Jade Spring Palace.
Yuan Lan carefully applied medicinal herbs to the abrasions on Tang Li’s wrists and knees before bandaging them.
Seeing the young girl enduring pain with tear-filled eyes, Yuan Lan couldn’t hold back her own tears. “The Master… he’s different from before.”
“Little Junior Sister, since you’ve been reincarnated, you should live properly as a mortal and never return to the World of Cultivation.”
The other senior brothers echoed in agreement.
“Now that the Master has become a great rebel, those wanting to kill him are as numerous as schools of fish. If they discover you’re still alive, they’ll definitely take you to use against him.”
This was how Jade Spring Palace had lost more than half of its hundreds of inner disciples back then.
Tang Li felt deeply saddened. “Then… has the Spirit Heart Sect long abandoned Jade Spring Palace?”
“At first, when the Master wasn’t so mad yet, they hadn’t abandoned us. But after the Master nearly beat to death the senior brothers who went to the Secret Realm with you, and then discovered your soul had scattered…” Yuan Lan couldn’t continue.
Luo Chen picked up where she left off, “When he realized you couldn’t be revived, the Master… went on a killing spree.”
“That day, he sought revenge against every sect that had entered the Secret Realm, creating irreconcilable enmity.”
“The Sect Leader and other palace masters repeatedly tried to stop him without success. The Master’s cultivation was already higher than the Sect Leader’s, who was powerless to intervene and even got injured by the Master.”
Tang Li gasped. “But… the Sect Leader is the Master’s own senior brother!”
“That’s why I say the Master has long changed. His inner demons run deep and are difficult to eradicate.” Yuan Lan still trembled remembering the bloodshed that swept through the World of Cultivation a century ago.
“The Sect Leader had no choice but to announce the expulsion of all Jade Spring Palace members from the sect, calling for the entire cultivation world to eliminate them, making everyone fair game.”
Tang Li felt increasingly unsettled. She lowered her head, looking at her bandaged wrists. “…I must go find the Master.”
“Little Junior Sister?!” everyone exclaimed in alarm, trying to stop her.
“Do you know where Senior Brother Ling is?” Tang Li asked, lifting her gaze.
Yuan Lan caught her breath, cautiously inquiring, “Little Junior Sister, could it be… you still have feelings for Senior Brother Ling?”
Only after the Master descended into darkness did she realize that in his heart, the little junior sister meant everything.
But since the Master cultivated the Path of Emotional Detachment, he would never pursue any relationship with her.
Not to mention that such matters between master and disciple would be considered scandalous.
“It’s not about feelings. This matter stems from me.”
“If I hadn’t been willful and insisted on following the senior brothers to the Secret Realm, none of this would have happened. I should take responsibility and persuade the Master to stop.” Tang Li insisted.
Number 78 couldn’t help but sigh again.
Stealing the magical treasure to enter the Secret Realm was a crucial plot point—their Little Lychee had no choice but to go.
This world followed the male protagonist’s growth arc. Ling Yuanyi, as the world’s male lead, had faced hardships since childhood. Though exceptionally talented, he suffered constant oppression within his family.
Only after coming to Jade Spring Palace did he gradually shine.
According to the world’s plot, Ling Yuanyi was currently at his lowest point when the little junior sister died taking a blow meant for him, awakening his determination and enabling him to obtain the heavenly treasure in the Secret Realm, rapidly advancing his cultivation.
This plot segment was full of dramatic climaxes, with Tang Li’s character being merely a tool—a cannon fodder pawn.
But who could have predicted that Zhe He would fall into darkness?
“Why should you bear responsibility for the Master’s wrongdoings? Don’t be too hard on yourself, Little Junior Sister.” Luo Chen disagreed with her reasoning.
Yuan Lan felt the same. “No one forced the Master—everything he did was by his own choice. Even if Little Junior Sister made mistakes, her only fault was sneaking out without permission.”
“As for Senior Brother Ling… after he brought back your ashes, he was severely injured by our master, then taken away by him. His fate remains unknown.”