Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The Division of Power and the Decline of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect

They had anticipated this scene, but that didn’t mean they were willing to compromise.

And so, they continued to argue their points, their faces flushed red.

The once high and mighty, unfathomably mysterious Nascent Soul True Monarchs now resembled bickering merchants in a marketplace.

They possessed none of the grace or otherworldly bearing expected of them.

Song Wanning found it all rather ironic.

If word of this scene got out, who knew how many disciples’ aspirations would be shattered.

In the Cultivation World, how many people were truly dedicated to the Dao?

Most had simply lost themselves amidst the temptations of wealth and splendor.

She couldn’t help but look at the Sect Master. His utterly dejected expression, like a heart turned to dead ash, delighted her.

He certainly hadn’t looked like this when he was siding with Gu Qingyuan.

After a round of "friendly" discussion, the Mountain Gazing Sect ended up with only half of a tenth, while the other sects were all beaming and in high spirits.

This time, they’d managed to carve off a good deal of territory from the Heavenly Inquiry Sect. The tax revenue alone would make their own Sects even more prosperous.

After all, supporting a Major Sect required a huge annual expenditure...

This would relieve a great deal of that pressure.

Everyone’s delight was written on their faces. No one cared what the Heavenly Inquiry Sect thought.

Once the division was settled, the sect masters began the handover process with the Heavenly Inquiry Sect. In less than half a day, many cities had changed hands.

The various sects departed, satisfied. When the disciples of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect heard the news, they were devastated.

"It’s over, it’s all over! Has the Heavenly Inquiry Sect been reduced to a second-rate Sect?"

"SOB, SOB... What are we going to do? Everything was fine just yesterday!"

"What in the world happened?"

Complaints filled the Sect. Although no one openly blamed the Sect Master, the disaster had occurred on his watch, so he inevitably became the target of their resentment.

When they recalled some of the Sect Master’s actions over the past few years, the disciples’ resentment grew even stronger.

Many began to curse him behind his back.

The incident was a huge blow to the Sect Master as well. He never imagined the Sect would suffer such a fate under his leadership.

But he didn’t believe it was his fault. Instead, he began to blame Liu Lan Yi for ascending ahead of schedule.

"If Liu Lan Yi hadn’t ascended early, our Heavenly Inquiry Sect wouldn’t be in this mess. It’s all her fault!"

"With the Heavenly Inquiry Sect fallen to such a state, how can I possibly face my deceased master?"

...

The Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s power was greatly diminished, and from then on, it faded into obscurity.

The Sect Master was grief-stricken and did not show his face for a long time.

Song Wanning also entered seclusion, cultivating diligently.

She put on the air of someone fighting to revitalize the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

Meanwhile, Ye Chuxue finally came out of her seclusion.

She took the Elixir Pill she had refined and fed it to Gu Qingyuan.

The Elixir Pill quickly took effect. Gu Qingyuan slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness returning.

Ye Chuxue was instantly overjoyed. She threw herself forward and hugged Gu Qingyuan.

"Master, you’re finally awake! This is wonderful!"

’My Elixir Pill finally worked this time! I really am a genius of the Alchemy Dao!’

Hope rekindled in her heart. Her face was flushed, and her eyes shone with vibrant life.

A blush crept onto Gu Qingyuan’s face, and he gently pushed her away. But before he could speak, he suddenly recalled the scene before he lost consciousness and violently spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Master! Are you all right?"

Ye Chuxue cried out in alarm, her face a mask of anxiety as she looked at him.

Gu Qingyuan shook his head, his expression grim. "I’m fine."

’Lu Xingyao actually defeated me!’

’And in such a humiliating way!’

’He made me suffer a complete and utter defeat.’

Gu Qingyuan clutched his chest, his heart pounding erratically. A vicious glint flickered deep within his eyes.

At that moment, both master and disciple thought of the arranged battle. Their spirits sank to a low point, making it impossible to feel any joy.

Gu Qingyuan especially couldn’t bear to imagine Song Wanning’s reaction. He felt he had been disgraced to the extreme.

"I’ve grown complacent recently. Once my injuries have healed a little, I will enter seclusion to cultivate. Chuxue, you should also set aside your Alchemy for now and prioritize your cultivation!"

"The world is a treacherous place now. Without sufficient strength, one can hardly take a single step. This time, I, your master, was thoroughly defeated!"

Although his heart was filled with hatred and humiliation, he was more acutely aware of his own shortcomings.

In the years since taking on a disciple, it seemed he had neglected his own cultivation and had gradually fallen so far behind!

But as long as he strove to catch up, he was certain he could quickly surpass Song Wanning and Lu Xingyao.

Driven by his burning desire to win, Gu Qingyuan impatiently began cultivating before his injuries had fully healed.

However, the moment he closed his eyes, his mind was flooded with scenes from the dueling stage.

Lu Xingyao’s mockery, the shocked gazes of the onlookers, and every one of his sword moves being completely dismantled...

It all became a lingering shadow in his heart that he couldn’t dispel.

His eyes snapped open, his body drenched in cold sweat.

’This is bad. A crack has formed in my Dao heart...’

A Heart Demon was beginning to manifest. If he didn’t overcome it, it would affect his very foundation!

It could even affect all his future cultivation.

Gu Qingyuan suppressed the vicious aura gathering behind his brow, closed his eyes, and tried to settle his mind once more.

But the deep furrows between his brows showed that he was anything but calm...

*

At the Mountain Gazing Sect, Liu Yao and Liu Yiyi stood inside the Sect Master Hall, their fists clenched tightly. Their downcast eyes burned with humiliation and indignation.

The arranged battle was long over, but the consequences of their actions were far-reaching and had yet to conclude.

The two of them had been subjected to a merciless tongue-lashing and couldn’t even lift their heads.

Liu Yao couldn’t take it anymore and retorted, "Sect Master, I truly didn’t do it on purpose! Song Wanning deliberately set me up! I don’t know what kind of trick she used, but I couldn’t resist at all!"

"You have to believe me! I’m not an idiot. How could I possibly do something so stupid on an occasion like that?"

His eyes were bloodshot with agitation. The contemptuous stares of the people around him made him furious.

Worse yet, they were now saying he was the reason for the unfavorable distribution of benefits. The blame was too much for him to bear.

The Mountain Gazing Sect Master frowned at his words. To be honest, he didn’t think Liu Yao was that much of an idiot either. Perhaps there really was more to the story.

But so what?

If the two siblings hadn’t provoked Song Wanning in the first place, none of this mess would have happened!

"What’s the use of saying all that? Do you have any idea how much we’ve lost?"

The Mountain Gazing Sect Master was heartbroken and furious. The thought of how much they had lost because of these two made him want to beat them to death.

Liu Yiyi’s courage failed her under that murderous gaze. She cowered and took a few steps back, her heart burning with a deadly hatred for Song Wanning.

The two siblings already had no power or influence in the Sect; now they had been made into its greatest sinners.

"Forget it, just forget it. It’s not like you can compensate for the loss, so there’s no point in saying anything more!"

The Mountain Gazing Sect Master sighed and closed his eyes.

He waved his hand. "Both of you, leave. Just leave!"

After all, the two were pillars of the Sect. No matter how angry he was, he couldn’t just cripple them, could he?

So, he had no choice but to hold his nose and accept what had happened.

The siblings could only leave in disgrace.

But the impact of the incident was too great. No matter where they went, they were sized up by the other disciples.

Although no one dared to speak out of turn, the accusation in their eyes was obvious.

The pair returned to their mountain peak, simmering with pent-up rage. Liu Yiyi went so far as to smash everything in her room.

"That bitch! She actually schemed against both of us!"