Chapter 8: Ten Years of Despair and Hidden Jealousy

Upon hearing he would have to remain on the Cliff of Contemplation for ten years, Li Ge’s face instantly turned ashen white. Unable to bear the crushing pressure any longer, he collapsed directly onto the ground.

Ten years.

For powerful cultivators, it was but a mere flick of a finger, hardly worth mentioning.

However, for Li Ge, who was still in the Qi Condensation stage, it was a deadly decade.

Li Ge was already forty years old. Although cultivating with spirit roots had significantly extended his lifespan, it had only granted him an additional twenty years.

In the cultivation world, the realms, from lowest to highest, were Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Soul Manifestation.

Above these, there were five more realms.

Spirit Severing, Body Integration, Void Refinement, Tribulation Transcendence, and Mahayana!

Moreover, each realm was further divided into early, middle, and late stages.

Even with exceptionally brilliant talent, progress was impossible without a steady accumulation of resources.

This was precisely why Shen Ruotong, despite her distaste for managing the sect, had still ascended to the position of Sect Master.

Wealth, techniques, companions, and cultivation grounds—none could be lacking.

The resources expended by every powerful cultivator were simply countless.

This was also why cultivators, despite their long lifespans, often met premature ends. The path of cultivation required battling not only against the heavens but also against fellow cultivators!

Naturally, for ordinary cultivators, reaching the Nascent Soul realm was already incredibly formidable. Their lifespan increased by five hundred years, granting them ample time to pursue the Grand Dao to fruition!

However, in the early stages of cultivation, the increase in lifespan was minimal.

Therefore, one had to endure loneliness and never easily abandon their cultivation.

Li Ge possessed only one less spirit root than Ye Cha. With a four-spirit-root talent, he was considered to have extremely poor aptitude within the Heavenly Zenith Sect.

This meant that for Li Ge to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage, he would need to expend five times more effort than others!

His philandering ways were also Li Ge’s attempt to acquire resources quickly, thereby accelerating his cultivation speed and entering the Foundation Establishment stage sooner!

However, the resources available within the outer sect were limited.

No matter how Li Ge enticed other female cultivators, the cultivation resources remained meager. He could only waste time day by day, striving to reach the Foundation Establishment stage within a century, only then hoping to gain a more substantial lifespan.

The true reason for his utter despair upon hearing of the ten-year confinement was that in another ten years, when Li Ge turned fifty, his face would inevitably begin to show signs of aging.

For a man, his appearance was incredibly important.

Once he aged and lost his youthful charm, the female cultivators who had fawned over him would quickly lose all interest.

Recalling the considerable number of wrinkles that had already appeared at the corners of his eyes recently, Li Ge’s eyes immediately reddened, and tears streamed uncontrollably down his cheeks.

Regrettably, snot also accompanied his tears, making him truly unbearable to look at.

“As for the rest of you, I happen to have some free time today. Let us proceed to the Elder’s Council together!”

As the Sect Master, with Shen Ruotong’s words spoken, no one dared to voice any opposition.

Shen Ruotong did not spare Li Ge another glance from beginning to end, especially not in his current pathetic state, which was simply too displeasing to witness.

Although the cultivation world saw yin prospering while yang declined, with women generally stronger than men, merely ten years of contemplation had frightened him into such a pathetic state. It would be even harder for him to achieve anything significant in the future!

Hmph, men.

Truly too fragile.

As Shen Ruotong mused thus, her thoughts unexpectedly drifted to Ye Cha.

Even under her oppressive aura, Ye Cha’s back remained ramrod straight, much like a tenacious green pine growing on a cliff edge, leaving a deep impression.

Perhaps, not all men were fragile.

“Sect Master, can… can I also come along?”

Just as Shen Ruotong was silently thinking of Ye Cha, Zhou Xiaoyue spoke up with a hint of trepidation.

Originally, Li Ge had come for Ye Cha, but her interference had disrupted his plans midway.

Now, hearing the Sect Master’s words, it was clear they were heading to the Elder’s Council to assign responsibility. This made Zhou Xiaoyue feel as though she had no further business there and should discreetly take her leave.

Yet, she was worried about Ye Cha.

Leaving him alone beforehand simply made her completely uneasy.

Even if the Sect Master accompanied Ye Cha, her heart remained in turmoil.

After all, the Sect Master was simply too beautiful…

Zhou Xiaoyue secretly glanced at the ethereally graceful Shen Ruotong, and then felt her worries were entirely justified.

Although Junior Brother Ye Cha had not expressed an intention to become her cultivation companion, he hadn’t directly refused either, which meant there was still a chance!

However, with the appearance of a woman as perfect as Shen Ruotong, a sense of crisis surged like a tide, catching Zhou Xiaoyue completely off guard.

If the Sect Master were to poach her love interest…

Even though the Sect Master had rejected the advances of the most handsome man in the righteous path, in Zhou Xiaoyue’s eyes, Ye Cha was the most handsome man, incomparable to anyone.

Such a charming Ye Cha was like a hidden treasure. As the first to discover him, Zhou Xiaoyue wished she could rebury him, keeping him known only to herself.

That way, no one would contend with her for Ye Cha!

“You may.”

Zhou Xiaoyue had not hidden her little thoughts very well. After a single glance, Shen Ruotong immediately understood Zhou Xiaoyue’s concerns.

This made Shen Ruotong, who had lived through several centuries of cultivation, suddenly feel a touch of helplessness. ‘How could I possibly be swayed by a mere man?’ she thought.

At her current realm, romantic love had already faded into insignificance.

The Supreme Heavenly Dao was the only true path.

“Many thanks, Sect Master, for upholding justice for me!”

While Zhou Xiaoyue was overjoyed at being allowed to accompany them, Ye Cha proactively thanked Shen Ruotong at that moment.

Had Shen Ruotong not taken the initiative to help, Ye Cha’s life would likely have been in danger from the very moment Li Ge made a move against him.

Although Li Ge was merely sent to face the wall in contemplation for ten years, compared to attempted murder, this punishment was undeniably far too light.

However, blowing this matter out of proportion would also not be good for the sect’s reputation.

It was undoubtedly for the best if the matter could be handled lightly and a major incident reduced to a minor one.

“It’s fine. It’s getting late now, so let’s depart as soon as possible!”

Shen Ruotong was extremely satisfied with Ye Cha’s understanding nature. She glanced once more at his handsome and dashing face, then swiftly retracted all her oppressive aura.

If all the male disciples within the sect were as obedient as Ye Cha, the Heavenly Zenith Sect wouldn’t be plagued by so many petty squabbles.

After Shen Ruotong retracted her oppressive aura, the three of them, including Ye Cha, quickly returned to normal. Their previously pale complexions swiftly became rosy, and they regained full control over their bodies once more.

However, in stark contrast to the ease of Ye Cha and Zhou Xiaoyue, Li Ge still wore an expression ashen as death.

The Sect Master had ordered him to the Cliff of Contemplation; how could Li Ge possibly dare to refuse?

It was over.

Everything was over!

In ten years, the female cultivators who had pursued him would undoubtedly shift their targets.

By the time he returned from the Cliff of Contemplation, time would have passed and circumstances changed, making it impossible for him to proceed with his original plans.

Everything was all because of that hateful Ye Cha.

If only Ye Cha had obediently gone along, none of these things would have happened.

Thinking this, even as Shen Ruotong turned to leave, Li Ge immediately glared venomously at Ye Cha’s retreating back, unable to swallow this humiliation no matter what.

Then, perhaps sensing Li Ge’s intense gaze, Ye Cha, who had been about to step away, turned his head to look at Li Ge, who was still slumped on the ground.

He smiled faintly, his clear eyes carrying a hint of mockery.

With a slight movement of his lips, he silently mouthed two words.

‘Idiot’