Chapter 20: Steal Her Secret Manual

All cultivators looked in unison at Shen Qinghe, who was silently shedding tears, even in her sorrow she was without sound.

They finally remembered Shen Qinghe's recent misfortunes. She had first been repudiated from a marriage engagement, her own father then wounded by her former fiance, and afterwards, she became haunted by rumors.

Clearly she was the victim, yet rumors turned her into the villain.

At this moment, as pitiful as Shen Qinghe looked, Nan Sheng, standing between Xiao Chen and Yan Changsheng, was all the more detestable.

It was Nan Sheng who took someone else's fiance, it was Nan Sheng who had an ambiguous relationship with Xiao Chen, yet after Nan Sheng became the third party and stole Shen Qinghe's fiance, she turned into the so-called "Flower petal".

People couldn't help but suspect that this round of rumors was perhaps orchestrated by Nan Sheng behind the scenes.

Nan Sheng hadn't expected that not long ago everyone looked at her with eyes filled with admiration and envy, but after Shen Qinghe appeared, people began to sympathize with Shen Qinghe, and she had become the target of public criticism.

It could only be said that Shen Qinghe was several times more formidable than she had imagined, a fact she should not have overlooked.

Today, Shen Qinghe turned the tables on her in a way she had not anticipated, she mustn't let Shen Qinghe have the opportunity to turn the tables again if the chance arose.

She wanted to squeeze out a few tears and act out a painful scheme, but seeing Shen Qinghe silently wiping her tears, she realized her act had already been preempted, and she was so angry she gritted her teeth.

What was most hateful was that Xiao Chen and Yan Changsheng were both looking at Shen Qinghe, obviously falling for Shen Qinghe's ploy.

In a fit of rage, she pinched Yan Changsheng's arm fiercely, bringing him back to his senses.

His brows slightly furrowed as he remembered everything that had happened after he returned to the sect; he indeed owed Shen Qinghe. In recent days, his affection with Nan Sheng had progressed rapidly, yet he had never spared a thought for Shen Qinghe.

When he saw Shen Qinghe leaving the Spring Breeze Pavilion the last time, due to a few words from Nan Sheng, he was preconceived in his belief that it was Shen Qinghe trying to seduce Xiao Chen, never considering that Shen Qinghe had nearly died at Xiao Chen's hands.

Because of Shen Qinghe's words, Shen Zhiyao found Xiao Chen to be an eyesore, and she subconsciously chose a seat for Shen Qinghe as far from Xiao Chen as possible.

By now Shen Qinghe had already dried her tears, her eyes blankly staring at Tongxuan Zhenjun lecturing on the stage, thinking to herself that indeed this act of self-inflicted pain was quite effective.

No wonder in the books, the fragile and tender heroines could always use tears to make the heroes live and die for them; today she had merely shed a few tears, effortlessly pushing Nan Sheng to the brink of controversy, and even pulling Shen Zhiyao away from Xiao Chen's side, killing two birds with one stone.

Most importantly, she could also draw on the spiritual energy from those heroes here; life couldn't be better.

After Tongxuan Zhenjun's lecture, as Shen Qinghe was about to leave the Juxiu Hall, Yan Changsheng suddenly blocked her path, "Qinghe, if you encounter any problems in your cultivation, you can come to me."

Shen Qinghe glanced at Nan Sheng beside him, then distantly and politely replied, "Second Senior Brother is kind."

Yan Changsheng wanted to say something, but in the end, he was unable to speak.

In the past, Qinghe was his fiancée, who liked to cling to him; he was indifferent by nature, and it was always she who sought him out.

Ever since he brought Nan Sheng back to the Sky Pole Sect, their marriage arrangements had changed, the Master fell into a coma, and Qinghe never again took the initiative to find him.

He didn't know what he felt in his heart, but he always thought Qinghe shouldn't be so estranged from him. Even if they couldn't be husband and wife, they shouldn't become strangers.

If he hadn't met Nan Sheng, he probably wouldn't have broken off the engagement and would have married Qinghe, living an uneventful life.

But he had met the woman he loved, and he couldn't control his own heart.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with pursuing love, but seeing Qinghe avoid him as if he were a snake or scorpion, he still felt guilty.

Standing beside Yan Changsheng, Nan Sheng saw Shen Qinghe walking away. Yan Changsheng was still staring unblinkingly in the direction Shen Qinghe had left, feeling a slight heaviness in his heart.

She was certain that Yan Changsheng's heart contained only her, but Shen Qinghe still gave her a sense of crisis. Each time she thought Shen Qinghe had no chance of turning things around, Shen Qinghe would prove her wrong.

The last time she had achieved Foundation Establishment, Shen Qinghe, this Spirit Root-less mortal, also unexpectedly achieved Foundation Establishment, and she felt threatened.

A few days ago, she had deliberately spread rumors about Shen Qinghe being promiscuous. Today, with just one sentence, Shen Qinghe had turned the tables, pushing her instead into the storm's peak.

Without removing this woman Shen Qinghe, she would never have peace. She had to find a way to permanently halt Shen Qinghe's Cultivation Base from advancing. The most devastating method would be to take away Shen Qinghe's "Heterodox Cultivation Manual".

Five days later, when Yan Changsheng went to look for Nan Sheng, he found her lying in a pool of blood, her face pale as if she had breathed her last.

He was terribly frightened and hurriedly picked up Nan Sheng, rushing to the Medicine Tower at the fastest speed.

The most competent Medicine Master Huang wasn't there, so he had no choice but to settle for Medicine Master Li to diagnose Nan Sheng.

Medicine Master Li was also one of Nan Sheng's admirers and hastily attended to Nan Sheng.

After the diagnosis, he shook his head and sighed, "The situation is not good. Shengsheng's method of cultivation is improper—there are signs that she might go mad and become obsessed."

Yan Changsheng's face turned grim, "How is that possible?"

How could Nan Sheng, a disciple of the Sword Master Tian Yan, employ improper cultivation methods?

"Shengsheng possesses a Sword Spiritual Root, a once in a millennium Unusual Spiritual Root. The uniqueness of the Sword Spiritual Root means that if the method of cultivation is incorrect, it is easy to stray from the path. Fortunately, Shengsheng has only recently achieved Foundation Establishment. As long as we find the correct method of cultivation, she can return to the Righteous Path," said Medicine Master Li with a serious expression.

Yan Changsheng looked at Nan Sheng who was unconscious, her face pale as snow, and his heart clenched with agony.

"If even Master Tian Yan's method of cultivation is not suitable for Shengsheng, what method of cultivation would be?" Yan Changsheng muttered to himself.

Upon hearing this, Medicine Master Li's eyes flickered slightly. He glanced at the unconscious Nan Sheng and gently persuaded, "I've heard that Junior Sister Qinghe has a special cultivation manual. Perhaps we could ask Junior Sister Qinghe to part with that manual. As long as we find the correct method of cultivation, Shengsheng can return to the Righteous Path. Shengsheng advanced from the early to the middle phase of her Foundation Establishment in just a few months. Such talent should not be buried, and as Junior Sister Qinghe originally lacks a Spirit Root and is of average talent, why should she keep that 'Heterodox Cultivation Manual' for herself?"

Yan Changsheng recalled that there was indeed such an incident.

The last time Dongfang Wuya gave a lecture at the Juxiu Hall, he and Nan Sheng had left early. Later, he heard that Dongfang Wuya gifted Qinghe a "Heterodox Cultivation Manual".

Although Qinghe's cultivation did not Advance after her Foundation Establishment, judging by the changes in her appearance, the cultivation was still effective.

Moreover, since the manual was a gift from Dongfang Wuya, it must be valuable.

If Qinghe gained no benefit from such a good manual, why couldn't it be given to Shengsheng?

At that moment, Nan Sheng slowly regained consciousness and as soon as she saw Yan Changsheng, she began to sob, "Brother Changsheng, my Cultivation Base seems to have regressed. What should I do?"

Seeing her in tears, Yan Changsheng felt a twinge of heartache.

He embraced her tenderly, "It's just a mishap due to improper cultivation methods. I will figure something out; don't worry."

He decided then—he would go ask Qinghe for the "Heterodox Cultivation Manual".