons, Cao Ying and Cao Zhi, roared with furious indignation.

“You dare act so insolent? Have you no respect for your elders? Do you think you can challenge your superior?”

Cao Hui berated them in a booming voice.

“Stop using your status to oppress others. Let’s be honest, everyone here knows who truly deserves to be the patriarch.”

“That’s right! Grandfather Cao Meng has been far too weak. Ask anyone here, who among us isn’t disappointed?”

Cao Ying and Cao Zhi’s words clashed sharply, neither willing to back down.

“Exactly! That little demoness killed members of our Cao Clan. If we just bow our heads like cowards, won’t the entire cultivation world laugh at us?”

“Reputation aside, if that little demoness doesn’t pay the price, won’t others think they can kill our clan members at will? How will any of us feel safe traveling outside?”

“What is the patriarch doing? Didn’t he already contact Ancestor Cao Yin? Why has he suddenly lost his nerve?”

“Could something have gone wrong with contacting the ancestor?”

The clansmen whispered amongst themselves, faces filled with worry.

“Patriarch, if you plan to give up on revenge, there must at least be a reason. Has something happened on Ancestor Cao Yin’s side? With his power, suppressing her should be effortless!”

Cao Kun asked, his eyelids twitching.

“That is precisely Ancestor Cao Yin’s order.”

Cao Meng restrained his anger as he gave his reply.

“What?”

The hall instantly fell silent. Confusion washed over every face.

“Why?”

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Cao Kun pressed on.

“Just do as I say. Why so many questions?”

Cao Meng snapped impatiently.

“How could Ancestor Cao Yin abandon vengeance? My father was also his descendant! Are you sure you’re not fabricating an order?”

Cao Ying’s words were reckless and blunt.

“Presumptuous! Who gave you the courage to repeatedly question your elders?”

Unable to endure any longer, Cao Meng’s fury erupted. With a thought, his Divine Sense swept toward Cao Ying, crushing down on him.

Thud!

Cao Ying’s body trembled violently. His knees buckled, slamming into the marble floor so hard that it cracked, forming a small pit.

The entire hall fell silent that one could hear a pin drop. Fear clouded every clan member’s face.

“I’ll say it once more. This is Ancestor Cao Yin’s command. If you don’t believe me, you can ask him yourself on the first day of the tenth month.”

Cao Meng’s aged face darkened as he slowly rose to his feet, reiterating coldly. Then he warned, “But let me be clear. If anyone dares disobey and causes trouble, you can explain it to the ancestor yourself.”

At those words, all of them shut their mouths. No matter how unwilling they felt, none dared defy Cao Yin.

Qi Huang watched the whole exchange, utterly dumbfounded. She could not comprehend what Cao Yin meant. A dignified Immortal from the Upper Realm, could he possibly fear her?

As Qi Huang pondered in confusion, something even stranger occurred. Cao Meng issued a public notice, openly apologizing to her and Cheng Hongling, declaring that the Cao Clan would never again harbor ill intent toward them.

“Could it be that the Cao Clan truly intends to turn over a new leaf?”

Qi Huang couldn’t make sense of it. So, she used Divine Sense Transmission to share the situation with Cheng Hongling.

“They were flaunting their arrogance just days ago, sending invitations everywhere. Now, just when their Immortal ancestor is about to descend, they suddenly bow their heads. This is far too suspicious.”

Cheng Hongling was the first to voice her deduction. After a pause, she spoke slowly, “Perhaps they’ve already guessed that you plan to gather evidence and preemptively remove their Immortal Stele.”

“What?”

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Qi Huang was taken aback.

“Your use of the Shadow-Retaining Mirror is no longer a secret. You used its recorded evidence to bring down the Immortal Alliance in broad daylight. Don’t you think the Cao Clan would be on guard?”

“That’s true. But then what? How does that connect?”

Qi Huang was confused.

“How does it not connect? By publicly apologizing to us, the Cao Clan appears reformed. Even if you record their crimes, the evidence will be worthless. When that happens, will you still be able to justifiably remove their Immortal Stele?”

Cheng Hongling sighed helplessly as she explained.

“That sly old fox! So that’s his game!”

Qi Huang finally realized and cursed aloud.

“Of course, it’s just my speculation. Maybe their Immortal ancestor truly understands reason and intends to lead them toward reform.”

Cheng Hongling added calmly.

“Damn it, that Cao Meng communicated with Cao Yin through Divine Sense. Who knows what they discussed?”

Qi Huang grumbled in frustration.

“Then you’ll just have to wait and see if the Cao Clan slips up again.”

Cheng Hongling suggested.

“Fine. I’ll stay here a few more days and keep watch.”

After much thought, Qi Huang decided to fight a long battle of patience.

Days passed in a blur. To her surprise, the Cao Clan really seemed to have surrendered. They stopped mentioning marriage alliances with her or her main body and focused entirely on summoning their Immortal ancestor.

“You should return first.”

Cheng Hongling proposed.

“So I came all this way for nothing?”

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Qi Huang sounded unwilling.

“What else can you do? Unless you’re willing to take the ruthless path of silently killing Cao Meng. Without him, they won’t be able to use the Immortal Stele to break through the Spatial Barriers.”

Cheng Hongling offered a straightforward solution.

“No. The Cao Clan just apologized to us. If he dies now, the entire cultivation world will suspect me. That would tarnish the Dao Alliance’s reputation. Besides, killing him only treats the symptom, not the root cause. The true problem lies with the Stele itself.”

Qi Huang refused decisively. She intended to travel across countless worlds to search for the Ghost Tomato and Assimilation Power in the future. She could not afford any stains on the Dao Alliance’s name, lest it come back to haunt her.

“Then go back already. Why the nonsense?”

Cheng Hongling said impatiently.

“Fine. Let them invite their so-called Immortal. If they truly plan to stir trouble, I’ll make sure the entire cultivation world knows that whoever provokes me, Qi Huang, not even an Immortal can save them.”

Qi Huang sneered coldly.

Before the first day of the tenth month even arrived, countless cultivators and mortals from all corners of the land flocked to the Cao Clan’s estate, eager to witness the descent of an Immortal.

Qi Huang, unconcerned as ever, slept in until she woke naturally, then gathered a few friends and Dao Alliance members to head over for the spectacle.

Before even reaching the Cao residence, her Divine Sense had already scanned the entire place thoroughly. She relayed updates through thought to Cheng Hongling, who resided within her spatial ring.

“I thought once we dealt with the Immortal Alliance, we could focus on strengthening ourselves to face the Heavenly Dao. Who knew this Cao Clan would pull another stunt?”

Cheng Hongling cursed in annoyance.

“It’s fine. The Cao Clan is the most powerful force in the cultivation world. Once they’re dealt with, we’ll truly have no more worries.”

Qi Huang remained composed.

When she arrived near the Cao estate, Qi Huang released her companions and several Dao Alliance elders from her storage ring.

“Wow, look at that! There are so many people, it’s packed so tightly the sky’s practically covered. I thought those were storm clouds!”

Miao Xiang exclaimed, hopping excitedly.

“Yeah, I thought there were a lot of people when Junior Sister destroyed the Immortal Alliance and removed the Lü Clan’s Immortal Stele, but this crowd is even bigger.”

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Ruan Lingyu’s beautiful eyes widened in astonishment.

“Understandable. After all, this is the first time in history an Immortal descends to the mortal world.”

Yun Fei analyzed calmly.

“Right. No one has managed to ascend in thousands of years. Who wouldn’t want to see an Immortal with their own eyes?”

Shen Yuan’s eyes sparkled with longing.

“I don’t. The Cao Clan’s done too many vile deeds. That Immortal can’t be much better.”

Su Qingying folded her arms and said flatly.

“You have a point.”

At her words, Shen Yuan’s hopeful gaze immediately dimmed.

Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling led the group toward the Cao estate. Along the way, many greeted them, while others whispered secretly in the distance.

“Aren’t those Dao Alliance people?”

“Indeed. Leading them are the Dao Alliance Master Cheng Hongling and her doppelgänger, Qi Huang.”

“She came too? Isn’t that walking into a trap?”

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Cao Yang used to lust after Cheng Hongling. Now that they’ve got an Immortal ancestor backing them, do you think they’ll let her go?”

“No way. Didn’t the Cao Clan just issue a public apology and swear not to repeat such actions?”

“You actually believe that? They’re probably just stalling, afraid Qi Huang might remove their Immortal Stele ahead of time.”

“Really? If that’s the case, then today should be quite a show. I’d love to see if Qi Huang truly has what it takes to stand against an Immortal.”

Whispers and murmurs rippled endlessly through the crowd.