Shi Yunzhao waking up and clearing Ning Yin’s name was like tossing a pebble into a lake—the ripples appeared, but the surface soon returned to calm.
With the Soaring Cloud Sect’s internal tournament imminent, most disciples had thrown themselves into cultivation.
Not only were the rewards generous this time, but if one could make a name for themselves, there was a chance to represent the sect in the upcoming Grand Tournament among the Seven Major Sects.
Ning Yin had no interest in the tournament rewards or the chance to participate in the Seven Sects’ event.
Over the past few days, under Yan Hanzhou’s guidance, her cultivation had soared, and she now wielded Splendor with ease.
She felt confident that she wouldn’t embarrass herself on stage—besides, the sect’s rules stated that the matches would end at the point of contact, with no killing allowed.
Thinking it over, Si Heyu was the Sect Leader’s First Disciple.
Even if he was her mortal enemy, under the eyes of so many, could a Nascent Soul master like him truly be ruthless against a Foundation Establishment junior sister like herself?
As for Splendor Sword’s master, Yu Lingyi—though there was enmity over the sword, Ning Yin believed anyone who could become part of the protagonist’s group would not be so petty as to use public power for personal revenge.
Except—
Sang Wan, who bore her a deep grudge.
Sang Wan, a disciple of Cloud Resting Peak, at mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, wasn’t a member of the main group, but was quite gifted.
In the novel, she succumbed to obsession for love, then severed those ties, returned to the right path, broke through to Nascent Soul, and became one of the rare Spirit Transformation experts on Jiu Zhou Continent. Later, she rose to become an Elder of Soaring Cloud Sect, a pillar of the sect.
She was one of those who, despite opposing the protagonists, ended up with a good ending.
For such a stubborn person who hated her to the bone, Ning Yin could only pray her luck wouldn’t pair her against Sang Wan.
After several days in seclusion, the day of the sect tournament finally arrived.
In the Soaring Cloud Sect’s arena, Elders from all twelve peaks were present, with hundreds of Inner Disciples arrayed neatly.
Ning Yin stood in the middle of the formation, bored as she listened to some Elder’s disciple explaining the tournament rules and precautions, nearly dozing off.
She couldn’t help but sigh—whether in the real world or this world of cultivation, pre-competition pep talks followed the same tired format.
At the Sect Master’s order, three enormous dueling platforms rose in the center of the arena.
Along their edges, intricate runes personally inscribed by the sect’s Array Master flowed with a gentle golden light, forming an indestructible barrier that separated the stages from the outside.
At the same time, fierce battles erupted atop the three platforms.
Crowds thronged the arena, disciples from every peak filling the spectator seats and open ground, all watching intently, silently analyzing the moves on stage, and excitedly discussing the highlights of each match.
After all, those brave enough to step onto the tournament stage were among Soaring Cloud Sect’s most promising disciples.
Their techniques and cultivation insights were their own, making this a golden opportunity for everyone to learn.
Spirit birds soared above the arena, calling clearly, while the clashing of blades, roaring of spells, and the rising cheers from spectators merged into a wave of heat and excitement, reverberating through Soaring Cloud Sect.
Ning Yin, who had originally felt some dread about the tournament, now found her own blood stirred by the crowd’s energy.
She was lucky—her name wasn’t drawn in the opening matches, giving her plenty of time to observe and gauge the strength gaps among her fellow disciples.
But after watching a few bouts, she was startled by just how ruthless some of them fought.
“Did you all see the clarification notice posted a few days ago? Do you think what it said was true or not?”
“If Senior Sister cleared her name for her, then it must be true.”
“Then didn’t we all wrongly accuse her before?”
“Even if it’s true, so what? A leopard can’t change its spots. Have you all forgotten what she used to do? Not to mention the old stuff, back when Sang Wan was awakening her Spiritual Root, Ning Yin nearly crippled her! So narrow-minded and vicious—it’s no wonder she’s been falsely accused.”
“But, still, facts are facts…”
Ning Yin listened to their hushed gossip, then called out loudly, “Come on, if you have something to say, say it to my face! Whispering behind my back doesn’t make you braver!”
Instantly, the group fell silent.
“Hmph, what’s there to be afraid of!” one disciple sneered, unafraid of Ning Yin’s glare.
“Don’t think just because you were wronged twice and have a notice from the Sect Master that you’re off the hook. The things you did can’t be wiped away by just these two incidents.”
“Not to mention the old days—remember how you treated Sang Wan before she awakened her Spiritual Root? And after she awakened, you almost crippled her! In the Forbidden Land trial, when someone found a Celestial Herb or Spirit Beast, you just took it. If an Outer Sect Disciple annoyed you, you beat him half to death! If it weren’t for Yu Wei Immortal Lord shielding you, by the sect rules, you’d have been kicked out long ago!”
Ning Yin had no words to refute what her original self had done.
Glancing around at the other disciples’ distant and wary gazes, her resolve to turn over a new leaf and change their first impressions wavered.
“Sang Junior Sister is here!”
“When Sang Junior Sister’s Spiritual Root was nearly destroyed by Ning Yin, if they end up facing each other in the tournament, do you think she’ll take the chance for revenge and cripple Ning Yin’s Spiritual Root?”
“Isn’t this supposed to be a point-to-point match?”
“As long as it’s not fatal.”
“They say ‘not fatal,’ but if someone really goes all out, would the Elders and Sect Master just stand by and watch?”
In the crowd, Ning Yin spotted Sang Wan.
She hadn’t actually known who Sang Wan was, but when that girl’s gaze met hers, the bright hatred in her eyes made it impossible to ignore her.
That look was like a needle in the back, a sword at the throat, a bed of nails.
Sang Wan stared unblinkingly at Ning Yin, then slowly approached.
For the first time in five years, Sang Wan faced the once high-and-mighty Ning Yin from her memories. All her former respect, timidity, and fear dissolved into endless resentment.
“Princess, you are a Princess of Cheng Kingdom, and I am your subject. Whether you beat or scolded me, I never blamed you. But what you truly shouldn’t have done—was break off my marriage to Muzhi and ruin my life!”
Seriously… You’ve almost reached Golden Core and still haven’t enjoyed the benefits of cultivation? Is she really this obsessed with romance?
Ning Yin took a deep breath. “I was wrong to force you to stay in Soaring Cloud Sect without considering your own wishes. But did you ever think about it—when you entered Soaring Cloud Sect, it took you only a year to awaken your Spiritual Root. In that one year, your beloved couldn’t wait and married someone else. Shouldn’t you be thanking me for screening out a scumbag for you? If he truly loved you, he wouldn’t have given up, no matter what.”
“That’s easy for you to say. If someone has no Spiritual Root, how could he endure all those hardships?”
No Spiritual Root? Ning Yin scanned the crowd, caught Yan Hanzhou’s gaze, and beckoned him over.
Yan Hanzhou walked to her side.
“Let me introduce: Yan Hanzhou, Waste Spiritual Root.”
Sang Wan understood what Ning Yin was getting at. Her face paled slightly.
“I’m not showing off,” Ning Yin continued, “but if you truly love someone, you’d overcome any difficulty for them. If you can’t, that’s a matter of ability—but if he didn’t even have the courage to try, it just means he didn’t love you. So why be so hung up on someone who didn’t love you?”
She nudged Yan Hanzhou with her elbow. “Am I right?”
Sang Wan’s once resolute eyes dimmed.
She stepped back, murmuring, “I just wanted an ordinary married life with him. It was you—you ruined everything for me! I have a clear conscience!”
“A ‘clear conscience’?!” Yan Hanzhou sneered,
“If he loved you, he wouldn’t have married and had children within a year. And if you truly loved him, you could have crippled your Spiritual Root and gone down the mountain to be with him as a regular couple. But you didn’t. You blame Ning Yin for separating you, but in truth, you and your beloved are both hypocrites, unwilling to break your shackles. Yet now you want to pin your misfortunes on others? If you really cared so much about love, why are you still cultivating in Soaring Cloud Sect? If you destroy your own Spiritual Root and leave right now, I’ll actually respect you for it.”
His words stirred a commotion among the nearby disciples.
“Ning Yin, Yan Hanzhou! Back then, just for your own sake, you forced Sang Wan to stay in Soaring Cloud Sect, making her serve you as a slave, breaking up her engagement. And now you want to provoke her further? The two of you really are birds of a feather!”
“Stop spouting nonsense! The two of you had better pray you don’t face me on the platform, or I won’t show any mercy!”
“Passing the blame? If it weren’t for Ning Yin, Sang Wan would have long since been happily married to her sweetheart!”
“Sang Junior Sister, don’t listen to them. It’s all Ning Yin’s fault, you did nothing wrong!”
The uproar reached Sang Wan’s ears, and her gaze grew firm.
Staring at Ning Yin, she spat out her words, filled with hatred: “From the moment I entered Soaring Cloud Sect, I severed my ties to the mundane world. I hate my own powerlessness, but I hate the one who started all this even more! Without Muzhi, everything I have is meaningless. In this sect tournament, I won’t hold back—I’ll get justice for Muzhi!”
Ning Yin refused to back down. “Fine, I’ll be waiting!”
When their eyes met, Ning Yin saw the obsession and murderous intent burning deep within Sang Wan’s gaze.
Watching Sang Wan’s retreating back, Ning Yin let out a helpless sigh. “There really should be less talk of romance in the cultivation world. Look at Sang Wan—she’s about to fall into obsession. How frightening.”
Yan Hanzhou’s eyes were shadowed as he said in a low voice, “Her cultivation has reached Golden Core. She’s only holding back from advancing further by sheer willpower. You’re not her match.”
“She says she wants an ordinary married life? I’ll grant her wish.”