Volume 12, Chapter 807 – I Will Make Her Pay

“Divine punishment?”

The onlookers looked at each other, puzzled by what Qi Huang meant.

“It’s common knowledge that a person’s gender is determined by the heavens. Forcing a gender transformation halfway through life, that’s going against the natural order. Aren’t you afraid of incurring heaven’s wrath?”

Qi Huang laid bare the severity of the issue. She wasn’t trying to scare anyone. Every person’s life was charted out by the Heavenly Dao. Forget something as drastic as changing gender, if one suddenly became powerful beyond reason, that too could draw unwanted attention.

The royal clans present began to show signs of doubt and skepticism on their faces.

“Alliance Leader Qi isn’t fear-mongering. Going against the heavens truly will bring divine punishment.”

“That’s right. Anyone who wishes to suddenly become a woman better be prepared to face heavenly tribulation.”

“Sigh, it seems relying on secret techniques to become a woman won’t work after all.”

Voices began to rise among the cultivators. As practitioners of the Dao, they had some understanding of these matters.

At last, fear crept onto the faces of the ordinary people. Even if they hadn’t witnessed it themselves, they’d all heard tales of heavenly tribulation, something even those in the Heavenly Tribulation Realm struggled to withstand.

“But Alliance Leader Qi, why haven’t you been struck by Heavenly Tribulation then?”

Someone suddenly asked aloud, and others caught on, turning skeptical eyes toward Qi Huang again.

“Me? I douse myself in Heaven-Deceiving Water every single day. If I didn’t, I would have already been targeted by the Heavenly Dao. And you? Do you have that much Heaven-Deceiving Water to waste?”

Qi Huang shot back.

“Heaven-Deceiving Water? That’s one of the most precious treasures in the cultivation world. Every single drop is worth a fortune! We don’t even have any, how could ordinary people possibly afford it?”

“Why is it so expensive?”

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“Because Heaven-Deceiving Water can only be harvested from meteors entering Lishui Planet’s atmosphere. Everyone knows how terrifyingly fast meteors travel. It’s said only mid-stage cultivators in the Heavenly Tribulation Realm can fly that high and fast.”

“That explains why only the Immortal Alliance Leader used to sell it!”

The cultivators resumed their discussions.

Upon hearing this, the ordinary folks completely gave up on the idea.

“Everyone should go home now. I already said that within a year, I will eliminate all the evil spirits on Lishui Planet. If, by then, anyone is still being harassed by wandering ghosts or malicious entities, I will give you the gender transformation secret technique as promised.”

Qi Huang, growing impatient, issued her eviction notice. Still, she gave one last warning: “Of course, that’s assuming you’re not afraid to die.”

“Alliance Leader, if you eliminate all the evil spirits on Lishui Planet, then what will us cultivators rely on to survive?”

At that moment, a cultivator voiced concern.

Qi Huang turned toward the voice and, to her surprise, saw it came from Zheng Wei of Zhizun Peak.

“That’s right. The majority of our income comes from exorcising spirits and hunting demons for ordinary folks. Once the evil spirits are gone, how will we make up for that lost income?”

“Alliance Leader, you can’t just look after mortals and ignore us cultivators. Even children know the saying, ‘When the rabbit dies, the fox mourns.’”

“Alliance Leader, perhaps… you could leave some evil spirits behind? Think of it as leaving us cultivators a path for survival.”

Other cultivators, stirred up by Zheng Wei, joined in.

“Alliance Leader Qi, don’t listen to them!”

“Alliance Leader Qi, wasn’t the Dao Alliance founded for the wellbeing of the common people? If you act like this, how are you any different from the Immortal Alliance?”

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“So this is what cultivators really are. Opportunistic scum who only know how to profit off others!”

Tens of thousands of commoners exploded with fury, shouting angrily and unafraid of the consequences.

Humph!

Just then, a cold snort echoed through the air. Cheng Hongling appeared like a wraith high above the Dao Alliance, gazing down over all with disdain.

“Self-serving, exploiting mortals with parasite-like tactics to line your own pockets… That’s the kind of thing the Immortal Alliance would do, not us. That’s not how the Dao Alliance operates. This Alliance Leader already stated that the original purpose of our formation was to benefit the people of the cultivation world. That will never change. If I hear such talk again, I’ll make sure they shut up, permanently.”

Under the oppressive force of her presence, the once outspoken cultivators all shut their mouths in fear.

“Fellow Daoists, while the evil spirits may be gone, your skills are not. You can still earn a living by providing other services—like pills, protection, or healing—to ordinary people. Who says you’ll starve?

On the other hand, if we let these evil spirits run rampant, the mortal population will continue to dwindle. Who are you going to exorcise then?”

Qi Huang questioned them clearly and firmly.

The cultivators bowed their heads, silent. Of course they understood this reasoning, but most of them were selfish and reluctant to let go of their cash cow.

Qi Huang continued, reasoning with them: “I say all this to make one thing clear: in Lishui Planet, the mortal world is the foundation, and the immortal sects are like the buildings above. If the foundation is unstable, how can the house stand? Am I wrong?”

“Alliance Leader Qi is wise! Long live Alliance Leader Qi! We fully support you!”

“Alliance Leader Qi genuinely cares for the common folk. We trust that your intentions are sincere. We don’t need the gender transformation technique. We’ll go home and wait for your good news.”

“Yes! Even if you can’t fully eradicate the evil spirits, we won’t complain.”

The same royal clans who had just questioned Qi Huang now spoke with tears in their eyes, voicing their full support.

Qi Huang slightly curled her lips into a smile. This could be considered a blessing in disguise.

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Meanwhile, the cultivators who had spoken earlier all buried their heads and muttered under their breath, visibly resentful.

“This Alliance Leader warns certain individuals. My plan affects the future of both the mortal and immortal realms. If anyone dares sabotage it, don’t blame me for being merciless.”

Qi Huang issued one last stern warning. She had already exercised great patience explaining everything. From this point on, she would show no mercy.

Her speech left the royal clans completely convinced, and they left the Dao Alliance without delay.

Some cultivators were still unwilling to let it go, though they no longer dared to speak. One by one, they departed with sour expressions.

Qi Huang knew these people wouldn’t give up so easily. So she activated her Divine Sense to monitor them. Her intention was clear: catch one in the act to serve as an example. And her first target was Zhizun Peak, the ones who started this mess.

“Father, do you really think that Qi Huang can eliminate all the evil spirits in the cultivation world?”

On the way back, Zheng Wei of Zhizun Peak couldn’t help but ask his father, Zheng Qian.

Zheng Qian signaled for silence before replying via mental transmission, “That woman… or man… ugh, whatever… That Qi Huang could even take down a Master-grade Immortal from the Cao Clan. Compared to that, what are a few evil spirits? Give her enough time, and not only will wandering ghosts disappear… even criminals might vanish from the cultivation world.”

“Then what are we supposed to do? You know better than anyone that most of Zhizun Peak’s income comes from exorcising spirits for mortals. If she succeeds, won’t we suffer a massive loss?”

Zheng Wei replied through mental transmission, full of concern.

“Do I look like an idiot? Do you really think I need you to remind me?”

Zheng Qian glared at his son.

“Then shouldn’t we come up with a plan?”

Zheng Wei urged impatiently.

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“What’s the rush? So what if she’s strong? Does she know exactly how many evil spirits are out there in the cultivation world? We just capture a couple, stash them in a spatial ring, and then release them a year later. Let’s see how she explains that to the mortals then!”

Zheng Qian sneered.

“Brilliant, Father! That way we keep the seeds of the evil spirits alive. Help them grow stronger, and our income stream remains intact!”

Zheng Wei said, elated.

“Money isn’t the real issue. Qi Huang destroyed our sect’s Immortal Stele. I fully intend to make her pay for that.”

Zheng Qian’s eyes gleamed with vicious light, his expression twisted with hatred.

“Then shall we act immediately? Evil spirits are everywhere.”

Zheng Wei asked eagerly.

“Can you use your brain for once? You were the one leading the complaints just now, and we just left the Dao Alliance. She’s probably monitoring us as we speak. Wait till later. First, figure out how to get our hands on some Heaven-Deceiving Water. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

Zheng Qian scolded.

“You’re right, Father.”

Zheng Wei nodded repeatedly.

Back at the Honghua Sect, Qi Huang let out a cold laugh. Though she didn’t know what the Zheng father and son had been whispering about in their mental transmissions, their excessive caution made it obvious: they had a guilty conscience.

“Heh… I’d like to see just what kind of tricks you two are planning.”

Qi Huang’s lips curled into a smirk, as she continued to monitor them without pause. She knew that sooner or later, even the slyest fox would show its tail.