"Thud!"
The impact of landing jarred the wound on his ribs, forcing a muffled groan from his lips. His face grew even paler.
But he immediately endured the pain and dizziness, snapping his head up.
His gaze was desperate, carrying an almost imperceptible hint of pleading as he looked toward the high platform. There, seated at the head position, was a figure as upright and sharp as a sword—his master, Ling Xiao.
He had failed.
Not only had he failed to protect his junior sister, but instead... he had been abandoned by her.
He had failed his master's expectations and brought loss to the Sword Heart Sect. He was terrified of seeing disappointment or even rage in his master’s eyes.
However, to his surprise, when Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao’s gaze fell upon him, there was no major change in expression.
In those eyes, there was neither obvious praise nor the expected reprimand. There was only a calm indifference, as if he had already seen through everything.
Looking at his disciple’s wretched state—especially sensing his withered aura and wounded spirit—Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao sighed inwardly.
He understood Qu Chen's character well; the boy was sentimental and sometimes too stubborn. This encounter was yet another blow to his dao heart.
But as a high-level member of the Sword Heart Sect, Ling Xiao valued results and rational judgment above all else.
In his view, Cang Dongqing’s choice to use her life-saving trump card and escape alone in that desperate situation was the most correct decision and best served the sect's interests.
Pointless sacrifice was worthless. Preserving vitality and the points already earned was the wise move.
Staying behind to fight a losing battle would have been the true stupidity.
As for the so-called abandonment of a companion... to a being at Ling Xiao’s level, the struggle within the secret realm was a test of means. Survival and victory were the priorities.
Acting on emotion was often a recipe for disaster.
Therefore, he felt no need to scold Qu Chen. Rather, he felt this disciple needed to understand this principle more deeply.
Meeting Qu Chen's apprehensive gaze, Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao did not speak a word of rebuke. Instead, he gave an almost imperceptible nod.
It was a slight movement, but it carried the meaning of, "You did your best, it is good that you are back," and even a faint hint that there was a lesson to be learned here.
Receiving this subtle response, Qu Chen's tensed heart suddenly relaxed. An indescribable mixture of bitterness and warmth surged into his soul.
Master... didn't blame him?
Master understood his situation?
Though the stinging pain and the sense of betrayal had not completely vanished, his master's acknowledgement undoubtedly gave him great comfort. it allowed him to pull himself out of his self-doubt and extreme depression.
He struggled to stand, bowed respectfully toward the platform, and then silently walked toward the elimination zone.
Arriving there, Qu Chen realized many people were already sitting or standing around.
At a glance, he saw the brothers Huineng and Huiming from the Mingguang Sect. The prominent bumps on their foreheads had not yet faded as they sat cross-legged, adjusting their breathing with grim expressions.
Nearby was Zhao Qian from the Wuji Sect, looking equally dejected.
Seeing these fellow sufferers—especially those who had been eliminated earlier and looked more pathetic than himself—Qu Chen's sense of failure strangely lightened a bit.
"So... I'm not the only unlucky one," the thought popped into his head involuntarily.
Falling to the joint efforts of two Golden Core stage cultivators like Jiang Yifan and Ling Suxin... perhaps it wasn't that shameful after all?
Thinking this way, Qu Chen's mood actually improved slightly.
He found a corner to sit and began circulating his energy to heal. Meanwhile, the scene of Cang Dongqing transforming into silver light and fleeing flashed through his mind again, and his gaze turned complicated once more.
Inside the secret realm, Li Nanzhu and her team continued toward the direction where Cang Dongqing’s squad had originally been headed.
Following the route previously taken by the Sword Heart Sect and sensing faint spiritual energy fluctuations, they soon found their target—the entrance to a deep valley shrouded in thick mist.
A fierce aura permeated the valley entrance, accompanied by the faint sound of low beastly growls.
"There really is a guardian beast. The aura isn't weak; it should be at the Golden Core stage," Feng Qingping said after a moment of perception.
"No matter. Let's finish this quickly," Jiang Yifan said succinctly.
Under the cover of Feng Qingping’s array, the five of them slipped into the valley. The interior was a mess. A flag was planted in the center, guarded by a Golden Core stage red-armored rhino.
To Li Nanzhu’s team, which boasted three Golden Core stage members, this battle was never in doubt.
The fight was over in mere moments, ending with ease that was almost startling.
"Fifth Senior Sister, check which sect's flag it is," Duan Xianxing asked curiously, poking his head forward.
Feng Qingping performed a simple clearing wind talisman. A gentle whirlwind brushed past, unfurling the flag planted in the ground.
On the surface of the flag was an embroidered, seductive Hehuan flower.
"It’s our Hehuan Sect's main flag!" Ling Suxin’s beautiful eyes lit up, a look of pleasant surprise appearing on her face.
To her, the value of this flag far exceeded those of other sects. It wasn't just twenty points; it was a matter of the sect's honor.
Li Nanzhu smiled. "Junior Sister Ling, go and take the flag!"
Ling Suxin did not decline. She stepped forward, solemnly pulled up the flag, and stowed it away. She then gave everyone an elegant bow. "Thank you, fellow daoists, for your help."
Next came the counting and distribution of the greatest spoils from earlier—the flags and points seized from the Sword Heart Sect team.
There were three flags in total and forty points.
According to a normal distribution, Ling Suxin could take one flag and twenty points.
However, to everyone's surprise, Ling Suxin pondered for a moment before speaking up. "In that ambush, your sect contributed more, and Fellow Daoists Jiang and Feng were the main force. These forty looted points..."
She paused and said with sincere tone, "I will not take them. I am currently alone. Even if I have many points, I might not be able to protect them if I encounter a strong enemy later. It is better to concentrate the points on your sect to strengthen our overall power. It will benefit our ongoing cooperation. After all, we are allies; prosperity for one is prosperity for all."
Li Nanzhu, Jiang Yifan, and the others were momentarily stunned, but admiration soon appeared in their eyes.
Feng Qingping was the first to smile. "Junior Sister Ling is truly noble. I am impressed. In that case, we will not refuse."
Jiang Yifan nodded and said deeply, "The Five Elements Dao Sect will remember your kindness, Fellow Daoist Ling."
With the distribution finished, everyone was in high spirits.
"Alright, rest for a moment, then we'll continue on to regroup with the others!" Jiang Yifan ordered.
As for Li Nanzhu, the bold plan in her heart became even clearer with the gains from this robbery.
Deep within the secret realm, in a hidden stone forest hundreds of miles away from that valley.
A slight ripple occurred in space. With a flash of silver light, Cang Dongqing’s figure appeared, stumbling as she landed.
She quickly surveyed her surroundings. After confirming she was safe for the time being, she leaned against a giant rock and slowly slid to the ground. She took out a pill, swallowed it, and closed her eyes to adjust her breathing.
After a while, a hint of color returned to her pale face. But when she opened her eyes, they were filled with complex and difficult emotions.
She was alone.
Looking around, there was only a thick mist that wouldn't disperse and jagged, strange rocks.
A sense of loneliness she had never felt before—and a faint, nearly imperceptible trace of regret—quietly crept into her heart.
She knew her choice was the most rational solution.
Cang Dongqing forced herself to calm down, trying to use logic to suppress the turmoil inside.
"I wasn't wrong!" she emphasized to herself. "In that situation, running was the only correct choice! Staying behind would have only meant dying together! I saved the remaining points and preserved a spark for the Sword Heart Sect! Master... Master will definitely understand me!"
She remembered the teachings of her master, Ling Xiao: A sword cultivator should cut ties when necessary and not be weighed down by personal feelings. The sect's interests come above all else.
Thinking this way, her guilt seemed to lighten somewhat.
"Five Elements Dao Sect... Li Nanzhu..." she whispered those two names, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "Just you wait! I'll settle this debt!"
Just as she intended to go find her other senior brothers, a rustling sound suddenly came from behind her. She immediately launched an attack toward the source of the noise.
"Who is it!"
Rate on N.U.
