Chapter 160: Gone

"I did it!"

"Hahaha, I did it—I cultivated it again!"

An ecstatic voice echoed through White Orchid Peak.

Yue Hongling stepped out, her face pale, her body visibly weak. With the support of the Supreme Yin energy, her cultivation had indeed advanced by leaps and bounds.

However, every time she helped Bai Qiulan suppress the Chaotic Yin Poison, it became a tremendous trial of her Dao heart.

Though Chu Ling and Shangguan Huanling had both cultivated the Scripture of Ultimate Yin for Virgin Maidens, they didn’t share the same deep bond Yue Hongling had with Bai Qiulan.

They could only take over when Yue Hongling reached her absolute limit.

As for Shangguan Huanling’s Dao heart... she didn’t even have one. It was only thanks to her Origin Devourer Sutra that [N O V E L I G H T] she didn’t instantly end up like that Hehuan Sect elder, her soul shattered into icy dust.

"What did you cultivate?" Yue Hongling couldn’t help but ask.

"I cultivated the Path of Sentiment!"

Shangguan Huanling’s single sentence left Yue Hongling’s brain crashing on the spot.

"What?"

Yue Hongling’s voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"The Path of Sentiment! I recultivated the Path of Sentiment! As I thought, I still love Brother Lu Ye—I still love him! I’m going to find him right now and show him—show him my Path of Sentiment!"

Shangguan Huanling could no longer hold herself back. She shot off, flying toward Lu Ye’s residence with all her might.

"Brother Lu Ye! Brother Lu Ye! I recultivated my Path of Sentiment—look, see, this is my Path of Sentiment!"

Yue Hongling watched her vanish into the distance.

And fell silent.

Deep, deep silence.

So... was this what they called dumb luck?

The simplest one among them, Shangguan Huanling, had the fastest moment of repentance—and ended up recultivating her Path of Sentiment.

Maybe there really was no “most foolish,” only “more foolish.”

When Lu Ye loved you, you destroyed your Path of Sentiment.

Now that Lu Ye no longer loves you, you recultivate it...

At this moment, Yue Hongling didn’t even know how to evaluate any of this.

Lu Ye heard Shangguan Huanling’s voice and was left dumbfounded.

You—

Forget it. He wasn’t staying in the Grand Dao Sect any longer.

It was too noisy.

Lu Ye’s figure disappeared, and when he reappeared, he was already at the ruins of the Eternal Teachings Sect. With just a bit of preparation, abundant spiritual energy began to gather.

He was getting closer and closer to the Ninth Layer of Tribulation Crossing.

His Concealing Dao Technique and Heaven-Hiding Technique would be used after his breakthrough. Whether or not they would succeed—only time would tell.

If they didn’t, he’d flee for his life.

If they did, the Human Emperor Banner would surely spread over the entire Second Heaven.

Shangguan Huanling didn’t find Lu Ye. Her heart skipped a beat.

Had Lu Ye already ascended?

No... that couldn’t be.

She returned and reported the situation. Bai Qiulan came in person and opened the door to Lu Ye’s courtyard.

"...He really isn’t here anymore."

"Could he have truly ascended? But there’s been no word at all about his ascension!"

"I’ll go ask the Sect Master!"

Bai Qiulan flew straight toward the Hall of Inquiry.

At that moment, inside the Hall of Inquiry—

Liu Changfeng was playing a game of Go with a silver-haired woman. She carried a sword on her back and had a heroic, dashing air. Though clearly older, she possessed a unique elegance.

"Sect Master, Bai Qiulan requests an audience."

Liu Changfeng paused mid-move.

The silver-haired woman’s lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Old Liu, should I take my leave?" Qin Yinyue said playfully.

Liu Changfeng gently shook his head and reached out to hold the hand she always used to wield her sword.

"No need. Perhaps today is an auspicious day. The matter of Taishang Sword Sect and Grand Dao Sect’s union should be made public now."

Qin Yinyue’s face flushed slightly, though her tone remained teasing.

"Union, is it? That’s all we are?"

Liu Changfeng couldn’t help laughing aloud.

"Look at my mouth—what I meant to say was: together as one."

"Let Junior Sister Bai enter."

Liu Changfeng stood and took his place at the sect master’s seat, wearing a smile that was both warm and commanding.

Now that the Grand Dao Sect had become the top sect in the Wildlands, Liu Changfeng’s aura had only grown more formidable. His cultivation was soaring.

The entire sect was rising like mad.

In just recent days, five new cultivators had reached the Tribulation Crossing Realm. The number of Integration and Spirit Severing cultivators had ballooned even more.

Once granted permission, Bai Qiulan entered quickly.

"Bai Qiulan greets the Sect Master."

She bowed respectfully.

"Junior Sister Bai, this is the Sword Immortal Qin Yinyue. Do you still remember her?" Liu Changfeng said with a smile.

"Of course I do. When I once faced Sword Immortal Qin in battle, her razor-sharp sword intent left me miserable and utterly defeated. The memory is still vivid. Seeing her now, her cultivation has advanced even further—truly worth celebrating!" Bai Qiulan smiled.

"Next month, Qin Yinyue and I will be holding our Dao companion ceremony. If you’re free, Junior Sister, do join us for a cup of wedding wine," Liu Changfeng said with a grin.

Bai Qiulan was somewhat surprised.

In her previous life, Liu Changfeng had never ended up with Qin Yinyue.

But in this life, they had. It really was true—times change, and people with them.

But Bai Qiulan honestly felt not a shred of interest in Liu Changfeng.

Even though he’d made all the right choices again and again, leading the sect toward unprecedented strength.

It was a powerful kind of charisma.

But no matter how powerful—it couldn’t compare to Lu Ye.

If she didn’t accept Lu Ye, how could she possibly accept someone like Liu Changfeng?

"Then I offer my congratulations to the Sect Master and Sword Immortal Qin. I’ll definitely come for a taste of your celebratory wine."

Liu Changfeng, in that moment, completely let go.

"Good! Many thanks for your blessings, Elder Bai. So, what brings you here today?"

"I came to ask if the Sect Master knows where my disciple Lu Ye has gone," Bai Qiulan asked.

"Lu Ye? I’m not sure."

"He hasn’t ascended, has he?"

Liu Changfeng pondered for a moment.

"He shouldn’t have. If he had ascended, he would’ve notified the sect."

Bai Qiulan let out a breath of relief. "Then that’s good."

"I’ll take my leave, then."

She turned to go.

But Liu Changfeng spoke again.

"Junior Sister Bai—"

She halted.

"Sometimes... the rules don’t matter that much. Your own happiness is what matters most."

Bai Qiulan was silent.

Dead silent for over ten seconds before she resumed walking—quickly leaving the hall.

Too late...

That very day, the news of Lu Ye’s disappearance stirred all four women to the core.

Lu Ye—had disappeared after all.

Perhaps when he’d returned after reincarnation, the only reason he hadn’t left the Grand Dao Sect immediately was because, deep down, he still held a sliver of hope for them.

But now, it was clear.

Lu Ye had completely lost hope.

And chosen to leave.

When was the last time they’d seen him?

Probably... when he returned the Supreme Yin Marrow Worm.

Bai Qiulan clenched her fists.

"Lu Ye has likely begun preparations to ascend. Hongling, Ling’er, Huanling—if the three of you truly wish to follow in Lu Ye’s footsteps, then from this moment on, you’ll have to cultivate even harder."

"It may hurt even more."

"But if you want to find Lu Ye again—can you endure it?"

"Yes!" Yue Hongling’s voice was firmest.

"I’m going to find the young master!"

Chu Ling, too, was resolute.

"It really hurts..."

Shangguan Huanling genuinely found it hard to bear.