Chapter 75: Entering the Dreamscape Again
To be honest, Qi Huang wasn’t sure if the Ghost Tomato would help with the sleeping medicine, but she couldn’t afford to think too much now. However, she had to consider the gains and losses before using it.
If she used it, Qi Huang’s spiritual sense would break through to the Huashen realm or even higher. Of course, it might not break through, but it would definitely be strengthened; this was the gain.
As for the loss, if she used up the Ghost Tomato’s juice, she would no longer be able to pursue a sustainable development path. After all, according to the book “Compendium of Strange Plants and Animals in the Cultivation World,” this item was extremely rare, and it was questionable whether she could encounter it again in the future, making her dream of growing vegetables a distant one.
If she didn’t use it, Qi Huang could continue to grow vegetables and look forward to becoming invincible in the world in the future!
Of course, high returns also came with high risks. Her main consciousness could very well be devoured by that Spiritual Wisdom, disappearing from the world, which was no different from dying.
She couldn’t even bother to consider the minor issue of her senior sisters barging in and taking advantage of her.
“Forget it, as long as one is alive, anything is possible. If you die, you truly have no chance.”
After a moment of hesitation, Qi Huang made the “wise” choice, preparing to use the “Ghost Tomato” immediately. In fact, it was simply because she was afraid of death.
Qi Huang dared not delay. She groggily took out the Ghost Tomato, peeled it, and spread it in a bowl on the table. Then, she took out the Tongming Comb to dip into it. Next, she started combing her hair.
“Once… twice… thrice… ten times…”
Qi Huang was very sleepy, so she combed very slowly but was exceptionally tenacious, knowing that failure meant her complete annihilation.
As the comb fell, a familiar cool sensation swiftly entered her mind, and Qi Huang’s consciousness began to clear. She could clearly feel her spiritual sense strengthening, but in an instant, she was swallowed by the overwhelming wave of sleepiness.
“Damn it, this thing doesn’t seem to have much effect on the sleeping medicine.”
Qi Huang was greatly alarmed and immediately reacted. Before, she could use the Tongming Comb to relieve fatigue because it was purely mental fatigue. This time, however, her body was affected by the sleeping medicine, and this thing couldn’t detoxify.
Qi Huang was unwilling to give up, so she continued to comb tirelessly. After combing dozens of times, she had used up her Ghost Tomato, and her spiritual sense had grown considerably. Unfortunately, she hadn’t broken through to the Huashen realm, and as the effect weakened, her consciousness became blurry again.
“Damn it, you smelly senior sisters have gotten me into a lot of trouble.”
Qi Huang silently accused. Although she didn’t know if she would wake up after this sleep, she still didn’t want her secrets to be discovered. With difficulty, she tidied up the “mess” before reluctantly collapsing onto the bed.
…
When Qi Huang regained consciousness again, she found her body standing in the main hall of the HongHua Sect. Before her eyes were all the high-level figures of the sect, and her master, Xu Mei, was by her side.
“Alas! It’s really a dream again. I wonder if I’ll be able to stay awake this time.”
Qi Huang’s mood suddenly became incredibly heavy.
“Everyone, the triennial Evergreen Convention is about to begin, starting on the fifth day of next month.”
Qin Quan announced.
Qi Huang looked around and found that everyone’s appearance was no different from the real world. Based on this, Sect Leader Qin’s words should refer to the Evergreen Convention that had just passed this year.
“Great! That’s wonderful! With a disciple like Hong Ling, the Evergreen Convention, which is like a welfare competition, should be held once a year, not every three years.”
Elder Ruan said excitedly.
“Her progress in the past two years has been rapid. It’s possible she might even break into the top twenty and obtain the seeds of the Golden Life Flower. Then, our HongHua Sect will have no worries for the future.”
Xu Mei also echoed, speaking for the first time in a while.
“Elders, I have confidence in Hong Ling’s strength, but this time, it might not be so easy.”
Qin Quan’s expression turned serious as he continued, “I just received news that from now on, the Evergreen Convention will adopt a five-on-five team battle format, instead of the previous one-on-one mode.”
“What? Team battle mode?”
The high-level figures looked at each other, not immediately realizing anything was wrong.
“If it’s a team battle mode, it’s a devastating blow to our HongHua Sect. Let alone breaking into the top twenty, Hong Ling might not even be able to secure a spot in the prefecture-level Immortal Seed rankings.”
Xu Mei was the first to react, her mature oval face suddenly clouded with gloom.
“Elder Xu, why do you say that?”
Elder Ruan asked doubtfully.
“Elder Ruan, what do you think of Hong Ling’s talent?”
Xu Mei asked without answering.
“Of course, it’s good! No, she’s a genius! At fifteen years old, she has reached the fifth level of the Guiyi Realm. Among the cultivators under thirty in Yongning Prefecture, there are probably no more than three who can defeat her.”
Elder Ruan made his judgment.
“No, Elder Ruan, I can tell you with absolute certainty that there are no young cultivators in Yongning Prefecture who can defeat her in a one-on-one fight, not even those from the HuXiao Sect.”
Xu Mei immediately corrected him.
“In that case, why are you still so unconfident?”
Elder Ruan puffed out his beard and glared.
“Elder Ruan, don’t forget what the Sect Leader just said, that the Evergreen Convention will adopt a five-on-five team battle format. While there are no young cultivators in Yongning Prefecture who can defeat her in a one-on-one fight, there are many who are slightly weaker than her and the peerless geniuses from the HuXiao Sect are examples. As for us? Apart from Cheng Hong Ling, who else do we have? Other disciples, let alone the Guiyi Realm, even those in the Body Refining Realm are few.”
Xu Mei explained.
“Yes, that’s what I’m worried about. Although Hong Ling’s talent is outstanding and she is unmatched in one-on-one combat, this time it has been changed to a team battle format. Who can help her? Those disciples in the Body Refining Realm will be quickly killed by the geniuses of the major sects, and then it will become her fighting against two, three, or even four or five opponents. No matter how strong she is, one cannot fight against many.”
Sect Leader Qin added worriedly.
Hearing this, Huang Qi’s question was answered. She had always been curious about the achievements of her main body in the Evergreen Convention this year. Judging by the current situation, it seemed to be a complete failure, as Sect Leader Qin had said, one cannot fight against many.
“Why did the Immortal Alliance suddenly change the rules that have been used for thousands of years?”
Elder Ruan also realized the seriousness of the situation and asked excitedly.
“I heard that the Immortal Alliance’s explanation is that the development of each sect depends on the average quality of all their Immortal Seeds, not on a single Immortal Seed. Basically, it means that no matter how good a single Immortal Seed’s talent is, it cannot make the entire sect prosper.”
Elder Wu chimed in, glancing at Qi Huang’s body intentionally or unintentionally.
“What kind of nonsensical talk is that? They themselves say that good steel should be used on the blade, and they’ve forgotten it so quickly?”
Elder Ruan roared.
“Why are you shouting so loudly? It wasn’t me who set the rules.”
Elder Wu was stunned by the roar and could only explain aggrievedly.
“I think they are clearly targeting our HongHua Sect. It’s because Hong Ling eliminated a disciple from the HuXiao Sect last time, and that steward from the Immortal Alliance is related to the HuXiao Sect by marriage.”
Elder Ruan pointed it out without concealment.
“Whether this is true or not, we’ll know by inquiring about the rules in the neighboring prefecture.”
Xu Mei suggested.
“No need to inquire. The neighboring prefecture still uses the old rules, one-on-one.”
Sect Leader Qin replied.
“Then it means they are deliberately targeting our HongHua Sect.”
Xu Mei said through gritted teeth.
“How can he, a mere steward, arbitrarily change the rules and not fear punishment from above? Why don’t we go to the capital and report this matter to the higher-ups of the Immortal Alliance?”
Elder Ruan asked indignantly.
“Elder Ruan, please use your brain. Why would the Immortal Alliance take sides for our little-known sect? The HuXiao Sect is much more valuable to them than we are.”
Elder Wu mocked.
“Alas, who told us that we are insignificant and can only suffer in silence.”
Sect Leader Qin shook his head helplessly.
Hearing this, Qi Huang also felt the powerlessness of the HongHua Sect. Without connections or background, they could only follow others’ rules. That feeling of powerlessness made even an observer like her feel despair.
“Team battle it is, then. No matter what, I have to try. There aren’t many years left before I have to act as a decoy. I must find a way to obtain the seeds of the Golden Life Flower.”
Cheng Hong Ling, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
…
Qi Huang’s vision went black, and the next dreamscape began. At this moment, she had arrived at the familiar competition grounds for the prefecture-level Evergreen Convention. People were crowded everywhere, and the five-on-five team battles were being fiercely contested on the arena. Behind her stood disciples, all of whom had been replaced except for Wang Zong.
This could only mean that the cultivation levels of these disciples had surpassed Ruan Lingyu and Su Qing.
“Isn’t that Fairy Hong Ling?”
“It’s her! Although she’s from the HongHua Sect, she ranked in the top sixty of the Immortal Seed Ranking at the last Evergreen Convention. Moreover, she has such outstanding beauty, it’s truly astonishing.”
“What a pity! This time, let alone the sixtieth place, even six hundredth place is probably uncertain.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t you see that this competition is in a team battle format? No matter how strong she is, how many can she defeat? Does the HongHua Sect have any other disciples worth mentioning besides her?”
“Yes, yes! You’re right!”
…
The people around were discussing, and most of them did not have high hopes for Cheng Hong Ling, the peerless genius who had shone brightly in the previous session.
“Next match, number four versus number five.”
After the two sides on the arena determined the winner, an Immortal Alliance disciple began to announce the numbers of the next round’s opponents.
As soon as the words fell, number five appeared. Five young men and women walked onto the arena from the other side. Although they were not from the HuXiao Sect, they came from the second largest sect in this prefecture.
And it just so happened that the HongHua Sect was number four.
