“Since you’re out, you don’t need to come back in!”
Qi Huang had been prepared for a long time. Her powerful spiritual sense immediately enveloped her life soul, forming an indestructible Great Wall.
Cheng Ling hit a wall and her face showed panic. Before she could make any further plans, a soul bond instantly wrapped around her waist.
“If you’re out, you don’t need to go in!”
Cheng Hong Ling pulled the soul bond with one hand, drawing it back, and her figure streaked towards the stone pillars of the great hall.
“Cheng Hong Ling, what are you doing? You traitor! Aren’t you afraid of disheartening your sisters by doing this?” Ling Hui Po cursed as she struggled.
“What do you mean traitor? Didn’t you say she has already become your replica? We are all sisters, who is within and who is outside? This is just my punishment for your unauthorized escape.”
Cheng Hong Ling remained unmoved, coiling the soul bond around the stone pillar, clearly intending to bind her Ling Hui Po.
“Since you are unrighteous, don’t blame me for being unrighteous. Do you think your spiritual sense strength can imprison me? You’re overestimating yourself!”
A cold smile flickered across Cheng Ling’s face. She continued to exert force with her limbs, gradually steadying herself, and was actually fighting her life soul to a draw.
There was a reason for her strength. When Qi Huang was ascending, she had gained some benefits, though not much, it was enough to deal with Cheng Hong Ling, who was only in the Guiyi Realm.
Qi Huang wanted to help, but after hesitating, she decided not to act. After all, strictly speaking, she was an outsider and it was inappropriate to interfere in their “private affairs” unless Cheng Hong Ling asked for help.
“Have you forgotten about them?”
The arrogant Cheng Hong Ling would naturally not beg for help easily. She looked at the surrounding three souls and six spirits and said, “Help me tie her up. Whoever contributes the most, when I reach the Shentong Realm, she will be the first to become a clone!”
The nine souls looked at each other, then rushed forward to help. For them, freedom was more important than anything. If they couldn’t become life souls, then becoming clones as soon as possible was their only choice.
With the collective effort of ten identical girls, Cheng Ling was quickly tied to the stone pillars of the great hall. Her expression was sad, like a puppet. Being persecuted by oneself was something no one could endure.
“We are the same person, why are you treating me like this?” Cheng Ling asked sadly.
“I hate betrayal the most! Even my own soul! You should have thought of this day when you escaped from the HongHua Sect!” Cheng Hong Ling’s attitude did not waver.
“Fine! If you dare, imprison me for life, don’t let me out, or you’ll regret it!” Cheng Ling threatened through gritted teeth.
“That’s exactly what I intend to do.” Cheng Hong Ling was unmoved. She always responded to firmness with softness.
“And you, imposter, you have my things on you. Sooner or later, I will take them back with interest.” Cheng Ling roared at the innocent Qi Huang again.
“What things?” Qi Huang felt somewhat inexplicable.
“Heh heh…” Cheng Ling didn’t answer, just sneered.
“Alright, that’s enough. You’ve watched enough of your show, you can go out now!” Cheng Hong Ling instructed Qi Huang.
Qi Huang couldn’t have asked for more. She walked step by step towards the heart door.
“By the way, imposter, I forgot to tell you something. I have assimilated the fear emotion of your spirit soul. Although it hasn’t completely disappeared, your courage will become as great as the main body’s from now on, and you won’t have to fearkilling intent anymore.” Cheng Ling’s eyes rolled slightly, then she “kindly” reminded.
Cheng Hong Ling’s pretty face changed slightly. She didn’t expect this guy to remain unrepentant and still lay traps for her at this point.
“My courage has become greater? I don’t have to fear killing intent anymore?” Qi Huang felt as if she had gone from hell to heaven upon hearing this.
“Yes, so you can break free from her control at any time. Surprised, aren’t you?” Cheng Ling glanced at the main body with ill intentions, thinking if you are so controlling, then I will make you lose it.
Cheng Hong Ling looked at Qi Huang. Although her expression remained unchanged, her pupils trembled slightly. In her mind, her strong desire for control meant that anyone would desire freedom. However, due to her proud personality, she didn’t like to beg others, so she stubbornly said, “Yes, what she said is true. If you want to leave, I… won’t stop you!”
“Strange! With such a good main body, why would I leave you?” Qi Huang smiled brightly and then walked out through the heart door.
Cheng Hong Ling stared blankly at Qi Huang’s retreating back. Her pretty face, like a blooming flower, gradually unfurled, beautiful and enduring.
“Are you a submissive person? You are so enslaved by her, yet you still cling to her?” Cheng Ling cursed unwillingly.
As soon as Qi Huang stepped out of the heart door, she immediately occupied the body and appeared in that secluded corner. The sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking could be heard around her, and the faint cries of county vendors could be heard in her ears. She felt as if she had returned from another world.
“It’s good to be alive!” Qi Huang took a deep breath, greedy and entranced.
At this moment, Cheng Hong Ling’s spiritual sense also retreated from the Sea of Consciousness. She looked at Qi Huang with complex eyes and spoke after a while, “Don’t force yourself. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you anymore. After all, you are indeed another person, and I have no right to keep you by my side.”
“I told you, with such a good main body, why would I leave?” Qi Huang reiterated.
“Are you telling the truth?” Cheng Hong Ling confirmed, not at ease.
Qi Huang did not answer directly. She smiled self-deprecatingly and began to talk about her life: “I come from a poor family. I should have been like most ordinary people in this chaotic world, living day by day with no guarantee of survival. Fortunately, when heaven created peerless geniuses like you, it left some scraps and gave me a bit of talent for cultivation. Who knew I would be framed by a villain midway and be forced to be expelled from the HongHua Sect in disgrace!
Do you know? Compared to my dim future, what I feared more was disappointing my parents! So, the day I left the HongHua Sect, I thought that even if I had to clean toilets, if someone wanted me, I would be willing to stay! Unfortunately, even such a wish was a luxury for me at that time.”
Cheng Hong Ling pursed her red lips slightly, not knowing what to say for a moment.
“I’m not saying this to gain sympathy. I just want to tell you that when people are poor, they are easily satisfied! Freedom, love, power—those don’t hold much temptation for me. As long as I and my loved ones can survive, I will be grateful! So I am truly satisfied with my current life!” Qi Huang added sincerely.
“Thank you for your tolerance! I deeply sympathize with your experience.” Cheng Hong Ling comforted clumsily after a moment of silence, and then added, “However, there is one thing I must correct you on. Your ability to cultivate is not heaven’s charity, but the blessing of your ancestors.”
“What do you mean?” Qi Huang asked doubtfully.
“Why do people cultivate?” Cheng Hong Ling asked instead of answering.
“To escape life, old age, sickness, and death!” Qi Huang answered without thinking.
“Why do people have life, old age, sickness, and death?”
“Because they have a body!”
“Exactly. Therefore, the purpose of cultivation is to escape the mortal body. Where does a person’s body come from?”
“Parents?”
“And parents’? ”
“Grandparents’?”
“Wrong. The bodies of all things in the world are composed of the five elements, and humans are no exception! And the five elements are produced by the will of the Heavenly Dao. This is why everyone says that cultivation is going against the heavens.”
…
Qi Huang was enlightened, but then she asked doubtfully, “What does this have to do with my cultivation talent being a gift from my ancestors?”
“Since cultivation is going against the heavens, why would the heavens give you cultivation talent? Cultivation talent comes from bloodline. If it’s not from your ancestors, who else could it be? After all, to go against the heavens, you must first improve your strength, which optimizes your bloodline. You should understand this simple principle, right? Therefore, excellent bloodline is a testament to your ancestors’ fight against the Heavenly Dao.” Cheng Hong Ling explained carefully.
“According to you, people with ordinary bloodlines don’t even have the qualification to fight against the heavens?” Qi Huang felt depressed, and her breathing slightly stopped.
“Naturally! Although Father always says that kings and generals are born, not made. While I understand his feelings, I must admit that this is an ironclad rule in the cultivation world!” Cheng Hong Ling’s cheeks twitched slightly, a result of gritting her teeth.
“Then what about you? Your parents are ordinary people, why do you have such good talent?” Qi Huang asked somewhat unwillingly.
“Although I don’t want to admit it, I have to face reality. My mother’s background is probably not that simple.” Cheng Hong Ling clenched her delicate fists slightly.
“Mother…” Qi Huang blurted out instinctively, but then apologized a little sheepishly, “Sorry, aren’t your mother’s parents also local? I remember your maternal grandfather’s family were ordinary farmers!”
“No, my mother was adopted by my maternal grandparents. My father just told me this.” Cheng Hong Ling said with a solemn tone. Then she continued, “Do you know? If mother’s identity is not simple, it might deal a heavy blow to the ideals my father has always upheld. No matter how great my achievements are in the future, it will be useless. I’m afraid he won’t be able to handle it.”
‘There’s such a thing?’ Qi Huang murmured in disbelief, and then felt a trace of sympathy. She finally understood her cheap father’s feelings. Are kings and generals indeed born, not made? Can people at the bottom with no bloodline really not change their fate?
‘No, my current abilities have nothing to do with bloodline!’ Qi Huang suddenly realized after a moment of silence, and then patted her chest and promised, “Don’t worry! I will protect Father’s ideals! And I will also break the ironclad rule of the cultivation world that bloodline is supreme! The Evergreen Convention is the best stage for it!”
Volume 5: My Clone is Targeted by the Emperor
