Chapter 22: The Devastating Power of a First Love

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Mo Zichuan’s questioning was met with the sect leader’s stern authority, compelling him to quietly lower his head and fall silent. The other disciples, adhering to the sect leader’s paramount principle, tacitly agreed that all the fault lay with Shi Murang.

“This former senior sister who was discarded had the problem all along. How is it that now she’s blaming the sect leader?”

“I think she did it on purpose. She previously caused countless casualties among our disciples, and if she hadn’t unleashed the Beast King this time, our sect wouldn’t have suffered such a calamity!”

“Sigh, after this, our sect’s position as the foremost sect will become even more precarious.”

“The sect leader is right. She died too early to face the punishment she deserved. She got off easy.”

Harsh voices echoed all around. Those who had once felt pity for Shi Murang were now swept up in the crowd’s condemnation.

Indeed! Everyone believed she was at fault, so she must be at fault.

It was just a pity that such a brilliant and extraordinary person had died so miserably.

Seeing this scene, Zhai Zhe’s heart ached, yet he maintained his imposing authority.

He looked into the void, forcibly putting on a calm demeanor: “Shi Murang is no longer a disciple of our sect. Now that she has perished and vanished from the Dao, why do you all still not retreat swiftly?”

“Is this an attempt to declare war on our sect?”

Gongxi Xinghe and Shan Qixiang saw Zhai Zhe’s ruthlessness and felt as if they were watching a grand drama.

It was a pity that no one had gained anything from it, making the journey pointless.

Fortunately, Zhai Zhe himself had gained nothing and even lost a talented disciple.

With this in mind, the Yuheng Sect and the Wuxu Sect led the retreat.

They had only intended to seize some benefits, not to start a war.

Although it was unclear who had pierced through the great formation earlier, it was highly likely the work of demonic forces.

The demonic powers were growing ever stronger, and now was not the time for righteous sects to fight among themselves.

“Brother Zhai, we shall meet again another day.”

Gongxi Xinghe and Shan Qixiang boarded their sect’s flying ship and departed.

It seemed they had merely been background actors, witnessing an extraordinary performance.

From now on, Zhai Zhe’s cold and ruthless reputation would spread throughout all of Dongzhou!

And the news that soon circulated was that Shi Murang had betrayed the sect and mercilessly harmed her fellow disciples.

Zhai Zhe had only been purging the sect’s ranks, yet he earned a good reputation.

Once the demonic forces departed, he returned to the main peak to restore everything before entering seclusion.

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Yet, the moment he closed his eyes, images of Shi Murang flooded his mind.

Tears glimmered in his eyes. “Disciple, your master will avenge you! Demonic forces, I shall never forgive you!”

Meanwhile, Jiang Wanwan, who had been the first to secretly stir resentment against Shi Murang, watched as the sect disciples gradually turned their anger toward Shi Murang with a delighted smile.

As long as everyone had a scapegoat, her own wrongdoings would be forgotten.

Or rather, not forgotten but entirely shifted onto Shi Murang!

After all, Shi Murang was dead and had no one to back her up.

After leaving the sect, Shi Murang had no background—how could she compare to Jiang Wanwan?

In terms of connections and influence, no disciple of Tiandao Sect would ever praise Shi Murang in her presence.

Over the past two years since entering the sect, Jiang Wanwan had gradually suppressed Shi Murang, relying on the favor of sect elders and the sect leader.

Though Shi Murang was gifted, she could only suffer defeat against those in power within the sect.

This made Jiang Wanwan even more aware of the importance of having a strong backing!

Because of this, she was eager to trample Shi Murang underfoot and replace her entirely!

Even if one’s strength and talent were lacking, as long as one had backing, Jiang Wanwan could still prosper!

Indeed, despite lacking a Golden Core cultivation, she remained the sect’s senior sister, revered by thousands!

All because Zhai Zhe was willing to protect her!

“Shi Murang, you’ve finally been completely crushed beneath my feet. From now on, everything of yours belongs to me.”

“No one will ever compete with me again!”

Jiang Wanwan proudly gazed in the direction where Shi Murang had dissipated.

She felt the promising days of the future beckoning to her.

...

“Tsk, tsk, no wonder those two were the best master and disciple—it turns out they were both stepping on me to achieve their goals.”

“But why does Jiang Wanwan think she will have a better life?”

The power of a beloved figure is great, but a deceased beloved is invincible!

Clearly, Jiang Wanwan did not grasp the meaning of this.

Shi Murang, feigning death successfully, sat in a private room of a tavern, surrounded by various scantily clad male cultivators serving her tea and casting sly glances.

She wore a veil, exuding a brazen aura, like a decadent noblewoman, calmly observing the men around her without a flicker of emotion.

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In her previous life as an empress, she had seen all manners of favored men and was long accustomed to their rivalry.

As the ruler of all, she naturally indulged herself—what’s the point of gaining such great power if not to enjoy it?

Shi Murang never skimped on herself.

Why should women always be the inferior party competing for favor? Men competing for favor was quite entertaining as well.

Watching Shi Murang, Shen Beijia sighed and sat opposite her, waving the group of flirtatious male cultivators away.

Once they left, their memories would be wiped clean, so there was no worry about leaks.

“Sister Ran, I’m about to reach the final plot point.”

“Yi Xing has gone mad, trying to imprison me, treating me completely like Jiang Wanwan, wanting to do certain things... even wanting me to sacrifice my spiritual root for Jiang Wanwan.”

“But don’t worry, my personality is completely different from Jiang Wanwan’s. In the end, it won’t be clear who is whose substitute.”

Shen Beijia revealed a wicked smile, her eyes cold toward Yi Xing.

Shi Murang nodded slightly. “What do you plan to do?”

“I… will rebel against the imprisonment. I’ll make him call on heaven and earth in vain!”

“All the tools he prepared, I will use them all against him!”

“After all, I’m the future archvillain; he’s just a little trash, not worth mentioning!”

During her time with the demonic forces, Shen Beijia initially feigned weakness. Yi Xing completely treated her as Jiang Wanwan’s substitute, showing no mercy.

Gradually, she deliberately let Yi Xing discover her maliciousness and wickedness.

Whenever others approached Yi Xing, he would occasionally catch Shen Beijia attacking them in a deranged manner.

And she did it so cleanly that no one else noticed.

This caused Yi Xing to start changing his opinion of Shen Beijia, perhaps thinking he had found an equal.

Though he still verbally insulted her, his actions grew gentler.

Shen Beijia was confident: “At the final plot point, I will make him understand who is whose substitute.”

“People must have self-awareness.”

“All that he invested in me before, I will repay it double, no, tenfold!”