“Observe yourself, are the soul bonds between us three thicker than theirs?” Human Soul reminded.
Qi Huang looked closely and found that the soul bonds extending from her to the three male souls of Earth, Human, and Spirit Soul were indeed thicker than the six feminized ones. She asked in confusion, “This is indeed the case, but what causes this? And what does it signify?”
“I think it’s because those spirit souls were feminized, and a part of them no longer belongs to you. Therefore, after you reached the Shentong Realm, their soul bonds did not strengthen, while ours did, so we received more benefits than them. This is why we were able to turn things around,” Human Soul analyzed.
“So that’s how it is!” Qi Huang also found it reasonable and became excited. She had been cautious to avoid feminization before, but now it seemed there was a way to solve this problem, which was to continuously strengthen her spiritual sense.
“So, if you don’t want to disappear, it’s best not to cultivate clones anymore, otherwise, we will have no way to contend with them,” Human Soul reiterated, as they three did not want to be feminized either.
“Then I’ll have to trouble you to stay here for a while longer,” Qi Huang said apologetically. Now she finally understood why the Soul Soul didn’t cause trouble when she cultivated her first clone.
“It’s nothing. As long as we’re not feminized, we’re willing to stay here for a lifetime,” the three male souls said firmly. After all, “feminine degradation” was equivalent to losing oneself, no different from death.
“How foolish!” At this moment, the Spiritual Wisdom, the instigator, spoke coldly, “Have you forgotten what I told you before? A guy who scratches his feet turning into a beautiful girl. If the outside world were to know, your fate would be something you should understand very well. If you don’t want this secret to be discovered, you’d better cultivate the three of them into clones as well. This way, only the six of us female spirit souls will remain in your Sea of Consciousness. Then, even if it’s seen by something like the ‘Yin-Yang Eyes’, it won’t matter.”
“Sorry, I’ve considered it. As long as I’m strong enough, what if the secret is discovered? Whoever dares to lay a hand on me or my family, I’ll kill them,” Qi Huang said with determination.
“What gives you such courage? Ghost Tomato? Do you really think you’re a Shentong Realm powerhouse? You should know that there’s always someone stronger and higher heavens beyond the heavens. Don’t end up with no regrets.” The Spiritual Wisdom raised its crimson lips contemptuously.
“You don’t need to worry about that, but your words have also given me a reminder. For the sake of secrecy, you don’t need to come out for the rest of your life.” Qi Huang spoke harshly.
“Is that so? That’s not necessarily true. I’d like to see if you can really refrain from cultivating clones for a lifetime. In short, I can make countless mistakes, but you can only make one. As long as I step out of this Heart Door, I will immediately tell your main body your true identity. What do you think she will do to you given her personality?” The Spiritual Wisdom’s thin phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.
“Let’s talk about it when you can get out.” Qi Huang was unfazed, and her Life Soul also left the Sea of Consciousness.
Qi Huang stood in the cave dwelling, looking around with a confused expression. She couldn’t cultivate clones now, and she was trapped here. How could she ensure the safety of her fellow villagers?
‘It seems I have to find a way to get the villagers to move out of Huatian Village.’ After a long time, Qi Huang muttered and left the cave dwelling.
The next day, Cheng Hongling returned on time, with a relaxed and contented expression on her face, indicating that the mission went smoothly.
“Ling’er, Huang’er, I want to discuss something with you,” Jiang Liniang said solemnly at dinner. “You are both grown now, and you have each other, so you always have someone to talk to. I plan to go home more often to accompany your father.”
‘Oh, my dear mother! Are you abandoning me now?’ Qi Huang was caught off guard. If her cheap mother went back, who would help her if she was bullied by the main body later?
“Absolutely not!” Cheng Yuan, who was beside her, immediately objected. After all, there was no place in Huang Tian Prefecture safer than the HongHua Sect.
“Why not? Husband! I came to the HongHua Sect to take care of our daughter. Now it’s time for me to step down. You are alone and helpless in the Prefecture Capital and need someone to take care of you,” Jiang Liniang said emotionally.
“No, I sent you to the HongHua Sect not only to take care of our daughter but also for safety considerations,” Cheng Yuan corrected her sternly.
“Husband! I think you’re worrying too much. With this face, who would want to kidnap me?” Jiang Liniang said with a self-deprecating smile, pointing to her face.
“No, it’s better to be safe than sorry!” Cheng Yuan remained stubborn.
“Dad! Let Mom go back with you.” At this moment, Cheng Hongling spoke. Before her father could object, she explained, “I’m a cultivator in the Huashen Realm now. With a few talismans, no one can threaten Mom’s safety.”
“Did you hear that?” Jiang Liniang’s face showed pride, and she was as happy as a little girl.
Qi Huang wanted to speak but stopped. In the end, she kindly decided not to say anything. She was an outsider after all, and she couldn’t disrupt the reunion of a couple for her own selfish desires.
“Alright! You can go home with me, but not for too long.” Cheng Yuan couldn’t resist and finally compromised.
Jiang Liniang was overjoyed. She acted immediately and soon hired a maidservant from outside to do laundry and cooking for her two daughters. After arranging everything, Jiang Liniang returned to the Prefecture Capital with her husband.
The newly hired maidservant naturally knew Cheng Hongling’s identity, so she was very cautious and didn’t dare to even lift her head. Qi Huang didn’t look down on others and took the initiative to strike up a conversation. The maidservant didn’t expect this peerless fairy of the HongHua Sect to be different from the rumors. After some interaction, she relaxed a bit and introduced herself. Her name was Yuan Jie. Although she was good-looking, she was still unmarried at twenty-seven or twenty-eight.
Qi Huang didn’t pry further, as this situation was quite common in Immortal Sects. After all, there were more women than men here, and most girls became concubines. Only a very few chose to remain single for their dignity. There was no third option.
Yuan Jie was very diligent but seemed preoccupied and chose to stay after arriving, with no intention of going home. Although Qi Huang was puzzled, she didn’t ask too many questions.
Two days passed in a blink of an eye. Yuan Jie’s family came looking for her, and Qi Huang learned that this older sister had run away from home because her parents were forcing her to marry a gambling addict as a concubine.
“Yuan Jie, listen to Dad. In this Immortal Sect, it’s good enough to get married!”
“Yes! Being a concubine is better than growing old alone! After Mom and Dad are gone, if you have no one to take care of you, we will die with regret.”
…
Yuan Jie’s parents persuaded her earnestly, as if marrying a gambling addict was a great fortune. Qi Huang’s worldview was shattered. This scene was eerily familiar to her. However, at that time, the humble one was a man. The Immortal Sect seemed to be a mirror image of the mortal world. Although they looked the same, the left and right yin and yang were completely reversed.
Yuan Jie was a woman with strong self-esteem, so she refused no matter what, and thus remained at an impasse with her parents. Shortly after, the drunkard arrived, and he wanted to forcibly take her away, but Qi Huang kicked him to the ground in a few moves.
“Hong Ling Immortal, I know you are very strong, but that refers to cultivation, not matchmaking!” The disheveled drunkard said shamelessly, “There are only a few men in this HongHua Sect. I am willing to take her as a concubine, which is her blessing. You are interfering. In two years, she will be thirty. By then, let alone being a concubine, no one will want her even as a maidservant. If she regrets it, how will you explain it to her? And how will you explain it to her parents?”
