Chapter 319

Chapter 319: The Cultivation World Reports Bai Mu Mu’s Case

After speaking, Shen Sang Ruo placed the System into True Lord Gu Ci’s hands. Raising her own Divine Soul Power would take too long, and the Ninghua Sect had many matters to handle. Keeping the System there might give it the chance to escape.

The Hall of Myriad Spirits did have experts in Soul Methods, and one of them had come along this time. True Lord Gu Ci gave the System to that man, and the man began to probe it with his Divine Soul Power.

True Lord Gu Ci asked in a low voice: “How is it?”

The man drew in a sharp breath and said: “I could only learn that Bai Mu Mu was a raider from another world. I cannot see anything else.” His face had turned pale.

Seeing this, True Lord Gu Ci said at once: “Stop for now.”

The man obeyed, withdrew his Divine Soul Power, and soon looked a little better.

The System had layer after layer of defenses, with stronger guards on more important contents. The Hall of Myriad Spirits members were elite, and that man’s skill in soul arts was among the best in the cultivation world. Even so, he had only found Bai Mu Mu’s identity, while Shen Sang Ruo had dug out the record of what Bai Mu Mu had done. Everyone was shocked. [Does this mean her Divine Soul Power is stronger than his?] True Lord Gu Ci knew better than anyone that this man was the strongest Soul Method expert of the Hall of Myriad Spirits, likely the top in the cultivation world. Yet Shen Sang Ruo’s Divine Soul Power surpassed his.

Shen Sang Ruo herself looked surprised and said softly: “This…”

The soul expert smiled with sincere praise and said: “This young fellow daoist looks only in her twenties, yet her Divine Soul Power is this strong. Truly impressive. Given time, she will grow beyond what we can reach.”

Shen Sang Ruo cupped her hands and said politely: “Senior flatters.” In truth, her own soul was unusually strong, which made her Divine Soul Power even more powerful.

Shen Dao Chen and Master Ling Xiao could not hide their excitement and pride. Immortal Lord Chang Li and Immortal Maiden Azure Luan rolled their eyes in unison; their looks clearly said, [Is she from your sect or ours? Why are you so proud? Tsk.]

Even True Lord Gu Ci’s gaze burned a little hotter as he said in a tone of helpless goodwill: “In the days ahead we will likely need to trouble Sang Ruo to come to the Hall of Myriad Spirits to continue probing this System.”

Shen Sang Ruo nodded and said: “I will work hard to raise my Divine Soul Power and find out the System’s secrets as soon as I can.”

True Lord Gu Ci smiled and said: “The Hall of Myriad Spirits is in the southeast. You should know the place. If you break through or find something new, you can come to the Hall at any time.”

Then he turned to Shen Dao Chen, and his smile cooled as he said: “The Hall of Myriad Spirits deeply sympathizes with the Flying Cloud Sect’s loss. We will send people to help you rebuild.” Everyone knew this disaster was caused by the Flying Cloud Sect itself. They had treated a Malevolent Spirit like a close companion. Still, speaking as the Hall, he had to do what was proper, not act on personal likes or dislikes.

True Lord Gu Ci then raised his voice and said: “About Bai Mu Mu, the Hall of Myriad Spirits will inform the entire cultivation world as a warning.” That would give the cultivation world a clear answer.

But it also meant the scandal that the Flying Cloud Sect Master’s own daughter had been a Malevolent Spirit would spread everywhere. The sect’s honor and standing would fall sharply in the eyes of the cultivation world. On top of that, they had lost so many people that they might need centuries to recover. This was also a fitting punishment for those who once vouched for her. The more loudly they swore back then, the more their faces burned now. [We want to cry, but it is too late.]

After speaking, True Lord Gu Ci left to make the report and assign people to aid the Flying Cloud Sect.

Before the date the sects had set to verify Bai Mu Mu, a notice confirming that she did carry a Malevolent Spirit spread throughout the cultivation world and sparked loud debate. People talked everywhere. Some said: “I never thought she was truly a Malevolent Spirit. I even spoke up for her back then!” Others added: “I told you. At the Sect Grand Tournament so many pointed at her already. Shen Dao Chen and Master Ling Xiao were acting like their eyes were covered with grease.” More voices said: “I heard Shen Sang Ruo pulled that Malevolent Spirit out by herself. That is our Sang Ruo for you. The people of the Flying Cloud Sect must regret it to death right now.” Someone scoffed: “First cultivator of the cultivation world? He was fooled by a Malevolent Spirit for years.” Another person said: “Do not curse Master Ling Xiao and the Flying Cloud Sect too much. They have suffered a lot. Master Ling Xiao had his cultivation drained. He is only at Late Divine Transformation now.” A darker voice concluded: “Then the Flying Cloud Sect is finished.” And someone else said coldly: “They brought this on themselves.”

With matters settled, the guilty dead, and the punished punished, Shen Sang Ruo planned to return to the Ninghua Sect. She and Immortal Lord Chang Li needed their injuries treated soon.

Just as she turned to leave, several people from the Flying Cloud Sect hurried to block her path. Master Ling Xiao and Shen Dao Chen were the most anxious, their eyes filled with worry and regret. When he saw the wounds he himself had given her, Master Ling Xiao wished he could take them onto his own body. [Why did I hurt my true disciple for that monster? I deserve the blame.] Many times he tried to speak and ask her to return, but when his eyes fell on those wounds, he could not bring himself to say the words.

Seeing Shen Sang Ruo’s patience running thin, Master Ling Xiao finally forced out a sentence: “You are badly hurt, so go to the Medicine Pavilion for treatment first.”

Shen Dao Chen quickly echoed: “Yes, yes, do not leave a lasting injury.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li answered coldly and blocked their offer at once: “There is no need. The Ninghua Sect has people to treat us.”

The two groups had never gotten along. Faces chilled, Master Ling Xiao and Shen Dao Chen wanted to argue, but Shen Sang Ruo cut them off and said: “These wounds were all given by you. What right do you have to tell me to go to the Medicine Pavilion?”

As always, her words were sharp and gave no face. Master Ling Xiao’s expression turned even uglier, and he no longer had his old force. He stammered, trying to explain, his posture humble to the point of shame. The scene they had made earlier was too ugly. The two men had said many cruel things and shown how much they despised her, making their already stiff relationship even colder.

Now that they wanted to make peace, it had become extremely hard. A thick layer of ice stood between them. They could only watch as she grew farther and farther away from them. [We cannot cross this gap anymore.]