At the same time, in several major sects surrounding Xuanjian Sect, powerful cultivators led their disciples toward Xuanjian Sect one after another.
News that Chu Yang had climbed to the peak of the Sword Path the previous day had spread throughout the Northern Wasteland. A Chosen One like him—if Xuanjian Sect didn't cherish him, plenty of other forces would. Besides, Xuanjian Sect's Supreme Elder hadn't appeared in nearly ten years. It was high time to test the true strength of this sect.
The world of cultivation had always followed the law of the jungle. Everyone competed for destiny and heritage. If Xuanjian Sect's Supreme Elder didn't show up today, Xuanjian Sect would face only one fate.
As for that rumored "Young Master Ling Xiao" with a mysterious background—truth be told, the leaders of these major sects hadn't seen him in person, so they didn't feel much fear. How strong could a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy be? They couldn't figure out if Ye Liuyun had lost his mind—for an outsider, he'd even gone so far as to break the heart of his own sect's prodigy.
On a desolate mountain peak at the back of Xuanjian Sect, Chu Yang was chained to a dark cave by four black chains. His expression was haggard. Faint spiritual runes flickered on and off the black chains—clearly, they were inscribed with seals and restraints.
Chu Yang hadn't closed his eyes all night. He hadn't cultivated either; instead, he'd called out "Jiuming" over and over again. At the same time, he'd been waiting for Ye Qingchan to come. But to his despair, the mysterious woman who had bestowed countless fortunes upon him had vanished without a trace—she never showed up. And as for Ye Qingchan, there was no word from her at all. She hadn't come to see him even once all night!
Could it be that she really spent the entire night alone with that Ling Xiao? What did they do that night? A man and a woman… doing "interesting things"?
The more he thought about it, the angrier and more panicked he became. Humiliation flooded his heart. But he was trapped here, utterly unable to go and find out the truth. In the end, he even coughed up blood from his own anger…
His own imagination was truly deadly. Even a Chosen One like Chu Yang had lost his usual calm—jealousy was burning him up from the inside.
"Xiao Yang! Steady your mind! Don't damage your meridians!"
Just then, a wisp of cyan light emanated from the jade pendant on his chest. Immediately after, a stream of cold yet gentle spiritual energy flowed into Chu Yang's body. The injuries on his body began to recover at a visible rate.
"Jiuming! Where have you been?!!"
Feeling Jiuming's aura again, Chu Yang grew extremely excited. After all, he knew he couldn't kill Ling Xiao alone.
"Sigh, Xiao Yang—why torture yourself like this? That Ling Xiao is from the Holy State, and his strength is unfathomable. Why would you offend him for a woman?"
A soft breeze blew. From the jade pendant on Chu Yang's chest, a somewhat illusory figure gradually materialized. Her face was indistinct, but her voice was clear and melodious, and her figure was graceful and alluring—easily stirring longing in people's hearts. She was Chu Yang's greatest trump card: the residual soul of a powerful cultivator from the Holy State.
"For a woman? Jiuming! You were the one who told me I had nothing to fear from anyone in the Four Wastelands!!"
"You were the one who said that if I cultivated according to your method, no one of my generation could match me!!"
"You were the one who said my talent was top-tier even in the Holy State!!"
"Were you lying to me this entire time?!!"
Chu Yang's emotions collapsed completely. He'd come from a small clan—his father had been crippled by someone, and his mother had gone missing. If he hadn't met Jiuming, he would have forever been stepped on by others. Jiuming had appeared when he was at his lowest, guiding him step by step to turn his life around. She'd made him the most dazzling prodigy in his hometown, even allowing him to join a Northern Wasteland powerhouse like Xuanjian Sect and step into high society in one leap.
To him, Jiuming was his support, his reliance, and the most trusted person in his life. Unknowingly, Chu Yang had even developed a vague, unclear affection for this residual soul…
But now, when he was being trampled and humiliated, she had not only hidden away—she was even reprimanding him! Chu Yang couldn't accept this.
For a woman? It was Jiuming who had urged him to win Ye Qingchan's heart in the first place, so he could gain more cultivation resources from Xuanjian Sect! Why! Why was she blaming him now?
"Chu Yang, you've disappointed me greatly. Everything I did was for your own good. Ling Xiao has powerful protectors by his side. If I showed up recklessly, it would only complicate things further!"
Jiuming's delicate eyebrows furrowed, her voice turning cold. It seemed the boy she'd chosen had completely lost his composure because of Ling Xiao. Chu Yang couldn't sense Elder Yin's presence, but she could—clearly. Peak Illusion Breaking Realm.
In her prime, she would have paid no mind to such a cultivator. But now… if she used all her tricks, she might be able to kill him. But that would inevitably bring more trouble. Wasn't there only one Ling family in the Holy State? If Ling Xiao was really from that clan, even in her prime, Jiuming would never have dared to provoke him casually.
But Chu Yang understood none of this. His background had limited his vision. In the eyes of the young masters of those ancient clans in the Holy State, he was nothing but an ant—an ant that could be crushed with a single finger.
"For my own good? If you really cared about me, you'd help me kill that Ling Xiao! Then the entire Xuanjian Sect would be ours!"
Of course, Chu Yang had no idea what the Ling family of the Holy State represented. In his eyes, Jiuming was omnipotent. The vision of an ant was always short-sighted.
"You!!!"
Just as Jiuming was about to lose her temper, the sound of footsteps suddenly came from the mountain path in the distance.
"Someone's coming."
Jiuming's figure vanished instantly. Chu Yang looked up toward the cave entrance.
There stood Ye Qingchan in a cyan robe. A trace of worry lingered on her picturesque face, and she was looking around cautiously as she walked toward him.
"Junior Sister Qingchan!!"
At this moment, the resentment in Chu Yang's heart vanished instantly. She really hadn't abandoned him after all! No matter what she'd done in the square earlier, as long as she still loved him, Chu Yang would definitely forgive her!
What was wrong with being a sycophant? Why did so many people say sycophants were lowly and without dignity? We sycophants have the ultimate freedom of choice! We flatter when we want to, and hold off when we don't—who can force us?
But… why was Junior Sister Ye's hair damp? She usually only bathed at night. And… what about her aura? In just one night, she'd actually broken through to the Awakened Spirit Realm?!