“You’d think that the Tianmomen, being a well-known demonic sect, would have the decency to pay for their spots instead of resorting to murder and robbery.”
Hearing Hua Jian’s muttering, Qian Feixue set the finished page beside her hand without even lifting her eyes.
“Should I send someone to drive them away?”
They were well aware of what the Tianmomen cultivators outside the city were up to.
As for this matter, Hua Jian still wasn’t sure how to handle it.
Could the Tianmomen really be that broke?
Or were they just trying to eliminate some strong competition before the Secret Realm opened?
That would be a smart strategy, but the Red Flower Building was already housing plenty of Lingwang Boundary experts, including participants from other demonic sects.
According to the Wanling Sect cultivators stationed in the Red Flower Building, those Tianmomen cultivators had plenty of Spirit Stones on them—enough to make a hefty profit for both the Wanling Sect and the Qian Family.
“No need. Let them stir up public anger instead.” Hua Jian shook her head. Let the Tianmomen wait outside. Why should she step in when dogs were biting dogs?
“I’m planning to hold the auction outside Frozen Winter City. What do you think?”
Qian Feixue was taken aback, then let out a helpless laugh. “I couldn’t ask for more. Letting those people into the city would put a huge burden on my shoulders.”
Everyone gathered in Frozen Winter City right now was a famous demonic cultivator from the Northern Territories—or even the entire world.
Their mere presence was enough to keep the city guard from sleeping well at night.
If they caused trouble inside the city, Qian Feixue would face immense criticism and pressure.
Thankfully, Hua Jian had enough deterrent power.
At first, those demonic cultivators tried to stir up trouble, but now every single one still in the city behaved like obedient little chicks.
No one dared to cross Hua Jian.
In just half a month, Hua Jian had taught those demonic cultivators with her fists exactly why the Wanhua Saintess was the Wanhua Saintess.
Of course, most of her kills and intimidation were mainly for money.
Someone had tried to cause a scene in the Red Flower Building.
The result: Hua Jian turned him into a human road sign outside the city within ten moves.
That was when the demonic cultivators realized that even though Hua Jian’s current strength hadn’t reached the mid-Lingwang level, even a high-level Lingwang cultivator couldn’t get the better of her.
Still, Hua Jian wasn’t a god. Leaving the demonic cultivators inside the city was a disaster waiting to happen, so she arranged a gathering spot for them outside the city.
To do that, she even called in reinforcements from the Wanling Sect.
And to keep those demonic cultivators in line, one of the helpers she summoned was a powerful Ling Emperor cultivator.
Yes, our lovely Miss Huaxinhu. Right now, that fox spirit was stationed at the temporary camp outside the city as the anchor.
…Or rather, slacking off.
Hua Jian’s orders to Huaxinhu were simple: don’t interfere with conflicts between demonic cultivators. Let them tear each other apart.
If they wanted the Wanling Sect to mediate, they’d have to pay.
Huaxinhu had serious objections to this. When had the Wanling Sect become such a money-grubbing sect?
But facing Hua Jian’s reason and emotion, she had no choice but to obey.
“Then let’s hold it at the temporary camp. Same time as originally planned?”
“That depends on you. Didn’t you say there’s no rush?”
“No rush because I need to wait until the preparations inside the Secret Realm are complete. At the current pace, the Secret Realm will be irreversibly destroyed in about half a month. We’ll hold the auction half a month from now, give the winning demonic cultivators another half a month to prepare, and then release them into the Secret Realm for the final half month of slaughter.”
“Right now, Hua Jian is pretty busy. Handling even a small Secret Realm takes two full months.”
“But it doesn’t matter. It’ll take time for all the cultivators participating in the Great War to assemble, plus all the preparations. By the time the Secret Realm is about to open, her work should be just about done.”
“I have no objections. Do you want me to send people to help you build the venue? Send some. After all, for such a grand event, if the venue is too shabby, the people coming to the auction will be disappointed.”
Hua Jian nodded.
She knew that face projects were important. This was going to be a massive gathering of the demonic path.
If the auction venue was too plain, people would think the event wasn’t up to standard, and the spots on auction wouldn’t seem valuable.
The more magnificent and imposing the venue, the more it would impress the cultivators coming to bid, making them more motivated to compete.
“I’ll leave this to you. I really don’t understand design.” Hua Jian sighed.
She wasn’t a jack of all trades.
Coming up with clever ideas was fine, but once execution started, her head felt like it was going to explode.
Many times, without Qian Feixue’s help, she wouldn’t even know how to go about things.
She was like a toddler learning to walk, needing to hold Qian Feixue’s adult hand just to move forward.
The moment Qian Feixue let go, she’d just sit on the ground and cry.
“I feel like I haven’t done anything except come up with ideas. So why did the Wanling Sect still make me the Saintess?”
“Because the Wanling Sect needs you as their banner. Even if you do nothing, it’s more beneficial than harmful for the Wanling Sect.” Qian Feixue saw it clearly.
The Wanling Sect wanted to truly build Hua Jian’s reputation, to let the whole world know how formidable their Saintess was.
That way, the trace of the Wanling Sect on Hua Jian would be hard to wash away.
“So, what are your plans for the future?”
Would she continue as the Saintess of the Wanling Sect, return to Linglong after the Five-Year Agreement ended, or go to the Wanling Sect she originally wanted to join?
Hua Jian rested her chin on her hands, her eyes drifting as she whispered, “Can I have it all?”
These days, she had let her true nature run wild. The feeling of striking out at whatever she disliked was amazing.
If she were a conventional good person, she’d have to think of reasons to deal with villains, hold back a little, or risk being labeled bloodthirsty.
But now she was the Wanhua Saintess.
She could slap someone into several pieces, glue them back together, and stick them outside the city as road signs, and no one would dare to curse her.
Who knew if cursing her would turn them into the next road sign?
That feeling was so wonderful it was almost addictive.
“You’re so greedy. Are you planning to be the Wanhua Saintess while also sneaking into the Saint Sect to study?”
“Haha… Can I?”
“I’m not from the Wanling Sect, nor am I from the Saint Sect. Asking me that—are you expecting me to go ask them for you?” Qian Feixue reached for another booklet on her desk and waved it impatiently at Hua Jian.
“If you’re done, go play with your little girlfriend. I’ve got a mountain of work here.”
Hua Jian pouted at being dismissed. But Qian Feixue’s “little girlfriend” comment pleased her.
That’s right. Linglong was her little girlfriend. She, Hua Jian, was the dominant one!
“If you feel that way, why don’t you tell her? Or are you afraid?”
Hua Jian stumbled as she was about to leave. Good heavens, listen to that.
Of course she was afraid!
Even she knew she was pushing her luck. How could she eat from one bowl and then the other—two-timing like that?
If she ever dared to say that out loud, Linglong would come at her with her righteous little pink fists and beat her to a pulp.
“Mind your own business. Bye!”
These days, Linglong had basically taken up residence at Qian Feixue’s place.
After all, the Jade Pool had openly pulled out completely.
If someone from the Jade Pool appeared around Qian Feixue, even in the city lord’s mansion, it would attract unwanted attention.
So Linglong had no choice but to stay here. It didn’t draw attention, and it gave her more chances to see Hua Jian.
Sometimes she’d disguise herself and go out shopping with Hua Jian. Life was pretty comfortable.
Probably because the whole commotion about the Wanhua Saintess had everyone in Frozen Winter City focused on her, so Hua Jian and Linglong’s presence went unnoticed.
Linglong hid her horns and tail. Hua Jian changed her clothes. No one recognized them.
This goes to show that the Wanhua Saintess wasn’t a person—she was a set of clothes…
Ahem, back on track. With Linglong staying long-term, Qian Feixue’s mood was complicated.
As Linglong’s huge fan, having her idol around all the time should have made her happy.
But it also brought endless pressure. She wanted to show her best side in front of Linglong, but keeping it up for a day or two was fine—ten or half a month was impossible.
Now Qian Feixue looked haggard, as if Linglong had drained her essence.
Linglong was confused by the change. Out of basic sympathy, she started paying more attention to Qian Feixue than before.
And that only made things worse for Qian Feixue.
When Hua Jian returned to Qian Feixue’s room today, the girl looked like she had already ascended to immortality, ready to fly off at any moment.
“Oh my god, you two didn’t fool around while I was gone, did you?” Hua Jian leaned in to examine Qian Feixue’s unusually haggard little face.
Normally, Qian Feixue would have protested fiercely, trading verbal blows with Hua Jian even if she couldn’t win.
But today she didn’t even have the energy to argue. She just looked like she’d given up.
“Linglong, did you secretly learn the Wanling Sect’s secret arts?”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Linglong gave Huajian an annoyed glare.