Chapter 2: Severing Kin, Breaking Ties

Gu Cihe remained unmoved, but a slender, jade-like hand grabbed his shoulder, 'Let her go.'

"Senior Brother?" Gu Cihe looked at Pei Jianshu in surprise.

Pei Jianshu coldly stared at his hand, 'Pulling and tugging, what propriety is this?'

"What the senior brother says is right." Gu Cihe immediately let go.

Unable to support herself, Shen Qingli collapsed like a broken rag doll.

By then, many disciples of Saint Maiden Peak had gathered around, pointing at Shen Qingli.

Before, they either timidly or reverently addressed her as 'Senior Sister'.

She had always thought they respected her, so even if they weren't close, she always did her best to guide them—now——

"Isn't this the vicious senior sister with a heart like snakes and scorpions? She deserves it."

"I heard the sect leader plans to strip her of the title of head senior sister."

"How satisfying! We of Saint Maiden Peak have long suffered Shen Qingli!"

"……"

A group of junior disciples who had either received her guidance to advance or been given her cultivation resources—none stepped forward to help her up.

All of them are white-eyed wolves!

Shen Qingli clenched her fists tightly, ignoring the pain, activating her Phoenix Soul, and slowly rose to her feet.

Even though her bones were gone, they could not stop her stubborn soul; she rose unyieldingly!

Blood continually poured from her seven apertures, even blurring her vision with a mist of blood.

But she could still clearly see each person's face: 'Hesong, the Ascending Mysterious Pill for your advancement to Mystic Master was given by me.'

The named Hesong froze for a moment, about to speak in defense!

Shen Qingli had already turned to someone else: 'Qin Xiaosu, when you were struck by deadly poison, I saved your life by exchanging blood for blood.'

"Cheng Zhen, when the Wind-Fire Sect severed your meridians, I stormed the Mystic Yin Cave, battled the Mystic Serpent, and obtained the Vein-Continuing Snake Slough for you."

"Wang Zhenxin, ……"

Everyone standing here!

All have received Shen Qingli's great kindness!

But those named, none felt guilty; instead they grew angry and shouted, 'What, Senior Sister wants to use favors to demand repayment, making us plead for you?'

Shen Qingli's lips twitched, revealing a cold smile.

Suddenly!

A pain shot through her knee!

Gu Cihe kicked her hard!

"Thud!"

Shen Qingli suddenly dropped to one knee, unprepared; the Xuan power, forcibly stabilized by the Phoenix Soul, instantly went berserk, bursting into her meridians!

"Bang!"

The immense Xuan King's Xuan power, lacking any bone storage, directly shattered Shen Qingli's meridians and skin, dyeing her white sect robes from head to toe blood-red.

Shen Qingli, now like a blood-soaked person, finally startled everyone.

Pei Jianshu's icy pupils also suddenly contracted! Yet he merely watched coldly.

Su Chacha, however, rushed forward to support Shen Qingli, 'Senior Sister, are you alright?'

"Don't touch me!" Shen Qingli endured the tearing pain in every inch of skin, again forcing herself to stand.

Gu Cihe, however, kicked her other knee!

Shen Qingli, kneeling on both legs, spat out a large mouthful of blood!

Su Chacha retreated in panic, 'Senior Sister, do you still blame me, right?'

"Unrepentant! I'll go report to the master right now!" Gu Cihe turned to go tell Zhao Yue.

But Shen Qingli, at that moment, formed a seal, 'With my Phoenix Soul, I shatter my Phoenix Bone!'

Su Chacha thought obtaining her Phoenix Bone would let her ascend in one step, replacing her as the sect's number one heavenly pride?

Delusion!

Since it's impossible to reclaim the Phoenix Bone!

Then let both jade and stone burn together!

"Cry!"

Under Shen Qingli's urging, the Phoenix Soul surged out of her body, blazing with scorching phoenix flames!

The proud, overbearing Phoenix Pressure crushed all disciples present to their knees!

She is a phoenix!

No matter how bullied, she remains a phoenix of unyielding pride!

"Boom!"

Shen Qingli self-detonated her Phoenix Soul!

At the same moment, Su Chacha felt her whole body burning!

"Crack-crack" bone-breaking sounds came from her body.

At the same time, a reprimand came down from the peak's summit: 'Shen Qingli! You dare!'

It was Zhao Yue's voice; she had been startled awake by Shen Qingli's powerful Phoenix Soul.

She flew down from the heavens, her white sash fluttering in the wind, like a goddess.

A warm, gentle force, like the waters of the jianghu flowing backward, mercilessly pressed down on the Phoenix Soul Shen Qingli had summoned, trying to suppress her self-detonation!

But it was useless.

Cry!

The phoenix's pride cannot be suppressed by heaven and earth, let alone such a petty martial world.

Bang!

Fresh blood burst from Su Chacha's body!

Phoenix soul exploded!

Phoenix bone shattered!

Pfft!

Shen Qingli spat fresh blood, her ruined body could no longer support itself, and she collapsed to the ground.

Zhao Yue's gentle, warm power, however, was like a cold ice blade, cruelly piercing her limbs and bones.

Hahahahaha...

Shen Qingli, in extreme pain, burst into loud laughter!

Exhilarating!

Too exhilarating!

Her belongings, she refuses to give; no one dare even think of taking them!

Shen Qingli, you've gone mad!

Zhao Yue's expression shifted dramatically, and she unleashed a powerful palm strike!

Shen Qingli felt no more affection; her heart held only resolve to break ties, 'Will Saint Maiden Zhao resort to private punishment?'

Zhao Yue's motion stalled; administering private punishment would tarnish her immaculate Saint Maiden reputation, so she indeed hesitated.

Shen Qingli was not surprised at all: 'Before punishing me, you'd better hurry and save your precious little disciple; any later and she'll be beyond saving.'

Zhao Yue immediately looked at Su Chacha, whose face was deathly pale and covered in blood, 'Master, save me…'

'Chacha!' Zhao Yue instantly appeared beside Su Chacha, hugging her heartbrokenly, 'Don't be afraid, it's fine; Master will surely save you.'

Having said that, Zhao Yue carried Su Chacha away without giving Shen Qingli another look.

Those who don't know would think Su Chacha is Zhao Yue's biological daughter.

Shen Qingli watched with a cold expression, like a mere bystander.

At this moment, Gu Cihe had already rushed anxiously after Zhao Yue and Su Chacha.

The other junior brothers and sisters also chased after them, anxious and worried, for Su Chacha was their Saint Maiden Peak's loveliest, kindest junior sister, and everyone felt sorry for her.

Yet the senior sister Shen Qingli, who had bled and risked her life for them, they disdained to even glance at.

Cough!

Shen Qingli, coughing up blood, was not at all surprised.

A spotless white boot stepped before her.

Pei Jianshu's aloof voice drifted down: 'You are so narrow-minded; I truly misjudged you.'

Shen Qingli ignored him, crawling into her own room.

Having lost both her phoenix soul and phoenix bone, she could no longer stand.

Fresh blood soaked every inch of the floor as she crawled.

Pei Jianshu frowned at her: 'You needn't have done this; having voluntarily given up the phoenix bone, the sect, mindful of your righteousness, will surely aid your recovery.'

Bang!

In response to Pei Jianshu came the sound of Shen Qingli closing the door.

She lay beside the door, panting in pain.

The breath of life waned at extreme speed.

She was about to die.

But she absolutely could not die!

Having been reborn, no matter how dire the circumstances, she would never actively seek death!

Self-destructing the phoenix soul was not only to 'reclaim' the phoenix bone, but also because she had confidence in her self-healing.

In her previous life, on the brink of death, she had actually received a legacy—the Immortal Demon Transformation.

But the recipient of the legacy must possess both immortal cultivation power and demonic aura!

When she received it, she already lacked any immortal cultivation power, having only pure demonic aura.

But now—

She has it!

Even if her immortal cultivation power is wildly dissipating!

But it remains rich and mellow.

And she also possesses demonic aura!

Hum!

Amidst the intertwining of immortal power and demonic aura, Shen Qingli's fading vitality was stabilized.