Chapter 75: The Fourth Clone (2)
“Although I don’t understand what secrets they have, I know we are all in the same boat now. I believe they should understand that too.” Qi Huang answered calmly.
As expected, after the female spirits whispered for a moment, Huang Ling agreed.
“I believe you are aware of the situation outside. Once you go out, you just need to take my place in the team. You don’t need to do anything else.” Qi Huang instructed, then warned sternly, “Don’t play any tricks, otherwise, I can guarantee this will be the last time you breathe the outside air.”
“Tch!” Huang Ling showed a disdainful expression.
“By the way, when will you complete my body?” At this moment, the brainless clone, Huang Tian, asked.
“If you are more obedient, I can consider it after I enter the Heavenly Punishment Realm,” Qi Huang replied perfunctorily and left the Sea of Consciousness, as she didn’t hold much hope. To make these female spirits obedient, she would probably have to find the answer in the memories carried by the Feminization Mask.
Qi Huang let out a deep sigh. She had now secured the “human factor,” and only needed the “timing and location.” Although she was arrogant, she didn’t dare to cultivate clones in broad daylight under the watchful eyes of so many people. Therefore, she had to find an opportunity, preferably during rest at night.
After traveling for a day, Eunuch Zhong ordered the team to rest in a small county town. After all, it was a “tour” funded by the public. As long as there was enough time, he didn’t need to push too hard.
Since the team was clearly not ordinary, they attracted a large number of onlookers along the way, even alarming the County Magistrate.
Qi Huang had no time for socializing. As soon as she entered her room, she found an excuse to seclude herself. Then, she asked Yaoyao to keep watch, released a Spiritual Sense shield to block external perception, and began cultivating her clone.
Qi Huang skillfully released Huang Ling and began to shape her body. Because a human body is very complex, this process consumed an enormous amount of Spiritual Sense. If she were still a cultivator in the Huashen Realm, it would take at least three days, but now, one night was enough.
Time slowly passed. As the eastern horizon turned white, Qi Huang successfully cultivated her fourth clone, Huang Ling, who was the Spiritual Wisdom.
Qi Huang then took off the Wide-Sleeved Flowing Immortal Dress bestowed by the Emperor and let her clone wear it. She herself put on the black cat-eye ruqun transformed by Yaoyao, and put on a cloak and veil, preparing to make a swift getaway.
“Remember what I said, stay obediently in the team to replace me, speak as little as possible, and consider carefully what you can and cannot do.” Qi Huang reminded her again before opening the window and slipping out unnoticed.
As soon as Qi Huang exited the window, Huang Ling slightly raised the corner of her mouth, showing a hint of disdain, and immediately contacted Cheng Ling, who had assimilated her.
At this moment, Cheng Ling was tens of miles away and inside Cheng Hong Ling’s Sea of Consciousness, but she could still hear Huang Ling’s voice. The two communicated directly through a powerful telepathic connection, unhindered by time or space. This was the exaggeration of the assimilation ability. Compared to this, the communication method between the main body and the clone was extremely primitive.
“Sister, I am the Spiritual Wisdom. Qi Huang has cultivated me as a clone.” Huang Ling reported.
“Really? What kind of clone is it? It’s not like the Tian Chongpo before, where she didn’t give you a brain, right?” Cheng Ling asked instinctively.
“No, this is a normal clone, because she needs a clone that can run and jump to replace her.” Huang Ling explained the current situation in detail.
“Really? That’s great! Do you remember what I asked you to do before? Once you gain freedom, find a way to collect that item. Now that I’m imprisoned by my main body, I can’t become a Life Soul, so I can only rely on other methods.” Cheng Ling instructed.
“But sister, I am completely within Qi Huang’s monitoring range and cannot act freely. If she discovers anything unusual, I’m afraid I’ll never be able to get out again.” Huang Ling said with difficulty. Although she was wearing the Wide-Sleeved Flowing Immortal Dress that could block Spiritual Sense, Qi Huang possessed the Recording Mirror, which could not be blocked by any magic or treasure, so escape was impossible.
Cheng Ling pondered for a moment and said, “Let’s put aside the matter of finding things for now. Your most important task is to gain her trust. Be obedient during this time. After a while, that person will naturally lower her guard, and then you can find a way to sneak away. Her current Spiritual Sense is at the late stage of Shentong Realm, capable of covering a radius of about thirty miles. As long as you escape this range, she will no longer be able to forcibly summon you back or sense your whereabouts.”
“Okay.” Huang Ling immediately accepted the mission.
Qi Huang naturally did not fully trust Huang Ling, so as soon as she left the inn, she took out the Recording Mirror to observe secretly. Unfortunately, this item could not pick up “heart sounds,” so she was unaware of the conversation between Huang Ling and Cheng Ling.
Seeing Huang Ling being so obedient, Qi Huang was slightly relieved, so she put away the Recording Mirror and focused her attention elsewhere.
Qi Huang scanned the entire small town with her Spiritual Sense and found no potential risks. She then asked Yaoyao doubtfully, “Is Thousand Shadows still here?”
“Of course, he’s disguised as an ordinary guest, staying at the inn you were just in,” Yaoyao said through gritted teeth.
“Is that so? Your Nine Nether Demonic Cat clan is truly amazing! With my Shentong Realm Spiritual Sense, I still couldn’t find him.” Qi Huang said in surprise.
“If I had a choice, I would prefer that the Nine Nether Demonic Cat clan wasn’t so amazing.” Yaoyao said mournfully. Indeed, it was precisely because of the Nine Nether Demonic Cat clan’s extraordinary abilities that they had brought disaster upon themselves.
Qi Huang froze for a moment, then wisely shut her mouth. She was indeed not good at comforting girls.
Because she felt uneasy, Qi Huang did not let down her guard. Her Spiritual Sense, like the wind beside her, swept through the town intermittently.
…
Meanwhile, Huang Ling, who had been sitting in meditation for a while, suddenly opened her eyes in disbelief and looked at her full chest, constrained by the Wide-Sleeved Flowing Immortal Dress. Her small mouth parted, “How is this possible?”
Huang Ling was stunned for a moment, then took a deep breath and reached for the fabric of her chest, but stopped halfway because she wasn’t sure if Qi Huang was monitoring her.
After pondering for a moment, Huang Ling directly contacted Cheng Ling.
“Sister, you probably won’t believe me when I say this, but I’ve sensed what you wanted on my clothes.” Huang Ling said with a wry smile.
“What? What clothes? Say it quickly.” Cheng Ling asked impatiently, her voice trembling with excitement.
“It’s the Wide-Sleeved Flowing Immortal Dress bestowed upon Qi Huang by the Emperor. It’s mixed with a large amount of Nine Nether Demonic Cat fur, which is why it can shield cultivators’ Spiritual Sense.” Huang Ling hastily explained.
“A gift from the Emperor? Why would there be something I want on it?” Cheng Ling muttered to herself.
“I don’t know about that. Perhaps the raw materials used to make it had it, or it got on it somewhere in transit.” Huang Ling speculated.
“How much of that item is on it?” Cheng Ling asked.
“It should be very little. I only noticed it after wearing it for a long time; the scent is faint.” Huang Ling explained.
“Even a mosquito’s leg is still meat. Moreover, it can provide us with important clues, so you must protect that dress carefully.” Cheng Ling instructed.
“Yes, my dear elder sister.” Huang Ling obediently accepted the order.
“And, you absolutely cannot let anyone know about this, especially that damned Qi Huang.” Cheng Ling added.
Huang Ling accepted the order again. Having been assimilated, she had long forgotten who her true Life Soul was.
As the sky gradually brightened, the streets of the small town became bustling. The weather today was unexpectedly good, with blue skies appearing overhead. This was something that rarely happened in a year in this remote, Yin-energy-heavy small county town.
The Imperial Concubine Guard team in the inn also started to get up, preparing to set off after breakfast, as today was a good day for traveling.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Just after everyone finished eating, the sky, which had been clear moments ago, suddenly darkened. Black, dense clouds appeared out of nowhere, pressing down like mountains, making it hard to breathe.
Shortly thereafter, bursts of thunder sounded, and streaks of green lightning flickered within them, as if heaven were enraged. A heart-pounding aura began to spread across the entire land.
Eunuch Zhong looked up at the sky, his face unusually serious. For some reason, he felt that these clouds were not normal cumulonimbus clouds, and this thunder was not normal thunder. After all, normal thunder and rain would not put any psychological pressure on a strong person like him.
