Severing Ties: The Sect Regrets My Departure

Though the Emerald Wave Sect was merely a minor power tucked away in a remote corner of the Eastern Wastelands, its lineage was ancient, and its scenery peerless.

The sect was built upon a mountain range harboring nine mystical pools. From a distance, the waters reflected the heavens, their vapors rising to interweave with the clouds. Amidst this misty veil, beautiful female cultivators could be seen gliding through the air like celestial maidens.

It was a sight that could steal the breath of any man.

“No matter how many times I come here, it always feels like I’ve stepped into a dwelling of Immortals,” Lu Dongshan sighed, his eyes shimmering with appreciation as he scanned the view.

Beside him, Gu Xiu gazed at the mountain gate in silence.

Lu Dongshan nudged him. “By the way, I recall hearing rumors that you had a past connection with someone from the Emerald Wave Sect. Who was it?”

“Squeak?” The little black monkey on Gu Xiu’s shoulder perked up, its eyes sparkling with gossip.

Facing the inquisitive stares of one man and one monkey, Gu Xiu simply shook his head, ignoring the question entirely. “What is the plan? Do we go straight in?”

“Absolutely not,” Lu Dongshan said, hastily waving his hand. “A sect like this, comprised almost entirely of female disciples, is extremely strict. Men aren’t allowed to wander freely. Without a guide, barging in would be treated as an invasion.”

As he spoke, Lu Dongshan’s expression brightened. “Ah, there they are.”

The mist shrouding the mountain gate swirled and parted. A group of female disciples dressed in flowing robes emerged, walking with elegant grace. They approached Lu Dongshan and bowed slightly.

“Greetings, Senior Lu.”

Lu Dongshan nodded, adopting the air of a profound expert. “I have come in response to your invitation, to see if I can contribute to your Sect Leader’s recovery.”

The disciples nodded respectfully, their gazes shifting to the disguised Gu Xiu.

“This is a helper I brought along,” Lu Dongshan explained smoothly. “Since I cannot enter the relic personally due to my cultivation level, I need someone I trust to act on my behalf.”

With a Soul Formation expert vouching for him, the disciples asked no further questions. They gestured for the pair to follow and led them through the mountain gate.

…

On the way, Lu Dongshan had already briefed Gu Xiu on the situation.

Some time ago, the Emerald Wave Sect had invited the Red-Robed Ancestor to help conquer a newly discovered relic within their spirit stone mine. Lu Dongshan, acting as a hired gun for the “dirty work,” had participated in that campaign.

It was a disaster.

They returned in defeat. Aside from utilizing a special method to allow cultivators below the Golden Core stage to enter safely, they made no progress. Worse, the Emerald Wave Sect Leader sustained grievous injuries.

The Red-Robed Ancestor, whose primary target had always been the Azure Mystic Sacred Land, lost patience after the failed siege and abandoned the project. This left the Emerald Wave Sect to fumble through the exploration alone.

But a few days ago, news broke.

The Emerald Wave Sect desperately needed a specific pill located inside the relic. They announced that anyone confident enough to retrieve it would be granted entry, regardless of affiliation.

Their only demand was the pill. Everything else found inside could be kept by the finder.

Of course, secrecy was paramount. To prevent leaks to rival alliances, only those recommended by veterans of the first expedition—like Lu Dongshan—were permitted entry.

Guided by the disciples, Gu Xiu and Lu Dongshan wasted no time on pleasantries. They were led directly to a valley deep within the sect known as the Bamboo Shadow Pool.

A large crowd had already gathered.

Most were Foundation Establishment cultivators like Gu Xiu, brought here by various senior experts. Gu Xiu scanned the crowd and spotted two familiar faces from the Falling Rain Valley expedition: Yu Xueqing, the Saintess of the Emerald Wave Sect, and Chi You, the prodigy of the White Qilin Sect.

When Gu Xiu arrived, dozens of gazes swept over him. But thanks to his disguise, they saw nothing remarkable and quickly lost interest.

“Everyone, the promise of the Emerald Wave Sect stands firm,” a voice rang out, silencing the chatter. “We do not care what treasures you claim within the relic. Our only requirement is a single medicinal pill.”

“If anyone can successfully retrieve it, they shall forever be a distinguished guest of our sect!”

The speaker was a woman in purple robes, her expression solemn and dignified. This was Leng Mingshu, the Deputy Sect Leader and the younger sister of the current Sect Leader.

“Fairy Mingshu,” a cultivator called out from the crowd. “You keep mentioning this pill, but you haven’t told us what it is.”

“Indeed,” another added. “We need to know what we are looking for.”

Leng Mingshu took a deep breath. Her gaze swept over the gathered cultivators before she finally spoke.

“What we seek… is the Mystic Yin Soul Protecting Pill.”

Silence fell over the valley for a heartbeat.

Then, the crowd exploded.

“The Mystic Yin Soul Protecting Pill?!”

“Impossible! Isn’t that a lost medicine from the ancient era? Extinct for thousands of years?”

“Heavens… that is a divine medicine second only to the Earth Cloud Sprout!”

“Second? In some ways, it’s superior! The Earth Cloud Sprout strengthens the soul, but for repairing soul damage, the Mystic Yin Soul Protecting Pill has no equal. Even a Supreme would kill for such a treasure!”

The revelation sent shockwaves through the assembly. It was no wonder the sect had kept it a secret until the last moment.

Seeing the fervent reaction, Leng Mingshu pressed her lips together. “Since you all know its value, I will not hide the truth. My sister, the Sect Leader, suffered devastation to both her body and soul during the last attempt to breach the relic. Her condition is critical.”

She bowed deeply to the crowd, her voice trembling slightly. “We seek this pill solely to save her life. I implore you all… please, help us retrieve it.”

Behind her, the disciples of the Emerald Wave Sect bowed in unison. “Please, save our Sect Leader!”

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The greed in many eyes was replaced, or at least tempered, by solemnity.

“Since lives are at stake, let’s cut the chatter,” Lu Dongshan spoke up, his voice booming. “The sooner we go in, the sooner we come out.”

The crowd nodded, eager to move. They knew the relic was rich in resources—piles of rare ores and forging materials lay inside, previously inaccessible. But now, with the revelation of the Mystic Yin Soul Protecting Pill, the stakes had risen. If such a legendary pill existed inside, what other ancient treasures were waiting?

“In that case, please follow me.”

Leng Mingshu wasted no more time. She waved her hand and led the procession toward the mine.

The tunnel had been cleared of debris and widened for passage. The group passed through three layers of defensive arrays before arriving at a massive stone gate.

The entrance to the relic.

Flanking the gate were two towering stone statues, each gripping a massive sword.

Gu Xiu noticed that the experienced cultivators gave the statues a wide berth. He soon learned why—these were the guardians. Invincible constructs that barred entry to anyone at the Golden Core stage or higher, and annihilated anyone attempting to smuggle forbidden items out.

“The restrictions are active,” Leng Mingshu announced. “Cultivators below Golden Core may enter freely. I assume your seniors have briefed you on the dangers, so I will not delay you further.”

She stepped aside. “I wish you all… immediate success!”

As her words fell, the crowd of Foundation Establishment cultivators surged forward, rushing through the stone gate like a tide.

Gu Xiu did not rush.

He walked calmly to the entrance, stopping briefly in front of the stone guardians.

To the naked eye, they were ordinary sculptures. No spiritual pressure, no glowing runes. They looked like mere decorations.

Gu Xiu observed them for a long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. Then, without a word, he stepped across the threshold and vanished into the darkness of the relic.

It seemed like a normal entry.

But no one noticed that in the split second before he left, two microscopic drops of rain had detached from his aura and landed silently at the feet of the statues.

He wasn’t sure if he would find the fated chance inside.

But he knew one thing for certain.

Jiang Xun would come here.

…

While Gu Xiu stepped into the darkness of the relic, miles away at the Azure Mystic Sacred Land, the sun was shining bright.

“Little Junior Brother, must you really go? Senior Sister can’t bear to part with you!”

“Yes, Junior Brother! The rules say Golden Core disciples must travel, but you are special! You could easily wait until Nascent Soul!”

“Junior Brother…”

At the foot of the Reflection Cliff, a flock of female disciples chirped and fussed, surrounding a young man in white robes.

Jiang Xun had just descended from the mountain, his face a mask of gloomy arrogance. He was immediately besieged by his adoring senior sisters, who were there to see him off.

Today was the day.

Today, Jiang Xun, the Junior Master Uncle of the Azure Mystic Sacred Land, would descend the mountain to walk the world.

If nothing went wrong, today would mark the beginning of his legend. The day the name “Azure Mystic Jiang Xun” began to resound through the heavens and earth.

He had only one goal for this journey.

To make the world forget the name that haunted the sect’s history. To erase the memory of the so-called “Sword Immortal.”

The Azure Mystic Sacred Land only needed one Junior Master Uncle.

And he was enough.