Volume 2, Chapter 98 – Doppelgänger, Have You Lost Your Mind?

“Elder Zhou, if I recall correctly, the rules of the Evergreen Conference were set by the Immortal Alliance, not your Huxiao Sect!”

Qi Huang remained unruffled, speaking with calm composure. After all, she was now, at the very least, a half-baked Incarnation Realm cultivator.

“Why feign ignorance? Do you really think the Immortal Alliance changed the rules last time on a whim? Young one, strength alone is useless—no matter how strong you are, you can’t defy the rules.”

Elder Zhou smirked, his words dripping with insinuation.

“Elder Zhou, do you know what the greatest lesson I learned from my main body’s defeat last time?”

Instead of answering, Qi Huang countered with a question.

“Oh? Do enlighten me!”

A look of curiosity flashed across Elder Zhou’s face.

“That I simply wasn’t strong enough. If I were truly powerful, I could shatter the rules right before your eyes.”

Qi Huang’s gaze sharpened—this was the confidence the Ghost Tomatoes had given her.

Elder Zhou was momentarily stunned before letting out a derisive laugh. “A fine ambition, I’ll give you that. But without resources, how do you expect to grow stronger?”

“That’s none of Elder Zhou’s concern.”

Qi Huang smiled politely.

“Very well. The next Evergreen Conference is in just over two years. I’ll be waiting to see you break the rules.”

Elder Zhou’s face twisted into a sneer before he added, “Of course, if you change your mind before then, the Huxiao Sect’s doors remain open to you. As I’ve said before, if you’re willing to join us, we’ll spare no effort in nurturing you.”

With that, Elder Zhou beckoned his disciples and strode away.

“Hah, two years? By then, even if they send a hundred men, what of it?”

Qi Huang muttered with equal disdain before returning to report to her main body.

Cheng Hongling was quite pleased with Qi Huang’s performance. Even she herself couldn’t have refused so decisively.

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Next, Cheng Hongling pressed for details about the Blue-Scaled King Snake.

Naturally, Qi Huang held nothing back. As long as her true identity remained hidden, her fate was tied to that of the Fairy Hongling before her.

“As my doppelgänger, you should understand the greatest weakness of us water qi cultivators—our lack of offensive power. That’s why we struggle against male cultivators of the same realm.”

Cheng Hongling began by outlining her own shortcomings.

“Lack of offensive power? But isn’t that ‘Thunder Cry Sword’ technique incredibly strong?”

Recalling what she had seen in the dream, Qi Huang couldn’t help but ask.

“The Thunder Cry Sword is indeed formidable, but it has one critical precondition—the user must first wound the opponent before the lightning can strike. If you can’t breach their defenses, the technique is useless. That’s why the weapon used is even more crucial.”

Cheng Hongling explained in detail.

‘So the Thunder Cry Sword has such a major flaw!’

Qi Huang was taken aback, but upon reflection, it made sense. If such an overpowered technique could be unleashed freely, anyone who mastered it would be invincible.

“A weapon forged from Blue Scale Stone is indestructible and exceptionally sharp, greatly compensating for this weakness. If such a material truly exists, no matter how scarce, we must obtain it.”

Cheng Hongling bit her lip slightly, determination flashing in her eyes.

Qi Huang now fully understood. She grew even more resolute in her desire to secure the Blue Scale Stone—along with those Ghost Tomatoes. She wanted everything.

Not long after, Sect Master Qin summoned a high-level meeting. As the “top genius’s” doppelgänger and a firsthand witness to recent events, Qi Huang was naturally required to attend.

Walking behind her main body, Qi Huang couldn’t escape the pointing and murmurs. After all, her main body was one of the Honghua Sect’s most prominent figures.

Though embarrassed, Qi Huang couldn’t help but feel a faint sense of pride. After all, who didn’t enjoy being the center of attention?

Upon entering the grand hall, she saw that nearly all the sect’s high-ranking members had gathered. Even that Heyi Sect’s “Brother Ma” had been brought in for interrogation.

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“Now that everyone is here, I’ll cut to the chase. We initially sent disciples out on a routine mission, but an unexpected incident occurred.”

Sect Master Qin opened the discussion before turning to Qi Huang. “Qi Huang, please recount everything you saw and heard.”

Stepping forward confidently, Qi Huang meticulously described the events at Bajiao Village.

“This Heyi Sect is utterly deranged! Not only do they disregard the Immortal Alliance’s laws, but they also slaughter innocents!”

“The Heyi Sect is supposed to be a righteous sect under the Immortal Alliance. To stoop so low for Blue Scale Stone—just how valuable must it be to them?”

“Naturally. Weapons made from Blue Scale Stone can compensate for female disciples’ lack of offensive power. For any sect, it’s an invaluable treasure.”

“Since this heavenly treasure has appeared within our Huangtian Prefecture, we must claim it. We can’t let it fall into another sect’s hands!”

The elders buzzed with fervent discussion, their determination unshakable.

“Indeed. I’ve called this meeting to address two matters. First, the Heyi Sect’s atrocities demand justice for the victims. Second—how do we obtain the Blue Scale Stone?”

Sect Master Qin summarized.

“Sect Master Qin, since the Heyi Sect has been plotting this for so long, they must already have detailed knowledge of the area—perhaps even a concrete plan. Why not interrogate this ‘Ma’ fellow?”

Elder Wu suggested.

“Ma Wen, was it? Explain the situation there in detail.”

Sect Master Qin turned and commanded.

Too afraid to withhold anything, Ma Wen repeated what he had told Qi Huang and the others.

“What? The Blue-Scaled King Snake is a thousand zhang long? Coiled atop the clouds? What realm must such a monster be in?”

“If it can traverse the skies, it must at least be in the Incarnation Realm—possibly even the Divine Realm!”

“Divine Realm? Then wouldn’t going after the Blue Scale Stone be suicide?”

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The elders erupted into chaos, their faces paling with fear.

“Everyone, calm down. That’s just a rumor—and rumors tend to exaggerate. We shouldn’t take it too seriously.”

Sect Master Qin quickly tried to soothe them.

“Sect Master Qin, I’ve seen the snake with my own eyes. There’s no exaggeration.”

Ma Wen’s words shattered any lingering hope.

“If that’s the case, why were you so bold as to target the Blue Scale Stone?”

Sect Master Qin’s expression darkened as he coldly pressed for answers.

“We never planned to confront it directly. We intended to use the Ghost Tomatoes as a diversion, then send people to sneak into its lair and steal the stone.”

Ma Wen weakly defended.

“A diversion, huh? Not a bad idea. Perhaps we could replicate it.”

Sect Master Qin stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“It won’t work. With only four Ghost Tomatoes, the scent would be too faint to lure the snake from a safe distance. Unless someone is willing to carry them close to the beast—but for anyone below the Incarnation Realm, that’s suicide.”

Ma Wen shook his head.

Silence fell over the hall. The elders exchanged glances before their gazes eventually settled on Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang.

“Sect Master Qin, Cheng Hongling has reached the Incarnation Realm. I believe she’s suited for this task.”

Elder Wu was the first to speak up, his tone almost eager.

Cheng Hongling’s beautiful eyes narrowed. This old man knew most people doubted her supposed Incarnation Realm strength—yet he still proposed this. Clearly, it was a personal vendetta.

Qi Huang, however, felt the opposite. Secretly, she was delighted. Wasn’t this exactly what she wanted?

“No!”

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Sect Master Qin rejected the idea without hesitation.

“Why not? Our Honghua Sect has poured endless resources into her training. Isn’t it time she repaid the sect?”

Elder Wu pressed relentlessly, determined to see Cheng Hongling suffer.

Unable to reveal the truth, Sect Master Qin’s expression turned grim.

Cheng Hongling, too, was torn. She did want to repay the sect—but with her current strength, charging in would be a meaningless death, only harming the Honghua Sect further.

“Elder Wu, you know my disciple represents the future of the Honghua Sect. If something happens to her, who will we rely on?”

Xu Mei attempted to shield her disciple.

“A child must eventually leave the nest. If she still can’t contribute at all, what’s the difference between her and an overgrown infant? Continuing to nurture her would only burden the Honghua Sect—not secure its future.”

Elder Wu’s words were laced with mockery.

“Elder Wu is right! The Incarnation Realm is already the pinnacle of cultivation. If she only takes and never gives, what will the other disciples think?”

Another elder murmured in agreement.

“Could it be… as Elder Zhou suggested, she’s not truly in the Incarnation Realm?”

Elder Wu’s insinuation was deliberate.

Cheng Hongling’s teeth ground together in silent fury, but she had no rebuttal.

“Fine! I’ll take this mission.”

Qi Huang’s voice cut through the tension—without even consulting her main body.

“Have you lost your mind?!”

Cheng Hongling stared at her, stunned.