Chapter 58: Wait a Minute~

Li Qingran fell outside the door, and the female cultivators guarding both sides quickly helped her up.

At this moment, Li Qingran was still baffled. She didn't understand why the young master of Spirit Rhyme Valley, who had been chatting with her just fine moments ago, suddenly pushed her out. Was it simply because her master was a man?

"Sorry, little sister, you didn't pass our young master's assessment."

One of the female cultivators smoothed out the wrinkles on Li Qingran's clothes, her face filled with apology, but she still firmly guided Li Qingran toward the exit.

Li Qingran didn't want to lose the chance to join Spirit Rhyme Valley.

In her mind, Spirit Rhyme Valley was likely the sect most likely to possess ancient alchemy recipes. At the same time, Spirit Rhyme Valley could teach her medical skills, which would allow her to help her master in some way.

So she stopped in her tracks and bowed to the female cultivator: "This junior would like to know the reason."

The female cultivator pursed her lips, glanced quickly at the distant suite, and led Li Qingran to a corner. After making sure no one was around, she lowered her voice and said:

"If you were just an ordinary talent, I wouldn't tell you this. But you have a single spiritual root, and you'll undoubtedly achieve great things in the future. I don't want you to hold a grudge against the young master because of this. She wasn't like this before…

I can't go into detail about what happened, but just know that Spirit Rhyme Valley is now very strict about disciples forming relationships, and our young master has a deep hatred for men, especially male masters."

A deep hatred for men?

Li Qingran said urgently: "But my master is a very good person! He's not a bad man—I can vouch for that—and he won't come to Spirit Rhyme Valley either…"

The female cultivator shook her head: "It doesn't matter. Our young master once struggled with this herself. She tested ten thousand men, and all of them failed. She already had psychological scars from some past events, and after the tests failed, her hatred for men deepened. In the past, Spirit Rhyme Valley simply didn't accept male cultivators. Now, no man is allowed within fifty miles of Spirit Rhyme Valley. Extremely talented male cultivators can join, but they must castrate themselves."

Li Qingran's face froze, feeling both speechless and anxious.

"Can't you make an exception? Or let me explain to your young master?"

"No, you'd better leave quickly." The female cultivator waved her hand: "The Enlightenment Assembly is almost over. The major sects will be taking their flying ships back to their mountains. The next one won't be until next month. If you go now, you might still be able to join a decent sect. Spirit Rhyme Valley… sigh, we're just not fated to have you."

After saying this, the female cultivator left without giving Li Qingran any further chance.

"How could this happen?!" When Chen Huaian left, Li Qingran had held back her tears. But now, after being inexplicably kicked out of Spirit Rhyme Valley, she was on the verge of crying. Aside from Spirit Rhyme Valley, which sect specialized in cultivating medical and alchemy cultivators? Which sect would have so many ancient alchemy recipes?

How could she cure her master's poison?

Li Qingran stood blankly at the entrance of the inn,

looking back in the direction of the suite, feeling utterly useless.

Her master had given her so many opportunities, but when it was her turn to help him, she couldn't even take the simplest first step.

"Oh! Isn't this the little sister with the single water spiritual root?"

A voice that was neither yin nor yang suddenly rang out, filled with surprise and greed.

"Little sister, you didn't join Spirit Rhyme Valley?"

Li Qingran turned to see a group of people approaching.

At the front was a pale-faced scholar.

He looked more delicate than a woman, his face as white as paper, with rouge on his cheeks. He carried a thin, short sword and four porcelain bottles at his waist, and his scent could be smelled from half a street away. His every movement gave off an artificial, pretentious vibe.

The pale-faced scholar looked her up and down and smiled: "Little sister, you must have been kicked out by that crazy woman, hahaha! I, Wei, never thought she'd dare to kick out a single spiritual root genius!"

He laughed until his face turned gray, as if he couldn't catch his breath, then bent over and took a deep breath, smiling as he said: "Ah~ just perfect! Little sister, join our Yin-Yang Sect! Our sect's influence is no weaker than Spirit Rhyme Valley's, though our reputation isn't as good… But as cultivators, aren't we all seeking the Great Dao? As long as we're not practicing demonic cultivation, what's wrong with using some questionable methods?"

Li Qingran's expression turned cold.

She had heard of the Yin-Yang Sect.

This sect, along with the Joyous Union Sect and the Blissful Zen Sect, was known as one of the three great licentious sects.

However, they were still considered part of the righteous sects.

Unlike the dual cultivation methods of demonic cultivators, the dual cultivation methods of these three sects emphasized mutual benefit and did not involve exploitation. However, their decadent lifestyles and chaotic private lives were looked down upon by other righteous sects.

She already had a master and would never join such a morally bankrupt sect.

Even if she didn't have a master, the path pursued by such a sect didn't align with her own.

"This junior thanks the elder for his kindness," Li Qingran said politely, declining: "The Yin-Yang Sect is impressive, but this junior would prefer to find a sect more suited to a water spiritual root."

"Our Yin-Yang Sect also has water-based techniques—both Yellow and Mystic grade. You can choose whichever you like."

"This junior already has a master, and I dare not disobey his orders. Please, elder, do not make things difficult for me." Li Qingran bowed again.

"Hmph! Make things difficult?" The pale-faced scholar's expression turned cold, and he sneered: "I think you're just disrespecting our Yin-Yang Sect! And what about this master of yours? Why don't you call him out and let me see him? Today, you will come with us!"

Li Qingran bit her lower lip. Of course, she couldn't summon her master.

She also didn't want to disturb him while he was dealing with the great demon.

That demon was extremely dangerous, and her master would need to stay fully focused. How could he afford to be distracted?

However, although she didn't have her master, she still had the talismans he had left her.

She had originally planned to keep them as mementos…

Li Qingran reached into her storage bag and grabbed a handful of Thunderfire Talismans.

She hesitated, not immediately activating them.

The pale-faced scholar in front of her was likely at the Golden Core stage. These Thunderfire Talismans would be enough to blast him to pieces.

But afterward, she would undoubtedly be hunted down by the Yin-Yang Sect.

What would she do then?

Would she have to trouble her master to clean up her mess?

Li Qingran, you're such an idiot! You've ruined a perfectly good hand!

She cursed herself silently, her gaze locked on the pale-faced scholar as he stepped closer. A cold glint flashed deep in her eyes.

"Wait."

A light voice rang out in the air.

Then, a massive sword, half a meter wide and as tall as a roof eave, slammed down with a boom between Li Qingran and the group from the Yin-Yang Sect.

A gust of wind followed.

The heavy sword swayed slightly, and a leg dangled down from it. A gourd knocked against the hilt, spilling a few drops of wine.

It was a woman dressed in black, with black pants and a black veil covering her face.

She sat cross-legged, her shoes worn out at the toes, revealing half of her foot.

As the veil fluttered in the wind, a mix of alcohol and garlic wafted out, followed by a lazy voice.

"This girl… we've taken a liking to her, hic—!"

"You all… hic, better…

get lost—!"

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