Chapter 160: Disappearance

"I've cultivated it out!"

"Hahaha, I've cultivated it out, I've cultivated it out again!"

An extremely excited voice echoed through Bai Lan Peak.

Yue Hongling walked out, her face pale and her appearance weak. With the help of Lunar Power, her cultivation had indeed advanced by leaps and bounds.

However, every time she helped Bai Qiulan alleviate the Chaos Venom, it was a tremendous test of her Dao heart.

Though Chu Ling and Shangguan Huanling each cultivated the *Chanu's Extreme Yin Manual*, they were nowhere near as close as Yue Hongling and Bai Qiulan.

They could only step in for Yue Hongling when she truly couldn’t hold on any longer.

As for Shangguan Huanling’s Dao heart… she didn’t even have one. If not for her possession of the *Primordial HeavenDevouring Scripture*, she would have instantly had her soul frozen and shattered, just like that elder from the Joyous Union Sect.

"What have you cultivated out?" Yue Hongling couldn’t help but ask.

"I’ve cultivated out the Path of Love!"

Shangguan Huanling’s words made Yue Hongling’s brain short-circuit on the spot.

"What?"

Yue Hongling’s voice rose sharply.

"The Path of Love—I’ve re-cultivated the Path of Love! See, I still love Brother Lu Ye, I still love him! I’m going to find him right now and let him know I still love him!"

Shangguan Huanling couldn’t wait any longer and flew straight toward Lu Ye’s residence.

"Brother Lu Ye, Brother Lu Ye, I’ve cultivated the Path of Love again! Come see my Path of Love!"

Yue Hongling watched Shangguan Huanling leave.

She fell silent.

Deeply silent.

So… is this what they mean by "fortune favors fools"?

The simplest-minded Shangguan Huanling was the first to repent and re-cultivate the Path of Love.

Or was it a case of "there’s always a bigger fool"?

When Lu Ye loved you, you lost your Path of Love. Now that he doesn’t love you, you’ve cultivated it back…

At this moment, Yue Hongling didn’t even know how to evaluate the situation.

Hearing Shangguan Huanling’s words, even Lu Ye couldn’t help but be stunned.

No, you—

Never mind. It’s better to leave the Great Dao Sect for now.

Too much chaos.

Lu Ye’s figure vanished, and when he reappeared, he was already at the ruins of the Eternal Sect’s headquarters. With a simple arrangement, vast spiritual energy began to gather.

He was getting closer and closer to the ninth Heavenly Tribulation.

The Concealing Dao Technique and the Heaven-Concealing Technique will be used together after successfully overcoming the tribulation. Whether it succeeds or not remains to be seen.

If it fails, he will flee for his life in desperation.

If it succeeds, the Human Emperor Banner will undoubtedly envelop the entire Second Heaven.

Shangguan Huanling couldn’t find Lu Ye, and her heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that Lu Ye has already ascended?

No way?

She brought this news back, and Bai Qiulan personally arrived, opening the door to Lu Ye’s courtyard.

"He’s indeed no longer here."

"Could he really have ascended? There hasn’t been any news about his ascension!"

"I’ll go ask the Sect Leader!"

Bai Qiulan flew toward the Hall of Inquiry.

At this moment, in the Hall of Inquiry.

Liu Changfeng was playing chess with a silver-haired woman. The woman carried a sword on her back, exuding a heroic and spirited aura. Though visibly older, she had a unique charm.

"Sect Leader, Bai Qiulan requests an audience!"

Liu Changfeng’s hand, holding a chess piece, paused slightly.

The silver-haired woman couldn’t help but reveal a meaningful smile.

"Old Liu, should I step aside?" Qin Yinyue said with a playful grin.

Liu Changfeng shook his head gently and reached out, grasping Qin Yinyue’s sword-wielding hand.

"No need. Perhaps today is a good day to announce the alliance between the Taishang Sword Sect and the Great Dao Sect through marriage."

Qin Yinyue’s cheeks flushed slightly, though her words remained defiant.

"Between us… is it merely an alliance?"

Liu Changfeng couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

"Ah, my mistake. It should be—united hearts!"

"Let Junior Sister Bai in!"

Liu Changfeng rose and took his seat on the Sect Leader’s throne, wearing a warm yet authoritative smile.

As the Great Dao Sect became the foremost sect of the Great Wasteland, Liu Changfeng’s presence grew increasingly imposing, and his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

The entire Great Dao Sect was improving at a frenzied pace.

In recent times, five more had reached the Tribulation Realm, while the Unity Dao Realm and the Void Refinement Realm had seen a surge in numbers.

Bai Qiulan, granted permission, quickly entered.

"Bai Qiulan greets the Sect Leader!"

Bai Qiulan bowed and said.

"Junior Sister Bai, this is Sword Immortal Yin Yue. Do you still remember her?" Liu Zhangfeng said with a smile.

"Of course I remember. Back when I sparred with Sword Immortal Yin Yue, her sharp swordplay left me utterly overwhelmed—the memory is still fresh. Now, seeing Sword Immortal Yin Yue's cultivation has advanced even further, it is truly worthy of celebration!" Bai Qiulan replied with a smile.

"Sword Immortal Yin Yue and I will hold a Dao Companion Ceremony next month. If you're free, Junior Sister Bai, you're welcome to attend," Liu Zhangfeng said cheerfully.

Bai Qiulan was slightly surprised.

In her past life, Liu Zhangfeng had never been with Qin Yinyue.

Yet in this life, they were together—proof that the world was ever-changing, and human hearts were hard to predict.

But Bai Qiulan truly had not the slightest interest in Liu Zhangfeng, even though he had repeatedly made the right choices, leading the sect step by step to prosperity.

It was a kind of overwhelming personal charisma.

But no matter how strong it was, could it compare to Lu Ye?

She hadn't even accepted Lu Ye, let alone Liu Zhangfeng.

"Then congratulations, Sect Leader, and congratulations, Sword Immortal Yin Yue. I will certainly come to share a toast at the celebration."

At this moment, Liu Zhangfeng finally let go completely, his heart at peace.

"Hahaha, good! Thank you for your blessings, Elder Bai. May I ask what brings you here today?"

"Sect Leader, do you know the whereabouts of my disciple, Lu Ye?" Bai Qiulan inquired.

"Lu Ye? I do not."

"Has Lu Ye ascended yet?"

Liu Zhangfeng pondered for a moment.

"He likely hasn't. If he had ascended, he would have informed the sect."

Bai Qiulan sighed in relief. "That's good."

"Qiulan takes her leave!"

She turned to leave, but Liu Zhangfeng spoke again.

"Junior Sister Bai!"

Bai Qiulan paused.

"Sometimes, rules aren't that important. Your own happiness is what truly matters."

Bai Qiulan fell silent.

She remained silent for a full dozen seconds before finally taking another step and quickly departing.

It was already too late...

That day, Lu Ye's disappearance stirred waves in the hearts of the four women.

Lu Ye had indeed vanished in the end.

Perhaps the reason Lu Ye hadn't left the Great Dao Sect immediately upon his rebirth was that he still held a faint glimmer of hope for them.

But now, it was clear—Lu Ye had completely lost hope and chosen to leave.

When was the last time she saw Lu Ye?

It seemed to be when he returned the Lunar Marrow Worm to her.

Bai Qiulan clenched her fists.

"Lu Ye has likely already begun preparing for ascension. Hong Ling, Ling Er, Huanling—if you three wish to continue following in Lu Ye's footsteps, you must train even harder from now on!"

"It may be even more painful."

"But to find Lu Ye, can you endure it?"

"We can!"

Yue Hongling's voice was the firmest.

"I want to find Young Master!"

Chu Ling was equally resolute.

"It really hurts..."

Shangguan Huanling truly found it hard to bear.

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