Chapter 41: Continuing the Reckoning

"Fourth Senior Brother, no… Zhang Hanxiao, you've lost."

Li Qingran looked at Zhang Hanxiao, who lay on the ground, and the knot in her heart instantly unraveled. She felt much lighter.

The entire sect square was deathly silent. Everyone stared in shock at the scene before them.

Li Qingran's spiritual energy fluctuations clearly indicated she was at the peak of Qi Refining, yet Zhang Hanxiao, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, had been defeated by her? Even though Zhang Hanxiao had only released his cultivation suppression at the last moment, even though his flying sword had broken… he shouldn't have been defeated so easily.

Sect Leader Wu Duantian was also stunned. He turned his stiff neck and asked Daoist Qingxuan beside him, "Elder Qingxuan, was Li Qingran really stripped of her spiritual root and had her dantian crippled?"

Back then, he had felt the punishment was a bit excessive, but since the Qingyun Sect's rules allowed each peak to manage its own affairs, and the sect leader's role was more of an overseer, he had turned a blind eye. Additionally, Daoist Qingxuan was the strongest and had some connection with the sect's founder, so he had let it slide.

Now, however, he was completely baffled.

His own personal disciple, Zhao Lingtian, had also had his dantian crippled. Any spiritual energy he cultivated would gradually dissipate, leaving him with no combat ability. Yet, Li Qingran, whose dantian had also been crippled, had managed to defeat Zhang Hanxiao, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator? This was too unbelievable!

Daoist Qingxuan stared intently at Li Qingran without speaking.

What shocked him wasn't just the combat power Li Qingran had displayed, but also her mastery of the Minor Formless Sword technique.

He vaguely remembered Li Qingran asking him for guidance many times, but her comprehension of sword techniques was limited. After explaining it several times and seeing that Li Qingran still didn't grasp it, he had grown impatient and told her to think on her own or ask Lu Changtian for help.

When Li Qingran left Chixiao Peak, her Minor Formless Sword technique was only at a basic level. Now, she could execute "Dappled Shadows," which indicated she had at least reached a masterful level. Although the Minor Formless Sword wasn't a particularly advanced technique—only at the Earth rank—it wasn't something one could master from a basic level in just a few months.

"Junior Brother Zhang!"

"Fourth Senior Brother!"

Seeing Zhang Hanxiao knocked to the ground, Lu Changtian and the others immediately rushed over.

Yun Zimo helped Zhang Hanxiao sit up, while Xiao Yifeng took out a healing pill and fed it to him, helping him regulate his spiritual energy.

Mu Baishuang, with tears streaming down her face, buried her head in Zhang Hanxiao's chest and sobbed, "Senior Brother, it's all my fault. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken your sword. If you still had it, you wouldn't have been hurt like this…"

But in her heart, she was thinking,

Thankfully, Zhang Hanxiao had given her that sword. Otherwise, it would have been a waste now. The sword in Li Qingran's hand was clearly a treasure. Even if Zhang Hanxiao had another sword, it would likely have been cut in half.

She was also filled with confusion and a hint of panic.

What had happened to Li Qingran?

Who was the powerful cultivator standing behind her?

Would they see through her disguise?

No, her identity absolutely couldn't be exposed!

The young master's lifespan was nearing its end. She had to do everything in her power to help him seize a chance at survival. Once the young master broke through his bottleneck and reconnected with the secluded founder, they would have a chance to rise again!

Mu Baishuang silently reminded herself to stay low-key and immediately stood up from Zhang Hanxiao, pretending to cry as she hid behind Lu Changtian.

"Li Qingran, you've gone too far," Lu Changtian pointed at Li Qingran, his expression cold. "No matter what, Zhang Hanxiao was once your senior brother. How could you be so ruthless?"

"Ruthless?" Li Qingran spread her hands and shook her head. "I'm only at the peak of Qi Refining, not the peak of Foundation Establishment. Injuring him was already my limit. Do you think I could have beaten him so severely that he's unconscious?"

Lu Changtian opened his mouth but found himself speechless.

He turned to look at the "unconscious" Zhang Hanxiao.

Zhang Hanxiao's face was as red as a brick. It was clear that this junior brother was pretending to be unconscious. His external injuries were serious, but they weren't enough to knock him out. He just couldn't accept the fact that he had been defeated by Li Qingran.

"Li Qingran, has your dantian been repaired?"

Daoist Qingxuan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke.

The disciples of Chixiao Peak were stunned and stared at Li Qingran. Mu Baishuang also peeked out from behind Lu Changtian.

"Thanks to Senior's kindness, my dantian has been repaired," Li Qingran brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, one hand resting on her sword scabbard, her eyes lowered as she stared at her toes. A faint blush crept up her ears, and her previously calm demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

However, everyone's attention was on her words, and no one noticed her shy expression—except for Mu Baishuang, who narrowed her eyes.

Women understand women best.

She didn't know what had happened to Li Qingran during this time.

But she could tell that Li Qingran had developed some special feelings for that mysterious cultivator.

The question was, how did that cultivator feel about Li Qingran?

This was troublesome.

If that cultivator's goal was also Li Qingran's Taiyin Body, how could she, with her current strength, compete with such an old monster?

Mu Baishuang bit her lip, her eyes darting around as she hatched a plan.

"Senior Sister Qingran," she stepped out from behind Lu Changtian, her voice timid. "I heard from Master that repairing a dantian requires an extremely rare pill called the Hunyuan Heaven Restoration Pill. This pill has been lost to time, and only it can repair a dantian…

What I'm saying is, has Senior Sister's dantian really been repaired? Be careful of those with ulterior motives. They might give you the illusion of help but actually be after something else…"

"Shut up!"

Before Mu Baishuang could finish, a fierce wave of killing intent swept over, silencing her.

Li Qingran tightly gripped the Su Xian sword, her knuckles turning white, her body trembling slightly. "Senior has shown me immense kindness. How dare you slander him so casually?"

Mu Baishuang, frightened out of her wits, quickly waved her hands. "Ah, I'm sorry, Senior Sister… I was just worried about you…"

Clang—!

The response to Mu Baishuang was the sound of a sword being drawn.

Li Qingran lowered her head, a strand of hair fluttering to the side as the Su Xian sword left its sheath.

A sword light shot diagonally toward Mu Baishuang.

There was no holding back. It was aimed directly at Mu Baishuang's throat.

Mu Baishuang didn't move.

She simply closed her eyes, looking pitiful.

She knew someone would act before her,

ensuring her true abilities remained hidden.

Clang—!

The sword strike was indeed intercepted.

Mu Baishuang opened her eyes to see Yun Zimo, the third personal disciple of Chixiao Peak, standing in front of her.

Li Qingran and Yun Zimo locked eyes.

The senior brother who had once shielded her now looked at her with hatred and disgust.

How ironic…

But it didn't matter anymore.

She no longer needed to care about these things.

She no longer needed to live for anyone else.

She was herself—Li Qingran.

No longer someone's junior sister, no longer a former personal disciple of Chixiao Peak, and no longer defined by others. If her life were to blossom for anyone, it would only be for Senior.

Li Qingran gently touched the tassel of the Su Xian sword. The coldness and indifference in her eyes gradually rose as memories flashed through her mind. A faint smile appeared on her lips:

"Yun Zimo, since you've stepped forward now…

Then let's start with you.

The reckoning continues!"