Jiang Wanqing was absolutely certain that this was Chu Yuan’s doing.
The sixth peak was Chu Yuan’s own residence. Moments ago, the two law-enforcement elders had reported that Chu Yuan had escaped using unknown means, leaving no trace behind. It was clear that after escaping their clutches, he had returned here to destroy this very mountain!
"Sect Master, it seems this is indeed Chu Yuan’s work. He has been hiding his true strength all along, deceiving all of us," the law-enforcement elder on the side sighed.
The other elder added, "Indeed. I could never see through that boy at all."
In contrast, Xiao Junmo looked completely unconcerned. "A mere parlor trick. He is only in the Heaven Realm; what kind of waves could he possibly make? This level of ability is something I could conjure effortlessly in countless ways. I can only say the two of you are too incompetent to have let him escape right under your noses!"
Hearing this, the two elders lowered their heads, ashamed. "Sect Master, we are truly mortified."
Just then, several lines of text appeared out of thin air before them.
"Departure Contract: Severing all ties with the Qingyun Sect. From this moment on, I, Chu Yuan, have no further connection with this sect..."
"He wants to leave the sect?" Xiao Junmo frowned as she read the lines, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Does he think the Qingyun Sect would be any different without him? How utterly ridiculous! Issue an order: inform the world that Chu Yuan practices demonic arts. I want everyone to know he is a demonic cultivator, so no sect will dare take him in!"
"As you command, Sect Master!" The two elders left immediately to carry out the order.
Nearby, Jiang Fan stood with his head bowed, lost in thought. Sect Master Xiao Junmo’s words signified that she had already agreed to let Chu Yuan leave the sect. Xiao Junmo then struck the floating text with her palm, shattering it into nothingness!
*Boom—!!*
At that very instant, the bond between them and Chu Yuan was completely severed. From this point forward, the Qingyun Sect had no ties to Chu Yuan. There was only personal enmity.
"Jiang Fan!" Xiao Junmo called out, and Jiang Fan snapped to attention.
"Master."
"Jiang Fan, while your three senior sisters have great talent, their potential is limited. But you are different. Your talent is far superior to theirs—it even surpasses that of Chu Yuan by a thousandfold! From now on, I will commit the entire sect’s resources to cultivating you. I will show the world that whoever I choose to mentor will become a peerless prodigy. What is a Chu Yuan compared to that?"
Hearing this, Jiang Fan’s breathing quickened. He hurriedly said, "Th-thank you, Master!"
Beside him, Jiang Fan’s three senior sisters looked at him with excitement, as if they were already witnessing the rise of the next peerless prodigy. Compared to that demonic cultivator Chu Yuan, their hearts now held only Jiang Fan. Although Jiang Fan was currently only in the late stage of the Earth Realm, with the Sect Master pouring all her resources into him, he would break through to the Heaven Realm before long!
Just then, the distant horizon rumbled. Dark clouds rolled in, and a massive aura flickered into existence. As Xiao Junmo and the others looked up, a brilliant beam of light descended from the clouds, revealing several fairy-like figures standing within it.
"Envoys of the Aurora Sacred Land, paying respects to the Qingyun Sect Master!" The group appeared before Xiao Junmo and bowed.
The leader looked at her and said, "Sect Master Xiao, our Sacred Lord has discovered an ancient ruin that will open in one month. Anyone below the Saint Lord Realm under the age of one hundred, provided they have an invitation, may attend. Our Sacred Lord has granted your sect five luxury invitations, and is very eager to see your disciple, Chu Yuan, once again..."
With that, he produced five golden, shimmering invitations and handed them to Xiao Junmo, then respectfully faded back into the golden light.
Xiao Junmo was left speechless. After all, Chu Yuan’s status as a demonic cultivator had been exposed, and he had already left the sect; he was no longer her disciple. If this news spread, it would surely become a laughingstock.
"Ancient ruins are extremely rare. This is a great opportunity. The four of you shall go together!" Xiao Junmo handed the invitations to Han Renxue for distribution. "As for the extra invitation, we will select another suitable disciple from the sect."
"Understood, Master!" Jiang Fan and the others nodded excitedly. Jiang Fan, in particular, was thrilled; having only recently become a direct disciple, he had never expected such treatment! Great opportunities like ancient ruins were usually monopolized by powerful hegemons; ordinary rogue cultivators rarely even got the scraps.
"Jiang Fan, come with me."
"Very well, Master!"
Xiao Junmo led Jiang Fan away. When they reappeared, they were at her private peak, standing beside a pond. Within the water, phantom dragons writhed—it was a natural spiritual vein!
"Jiang Fan, this is the spirit pool that supplies spiritual energy to tens of thousands of disciples. From now on, you will cultivate here! I want you to break through to the Heaven Realm within one month!"
Jiang Fan was stunned, then overwhelmed with joy. Cultivating by this pool meant absorbing the purest, inexhaustible spiritual energy! It was a true cultivation paradise! Of course, this meant the other disciples of the sect would suffer as he siphoned off most of the energy.
"Master, did... did Chu Yuan cultivate like this too?" Jiang Fan asked curiously.
"No," Xiao Junmo shook her head, then sneered. "He never had such treatment! I only occasionally gave him some ordinary spirit stones."
"I-I see," Jiang Fan chuckled. "You are truly good to me, Master!"
"Focus on your cultivation! I will now impart a cultivation technique to help you break through!"
Xiao Junmo began to guide Jiang Fan’s training.
***
Meanwhile, ten miles outside the Qingyun Sect, a black-clad figure flew on a sword through the mountain range. It was Chu Yuan.
Free from the Qingyun Sect, he felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. With his Peak Heaven Realm cultivation, combined with his supreme "Demon-Sealing Immortal Physique" and the System, he was destined to be invincible!
For now, Chu Yuan just wanted to roam for a while before joining a Demonic Sect. Based on his understanding of Xiao Junmo, she had likely already spread the news of him being a demonic cultivator. Since that was the case, he might as well embrace it. If Xiao Junmo truly believed she could lead the Qingyun Sect to glory, he would wait and see how she fared when the Demonic faction made its return.
"System?" Chu Yuan tested.
The System responded instantly: "Ding! What are your orders, Host?"
"Your function—it means I earn Demonic Points for committing evil deeds, correct?"
"Your understanding is entirely correct!"
A window popped up:
【Host: Chu Yuan】
【Cultivation: Peak Heaven Realm, 9th Layer (99% progress; reach 100% to break through to the Saint Lord Realm)】
【Physique: Demon-Sealing Immortal Physique (10% progress; one ability unlocked)】
【Technique: Qingyun Scripture (100% progress)...】
【Divine Abilities: Cicada Sheds Its Skin, World in the Palm...】
【Demonic Points: 0 (Earned through evil deeds)】
【Commentary: The host is a righteous cultivator burdened with great destiny, currently untainted by the demonic path.】
"I see. So, as long as I have Demonic Points, I can fill these progress bars!"
"Ding! Correct!"
Chu Yuan closed the interface. He wasn't in a hurry to boost his strength just yet, but he did want to understand how to acquire those points.
At that moment, dark clouds rolled in the sky as a massive trail of golden light sped forward. With every region it crossed, it dropped a golden invitation, left for the many rogue cultivators, small sects, and noble families to fight over! Naturally, due to the scarcity of the invitations, they usually went to the strongest.
"Is the ancient ruin controlled by the Aurora Sacred Land opening?" Chu Yuan saw the content of the invitation from a thousand meters away. "I could seize one of these to attend, and perhaps use the opportunity to get close to the Demonic Sects and join them. Besides, those 'prodigies' from the Qingyun Sect will surely get invitations too. It will be a fine chance to see what those so-called geniuses are really made of."
Chu Yuan said coolly, steering his sword toward the golden invitation in that sector.