Chapter 210: Master and Disciple Stabbing Each Other (Fourth Watch)

The Second Heaven.

It's already a mess now.

Shangguan Huanling has made a fortune.

It's not like no one has tried to capture her outright to forcibly obtain the Celestial Silkworm Nine Transformations.

But Shangguan Huanling immediately fled using the Heavenly Demon Bloodmorph Dash, a skill that grants her incredible speed.

Those who attempt to catch her are noted in her little book, and from then on, she will never teach them the Celestial Silkworm Nine Transformations again. As soon as her would-be captors appear, she leaves immediately.

Under such circumstances, one could say that person has been abandoned by the times.

Everyone else masters secret techniques, gaining explosive power upon activation—except you. Doesn’t that mean you’ve been left behind by the era?

In this way, her strength has skyrocketed.

She has already reached the ninth level of the Heavenly God Realm.

Most unbelievably, her Great Dao is also growing, and her love for Lu Ye deepens…

Perhaps in just half a month, Shangguan Huanling may undergo her tribulation.

Absurd!

Utterly absurd!

Chu Ling has also reaped considerable benefits, incidentally challenging all sword-wielding sects in the Second Heaven.

Inside a courtyard.

Yue Hongling had just returned from a battle, her expression somber.

The Fearless Great Dao…

Sigh…

She truly felt a sense of despair. The Fearless Great Dao was gradually slipping away from her—or rather, beginning to crumble.

No matter how fiercely she fought, she couldn’t stop the collapse of this Great Dao.

Because Lu Ye had gone to the Third Heaven.

This was the first time, the most obvious instance, where Lu Ye and she existed in separate worlds.

When Lu Ye stood behind her, she was fearless.

When Lu Ye was no longer behind her, she…

"Hong Ling!"

Bai Qiulan called out to Yue Hongling.

Yue Hongling glanced at her with vacant eyes. "Is it time to absorb the Yin Poison again? Go ahead."

"No, I want to have a proper talk with you," Bai Qiulan said.

Yue Hongling sat on a stool, took the wine flask from her waist, and gulped down the strong mortal liquor. Yet, the turmoil in her heart could not be drowned by the burning drink.

"Drinking to drown sorrow only deepens the sorrow."

"Your Path of Fearlessness is in trouble," Bai Qiulan said.

"Isn't it all your fault?" Yue Hongling snapped impatiently.

Though often met with Yue Hongling's cold words, Bai Qiulan's eyes still dimmed slightly.

"While I bear some responsibility for this, the biggest issue lies with your senior brother," Bai Qiulan said.

A mocking smile curled at Yue Hongling's lips.

"Oh, so my senior brother is wrong again? He's already ascended to the Third Heaven, living in a different world from us, and yet he's still at fault?"

Every word dripped with hostility.

Couldn't stand it? Yue Hongling wished Bai Qiulan couldn't—so she'd leave her alone.

"What I mean is, the collapse of your Path of Fearlessness isn't due to the pain my Chaos Venom causes you, but because Lu Ye isn't standing behind you anymore. You've lost your pillar—that's the real reason your Path is crumbling."

"Trying to absolve yourself again? Do you even know the agony your Chaos Venom brings? It can kill a person from sheer pain! Even I, a former Emperor in my past life, couldn't endure it. How did my senior brother bear it back then? Don’t you know?"

"He endured so much suffering for you, yet you still joined us in poisoning him. The hardest iron in the world isn’t as unfeeling as your heart!"

Yue Hongling struck with the words that hurt Bai Qiulan the most.

Bai Qiulan's face turned deathly pale.

She knew about Lu Ye enduring pain for her.

Bai Qiulan's emotions spiraled too. "And are you any better?"

"Of course I am! At least I never caused him such suffering!"

"But you loved Feng Wuxie. Though you never inflicted physical pain, you tormented Lu Ye emotionally!"

Instantly, Yue Hongling bristled.

Feng Wuxie was now a forbidden wound in her heart—a memory of regret and pain she never wanted to revisit.

How could she have known Feng Wuxie was such a person... such a monster?

"You're a hypocrite! You knew how much he suffered helping you, yet you used the rule of 'master and disciple boundaries' to guilt him. You can’t survive without clinging to others—you're a parasite, forever bringing pain to those you latch onto!"

Bai Qiulan raised her hand sharply, Lunar Power swirling in her palm.

"Go ahead, kill me! Kill me, and who will absorb your venom for you? Chu Ling? She’s long avoided you. Shangguan Huanling avoids you too. Everyone sees you as a viper, fleeing at the sight of you. Kill me, and you’ll die in endless agony too! Mutual destruction suits me fine—I don’t want to live anyway!"

Yue Hongling tilted her face up, daring Bai Qiulan to strike.

Bai Qiulan's expression flickered, her chest heaving violently.

Finally, she sighed.

"Hong Ling, I didn’t come here to fight."

"Hmph!"

Yue Hongling took another swig of strong liquor.

"I believe your Path of Fearlessness didn't shatter because you feared pain, but because you've grown increasingly distant from Lu Ye. That's why it collapsed."

"Since you already regret it, why not exert every ounce of effort to catch up with Lu Ye's footsteps? Stand shoulder to shoulder with him in battle, treat his enemies as your own, and exhaust every possible means to aid him. Let him feel the true resolve of your repentance," Bai Qiulan said.

"Easier said than done! What cultivation speed does senior brother have? How could I possibly catch up to him?"

"That's exactly why you must strive even harder! Rather than watching your Path of Fearlessness crumble bit by bit beyond repair, why not burn your bridges and make catching up to Lu Ye and winning back his heart your ultimate goal?"

"You could give everything to achieve this—that is your true Path of Fearlessness!"

It must be said, Bai Qiulan possessed some genuine insight.

These words struck deep into Yue Hongling's heart.

Yes, to reclaim senior brother's heart...

She would gladly die!

If she wasn't afraid of death, what else could possibly frighten her?

"Speak. What is your purpose?" Yue Hongling stared at Bai Qiulan.

Bai Qiulan sighed.

"Do you really think of me this way—"

Yue Hongling didn't even blink.

Bai Qiulan...

"Fine. The Lunar Marrow Worm is about to undergo metamorphosis, and it will inevitably trigger a violent surge of chaotic Lunar Power. I need your help!"

Yue Hongling couldn't even be bothered to muster a mocking expression.

Still afraid she couldn't withstand this wave and would freeze to death, huh?

Yet, admittedly, there was some truth to her words.

Senior brother, I will catch up to you!

I swear it!

...

Third Heavenly Layer.

Lu Ye suppressed the urge to sneeze—someone must be thinking about him.

But whoever was thinking of him wasn't even worth a single sneeze from him.

He'd hold it in no matter what!

That was how heartless he was.

Hm?

Nine Unity Realm auras?

Excellent. Just after he wiped out the Jiang family's experts, scavengers come to claim his spoils, is that it?