Wang Shenzhi’s interception and the subsequent disruption of the spirit root testing infuriated the Wuji Sect. Li Qingdu and Zheng Yan stormed off in anger, leaving behind a crowd of stunned onlookers.

The testing concluded hastily, and the cultivators on the hillside quickly dispersed.

Qin Lu stood frozen on the hillside. Zhang Meng and her child had vanished in an instant, leaving him unable to react.

As the onlookers drifted away, he sank to the ground, crestfallen.

Today had been a rollercoaster of emotions.

He had worried that Xiao Ziyun might have no spirit root, agonizing over the choice between his own future and Zhang Meng’s. Who could have guessed that in the blink of an eye, the boy would test positive for an extremely rare Heavenly Spirit Root?

Just as relief washed over him, Wang Shenzhi appeared and snatched them away, plunging Qin Lu’s heart into an abyss.

The tumultuous ups and downs made his chest ache.

“What the hell is all this?!” Qin Lu punched the ground, gnashing his teeth in frustration.

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with a blood-red glow like spilled wine.

As night fell, a despondent Qin Lu walked back toward the market.

The city entrance was as bustling as ever. Slaves were still being sold openly on the streets, with cultivators shouting bids. However, compared to the hundreds of slaves earlier, only about a dozen scattered mortals remained. Most had already been bought.

In no mood for the crowd, Qin Lu headed straight home.

With heavy steps, he entered his courtyard. He sat on a stone stool, leaning against the table, and silently watched the peach tree sprouting new buds in the moonlight.

He didn’t know how much time passed.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A sudden knocking sounded at the gate.

“Are you back?”

Qin Lu’s eyes lit up. He scrambled to open the door.

But it wasn’t who he hoped to see. It was his neighbor, Lu Xian.

Seeing the gate open, Lu Xian peeked into the courtyard, hesitating.

“Brother Qin… where is Sister Zhang?”

Qin Lu sighed helplessly. “You’ve heard about it too?”

“How could I not? It’s all over the market! ‘A peerless Heavenly Spirit Root appears! Wang Shenzhi shows himself! Two Wuji Sect Foundation Establishment experts publicly embarrassed…'”

Lu Xian cleared his throat. “I realized the Heavenly Spirit Root they were talking about sounded like that kid from your place, so I came to ask. Is Sister Zhang’s child really a Heavenly Spirit Root?”

Feeling a pang of bitterness, Qin Lu nodded. “Yes, it’s him.”

Lu Xian’s face lit up with excitement. “Holy crap! It really is?! Then aren’t you set for life?! That’s a future Golden Core disciple!”

“Set for life, my ass!” Qin Lu retorted irritably. “They’re gone now! They didn’t even say goodbye! What kind of thing is that?!”

“Don’t look at it that way,” Lu Xian said. “This counts as a connection! Maybe he’ll come back someday to repay you for saving him!”

“Forget it…” Qin Lu waved his hand dismissively. “Alright, Old Lu, I need some time alone.”

He closed the gate.

“Hey! If Ziyun comes back later, remember to call me…” Lu Xian’s voice drifted from the other side.

Qin Lu shook his head and walked toward his room. A sudden wave of exhaustion hit him. He needed sleep.

Just as he reached his door, a faint sound came from behind him.

He whirled around.

In the courtyard, which had been empty moments before, stood an old man with a dark complexion.

Someone who could enter the courtyard while ignoring the formation—who else could it be but Wang Shenzhi?

Qin Lu’s heart tightened. He turned fully, asking nervously, “Elder… Elder Wang… what brings you here…?”

Although Wang Shenzhi had seemed reasonable earlier, he was still a Golden Core cultivator. If he decided to kill everyone here, the entire market couldn’t stop him. The gap in power was absolute.

In front of him, Qin Lu couldn’t muster any bravado.

“It’s nothing much,” Wang Shenzhi said nonchalantly, sitting freely on a stone chair. “Lady Zhang begged me to come say goodbye on her behalf. I’m an easygoing person, so I agreed.”

Qin Lu’s heart sank. He lowered his head and muttered, “Why didn’t she come herself?”

“Ah well,” Wang Shenzhi shrugged. “The young lady feels a bit ashamed! Oh right! She asked me to thank you for taking care of them during this time!”

“Dammit!” Qin Lu couldn’t help but curse under his breath. “Are we doing breakups remotely now?!”

“Huh? What are you talking about…” Wang Shenzhi glanced at Qin Lu, paused, then chuckled. “Kid, don’t be so upset. Managing to sleep with a woman as good-looking as Lady Zhang for several months—you’re already way ahead.”

Qin Lu choked on his retort, his face flushing. “It wasn’t as crude as you make it sound…”

It was mutual… mostly.

“Alright then,” Wang Shenzhi shifted topics, glancing at the sword at Qin Lu’s waist. “Let me ask you something serious. I noticed Ziyun’s swordplay is quite fluid. He said he secretly practiced by copying your sword art. What manual are you using?”

“Uh…” Qin Lu retrieved the Gray Shadow Sword Art from his Storage Bag. “Just this one.”

Wang Shenzhi took it, flipped through a few pages, then rolled his eyes dramatically. “What garbage!”

With a flick of his wrist, the tattered book disintegrated into ash.

Hey! That was my property! Qin Lu screamed internally but didn’t dare voice his complaint.

Wang Shenzhi clapped his hands to disperse the dust.

“Kid, stop pretending to be heartbroken. I already looked into it. I know you only took Lady Zhang in because you were attracted to her looks. Now that she’s leaving, you don’t really have much ground to stand on.”

“I’ll be taking them up the mountain for rigorous training. They probably won’t come down for over ten years. If you have anything you want to say to them… say it now.”

Qin Lu’s expression turned serious. He fell into thought for a moment before sighing.

“In that case… may we each find our own happiness.”

“Good lad!” Wang Shenzhi laughed as he stood up. He flipped his palm, revealing a small black sphere.

“This is a Thunder Bead. It contains thunderous power; activating it can injure a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Consider it a gift for taking care of the mother and child.”

Qin Lu accepted the bead, bewildered.

“I’m off now.”

Whoosh.

Wang Shenzhi shot upward, passing effortlessly through the concealment formation and disappearing toward the horizon.

Looking up at the pitch-black night sky, Qin Lu felt a storm of mixed emotions swirling in his chest. Finally, he released a long, drawn-out sigh.

He… was heartbroken.