A major upheaval had rocked Wentian Sect.
The Sect Master had been replaced. A Yuányīng Zhēnjūn involved in forbidden relations. Ye Chuxue had harmed her fellow disciples and been cast out, now hunted by her former sect.
One shocking revelation after another spread like wildfire across the lands, stirring an uproar from every corner of the cultivation world.
Those who had once spoken up in Ye Chuxue's defense were now realizing how foolish they had been. Their anger quickly turned on Gu Qingyuan and Ye Chuxue, voices rising in unified condemnation.
After narrowly escaping the Demon race's territory, Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan had barely set foot into human lands before encountering hostility. Dao cultivators called for her capture, eager to turn her in to Wentian Sect for a reward.
Startled, the two fled again, finally retreating into the depths of the mountains, afraid to show their faces.
"What is going on? Didn't the Sect Master say everything was fine?"
Ye Chuxue's face was cold and stern. The scratch across her cheek stood out sharply.
After so many days of fleeing and hiding, she had reached her limit.
Gu Qingyuan didn't understand either. He immediately sent a transmission talisman to the Sect Master, only to receive a single sentence in reply:
"Gu Qingyuan, you've ruined me."
He frowned deeply, unable to grasp what He Xiao meant. It wasn't until Ye Chuxue sent a message to a trusted disciple in the sect that the full truth came to light.
The moment he learned he had been expelled, Gu Qingyuan's face turned ashen.
He had joined Wentian Sect at the age of five. For over a hundred years, it had been his home, his foundation, his pride. The words he had spoken in haste about leaving the sect had been driven by desperation, never meant to be taken literally.
But now, it wasn't that he had left — he had been cast out.
To someone as proud as Gu Qingyuan, it was a crushing blow.
Already struggling with instability in his cultivation, a flash of red flickered in his eyes. A violent aura surged up from within, like a demon clawing its way to the surface.
His expression twisted. His fists clenched so hard that his knuckles cracked.
"No one has the right to cast me out. They are not worthy!"
He turned abruptly, about to charge toward human territory, his intent clear — he wanted answers from the sect.
Ye Chuxue grabbed his arm tightly. "Master, don't you see? The sect has already abandoned you. Wentian Sect is under Song Wanníng's rule now. If you go back, all you'll gain is humiliation."
"Impossible!"
Gu Qingyuan's voice was wild, his eyes flickering with eerie red light.
"The sect would never treat me this way. Song Wanníng wouldn't do this to me — I am her Senior Brother! Her only Senior Brother!
This is just her way of forcing me to reconcile with her! She wouldn't let me go so easily!" He shouted like a man trying to deceive even himself, but deep down, he knew the truth. Song Wanníng no longer had any affection for him.
Still, he couldn't accept it. His pride, his reputation, his entire identity — all in ruins.
It was unbearable.
"Master, please wake up! From beginning to end, it was Song Wanníng who wanted you dead. How can you still not see it?"
Ye Chuxue's expression turned dark and fierce. She gripped Gu Qingyuan's arm hard enough to break the skin.
"Wentian Sect no longer has a place for you. In fact, the human realm has no place for either of us! Do you understand?"
An affair between master and disciple meant they would have to live in hiding, or face scorn wherever they went.
They had planned to disappear, to vanish without a trace. But somehow, the secret had been exposed — and now the whole world knew.
Their situation had grown dire.
After being shouted down, Gu Qingyuan slowly calmed. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced down the violence surging in his heart.
Ever since his mental state had begun to unravel, it had grown harder and harder to stay composed.
When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was cold and devoid of warmth.
"The world is vast. Even without Wentian Sect, I will survive."
But even as he spoke the words, they sensed someone approaching.
Gu Qingyuan gritted his teeth, then turned and fled again, dragging Ye Chuxue into another round of desperate escape.
High atop Yunxiao Peak, Song Wanníng finally saw her youngest disciple again after a long absence.
Li Ruo had grown taller. Her cultivation had improved too, though progress remained slow due to her spiritual roots.
Song Wanníng first checked her learning progress. When satisfied with her answers, a faint smile appeared on her face.
"Little one, there's a chance before you now. One that could change your entire life. Are you willing to try?"
She brought Li Ruo to the training hall and revealed a single plant — a shimmering, ethereal herb.
"This is the Spirit-Cleansing Grass. You've heard of it, haven't you?"
"The Spirit-Cleansing Grass? That's a legendary spiritual treasure!"
Li Ruo's eyes lit up instantly. She had of course heard of it.
"The choice is yours. Whether to take the risk or not — you must decide for yourself."
Song Wanníng's expression was uncharacteristically solemn. She carefully explained the risks.
Cleansing the spirit roots meant erasing her current ones and reconstructing new ones. If the reconstruction yielded superior roots, it would be a miracle. But if it failed…
After explaining everything, Song Wanníng sat quietly to the side, waiting for Li Ruo's decision.
Li Ruo didn't answer immediately. She took her time, thinking carefully. Only after long contemplation did she approach Song Wanníng.
"Master, I want to try."
She lowered her gaze, her voice quiet.
"I know I'm not worthy of being your disciple. You're so talented, and I… I often feel like I don't belong."
Her spiritual roots were mixed and impure. No matter how hard she worked, she could never match the ease with which geniuses advanced.
Song Wanníng, on the other hand, was a renowned prodigy. All of her disciples had excellent potential.
Except her.
Even now, Li Ruo didn't understand why she had been chosen.
The sight of the timid girl stirred a pang of emotion in Song Wanníng's chest.
Being a true disciple was both a privilege and a burden. She would have to guide the girl more, teach her how to carry it.
But time was short.
Frowning slightly, Song Wanníng made a decision. She would take Li Ruo back to the Song family and ask her father to help arrange further instruction.
She wouldn't return to Wentian Sect often anymore.
From the moment her past life's Wentian Sect abandoned her, she knew there would be no lasting ties between them.
This scandal would mark the sect forever, branding it with shame. It would affect not only this recruitment cycle, but its future prospects as well.
"In cultivation, strong spiritual roots are indeed a solid foundation. But throughout history, even five-root cultivators have ascended. You don't need to belittle yourself because of your roots. I took you in as a disciple because of karma — not your talent or your future."
Those words carried a heavy weight. Li Ruo didn't quite understand what "karma" meant, but she understood what her master was saying.
No matter what she became, her master would not abandon her.
A light bloomed in her wide eyes.
"Master, I want to try. Even if I fail, I won't regret it!"
Because even if she failed, her master would still accept her.
She would never return to the wandering, rootless life she had once known.
"Good."
Song Wanníng smiled, gently patting Li Ruo's head.
"The process is painful. Brace yourself."
"I'm not afraid, Master!"
Li Ruo nodded firmly. Without hesitation, she swallowed the Washing Spirit Herb.
In an instant, a torrent of spiritual energy erupted within her, exploding violently inside her body.
"Ahhh—!"
===
If you're curious and want to dive deeper into Spiritual roots etc, feel free to check out my glossary on Webnovel. Just head over to my profile and look for the book titled The Xianxia Handbook: A Guide to Cultivation and Beyond. You'll find it covered in Chapter 19: Spiritual Roots (灵根 línggēn).
I recommend adding it to your library—it'll save you the trouble of searching for it later, and you'll always have it on hand whenever you need a quick reference.