Volume 2, Chapter 90 – Why Is This Doppelgänger So Weak?

Qi Huang stepped out of the Heart’s Door and opened her eyes, only to find herself lying in an unfamiliar room. She glanced around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings—she had no idea where she was.

Extending her divine sense outward, she could perceive everything within a forty-zhang radius. It turned out she was in another inn, though definitely not the same one as before.

“That Spiritual Wisdom Soul really did stir up trouble.”

Qi Huang sighed in resignation. Still, she was just glad to have woken up at all. Besides, her divine sense had grown slightly stronger, so even if she found herself in hell, she could laugh loud enough to unsettle the ghosts.

Uncertain how much time had passed, she decided to contact her main body for an update. But the moment she established the connection, her vision blurred. When her sight cleared again, she found herself inside Cheng Hongling’s private quarters in the Honghua Sect.

“Why did you summon me back? Do you think traveling doesn’t wear out my shoes? I’m broke, you know!”

Qi Huang stared in disbelief, her complaints spilling out.

“I should be the one asking you—why haven’t you contacted me for so long?”

Cheng Hongling’s red lips parted slightly as she coldly interrogated her.

“I… ran into a bit of trouble.”

Qi Huang immediately straightened up, stammering nervously. She wasn’t sure how her main body would react to the fact that the Spiritual Wisdom Soul had tried to take over her body, so she didn’t dare explain outright.

“Whatever. I don’t have time for this. There’s an urgent matter only you can handle right now.”

Cheng Hongling swiftly changed the subject.

“Only I can handle it? Since when do I have that kind of influence?”

Qi Huang couldn’t believe her ears.

“You’re my doppelgänger, at least have some self-respect.”

Cheng Hongling’s willow-thin brows furrowed slightly.

“Right, right, of course!”

Qi Huang quickly nodded, backing down.

“Here’s the situation…”

Cheng Hongling proceeded to explain the recent events before pointing outside with a jade-like finger. “They’re dead set on verifying my cultivation level. Listen for yourself—those people have already gathered outside the Orchid Courtyard. They might barge in any moment.”

Qi Huang focused her hearing and indeed caught the clamor outside.

“That’s why only you can deal with them right now. If I go out, they’ll see through me immediately.”

Rеad οn КatRеaⅾіոɡСаfе

Cheng Hongling added.

“Oh, so it’s just for show? Leave it to me!”

Qi Huang immediately thumped her chest in assurance—only for the motion to send an unintended, exaggerated ripple through her figure.

“What are you slapping?! Don’t embarrass me!”

Cheng Hongling narrowed her beautiful eyes dangerously.

“Ah! Sorry, force of habit!”

Qi Huang hurriedly apologized. Having only recently become a woman, she hadn’t yet adjusted to all the… nuances.

“Enough. Come with me to see Master—I still have some things to discuss with her.”

Cheng Hongling rose gracefully and strode out, her lotus steps light, leaving a faint trail of fragrance in her wake.

Qi Huang hastily mimicked her movements, but before they could exit, Xu Mei rushed in, flustered.

“Y-Your doppelgänger is back?”

The moment Xu Mei spotted Qi Huang, her panic visibly dissipated.

“Yes, we just reconnected.”

Cheng Hongling explained.

“Quick, hide! Those outsiders have already forced their way in!”

Xu Mei urged anxiously.

“How dare they?! Do they not fear my wrath?”

Cheng Hongling was stunned.

“Someone must’ve leaked the incident where an impostor pretended to be you. Now they suspect this doppelgänger is that same fraud, using it as proof that you’re not a real Incarnation Realm expert.”

Xu Mei sighed helplessly.

‘Well… they’re not entirely wrong.’

Qi Huang blinked in surprise.

Rеaⅾ οn ΚatRеaԁіոgСafe

“What does it matter if I’m real or not? Why are they being so aggressive?”

Cheng Hongling gritted her teeth.

“They want to poach you, of course! A fifteen-year-old Incarnation Realm expert? Any sect would be willing to pay any price to recruit such a prodigy.”

A trace of envy flashed across Xu Mei’s face.

“Then tell them I’m not going anywhere!”

Cheng Hongling insisted.

“It’s not that simple. This isn’t something you can decide on your own anymore.”

Xu Mei gave a bitter smile.

Just then, the noise outside grew even louder.

“Oh no! They’re breaking in! You need to hide—let the doppelgänger handle this!”

Xu Mei’s expression darkened.

“Remember what I told you.”

Cheng Hongling reluctantly retreated into her chambers.

Qi Huang nodded firmly. For some reason, whenever she carried out a task for her “main body”, she felt an inexplicable surge of courage.

“Hurry! We can’t let them get any closer. There’s an Incarnation Realm expert among them—if they scan the area with their divine sense, the risk is too great!”

Xu Mei dashed outside, Qi Huang following closely behind. After running several hundred meters, they finally encountered the intruders—over a hundred people, judging by their attire, from at least six or seven different sects.

Like a swarm of stubborn snakes, they pushed into the Orchid Courtyard, ignoring all attempts by the Honghua Sect’s elders and disciples to stop them—until they saw Qi Huang.

“Fellow cultivators, the women among you may have an excuse, but the men barging into the Honghua Sect’s female disciple quarters—isn’t this a bit improper?”

Xu Mei raised her voice in accusation. Now that the doppelgänger had arrived, she had nothing left to fear.

“Is that Cheng Hongling?”

“No, no—it’s her doppelgänger. Look at the pink lotus mark between her brows. That’s the signature of a female doppelgänger.”

“She’s really reached the Incarnation Realm? Heavens, at fifteen? How is that possible?”

Rеaԁ oո KatRеaԁiոɡСαfе

“Right? The Western Radiance Dynasty has never seen such a prodigy before, let alone from a backwater like Huangtian Prefecture. Are we really seeing a phoenix rise from a rat’s nest?”

“Not necessarily. What if this is that woman who impersonated her before? Marks can be faked.”

“I’m starting to think this is the real her!”

The outsiders pointed and whispered, some convinced, others skeptical.

“Sect Leader Qin, is this your disciple’s doppelgänger?”

At that moment, an elderly man stepped forward. Though his hair was streaked with white, his physique was robust, his complexion unusually vibrant—clear signs of profound cultivation.

“Yes, Elder Zhou.”

Qin Quan replied with his usual composed demeanor.

Elder Zhou said nothing more. In the next instant, his figure vanished.

Before Qi Huang could react, a fist the size of a sand pot was already inches from her nose. The sheer force of the punch sent her stumbling back several steps before she collapsed in a heap.

Qi Huang hadn’t expected an outright attack—she hadn’t even had time to mentally call for her main body.

‘If he had actually meant to kill me just now…?’

The thought made her heartbeat thunder in her ears like war drums.

Xu Mei paled and rushed to help the doppelgänger up.

“Sect Leader Qin, as everyone knows, a cultivator’s doppelgänger possesses at least half the strength of the main body. So why is this one so weak? I demand an explanation.”

Elder Zhou retracted his fist, his gaze sharp as he stared at Qin Quan.

“Exactly! If she’s truly in the Incarnation Realm, how could she fail to dodge even a casual strike from Elder Zhou?”

“I knew it was fake! This has to be that impostor again.”

“Let’s go! The truth is out—this is just a farce orchestrated by the Honghua Sect.”

“Deceiving the world to steal fame! Let’s see how the Honghua Sect plans to show its face in the cultivation world after this.”

The outsiders shook their heads in disdain, convinced they’d uncovered the truth.

Qin Quan and Xu Mei’s expressions darkened. They knew what the exposure of the doppelgänger’s weakness meant—if anyone wanted Cheng Hongling dead, all they had to do was eliminate this defenseless copy.

Rеaⅾ οո KatReаԁіոɡCаfе

“Elder Zhou, she is my disciple’s doppelgänger. However, there was an… anomaly during her cultivation, so her strength doesn’t match the Incarnation Realm.”

Qin Quan steadied himself before explaining.

“‘Doesn’t match’ is an understatement. She was knocked down by the aftershock of my punch. At this level of frailty, she can’t be beyond the third or fourth layer of the Spirit Gathering Realm.”

Elder Zhou’s judgment was ruthless—with just one move, he’d laid bare Qi Huang’s true strength.

“But what I said is the truth.”

Qin Quan insisted.

“Sect Leader Qin, empty words won’t convince anyone.”

Elder Zhou pressed coldly.

“Elder Zhou, while the Huxiao Sect may be Yongning Prefecture’s leading sect, we are not subordinate to you. What obligation do I have to prove anything?”

Qin Quan’s voice turned icy—clearly pushed to his limit.

“And if I’m acting on behalf of the Immortal Alliance? The Honghua Sect is subordinate to them, no? The Alliance won’t tolerate charlatans among its ranks, so they sent me to investigate. Is that reason sufficient?”

Elder Zhou smirked, relentless.

Qin Quan fell silent. He knew this was likely a bluff, but in Yongning Prefecture, the Huxiao Sect and the Immortal Alliance were practically hand in glove. Even a lie could become truth if they willed it.

“Then what proof does Elder Zhou require?”

Qin Quan forced down his anger.

“Simple. Have the main body recall her. Otherwise, who’s to say that ‘doppelgänger mark’ on her forehead isn’t just drawn on?”

Elder Zhou stated his demand.

‘…That’s it?’

Qi Huang nearly laughed. She’d expected some impossible trial—like moving mountains or draining seas. But if all they wanted was a “disappearing act,” she could do that ten times over!

“Since Elder Zhou insists, I’ll oblige.”

Qi Huang straightened confidently, then addressed the crowd. “Everyone, watch closely—I’m about to vanish.”