Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Li Rao Cleanses the Spirit Root

...

Something major had happened in the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

The Sect Master was replaced, a Nascent Soul True Monarch was exposed for incest, and Ye Chuxue was expelled and hunted for harming a fellow disciple...

This string of news spread far and wide, causing a massive uproar.

Those who had previously spoken in defense of Ye Chuxue and the others finally realized how foolish they had been. They turned their ire on Gu Qingyuan and Ye Chuxue, venting their anger.

Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan, who had barely managed to escape the Demon Clan’s territory, never expected to be targeted by Spirit Cultivators the moment they reached the Human Clan Territory. People were clamoring to capture Ye Chuxue and claim the reward from the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

Startled, the two fled once again, ultimately forced to hide deep in the mountains, too afraid to come out.

"What in the world is going on? Didn’t the Sect Master say everything was fine?"

Ye Chuxue’s face was grim, the scratches on it looking particularly glaring.

’I’ve had enough of this life on the run!’

Gu Qingyuan didn’t understand either. He immediately sent a Communication Talisman to the Sect Master, only to receive a single sentence in reply: "Gu Qingyuan, you’ve ruined me!"

His brows furrowed instantly. He couldn’t comprehend what He Xiao meant by that. It wasn’t until Ye Chuxue sent a Communication Talisman to a disciple she was close with in the Sect that they finally understood what had happened.

Upon learning he had been expelled from the Sect, Gu Qingyuan’s face turned ashen.

He had entered the Heavenly Inquiry Sect at the age of five. For over a hundred years, it had been his home, his support, and the source of his confidence.

His earlier talk of defecting from the Sect had just been a desperate outburst, not to be taken seriously.

Besides, this was different. He was being expelled, not defecting on his own terms.

How could the ever-proud and arrogant Gu Qingyuan endure such a thing?

His mental state was already unstable, and in an instant, a flash of red crossed his eyes as a demonic malevolence surged from the depths of his heart.

His expression twisted as he clenched his fists tightly.

"No one can expel me! They don’t have the right!"

With that, he started to rush toward the Human Clan Territory, apparently intending to return to the Sect and demand an explanation.

Ye Chuxue quickly grabbed him. "Master, don’t you get it yet? The Sect has already abandoned you!"

"The Heavenly Inquiry Sect is Song Wanning’s domain now. If you go back, you’ll only be humiliating yourself!"

"Impossible!!!"

Gu Qingyuan’s expression was crazed, his eyes flickering with an eerie red light.

"The Sect would never do this to me, and Song Wanning would never do this! I’m her senior brother! Her *only* senior brother!!!"

"Song Wanning must be using this as a tactic to force me to reconcile with her! She could never abandon me!"

He roared in self-deception, though deep down, he knew perfectly well that Song Wanning no longer had any feelings for him.

But he couldn’t accept that his lifelong reputation had collapsed just like that.

He couldn’t accept it!

"Master, snap out of it!"

"From the very beginning, it’s been Song Wanning who wants you dead! Haven’t you figured that out yet?"

Ye Chuxue’s expression was vicious. She gripped Gu Qingyuan’s arm with so much force that she broke the skin.

"There’s no place for you in the Heavenly Inquiry Sect anymore. There isn’t even a place for us in the entire Human Clan!"

"Do you understand?"

The consequence of their master-disciple incest was that they would have to live in anonymity; otherwise, they would be despised wherever they went.

They had originally planned to keep it hidden, but their secret had been exposed and was now known to the whole world.

Their current situation was extremely dire.

After being yelled at, Gu Qingyuan gradually calmed down.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed the malevolence in his heart.

Ever since his mental state had become unstable, he found it increasingly difficult to remain calm.

When he opened his eyes again, Gu Qingyuan’s expression was ice-cold, devoid of any human warmth.

"The world is vast. This True Monarch can live just fine without the Heavenly Inquiry Sect!"

However, just as he finished his bold declaration, they sensed someone approaching.

Gu Qingyuan gritted his teeth and wretchedly began his life as a fugitive with Ye Chuxue in tow.

...

On Yunxiao Peak, Song Wanning saw her young disciple for the first time in a long while.

Li Rao had grown much taller, and her Cultivation had also improved, but limited by her Spirit Root, her progress was very slow.

She first checked Li Rao’s academic progress and smiled after receiving a satisfactory answer.

"Little one, there is now an opportunity to change your life. Do you want to try it?"

Song Wanning led her to the training chamber and took out a stalk of Spirit Washing Grass.

"This is Spirit Washing Grass. I’m sure you’ve heard of it."

"Spirit Washing Grass? That’s a legendary treasured Spiritual Medicine!"

Li Rao’s eyes lit up. Of course she had heard of the famous Spirit Washing Grass.

"The choice is in your hands now. Whether you want to take this gamble is for you to decide."

With a rare look of seriousness, Song Wanning explained all the potential risks once more.

Spirit washing meant cleansing one’s existing Spirit Root to reforge it. If it reforged into a better Spirit Root, that would be wonderful, but if not...

After finishing her explanation, she sat to the side, quietly waiting for an answer.

Li Rao didn’t agree impulsively. Instead, she thought it over carefully before walking up to Song Wanning.

"Master, your disciple wants to try..."

"Please don’t laugh, Master, but you are so exceptional, while I... I often feel that I’m not worthy of being your disciple..."

Her Spirit Root was impure, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t match the casual Cultivation of a genius.

And her master, Song Wanning, was a renowned genius Cultivator. All of her disciples were supposed to be individuals of outstanding talent.

Except for her.

To be honest, even now, Li Rao didn’t understand why her master had chosen her.

Seeing the young girl’s cautious and timid appearance made Song Wanning’s heart ache a little.

’The status of a True Disciple is both a privilege and a shackle.’

’I’ll have to guide her more in the future.’

’But... my time is too limited...’

Song Wanning frowned. After some thought, she decided to take Li Rao back to the Song Family and have her father find someone to help guide her.

As for the Heavenly Inquiry Sect, she wouldn’t be returning often in the future.

From the moment the Heavenly Inquiry Sect abandoned her in her past life, it was destined that she would have no further ties to it.

And this latest scandal was bound to nail the Heavenly Inquiry Sect to the pillar of shame, affecting not only their current disciple recruitment but also the Sect’s future.

"On the path of cultivation, an excellent Spirit Root certainly provides a better foundation. But throughout history, there has been no shortage of seniors with Five Spirit Roots who have ascended. So you don’t need to belittle yourself because of your Spirit Root."

"I took you as my disciple due to karma, regardless of your talent or future prospects."

The word "karma" carried immense weight. Although Li Rao didn’t fully understand it, she understood her master’s meaning.

No matter what, her master would not abandon her.

A bright light ignited in Li Rao’s wide eyes. "Master, I want to try!"

"Even if I fail, your disciple is not afraid!"

’Because even if I fail, Master won’t look down on me.’

’I won’t have to go back to that life of wandering and displacement.’

"Good!"

Hearing this, Song Wanning smiled knowingly and reached out to pat Li Rao’s head.

"The process will be very painful. You must endure it."

"Yes, your disciple is not afraid!"

Li Rao nodded firmly and, without any hesitation, consumed the Spirit Washing Grass.

Instantly, immense Spiritual Power engulfed her, detonating inside her body with a BOOM.

"AHHH—"