Chapter 1707 - 1704: Hidden Wounds

Chapter 1707: Chapter 1704: Hidden Wounds

"Brother Zhan Tai, since the major situation with Shang Qing Sect has been settled, I should return to Shifang City."

Shen Wanjing saw the departure of Wangxian Sect’s army and cupped his hands in a gesture of farewell towards Zhantai Chunqiu, Wan Daorong, and a number of Divinity Transformation Realm Masters, indicating his intention to leave.

The enemy has retreated, and the hidden danger of Shang Qing Sect has been resolved. Thus, it would be inappropriate for him to stay here with so many strong cultivators from Shifang City.

He glanced at Yan Family’s Spirit Ship with deep meaning and said to Zhantai Chunqiu, "If there are any further changes, feel free to send me a message, Brother Zhan Tai. The Southern Domain is inherently weak, and we must advance hand in hand, united in purpose, to ensure peace for the long term."

Zhantai Chunqiu returned the gesture solemnly, "Thank you, Master Shen, for your righteous assistance. In the future, if Shifang City encounters difficulties, Shang Qing Sect will spare no effort to help. And rest assured, Master Shen, I understand your sentiments."

Shen Wanjing smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "We are fellow cultivators in the Southern Domain; helping each other is only right. Farewell for now, until we meet again."

Zhantai Chunqiu and the others also cupped their hands in return, "Until we meet again, Master Shen."

"Until we meet again!"

"Safe travels!"

Shen Wanjing glanced once more at Yan Xihua but said nothing, turning away with the people of Shifang City.

Thus, before the mountain gate of Shang Qing Sect, only the people from Main Peak, Tian Nan Peak, Qingyun Peak, Daliang Peak, and Beiming Peak remained.

Oh, and a group from the Yan Family.

As well as those disciples from Tianzhu Peak who were abandoned but did not withdraw with the Wangxian Sect people, standing there anxiously, uncertain of what to do.

Zhantai Chunqiu scanned the Tianzhu Peak disciples and sighed, saying, "You all... rise."

A Nascent Soul Stage elder from Tianzhu Peak spoke with shame, eyes reddened, and a trembling voice, "Sect... Sect Master, we..."

"No need to say more." Zhantai Chunqiu waved his hand, "Wang Yuanxiao’s defection misled you all as well. If any wish to stay, you may be reassigned to other peaks. If you do not wish to stay, feel free to leave, Shang Qing Sect will not make things difficult."

At these words, many Tianzhu Peak disciples immediately had red eyes.

Some knelt and bowed, while others wept in shame, yet no one left.

Since they hadn’t left with the other Tianzhu Peak members who followed Wangxian Sect and Ran Weixian earlier, it indicated their allegiance towards Shang Qing Sect.

They were merely caught up and forced to partake in this conflict as Tianzhu Peak disciples.

In fact, those Tianzhu Peak and Beirong Peak disciples who left with Wangxian Sect and Ran Weixian did so because they were too deeply entangled with Wang Yuanxiao and Ran Weixian, and, during this internal strife, committed many wrongs against their fellow disciples, leaving them no choice but to depart.

Those who stayed were upright in their hearts.

Though Shang Qing Sect underwent such disasters, it remained rich in heritage, still a major sect in the Southern Domain, offering significantly more safety and opportunities for development if they stayed.

Conversely, those who left would be seen as abandoning their sect during times of trouble and would find it difficult to be accepted by other powers, given Shang Qing Sect’s continued influence.

And leaving to become a Loose Cultivator was simply laughable.

Though Loose Cultivators might seem free and unrestrained, in this Cultivation World where the strong prey on the weak, without powerful backing, let alone cultivating for longevity, mere survival would be tough.

Wan Daorong approached Zhantai Chunqiu and said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, after this incident, I’m afraid Shang Qing Sect will need a long time to recuperate."

Zhantai Chunqiu nodded, speaking bitterly, "Indeed. Though we preserved the sect, we suffered a loss of Primordial Energy. Especially..."

He glanced at Cao Zhengyang and Xiao Shuhui in the distance but did not continue.

Cao Zhengyang and Xiao Shuhui sensed his gaze, exchanged a glance, seeing embarrassment and unease in each other’s eyes.

Although they changed sides at the critical moment, salvaging the situation to a certain extent, the fact of betrayal remained.

Trust, once broken, is extremely difficult to rebuild.

Cao Zhengyang took a deep breath, approached Zhantai Chunqiu, and knelt on one knee, "Senior Brother, I have come to confess my guilt to you. At the outset, Wang Yuanxiao and Ran Weixian approached me together, and I had no choice but to play along, waiting for the right moment. I hope Senior Brother understands."

Xiao Shuhui followed, kneeling as well, "Sect Leader Senior Brother, I too am guilty. To protect my line’s inheritance, I wronged you, wronged the sect. Please punish me, Senior Brother!"

Cao Tianyang hurriedly said, "Senior Brother, Junior Brother Xiao previously contacted me in secret, and it was I who advised him to endure disgrace for the sake of preserving our disciples."

After this episode, he and Xiao Shuhui’s image in the eyes of others within the sect was bound to suffer greatly; they needed to stick together to get through it.

Zhantai Chunqiu looked at these two junior brothers before him in silence for a long time.

Finally, he sighed, reached out to help them up, "Rise. In this matter, you are not to blame. It was my poor leadership, failing to anticipate Wang Yuanxiao’s malicious intent, leading to this catastrophe for the sect. I am truly ashamed for failing the trust of our ancestors and the Immortal Masters. As for you two, thinking of the sect’s greater picture, you endured humiliation among the enemy for the sake of the entire sect. Not only are you blameless, but you have also achieved great merit."

Wan Daorong and Guanglingzi inwardly snorted coldly.

They understood that this was the Sect Leader Senior Brother’s way to preserve the dignity of the two and think of the greater picture.

Cao Zhengyang and Xiao Shuhui, on the other hand, were deeply moved.

They knew that after this incident, their image in the hearts of the other three had diminished considerably, and trust was lacking. However, in front of so many disciples and associated powers, the Sect Leader Senior Brother preserved their reputation in terms of righteousness and integrity. This was the greatest kindness and grace.

Both of them felt their eyes slightly redden and were truly moved, bowing to Zhantai Chunqiu in thanks.

Wan Daorong and Guanglingzi saw through this but didn’t expose it. To outsiders at the scene, although Shang Qing Sect suffered changes, it still preserved five of its lineages. Even though the lineages of Tianzhu Peak and Beirong Peak had disciples who remained, the sect’s overall strength, though slightly reduced, was still deeply rooted and not something ordinary sects and cultivation families could rival.

To the strong cultivators associated with Shang Qing Sect, even if some had thoughts of leaving previously, they now had to reconsider carefully.

Cao Zhengyang lowered his head and said, "For Senior Brother’s understanding, I am satisfied. How dare I speak of merit."

Xiao Shuhui also said, "Indeed, thank you for your magnanimity, Senior Brother."

Zhantai Chunqiu nodded, saying nothing more.

He knew that from now on, although Shang Qing Sect would still be called Shang Qing Sect, its internal relationships had been completely transformed.

Main Peak, Tian Nan Peak, and Qingyun Peak united as one; Daliang Peak and Beiming Peak, though they remained, now had rifts, making it difficult to return to how things once were.

Not only that, after this event, Wangxian Sect became prominent, seemingly having a suppressing advantage over Shang Qing Sect. The reputation of Shang Qing Sect in the Southern Domain Cultivation World had suffered a huge blow.