Severing Ties: The Sect Regrets My Departure

“This is the place.”

“The restrictions guarding this backyard are the most powerful in all of Falling Rain Valley. No single person can break them. We must combine our strength to force this seal open.”

“I will arrange a grand formation. When the time comes, everyone take your positions and strike together.”

In front of the backyard gate, Bian Yifei dropped these instructions and immediately began setting up the formation.

The disciples from the various sects huddled in their own groups. While they looked forward to Bian Yifei’s method, they were also rubbing their hands in anticipation, secretly plotting their next moves.

Throughout the journey, everyone had endured the Azure Mystic disciples’ increasingly excessive arrogance. No one dared to resist openly. Not only because of the jade tokens the Azure Mystic disciples held, but also because the time wasn’t right.

They needed Azure Mystic’s strength to reach this place and open this door.

However, everyone understood one thing clearly. Once this place was opened, a great battle would ensue.

The disciples from the various sects exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with killing intent.

Azure Mystic. They truly deserved to die!

Bian Yifei, seemingly focused on the formation, noticed all of this. He didn’t react, though a flicker of mockery passed through his eyes.

Each harboring their own schemes.

Gu Xiu, on the other hand, remained aloof, as if none of this concerned him. In his guise as the severely injured Ding Daoan, his inactivity aroused no suspicion.

He stood near the backyard gate, beneath a series of murals, studying the paintings.

The murals weren’t continuous, but they depicted a single protagonist. A man like a blazing sun. In each scene, he was like a banished Immortal descending to the mortal world—fighting heaven and earth, battling giant beasts in bloody combat, the focus of all adoration and reverence.

“The master of this place must be the person in these murals. Who knows what era’s prodigy he was? Just these images alone make one yearn for such a life.”

“He might truly be an Immortal. Otherwise, every flower, tree, and blade of grass along the way wouldn’t be a heavenly treasure. Even a Sacred Land wouldn’t be so extravagantly wealthy as to build such a place on a whim.”

“Even if not a prodigy, he was likely a Senior who suppressed an entire era.”

“Right. The murals should be continuous. It seems like the master carved his life onto these walls, unwilling to be forgotten. Who knows how many years have passed, or if his name is recorded anywhere?”

Discussions broke out among the crowd. Although they came for opportunities, they couldn’t help but be curious about the origins of Falling Rain Valley and its master.

“I have a different thought. I feel this place is more like a woman’s residence.”

Someone pointed to a poem written on another wall. “Since entering the courtyard, there have been many similar inscriptions. The handwriting doesn’t seem like a man’s.”

Everyone looked. Sure enough, a passage was written on the wall:

Only the flowing water before the tower should remember me, gazing all day long.

Similar verses appeared frequently within the mansion.

“This was likely left by the lady of the house.”

“Right, right. I saw another line earlier: At dawn I watch the sky’s color, at dusk I watch the clouds; walking, I think of you, sitting, I think of you. Who knows how long she waited?”

“The handwriting is gentle and graceful. It must be left by a woman with boundless longing.”

Wan Xiaobei, hearing these discussions, walked over to the wall. She stared blankly at the verses and murmured, “I wonder if she ever waited for the person she longed for.”

Gu Xiu was also curious. This place had emerged over five hundred years ago. He was one of the first to discover it back then, engaging in a fierce battle with the Five Sects and Three Clans.

But whether it was five hundred years ago or in that glance spanning ten thousand years, the secrets of this place had never been revealed.

Even he didn’t know the full story.

“You could have continued to deceive me. Why did you choose to tell me the truth?”

A voice came from behind. Yu Xueqing stood there, her eyes full of ice, questioning and suspicious.

She didn’t understand why Ding Daoan suddenly changed his mind. While relieved, she couldn’t help but worry. Was this vicious person planning something even worse?

She was unable to eat or sleep in peace.

Gu Xiu glanced at her and said flatly, “I just lost interest, that’s all.”

Yu Xueqing frowned, still wary.

“It’s ready! Everyone, come over!”

The Azure Mystic disciple preparing the formation called out. Everyone’s eyes lit up. Setting aside their doubts, they returned to the backyard gate.

The Azure Mystic disciple didn’t delay. He explained their task: Azure Mystic had set up a grand formation called the Myriad Qi Gathering. It required everyone present to enter and activate it, pooling their power to disrupt the restriction on the gate.

Some doubted this method, but the disciple explained it away. Even the prodigies from the Golden Saber Sect and the Sha Family nodded in agreement after a brief discussion. Azure Mystic hadn’t lied; this place truly required a combined effort to open.

Everyone took their positions, anticipation filling their eyes. They hoped to see the backyard’s secrets soon.

Yu Xueqing remained absent-minded, occasionally glancing at “Ding Daoan.” She saw no emotion on his face, but noticed a hint of mockery and anticipation in the eyes of the other Azure Mystic disciples beside him.

This discovery made her heart jump. She became secretly vigilant.

“Begin operating the formation!”

Following the command, everyone mobilized their Spiritual Qi to activate the array.

Under the massive influx of power, the thick restriction barrier in front of the gate slowly cracked open. The fissure expanded, forming an opening large enough for one person.

Swish!

Without hesitation, Bian Yifei and two other Azure Mystic disciples rushed in first.

The other sect disciples were alarmed. They tried to stop the formation and rush in to compete for the opportunity.

But…

“I can’t break free! This formation is restraining me!”

“I can’t stop channeling Spiritual Qi! It’s forcefully draining my Dantian!”

“Damn it! What’s going on?!”

Everyone froze, faces filled with horror. They couldn’t move, nor could they stop feeding the formation.

“A bunch of fools.” A mocking laugh echoed.

“Why are you Azure Mystic people unaffected?” someone exclaimed, then realized, “You did this on purpose?”

“Is this a trap?”

“Realizing it now isn’t stupid, but unfortunately, it’s too late.” The Azure Mystic disciple sneered. “This isn’t the Myriad Qi Gathering. This is the Myriad Spirits Sacrifice. You are here to sacrifice your Spiritual Qi. Before you are drained dry and die, you will serve as our stepping stones.”

“You think you can snatch opportunities from the Azure Mystic Sacred Land? Why don’t you take a piss and look at yourselves? Are you even worthy?”

Horror dawned on the disciples’ faces.

They had been tricked! Despite their caution, they never expected Azure Mystic to tamper with the formation itself.

“Treacherous villains! If you have the guts, release me and fight fair and square!” Fan Yangtai of the Golden Saber Sect roared, his face twisted with unwillingness. He was a prodigy, equal in strength to Bian Yifei. Yet here he was, trapped.

Whoosh!

A sharp sound cut through the air. The cursing Fan Yangtai fell silent.

Everyone looked, and their souls nearly left their bodies.

Fan Yangtai’s head had rolled to the side!

Vitality extinguished!

The Golden Saber Sect’s leading prodigy… dead!

“Has Azure Mystic gone mad?”

“Senior Brother Fan!”

“Azure Mystic bastards! You dare kill my Senior Brother?! Ahhh! Release me!”

Several Golden Saber Sect disciples screamed, their eyes red with rage.

But… without exception, the moment their words fell, their heads hit the ground!

A chill ran down everyone’s spine. They realized one thing: right now, they were fish on the chopping block, completely at the mercy of others.

“Finally willing to be quiet?”

A mocking voice spoke. Niu Xifang stood there, gnawing on a pig’s trotter. In her other hand, she held a treasured blade.

It was she who had acted, instantly killing eight people, including Fan Yangtai!

“Fools. Daring to snatch our entry qualifications. Did you really think you could survive?” Niu Xifang wiped the grease from her mouth, her face full of disdain.

No one dared to answer. They feared speaking would invite death.

“Pah. Such small courage. And you call yourselves prodigies?” Niu Xifang looked disappointed.

Her gaze swept over the crowd and locked onto Wan Xiaobei.

Wan Xiaobei sensed danger, her eyelids twitching. “What are you doing?”

“What am I doing?” A cold smile appeared on Niu Xifang’s plump face. “Little enchantress, punching you earlier was just a slight punishment. Who knew the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had such guts, daring to ruin our plans?”

“Since you already have a reason to die, tell me… what am I going to do?”

The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion disciples’ expressions changed drastically, but they were restrained by the formation, unable to move a muscle.

This reaction delighted Niu Xifang. She stepped toward Wan Xiaobei, savoring the moment. “Little bitch, let me tell you. No matter what, you will die here today.”

“But don’t worry. I won’t let it be quick.”

“I will slowly, piece by piece, cut the flesh from your body to feed the dogs. Let’s start with that pretty little face of yours. I’m tired of looking at it.”

“It always puts me in a bad mood.”

The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion disciples grew frantic. Some shouted insults, daring Niu Xifang to come at them.

Wan Xiaobei pursed her lips, silent. But her trembling body betrayed her fear.

Niu Xifang seemed to enjoy this terror. She grinned, walking forward slowly, considering where to make the first cut.

But just then, a sudden change occurred!

“Senior Brother Ding, what are you doing?”

“Stop!”

A cry of alarm rang out.

Everyone turned to see “Ding Daoan” holding several formation flags and placing them into the array.

Hearing the exclamation, he smiled slightly. “This formation isn’t very good. I want to strengthen it a bit.”

As he spoke, he inserted the last flag. His figure flashed, and without looking back, he slipped into the backyard passage.

He left.

But the Azure Mystic disciples outside instantly paled.

Because the moment he inserted that last flag, the positions of the chopping block and the fish… changed hands!