Chapter 45: Qu Yi Is Back

The pride of Xianyun Sect, the one who maintained the fastest cultivation speed—Liu Qingfeng—had his cultivation skills ruined!
This news spread throughout Xianyun Sect as quickly as a storm.
This newly promoted elder, who had just reached the Golden Core stage and had not yet officially obtained a cultivation mountain, would forever lose the right to do so!
As Huai Qing and the others returned from the Abyss of Ten Thousand Monsters, various rumors about Liu Qingfeng spread rapidly among the sect’s disciples.
Naturally, all sorts of speculative rumors also emerged one after another.
“It is said that Liu Qingfeng had his cultivation skills ruined by Yong Chuan from the Fire Moon Sect. Later, the sect leader personally went after Yong Chuan and killed him.”
“That’s not true. I heard that Liu Qingfeng was surrounded by Blood-Sucking Mosquitoes, which consumed his Golden Core.”
“Stop talking nonsense! Blood-Sucking Mosquitoes feed on blood—where would they get the ability to eat Golden Cores? My version is definitely true. Liu Qingfeng encountered a Dark Alluring Fox in the Abyss of Ten Thousand Monsters and engaged in spiritual cultivation with it, resulting in the fox stealing all his cultivation skills.”
“I agree with that. Liu Qingfeng has always been a pervert. Mu Qiushui, one of Xianyun Sect’s Two Fairies, was killed by him through forced spiritual cultivation. This time, Liu Qingfeng finally got what he deserved—he met a Dark Alluring Fox with stronger cultivation skills, and that’s how he lost his powers.”
……
With all these different speculations and rampant rumors, they naturally reached the ears of Huai Jin, the sect’s elder in charge of internal affairs. Naturally, having his grandson’s cultivation skills ruined and being the subject of such wild rumors filled Huai Jin with rage.
However, he could only endure it. He couldn’t just kill them over the words of lower-ranked disciples.
But at this moment, Huai Jin’s hatred for Xianyun Sect deepened even further.
His master had poured all his magical powers into Huai Qing, which was the origin of Huai Jin’s hatred for Xianyun Sect. Every time there were matters related to the sect, he had to address Huai Qing with respect, deepening his hatred even more. Although he didn’t show it outwardly, the resentment in his heart had accumulated greatly. Now, with his only grandson’s cultivation skills ruined and the disciples spreading chaotic rumors, Huai Jin’s hatred for Xianyun Sect reached its peak.
At that moment, Huai Jin was on his own Dragon Yao Peak, in the same room as Liu Qingfeng.

Liu Qingfeng no longer had his former carefree and elegant demeanor; his face was haggard, looking almost like that of a middle-aged man. It made sense—without true energy, even the physical vitality he had maintained during his cultivation could not counteract the decades he had actually lived. Coupled with his psychological breakdown, he indeed resembled someone in their twilight years.

Huaijin grew even angrier upon seeing Liu Qingfeng’s state, but he forced himself to hold back and not vent his fury.

“Qingfeng, although your Golden Core is shattered, you can still cultivate. I’ll go ask Elder Kang Yao for some Vitality Preserving Pills to keep the true energy in your body from decreasing. From now on, it will depend on you to resume cultivation,” Huaijin said with a heavy heart.

With a shattered Golden Core, it would take at least ten times longer to reach the Golden Core stage again compared to before. By the early stage of the Golden Core, Liu Qingfeng’s meridians had already expanded significantly. Starting over from the Qi Introduction stage, the minimal amount of spiritual energy absorbed would not be enough to fill those meridians.

To put it simply, pouring water into a small stream will surely make it flow, but pouring it into a dried-up riverbed will cause it to be instantly absorbed, leaving no chance for flow. That was exactly the situation inside Liu Qingfeng’s body. If he started cultivating from the Qi Introduction stage, the absorbed spiritual energy would be immediately absorbed by his existing meridians, making it impossible for it to circulate throughout his body—how could true energy then flow throughout his body?

Therefore, if Liu Qingfeng wanted to resume cultivation, he either had to find a way to shrink his meridians or take massive medicinal pills daily. But where could the Immortal Cloud Sect get so many pills?

As for shrinking the meridians, that was even more impossible. The human meridians are extremely complex. It’s beyond the reach of outsiders to enter and shrink them; in fact, trying to do so might even tear the meridians apart, permanently ending any chance of cultivation.

“Ah……!” Liu Qingfeng went mad, screaming loudly. With a fierce glint in his eyes, he cried out, “Grandpa, I hate it! Why did that kid Qu Yi die? If he had survived, I could have watched you torture him to death, and then I could die in peace.”

Qu Yi’s death had been confirmed by Master Dongzhen and Huaiqing, as well as by people from the other three sects. Liu Qingfeng was certain that Qu Yi must have been killed by the Blood-Feeding Mosquitoes.

“Qingfeng, don’t worry. Grandpa won’t stand by idly. All of this started because Huaiqing took Qu Yi into the sect. It’s all Huaiqing’s fault. I won’t let him off. He stole my position as sect leader and took away my grandson’s cultivation skills. I will definitely get revenge,” said Huaijin in a bitterly cold tone.

At this moment, both of them felt deep pain toward the Xianyun Sect.

……

On the other side, there was also quite a stir.

When Bai Man heard that those who went to the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons had returned, she immediately went to greet her father, Huaiqing, and naturally asked if Qu Yi had returned as well.

Dead!

Upon hearing this news, Bai Man collapsed to the ground instantly, and the ‘Five Elements Spirit Evil’ within her also erupted immediately.

Huaiqing returned to the sect and, before even having time to rest, began channeling his vital energy to stabilize the ‘Five Elements Spirit Evil’ inside Bai Man, preventing it from breaking free, otherwise she would die from internal explosion.

Ten days later, Bai Man finally regained consciousness. Ignoring her weak physical condition, she went to confirm with her father, Huaiqing, and finally learned about Qu Yi’s death.

After that, Bai Man went to Tingfeng Residence and cried day and night!

“Senior Sister Bai Man, it’s Qu Yi. Twenty days ago, my master brought me into the sect.”

“Senior sister, I… I’ve sat down now. Could you please let go of my hand?”

“Senior sister, I’m sorry. I didn’t know your situation. Please don’t blame me, okay?”

Bai Man remembered their first meeting with Qu Yi and couldn’t help but shed tears, her voice filled with sorrow.

“Senior sister, please let me go. From now on, I’ll definitely obey you. No matter what you ask, I’ll do it without hesitation.”

“Senior sister, you must be the most beautiful woman in the Xianyun Sect!”

“Senior sister, whenever you want to come to Tingfeng Residence, just come. I’m willing to help you relieve your worries.”

After meeting again, Qu Yi already felt a vague affection for Bai Man. Recalling that time, Bai Man hated herself for teasing Qu Yi and causing him trouble.

For several days, Bai Man neither ate nor drank, reliving every moment she spent with Qu Yi, filled with sadness.

“Junior brother, since you’ve left, why should I continue living in this world?” Suddenly, the gaunt Bai Man stood up.

At this moment, she actually wanted to die!

Stumbling out of Tingfeng Residence, Bai Man summoned the Golden Crown Heron, climbed onto its back with difficulty, and then flew high into the sky.

Inside the Cloud-Chasing Tower, Huaiqing kept sighing deeply!

The Golden Crown Heron carried Bai Man into the air and hovered still as instructed, with Bai Man standing on its back at that moment.
A smile as beautiful as a flower!
Bai Man actually smiled—it was a stunning smile, the most beautiful she had ever worn out of confidence!
“Qu Yi, see how pretty my smile is? But you still don’t come to see me. You promised me that whenever I called you, you would come. Yet you can’t come, so I have no choice but to go to you.”
Tears glistened in Bai Man’s eyes as she murmured softly, then glanced at the magnificent scenery below.
“Younger brother, I’m here!”
At that moment, Bai Man actually jumped off the heron’s back!
“Sigh!” Suddenly, Huai Qing in the Cloud Chasing Tower let out a helpless sigh.
In an instant, Huai Qing disappeared—he had teleported away from the Cloud Chasing Tower.
……
“Ah! Dad!” As Bai Man fell rapidly toward the ground, she suddenly felt herself being caught and immediately opened her eyes.
“Daughter, there’s no need to go to such extremes. Although Qu Yi has left, you don’t have to leave Dad so cruelly either.” There was a hint of bitterness in Huai Qing’s lips.
Bai Man froze, speechless, and could only gaze at her father with tears streaming down.
“Alright, let’s go back!” Without blaming her, Huai Qing teleported them back to the Cloud Chasing Tower.
Meanwhile, a hundred miles outside Cloud Chasing Peak, a Cloud-Piercing Ship was speeding toward it.
Huai Qing, who had been worried about Bai Man just moments ago, suddenly froze—his expression could only be described as shock!
At the early stage of the Yuan Ying cultivation level, one’s spiritual perception could reach a thousand miles. Naturally, Huai Qing was extremely shocked because he had spotted Qu Yi’s figure.
“Dad, what’s wrong? Are you still angry with me? Did you get angry to the point of losing your mind?” Bai Man struggled, trying to speak.
“Qu Yi, he’s back!”
Huai Qing still said it in disbelief.
Bai Man also froze momentarily before suddenly shouting, “Dad, take me to see him! I want to pull off his head!”
Remembering that she had almost died just now, Bai Man immediately forgot her tenderness toward Qu Yi and reverted to her true self.
Huai Qing nodded, picked up Bai Man, and teleported into the air, just in time to block Qu Yi’s Cloud-Piercing Ship.
“Qu Yi!” Bai Man took a closer look—sure enough, it was Qu Yi—and cried out in ecstasy.
“Senior sister, I’m back!” Qu Yi smiled gently, jumped out of the Cloud-Piercing Ship, and came to Bai Man’s side, his eyes filled with joy as well.

“You… why did you come back only now!” Suddenly, Bai Man left Huai Qing’s arms and rushed into Qu Yi’s embrace, complaining in a whining voice.
Qu Yi was initially stunned, then overjoyed, and immediately hugged Bai Man tightly.
“Senior sister, I missed you,” Qu Yi whispered in her ear.
“Mm!” Bai Man’s originally pale face instantly turned red, and her body trembled nonstop as she was deeply moved.
Huai Qing stood aside, rubbing his hands, wanting to say something but unable to speak, before suddenly teleporting away.