Chapter 75: Who Wants the Number One Sign
Qi Huang dared to provoke them for two reasons. First, once she defeated this group, her only remaining opponent would be the Longchang Sect. Given the Sixth Princess’s character, she definitely would not agree to the Immortal Alliance’s intervention. Second, even if the Sixth Princess were to resort to any means necessary for victory, Elder Zuo, in his current state, could not possibly produce even a single talisman. Therefore, she had basically secured first place for herself.
Steward Cai also knew his predicament. Dejected like a defeated rooster, he lacked the confidence to utter any more harsh words.
“She actually defeated the Immortal Alliance by herself.”
Cheng Hong Ling stared silently at the clone on the arena, her emotions a complex mix. She felt a desire to become stronger, more intensely than ever before.
Qi Huang rejoined the group as if nothing had happened. To be honest, simply bullying weak opponents offered no sense of accomplishment.
“Let’s go. I think we’ll be more welcomed outside.”
Qi Huang gestured towards the outside of the wall, then led the way out of the door. The members of the HongHua Sect followed behind.
As Qi Huang walked out of the branch hall’s main entrance, the crowd of ordinary people outside immediately welcomed them with cheers, treating them like a returning general.
“After this Evergreen Convention, the HongHua Sect’s influence in the mortal world will be greatly enhanced. We won’t lack talented individuals in the future.”
Qin Quan exclaimed excitedly.
“Yes, it’s all thanks to Hong Ling and Qi Huang.”
Xu Mei said with emotion.
“You don’t need to include me when praising her.”
Cheng Hong Ling said haughtily.
“Why would I be including you? You also eliminated two sects, your contribution is no less than mine.”
Qi Huang quickly comforted her, as if coaxing a child. In reality, considering their actual ages, Cheng Hong Ling was indeed like a little girl in her eyes.
“Oh dear, Junior Sister is jealous of herself again.”
Shen Yuan, standing nearby, shook her head helplessly.
“That’s right. Aren’t both her main body and her clone her? Why the need to separate them so clearly?”
Ruan Lingyu also complained.
“She’s just a tsundere. If she doesn’t act like this, how can she show her presence?”
Su Qing mercilessly revealed.
“Tsundere… Tsundere?”
Cheng Hong Ling’s face immediately turned red with anger. If not for maintaining her cool image, she would have pinned this sharp-tongued girl down and spanked her.
…
Lin Ran sat quietly in her guest room, her mind heavy with worry. As everyone predicted, she had reached a dead end. To fight would mean certain defeat and humiliation, while to forfeit would be akin to desertion, which was even more shameful. Thus, she was utterly stuck.
“No, even if I have to die, I will die standing!”
After deliberating for a long time, Lin Ran decided to go up to the stage, as it was the lesser of two evils. (1)⑵⊙ Umbrella Er Fu Lin Qi Shi (Ba
“Sixth Princess, Eunuch Zhong from the palace is here. He says he has an imperial decree from His Majesty for you.”
Just then, the voice of Xiang Yang, the Sect Leader of the Longchang Sect, sounded from outside the door.
“Eunuch Zhong?”
Lin Ran was taken aback, and her expression grew even more solemn. She knew that if he sought her out at this critical juncture, it must be related to the Evergreen Convention.
Although Lin Ran did not wish to face Eunuch Zhong, since he carried her father’s imperial decree, she had to meet him. Thus, she could only say, “Please have Sect Leader Xiang lead him in.”
After saying this, Lin Ran tidied her appearance and stood up from the bed.
Not long after, Eunuch Zhong entered the room and respectfully knelt down to pay his respects: “Greetings, Your Highness!”
“Eunuch Zhong, please dispense with the formalities. It’s been thousands of miles from the Imperial Capital. You’ve worked hard.”
Lin Ran gestured to help him up.
“It is this old servant’s honor to serve His Majesty and Your Highness. It is not hard!”
Eunuch Zhong slowly stood up from the ground. Judging by his appearance, he looked no different from an ordinary elderly man on the verge of death. No one would have associated him with the foremost master of the Imperial Palace.
“Eunuch Zhong, Sect Leader Xiang mentioned that you have brought my father’s imperial decree?”
⑸ Yin Qi Ba Ba Qiu Qi Lyu 1 Lin Ran got to the point.
“Yes, His Majesty instructed me to tell you that in the final round of the Evergreen Convention, victory is the only option; defeat is not permitted.”
Eunuch Zhong conveyed Lin Tu’s imperial decree.
“Victory is the only option?”
Lin Ran was stunned. She had already prepared for inevitable defeat. Otherwise, why would her heart be so conflicted?
“Yes. His Majesty said that if you lose, you will never be allowed to return to the palace.”
Eunuch Zhong said cautiously.
“Heh heh, he thinks too highly of me.”
Lin Ran smiled self-deprecatingly and then said, “Eunuch Zhong, do you know that this morning, the four great Immortal Sects gathered thirty elite disciples to deal with her? Half of them were Huashen realm cultivators, but she suppressed them all with a single thought. Do you think I have a chance of winning? It seems my father is deliberately finding an excuse to keep me from returning to the palace!”
“Your Highness is overthinking things. His Majesty also gave instructions that if you cannot resolve this matter, you should let this old servant handle it.”
Eunuch Zhong quickly explained.
“How should it be handled? Kill that Qi Huang?”
Lin Ran asked doubtfully.
“Your Highness is joking. That Qi Huang is an Imperial Concubine. Even if this old servant had the heart of a leopard, I would not dare to do such a thing.”
Eunuch Zhong repeatedly shook his head.
“Then how do you plan to handle it? Not killing her, yet preserving the dignity of the royal family. This must be very difficult.”
Lin Ran pressed.
“As long as Your Highness agrees, this old servant will naturally resolve the troubles for you and Your Highness when the time comes.”
Eunuch Zhong spoke enigmatically.
“What if this princess refuses? Eunuch Zhong, will you not interfere?”
Lin Ran smiled noncommittally.
Eunuch Zhong did not answer. His silence already indicated his stance.
…
Although it was the final match, the Immortal Alliance still held a symbolic lottery draw ceremony. The final result was that the HongHua Sect received the second draw, and the Longchang Sect received the first draw.
According to the rules of the Evergreen Convention, the final match would be held in three days.
During these three days, Qi Huang was filled with inner turmoil. After all, the Sixth Princess had outstanding character, and she also owed her a favor. In such a situation, how could she bring herself to act?
Unfortunately, no matter how unwilling she was, she still had to face it. The three days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the morning of the fourth day, as Qi Huang led the members of the HongHua Sect to the Immortal Alliance branch, she found it as lively as ever. Although everyone knew there was no suspense in this match, they still hoped the Sixth Princess could create a miracle.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. When the time for the match arrived, not only the Sixth Princess, but not a single person from the Longchang Sect had arrived.
…
“Could the Sixth Princess have really become a deserter?”
Shen Yuan speculated. In fact, many cultivators from other sects nearby were thinking the same thing.
“Impossible. Given the Sixth Princess’s character, she would not flee without a fight.”
Ruan Lingyu denied it without thinking.
“Yes, and she is so intelligent. She should understand that doing so would be more embarrassing than losing the match.”
Qi Huang also agreed.
“Something must have delayed her. Even if she fled without a fight, what about the others from the Longchang Sect? They wouldn’t just leave without returning their sign plates, would they? This is the Evergreen Convention.”
Yun Fei added.
Just as everyone was speculating, several disciples from the Longchang Sect rushed into the branch hall, handed the number one sign to Steward Cai, and declared their forfeiture.
“What happened? Where is your Sect Leader?”
Steward Cai was caught off guard, and the cultivators from various sects craned their necks to look.
“Reporting to Steward Cai, we were attacked by a master on the way. The Sixth Princess was injured and can no longer participate in the Evergreen Convention.”
The disciples from the Longchang Sect quickly explained.
“What?”
Steward Cai stood there, stunned, and the cultivators from various sects exchanged bewildered glances. No one had expected such a thing to happen.
Qi Huang was initially shocked, but a heavy stone then fell from her heart. She knew this was the best outcome. At least the Sixth Princess’s reputation was preserved, and she didn’t have to betray a favor by cruelly destroying a beauty.
…
“Who dared to attack the Dynasty’s Sixth Princess in broad daylight? And ruin our last hope.”
“I don’t know. The rebels have been rampant these past few years. It’s probably them.”
“Now it’s good. The final match ended before it even began, allowing that Qi Huang to take the lead. How are we cultivators supposed to conduct ourselves in the future?”
“Yes, it’s so frustrating! How could we be defeated by a clone with a lower bloodline?”
…
The cultivators from various sects complained dejectedly.
Steward Cai was also unwilling for the final match to be aborted like this. He walked onto the arena, holding the number one sign, and said, “Fellow Daoists, the Longchang Sect has now forfeited, and this number one sign has become ownerless. I wonder which sect is interested?”
