Chapter 11: The Aftermath of Li Ge’s Confinement

The news of Li Ge’s confinement to Mount Siguo exploded like a thunderclap, instantly reverberating throughout the outer sect.

Among them, the female cultivators who had been ardently pursuing Li Ge were particularly distraught. They scurried about like ants on a hot skillet, frantically pooling their ideas to devise a plan to secure his return.

However, upon learning the more intricate details of the incident—that the Sect Master himself had personally decreed Li Ge’s punishment—the outer sect female cultivators were struck dumb with shock.

A collective sigh escaped them, as they realized there was no room left for negotiation or appeal.

When the most formidable figure in the sect had spoken, who would dare openly defy their decree?

No matter how fond they were of Li Ge, none would jeopardize their own prospects for him. Moreover, ten years confined on Mount Siguo would leave Li Ge a withered old man, past his prime.

The mere thought of Li Ge in his advanced years made many of the women reassess their affections, realizing their devotion wasn’t quite as deep as they’d imagined.

Consequently, the formidable contingent that had initially rallied to intercede on Li Ge’s behalf swiftly dwindled.

Ultimately, only a select few, those who had been close to Li Ge, remained. They were driven by a desperate fear that their prior scheme to frame Ye Cha might be exposed, potentially leading to their own confinement. Thus, they made one last, desperate effort.

Given Li Ge’s character, it wasn’t inconceivable that he might, in a fit of despair, expose their complicity.

The crime of scheming against a fellow disciple within the sect, if brought to light, carried severe repercussions.

The mere thought of being imprisoned for a decade, much like Li Ge, sent shivers down their spines.

Ten wasted years were incredibly precious. Beyond the path of cultivation, they could use their youth and charm to find a powerful female cultivator and forge a bond of companionship.

Once their youthful vigor faded, their prospects would diminish to unattractive older women.

Yet, extricating Li Ge from Mount Siguo was anything but a simple task.

The predicament caused the men headaches, and despite their efforts, they failed to conceive a viable solution.

“I heard from the Law Enforcement Team that the Sect Master happened to stumble upon Li Ge and Ye Cha’s altercation, which then triggered everything that followed!” one of them declared, breaking the silence. “Given that, there’s no need for us to keep racking our brains. Let’s just go directly to Ye Cha!”

Inside a room within the Lingtian Sect, three men sat hunched around a table, their faces etched with worry. When one of them suddenly spoke, the other two immediately turned their gazes towards him.

While they understood the general sequence of events, they had not considered Ye Cha to be the linchpin in saving Li Ge.

In essence, they had deliberately overlooked Ye Cha’s role.

The entire affair had originated from their plot to frame Ye Cha. To seek him out again would be tantamount to courting death. After all, if their original scheme were exposed, and they were then accused of colluding with demonic cultivators, their punishment would far exceed mere confinement on Mount Siguo.

They would face the complete abolition of their spiritual roots, followed by eternal imprisonment in the deepest dungeons, never to know rebirth.

From ancient times, the righteous and the wicked had been irreconcilable.

The righteous sects, known for their unwavering principles, were particularly intolerant of any disciple found to be in league with demonic cultivators.

When cleansing their ranks, they showed no mercy.

The mere thought of the sect discovering their transgressions sent shivers through the two men. Only then did they truly grasp the agonizing grip of fear.

“Wang Li, let’s not. I always get a strange feeling about Ye Cha!”

“Exactly,” another added. “Though Ye Cha appears unassuming, from the moment I first saw him, I sensed he wasn’t a straightforward man. Take this incident with Li Ge; I’m convinced it’s connected to Ye Cha!”

Upon hearing Wang Li’s proposition to approach Ye Cha, Liu Hengshan and Jiao Nan immediately shook their heads, vehemently disagreeing with the suggestion.

Previously, they had only harbored a vague unease, but Li Ge’s predicament had brought them to an abrupt realization: their instincts were correct. Ye Cha was indeed far from ordinary.

Continued entanglement with Ye Cha might very well lead to the downfall of all three of them.

‘The path ahead has grown dangerously narrow!’

“Ye Cha and we are all at the Qi Refining stage of cultivation. He’s merely a bit more handsome; in every other aspect, he’s no stronger than us. What exactly are you so afraid of?”

However, upon hearing their words, Wang Li’s thick brows furrowed. His broad face, square jaw, and deliberately grown long beard gave him the distinct appearance of a rugged man.

Truth be told, some female cultivators within the sect were rather partial to his rough-hewn charm.

This particular appeal had allowed Wang Li to cultivate several relationships with female cultivators within the sect, from whom he frequently acquired resources. Consequently, his cultivation had advanced rapidly, bringing him to the very cusp of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Unlike Li Ge, who held out for the highest bidder, Wang Li understood his own limitations. He chose not to preserve his chastity, instead leveraging his physical attributes to amass a wealth of resources.

One significant difference between him and Li Ge was Wang Li’s youth.

He was merely thirty years old this year. If he could swiftly advance to the Foundation Establishment stage, the aging process of his body would significantly decelerate.

Yet, the hard-won advantages he had meticulously built were utterly shattered the day Ye Cha entered the sect.

After witnessing Ye Cha’s striking appearance, the female cultivators who had once pursued Wang Li seemed to lose their very souls.

Murmuring, ‘So, I only like handsome people after all,’ they collectively turned their backs on Wang Li, dedicating all their efforts to pursuing Ye Cha instead.

Although Ye Cha never accepted the female cultivators’ advances, over time, their ardor cooled, and they gradually drifted back to Wang Li’s side.

However, the indignity of being a second choice, of ‘eating another’s leftovers,’ left Wang Li seething with unquenchable resentment.

‘That scoundrel Ye Cha cannot be allowed to remain!’

“I fear I’ll suffer the same fate as Li Ge!” Liu Hengshan warned, his expression grave. “Wang Li, we’ve known each other for years, so take my advice: stop opposing Ye Cha. He’s far too cunning. He’s been in the sect for ages, yet he never revealed a single hint of his true nature to us, only to then cause Li Ge’s spectacular downfall.”

Liu Hengshan observed Wang Li’s indignant expression, letting out a silent sigh before addressing him with a serious demeanor.

He and Jiao Nan both harbored a profound dislike for Ye Cha, purely out of envy for his striking good looks. Ye Cha stood out in the outer sect like a crane among chickens, a beacon of handsomeness that left them green with jealousy.

Subsequently, fueled by Li Ge and Wang Li’s intense animosity towards Ye Cha, Liu Hengshan and Jiao Nan had also joined their ranks.

Strictly speaking, Ye Cha’s true nature held little significance for them.

Especially now, with Li Ge tragically confined to Mount Siguo, Wang Li seemed determined to court disaster. If Li Ge and Wang Li wished to seek their own demise, Liu Hengshan certainly didn’t want to be dragged into it!

The fact that the Sect Master had personally punished Li Ge suggested they had severely underestimated Ye Cha’s capabilities.

“I’m terrified of Ye Cha now. I will absolutely never make an enemy of him again.”

As soon as Liu Hengshan finished speaking, Jiao Nan, who had been standing nearby, promptly voiced his agreement, making it clear he had no desire to take such a risk.

Hearing this, Wang Li knew he wouldn’t be able to convince the two men to join him in confronting Ye Cha.

‘But even so, what does it matter!’

He had already received the latest intelligence: in two days, a host of distinguished guests would arrive for the sect’s minor competition.

Among them, the granddaughter of the Feiyun Sect’s Grand Elder had become Wang Li’s prime target.

Wang Li harbored absolute confidence in his plan.

After all, his rugged exterior was precisely Zhou Lingling’s preferred type!

Once he aligned himself with Zhou Lingling, he would be able to dictate Ye Cha’s fate. The mere thought of Ye Cha kneeling submissively before him filled Wang Li with profound satisfaction.