Severing Ties: The Sect Regrets My Departure

“Master, you were looking for me?”

Shi Siling entered the main hall of the Azure Mystic Sacred Land and immediately saw Guan Xuelan frowning over an ancient text.

Without looking up, Guan Xuelan asked, “I heard Moran has left the sect?”

“Yes. Fifth Junior Sister’s Inner Demon is growing. She said she needs to leave for a while to find an opportunity to slay it.”

“Hmph. She certainly knows how to run away,” Guan Xuelan snorted.

Shi Siling remained expressionless and silent.

“I called you here to ask you something.”

“Please speak, Master.”

“How much do you know about Falling Rain Valley?”

“Falling Rain Valley?” Shi Siling paused, thinking. “I entered it once. It seems to be an Ascension to Immortality ruin. The restrictive formations there are incomparably powerful.”

“Do you know which Ascension expert left those ruins behind?”

“This… this disciple does not know.” Shi Siling shook her head, then asked in surprise, “Does Master know?”

“Originally, no. But today, while flipping through some ancient texts collected by the Four Seas Gang, I discovered something.”

Guan Xuelan handed the text to her.

Shi Siling took it and read. Immediately, she was stunned. The text recorded a peerless figure from eight thousand years ago.

Azure Fall Supreme!

Born into a noble family, she possessed unparalleled aptitude and celestial beauty, once hailed as the number one beauty of the Southern Border. But she abandoned her life to wander the Jianghu with a man she loved. Years later, she retreated into the mountains and vanished.

Up to this point, the story was unremarkable.

But a thousand years later, she reappeared.

A woman in an azure skirt, holding a paper umbrella, stepped into the Kongquan Sacred Land, a powerhouse of the Southern Border.

On that day, she slaughtered a Supreme and annihilated a Sacred Land!

The Kongquan Sacred Land was a titan of its era, its Mahayana Supreme famous for millennia. Yet that woman, alone with her umbrella, carved a bloody path from the mountain gate to the sect’s core, butchering everyone in her way.

No one knows the details of the battle. They only know that on that day, the sun and moon lost their light, and blood radiance filled the heavens.

When people finally dared to investigate, Kongquan Sacred Land was gone.

Not a chicken or dog remained.

Only two lines were carved at the mountain gate:

From the highest clouds of the Nine Heavens, down to the Yellow Springs of Azure Fall, in Kongquan Sacred Land, not a chicken or dog shall remain.

If anyone obstructs, kill!

True to her word, she spent the next ten years hunting down every survivor who had slipped through the net.

Three thousand five hundred and twelve survivors. Eight thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven mediators and obstructors—including another Supreme.

For a decade, the Sacred Lands were silent in fear. During that time, her identity was unearthed, but no one called her by her old name. They knew her only as the Azure Fall Supreme.

Yellow Springs of Azure Fall—ultimately, nothing escapes the ashes.

Shi Siling’s heart yearned for such power, yet she couldn’t help but ask, “Such a legend… why haven’t I heard of it before?”

“If a single person suppressed all the Sacred Lands for ten years, forcing even fellow Supremes into hiding, do you think anyone would be willing to write her biography?” Guan Xuelan asked.

Shi Siling was moved. She admired strength, and the Azure Fall Supreme commanded her utmost respect.

“So, Falling Rain Valley is related to her?”

“Since its discovery, I have been curious about its origins. Even as a Supreme, I cannot enter. But according to the records, the Azure Fall Supreme vanished after her decade of slaughter. Most importantly, the azure skirt and paper umbrella in the valley’s lingering images match the legends exactly.”

Guan Xuelan’s eyes narrowed. “If I am not mistaken, Falling Rain Valley was left by the Azure Fall Supreme.”

Shi Siling was astonished, but puzzled. “Even if we know, it’s useless. Cultivators above Foundation Establishment cannot enter. Why tell me this?”

“Before, it was useless. But this time is different. The omen of ‘Rain Stopping, Black Wind Rising’ has appeared. Falling Rain Valley might undergo a tremendous change.”

“I want you to personally oversee the situation. If there is an opportunity, enter and seize the legacy. If not… investigate those who come out!”

…

At the same time, in the backyard of the Falling Rain Valley mansion.

The three Azure Mystic disciples looked at each other, bewildered.

“Gu Xiu?”

“If I remember correctly, isn’t that the name of the useless Martial Uncle on Clumsy Peak?”

“The one who raises Immortal Spirit Cranes? Why does this shadow know his name?”

Confusion reigned. Even Gu Xiu was surprised.

“No need to be surprised. Since you entered this place last time, I knew you would return. I didn’t know how long it would take, but I always believed you would come again.”

“Fortunately, I waited.”

The azure-skirted woman spoke gracefully, walking to the door and gesturing. “Please, Fellow Daoist Gu Xiu, come inside for a talk.”

The group was baffled. They had checked carefully—this woman was indeed just a lingering shadow, a recorded imprint in space. It shouldn’t have sentience.

“I understand!” Bian Yifei’s eyes lit up. “This shadow isn’t random. It was deliberately left to trigger for someone who meets specific requirements!”

“Senior Brother, you mean she’s waiting for that trash uncle? Then why call us Gu Xiu?”

“We are from Azure Mystic. We cultivate their techniques. That must have triggered the shadow!”

“Does that mean… we have a chance to obtain the master’s legacy?”

The three instantly reached a conclusion. Without hesitation, they rushed into the house, fearing the opportunity would be snatched away.

Fellow disciples or not, a heaven-shaking legacy belonged to whoever grabbed it first.

“Senior Brother Ding, what are you standing there for? Come in!” someone shouted back.

Gu Xiu remained in place, frowning.

Five hundred years ago, he had explored Falling Rain Valley and seen this shadow. But he didn’t know this woman, nor had he encountered anything like this.

Bravery wasn’t recklessness. Five centuries of surviving Forbidden Realms had taught him caution. A heaven-shaking opportunity could easily be a heaven-shaking trap.

“Fellow Daoist Gu Xiu, please come in!”

The shadow at the door spoke again, as if anticipating his hesitation. “I have a request. I hope you can agree.”

For no reason, Gu Xiu saw a trace of pleading in the shadow’s eyes.

He pressed his lips together and finally stepped forward, entering the room.

The shadow followed him in.

The room was ordinary, furnished with a table and chairs. A paper umbrella leaned against the wall.

The shadow wasted no words. She took out a plain white jade wine cup and placed it on the table.

“This is the Formation Disk of this place. A meeting gift for Fellow Daoist Gu Xiu.”

Bian Yifei and the others’ eyes blazed with greed.

The Formation Disk! Obtaining it meant becoming the master of Falling Rain Valley, controlling every restriction and claiming every treasure!

An Azure Mystic disciple reacted fastest, lunging to grab the cup.

But his hand passed right through it.

The cup was like a flower in a mirror or the moon in water—intangible.

“Damn it! It’s also a shadow!”

“Using a shadow as the Formation Disk? Who can grab that?”

“It must be hidden in the room! Search!”

The three frantically tore the room apart, ignoring the shadow.

Gu Xiu, however, remained calm. He looked at the woman, noticing her gaze was fixed solely on him.

“Senior,” he asked, “if you need help, please speak clearly.”

“To discuss this, you must first obtain the Formation Disk.”

“Why?”

“Obtaining the disk allows you to use this place to hide an Immortal.”

“Hide an Immortal?” Gu Xiu raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. You must obtain it first. Otherwise, what I have to tell you… will harm you.”

Gu Xiu’s eyelids twitched. After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded.

He reached out, grabbing towards the white jade wine cup.