Chapter 554 Saintess Ceremony (2)
“This proposal is good. It can both test the Saintess’s strength and not disrupt the solemnity of the ceremony.”
Hua Ru Yi immediately made her judgment, and others secretly nodded.
Hua Yu glared at Qi Huang, her teeth grinding. She knew her plan had been foiled again by this clone.
“Is this truly one person?”
Hua Yu’s heart was filled with doubt for the first time. She had never seen anyone whose main body and clone had such different personalities. One was aloof and elegant, capturing all attention, while the other was clever and quick-witted, possessing exceptional adaptability – a perfect complement.
“But did you think that was all!”
Hua Yu then revealed a sly smile, for she still had a backup plan.
Although Hua Ru Yi agreed to this testing method, not a single person outside the arena stepped forward. No fool would want to be the first to act, especially during the Saintess Inauguration Ceremony.
“Wan Min, you go and try! Don’t hold back! It’s best if you can make her look foolish.”
At this moment, Elder Zhou from the audience spoke to her direct disciple. She knew that to turn the tables, she could only rely on this move.
“Yes!”
Wan Min received the order, then leaped into the arena. She cupped her fists and introduced herself, “Junior Disciple Cheng, I am Wan Min, Elder Zhou’s direct disciple. Although I am a generation older than you, my cultivation is also at the fifth layer of the Huashen Realm. May I try?”
“Elder Zhou? It seems this old woman hasn’t given up yet!”
Qi Huang frowned slightly, displeased.
“Of course!”
Cheng Hong Ling agreed without hesitation. Repeated tolerance was not her style.
Hua Yu sneered, her lips curling into a smile, for this was her backup plan.
“Heh, Wan Min was promoted to the fifth layer of the Huashen Realm a few days ago. So, even if you reach the fourth layer of the Huashen Realm, what does it matter? You will definitely be humiliated today.”
Hua Yu thought with delight.
“Be careful. Since this woman is Elder Zhou’s direct disciple, she might have ulterior motives.”
Qi Huang secretly transmitted a message to the main body.
“It’s okay. Since I’ve been using the Tongming Comb since childhood, my Spiritual Sensehas always been stronger than my cultivation level. It has now reached the sixth layer of the Huashen Realm.”
Cheng Hong Ling replied calmly. In fact, during the Evergreen Convention, her Spiritual Sense had already reached the fifth layer of the Huashen Realm. With the increase in her cultivation level in the past few days, she had broken through to the sixth layer. Although it couldn’t compare to the monstrous Qi Huang, it was still considered unusual among ordinary cultivators.
“Very good.”
Qi Huang smiled with satisfaction.
“Since the Saintess has agreed to the test, then you two shall have a match. Stop when you reach a point of agreement.”
Hua Ru Yi announced from the side and then whispered to Cheng Hong Ling, “Be careful! Her cultivation level is likely beyond the fourth layer of the Huashen Realm.”
“Don’t worry, Sect Leader. No one can disrupt the Saintess Ceremony today.”
Cheng Hong Ling’s expression did not change, and she then said to Wan Min below, “Martial Aunt Wan, please make your move.”
Wan Min did not hold back. Her Spiritual Sense, at the fifth layer of the Huashen Realm, immediately suppressed Cheng Hong Ling. She used her full strength from the start, clearly determined to cause trouble.
Hua Man and Hua Ru Yi’s expressions changed.
The Spiritual Sense at the fifth layer of the Huashen Realm met the opposing Spiritual Sense, colliding fiercely.
Since both were only in the Huashen Realm, the battle of Spiritual Sense was not earth-shattering. Ordinary people could not even perceive it. It was only when a few birds accidentally flew into the area and were instantly killed that they realized the hidden killing intent.
“Did they use Spiritual Sense beyond the fourth layer of the Huashen Realm?”
“Indeed, this is definitely Spiritual Sense of the fifth layer of the Huashen Realm. When did Wan Min break through?”
“Wan Min has been at the fourth layer of the Huashen Realm for several years. It is within reason for her to break through. What surprises me more is this new Saintess. Isn’t she only at the third layer of the Huashen Realm? Even if she broke through, she would only be at the fourth layer of the Huashen Realm. How did she achieve Spiritual Sense at the fifth layer of the Huashen Realm?”
“Yes, could it be that she advanced two levels in just a few days?”
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible! If her ancestral cultivation technique was so heaven-defying, why is she only at the Huashen Realm now? She would have reached the Shentong Realm or even the Heavenly Punishment Realm long ago.”
The high-level figures showed shocked expressions on their faces.
“How is this possible?”
Hua Yu in the arena also changed her expression. She really couldn’t understand what kind of monster this Cheng Hong Ling was. She was even more monstrous than her, the so-called monster, to the point of being bizarre.
As time passed, dense beads of sweat began to appear on Wan Min’s forehead. Although the opponent’s Spiritual Sense strength was not much different from hers, the total amount seemed to be inexhaustible, with no sign of decrease.
Cheng Hong Ling stood elegantly in the arena. For her, whose Spiritual Sense had reached the sixth layer of the Huashen Realm, she didn’t need to use her full strength. She could slowly grind Wan Min to death.
Qi Huang stood guard carefully. If this Hua Yu dared to interfere, she would let her know what a true monster was.
A moment later, Wan Min’s momentum finally faltered. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground, clutching her head and wailing. This was the after-effect of overusing her Spiritual Sense.
“Elder Zhou, help your disciple down.”
Hua Ru Yi waved her hand, her lips slightly upturned, almost unable to suppress her laughter.
Elder Zhou rushed into the arena in embarrassment to help her disciple out, her face also extremely unsightly. It was obvious that she realized she had chosen the wrong person to count on.
“Everyone saw it. The Saintess’s cultivation has indeed reached the fourth layer of the Huashen Realm. Surely, no one will question her talent now?”
Hua Ru Yi looked around. Wherever her gaze fell, there was silence. The entire plaza was dead quiet.
“Very good. Since that is the case…”
Hua Ru Yi’s gaze fell upon her disciples, and she commanded, “Hua Yu, you go down. The Saintess Inauguration Ceremony will continue.”
Hua Yu gritted her teeth, then turned and left helplessly.
“Hmph!” Qi Huang snorted coldly, and then…
The subsequent process went much more smoothly. Cheng Hong Ling scraped off Hua Yu’s name and carved her own pseudonym onto it. From this moment on, she was the official Saintess of the Hua Rong Sect, and Qi Huang naturally benefited as well.
Of course, the entire Jade Peak also benefited. As the saying goes, when one person attains the Dao, even their pets ascend to heaven. With a Saintess presiding, it was impossible not to become famous. Therefore, from that day on, many disciples from other peaks even transferred over. However, it was still too early to shake off the title of the last-ranked peak.
In contrast, Hua Yu’s situation plummeted. As a deposed Saintess, her status was even lower than that of an ordinary disciple, and she was met with ridicule wherever she went.
Hua Yu could no longer bear it and notified the Cao family that she wanted to marry immediately. Due to concerns about her reputation, she still had not informed her beloved that she had been stripped of her title as Saintess.
The Cao family was overjoyed and immediately spread the news that Cao Yang was to marry the Saintess of the Hua Rong Sect. They even took the liberty of setting an auspicious date and invited influential figures from all sides to attend, unaware that the Saintess of the Hua Rong Sect had already changed.
After setting the date, the Cao family informed Hua Ru Yi, leaving no room for negotiation.
Hua Ru Yi, of course, was more than happy to oblige and began to arrange her disciple’s wedding. It was not out of师徒之情 (master-disciple affection), but out of a master’s responsibility.
The entire Hua Rong Sect also voluntarily participated. After all, Hua Yu was still a member of the sect. Internal conflicts should be resolved internally, and they absolutely could not let outsiders look down on them.
Therefore, Hua Yu’s wedding was also very lively, although this was measured by the standards of ordinary disciples.
Ten days later, Cao Yang led the wedding procession to the entrance of the Hua Rong Sect. The scale was immense, with hundreds of people, all experts at or above the Huashen Realm. Thus, their speed was extremely fast.
“Quickly send out your Saintess.”
Cao Yang was getting impatient and shouted into the sect gate. Unfortunately, no one responded.
“You won’t give her to me? Do you want to experience the Immortal Might again?”
Cao Yang was furious and threatened them.
“Young Master, please calm your anger. This is your auspicious wedding day. If you miss the auspicious time, it is our Cao family who will suffer.”
An old man beside him reminded him.
“Forget it!”
Cao Yang carefully considered it and decided to restrain himself.
“Young Master, you’ve waited for years, why be so impatient now? As long as you marry the young mistress, the Hua Rong Sect will become a vassal of our Cao family from then on, and the Cao family’s status will become even more unshakeable.”
The old man appeased him.
“Uncle Wang is absolutely right.”
Cao Yang’s face finally showed a smile.
However, at this moment, a middle-aged man walked over and said in a low voice, “Nephew, there’s something I need to tell you. I just heard from a disciple of the Hua Rong Sect that Hua Yu is no longer the Saintess of the Hua Rong Sect.”
“What did you say?”
The smile on Cao Yang’s face froze again.
