Chapter 6: Soul-Wither and Bone-Shred, Merely a Reset

"Luo Mingyue!" Sheng Yuan looked at her with a mix of shock and anger. "What do you think you're doing? Who gave you permission to interfere in the affairs of Lingxu Peak?"

The affairs of Lingxu Peak?

Luo Mingyue raised an eyebrow. "It’s clear that you were bullying my junior sister!"

Sheng Yuan was so angry he laughed. "Who is your junior sister?"

"Naturally, it is..." Luo Mingyue turned her head back, and then she saw Li Shuang’s face, as fair as snow and frost.

Luo Mingyue couldn't help but freeze for a moment. She gasped subconsciously, "Li Shuang?"

The moment she sensed someone, she had rushed over, but only now did she truly see who it was!

This peerless genius who had entered the Supreme Heartless Path was actually the former peerless genius of Lingxu Peak, Li Shuang!

Li Shuang’s reputation had once been incredibly illustrious.

When she first entered the sect, her supreme-grade Ice Spirit Root was discovered, immediately sparking a frantic scramble among the peak masters. Even the Sect Leader had been eager to take her as a disciple.

Back then.

Master Lingxu had said, "Come to Lingxu Peak, and you shall be my head disciple. I trust that you can protect Lingxu Peak well."

Moved by Master Lingxu’s trust, Li Shuang had chosen Lingxu Peak without hesitation.

When she first joined the sect, her progress was astonishing. Before long, she became the number one of the younger generation, her prominence unrivaled.

Master Lingxu had always been proud of this disciple, often speaking of her to others.

However.

Ten years ago.

Ye Zhaozhao entered the sect.

Rumors began to circulate from Lingxu Peak, claiming that Ye Zhaozhao was the true favored daughter of heaven, and that her cultivation speed was even faster than Li Shuang’s had been.

It was also said that because Li Shuang was jealous of Ye Zhaozhao, she had lost the magnanimity expected of a head senior sister, which was deeply disappointing.

Amidst these rumors, Li Shuang had faded into silence day by day.

Once upon a time.

Li Shuang and Luo Mingyue were known as the "Twin Beauties." Luo Mingyue’s strength had been slightly inferior to Li Shuang’s, and she had always regarded Li Shuang as a target to chase.

But ten years had passed, and Li Shuang’s cultivation had suddenly come to a complete standstill, even beginning to show signs of regression.

Nowadays.

Luo Mingyue had already begun to break through to the Spirit Severing stage.

Yet Li Shuang had remained stuck at the Nascent Soul stage.

Luo Mingyue never imagined that the person her master wanted her to find would be Li Shuang!

A look of shock washed over Luo Mingyue’s face. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Li Shuang, your cultivation..."

"What about her cultivation?" Sheng Yuan said impatiently. "Senior Sister Luo, I ask that you step aside immediately!"

Luo Mingyue ignored him. She stared at the wound on Li Shuang’s chest, her pupils constricting. "You just dispersed your cultivation—you are at the critical moment of starting over! Who, who hurt you!"

Sheng Yuan froze.

Dispersed her cultivation?

What did that mean?

His heart skipped a beat, and a sudden, ominous premonition washed over him.

Sheng Yuan couldn't help but ask, "What are you talking about? What do you mean by dispersing her cultivation?"

Luo Mingyue said coldly, "Li Shuang has switched to the Supreme Heartless Path; her previous cultivation has been completely dispersed! As of now, she only has the cultivation of the Qi Refining stage! This wound was clearly left by a disciple of the Sword Sect. Who would dare to attack a fellow sect member!"

Luo Mingyue’s expression was fierce, looking as if she wanted to kill.

Sheng Yuan’s heart trembled slightly.

Switched to the Supreme Heartless Path?

Her previous cultivation was completely gone?

Impossible.

That’s impossible!

Only then did Sheng Yuan remember to use his divine sense to probe Li Shuang’s strength, and he stumbled back.

"Head Senior Sister, where is your Nascent Soul! Where is your cultivation?!" Sheng Yuan shouted in a panic.

Luo Mingyue looked at Sheng Yuan suspiciously. "Could it be that you were the one who hurt Li Shuang?"

Sheng Yuan stared fixedly at Li Shuang. "Head Senior Sister, what is going on here!"

Li Shuang’s expression was calm. "Soul-shaving and bone-melting; it is merely starting over."

Merely starting over...

Sheng Yuan’s lips trembled.

Why would it come to this!

On the snowy mountain, hadn't the Head Senior Sister escaped long ago?

Then what were these words now?

Soul-shaving and bone-melting?

Who shaved her soul! Who melted her bones!

Sheng Yuan gripped the Chenshui Sword in his hand tightly.

He had been raised by Li Shuang; he knew better than anyone how much painstaking effort she had spent to achieve that level of cultivation.

When he woke up, the Head Senior Sister had already started practicing her sword.

When he rested, the Head Senior Sister still hadn't rested.

Even in those ten years where her cultivation didn't advance, she hadn't been lazy for a single moment.

It was through so many days and nights of cultivation that the Head Senior Sister had attained her current level.

This cultivation.

She just threw it away, just like that?

Boundless panic began to drown Sheng Yuan bit by bit.

Ye Zhaozhao was also somewhat surprised by Li Shuang’s current situation, but soon, a faint, imperceptible smile curled the corners of her lips.

Before, Li Shuang at least still had the cultivation of the Nascent Soul stage.

Now.

She had gone and switched to some Heartless Path, and her cultivation had dropped to the Qi Refining stage.

In this situation, wouldn't it be even easier for her to suppress Li Shuang?

Ye Zhaozhao spoke up, "Head Senior Sister... how, how could you be so impulsive! None of us wanted to blame you for what happened that day. Master hasn't even issued a punishment yet, so why did you get angry and do this?"

Ye Zhaozhao’s voice pulled Sheng Yuan’s reason back.

Sheng Yuan’s eyes turned red as he stared fixedly at Li Shuang. "Head Senior Sister, if you did something wrong, you must admit it! You must obediently accept the punishment! Instead of acting so willfully like this! Today, you must come with me to see Master."

The Head Senior Sister had only just dispersed her cultivation; perhaps there was still room to salvage it.

As he spoke, he reached out to grab Li Shuang’s hand.

Luo Mingyue slapped his hand away and snorted coldly. "Li Shuang was simply too good to you ingrates. Otherwise, how could someone raised by her dare to speak to her like this!"

Sheng Yuan seemed not to hear Luo Mingyue; he only looked at Li Shuang with obsession. "Head Senior Sister! Come back to Lingxu Peak with me!"

Sheng Yuan’s voice was stubborn.

Ye Zhaozhao’s gaze flickered, feeling slightly displeased. She had spent so much time laying out her plans, and it seemed that these people from Lingxu Peak still held some affection for Li Shuang.

However.

It wasn't a big problem.

She had plenty of time to plot slowly.

"Li Shuang, are you going back with them?" Luo Mingyue turned to ask Li Shuang.

The junior sister her master valued so highly turned out to be Li Shuang of Lingxu Peak; this made things a bit troublesome, and Luo Mingyue was momentarily unsure of what to do.

Li Shuang shook her head and said calmly, "Master no longer recognizes me as his disciple. Lingxu Peak is no longer my home. I have returned to the sect this time only to seek an audience with the Sect Leader."

"He doesn't recognize you as his disciple?" Luo Mingyue exclaimed, a hint of joy even creeping into her voice.

Li Shuang looked at her with some confusion.

Luo Mingyue coughed lightly. "Nothing, nothing! I said, I will accompany you to see the Sect Leader!"

Luo Mingyue shielded Li Shuang behind her, glaring fiercely at Sheng Yuan and Ye Zhaozhao. "Li Shuang doesn't want to go back, so don't you dare force her!"

Sheng Yuan’s expression sank immediately.

"Let's go." Luo Mingyue pulled Li Shuang and left directly.

Watching their retreating figures, Ye Zhaozhao’s eyes flickered. "Second Senior Brother, we should tell Master about the Head Senior Sister’s return as soon as possible."

Sheng Yuan came to his senses and nodded repeatedly. "Right! If Master speaks, I don't believe she would dare not return!"

Sheng Yuan even forgot his original purpose for coming to the Scripture Library and hurried back.

A snake-like glint flashed in the depths of Ye Zhaozhao’s eyes. Everyone knew that Master Lingxu was the person Li Shuang respected and cared about the most.

Ye Zhaozhao knew this better than anyone.

Every time.

The hurt coming from Master Lingxu was always what caused Li Shuang to erupt with the most negative emotions.

Since Sheng Yuan was so useless, then let Master Lingxu handle it.

(End of chapter)