Volume 12, Chapter 800 – The Descent of an Immortal (Part 6)

Upon hearing those words, the surrounding clamor receded like a retreating tide, leaving only the faint sound of the wind rustling through the air.

“See? The Cao Clan truly hasn’t given up their vile intentions. Everything they did before was merely to buy time.”

“That’s right. The Cao Clan feared for the safety of their Immortal Stele, so they made a public apology to lull Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang into lowering their guard. Now that their ancestor has appeared, they can finally reveal their true aim. Even if she refuses now, what can she do? The situation is beyond salvation!”

“But the problem is, Qi Huang once killed a member of the Cao Clan! That vice leader of the Immortal Alliance, Cao Hong, was slain by her.”

“Indeed! Isn’t the Cao Clan afraid of being ridiculed for marrying their enemy?”

“You fools are shortsighted. This is what true foresight looks like. Trading one Cao Hong for one Cheng Hongling, where else could they find such a deal?”

“Not only that, but she could also bear descendants for their family in the future. For the Cao Clan, it’s a trade with no loss and only gain.”

Whispers rippled through the crowd like a rising tide.

“As expected, the Cao Clan never gave up.”

Qi Huang couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

“Wait! Ancestor!”

A voice filled with agitation broke out.

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Cao Kun walking out with two nephews.

Cao Meng sneered in disdain. He had already expected this troublemaker to stir up something, though inwardly, he felt no concern.

“Who are you?”

Cao Yin furrowed his brows slightly.

“Reporting to Ancestor, we too are of the Cao bloodline. I am Cao Kun, and these are my nephews, one named Cao Ying, the other Cao Zhi.”

Suppressing his anger, Cao Kun introduced himself, then hastily continued, “May I ask, Ancestor, are you aware that this little demoness once killed one of our clan members?”

“Yes! The one she killed was my father. How could Cousin Cao Yang possibly take an enemy as his wife?”

Cao Ying shouted in outrage.

“Please, Ancestor, take action and avenge my father!”

Cao Zhi fell to his knees, pleading.

“If Cao Yang marries her, then we are all one family. What vengeance is there to speak of? I recall already ordering Cao Meng to notify you all that no one is to bring up revenge again.”

Cao Yin frowned.

“We can refrain from vengeance, but how can Cao Yang marry his father’s killer? How will the entire cultivation world see us then?”

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Cao Ying refused to yield.

“Get out of my sight! One more word, and I won’t show mercy!”

Cao Yin barked impatiently.

Cao Kun had no choice but to grit his teeth and withdraw with his nephews.

Only then did Cao Yin turn back toward Qi Huang and say, “You see? For your sake, I’m willing to put aside past grudges. Would you say that’s sincerity enough?”

“May I ask, Senior Cao, are you requesting this… or commanding it?”

Qi Huang asked calmly.

“What do you think?”

Cao Yin’s cloudy old eyes narrowed slightly.

“So it’s a command then? Meaning, I don’t have the right to refuse?”

Qi Huang’s smile remained unchanged.

“The Cao Clan is indeed still scheming after my Junior Sister. Stop dreaming in broad daylight!”

“Cao Yang is already married with children. Do you still want my Junior Sister to become his concubine?”

“Concubine? Even if the seven of them joined forces, they still couldn’t beat her. For our Honghua Sect, letting him become a son-in-law would already be shameful enough.”

The female disciples of the Honghua Sect cursed boldly, fearing nothing.

Cao Yin’s face darkened, his gaze sharp as a blade sweeping toward them. “Are these your fellow disciples?”

“Yes, just a few young girls. Surely a great immortal like Senior Cao wouldn’t stoop to quarrel with them?”

Qi Huang flattered him smoothly.

“For your sake, I’ll spare them. But you should understand, killing your relatives and friends would take me but a single thought. Do you truly believe you’re in a position to refuse any of my demands?”

Cao Yin seized the chance to issue his threat.

“Heehee…”

Qi Huang’s laughter curved her bright eyes into crescents. At once, within her Sea of Consciousness, Huang Tian and Huang Jing activated the Character-Shifting Art, and she shifted into her feminine persona.

Turning to Cao Yang, Qi Huang said sweetly, “Young Master Cao, may I ask, you are already married with children, so do you intend for me to become your concubine?”

“This…”

Cao Yang hesitated. If it were any other woman, he would have immediately shown disdain. But before him stood a peerless celestial maiden, one so lofty that he could only look up to her. How could he feel confident now?

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Beside him, Hua Yu’s expression darkened. “What are you hesitating for? You’re a descendant of an immortal! Letting her be your concubine is already doing her a favor, understand?”

“I…”

Cao Yang stammered, unable to decide. His struggle was plain to see. He wanted to assert himself but feared offending Qi Huang.

“Young Master Cao, I am the Alliance Leader of the Dao Alliance, surpassing Hua Yu by more than a little in every respect. Yet you would make her your wife and me your concubine, isn’t that rather unfair?”

Qi Huang spoke pitifully, her eyes glistening with soft allure, as if they might drip with water.

Gulp…

Around them came the sound of people swallowing their saliva.

Cao Yang’s throat worked as well, and he stared fixedly at her. “If… if I made you the wife, would you accept?”

Hua Yu’s expression shifted dramatically; an ominous premonition welled up within her heart.

“If that’s the case, I might consider it.”

Qi Huang gently bit her jade-like finger.

“Junior Sister! What the hell are you doing?”

From below, Shen Yuan cried out in alarm.

“What are you doing?”

Beside her, Cheng Hongling glared sharply at Shen Yuan.

“Can’t you tell she’s trying to sow discord? Looks like cultivation really doesn’t require intelligence.”

Su Qingying sneered, her face full of disdain.

“Uh…”

Shen Yuan suddenly understood and laughed awkwardly.

The women of Huarong Sect, however, remained silent. They weren’t fools, they could see that Qi Huang was acting under duress.

Naturally, Qi Huang didn’t want them to misunderstand, so she secretly sent them a mental transmission: “Just wait for the outcome.”

“In that case… what if I let you be the wife?”

Cao Yang’s heart was aflame, and he blurted the words without thinking.

“In the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme. Since you surpass Hua Yu, it is only right that you be the wife. I approve.”

Cao Yin nodded in agreement.

“Then, Young Master Cao, please erase Hua Yu’s name from the Immortal Stele first. After that, I will give it due consideration.”

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Qi Huang replied sweetly.

“Mm…”

Cao Yang nodded like a puppet on strings.

“No! You can’t do this! I gave up my title as the Holy Maiden of Huarong Sect, abandoned my bright future just to extend the Cao Clan’s line. How could you be so heartless and ungrateful?”

Hua Yu shouted in anguish.

“Silence! The Immortal is present. When was it your turn to speak?”

Cao Yin’s cold rebuke struck like thunder.

Hua Yu’s face turned ashen, and she roared at Qi Huang, “What a scheming witch! I truly underestimated you!”

“When you betrayed your sect and married into the Cao Clan, you should have expected this day. This is called retribution.”

Qi Huang reverted to her male persona and replied firmly.

“Is that so? You accuse me of betrayal, then what are you?”

Hua Yu retorted.

“Me? Heh, everyone can see it clearly. I did this only to protect my friends and kin. I had no choice.”

Qi Huang countered logically, leaving no room for argument.

The women of Huarong Sect nodded one after another in agreement.

“Keep talking, and you won’t even be fit to be a concubine.”

Cao Yin threatened coldly.

Hua Yu trembled and dared not speak again.

“However…”

Cao Yin’s tone shifted. “It’s fine to erase Hua Yu’s name, but your name must immediately replace it.”

“Yes, yes…”

Cao Yang regained his senses and nodded repeatedly.

“Indeed. Trying to gain something for nothing, the world doesn’t work that way.”

Cao Meng chimed in.

“No problem. Then I won’t consider it anymore. Go ahead and carve.”

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Qi Huang nodded obediently, her small head bobbing.

“Cao Yang, hurry up, stop standing there.”

Cao Meng urged.

“Thank you, Ancestor!”

Cao Yang bowed gratefully, then eagerly drew a dagger, approached the Immortal Stele, and swiftly erased Hua Yu’s name. Afterward, he carved in the names of Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang.

Seeing this, Hua Yu’s legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, realizing there was no hope of turning things around.

“That Hua Yu really lost everything. Not only her title as Holy Maiden but now even her position as the Cao Clan’s young mistress is slipping away.”

“She deserves it. That’s what happens when you let love cloud your mind.”

“Qi Huang is truly formidable, with just a few words, she made Hua Yu lose everything. That’s killing not only the body but also the heart.”

The onlookers murmured in amazement.

“What day shall we choose for the wedding?”

After engraving the names, Cao Yang turned to ask the elders of his clan.

“Marriage, for man or woman, is a major event in life and must not be treated lightly. Let’s set it for half a month from now.”

Cao Meng personally decided.

“Yes!”

Cao Yang then carved “October Sixteenth” below the names as the date, gazing with delight at the names of Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling, forgetting Hua Yu entirely.

“Half a month? Ancestor, may I ask? Can this spatial rift last that long?”

Cao Yang’s aunt asked anxiously.

“It’s fine. I’ll send two doppelgängers at the peak of the Heavenly Tribulation Realm into the cultivation world. They’ll maintain the rift’s stability.”

Cao Meng reassured her, and the Cao Clan members finally relaxed.

With that, the matter was settled, and Qi Huang returned to the courtyard below.

“Let’s hope this plan works. Otherwise, we’re truly doomed this time.”

Cheng Hongling transmitted her thoughts.

“Don’t worry. I have it under control.”

Qi Huang reassured her, then lifted her gaze toward the spatial rift. Within it swirled a layer of faint pink mist visible only to her and Cheng Hongling. It was the power of the Assimilation Heavenly Dao. Anyone passing through would be tainted by it.