Chapter 14: Secrets of the Past Life

Beneath Profound Mountain, a great commotion arose.

The sect leaders and elders of all factions leapt into the air.

"Profound Envoy, what's going on?"

"I don't know."

The Profound Mountain Envoy who had flashed out of the mountain also frowned, gazing at the demonic god statue on the dome.

The demonic might of the demonic cloud had now overwhelmed the disciples of all factions, making them unable to stand; those below the Profound Master Realm were even crushed to their knees.

Su Chacha's face turned deathly pale; if not for Pei Jianshu supporting her, she would have knelt as well.

"Everyone, let's resist this demonic god statue together!"

Zhao Yue shouted, shot forward first, and the peaceful aura emanating from her quickly spread over the Spirit River Valley.

The disciples of all factions instantly felt a gentle sensation, as if a light breeze had brushed them, relaxing them greatly; they unconsciously looked up with gratitude at that holy, graceful figure, saying, "It's the Jadeite Sect's Saintess Zhao! She's truly gentle."

"Saintess Zhao, I'll help you!"

"I, Xiao Mou, am here too!"

"……"

Several sect powerhouses flew to Zhao Yue's side, joining her in resisting the heavenly demonic might.

The disciples of all factions, who had just been struggling, finally caught their breath.

Zhao Yue brandished her natal holy sword and chanted a passage of the Purifying Light Chant!

"Heaven and Earth, Profound Darkness, …"

As the chant began, Shen Qingli immediately looked at Zhao Yue, her eyes icy.

In her past life, Zhao Yue herself had recited this Purifying Light Chant to purify her!

But at this moment, Zhao Yue had only finished the first line when the demonic cloud exploded!

"Boom—"

Bolts of thunder fell in sheets, blasting Zhao Yue and the others directly into the Spirit River.

Including Zhao Yue, several sect powerhouses instantly became soaked like chickens.

The demonic cloud also dissipated, but the demonic god did not fully vanish, seeming to hide within the blue sky.

The Profound Mountain Envoy's eyelid twitched, but since the opening of Profound Mountain was time‑limited, he still announced, "Everyone, Profound Mountain is now open; disciples, please enter."

The disheveled Zhao Yue had no time to tidy herself; she immediately instructed Bai Li Chongtong, Gu Cihe, and Su Chacha, "After entering, follow the map I gave you, first claim your own opportunities, then discuss other matters."

"Yes, Master." The three bowed respectfully. They all knew that the sect grand competition measured not only strength but also talent, and the criterion for judging talent was what kind of Profound Mountain inheritance a contestant could obtain.

Zhao Yue worried about Su Chacha and added, "Your injuries have just healed; don't overuse your profound power, protect yourself. Besides, your senior brothers will look after you, so there's no need to worry too much."

"Thank you, Master." Su Chacha bowed again, then, upon rising, couldn't help but glance at Shen Qingli and say, "That senior sister…"

"I'll have her protect you; let's go." Zhao Yue swept out a soft light, lifting the three disciples into Profound Mountain.

At that time, Shen Kuo was also talking to Shen Qingli, saying, "No matter what you want to do, just go ahead—Father will always support you."

Shen Qingli nodded, involuntarily recalling the scene when she had recovered to her past‑life peak realm. She also couldn't help but think of the enormous snow‑white phoenix that had appeared nearby when she was besieged.

Could it be that, when she was brutally purified by Zhao Yue and the sect leaders and elders besieged her, he was on his way? But after her death, he only arrived and even helped her condense her bodily form?

"But remember, look after yourself—nothing is more important than your life." Shen Kuo earnestly stressed again.

Shen Qingli slowly nodded, "I know, they don't deserve it."

"Not bad." A rare expression of relief appeared on Shen Kuo's usually stoic face.

"What's there to fear? With me here, I'll protect my sister well."

Shen Kuo then realized he had a son‑like figure, glanced at the speaking Shen Jin, and said, "You're not allowed to go in."

Shen Jin stared in shock, "On what basis?!"

Shen Qingli was also surprised, "My brother isn't going in?"

"He'll only cause trouble." Shen Kuo worried, "Father knows what you're doing and has it figured out, but you don't—going in would be a variable."

"No." Shen Qingli felt this was biased, "Ah Jin is obedient, and there are plenty of opportunities inside Profound Mountain that would benefit him as well."

Shen Kuo let out a cold snort, "Don't be fooled by his act of obedience—do you think Ice Snow Peak only has us two for no reason?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Shen Jin flushed with embarrassment, "You always wear a dead‑pan face, scaring everyone away—do you still want me to take the blame? I don't care; I'm going in with my sister!"

Shen Kuo's face blackened like a pot bottom……

Seeing him clench his fists, Shen Qingli thought he was about to beat his brother in public!

She quickly grabbed Shen Kuo's hand, "Father, rest assured—I'll watch over Ah Jin."

Shen Kuo stiffened—this was the first time Shen Qingli had taken the initiative to get close to him.

Shen Qingli, fearing he couldn't restrain himself, swiftly pulled the still‑mouthy Shen Jin away, bade farewell hurriedly, and said, "Let's go."

The sister‑brother pair sped toward Profound Mountain, but Zhao Yue blocked their path, saying, "Wait."

Shen Jin immediately stepped in front of Shen Qingli, "What are you trying to do?!"

As soon as Zhao Yue saw Shen Jin, her eyes filled with hatred and hostility!

Before she could react, Shen Qingli had already pulled Shen Jin aside, saying, "Saintess Zhao, what instructions do you have?"

"What do you call me?" Zhao Yue's voice was icy to the extreme, frost in her brows and eyes.

"Wasn't it you who ordered me to address you this way in public?" Shen Qingli retorted sarcastically.

Zhao Yue's face turned green, but this is indeed the fact! She never allows Shen Qingli to call her mother in public, and even the master forbids it.

"If there's nothing else, we're going in." Shen Qingli didn't want to get entangled with Zhao Yue now and delay her business.

Zhao Yue suppressed her temper and said without lashing out, "I'm here to remind you to look after your junior disciples after you enter.

Especially Chacha—she's young and this is her first time participating in the Profound Mountain Selection; you must protect her well. If she's safe, all previous matters can be written off."

Shen Qingli sneered coldly in her heart!

She didn't know how Zhao Yue still had the nerve to say these things!

Zhao Yue hadn't remembered a single word of what she had said!

It doesn't matter; she will soon make Zhao Yue remember it etched into her bones and heart!

As for now, Shen Qingli replied calmly, "I know."

Seeing her attitude, Zhao Yue's repressed anger surged up uncontrollably, and her palm instinctively lifted!

At this moment, the surroundings were filled with disciples from various factions rushing to Xuan Mountain, and some onlookers had already stopped to watch.

Shen Qingli abandoned her composure, tears instantly welling in her eyes, her voice sorrowful: "How could it be? Mother personally plucked the two hundred and six phoenix bones from my whole body and gave them to Su Chacha, and that still isn't enough—you even want to slap me and humiliate me in front of all these people?"

An uproar broke out all around!

Zhao Yue's eyes showed shock, "You..."

Shen Qingli shifted her tone, full of indifference: "Also, in the sect, you've always either beaten or scolded me! Now that you've drained my bones and blood, you don't even need to avoid people to hit me—after all, I'm useless now."

"Zhao Holy Maiden, are you really trying to drive me to death?" If it weren't for her past life being truly purified by Zhao Yue's bloodline power, she would really doubt that she wasn't Zhao Yue's daughter at all!

Now, she didn't even glance at Zhao Yue again, pulling Shen Jin as she walked straight into Xuan Mountain.

As for the dazed Zhao Yue, she was enduring everyone's strange glances.

"It's just a child throwing a tantrum; please don't take offense, everyone."

Bai Ren Shan, who had arrived, hurriedly tried to smooth things over, but his gaze swept over Shen Qingli's back.

Just one glance, he determined that Shen Qingli's cultivation had fallen below the Xuan Master Realm, actually becoming merely a Xuan Scholar!

Thus he changed his tone and said, "This child A Li recently, due to seeking quick gains, went into demonic deviation, her cultivation plummeted, and her temperament inevitably became unruly."

"Is this really true?" came sounds of astonishment from all around, "Shen Qingli, the youngest Xuan King of the Xuanti Continent, has become this useless?"

"What a bunch of blind people." The girl's clear, lively voice interjected forcefully, full of contempt, "No wonder there are so many wastes."