CHAPTER 72

Betrayal and Departure

'Gasp... Su Yan, he's spitting bl0od!'

Tong Tong felt as though her heart had stopped beating.

"How? How could this be?'

Time seemed to stretch into an eternity, long enough for her to watch helplessly as the bl0od splattered, shattered, and scattered like crimson dust. Yet it also felt as fleeting as a single moment, too brief for her to even gasp or evade before that stunningly beautiful face turned deathly pale, pain casting a shadow of gray over it.

Before she could even fully comprehend the identity of her captor, that person had already lost the ability to speak.

Another gush of warm bl0od sprayed out, painting half her face in a macabre mask, the searing heat of it something she would never forget.

Shaken to her core, she felt as though her very soul were trembling, on the verge of leaving her body.

Su Yan's heart ached, and she could no longer afford to care about anything else. Her right hand gripped Changhong tightly, while her left arm held Tong Tong close. Ignoring the bl0od at the corner of her lips and the disheveled state of her robes, her beautiful eyes lowered, scanning her over and over again. Only after confirming that she was merely frightened and unharmed did she finally allow herself to relax.

'Bingyan Island!'

She swore she would not rest until this grudge was avenged.

With a fleeting glance at the culprit she had sliced in two in her desperation, she could still make out the delicate features beneath the splattered bl0od. Though she wasn't wearing the standard robes of Bingyan Island, the jade token at her waist was unmistakable.

With just one look, Su Yan recognized her, the female cultivator Jia Siwen had embraced in the Abyssal Secret Realm that day.

Of course, she had another identity, the biological younger sister of Shangguan Yi, who had died by Su Yan's sword, Shangguan Li.

To avenge her brother, she resorted to such despicable and underhanded methods?

...She deserved to die.

When Su Yan raised her eyes again, it truly sent a bone-chilling cold through everyone present, those deep, unfathomable black eyes had actually turned purple!

As everyone knew, purple was the bl0odline of the demonic veins, the nobility of the demonic path, and the symbol of the demonic sects.

What did it mean for a direct disciple of a righteous orthodox sect to have purple eyes?

It was far too thought-provoking.

The crowd began to stir, some were nervous, some furious, some acted as if facing a formidable enemy, while others cowered in fear...

On the high platform, amidst the bustling crowd, Ye Zhiqiu's fingers holding the teacup trembled almost imperceptibly. A few drops of clear, greenish liquid splashed onto her robe. She chuckled softly, as if it were nothing, casually wiping it away. When she looked up again, her face was filled with a pained expression of shock.

Since childhood, Tong Tong had always dreamed that one day, the person she loved would don golden armor, ride upon five-colored auspicious clouds, slaying gods and buddhas alike, breaking through all obstacles to marry her...

Or perhaps, he would own a luxurious mansion like Tomson Riviera, park three or five Maseratis or Lamborghinis, and propose with a group of followers and a diamond ring of several carats... Then she might reluctantly agree to marry him!

Little did she expect that after crossing over to this world, she would fall for a tall, rich, and handsome man who had it all.

What was Tomson Riviera compared to this?

Su Yan's cave dwelling was entirely built from top-grade spirit stones!

What were luxury cars compared to this?

Su Yan's mount was the renowned runner-up on the list of ferocious beasts!

What were followers and diamond rings compared to this?

Which disciple of the Chonghua Sect didn't bow and scrape before Su Yan, obeying his every command?

Which part of the Chonghua Sect's treasure pavilion was off-limits to Su Yan? Which treasure could he not take?

Of course, all of this was built upon the premise that Su Yan was the most beloved disciple of the Chonghua Sect's leader.

If one day Su Yan lost this halo, would he still possess the charm that attracted others like moths to a flame?

And would she herself remain unwavering in her devotion?

Tong Tong had once pondered this question but never imagined that the moment to make a choice would come so quickly, so fast that she was caught off guard, not even knowing how to react.

When Su Yan spat a mouthful of bl0od onto her face, she was bewildered. Yet, in the next second, the feeling of heartache overwhelmed every corner of her heart, leaving her unable to care about anything else.

When Su Yan beheaded the sneak attacker behind her, she was terrified. But upon seeing the anxious worry in his eyes and the arm firmly protecting her waist, all that remained was a heart full of shame and gratitude.

Those obsidian-like, deep and brilliant eyes shimmered with a ring of purple light, as pure and crystalline as colored glaze, breathtakingly beautiful.

Yet she never imagined that these breathtakingly beautiful eyes would stir up a storm of controversy. Everyone, including those from the Chonghua Sect, now regarded him as a formidable enemy, as if the person before them was not the esteemed disciple of Chonghua but a heretical demon from an evil sect.

"What's going on?" asked a confused young disciple.

"Purple pupils! It's the mark of demonic bl0odline, purple pupils!" cried an elder, tears streaming down his face.

"So Su Yan is a spy from the demonic path!" declared someone who had suddenly realized the truth, speaking with righteous indignation.

"What is the Chonghua Sect up to? Could this be some kind of conspiracy?" questioned a scheming individual, seizing the opportunity to cause trouble.

'What were they saying? That Su Yan was from the demonic sects?'

Tong Tong widened her eyes, looking left and right, but the face beside her remained flawlessly beautiful, with eyes so pure and clear, a thousand times more captivating than any colored contact lenses.

Truly, only a demonic sect's seductress could possess such allure... Perhaps, maybe, she doesn't eat people, right?

Tong Tong thought uncertainly: 'If she were the type to devour humans, she would have been reduced to bone dust long ago, not waiting until now. Clearly, Su Yan wouldn't harm her!'

If that's the case, what does it matter if she's a disciple of the demonic sect?

Thinking this, Tong Tong felt much calmer.

Sensing the foolish girl in her arms gradually relax, no longer stiff as a statue, Su Yan's eyes softened, and a faint smile curled at the corners of her lips, though to others, it appeared as sheer provocation.

"Sect Leader Ye, shouldn't you give everyone an explanation?" The gaunt-fingered Island Master Lie of Bingyan Island stroked his beard, his expression grave, though inwardly he was laughing triumphantly: 'Ye Zhiqiu! So you've finally met your day! My disciple has done well! Let's see how arrogant your Chonghua Sect can be from now on! Conspiring with demonic sect seductresses, harboring spies of the demonic cult, any one of these charges is enough to ruin the reputation of a major sect! Soon, it will be my Bingyan Island ruling the world! Ahahahaha...'

"Disgraceful disciple." Ye Zhiqiu's gentle smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression of heartache.

Yet there was no anger or disappointment in her eyes. Her gaze was too calm, so calm that Su Yan almost believed she had foreseen this outcome.

Su Yan opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words.

Her light purple eyes, backlit, gradually deepened, resembling two pure and translucent amethysts, shimmering with a mesmerizing glow.

"From this day forth, Chonghua has no such disciple!" Ye Zhiqiu declared coldly, flicking her sleeve before turning and leaving the venue, no one glimpsed the complexity in her eyes.

"Master..." Su Yan pressed her lips together, forcibly halting the urge to chase after her.

'Su Yan had been expelled from her sect!'

Everyone found it unbelievable, yet they also felt this outcome was inevitable.

Only the Qianyu Sect and Bingyan Island voiced dissatisfaction: 'the punishment was far too lenient!'

What was expulsion from the sect? According to tradition, those who betrayed their sect and colluded with the demonic path should be executed on the spot.

Ye Zhiqiu's departure clearly indicated her unwillingness to intervene further, giving them the perfect opportunity.

Zhu Ligang of the Qianyu Sect was the first to leap forward, a massive, multicolored axe whistling through the air as he swung it toward Su Yan, laughing heartily, "Chonghua's traitor! If your sect won't discipline you, I'll take it upon myself! Hahaha... Take this!"

Zhu Ligang's weapon was forged from the Seven-Colored Divine Stone nurtured at the edge of the western horizon, capable of severing immortal bones and shattering immortal foundations. Even Ye Zhiqiu's legendary sword, "Busha," dared not clash with it directly.

"Hmph." Su Yan sneered, a crimson light piercing the sky as she forcefully blocked his axe strike. Though she spat out another mouthful of bl0od as a price, it compelled the entire audience to raise their thumbs in admiration!

Zhu Ligang, as the leader of his sect, was already a master at the Great Ascension stage, while Su Yan had only just stepped into the Nascent Soul realm. The difference between them was like that between clouds and mud!

Yet despite such a gap, Su Yan had withstood his strike with only minor injuries, a miracle in itself.

Not to mention how furious and humiliated Zhu Ligang was. At the same time, the Island Master of Bingyan Island, unwilling to fall behind, disregarded any sense of dignity as a sect master and felt no shame in bu|lying the weak. He summoned a three-edged cone and aimed it straight at Su Yan's back.

The triangular pyramid, forged from Nine Heavens Profound Iron, struck with unexpected ferocity, capable of shattering any defense and having claimed the souls of countless cultivators. Su Yan was already struggling to fend off Zhu Ligang's attacks alone, how could she possibly evade this deadly weapon?

In a flash of lightning, a figure moved even faster than the triangular pyramid, abruptly positioning itself in front of Su Yan.

A silver blade was held horizontally, and at the cost of shattering several meridians, it barely managed to block this sneak attack!

"Traitorous disciple! What are you doing?" Island Master Lie glared at his beloved disciple, whose chest was now stained with bl0od, his face ashen with a mix of fury and heartache.

The one who had recklessly stepped in front of Su Yan was none other than Jia Siwen, her previous opponent who had fought her relentlessly.

Su Yan furrowed her willow-leaf brows slightly, slowly dispersing the icy energy she had gathered in her left hand. Her right hand tightened around Changhong as she continued to face off against Zhu Ligang, all the while calling out to Jiya in her mind, waiting for an opportunity to escape.

Tong Tong, who had just regained a bit of her energy, cautiously hid behind Su Yan, focusing intently on the battle but unable to resist diverting a sliver of her attention to eavesdrop on the confrontation between the master and disciple.

'Holy crap!'

'What kind of prime-time drama twist is this? Jia, you dare to be this unreliable! Are you falling for my senior brother or what? The whole "love-hate" storyline is so cliché, could you please switch it up a bit?'

'Let your master represent the moon and eliminate you! Amen!'

Tong Tong, who showed no mercy toward her love rival, cursed under her breath with a dark expression, silently squatting down to draw a circle on the ground.

"Master, Su Yan is my prey. Only I can k!ll her! Please don't interfere!" Jia Siwen wiped the bl0od from the corner of his mouth indifferently, tilted his head back to swallow a bottle of healing pills, and met his master's gaze with unwavering determination.

"Traitor! Traitor! You'll be the death of me..." Island Master Lie had never expected that the one to stop him would be the disciple he had always doted on. He was so enraged he nearly stumbled backward.

Clenching his hands, he tore out a few strands of his meticulously maintained silver beard, his face turning dark with anger. He couldn't help but regret it now: he had spoiled this disciple too much, allowing him to develop such an impulsive and reckless personality. At this critical moment, he was actually defying his own master!

"Step aside! Otherwise, I'll eliminate you along with her!" Island Master Lie formed hand seals, a flicker of k!lling intent rising in his eyes as he glared at Jia Siwen.

"Forgive this disciple for his disobedience!" Jia Siwen smiled faintly, an uncharacteristically gentle expression, only he knew how much sorrow and self-mockery lay hidden within that smile.

Unconcerned about the master-disciple conflict unfolding behind her, Su Yan dodged Zhu Ligang's fierce attacks while keeping an eye on the surrounding situation. Most of the spectators remained rooted in place, as if still reeling from the sudden turn of events. Apart from the disciples of the Bingyan Island and Qianyu Sect, the other sects, large and small, were restrained by their respective leaders, not daring to act rashly. The disciples of Chonghua watched coldly, some even subtly blocking the approach of disciples from other sects.

Su Yan's mind stirred. She tilted her head back and swallowed a bottle of Peiyuan Pills. Changhong surged forth like a roaring dragon, charging toward Zhu Ligang, this strike consumed seventy percent of her true essence, and its power was so immense that even an expert like Zhu Ligang, at the Great Ascension stage, struggled to respond in time.

"Now's the chance!" Su Yan's lips curved into a faint smile as she leaped into the air, landing squarely on Jiya's back. With one arm, she pulled Tong Tong, who was still distracted, close, while her other hand patted the spirit beast pouch at her waist.

'Huh? Huh?'

Cookie had one paw resting on a melon as large as a washbasin, while the other paw contentedly sliced through the skin and flesh. Just as it was drooling with anticipation, it was startled by the sudden turn of events.

After working so hard for so long, it had finally found a moment to rest and enjoy some delicious food, why was it being driven out again?

"Teleport now!" Su Yan glanced at it and calmly ordered, feeling an unusual twinge of envy: While others were fighting fiercely outside, here you are, hiding in your den, feasting happily! Just like your owner, a true foodie through and through!

"Awoo~" Seeing Cookie still frozen in place, Jiya urgently growled, urging it on.

'Idiot! What are you spacing out for? At a life-or-death moment like this, hurry up and set up the array before we get chopped to pieces!'

"Awoo!" Startled by Jiya's roar, Cookie finally snapped back to reality. The little creature, still unaware of the situation, managed to let out a half-whining, half-complaining sound, but its movements were swift. With its four hooves kicking up dust and its long tail whipping through the air, just as Zhu Ligang's attack was about to land, a sudden flash of white light erupted, the teleportation array activated, and the two humans and two beasts vanished on the spot.

"Pfft!" Clutching his chest, which had been pierced by a triangular spike he failed to dodge in time, Jia Siwen laughed while coughing up a string of bl0ody foam. "Cough... Su... Su, I... I don't owe you anymore... cough, cough..."

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