Volume 13, Chapter 853 – Opening the Teleportation Gate (Part 2)

Qi Huang waited for a moment, and sure enough, her divine sense picked up a figure rapidly approaching. Not only was the person tightly wrapped in a long black robe, but their face was also deliberately concealed by a mask.

The figure had doused themselves in Heaven-Deceiving Water. Even after nearing them, he didn’t strike immediately but instead lingered nearby, waiting for the right moment.

“Sigh! This is so boring.”

Qi Huang stopped walking and sighed impatiently.

“What is it?”

Jian Yiren asked in confusion.

“Boring? Then let’s pick mushrooms! The whole mountain is full of them.”

Beside her, Xue Ling suggested enthusiastically. Her pair of scarlet eyes stared at the mushrooms in the grass, as if they were more enticing than fresh blood.

“Pick mushrooms? You’re a zombie, what’s the point? You can’t even eat them.”

Jian Yiren scolded sharply.

“You really have no childlike wonder at all.”

Xue Ling pouted, grumbling softly.

“Childlike wonder? Are you a child now?”

Jian Yiren gave her a fierce glare.

Qi Huang ignored the maids’ chatter. Looking toward a certain direction, she spoke coldly, “Since you’re already here, why hide? Come out.”

“Who is it?”

The surrounding maids were startled, their faces instantly turning alert.

“Heh… I’m truly curious, how exactly did you discover me?”

The shadow that had been stalking them no longer bothered to hide and instead walked out openly.

“That voice… You’re Marshal Zheng?”

Jian Yiren immediately recognized him.

“No, I’m not Marshal Zheng. I’m merely impersonating him.”

The black-robed figure denied it at once.

“So? Why impersonate him? What exactly are you after?”

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Jian Yiren questioned him sternly.

“Hand over the teleportation gate, or none of you are leaving alive today.”

The man threatened.

Qi Huang shook her head helplessly and said, “Marshal Zheng, your intentions are already exposed. Why bother being so sneaky? If you succeed today, there’s no way we’ll leave here alive. And if you fail, I won’t let you walk away either. Am I wrong?”

“Why are you so sure I’m Zheng Mo?”

The black-robed man asked suspiciously.

“First, not just anyone can resist the temptation of the teleportation gate. To have the guts to come and seize it outright… who else but you, Zheng Mo? Second, here on Kaiyuan Planet, aside from you, who else would dare impersonate yourself?”

Qi Huang laid out her reasoning.

“Princess Qinxin truly is sharp as ice and snow.”

The black-clad man removed his mask, revealing a familiar skeletal face. “You’re right. No matter who wins or loses today, only one of us will walk away unscathed. This disguise of mine was indeed unnecessary.”

Jian Yiren and the other maids tensed up like they were facing a deadly enemy, hurriedly drawing their weapons.

“If you can’t beat him, then run!”

Ye Xiuyun’s urgent voice rang out from within the spatial ring.

“If I, as your princess, can’t handle someone like him, how could I possibly claim to protect you all?”

Qi Huang replied with unwavering confidence.

“Princess? If you’re a princess, then what does that make me?”

Ye Xiuyun snapped, her tone unfriendly.

“Heh, sorry. That just slipped out.”

Qi Huang gave an awkward, sheepish smile.

“Well then, are you ready to give up now? Hand over the teleportation gate. Considering your noble status, this Marshal can make you my wife. And if you include Princess Tomb as your dowry, fold it into the Sea of Withered Bones, then none of you have to die.”

Zheng Mo proposed his offer at that moment.

“You really are a toad lusting after a swan! An ugly skeleton dares to lust after Her Highness?”

Jian Yiren scolded furiously again.

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“Whatever. If you won’t agree, then die.”

Zheng Mo stopped wasting words. He lunged forward. His body erupted with bone growths. Countless sharp bone spurs tore through his black robe, turning him into a giant spiky hedgehog barreling toward Qi Huang and the others.

“I’ve covered myself in Heaven-Deceiving Water! You, a ghost who can only use divine sense, what can you possibly do to me?!”

Zheng Mo roared arrogantly. As his body spun at high speed, each bone spike sliced faint scars into the spatial barriers. His strength was no weaker than Zhen Feiyan’s.

Qi Huang’s maids turned pale with fear, knowing they stood no chance of dodging.

“Who told you I could only use divine sense?”

Qi Huang sneered coldly. Behind her, her Boundless Demonic Hair suddenly surged, whipping out like poisonous tongues to ensnare Zheng Mo.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh…

The Boundless Demonic Hair tore through space, far outpacing Zheng Mo’s speed.

Zheng Mo never expected Qi Huang to strike so swiftly. Caught completely off guard, he was instantly bound. He struggled furiously, but to his horror, those delicate-looking strands were completely unshakable. Instead, they burrowed inch by inch into his bones, slicing them apart. Though he felt no pain, a chilling fear still crept through him.

“You didn’t even know my true capabilities, and you dared to rob me? Are you really that stupid? Or was the lure of the teleportation gate simply too much for you?”

Qi Huang mocked him coolly, though she already knew it was the latter.

“How… How is this possible?! They’re just strands of hair! How can they be this strong?!”

Zheng Mo roared in disbelief.

“That’s because you’re weak and ignorant of it.”

Qi Huang quipped. Her mind controlled the Boundless Demonic Hair to slice rapidly. In the blink of an eye, Zheng Mo was reduced to countless bone fragments no bigger than broad beans.

Due to the resentment leaking from his eyes, the Yin energy in his body couldn’t stay contained and began to spill outward.

The maids stared at Qi Huang in stunned silence. Their eyes filled with reverence, their postures instinctively lowered in submission.

“Come out, it’s time for a feast.”

Qi Huang promptly released Ye Xiuyun.

“You’re letting me absorb all this Yin energy?”

Ye Xiuyun’s delight was written all over her face.

“Yes. Your body is still weak, you should nourish yourself.”

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Qi Huang explained.

“Is that really okay? After all, you killed him. Shouldn’t you absorb it instead?”

Ye Xiuyun hesitated.

“I dispatched him with barely any effort. Do you really think I still need that bit of Yin energy?”

Qi Huang asked back.

Ye Xiuyun realized the truth and, seeing no way to refuse, accepted with a grateful smile. She even shared the bounty with the surrounding zombie maids.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang created a divine sense barrier around them. Partly to prevent the Yin energy from dissipating, and partly to ward off mountain spirits and wandering beasts that might interrupt the group of female zombies.

“How did you know Zheng Mo would follow us?”

During the absorption process, Ye Xiuyun couldn’t help but ask.

“Controlling the teleportation gate means controlling all ghost clans on Kaiyuan Planet. Who could resist such a prize? And as the strongest ghost on this planet, Zheng Mo is the only one who would dare rob me.”

Qi Huang laid out the reasoning.

“I see. But in the future, don’t flaunt your treasures like that again. You know the rule: wealth shouldn’t be revealed. If a ghost clan stronger than you had shown up today, we’d be finished.”

Ye Xiuyun warned her uneasily.

“Of course I know. But today, I flaunted it on purpose.”

Qi Huang replied.

“Why?”

Ye Xiuyun looked puzzled.

“First, the other malicious ghosts are hesitant because Zheng Mo was their spiritual pillar. If I want to achieve my goal, he must die. Second, your body is weak. To recover, you need to absorb a large amount of Yin energy. And he was the best choice.”

Qi Huang’s eyes glinted sharply as she spoke.

Ye Xiuyun was momentarily stunned, then muttered in awe, “You… you’re really ruthless.”

“It’s not ruthlessness. He harbored wicked thoughts. If he hadn’t been greedy, what could I possibly have done to him? Don’t you think?”

Qi Huang defended herself.

“That’s true.”

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Ye Xiuyun understood now. Her fear gradually melted away. It showed at least this woman was still reasonable.

“By the way, once we reach the new refuge, I hope you’ll take my place managing all the ghost clans of Kaiyuan Planet.”

Qi Huang voiced her true intention.

“Me?”

Ye Xiuyun pointed at herself in surprise.

“Yes. Did you really think I helped you out of pure kindness?”

Qi Huang teased her.

“It’s not that I’m unwilling. I just worry I’m not up to the task. After all, my strength is limited. I won’t be able to intimidate so many ghosts.”

Ye Xiuyun admitted with some awkwardness.

“Don’t forget. You still have me, or rather, my doppelgänger. They wouldn’t dare act recklessly.”

Qi Huang reminded her.

“All right then. I’ll accept this mission. Consider it repayment for saving my life.”

Ye Xiuyun bit her lip and agreed.

After that, Qi Huang contacted Cheng Hongling.

“Wife, I’ve already eliminated the source of the Sea of Withered Bones. Now it’s your turn.”

Qi Huang briefly explained what had happened.

“Got it. With Zheng Mo dead, those ghosts will scatter like sand. As long as I clear out a few more cursed lands, they’ll willingly follow you.”

Cheng Hongling understood exactly what to do.

“Good. But that alone isn’t enough. On the thirtieth, don’t forget to come to Princess Tomb. You kill, I rescue. We’ll put on a good show. That way, those ghosts will be grateful and willing to farm for me.”

Qi Huang smirked smugly.

Inside one of Lingxi Sect’s rooms, Cheng Hongling ended the transmission and sat in silent thought. Once the ghosts of Kaiyuan Planet were sent off, it would finally be time for her to do what she had always wanted to do.

“Qi Huang and I now face threats from both the Heavenly Dao and those demon lords. We absolutely can’t sit and wait to die. We need to find a trump card that can turn the tables.”

That was Cheng Hongling’s current resolve.