Chapter 39: Expelled

"It turns out everything she said was true." Peak Master Xu felt envy and jealousy—no wonder she was already a third-rank alchemist at such a young age; it turns out she possesses all five elemental affinities.

Being an alchemist isn't achieved just by having fire and wood affinities; that's merely basic talent. To advance further, one must also sense the other three elements.

Only possessing all five elemental affinities makes one the holy body of an alchemist.

Such a constitution naturally affinity with all medicinal herbs, allowing any pill to be successfully refined.

Even the founding ancestor of Medicine God Valley, who possessed only four elemental affinities, already achieved such high accomplishments.

The Valley Master instead grew calm, gazing upon the goddess-like Shen Qingli and the divine statue behind her that had never faded since its appearance, realizing she was not someone their Medicine God Valley could retain.

"Valley Master, the five-element holy body truly exists."

"I always thought that was just wild legend."

"Senior Sister Shen is too beautiful."

The disciples of Medicine God Valley all witnessed on Shen Qingli what a legend is, and that the legend truly exists.

"I really did die."

Liu Meng, rubbing her eyes, spoke in a tone that confirmed it.

But when she glanced again, it seemed off?

But no one gave her an answer, as the members of Heaven Star Sect were also staring at Shen Qingli.

Ji Wanxing couldn't stay calm either; he knew Liu Meng had good vision, but to this extent was beyond his expectations.

It seems the Heaven Star Sect can return now.

Ji Wanxing stroked his long beard with a chuckle, saying, "This fresh and leisurely place is where we can only stay."

Shen Kuo glanced sideways, asking, "Sect Leader?"

"Elder Shen, you're a disciple of the Changfeng Shen Clan, right?" Ji Wanxing pointed out.

Shen Kuo raised an eyebrow, saying, "Sir,"

A thought moved him, and a flash of emotion crossed his clear, cold eyes.

"Heaven Star Sect—I should have realized earlier."

"Forgive my rudeness." Ji Wanxing bowed.

Shen Kuo understood, his gaze continuing to fix on his daughter.

Ji Wanxing was the same, as was everyone else.

The only difference was Shen Jin.

He was gazing at that divine statue……

Like Shen Qingli, a stream of images flowed into his mind.

When the five-colored phoenix light faded, Shen Qingli remained seated cross-legged in the void, unable to return to her senses for a long time.

She saw it all—after her death, Shen Kuo indeed arrived and used his bloodline power to help her rebuild her soul!

But he himself, having exhausted his essence and blood, was easily slain by the scum of the Azure Jade Sect with the Ten Thousand Sword Body Severing.

Father and daughter died in the same place.

Therefore, her rebirth was thanks to Shen Kuo.

Otherwise, her scattered soul would have no afterlife at all!

No, there was still one hand.

Although the "return" vision didn't show that hand, she could still sense it.

Who was it?

Shen Qingli opened her eyes, gazing straight toward the Heaven Star Sect's direction, meeting a pair of ink-black eyes, like a night sky devoid of stars.

"Divine Sovereign!"

The Mysterious Envoys suddenly bowed down!

Because they all saw the divine statue behind Shen Qingli's eyes flicker slightly, as if it had come to life.

Shen Qingli's expression faltered; she looked back at the statue and also met a pair of ink-black eyes, exactly the same!

She immediately turned her head to look ahead—but it was gone; those eyes turned into a smile, like a dark night sky suddenly bursting with stars.

Shen Jin!

Shen Qingli landed.

"Congratulations."

Shen Jin smiled as he spoke.

As always, his youthful vigor made his earlier deep gaze seem like an illusion.

Shen Qingli, however, knew it was not.

"Shared joy." Shen Qingli said.

Shen Jin's smile remained unchanged, and the Mysterious Envoys also approached.

"Mysterious Envoy." Ji Wanxing and the others bowed.

After returning the salute, the Mysterious Envoy produced a black lacquer treasure box and handed it to Ji Wanxing, saying, "This is an Emperor Pill; please protect Little Daoist Friend Shen well, esteemed sect."

Ji Wanxing, however, did not take it, looking instead at Shen Kuo and saying, "Elder Shen, your cultivation has reached the proper level, wouldn't you say? This Emperor Pill would be most suitable for you."

Shen Kuo had no further words: "Good."

The Mysterious Envoy was equally straightforward, directly giving the Emperor Pill to Shen Kuo.

Shen Kuo had originally intended to open and swallow it right away—not because he was eager, but because he knew he needed to increase his strength to better protect his daughter.

However, Shen Qingli grasped his wrist.

"Thank you, Mysterious Envoy." Shen Qingli said.

"Little Daoist Friend, no need for courtesy—you have a promising future."

The Mysterious Envoy finished speaking with deep meaning, then handed over the Heaven Star Sect's resource storage ring to Ji Wanxing.

Afterward, the Mysterious Envoy returned to the Mysterious Terrace and announced the rankings of this sect competition.

First place, without a doubt, is the Heaven Star Sect!

"It's utterly dark and unexpected."

"A lowly corrupt sect returning to the peak actually matches Shen Qingli's experience."

"..." Amidst the clamor, the Mysterious Envoy announced second place.

"The Great Zhou royal family truly deserves the name. What about the Jadeite Sect?"

"It must be third place."

"Third place, Ten Thousand Swords Sect." the Mysterious Envoy announced.

Everyone was shocked, and everyone in the Jadeite Sect couldn't understand either!

"Mysterious Envoy, this... is wrong, right?"

Bai Ren Shan, by any calculation, the Jadeite Sect should be second.

Even if Su Chacha's battle record isn't counted, it should still be third.

However, the Mysterious Envoy said, "The Jadeite Sect's conduct is improper; they are expelled from the competition."

"What?" The entire Jadeite Sect couldn't accept this—what is this supposed to be?

"The whole sect doesn't even have a single person with a normal heart; your sect has serious problems."

"No, Mysterious Envoy, you can't..."

"I can." The Mysterious Envoy, unwilling to explain further, said, "If you keep arguing, the Jadeite Sect need not come to future sect competitions."

Bai Ren Shan instantly shut his mouth, but his benevolent expression could no longer be held back, faintly revealing killing intent!

Su Zhengzong had already taken Su Chacha down, desperately pouring mystic power into her to sustain her life.

Zhao Yue gently touched Su Chacha's deathly pale face, heartbroken, "Chacha..."

"Master, I, I hurt..." Su Chacha clenched her teeth against the hatred, still weakly sobbing.

She knew she was already like this; to survive and recover, she must obtain the sect's pity!

"Don't worry, don't worry." Zhao Yue said heartbrokenly, "All your suffering is seen by the master; she won't let you suffer in vain."

Su Chacha's tears streamed down her face, "This is the punishment I deserve; now that the phoenix bone has been returned, I have no shame before the senior sister."

Having said that, she grew so weak she vomited blood, eliciting pity from the entire sect.

Pei Jianshu immediately fed her a pill, "Don't speak."

"Senior Brother." Su Chacha looked at him through tears.

Pei Jianshu's expression was indifferent, "Everything is just returning to the right track; take good care of yourself."

Return to the right track?

Su Chacha's heart shuddered!

Pei Jianshu had already said, "Back when you went berserk from cultivation and suffered grave injuries, we shouldn't have let A Li offer the phoenix bone."

"Yes." Peak Master Li said with a sweat-drenched face, "Her phoenix bone indeed must remain in her own body to be of great use."

"She said she would give us our inheritance," Peak Master Xu reminded, "Although the sect's rankings for this competition have been erased, it's all because of what Shen Qingli exposed."

If she keeps her promise and gives the inheritance, that would be fine!

If she doesn't, humph!

Peak Master Xu's face grew grim, and Bai Ren Shan's eyes also turned dark and ruthless.

"She won't withhold it; otherwise it would harm her Dao heart." Pei Jianshu said firmly.

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Gu Cihe said, "To avoid complications, let's go demand it now."