Chapter 116

Two Qi Cultivators used their magical tools to bind the two demons. To prevent any mishaps along the way, several Alchemy Cultivators took turns feeding them Sealing Pills. “When will the elders come in?”

“Probably early tomorrow morning.”

“So, what exactly happened?” Chu Xingzhi took the opportunity for revenge and kicked the two demons hard. “How did this group of Nascent Soul stage demons get in?”

According to reason, even if a Nascent Soul stage cultivator enters the secret realm, they would be suppressed to the Golden Core stage and wouldn’t reach such a significantly higher realm as Nascent Soul.

Yun Que, feeling weak, didn’t dare to speak. She clutched the Source Pearl tightly, found a secluded spot, and quietly absorbed its energy. The spiritual energy from the pearl was overwhelmingly powerful, capable of forcibly suppressing one’s cultivation upon entering the secret realm.

A small amount of spiritual energy entered her body, and she could feel her realm loosening.

Xue Yu shook his head. “Not sure.”

To understand what had happened, they would have to wait until they were out and the elders explained it to them.

The secret realm finally opened the next day.

Everyone stayed awake all night, guarding the two demons. When the secret realm opened, they couldn’t wait to rush out. Ye Qiao, who had a big heart, slept soundly and leisurely walked at the end of the line.

As soon as they came out, an apple flew straight at Ye Qiao.

Ye Qiao caught the apple accurately and took a bite. She was confused, “What’s going on?”

What did she do to make the audience hate her so much?

“Oh! Sorry, wrong target.” The girl who threw the apple became nervous when she saw it was Ye Qiao. “I meant to hit Yun Que.”

Ye Qiao: “…” She took another bite; the apple was quite sweet.

The other girl exclaimed, “Ah, Ye Langlang is eating my apple!”

Ye Qiao continued eating the apple nonchalantly and walked away, leaving the elders to clean up the mess the kids had left, such as the Source Pearl in Yun Que’s hand.

Seeing everyone come out safely, the cultivators collectively breathed a sigh of relief. Who would have thought these kids could cooperate so well at the critical moment?

“A bunch of reckless brats,” Qin Fanfan laughed and cursed, “I have to admit, this competition got me a bit excited.”

“That’s normal,” Elder Zhao chuckled. “Young and impetuous, they act without thinking too much.”

After walking out, Ye Qiao saw all the elders and raised an eyebrow. “Just asking, does the competition score still count?”

As of now, Changming Sect was first, and Wenjian Sect was second. If the scores counted, no matter the result of the next team match, Changming Sect would be first.

“It counts,” Wenjian Sect’s elder nodded, compensating Ye Qiao for saving the day.

The secret realm’s interruption meant an extra match should logically be added, but Ye Qiao turned the tide at the crucial moment, so giving the first place to Changming Sect was justified.

After exiting the secret realm, Song Hansheng began to harshly criticize Yun Que. He asked coldly, “You’re a top-grade spiritual root, yet you can’t even protect yourself?”

If it weren’t for the quick reaction of the other direct disciples, the two demons would have escaped.

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Yun Que’s eyes reddened. “You’ve always looked down on me, never protecting me.”

Song Hansheng, who had cleaned up her mess countless times: “?”

Ming Xuan lazily leaned against Ye Qiao and casually said, “Isn’t she just stating the obvious?”

Who has Song Hansheng ever respected?

Even a dog passing by and accidentally glancing at Song Hansheng would get a disdainful look.

Song Hansheng, now infuriated, snapped, “Why should I respect you? Because you take six months to draw a single talisman?”

“You’re both direct disciples. Why don’t you reflect on why you’re worse than her?” he pointed at Ye Qiao.

Ye Qiao waved her hand, signaling to leave her out of it.

Why drag her into this?

For the first time, Yun Que realized what goes around comes around. She was the center of attention before, and now she was being constantly compared to Ye Qiao.

After leaving the secret realm, a group of direct disciples gathered for a meeting. The elders, with headaches from the noise, clapped their hands to quiet them: “Yun Que stays, the rest can leave as they wish.”

Wow.

Yun Que stays?

This was going to be interesting.

Everyone wanted to watch the drama, so no one left. Being stared at by so many people made Yun Que feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. She pinched her palm to calm herself down.

“Where is the Source Pearl?” The elder from Wenjian Sect stared at her, his voice suddenly turning cold, “Hand it over.”

Yun Que didn’t want to give it up and pleaded, “Elder, I already took it out. Why return it?”

She hadn’t triggered the barrier, which should prove that it rightfully belonged to her.

Others couldn’t take it even if they tried.

Hearing about the Source Pearl, Ye Qiao tilted her head in thought. Was it mentioned in the original novel? It should have been, but she didn’t recall anything about demons, and it wasn’t such a big deal.

In the novel, the protagonist reached the Nascent Soul stage after obtaining it.

Such rapid advancement would make anyone call her a peerless genius.

Yun Que pretended to be calm, “Changming Sect also collapsed the secret realm before. I just took the Source Pearl and didn’t cause any damage.”

Seeing her still arguing, the elder from Wenjian Sect’s voice turned completely cold, “That was a collapse. The secret realm will reappear with a suitable host in a hundred years. You took the pearl, leaving the realm without its suppressive powers. Any Nascent Soul cultivator could come and massacre in the future. What about the wandering cultivators entering the great secret realm then? If there are casualties, will you take responsibility?”

The members of Changming Sect, feeling unjustly accused, bowed their heads.

They couldn’t understand a word.

The elder from Bishui Sect coughed, implying, “Changming Sect, reflect on why you’re involved every time.”

“And Ye Qiao.”

“Bringing a contracted creature with a domain into the secret realm violated the rules.”

“Criticism. Don’t do it again.”

Bringing a domain-bearing contracted creature into the secret realm was let off so lightly by the elders?

“Unfair.” Su Zhu frowned, “She brought a contracted creature with a domain into the secret realm. The demon beast count should be void.”

“I’ve already criticized her.” The elder from Wenjian Sect coldly glanced at Yun Que, “Oh, by the way, Yueqing Sect’s demon beast count is nullified this time.”

Yun Que’s mistake, Yueqing Sect bore the consequences.

“It’s impossible to nullify Changming Sect’s count.” The elder amusingly asked, “Do you really think you could have come out on your own without Ye Qiao?”

“She just provided a mustard seed bag.” Everyone saw it; the rescuers were two Qi Cultivators from Chengfeng Sect.

The elder waved his hand, not wanting to argue further, “Watch the recording stone when you get back. Let’s move on.”

“Yun Que.” The sect leader of Wenjian Sect directed his oppressive aura solely at Yun Que.

The overwhelming pressure forced her to kneel.

“Do you know the gravity of taking the Source Pearl?”

Yun Que had never been forced to kneel by an authoritative figure’s pressure before. She only had to look up to see Ye Qiao calmly watching her.

She felt increasingly humiliated.

“Kneeling under pressure.” Xue Yu’s clear voice remarked, his eyes blinking, “First time seeing this.”

“I’ve knelt before.” Ye Qiao didn’t expect this method to be rare. She glanced at Yun Que, “The former sect leader often did this.”

Wow.

Qin Fanfan turned his head immediately, “What mistake did she make to be forced to kneel?”

His direct disciples were always raised freely. Even though Ye Qiao was taken in midway, she couldn’t be bullied like this. What grave mistake warranted such a punishment?

Yun Hen didn’t expect the blame to shift to him.

With Ye Qiao in the spotlight, and all the cultivators outside listening intently, how could he admit he forced her to kneel for a spirit herb? It would be too embarrassing.

Song Hansheng was also puzzled.

He always thought Ye Qiao left Yueqing Sect to join Changming Sect for the position of a direct disciple, showing no regard for her upbringing.

Yun Hen didn’t dare answer.

Ye Qiao shrugged. Seeing him silent, she explained, “Maybe it’s because I brought back a spirit plant. The sect leader wanted it for his little disciple, but I didn’t want to give it, so he forced me to kneel.”

“…”

“Ye Qiao.” Yun Hen’s face turned cold, “We’ll discuss this later.”

The more they talked, the worse it got for him.

The sect leader of Wenjian Sect, massaging his brow, gave Yun Hen an unexpected look. Who knew there was such a story between Ye Qiao and Yueqing Sect.

“Alright. The Source Pearl, Yun Que.” Fearing Ye Qiao might reveal more, Yun Hen quickly changed the topic, looking at Yun Que, “Hand it over.”

Yun Que bit her lip, kneeling, trying to delay. But the other elders wouldn’t give her the chance, increasing the pressure until her thin bones cracked, her face turning pale.

She wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words.

Facing the icy gaze of the Wenjian Sect leader, she realized it was a threat. Trembling, she handed back the pearl.

However, the oppressive aura around Que was not withdrawn. The other party said indifferently, “Keep kneeling. What are the Moon Clear Sect’s rules for betraying your comrades?”

“Song Hansheng,” he called out to the model student of the Moon Clear Sect, “recite them.”

Song Hansheng withdrew his gaze, “The lightest punishment is reflection in the forbidden area, the harshest is expulsion from the sect.”

Expulsion from the sect was unlikely, especially with the grand competition approaching. Where would they find another direct disciple in time?

“I will give you all an explanation.” Yun Hen, feeling the accusatory gazes of so many elders, was uncomfortable.

He was extremely disappointed in Yun Que. He couldn’t understand how his once exceptionally talented little disciple had turned out this way. He couldn’t help but think that if Ye Qiao were still here, he wouldn’t be in this difficult situation now.

“Are spiritual roots really that important?” Ye Qiao finally understood. It seemed the two Nascent Soul cultivators in the secret realm were caused by the protagonist.

And yet, she still hadn’t been expelled from the sect.

Qin Fanfan knew these kids had grievances and were all very indignant. He sighed, “We can’t find another person with such exceptional spiritual roots. If we really abandon her, it would benefit other sects.”

“Exceptional spiritual roots, we can’t just give them up.”

“Oh,” Ye Qiao understood. She began to draw analogies, “So in our cultivation world, the higher the spiritual roots, the more powerful one is. Since I have heavenly spiritual roots, does that mean it’s okay for me to beat her to death?”

After all, those with higher spiritual roots are more powerful, right?

Qin Fanfan: “…”

It made sense.

It made sense, but it was absurd!

However, Ye Qiao wasn’t wrong. In the cultivation world, the higher the spiritual roots, the more powerful one was. When Ye Qiao’s golden core tribulation struck, the elders would certainly acknowledge her.

Yun Que was forcibly taken away, and the other direct disciples, seeing that there was no more drama to watch, gathered in small groups to review what happened in the secret realm.

“Little sister,” Ming Xuan pinched her cheek curiously, “how did you end up hanging out with Song Hansheng?”

Ye Qiao could team up with anyone, but pairing with the Moon Clear Sect was a strange combination.

She brushed him off, “We just happened to meet.” Then she pointed at Ming Xuan’s actions, “And stop pinching the face of the number one. It’s expensive.”

Mu Chongxi laughed, “Oh, playing along now?”

Xue Yu remarked, “Wasn’t the first place Wenjian Sect?”

They remembered that Wenjian Sect was initially leading by a large margin, followed by everyone running for their lives. According to logic, Wenjian Sect should have been first.

“Yeah,” Chu Xingzhi, hearing the commotion from Changming Sect, casually joined in, “shouldn’t we be first?”

He had specifically checked at the time.

Ye Qiao took out her jade slip and showed it to them, displaying the rankings:

“See? This empire was built by me for you.”

The ranking showed Changming Sect in first place.

“Damn, Your Majesty is wise.” Mu Chongxi bootlicked, not knowing what had happened, but praising her nonetheless.

Ming Xuan glanced at him, “Your dad would break your legs if he knew.” As a prince, he was surprisingly comfortable calling her “Your Majesty.”

“No worries.” Mu Chongxi waved his hand, “He’s in the mortal world, unaware of cultivation matters.”

Ye Qiao’s words made the direct disciples who had intended to leave glance at the ranking.

Changming Sect was indeed first.

“How did you get first place?” Ye Qinghan’s eyes shifted slightly, his voice indifferent, “And where were you when Shen Ziwei and the others were rescuing people?”

All the direct disciples were present at the time, except her.

“Of course, I was—” Ye Qiao paused dramatically, “saving the world.”

The other disciples started rolling their eyes.

Sure, keep boasting.

“Really.” Ye Qiao, unhappy with their attitude, said slowly, “Otherwise, how do you think you all got out?”

She had been busy this time. Well, she was always busy.

Ming Xuan pressed down on her head, “Where’s the recording stone? Who has it? Let’s see what happened.”

She had clearly been doing something elsewhere when she appeared, riding a large bird in a flurry.

“I have it.” Zhu You took it out. The gathering of so many direct disciples wasn’t just a meeting. They weren’t all on good terms.

They mainly wanted to review what happened in the secret realm and understand what Duan Hengdao, Shen Ziwei, and Ye Qiao were up to.

“Shall we watch together?” Zhu You asked everyone present.

All the direct disciples nodded in agreement.

Ye Qinghan said coldly, “Let’s watch.”