To provide spiritual power for Yan Hanzhou to refine the power of his soul, Ning Yin nearly exhausted herself, but fortunately, Yan Hanzhou succeeded in the end.
Even Ning Yin’s divine sense grew stronger under this extreme tempering, and she could control her life-bound sword with ever-increasing ease.
While Ning Yin was immersed in her harmony and perception with Guanghua, news of Shi Yunzhao’s awakening quickly spread throughout the Soaring Cloud Sect.
Si Heyu rushed to Soaring Cloud Peak at once, only to discover that not only had Shi Yunzhao awakened, but she had also broken through the Golden Core Stage and stepped into the Nascent Soul Stage.
“Yunzhao had a Demon Core within her body. During her days of unconsciousness, she finally refined the Demon Core and broke through the Golden Core Stage,” the Sect Master looked toward Shi Yunzhao in the hall with great satisfaction.
“Among the young disciples of Soaring Cloud Sect, after Heyu, we have gained another Senior Sister at the Nascent Soul Stage. All of you should take her as your model and cultivate diligently, never ceasing your efforts!”
There were countless disciples at the Golden Core Stage in Soaring Cloud Sect, but very few could successfully break through.
Some disciples even spent nearly a hundred years without progress at the Golden Core Stage.
Shi Yunzhao’s breakthrough not only added strength to the sect but also instilled confidence in the path of cultivation for all disciples.
The disciples who had rushed to the hall saluted the Sect Master in unison, “Yes, we will definitely take Senior Sister Yunzhao as our model and cultivate diligently without slacking!”
As their neat voices fell, a plaintive and aggrieved cry rang out within the hall.
“Senior Sister! You’re finally awake!”
Ning Yin’s eyes were red as she flung herself in front of Shi Yunzhao.
Seeing Shi Yunzhao “completely unscathed,” her grievances burst forth like a breached dam, turning into a string of choked, worried words: “Ever since you went to find a way out for me and Yan Hanzhou in the forbidden grounds, encountering demons and monsters and your life and death became unknown, I haven’t slept at night, worrying for your safety. Now you’re finally awake!”
The disciples in the hall looked down on Ning Yin’s conduct with disdain.
“As long as you and Yan Hanzhou are alright.”
“We’re fine, of course we’re fine. Thank you, Senior Sister, for saving us—Ning Yin will never forget it!” Her voice faltered, suddenly becoming choked with emotion,
“But, Senior Sister, you were harmed by demons and monsters in the forbidden grounds, and that day when Senior Brother and the others went to rescue you, when they returned they insisted that Yan Hanzhou and I were the ones who harmed you! These days, rumors have flown through the sect, everyone has wanted to punish us… Senior Sister, did you know…”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear, each one filled with grievances and sorrows with nowhere to be voiced.
Shi Yunzhao glanced at Si Heyu, then cupped her hands to the Sect Master and explained, “Master, on that day in the forbidden grounds, I happened upon Junior Sister Ning Yin and Junior Brother Hanzhou by chance, and we accidentally found the Secret Realm left behind a thousand years ago by Lingxiao Immortal Lord. Later, while searching for the Teleportation Array, we were ambushed by demons and monsters and suffered severe injuries. This had nothing to do with Junior Sister Ning Yin or Junior Brother Yan; I hope Master will see clearly.”
A disciple asked in confusion, “Even if this matter wasn’t Ning Yin and Yan Hanzhou’s doing, back when Senior Sister fell off the cliff during the forbidden grounds trial, we found Ning Yin’s yupei at the spot where Senior Sister fell. What was that about?”
Shi Yunzhao was silent for a moment, then recalled, “It’s true that Ning Yin caused my fall during the trial in the forbidden grounds…”
The hall was instantly abuzz.
“But at that time, Ning Yin was under the illusion of demons and monsters and couldn’t recognize anyone, mistaking me for a demon. That’s why she acted against me. She can’t be blamed for this.”
“So that’s how it was.” The Sect Master looked at Ning Yin and Yan Hanzhou, sighing, “In that case, I will clarify the truth for you both and clear your names.”
“No need.” Ning Yin drew a deep breath, wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes, and looked up at the Sect Master with her head held high.
“Sect Master, I know I’ve always been rebellious and unrestrained, acting willfully, but Heaven and Earth can attest: I have never done anything monstrous! The day Senior Sister fell from the cliff, just because of a single yupei, you decided I was guilty and punished me severely. Now that the truth is clear, I am disheartened and no longer wish to argue about right or wrong. I respectfully request to be expelled from the sect—please grant my request, Sect Master!”
Ning Yin’s voice trembled, her last words seemingly blocked by overwhelming grievance, tears finally spilling down.
As these words fell, the hall quieted.
Moments later, hushed whispers began.
“So this really wasn’t Ning Yin’s doing?”
“Even Senior Sister said so; maybe we really did misunderstand Ning Yin.”
“But Ning Yin has always been arrogant and domineering. Even if she didn’t do this, has she done few bad things in the past?”
The Sect Master frowned slightly. “Ning Yin, this was my error. I blamed you before the truth was clear. Now, if you have any requests, just state them—I will do my utmost to make it up to you.”
Ning Yin looked stubborn. “I said, I don’t need any compensation. I just want to go home—please grant my request, Sect Master.”
For a prestigious orthodox sect to drive a disciple to request expulsion due to false accusations—if this spread, who knows what rumors it would stir.
“You joined Soaring Cloud Sect to learn the arts, and your studies are not yet complete. If you leave now, will your years of hard work be for nothing?”
Ning Yin hung her head in silence. Her face looked aggrieved and pitiful, but inside, she was secretly delighted.
After all her efforts to clear her name, she had to take the moral high ground and seize people’s hearts.
If this matter were brushed off in a few words, wouldn’t all the scorn, gossip, and the freezing punishment she endured at Reflection Cliff have been for nothing?
After a moment, she raised her head to look at the Sect Master. “Then I have three requests.”
“State them.”
“First, I want those who wronged me to apologize.”
“Of course.”
“Second, I want this matter to be announced throughout the whole sect and displayed publicly for a month.”
“It should be done.”
“Third, for the days I was falsely accused, I went to Reflection Cliff twice, endured endless gossip and slander, and suffered great harm and torment—so the sect must compensate me.”
“What compensation do you want?”
“I want…” For a moment, Ning Yin couldn’t think of what she wanted, so she just listed everything valuable she could remember from the novels, “I want a hundred Supreme Spirit Stones, fifty Supreme Elixirs, fifty Celestial Herbs, and fifty Lingbao…”
“You’re being far too greedy!”
Ning Yin glared at the disciple. “Greedy? I’ve suffered so many sneers and rumors. Do you know what I went through these days? I’d rather want nothing at all!”
“Enough!” The Sect Master said in a deep voice, “All these, I agree to.”
That day, under the Sect Master’s order, the entire Soaring Cloud Sect was plastered with the clarifying notices Ning Yin had demanded.
The truth about Shi Yunzhao’s fall and her severe injury by demons and monsters in the forbidden grounds spread through Soaring Cloud Sect in less than the time it took for one incense stick to burn.
On the way back to Muyun Peak from the Soaring Cloud Sect’s main hall, Ning Yin strode with her head held high, unafraid of any gaze thrown her way.
For the first time, she felt that the wind in Soaring Cloud Sect was so sweet.
Now, she had passed through the hardest stage.
This was the key period when the original “Ning Yin” would have succumbed to a Heart Demon and turned dark.
As long as she now mended her ways, got along with the heroine, and basked under the Protagonist Halo, she was sure she could coast safely to the finale!
“You’re in a good mood.”
Ning Yin hummed a tuneless ditty. “Senior Sister helped me clear my name—that’s a big thing, of course I’m happy. How about you? Si Heyu picked a fight with you today—are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s good. Si Heyu was just making trouble for nothing, trying to grab people without evidence—what kind of logic is that? Actually, I wanted him to apologize to you in the main hall, but when you shook your head at me, I understood. True, we can’t push people too hard; with all those disciples there, as Senior Brother, he needs to save some face, after all, he’s the main male lead.”
Yan Hanzhou was dismissive, “What use is an apology?”
“True, finding the real culprit and clearing your name is what really matters.”
Clear my name? Yan Hanzhou fell silent for a moment, then asked, “What are your plans for the future?”
Ning Yin thought seriously. “In the future, I want to change everyone’s first impression of me, work hard on my cultivation, become part of the main character’s group, and completely escape the fate of being a Villainous Female Supporting Character. If I could slay demons and monsters and uphold justice like Senior Sister, that would be best. If not… then I just hope to have enough power to protect myself, to live safely in this chaotic cultivation world!”
“You want to stay in Soaring Cloud Sect forever?”
Ning Yin frowned in difficulty. “The whole Jiu Zhou Continent is a mess of humans, immortals, demons, and monsters. It’s dangerous out there.”
“The truth of this world—whatever it is—don’t ever tell anyone else from now on. You’re too defenseless. If you ever meet someone with ill intent, you’d be refined into a puppet before you knew it.”
“I know.” If not for Yan Hanzhou being, like herself, not of this world, she wouldn’t have said a word about it.
She patted Yan Hanzhou’s shoulder, feeling more and more hopeful about the future. “Don’t worry, as long as you don’t act recklessly, stick with me and you’ll be safe and sound!”
Looking at Ning Yin, who still dreamed of a bright future, Yan Hanzhou didn’t say anything to break her illusions.
Having never left Soaring Cloud Sect or experienced the perils of the mortal world, she would always have a blind optimism about people and things.
Go through it once, and you’ll understand everything.