“Outer disciple Ye Chen, having his Dantian crippled, no longer possesses the opportunity to cultivate into an immortal. He is hereby expelled from Zheng Yang Sect and forbidden from stepping foot on Zheng Yang Mountain for the rest of his life.”
In the majestic grand hall, a voice, cold as ice and imbued with absolute authority, resonated, like that of a judge pronouncing a verdict.
Below, Ye Chen stood motionless in the grand hall, his complexion as pale as a sheet of white paper.
Hearing the judge's cold, merciless voice, he slowly clenched his fists. The force was so immense that his fingernails dug deep into his palms, causing fresh blood to stream out.
His Dantian was destroyed; he no longer had the opportunity to cultivate into an immortal.
Ye Chen let out a laugh, but it was one full of bitter desolation.
Three days ago, he had helped the sect descend the mountain to gather medicinal herbs, only to be ambushed by a master from an enemy sect.
Nevertheless, Ye Chen had still done his utmost to protect the spiritual herbs, and, having narrowly escaped death, returned to the sect.
With his Dantian crippled, he had become nothing more than a good-for-nothing.
However, Ye Chen had never imagined that his loyalty would be worth less than a penny in the eyes of these high and mighty individuals. They only wanted to expel him from the sect as soon as possible, as if he were nothing but discarded trash.
“Aren't you leaving yet?” Seeing Ye Chen still standing motionless, an irritated voice resonated in the grand hall once more.
“Your Dantian is already crippled, what’s the point of staying here? Zheng Yang Sect has never kept useless people.”
“Keeping you for three days has already been merciful enough.”
Each voice that rang out in the grand hall was extremely grating, and to Ye Chen's ears, they were like needles piercing deep into his heart.
“A sect like this truly disappoints me,” a choked voice, filled with indignation, rang out.
Ye Chen left those words behind, then silently turned and departed.
Outside the hall, mountains stretched endlessly, towering ancient trees pierced the sky, spiritual energy was dense, clouds drifted lazily, and immortal cranes filled the heavens.
This peaceful scenery was truly no different from a celestial realm on earth.
This place was Zheng Yang Sect, a cultivation sect located in the south of Da Chu.
Yet now, everything in Ye Chen's eyes had turned cold, making him shiver involuntarily.
“I told you so, he still got expelled from the sect,” disciples of the sect pointed and spoke in mocking tones as soon as Ye Chen stepped out.
“Ye Chen is truly pitiful. He used to treat us so well. Perhaps we should go see him off.”
“See him off for what? We are immortals, what is he?”
“Today is not like yesterday anymore.”
The sounds of sighs and sarcastic laughter rang out, making Ye Chen lower his head.
He intended to say something, but the words caught in his throat, as if he had a fishbone stuck there.
At this moment, Ye Chen was no different from a criminal despised by the world.
That's right, he was no longer the Ye Chen of before.
Today's Ye Chen was no longer a cultivator destined for immortality, but a good-for-nothing whose Dantian had been crippled.
His pride and arrogance no longer existed.
Faced with the cold indifference of the world, he could only silently accept it.
Ha ha ha.
Mocking laughter echoed everywhere. A disciple in white robes, holding a folding fan, walked over, looking at Ye Chen with eyes full of disdain: “Oh, who is this? Isn't this our Senior Brother Ye?”
Ye Chen slightly raised his head, and through his hair, made out the appearance of the person opposite him.
This person had a pale face and thin lips; he looked handsome but had slanted eyes.
“Zhao Kang,” Ye Chen searched his memories and recalled the name.
Triệu Khang wasn't this arrogant in the past.
Back then, he was still very respectful towards Diệp Thành.
His thoughts were interrupted. Triệu Khang circled Diệp Thành, sizing him up from head to toe: "Senior Brother Diệp, what a state you're in now. Seeing you like this, my heart truly aches for you."
Knowing he was being mocked, Diệp Thành said nothing more and immediately strode away.
"Don't go!" Triệu Khang shuffled over, blocking Diệp Thành's path, gently twirling the fan in his hand and looking at Diệp Thành with a knowing look.
"Get out of the way!"
"You're already worthless, yet you're still so stubborn," he said, snapping his fan shut. The smile on Triệu Khang's face suddenly vanished: "Do you still think you're the Diệp Thành of old?"
Diệp Thành trembled, wanting to retort, but found himself unable to utter a sound.
"Want to leave? Alright then," Triệu Khang spoke up once more. Saying this, he spread his legs wide, looking at Diệp Thành with amusement: "Crawl through my legs to pass. If I'm amused, I might even reward you with a few spirit stones for your travel expenses."
"Triệu Khang!" A voice rang out.
At this moment, a bone-chilling gaze appeared in Diệp Thành's eyes.
"Senior Brother Triệu Khang, isn't what you're doing..." a disciple among the surrounding crowd spoke up softly, wanting to defend Diệp Thành, but his words carried no weight, as he was in a weak position.
"Do you want to die?" Triệu Khang snapped, turning his head and glaring at the disciple. The surroundings fell silent, as if fearing Triệu Khang's strength; no one even dared to breathe loudly.
Seeing Triệu Khang's demeanor, Cơ Tuyết Băng merely gave a polite nod and maintained her usual cold demeanor, as if no worldly interference could cause any change in her eyes.
Cơ Tuyết Băng walked up to Diệp Thành.
Although she felt regret in her heart and let out a soft sigh, in Cơ Tuyết Băng's eyes, nothing was expressed but an icy gaze, as if wanting to say: "We are no longer on the same path."
"Travel safely." Just four words, though as light as the sounds of nature, they could not conceal Cơ Tuyết Băng's voice, cold as ice.
"What is this, Junior Sister? Pity?" Without looking at Cơ Tuyết Băng, Diệp Thành merely bent down to pick up his satchel from the ground, his voice still as warm as before.
These words were truly heartbreaking.
Cơ Tuyết Băng said nothing; she only felt that their past relationship was like a gust of wind.
"I'm leaving, I'm leaving," Diệp Thành said, brushing the dust off his satchel. He slowly turned around, taking heavy steps, his thin figure walking under the moonlight, looking utterly lonely.