Chapter 660: Who is testing whom?
The Cultivation World originally had Nine Great Prodigies, six males and three females. Due to the scarcity of resources, the three female prodigies were highly praised, which was extremely unusual in the male-dominated Cultivation World.
Of course, that was ancient history. Since the new Saintess of Hua Rong Sect defeated seven of the Nine Great Prodigies single-handedly, she had become the only prodigy in the Cultivation World and the most eye-catching Immortal/Fairy. Therefore, the male offspring of those major families were trying in every possible way to win the heart of the Saintess of Hua Rong Sect. The other three female prodigies were instead neglected.
Unfortunately, half a year had passed, and no man had been able to meet the new Saintess of Hua Rong Sect.
Some Immortal Families had become impatient. Therefore, they were preparing to follow the example of the Cao family and use the Immortal Tablet to make a fait accompli. However, no one knew this woman’s real name yet.
Qi Huang was very fortunate to be born in a remote small country in the West Continent like Xihui Dynasty. Otherwise, with her and her main body’s high-profile behavior, someone would have likely already connected the two.
On the sixth day of May, exactly one month before the wedding date set by the Lü Family, Qi Huang and her main body quietly arrived at Hua Rong Sect.
“Disciple! I’ve missed you so much!”
Shi Yuqi hugged the main body and clone tightly, as if afraid they would fly away. In fact, this was true; if such a Saintess disciple were to disappear, where would she find another one?
“Wuwuwu!”
Qi Huang struggled to break free from the overwhelming embrace and then asked, “Master, how has Hua Rong Sect been these past six months?”
“It’s been alright! It’s just that you performed too exceptionally at the Evergreen Convention… No… it should be said, outside the Zhu Xian Terrace, so now all the outstanding Immortal Elders in the Cultivation World are paying attention to you. They are using all sorts of schemes and strategies, both soft and hard. If not for the Grand Elder of Hua Rong Sect, who is a Heavenly Punishment Realm expert, watching over you, your background would have likely been exposed completely.”
Shi Yuqi said with lingering fear.
“What a bunch of annoying flies! Instead of pursuing the path of immortality, they are obsessed with romantic matters all day long.”
Cheng Hong Ling snorted coldly.
“There’s no other way. In the Cultivation World, although becoming an immortal is important, descendants are equally important. Moreover, how many people can truly achieve immortality? They strive their whole lives just to marry a woman with outstanding talent to strengthen their bloodline, so that their families can prosper eternally, right?”
Shi Yuqi explained gently.
“Alright, let’s stop talking about them. Let’s talk about business! There is only one month left until the wedding date set by the Lü Family. We are here to fulfill the agreement.”
Qi Huang quickly changed the subject. A sword was hanging over her head; she would not feel safe without wearing a helmet.
“Have you… reached the second level of the Talent Realm? The Grand Elder and the Sect Leader will not go easy on you. This concerns the life and death of Hua Rong Sect.”
Shi Yuqi inquired cautiously.
“Don’t worry, Master, I reached it long ago!”
Qi Huang said enigmatically, thinking that it was fortunate that Zhen Feiyan tore through space, otherwise, she would not have had such an easy time. It was truly a blessing in disguise.
“That’s good! Let’s go find them now.”
Shi Yuqi straightened her back, making her already exaggerated bust even more imposing.
The three of them quickly found Hua Ru Yi and Hua Man and explained their purpose.
Hua Ru Yi led everyone to a hidden side hall before saying, “Since you are here to fulfill the agreement, you should remember our previous agreement. If your Spiritual Sense can reach the second level of the Heavenly Punishment Realm within half a year, we will agree to your request. Otherwise, we can only apologize, as we cannot cooperate with you. The Immortal Tablet is the lifeline of Hua Rong Sect.”
“That’s right. The reason we agreed back then was mainly because of your unprecedented growth rate. I wouldn’t have agreed to such a ridiculous agreement with anyone else. So please don’t expect us to go easy on you.”
Grand Elder Hua Man also reminded them.
“Of course! Feel free to test me however you want, Grand Elder.”
Qi Huang was very confident. Her Spiritual Sense had already reached the seventh level of the Heavenly Punishment Realm. Let alone just testing her Spiritual Sense, even if she used all her abilities, she was confident she could crush Hua Man. This is why people say that in the Path of Cultivation, the further you go, the greater the difference between each level.
“Let’s go somewhere else. It’s not good to display our abilities here.”
Hua Man led the way outside, and the group soon arrived at the plaza in front of the Immortal Tablet. Since the area was under martial law, there were no disciples.
Qi Huang followed Hua Man towards the center of the plaza, while Cheng Hong Ling and Hua Ru Yi stood still and did not follow, as it would be very dangerous for them, even if it was just a clash of Spiritual Sense between Heavenly Punishment Realm experts.
“Are you ready? I won’t hold back, so please don’t misrepresent your strength, otherwise, you will be the one to suffer.”
Hua Man reached the center of the field and reminded them again. She did not want the new Saintess of Hua Rong to die at the hands of her, the Grand Elder.
“Don’t worry, Elder Hua! Please proceed.”
Qi Huang seemed very relaxed, as if she were out for a leisurely stroll.
Hua Man pondered for a moment and then tentatively released one-tenth of her Spiritual Sense to crush Qi Huang. This level of Spiritual Sense could distort the air but not yet space, yet it looked quite frightening.
Qi Huang immediately set up a Spiritual Sense Shield to block it, maintaining a relaxed and at-ease expression, and provocatively asked, “Elder Hua, didn’t you say you wouldn’t go easy? Don’t tell me your Spiritual Sense is just bluffing?”
“Is it that strong?”
A trace of displeasure finally appeared on Elder Hua’s face. She no longer held back and immediately increased her Spiritual Sense to about eighty percent. The space in front of them began to distort slightly.
Qi Huang also strengthened her Spiritual Sense Shield correspondingly, still appearing as if she had nothing better to do.
“She actually blocked it!”
Hua Ru Yi was overjoyed. She knew that her master had already half-entered the second level of the Heavenly Punishment Realm, which was enough to prove Qi Huang’s extraordinary nature.
“Since that’s the case, I’ll have to go all out.”
Hua Man’s composure was starting to break. Ten parts of her Spiritual Sense surged out, crushing towards Qi Huang. The surrounding granite ground shattered one after another and began to sink, and the earth itself trembled slightly.
Qi Huang lost her patience, and her Spiritual Sense at the second level of the Heavenly Punishment Realm suddenly emerged from her body, charging towards Hua Man’s ferocious Spiritual Sense with great momentum.
The Spiritual Senses of both sides met head-on like sharp spears and collided fiercely. Hua Man’s Spiritual Sense was like a maddened wild bull charging forward. However, it ran headfirst into a massive rhinoceros, and upon contact, it was sent reeling backward, utterly defeated.
Hua Man instantly felt immense pressure. She wanted to beg for mercy, but her pride would not allow it, so she could only try her best to hold on, and dense, fine sweat soon appeared on her forehead.
Qi Huang’s Spiritual Sense advanced steadily, pushing Hua Man’s Spiritual Sense back step by step. During this process, fragments of Spiritual Sense leaked out, leaving countless terrifying scars on the ground around them.
Of course, Qi Huang was not someone who did not know the severity of the situation. She soon discovered that Hua Man was struggling, so she quickly withdrew her Spiritual Sense.
Hua Man sighed in relief, thinking how dangerous it had been, and how she had almost made a fool of herself.
“Elder Hua, are you alright?”
Qi Huang quickly ran over to ask.
“I’m fine, what could happen to me?”
Hua Man waved her hand dismissively, pretending to be nonchalant, but her body was trembling slightly. She thought indignantly, “What a darn girl, she went too hard and didn’t play fair at all. Who is testing whom here?”
“Master, are you alright?”
Hua Ru Yi also ran over to ask.
“What could happen to me? Do you think your master can be harmed by such a yellow-haired girl?”
Hua Man continued to stubbornly insist.
“Then why are you shaking? Are you cold?”
Hua Ru Yi asked caringly.
“If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute!”
Hua Man was almost angered to death.
Qi Huang couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking that the Grand Elder was truly humorous.
“How is it, Elder Hua? Has my clone’s Spiritual Sense reached the second level of the Heavenly Punishment Realm?”
Cheng Hong Ling asked expressionlessly.
“Not bad. Her Spiritual Sense is even stronger than mine, and she has indeed reached the second level of the Heavenly Punishment Realm.”
Hua Man generously admitted this time.
“Really? That’s great.”
Hua Ru Yi was overjoyed. An Immortal Tablet was not as valuable as a Land Immortal.
“Then what about our transaction?”
Cheng Hong Ling pressed.
“I agree. On the sixth day of June, you can engrave your true name and use Hua Rong Sect’s Immortal Tablet to fight against the Lü Family. However, I also hope you will not forget your promise to protect everything in Hua Rong Sect.”
Hua Man sternly warned.
“I swear, as long as I, Qi Huang, am alive, I will do my best to protect Hua Rong Sect.”
Qi Huang also made a promise.
Thus, the transaction between the two parties was settled. All that remained was to wait until the sixth day of June. Qi Huang would let the entire Cultivation World know that the Immortal Tablet… was not some kind of edict!
