Stronger with Crimson Modifier

Chapter 202 - 199: Clone

This Xuanqing was incredibly strong.

Even though Hu Qi had just broken through to the Refining God realm, he could still feel an immense pressure emanating from the man.

Recalling the rumors about this man, a peculiar glint flashed in Hu Qi’s eyes.

’Could he have really taken that step?’

’It’s not impossible. If I could obtain a remnant of the Miwu Civilization and find clues about the path beyond the Refining God realm... then this man, a leader of the Xia Federation, should have no reason not to know. It’s highly likely he’s already reached that stage.’

"This was all a misunderstanding. Since Lord Xuanqing has spoken, let’s just let the matter drop!"

Shi Xiao nodded and spoke first.

He was afraid that Li Xianyu would say something else out of line.

Regardless of their true feelings, they couldn’t openly make a move against Hu Qi now.

Now that they had been offered a way out, they naturally had to take it.

"Let it drop?"

But Hu Qi just sneered.

He glanced at Xuanqing’s hazy figure, then clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute.

"Lord Xuanqing, it’s not that I’m unwilling to reconcile."

"Rather, it’s that these two, as Sect Leaders of two of the Seven Upper-tier Schools, used their strength to bully the weak."

"They openly violated Federation law, attacking the disciples of another School for no reason. And I’m supposed to just let it go?"

"Doesn’t that mean if I’m in a bad mood one day, I can go to the Holy Rain Sect or the Sword Pavilion, cause some trouble for their disciples, and then just pretend nothing happened?"

Hu Qi’s words made Shi Xiao’s and Li Xianyu’s faces freeze.

The same words, coming from a Qi Dao Grandmaster like Du Wang, would have been completely ignored.

But coming from Hu Qi, a Refining God Venerable, they carried an entirely different weight.

This was the benefit of power. Only with sufficient strength did one have an equal right to speak.

"Then what do you propose, young friend?"

Xuanqing asked. His face was a blur, but Hu Qi could clearly feel the man’s gaze upon him.

"Nothing much. I just require some compensation. If each of them gives the Shexin Sect one thousand kilograms of Spiritual Materials and Treasure Medicine, we can consider this matter settled!"

A smile spread across Hu Qi’s face.

"One thousand kilograms? Impossible!"

Before Li Xianyu could even speak, Shi Xiao’s face darkened, and he flatly refused.

’Does he really think Spiritual Materials and Treasure Medicine grow like weeds?’

In recent years, the amount of Spiritual Materials and Treasure Medicine discoverable on the surface had grown increasingly scarce.

Although as Upper-tier Schools, they cultivated renewable Spiritual Materials and Treasure Medicine, their annual harvest was only about five hundred kilograms.

That might sound like a lot, but most of it consisted of common Treasure Medicine used for condensing Qi and Blood, which was only effective for Secret Martial Artists in the Qi Blood Realm. After being distributed among the disciples, there wasn’t much left over.

In the end, after some haggling, they settled on three hundred kilograms each, for a total of six hundred kilograms of Spiritual Materials and Treasure Medicine from the two Schools.

"By the way, Sect Leader Li, I have one more condition..."

Watching the two prepare to leave, Hu Qi’s eyes glinted, and he called out to them.

After Li Xianyu heard Hu Qi’s demand, her expression turned even fouler.

"Your Excellency, know when to stop. Don’t go too fa—"

She was cut short when she felt Xuanqing’s gaze fall upon her.

"This was the Holy Rain Sect’s fault to begin with. When you do wrong, you must pay the price."

Xuanqing’s voice was faint, but it made Li Xianyu’s body tremble.

She opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing, only nodding her head.

"I understand. I will arrange for the items and the person to be sent over when I return."

With that, Li Xianyu bid farewell and turned to leave, as if she couldn’t bear to stay another moment.

Shi Xiao did the same.

His disciple had died, and he’d wanted to vent his anger on some Middle-tier School, only to run into this mess.

The thought of having to pay three hundred kilograms of Spiritual Materials and Treasure Medicine in compensation was enough to make him spit blood.

After the two had left, Xuanqing looked at Hu Qi.

"Young friend, you are now in the Refining God realm, which qualifies you to become one of the Federation Speakers. What are your thoughts? Are you willing to do your part for the Human Race?"

Hu Qi naturally understood what this meant.

The entire Xia Federation had three thousand Federation Member seats, but only eight Speakers.

Seven of those were likely the Sect Leaders of the Seven Upper-tier Schools.

Becoming a Speaker meant standing at the very peak of power in the Xia Federation.

For an ordinary person, this position was enough to drive them mad with desire.

But compared to the power wielded by a Refining God Venerable, it was merely an optional accessory.

Still, it was clear that the man was extending an olive branch.

Hu Qi had no reason to refuse.

"I would be honored."

"Very good. In a while, someone will deliver the credentials for your position as Speaker. I have other matters to attend to. We shall meet again at the Federation council meeting in three months."

With that, his figure dissipated into thin air.

At the same time, time, which had been frozen, resumed its normal flow.

’This kind of power...’

Hu Qi watched this unfold, his expression unreadable.

’His methods seem even more powerful than the Power of the Heart of a Refining God Venerable. It was as if he truly stopped time itself.’

「...」

"Where did they go? Helinta, you..."

Just then, after the powerful figures had departed, the force that had frozen the space around them vanished without a trace.

Du Wang, standing to the side, could move again.

As for Xuanqing’s arrival, he was completely unaware. To his senses, only a single moment had passed.

His memory was still stuck on the conversation from moments before.

At this thought, he stared at Hu Qi in shock.

He couldn’t understand how, in what felt like the blink of an eye, she had become a Refining God Venerable.

He instinctively wanted to voice his confusion.

"Some things are better left unknown, Senior Brother."

Hu Qi glanced at him impassively.

Then, he reached out and pointed a finger at him.

The surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy surged and gathered, frantically pouring into the bodies of Du Wang and the other three.

Nourished by the dense Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy, Han Yuan, Lin Yao, and Lin Tu quickly regained consciousness.

Even their injuries completely healed.

Du Wang felt his internal injuries rapidly mending.

He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

The Helinta before him looked and felt very similar to the Helinta he knew.

But he had a feeling they were not the same person.

The old Helinta had been cold, yes, but she was actually decent once you got to know her.

The Helinta of today was different. Hers was a genuine, bone-deep indifference.

"Alright, you’re all dismissed."

Hu Qi waved his hand.

He watched them leave.

Then, he retracted his gaze.

’Before, I might have made some polite small talk to maintain my persona. But now, there’s absolutely no need.’

Thinking back on what had just transpired, he gazed toward the distant horizon.

He murmured to himself.

"No matter where you are, only power grants you the right to speak."

’Could Lord Xuanqing really have been unaware of what Shi Xiao and Li Xianyu were doing here before I acted? No, he definitely knew. He just chose not to intervene, tacitly approving of their actions. The reason was simple. The relative importance of two Refining God powerhouses versus a single Middle-tier School was self-evident. Only when I revealed my strength as a Refining God Venerable did he finally show himself.’

’I was originally prepared to pour my power into the Taiqing Immortal Slaying Sword Technique and force my way out of here. I never expected him to actually speak on my behalf.’

’It seems I’ll have to keep up this Helinta persona. At the very least, it can be used to muddy the waters... ’

Hu Qi’s eyes glinted.

’As for why I’m still using Helinta’s appearance after breaking through... it’s simple. The original owner of this body has an aunt’s family in this world. I don’t feel much for them, but I don’t want to get them involved. After all, they’re the only ones who’ve shown me any kindness since I arrived in this strange world.’

’The Helinta persona is different. She doesn’t have any family to speak of. She’s an orphan. Her only ostensible connection is to the Shexin Sect. She carries no baggage. On top of that, Helinta’s reputation is that of a maniac who fights at the slightest provocation. That suits me far better. Even if I make enemies, they won’t be able to trace things back to my aunt’s family.’

’Of course, "Helinta" breaking through to the Refining God realm in such a short time is in itself highly unusual. But I’m a Refining God now. Even if they know something is wrong, what can they do? Who would dare question me?’

’However, acting under this identity all the time will inevitably attract unwanted attention.’

As this thought crossed his mind, an idea seemed to strike him, and his expression shifted.

He then walked out of the meeting hall.

He returned to his office on the top floor.

After sweeping the entire room with his Power of the Heart and finding nothing amiss, he plucked a hair from his head. A flash of Twisted Light emanated from his hand, and with a wave of his arm, the hair flew out and landed on the floor.

The next moment, the Twisted Light subsided.

In its place stood a slender figure with golden hair, red eyes, and a long saber on her back.

It was the spitting image of Helinta.

However, this Helinta’s eyes were a dim gray, and she stood perfectly still.

This was to be expected. It was merely a creation of the Twisted Light—a lifeless object.

But Hu Qi wasn’t concerned.

He reached out and lightly tapped the spot between her eyebrows. A sliver of the Light of the Soul flowed from his finger into her forehead.

In the next instant, her once-gray eyes gradually absorbed color like ink on paper, quickly turning a deep crimson and gaining a spark of life.

Then, her motionless body seemed to be infused with life; she blinked and began to move.

"Greetings, main body," the newly created ’Helinta’ said in a low voice.

Her expression was cold and detached.

’It really works.’

A satisfied expression appeared on Hu Qi’s face.

’I can use the Twisted Light to create a soulless body... and then infuse it with a wisp of the Light of the Soul to turn it into an external incarnation.’

’No, wait. An external incarnation, besides possessing a certain level of strength... should also have a degree of independence, able to act on its own without direct control from the main body. It can make its own decisions and take action based on the tasks and objectives assigned by the main body, possessing a certain level of intelligence and autonomy.’

’This thing before me can only be considered a Clone.’

’All of its actions are simply controlled by me.’