Chapter 774: Who Dares to Stop, Die (Part 1)
Before the first day of the month, Huang Tian Prefecture was already exceptionally lively. A large number of outsiders from North and South were flooding in, turning the local residents into a minority. Every inn was packed, and many private mansions were converted into guesthouses, barely accommodating the influx of guests.
Huang Tian Prefecture’s remote location was the reason for its sudden surge in attraction. This was naturally because the HongHua Sect was selling Golden Life Flower Seeds, an unprecedented event in the entire Cultivation World. Everyone understood that the Immortal Alliance would not stand idly by, thus the first day of the seventh month was destined to be a grand affair.
Compared to these onlookers, the local residents of Huang Tian Prefecture were overjoyed. The things they had always dreamed of were finally within reach. From now on, the iron rule of dragons giving birth to dragons and phoenixes giving birth to phoenixes would be broken. Even if they had a “mouse,” it would become a dragon or a phoenix.
Of course, not all outsiders were just there to spectate; many harbored ill intentions.
That evening, a male and female warrior sneaked into a household near the Prefecture Capital. Their plan was to kill the current residents, usurp their home, and then take the child to the HongHua Sect to claim the Golden Life Flower Seed.
It was just an ordinary farming family. The husband and wife were weak and defenseless. They had no way to resist the two warriors and were quickly subdued.
“Please spare us, esteemed sirs! I am willing to offer all my property as tribute!” the male homeowner pleaded desperately.
“I’m sorry, not only do we want all your property, but we also want to be the parents of your son! So please die!” The male warrior was cold-blooded and merciless, raising his long saber to strike down the couple.
The couple closed their eyes in despair but felt no pain. Mustering their courage, they opened their eyes and saw the two warriors frozen in place like statues.
As the couple wondered, a flash in front of their eyes, accompanied by a faint floral fragrance, brought a beautiful figure wearing a veil into the room.
“How dare you commit murder in the territory governed by my HongHua Sect? None shall be spared!” The beautiful figure shouted, then turned to the couple. “Don’t be afraid, I am Qi Huang of the HongHua Sect. With me here, no one can harm you!” After saying this, Qi Huang used her Spiritual Sense to capture the two and disappear from the spot.
“Thank you, Immortal Qi! Thank you, Immortal Qi! You are truly a living Buddha!” The couple immediately prostrated themselves in gratitude.
In the following days, similar incidents occurred repeatedly, but they all ended in failure. Gradually, no one dared to target the local residents anymore, for they realized that Qi Huang was as all-knowing as a deity.
On the first day of the seventh month, as soon as daybreak arrived, countless figures rushed towards the HongHua Sect from all directions, surrounding the nearby hills until they were completely packed. It looked densely filled, covering the sky and the earth, with at least a million people, of whom only a very small portion were locals.
The locals, carrying their children, entered the HongHua Sect unimpeded, heads high and chests out. Today, they finally felt pride and honor for being residents of Huang Tian Prefecture.
“Alas! I also want to buy one, but I’m not qualified. The HongHua Sect only allows residents of Huang Tian Prefecture to purchase.”
“Yes, I used to mock these rats from Huang Tian Prefecture often. I never thought that one day I would envy them. Truly, the ways of the world are unpredictable!”
“Why don’t we quietly take out two local residents from Huang Tian Prefecture and impersonate them with our children to buy the Golden Life Flower Seeds?”
“If you want to die, don’t drag me along!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you think you’re the first to think of this? Everyone who has ever thought of this and acted on it has met their demise.”
“What? Who killed them?”
“Cheng Hong Ling of the HongHua Sect and her clone. It seems that nothing that happens in the entire Huangtian Capital can escape her notice!”
“That powerful?”
“Of course, she’s a Shentong Realm expert!”
…
Qi Huang was not idle either. Her Spiritual Sense covered a hundred-mile radius around the HongHua Sect. Anyone who dared to cause trouble would be directly eliminated. Today, even if the King of Heaven himself came, he would not be able to stop her from saving the people of Huang Tian Prefecture.
Qi Huang soon discovered that Jin Xue, Tang Yuning, and Ouyang Yi, three princesses from the great country of Zhongzhou, and their retinues were also among the crowd. They were clearly there to spectate.
“Two elder sisters, I heard the Immortal Alliance will send people to stop them this time!” Tang Yuning whispered to Jin Xue and Ouyang Yi beside her. Having gone through life and death, the three had become good sisters.
“I heard that too, and the leader is even the Vice Alliance Leader of the Immortal Alliance, Cao Hong. We saw him when we were forcibly taken to Tencel Valley Treasure Land as bait last time!” Jin Xue nodded in agreement.
“I remember. What’s there to fear? Back then, he even…”
“Ahem…”
Tang Yuning, with her direct nature, was about to mention how Cao Hong had been embarrassed by Qi Huang, but Ouyang Yi interrupted her with two coughs. Tang Yuning secretly wiped away a cold sweat, thinking she almost said something she shouldn’t have.
“I know what you want to say, but times have changed. Cao Hong is coming openly, and the HongHua Sect must face him openly. Opposing him is equivalent to openly defying the Immortal Alliance,” explained Jin Xue.
“This does seem quite tricky,” Tang Yuning said, frowning deeply. She also realized the seriousness of the matter.
“I believe Immortal Cheng and Immortal Qi have a way to resolve this, because knowing their personalities, they would never act rashly!” Jin Xue said firmly.
“Jin Xue understands me best! Don’t worry, I definitely won’t disappoint you!” Qi Huang smiled confidently after hearing their discussion.
Seeing that the time had arrived, the high-ranking officials of the HongHua Sect, led by Qin Quan, arrived at the sect’s central square. Tens of thousands of local residents, with their children, were already waiting there. Some were dressed in fine clothes, while others wore tattered garments. Their attire showed that they came from all walks of life, as one or two taels of silver were not a huge sum. Even the poorest families could pool enough money if they made an effort.
However, whether they were officials or commoners, everyone was eagerly anticipating the event. As soon as they saw the people of the HongHua Sect, they eagerly surrounded them.
“Everyone, please don’t rush. As long as you have the Children’s Tooth Token, every resident of Huangtian Capital will receive one!” Qin Quan quickly spoke to maintain order.
“Thank you, Sect Leader Qin! Thank you, Sect Leader Qin!” The crowd below, holding their children, bowed repeatedly.
Qin Quan showed an expression of enjoyment, but he did not get carried away. He immediately looked at Cheng Hong Ling and Qi Feng beside him and introduced them: “Everyone, no need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank our HongHua Sect’s Great Elder, Cheng Hong Ling, and her clone, Qi Feng. Because these Golden Life Flower Seeds were planted by them, and they decided to sell them to you at the super low price of one or two taels of silver each.”
“Thank you, Immortal Cheng… Thank you, Immortal Qi… Such a precious treasure for one or two taels of silver each, what’s the difference from giving them away for free? My parents aren’t as generous as you. I really want to acknowledge you as my adoptive mothers on the spot!”
“Yes, we people of Huangtian Capital were discriminated against by those evil people outside…”
“After thousands of years, with these Golden Life Flower Seeds, our future generations can escape the stigma. Such great kindness is worth calling you parents!”
“Immortal Cheng, Immortal Qi, I will erect a merit monument for you when I go back and you will receive the offerings from my Ma family for eternity!”
The people below wept profusely, most of them kneeling down. “Everyone, no need to be like this. Our HongHua Sect’s success today is also inseparable from your support, so this is just a return of favors.”
Qi Huang’s Spiritual Sense emerged from her body, and she subtly helped the people up.
Hearing this, the people were even more touched, treating Cheng Hong Ling and Qi Huang as living Buddhas.
However, the crowd outside the HongHua Sect was unhappy. “What right do you have to only sell to locals? Are you discriminating against us outsiders?”
“Actually, you don’t need to be envious or jealous. Those locals are celebrating too early. We don’t know if they have the good fortune to enjoy it yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“Selling Golden Life Flower Seeds in private cuts off the Immortal Alliance’s source of wealth. Do you think they’ll stand idly by? I’ve already received reliable news that the Immortal Alliance will send people to stop it.”
“Ah, if that’s the case, then these rats from Huangtian Capital will rejoice in vain. I don’t believe the HongHua Sect has the guts to go against the Immortal Alliance.”
“It’s best if it’s ruined. Even cultivators like me have no luck in obtaining the Golden Life Flower Seeds. What right do those rats have?”
The onlookers discussed animatedly. Qi Huang didn’t waste any words and directly handed the seeds to the disciples of the HongHua Sect, instructing them to distribute them one by one to the residents holding the Children’s Tooth Tokens.
“Alliance Leader Cao of the Immortal Alliance has arrived! All personnel of the HongHua Sect, come out to welcome him!” Just then, a commanding voice was heard.
