Chapter 7: The Sect Master’s Judgment

“The Elder Council is interrogating others, and they sent you to inform us?”

The woman, clad in robes as white as snow, spoke without faltering in her steps. As she approached the trio, the oppressive aura of a superior instantly manifested.

It pressed down on the three of them, making them feel as though they had been cast into the deep sea, sinking endlessly, their very breaths becoming a struggle.

Among them, Zhou Xiaoyue’s cultivation was somewhat higher than Ye Cha’s and Li Ge’s. Having recently reported to the inner sect, she had encountered numerous cultivators of profound strength.

Thus, she could barely withstand the oppressive aura released by the white-robed woman.

What’s more, the other party had not even unleashed her full might. This was merely a casual display of power.

It was evident that the white-robed woman’s cultivation was immeasurably profound.

****

Naturally, this answer was a given. After all, she was the Sect Master of the Sky Soaring Sect—a woman who had astonished the cultivation world since birth, possessing a rare, mutated Wind Spirit Root.

Not only that, but it was a single spirit root! Her cultivation speed alone surpassed 99.9% of all cultivators.

Yet, that was not all. Later, it was discovered that she possessed the Sword Spirit Physique.

No matter how wild or untamable a magical artifact was, it would obediently submit once it reached Shen Ruotong’s hands.

Within merely a few years, her Sword Qi reached mastery. Then, after another century, she fully comprehended Sword Intent.

She became the youngest cultivator in the immortal cultivation world to grasp Sword Intent!

Notably, Shen Ruotong was not a dull, reclusive cultivator obsessed solely with training. In addition to her cultivation, she never forgot to leave her legends scattered across the various corners of the cultivation world.

Among these, the great war between the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path two hundred years ago was precisely the battlefield where Shen Ruotong made her name.

At that time, the Demonic Path’s Saintess had obtained a great fortune, her strength breaking through to the Soul Severing stage in one fell swoop.

She then led the demonic cultivators to invade and devour the territories of the Righteous Path. Her methods were exceedingly vicious, and due to her immense power, the Righteous Path teetered on the brink of collapse.

However, just as countless cultivators of the Righteous Path were falling, Shen Ruotong emerged from her seclusion and immediately joined the battlefield.

With a single, breathtaking sword strike, she defeated the Demonic Path’s Saintess.

The demonic cultivators scattered like monkeys when the tree falls, fleeing in disarray amidst the Righteous Path’s counterattack.

The war concluded with the Righteous Path’s victory, leaving the Demonic Path severely wounded. It was precisely this powerful display that swiftly propelled Shen Ruotong to widespread renown.

Consequently, she naturally became a candidate for Sect Master. When she later assumed the position, not a single person within the sect raised an objection.

It was said that even the Sky Soaring Sect’s secluded Ancestor spoke of Shen Ruotong with endless praise.

In short, the emergence of Shen Ruotong was the key to the Sky Soaring Sect becoming the foremost sect of the Heavenly Dao.

Her formidable strength served as the foundation, allowing them to stand above all other factions. Within the Righteous Path, apart from the reclusive ancient monsters, no one of her generation could rival her.

Commensurate with her immense power, Shen Ruotong’s striking beauty was equally unforgettable.

Even Jiang Li, hailed as the most handsome man in the Righteous Path, had given his heart to Shen Ruotong. He had publicly declared that he would marry no one else in this life.

This caused many female cultivators who pursued him to secretly grit their teeth and harbor deep resentment towards Shen Ruotong.

However, Shen Ruotong’s response to Jiang Li’s fervent, distant declaration of love was far simpler.

Just one word.

‘Scram.’

It was blunt and brutal, causing everyone to click their tongues in disbelief. They wondered if Shen Ruotong had lost her mind; how else could she bear to reject the pursuit of the Righteous Path’s most handsome man?

Any other female cultivator would surely not refuse Jiang Li’s courtship! After all, he was a male cultivator who possessed both beauty and strength.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to become his companion and explore the Grand Dao together? Nevertheless, Shen Ruotong did indeed refuse.

She even found it exceedingly troublesome. Thus, when Jiang Li later attempted to approach her, she simply used seclusion as an excuse, not emerging for fifty years.

To be so heartless even towards a handsome man led everyone to say that Shen Ruotong had no heart. If she had a heart at all, it was dedicated to the Grand Dao, not to others.

****

“Sect Master, please uphold justice for Junior Brother Ye Cha!”

At this very moment, even though she had become an inner disciple, Zhou Xiaoyue dared not be presumptuous. Instead, she respectfully bowed to Shen Ruotong.

Under normal circumstances, let alone outer disciples, even inner disciples rarely had the chance to see the Sect Master.

Only elite disciples and personal disciples could occasionally behold the Sect Master’s true appearance. Of course, this did not prevent portraits of Shen Ruotong from being displayed in all the great halls of the Sky Soaring Sect, ensuring that no disciple within the sect remained unaware of her.

Truthfully, this was Zhou Xiaoyue’s first time seeing the Sect Master. Due to her extreme nervousness, she subconsciously clenched her fists.

She desperately tried to calm her wildly pounding heart and stop its frantic rhythm.

Even Zhou Xiaoyue, an inner disciple, was restless, let alone Li Ge, who already harbored guilt in his heart.

He had thought of a thousand possibilities, but never this. Zhou Xiaoyue blocked his path ahead, and now the Sect Master herself had arrived.

‘How could that bastard Ye Cha be so incredibly lucky?!’

“Reporting to the Sect Master, this disciple does not know the specifics. I only heard that the Elder Council wishes to summon Ye Cha.”

Facing Shen Ruotong, the Sect Master, was naturally different from facing Zhou Xiaoyue.

Li Ge spoke tremblingly, his body shaking uncontrollably. Sweating profusely, he looked as though he had just been pulled from a body of water.

The sweat plastered his clothes to his body, outlining Li Ge’s corpulent and distorted physique. Layers of fat accumulated in folds, resembling a sow suckling its young.

Zhou Xiaoyue looked at Li Ge and felt as if she was about to vomit. Feeling that her eyes had been defiled, she quickly shifted her gaze to Ye Cha, who stood beside them.

Seeing her beloved Junior Brother’s handsome and elegant appearance, she immediately felt her spirit purified.

Although he was oppressed by the Sect Master’s formidable aura, a handsome person was always pleasing to the eye, no matter the circumstances.

Such as Ye Cha, at this very moment. After the healthy flush quickly faded from his face, his pale complexion appeared even more endearing.

Yet, despite the immense pressure, Ye Cha stubbornly stood tall, his posture as upright as a green pine, brimming with an unyielding will.

As Zhou Xiaoyue watched him, she wished she could stand directly in front of Ye Cha, shielding him from all danger.

However, the Sect Master held no ill will towards them. If she were to act rashly, she might incur the Sect Master’s displeasure.

Thus, she could only endure. Yet, the frustration of being unable to help Ye Cha made Zhou Xiaoyue feel as though her chest would explode.

Her initial pride and satisfaction from entering the Foundation Establishment stage and becoming an inner disciple now lay shattered into countless fragments.

This made Zhou Xiaoyue realize she could not stop here; she had to continue growing stronger. Strong enough to protect Ye Cha!

“Even now, you still quibble! Since you refuse to awaken to reason, then go to Reflection Cliff and stay for ten years!”

Even as Li Ge was nearly on his knees with fear, Shen Ruotong did not spare him even a cold glance upon hearing his reply. Instead, her gaze drifted towards Ye Cha.

Observing Ye Cha’s still-erect posture despite her oppressive aura, a hint of surprise flickered in Shen Ruotong’s eyes.

‘This man is quite different.’