After Forgetting Two Exes - Chapter 24

“You want to withdraw from the Fenglan Sect?”

Ji Xun Yue was shocked once again.

Yu Zai Ye looked at her and nodded.

Ji Xun Yue hesitated. “Have you found a new sect?”

Who would actually dare to take in a disciple who had publicly abandoned the Fenglan Sect?

Yu Zai Ye shook his head, his tone growing slightly weaker. “No.”

Ji Xun Yue was puzzled. “Since you want to change sects, why didn’t you duel me? If you had won, perhaps someone would have wanted to take you as a disciple.”

Yu Zai Ye stared at her, saying firmly, “My only purpose is to leave the Fenglan Sect. The result of the competition no longer has any meaning to me.”

Did he intend to use the competition to force the Fenglan Sect to release him in front of a massive audience?

However, once a person left their sect, it would be extremely difficult to find someone else to teach them. Even with top-tier talent, cultivation would become exceptionally arduous.

At this moment, the clamor in the stands intensified. Immortal Rong Chen, the Sect Leader of Fenglan, could no longer sit still. He rose and flew down, landing between the two.

Descending with Rong Chen was Yu Zai Ye’s master, Immortal Feng Yan.

Feng Yan wore a black robe and a dark crown. Though his features were plain, his brow radiated an overbearing arrogance.

He shouted sternly, “Yu Zai Ye, do you have any idea what you are doing? No matter how dissatisfied you are with the sect, I have nurtured you for three hundred years. Is this how you repay us?”

Rong Chen had delicate features that held a trace of sinister coldness. He wore a robe with wide sleeves, his hands hidden within them as he looked coldly at this disciple who was bringing shame to his sect.

Yu Zai Ye’s eyes burned like torches. He said in a deep voice, “Master, only by doing this do I have a chance to leave. I beg Master and the Sect Leader to allow me to depart from the Fenglan Sect.”

With that, he knelt and bowed, striking his head against the ground three times.

Stared at by thousands of eyes, Feng Yan was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He looked at Rong Chen. “Sect Leader…”

Rong Chen sneered and beckoned to the bewildered master of ceremonies. “Hurry up and announce the results. End this match.”

He then looked coldly at Yu Zai Ye. “Don’t think this can threaten me. I will deal with you once we return.”

Yu Zai Ye’s head lowered slightly, as if he had already anticipated this outcome, yet his back remained as straight as a spear.

The master of ceremonies cleared his throat and began to deliver the congratulatory words for the champion of the Second Realm.

“The winner of this Second Realm competition is—”

Ji Xun Yue wasn’t listening. Instead, she looked at Yu Zai Ye. Thinking that he would likely have no future after returning to his sect, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

“Wait! I want to report Ye Jin Yue for cheating!”

At that moment, a female voice from the fourth row of the stands interrupted the master of ceremonies, causing the hushed crowd to erupt in excitement once again.

The woman who spoke stood up. She was pretty but had a deep frown, her hands clutching the hem of her clothes tightly as she tried to hide the panic of becoming the center of attention.

Unsurprisingly, it was her old acquaintance, Shen Zhi Yao.

“Cheating?” Rong Chen narrowed his eyes, sizing up Ji Xun Yue.

He had noticed this disciple named Ye Jin Yue during the match. Her moves were cautious; even when she showed a flaw, it was a deliberate trap to lure the enemy.

At first glance, she indeed had the level of the Second Realm, and her natural constitution was quite good. Her sect, the Yunxing Sect, was rarely heard of; the Six Great Immortal Sects had actually missed such a promising talent.

Ji Xun Yue looked up at Shen Zhi Yao, the corners of her mouth curling.

The interruption was quite timely.

She gave Shen Zhi Yao a provocative smile. “Do you have evidence?”

Shen Zhi Yao lacked confidence but forced herself to speak. “You have only been cultivating for a month. How could you possibly have the strength of the Second Realm? You must have used some kind of pill to boost your power!”

“One month?!”

The crowd boiled over again. It was the first time anyone had heard of such a rapid pace of cultivation.

Yu Zai Ye, who originally had no interest in the chaos, remained kneeling but now looked up at Ji Xun Yue in great shock.

Ji Xun Yue said slowly, “In other words, you have no evidence? Just because you have never seen someone reach the Second Realm in a month, you conclude that I cheated?”

Shen Zhi Yao raised her voice. “No, it’s not even a month! Ten days ago, you clearly didn’t have a single drop of spiritual power! This is absolutely cheating!”

Ji Xun Yue chuckled. “So what? Like I said, where is your evidence?”

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, the master of ceremonies panicked and whispered to Rong Chen, “Sect Leader Rong, what should we do now? Should we inform the Elders?”

Rong Chen pondered for a moment and then looked at Shen Zhi Yao. “Since you are the one making the accusation, come here.”

Shen Zhi Yao glanced at Fang Qing Chen, but the latter ignored her questioning gaze, leaving her to handle it herself.

She had long expected this outcome, so she wasn’t particularly disappointed, though she sneered inwardly.

When she told Fang Qing Chen that she discovered Ye Jin Yue was also participating, Fang Qing Chen’s expression, besides shock, held a faint hint of regret.

She had practiced hard for this past month and had touched upon the basics, yet someone always seemed to stand above her.

During the final match, Fang Qing Chen told her to stand up and accuse Ye Jin Yue. She couldn’t guess what result he wanted, but she was a discarded pawn; she didn’t need to consider such things.

Shen Zhi Yao left her seat in silence and walked before Rong Chen to bow.

“Greetings, Sect Leader Rong. I am Shen Zhi Yao of the Yanming Sect.”

Rong Chen nodded slightly. “Fine. We will go meet the Elders now to settle this matter clearly.”

At that moment, a figure in white drifted down gracefully, landing steadily beside Ji Xun Yue.

Ji Xun Yue looked at Xuan Huai. Despite the huge mess she had caused, he remained perfectly calm, which gave her a sense of peace.

The corners of Xuan Huai’s lips lifted slightly, his gaze earnest and focused. “Don’t worry. I will not let you be wronged for no reason.”

These words felt good to hear; the feeling of having someone back her up was truly quite nice.

Suddenly, the field fell silent again.

Looking up, the Celestial Lady Lan Xi appeared gracefully.

Rong Chen reacted quickly, bowing first. “Celestial Lady Lan Xi.”

Status-wise, those chosen to serve the God Tribe were naturally not inferior to Rong Chen.

Lan Xi’s tone was cold. “The Imperial Princess heard that there was a disturbance in the competition and has requested everyone to go to the Lingxiao Palace to explain the situation.”

“The Imperial Princess is in the Immortal Realm?” Rong Chen showed shock and doubt, but seeing Lan Xi’s cold, silent gaze, he knew better than to ask. He replied, “I understand. I will take them there immediately.”

Lan Xi looked at Yu Zai Ye. “Get up. Stop kneeling.”

Yu Zai Ye lowered his head and stood up silently.

Lan Xi looked up again, her voice carrying across the stands to everyone via her internal energy. “The competition has concluded. Everyone, please depart.”

Ji Xun Yue couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. When this girl Lan Xi acted serious, she looked quite a bit like Yu Qian Chan.

As for Shen Zhi Yao, upon hearing that the Imperial Princess would preside over justice, she kept her lips pressed tight and her eyes downcast. No emotion showed on her delicate face, but her heart was in a state of total panic.

Yu Qian Chan already had a bad impression of her. She had made this accusation in front of so many people; if it was found to be groundless, she would likely be punished. If she were branded with the crime of slandering a fellow cultivator, her life would be even harder.

Ji Xun Yue took in every bit of Shen Zhi Yao’s fearful appearance; she was truly both hateful and pitiable.

Ji Xun Yue then looked at Fang Qing Chen standing on the stage. He looked down expressionless, as if none of this had anything to do with him.

No matter how bad he was, he had accepted Shen Zhi Yao’s tea during the apprenticeship ceremony. Yet he didn’t want to take an ounce of responsibility. If his disciple was punished, could he really escape unscathed?

Just then, Lan Xi said to Fang Qing Chen, “Immortal Qing Chen, allowing only a disciple to face the Imperial Princess would be a breach of etiquette.”

Seeing this, Fang Qing Chen had no choice but to come down. He bowed politely to Lan Xi and then shot a cold glance at Ji Xun Yue.

Ji Xun Yue originally wanted to mock him, but on second thought, making him lose face might only make him look for ways to retaliate later.

So she ignored him and looked elsewhere, her gaze landing on Yu Zai Ye.

He had rugged features, sharp brows, and bright eyes. His expression was resolute; he was one of the few who truly focused on cultivation.

It was a pity that such a good prospect’s path to immortality had been cut short after three hundred years.

Inside the Lingxiao Palace, the curtain that usually shielded the throne had been removed. Yu Qian Chan sat in the center of the main hall, with two Elders seated on either side below her.

The seven people followed Lan Xi into the hall and bowed to each person in turn.

As her gaze met Yu Qian Chan’s, a slight smile appeared on Ji Xun Yue’s lips. She then looked at the four Elders.

Though it wasn’t her first time seeing the true faces of the four Elders, she took this opportunity to observe them closely.

Those who achieve longevity can remain eternally youthful. Although the four Elders were over ten thousand years old, they still looked young.

Mu Yin had delicate features, which contrasted sharply with her vigorous and resolute way of handling affairs.

Weng Ying came from the Red Shadow Sect. Though a man, his features were strikingly beautiful. His hair was as black as ink, and his lips were as red as blood, but his eyes were full of calculation.

Bai Jin came from the Nine Pillars Sect. He was thin with sunken cheeks, looking frail as if a gust of wind could blow him away. He lacked the aura of a ruler but was actually very decisive in his actions.

Yan Gui Hong came from the Yanming Sect. His appearance was elegant and refined, and he held a string of prayer beads in his hand, looking entirely unperturbed. Fang Qing Chen was the last disciple he took before becoming an Elder; master and disciple were cut from the same cloth.

In the past, when battles between gods and demons were frequent, the Immortal Realm—serving as the God Realm’s military force—would suffer heavy losses every time. Currently, there were fewer than a hundred people with over ten thousand years of cultivation in the Immortal Realm. These four Elders were among them, which was why they had taken over the positions of Elders after the last Great War.

Once the group finished their salutations, Yu Qian Chan got straight to the point and asked, “I have heard of the matter regarding the competition. Shen Zhi Yao, you claim that Ye Jin Yue cheated. Do you have evidence?”

Shen Zhi Yao looked up into Yu Qian Chan’s calm face and couldn’t help but grow nervous.

Although she later learned the Imperial Princess had only been a substitute teacher that one time, she still felt lingering fear whenever she thought of the command to “get lost.”

“Reporting to the Imperial Princess, I… I have no evidence.” After thinking it over, she decided to tell the truth. “However, both Ye Jin Yue and I arrived in the Immortal Realm as cultivators only a month ago. To reach the Second Realm in a single month is truly too incredible. I beg the Imperial Princess to investigate thoroughly!”

Weng Ying didn’t even lift his eyelids, saying coldly, “Oh? The Immortal Realm has produced such a cultivation prodigy?”

Yu Qian Chan asked, “Ye Jin Yue, what is your explanation?”

Ji Xun Yue remained unhurried. “Reporting to the Imperial Princess, for the first twenty days after arriving, I couldn’t find the knack for it and was unable to break through. Ten days ago, I went to the Mortal Realm for training and gained many secrets of mental cultivation from the experience.”

Shen Zhi Yao’s face shifted. She had clearly only been to the Mortal Realm for a single day before returning; how could she have made a breakthrough?

Xuan Huai spoke up at the right moment. “Imperial Princess, I know my disciple well. She indeed only achieved enlightenment a few days ago. If she had tried to win a rank through cheating, I certainly would have known.”

While these words were in her defense, Ji Xun Yue was more curious—had he truly never suspected her?

Yu Qian Chan nodded and ordered, “Lan Xi, use the Immortal Stone to test her strength.”

Lan Xi bowed in acceptance. She summoned a piece of Glazed Immortal Stone and cast a spell to make it float in front of Ji Xun Yue.

The stone emitted a burst of brilliant light for a moment before falling back into Lan Xi’s hand.

Lan Xi said respectfully, “Reporting to the Imperial Princess, she is indeed in the Second Realm. There is no fraud.”

“What?!” Shen Zhi Yao cried out in shock, her voice echoing in the silent hall.

Realizing her breach of etiquette, she hurriedly knelt. “Imperial Princess, forgive me!”

Only then did the four Elders observe Ji Xun Yue closely, though their eyes still held traces of doubt.

To even pass the detection of the Glazed Immortal Stone—did this person truly break through to the Second Realm in ten days?

They had seen gifted cultivators before, but reaching the Second Realm invariably took several years. Ten days was truly unheard of and unseen.

Yu Qian Chan said, “Shen Zhi Yao, I have punished you before. You still love to provoke trouble, and now you have deliberately disrupted the order of the competition.”

Shen Zhi Yao’s eyes turned red. She said in a panic, “This disciple knows her mistake! I will never dare to do it again!”

“Speaking of which, if a disciple is incompetent, it is because the master’s teaching is poor.” Yu Qian Chan’s tone was cold. “Fang Qing Chen, do you plead guilty?”

Fang Qing Chen glanced at Shen Zhi Yao, knowing he couldn’t escape his connection to this. Facing the Imperial Princess, he could only force a smile. “It is my poor teaching. I ask the Imperial Princess to hand down the punishment.”

Seeing this, Yan Gui Hong stepped in to mediate. “Imperial Princess, one cannot blame Shen Zhi Yao for this. The matter of breaking through to the Second Realm in ten days is something no one would believe upon hearing it.”

Since she was a disciple of the Yanming Sect after all, he felt he had to offer a few supportive words.

Yu Qian Chan shot him a side glance. Her smile was shallow, but it made one shiver. “So that gives her the right to slander someone’s innocence in public? The Yanming Sect truly is protective of its own, to the point of being unable to distinguish right from wrong.”

Yan Gui Hong said in shock, “Imperial Princess!”

“From this day forward, the Yanming Sect is forbidden from harvesting spiritual herbs for ten years,” Yu Qian Chan said indifferently. “Fang Qing Chen, my punishment isn’t too heavy, is it?”