Chapter 14: Estranged from the Celestial Path Sect Until Death
“I want to quit the sect.”
“Senior sister? Whoever wants to be senior sister can be!”
That one remark stirred up a storm; everyone thought Shi Murang had lost her mind.
“No way, Shi Murang must be crazy. How can she improve herself if she leaves the sect?”
“She’s so resolute, how can she be so heartless? Does she not even care about us juniors? She promised she would protect us for life.”
“Oh my, isn’t this going too far? Senior sister used to be so approachable.”
“Ridiculous. She’s no longer senior sister, yet she says this. I think she’s deliberately provoking the sect leader. Honestly, she’s not even a fraction as good as Sister Wanwan!”
“Tsk, if she dares to quit the sect, I’ll eat dirt in front of all the disciples!”
Even Zhai Zhe frowned. He never imagined Shi Murang would say such things!
Before he could say anything, the eldest elder beside him shot a sharp glare at Shi Murang.
“Heh, what nonsense are you spouting? No matter what, you’re a genius disciple cultivated by our sect for so long. Quitting isn’t something you can decide on a whim.”
As the eldest elder, he refused to lose a talent like Shi Murang. When Zhai Zhe spared her life earlier, he was pleased.
But if Shi Murang was ungrateful, then he would show no mercy!
“That’s right. If everyone were like you, how could the sect maintain its dignity?”
“Outrageous! Outrageous! The sect leader is only confining you for your own good, and yet you threaten and intimidate us. I see right through you!”
Several elders radiated their authority in midair, glaring coldly at Shi Murang, furious as if she had wronged them.
Jiang Wanwan first beamed with joy, then forced herself to suppress her smile, wearing a sorrowful expression.
“Senior brother, does senior sister still blame me?”
“Is it because I left that senior sister wants to stay? It’s all my fault...”
She helplessly clutched Mo Zichuan’s robe, drowning in endless self-reproach.
Mo Zichuan’s heart, previously thrown into turmoil by Shi Murang’s threat to leave, suddenly settled.
Of course not!
How could Shi Murang truly leave?
She had done so much for the sect, always staying and contributing.
She said the Celestial Sect was her home, and its disciples her family. How could she leave?
Besides, her own family had long vanished, wiped out completely. All she had left was the Celestial Sect.
Recalling the young girl who once cried, saying she had no home except the Celestial Sect, Mo Zichuan’s heart softened.
He thought to himself that Shi Murang must be jealous.
But Mo Zichuan was deeply disappointed that Shi Murang would resort to such measures just to get attention.
It was too petty.
Although their master intended to give the Divine Phoenix bloodline to Wanwan, Mo Zichuan had already decided to find even better treasures to heal Shi Murang’s body, never neglecting her.
Even if she was considered a traitor, he would treat her well and provide her with the best.
But she should never have been jealous of Jiang Wanwan. What right did she have?
“Senior sister, why have you become like this... Wanwan has always treated you sincerely!”
“To make her leave, you stoop to such despicable tricks?”
“Can’t you just accept her? The Celestial Sect is your home as well as Wanwan’s. Where else could she go?”
“Forget it, just apologize. We’ll ask the master to forgive you since you have no family.”
Taking advantage of Mo Zichuan’s impassioned words, Jiang Wanwan wept and covered her face.
The entire situation was turned by these people into a spectacle, putting Shi Murang at the center of a storm.
No one believed that Shi Murang, who had nothing, would really leave the Celestial Sect.
This was the Celestial Sect—the foremost sect in Eastern Continent that every aspiring cultivator dreamed of joining!
Everyone was filled with disappointment toward Shi Murang.
Shi Murang said nothing, only gazing at them with an even colder look.
Her eyes swept across them one by one, as if etching every face into her heart.
It was as if she was questioning each of them: Is this truly how you see me?
“Mo Zichuan, you really know how to speak. So in your heart, I am that kind of person.”
A flash of pain crossed Shi Murang’s eyes, then she lifted her gaze coldly.
With one hand, she grasped her sword and faced the entire Celestial Sect, a fierce aura erupting from within.
Her Golden Core cultivation surged explosively!
“How dare you! Are you rebelling against our sect!?”
“Shi Murang! You’ve betrayed the sect! You won’t be spared today!”
Zhai Zhe and the elders thought Shi Murang had gone mad and would attack them, but instead, their authority was severely undermined.
They raised their voices in unison and launched an attack!
A glint flashed in Shi Murang’s eyes as she swung her sword backhandedly.
“Ssssh!”
Suddenly, the air grew silent. Everyone stared in shock, unable to believe what they saw.
Shi Murang... Shi Murang shattered her own Golden Core with one strike!
She was destroying her own foundation!
Furious, Zhai Zhe and the elders tried to withdraw their assault but could only block part of it.
Shi Murang was struck by several sword blades, blood both old and new mingling, wounds piling upon wounds!
Yet, even so battered, she revealed a bitter, fierce smile toward Zhai Zhe.
“I am Shi Murang, senior sister of the Celestial Sect. Though my tenure was brief and I joined not long ago, I have done no wrong. I am innocent. Tortured confessions won’t work on me. I will never admit guilt!”
“Master, this is the last time I call you master. I owe nothing to the Celestial Sect anymore. From now on, I, Shi Murang, am no longer a disciple of the Celestial Sect!”
“Zhai Zhe, you are no longer my master either!”
“I will sever all ties with you and the Celestial Sect, forever!”
The entire sect was shocked!
Looking at her fragile, pitiful figure, they suddenly realized she might be serious!
She truly intended to leave the Celestial Sect!
And to do so, she was willing to destroy her own cultivation! Such resolve!
What were Mo Zichuan and Jiang Wanwan’s earlier words compared to this? Just slandering her!
“You... are you really so heartless?”
Zhai Zhe thought to himself but said nothing, feeling the scene burned painfully into his eyes and those words ringing harshly in his ears.
Seeing the whole sect stunned, Shi Murang smiled.
Soon. Just a little longer, and she would be far away from these fools.
In the original story, Shi Murang would be taken back to the main hall and hung in midair, her Golden Core shattered by Zhai Zhe’s palm, destroying her foundation.
Since the Golden Core was going to be lost anyway, better it be put to use.
But Shi Murang would never let Zhai Zhe have that chance.
Her Golden Core, she could discard on her own, but she would never let someone else decide for her!
Severely wounded, Shi Murang’s figure fell like a kite with its string cut, plunging down a cliff.
All the disciples’ hearts clenched tightly!
“Ah! Senior... senior sister!”