Severing Ties: The Sect Regrets My Departure

Chapter 193: Awakening Spirit Tantai, Human Face, Beast Heart

Xu Wanqing. Peak Master of the Jade Pill Peak, Azure Mystic Sacred Land.

This name resounded throughout Tianqi. It echoed across the entire Eastern Wastelands.

To the world, she was a benevolent healer, a living saint who saved the dying and healed the wounded. Even as the Azure Mystic Sacred Land’s reputation began to rot, and hatred for the sect grew among the masses, few dared to speak a bad word about Xu Wanqing. Mention her name, and people would raise a thumb in admiration, declaring her a paragon of virtue.

She had indeed done many good deeds.

Her hands held the power to snatch souls back from the precipice of death. Her medical arts were divine. She made no distinction between high and low; whether you were a peerless powerhouse capable of toppling mountains, or a humble peddler as lowly as dust, if you could reach Xu Wanqing, she would treat you.

Moreover, her temperament was legendary. It was said she never succumbed to anger, never argued, and never held a grudge. Even if a sworn enemy begged for her help, she would heal them without hesitation.

These rumors had been carefully cultivated over five hundred years, stacking up like bricks in a fortress of reputation.

But at this moment, the living Bodhisattva of the Azure Mystic Sacred Land, this saintly healer, wore an expression as dark as the deepest abyss. The gaze she directed at her own Senior Sister was not filled with compassion, but with a killing intent so vast it felt like a physical weight.

Nian Zhaoxi, however, met that gaze without a flicker of fear.

“Back then, you were severely injured. Your vitals were failing, and you were on the verge of death. Even Master was helpless,” Nian Zhaoxi recited, her voice calm and cutting. “Gu Xiu, in order to save you, sought out the most eccentric physician of the age—Tantai Shi.”

“He paid an enormous price. He swore a Heavenly Dao Oath. He finally moved the Tantai Divine Doctor to personally treat you, using the immortal medicine, the Void Stone Wax.”

Nian Zhaoxi leaned forward against her chains.

“I have to admit, you really know how to act. You didn’t just deceive Gu Xiu; you deceived Tantai Shi himself. You convinced him to not only save your life but to impart his lifelong medical knowledge to you after your recovery.”

“I’m afraid even Master, and even our other Junior Sisters, have no idea how many secrets you’ve been hiding.”

Nian Zhaoxi’s eyes were sharp, piercing through the saintly facade. She had seen everything.

Facing this accusation, the murderous aura around Xu Wanqing solidified into something akin to thousand-year-old ice. She spoke slowly, enunciating every word.

“Senior Sister, I do not know what you are talking about.”

“You still want to act?” Nian Zhaoxi sneered. “Aren’t you the master of making excuses, of finding justifications for every sin? Why the flat denial now? It doesn’t suit you.”

The cold light in Xu Wanqing’s eyes did not waver. “Does Senior Sister wish to seek death?”

“Do you dare to kill me?” Nian Zhaoxi scoffed.

“Senior Sister is trying to provoke me. Unfortunately, it is useless.” Xu Wanqing suddenly let out a cold, jarring laugh. “Let me guess. You are a Heavenly Secrets Master. You must have a method to use your own death to trigger something. You’ve already made preparations and are just waiting for someone to kill you, correct?”

The expression on Nian Zhaoxi’s face stiffened slightly.

Xu Wanqing shook her head, her voice turning soft and mocking. “Oh, Eldest Senior Sister. Don’t you know that no matter what mistakes you make, your Junior Sister could never kill you? On the contrary, I will try every means to heal you. I will ensure you live a very, very long life.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll reveal the truth?” Nian Zhaoxi asked coldly. “That you secretly established Awakening Spirit Valley? That you are repaying the Tantai Clan’s kindness with genocide?”

Xu Wanqing threw her head back and laughed. “Spread the word? How? Even if you had the means, who would believe you? A mad woman who suffered a backlash from Heavenly Secrets divination, raving in her delusions?”

She looked at Nian Zhaoxi with pity. “Give up, Senior Sister. Besides watching Gu Xiu die and realizing that you were wrong from the very beginning, there is nothing you can do.”

“Furthermore,” Xu Wanqing’s voice dropped to a whisper, filled with righteous indignation. “You have been prejudiced against me from the start. You only know that Tantai Shi saved me, that he replaced my heart and taught me his skills. But do you know the rest?”

Her face twisted. “For his own selfish gain, Tantai Shi didn’t give me the entire piece of Void Stone Wax. He secretly kept the larger portion for his family’s inheritance!”

“Do you know the torment I suffer because of his greed? Every month, I endure heart-shattering pain! That agony is far worse than anything you are suffering now!”

“Tell me,” she hissed, “why should I be sincere to a man who was never sincere to me? I have protected the Tantai Clan for hundreds of years. Is that not repayment enough? Now, I will send them to extinction. But I am benevolent. I have already instructed Awakening Spirit Valley: once the Shi family members are dead and the remaining Void Stone Wax is recovered, they will be given a grand burial.”

Xu Wanqing smiled, a beatific, terrifying expression.

“Of course. I will also give Gu Xiu a grand bur…”

The word “burial” died in her throat.

Xu Wanqing suddenly stopped. She looked up at the sky.

There, she felt a gaze. A pair of familiar eyes, staring at her with anticipation, waiting for her to finish that sentence.

While the Azure Mystic’s living Bodhisattva finally unveiled her true face to her Senior Sister, a different scene was unfolding outside Awakening Spirit Valley.

A figure appeared quietly. A Carefree Jade Pendant hung at his waist, and a small black monkey perched on his shoulder.

He stood there for only a moment before vanishing into the landscape, alerting no one.

It was, naturally, Gu Xiu.

He had once sworn a Heavenly Dao Oath: if he knew the Tantai Clan was in danger, he must rush to their aid. In hindsight, the oath seemed foolish, given the deception involved, but a promise made was a debt owed. He would fulfill it.

And… besides saving people, he wanted to see if Xu Wanqing would show herself. If she was here, he intended to fulfill another promise.

However, Gu Xiu wasn’t certain she would come. Xu Wanqing was a creature of reputation. Her connection to Awakening Spirit Valley was a deeply buried secret. Logically, a hypocrite who valued her image above all else would not personally get involved in such dirty work.

But there are always exceptions. She wanted him dead, and this valley held the cure to her heart’s defect. It was possible.

So, he had to come.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…

An invisible ripple cut through the air. The Crossing Immortal Sword returned to Gu Xiu. Being formless and intangible, it was nearly impossible for ordinary cultivators to detect.

The sword spirit immediately reported its findings.

“Hidden sentries. A lot of them.”

Gu Xiu wasn’t surprised. He had arrived two days early, but Awakening Spirit Valley had clearly been preparing for this “extermination” for a long time. The outer formation was heavily guarded; sneaking in silently was impossible.

There was only one way to enter: force.

But Gu Xiu hesitated. He didn’t fear battle, but his primary goal was rescue. If he stormed the gates, the Tantai Clan might be executed before he could reach them. Exposing himself too early would only bring them danger.

For anyone else, this might be a stalemate.

Fortunately, Gu Xiu possessed the Three-Body Mask.

Moments later, a figure walked openly down the main road of Awakening Spirit Valley. He wore the robes of an inner sect disciple, and his face was a perfect replica of the man he had just subdued.

Gu Xiu had observed carefully. The disciple he was impersonating was a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had left the valley alone without being questioned. His status was clearly high enough to move freely.

It worked.

He walked past several patrols without issue. Disciples bowed respectfully as he passed, greeting him as “Senior Brother Chen.”

Just as Gu Xiu was about to pass through the main sect formation and enter the valley proper, a voice called out from behind.

“Senior Brother Chen! Senior Brother Chen!”

Gu Xiu turned. Five outer sect disciples were jogging toward him, wearing awkward, ingratiating smiles.

Behind them trailed a long line of mortal boys and girls, looking around with wide, curious eyes.

“Senior Brother Chen, sorry! We were delayed on the road, but luckily we made it in time,” the lead disciple said, bowing slightly while discreetly stuffing a handful of Spirit Stones into Gu Xiu’s sleeve.

Gu Xiu didn’t refuse. He accepted the bribe naturally, toying with the Spirit Stones as he cast his gaze over the group of mortals.

There were no spiritual fluctuations coming from them. They were ordinary humans, over 300 of them by a rough count. Meeting Gu Xiu’s gaze, their eyes shone with clear, innocent goodwill.

“Senior Brother Chen, these are the ‘good seedlings’ we carefully selected this time,” the disciple explained, winking. “Although their aptitude is poor, they can barely cultivate.”

Gu Xiu nodded, keeping his expression indifferent.

Internally, however, he was suspicious.

Sects recruited differently. Azure Mystic simply opened its doors, and thousands flocked to be tested. Small sects like Awakening Spirit Valley often had to scour mortal cities for talent. That was normal.

But the numbers were off.

Recruiting outer disciples was an investment. You wanted quality, not quantity, because every disciple cost resources to train. For a third-rate sect to recruit 300 disciples at once was rare.

His suspicion was confirmed a moment later.

Seeing “Senior Brother Chen” remain silent, the disciple leaned in and lowered his voice.

“Senior Brother, rest assured. These are all unconnected strays. According to the rules, their family members have already been… dealt with. No one in this world will come looking for them.”

Gu Xiu’s pupils contracted slightly.

The disciple, mistaking Gu Xiu’s silence for greed, continued eagerly. “Our luck is good this time. Although most are destined to be laborers and fertilizer, we found five with actual bone aptitude! The Elder will definitely reward us. Once we get the reward, this Junior Brother will immediately come to share a portion with you…”

The disciple thought “Senior Brother Chen” was shaking him down for a bigger cut.

He didn’t know that the man standing before him felt his blood turning to ice.

Family members dealt with… Fertilizer…

Gu Xiu looked at the line of young men and women. Their eyes were bright with hope, dreaming of joining a Cultivation Sect, of flying on swords and living forever. They didn’t know they were walking into a slaughterhouse.

In his dream of “Ten Thousand Years at a Glance,” Gu Xiu had only given Awakening Spirit Valley a cursory look. He knew Xu Wanqing valued it, knew she had plans for it.

But he hadn’t known this.

This place was worse than a demonic sect.

This place… deserved to be erased from the earth.