Liu Qingyue’s spiritual root had a flaw from the start. Although his Flame-type root appeared powerful, it actually had a serious defect. Before it matured, it was completely hollow—like a bucket with a hole in the bottom. No matter how much water was poured in, it would eventually leak out.
His spiritual root was the same. No matter how many rare treasures or heavenly herbs he consumed, his root couldn’t absorb any of it.
Back then, Liu Qingyue suddenly fainted during cultivation, and it was Bai Ying who rushed him to their Master. After diagnosing the issue, their Master discovered how serious the problem was and was about to tell Liu Qingyue that he was no longer suited to cultivate. The sect had even planned to expel him.
It was Bai Ying who knelt and cried, begging their Master to save her Third Senior Brother.
The Master knew of one possible solution.
But it required someone with the same Flame-type root to sacrifice their own cultivation to patch up the hole in Liu Qingyue’s spiritual root. And this method was endless. Cultivation was already incredibly hard, and to give up half your power every six months just to help someone else—no one would ever agree to that.
But Bai Ying did. Right then and there.
She said she was also a Flame-type root, and that it was perfect.
She couldn’t bear to see Liu Qingyue leave the sect, nor could she stand the thought of him falling into despair after learning the truth. Liu Qingyue had always been proud, never suffering setbacks growing up. When he found out that he had a rare Flame-type spiritual root, he was overjoyed and filled with pride.
To protect that pride, Bai Ying begged their Master not to reveal the truth. Instead, she had their Master lie and say it was her root that had a problem. That she needed Liu Qingyue to transfer his power to her every half a month.
While Bai Ying was healing his root, she also needed a lot of Spirit Stones for the process. So she desperately refined Treasure Artifacts to sell and earn the stones. Back then, she sold her creations at this very market.
She worked so hard, and in the end, all she got was Liu Qingyue’s contempt.
And now, he was threatening her with “I won’t help you anymore.”
Bai Ying found it laughable. Of course she’d agree.
Maybe in the past, she might have felt reluctant to let go of him. But now, after he turned his sword on her—why should she care about him anymore?
She gave Liu Qingyue a cold glance, then turned and left.
She had earned enough Spirit Stones today. That was enough.
She couldn’t even stand the sight of these sect members anymore.
…
Liu Qingyue was completely enraged.
“Fine! Just fine!”
He swore to make Bai Ying regret it for the rest of her life. No matter how much she begged later, he would never help her again!
There weren’t many people in the sect with Flame-type roots to begin with—just him, Bai Ying, and the Little Junior Sister.
The Little Junior Sister was kind. Liu Qingyue feared she might try to help Bai Ying, so he resolved to talk her out of it when the time came.
He would make Bai Ying lose all her cultivation, force her to cry at his feet!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and his face twisted with rage.
Su Yu supported him, emotions churning inside.
He had come with the intention of apologizing to Bai Ying, but had arrived just in time to see her destroy the very sword she had once gifted Liu Qingyue.
Every one of those artifacts had been painstakingly crafted by Bai Ying, night and day.
They represented her feelings for all her fellow disciples. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Was she really serious about severing all ties with them?
“Qingyue, I want to take you somewhere.”
Su Yu led Liu Qingyue to the place where Bai Ying was currently living. He just wanted him to see her situation—maybe then he’d understand why she had changed so much.
But at this point, Liu Qingyue refused to listen to anything.
He looked around and said coldly:
“So what? She deserves it!
She’s always bullying the Little Junior Sister and has a petty heart.
If she lives in a dump like this, it’s what she deserves!
I’ve been transferring power to her and fixing her spiritual root.
And this is how she repays me? Someone this ungrateful should burn in the eighteenth layer of hell!”
With that, Liu Qingyue took to the skies on his sword and left.
Su Yu stared at his departing figure and let out a long, heavy sigh.
He couldn’t understand—how did things between them fall apart like this?
He didn’t know where Bai Ying had gone, so he decided to wait there for her.
When she returned, he would properly apologize. Then convince her to apologize to Liu Qingyue too—after all, she still needed him to repair her root.
Su Yu waited there for several days, but Bai Ying never came back.
Instead, what he got was shocking news—Bai Ying had signed up for the Bone Forest Trial.
Cold sweat broke out on Su Yu’s back.
He jumped to his feet, staring at the young disciple who brought the message.
“What did you say?! You really saw her name on the list for the Bone Forest Trial?! Is she insane?!”
“I swear, I saw it with my own eyes on the registration form!”
Su Yu’s breathing turned ragged.
He knew well—this was no ordinary sect trial. This one could cost lives!
Most sect trials had elders secretly watching over the disciples. Even if they didn’t gain any great treasures, they wouldn’t lose their lives.
But the Bone Forest Trial was different.
Only those below the late Foundation Establishment Realm could enter.
Very few disciples ever made it back out alive.
If Bai Ying went in… she would never come out again!
Su Yu couldn’t sit still anymore.
He had to find Bai Ying immediately. He couldn’t let her throw her life away!
…
Su Yu searched everywhere for Bai Ying but couldn’t find her. In desperation, he sought out Xiao Yu.
He knew Bai Ying had feelings for Xiao Yu, so maybe he had her communication talisman.
When Su Yu asked Xiao Yu for it, Xiao Yu looked uncomfortable.
“I have nothing to do with Bai Ying. Why would I have her talisman?”
“Then what do I do now?” Su Yu looked completely lost.
He turned to leave but was suddenly pulled back by Xiao Yu.
“What’s wrong with Bai Ying?”
Even though he had sworn not to care about anything related to her again, Xiao Yu couldn’t stop himself from asking.
“Bai Ying went to sign up for the Bone Forest Trial. I have to find her. You know how dangerous that place is.”
Su Yu didn’t say anything else. He rushed off to continue his search, leaving Xiao Yu frozen in place.
Xiao Yu stood there, stunned.
He couldn’t even process what he had just heard.
Until Ruan Xinrou tapped him on the shoulder from behind.
“Senior Brother, I’m ready. Let’s go out together.”
But Xiao Yu was distracted.
He hadn’t thought about Bai Ying in a long time. He had been spending all his time with Ruan Xinrou.
He thought he didn’t care anymore.
But right now, he felt a deep emptiness in his heart.
“Xinrou,”
Xiao Yu asked with difficulty, “What would happen… if a Qi Refining Realm cultivator entered the Bone Forest Trial?”
Ruan Xinrou looked at him strangely. “Why are you asking that, Senior Brother?”
“Well, someone at the Qi Refining Realm… would definitely die.”