Chapter 326

Chapter 326: She Came to Join the Conservative Faction

Shang Qing and Shi Yi decided to join the Conservative Faction for the sake of Immortal Maiden Azure Luan.

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan hated the Radical Faction’s bloody cruelty and did not want to remain inside Shadowmist Ravine, so the two could only make their biggest compromise.

Although they had once served under Ya Lan, they had only been small underlings and hardly took part in that great chaos.

Their present standing in the Radical Faction came only because they lived long, piling up cultivation with time.

Even after ten thousand years, they had only reached Mid Divine Transformation, which showed their talent was average.

Sometimes Immortal Maiden Azure Luan wondered how they were still alive; by rights, their lifespans should have ended.

But then she remembered how dirty their hands were and figured they must have used some shady means to stretch their lives, so it no longer seemed strange.

In the Radical Faction their rank was neither low nor high. Maybe they felt their lives were about to run out, or sensed other threats, and wanted to take Immortal Maiden Azure Luan as their protector.

Only then did they grit their teeth, abandon the Radical Faction, and join the Conservative Faction despite the glares.

Wan Quan pressed in step by step, saying: “Since you brought her in, it concerns all of Shadowmist Ravine. How could I not interfere? Today you must give me an explanation.”

He pulled a thin smile and said: “She is still at Late Golden Core and her talent is not bad. If you hand her to me, I will overlook that you secretly brought someone from the Cultivation World into Shadowmist Ravine.”

To avoid drawing attention, Shen Sang Ruo had deliberately suppressed her cultivation.

Otherwise, her Mid Nascent Soul Stage would stand out too much; there would be no reason for her to join Shadowmist Ravine at all, and she would look like trouble at a glance.

After Wan Quan spoke, Immortal Maiden Azure Luan shielded her and remained unmoved. [She knew Wan Quan was just using this as an excuse to pick a fight.]

Just then, another group appeared.

They were Devil Cultivators from the Conservative Faction camp, led by Chief Ling Hu Min.

The Conservative Faction had once had two Chiefs; the other died in a clash with the Radical Faction, killed by Wan Quan’s men.

So when Ling Hu Min saw Wan Quan now, fury already surged in his eyes.

Seeing this, Immortal Maiden Azure Luan used the lines she had prepared, saying: “What? Chief Wan, do you object to the Conservative Faction taking in new people?”

Wan Quan barked a laugh and said: “Take in a new person? You mean she wants to join the Conservative Faction and become a Devil Cultivator?”

He kept going and said: “With talent like hers, she would be prized in the Cultivation World. Why would she join Shadowmist Ravine unless she hides evil intent and another goal?”

Wan Quan’s suspicion sounded reasonable, but Shen Sang Ruo ignored him and addressed Ling Hu Min first. She bowed and said: “Greetings, Leader Ling Hu. I, Sang Ruo, have nowhere left in the Cultivation World after being hunted by enemies, so I came to Shadowmist Ravine to ask Leader Ling Hu to take me in.” [She used the humble form of address on purpose.] [This was the story she had prepared. Anyway, these Devil Cultivators could not leave Shadowmist Ravine to check whether her identity was real.]

Ling Hu Min instinctively showed a cold face to this outsider, but she had already declared before the Radical Faction that she was here to join the Conservative Faction.

Though he still had doubts, he had to count her under the Conservative Faction for now and protect her; he could not lose face before the Radical Faction.

Tensions were high, and the balance could break at any time. If their people could be taken away by the Radical Faction at will, they would look weak.

Ling Hu Min swept his gaze over Wan Quan and said: “Wan Quan, she is here to join our Conservative Faction. Even the decision to accept her should be made by the Conservative Faction. Do you plan to decide for us?”

[Shen Sang Ruo knew she had passed this hurdle for now.]

But Wan Quan seemed set on stirring trouble, saying: “What is your Conservative Faction anyway? Soon the entire Shadowmist Ravine will answer to the Radical Faction. Today I will interfere in this, and what can you do about it?”

Worse, another group rushed over from the distance. The difference between the two sides was obvious; the killing intent rolling off them showed they were from the Radical Faction.

Shang Qing frowned and said: “Even Shi Mu came?”

Shi Mu was the other Chief of the Radical Faction, and he had also served under Ya Lan.

But unlike Shang Qing and Shi Yi, he had been one of Ya Lan’s trusted men and had earned much merit during the upheaval.

Although he was badly injured back then and could never advance beyond Divine Transformation, those “merits” kept him firmly in the Chief’s seat.

Shi Yi grumbled and said: “Is this ever going to end?” but he could only complain.

Noticing they had seen Shi Mu, Wan Quan grinned smugly and said: “I will not only take her away, I will drag you two traitors back as well!”

[Shen Sang Ruo had not expected such a tense, ready-to-fight scene right after entering Shadowmist Ravine.]

She immediately made ready to fight with the others. [But since she was still suppressing her cultivation, fighting would be a headache.]

If nothing unexpected happened, the fight would break out the moment Shi Mu’s group arrived.

Shi Mu swaggered over, acting like he owned the place.

His eyes were full of scorn, like he wanted to look down his nose at everyone.

His gaze swept over everyone and finally landed on Shen Sang Ruo.

He was about to deliver a bold speech and order an attack, but the instant he saw her, his eyes flew open in shock.

His swagger collapsed in an instant; on that devilish man she suddenly saw something like “meek.” [She frowned a little. Why react like this when he saw her?] [She was sure she had never met Shi Mu in this life or the last, so she ruled out knowing him from before.]

Everyone else looked confused too, not knowing what had happened.

Wan Quan noticed the oddity as well. Seeing Shi Mu staring at Shen Sang Ruo like no one else existed, he lowered his voice and said: “Shi Mu, what are you playing at?”

If Shi Mu’s status were not a bit higher than his, he would have cursed him out already.

Shi Mu coughed and said: “Ahem,” then he schooled his face into a serious look and said in a hard tone: “So what if the Conservative Faction takes in another? You’re still under the Radical Faction’s heel. I want to see what waves you can make with one more.”

Shi Mu looked fierce and spoke ruthlessly, but the meaning was to let this matter go. [As he talked, he kept winking shamelessly at Shen Sang Ruo. She seriously wondered if something was wrong with his eyes.]

Everyone present showed puzzled faces at his words.

Wan Quan could not hold back anymore. He had called Shi Mu for support, and now he wanted to let them go. Rage surged, and he shouted, saying: “Shi Mu, what are you doing? Are you crazy?!”