Chapter 8

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Chapter 8

These matters could not simply be overlooked.

In the world of cultivation, losses often occur. Disciples can be careless when they venture out for training, or they may suffer setbacks during breakthroughs; every year, there are unfortunate events where bodies go missing, leading to new burial sites.

However, being bullied openly is a different story.

Due to the suspicious incidents of the Eye Serpent Plague and the blood blockage by paper, along with the troubles caused by Bone Abyss’s raids and abductions, ignoring these issues could lead to greater hidden dangers.

Although Master Ancestor was recovering and not going out, he had prepared an invitation and instructed two disciples to each take a grand-student to seek help from another sect.

The Master of Liu Jia Palace was also heavily injured and would be easy prey for ambushes if he went outside.

Cheng Ji was proficient in pharmacology but not skilled in fighting, making him not suitable for consideration.

Moonfire Valley comprises six palaces; after excluding unsuitable candidates, they finally selected Tu Xuixin from Tianhua Palace and Hua Tingxiao from Yuncang Palace.

Before setting off, Master Ji Qing had one important thing to do.

He needed to cut Ji Yang’s fate.

Moonfire Valley had a variety of practitioners, but the Path of Emotionless was quite difficult, and few people practiced it regularly.

Cutting off ties of affection, romantic love, joy, anger, fear, love, hate, and desire proved exceptionally challenging.

Once one entered this path, a seven-pointed seal would form in their heart sea. With each experience of completely severing emotional ties, a mark would be left on the seal.

When seven marks were formed, one could achieve celestial status and attain enlightenment.

Fear often leads to what one dreads; over the years, those practicing this path often find their soulmate early and have children quickly.

As Tu Xuixin bluntly put it, "If you’ve already had kids, why practice the Path of Emotionless!"

As a result, some practitioners eager to marry have trouble finding their ideal partner for many years, while others practicing this path conveniently have brief romantic encounters.

There are also heartfelt practitioners of the Path of Emotionless who wish to remain single for life, searching on QQ groups like 24908092, exploring ways while following daily broadcasts of Japanese and Korean dramas, desperately trying to find a solution. Once tested, their methods immediately become popular nationwide.

“Preemptively cutting off peach blossoms, achieving lifelong invincibility.”

Before the destined partner arrives, they aim to sever the connection, leading to forced marriages that might not end well for either party.

The only regret was that once this decision was made, it would be difficult to turn back.

Tu Xuixin kept his distance from the Path of Emotionless, even advising Ji Yang to wait until he reached adulthood before making a final decision.

With over one hundred and fifty years of memories, he had experienced many moments of longing and knew that nothing came easily.

Ji Yang pondered deeply before finally making up his mind.

His heart was pure, and the Master Ancestor held him in high regard; once he embarked on this path, both his talent and character would be fully realized.

“To sever the bonds of love, you must perform a ritual, make an offering to the Greedy Wolf Star, and petition the Old Man of the Moon to cut your ties of fate. Use white plum branches, dried mountain wine, and bitter pears to draw the Magical Formation.”

Ji Yang stood before the ritual platform, holding a white plum branch, as he watched Gong Wu taste the wine with a long ladle.

“How does it taste?”

Gong Wu winced at the bitterness, then scooped another spoonful and handed it to him.

Both of them frowned at the bitter taste, while Tu Xuixin chuckled nearby.

“You know it’s bitter, yet you still drink?” He had drawn most of the formation with a vermilion brush and called Cheng Ji over to discuss the process, casually adding, “It’s better to drink this now; in the future, the pain of love will be a hundred times worse.”

The Masters gestured from a distance with their brush pens, while the two disciples continued to arrange the five elements stones in their proper positions.

Ji Yang bent down to place a sky-blue stone at the intersection of the formation lines, then after a moment said, “I’m feeling a bit hesitant.”

“Are you reconsidering the method?”

“No,” Ji Yang shook his head. “I don’t want to take shortcuts.”

Severing emotions and desires relied entirely on one’s own resolve; he felt that this method seemed insufficiently sincere.

Gong Wu, hearing this, found it reasonable and laughed, “But it seems all those who practice the Path of Emotionless do it this way.”

“It’s still more humane than killing a wife to prove oneself; we shouldn’t bring harm to others.”

Ji Yang agreed wholeheartedly, having also heard those horrifying rumors.

After dozens of items were prepared, Master called out from afar.

“The yellow paper is ready! Subei, come and write the petition to the Old Man of the Moon!”

Ji Yang responded and began to write his birth date, the reason for the divine petition, and his current location.

Master watched intently as Ji Yang wrote the petition to the deity, then fell silent after the final stroke was completed.

“Your calligraphy is exquisite, with dragons and snakes dancing across the page; the strokes are like iron and silver hooks.”

“Subei, the petition hasn’t been burned yet; we can still change our minds now.”

Ji Yang replied calmly.

“I have no intention of marrying; I would rather live a life of peace and clarity.”

“I won’t regret this in the future.”

Tu Xuixin agreed, instructing Gong Wu to stand aside and observe the entire ceremony.

Thirteen disciples arrived to assist with the ritual, leaving Ji Yang standing alone at the center of the formation to burn the paper with spiritual fire.

Gong Wu stood outside the formation, feeling in high spirits.

Master Hua Tingxiao also stood outside, observing the ritual, and seeing her smile, found it amusing.

“Your senior brother has severed the bonds of love, and everyone thinks it’s such a pity. Why are you still smiling?”

“Hmm?” Gong Wu blinked. “Do many people find it regrettable?”

“When he was around sixteen or seventeen, many noble families sent matchmakers to him; surely you’ve seen it.”

Master Hua continued gossiping, “Earlier today, someone spread the news about his fate-cutting, and I heard there’s a little girl outside the valley whose eyes are red from crying.”

“Oh, I see,” Gong Wu said thoughtfully. “Master plans to take me out for training, so I went to ask my senior brother for a name.”

“From now on, my name will be Liu Feng. Doesn’t it sound nice?”

“Gong Liu Feng, that’s actually quite pleasant,” Master Hua praised. “Your senior brother is a man of many talents; if he had been born into an ordinary family, he might have passed the imperial exams and risen to a high position.”

As they chatted, blue smoke swirled within the Magical Formation, and the spiritual fire consumed the document in the young man’s hand.

The formation resembled an inverted peach blossom, each petal burning away until nothing remained.

Gong Wu sensed the surge of spiritual energy within the formation, squinted her eyes, and quietly absorbed a bit, finding it quite beneficial.

Master Hua chuckled, “Xuxin is so frugal; if he’s willing to give you the Primordial Pill to enlighten your mind, it must have cost him decades of effort.”

“Hey, Little Wu—I mean, Liu Feng—what does the Primordial Pill taste like?”

Gong Wu had already consulted her master and replied, “It tastes like peanuts, with a hint of salt and pepper.”

“He really can’t shake this old habit of adding salt and pepper to his elixirs!”

The final step of the fate-cutting ritual was when Ji Yang personally severed the bulrush heart knot.

The unopened bond of love was cut in two, never to bear fruit again.

Afterward, the ceremony for entering the Path of Emotionless began immediately.

Once the two rituals were completed, Master Ji Qing hosted a farewell banquet for all the witnesses.

The small dining hall, rarely opened, had even prepared three chickens and two rabbits, adding plenty of meat to the feast.

During the meal, some raised their glasses to congratulate the two disciples on their progress.

Others curiously asked if it meant no girl would ever like Subei again.

“Subei, how do you feel about it now?”

Ji Yang accepted a warm drink from a friend, savored it for a moment, and calmly said, “I feel nothing; it’s very peaceful.”

“He’s well-suited for this path. I still think it’s a bit of a shame.”

Tu Xuixin picked up a serving of scrambled eggs with green onions and reached over to tear off a roasted chicken leg for Gong Wu.

The master and disciple both enjoyed the meal immensely, and Master Hua Tingxiao asked, “So, what path will Little Wu pursue in the future?”

Everyone immediately grew curious and began chattering excitedly.

“Let her be an artifact cultivator! She could find an item she likes, imbue it with spiritual energy, and refine it. My senior sister made a spiritual lamp, and it’s truly beautiful!”

“Should Little Wu become a magical cultivator, or follow her master’s path as an alchemist?”

“Please, don’t let her become a sword cultivator!! I’ve had enough of that in this lifetime!!”

Gong Wu and Tu Xuixin exchanged glances, both feeling a chill run down their spines.

Oh no, how are we going to explain this?

With her unique constitution, she is destined to cultivate the Path of Reincarnation!

Throughout history, there has never been such a notion; who else can die and return to life as she does?!

At that very moment, Ji Yang spoke with composure.

“Tomorrow, we will journey to Jin Yan Tuo, a splendid opportunity for Little Wu to broaden her horizons.”

“Once you find something that catches your eye, it won’t be too late to make a decision.”

Hua Tingxiao poured himself a drink and smiled. “I consider myself fortunate to have landed a good task with your master, allowing me to venture beyond the valley and explore the grand sect to the west.”

“I’ve heard that Jin Yan Tuo boasts thousands of disciples, and their caves are unimaginably vast.”

“Can you guess where they established their sect?”

“Jin Yan Tuo lies at the confluence of three rivers; the terrain is rugged, with scarcely any villages nearby.” Ji Yang sensed something amiss and pondered carefully. “The surrounding mudflats are soft and prone to flooding; could it be that they built it in the water?”

“Your disciple is truly astute.” Hua Tingxiao chuckled. “Their entire sect is concealed within the depths of a thousand-mile waterfall; isn’t that marvelous?”

Gong Wu choked slightly, thinking to herself that she couldn’t swim; if she slipped there, she might end up as food for the big fish.

Tu Xuixin suddenly remembered something, picked up a package from the side, untied it, and handed it to her.

“It’s not fitting to sit around idly, so your master has gifted you a new…”

“Am I finally getting a sword?!” Gong Wu exclaimed in delight. “Thank you, Master!!”

Everyone congratulated her, raising their cups in celebration.

“Well, not exactly,” Tu Xuixin opened the silver crane ink-dipping umbrella in his hand, rubbed the back of his head, and said, “A sword is too mundane; I thought you’d look more elegant sitting on an umbrella…”

Ji Yang touched the personal sword at his waist, passed down from the eldest senior sister, and silently gazed at him.

“I admit, I’m biased.” Tu Xuixin readily acknowledged his partiality. “That sword you’ve practiced with since childhood isn’t serious; we’ll find you a truly exceptional one later!”

“It’s alright. I’m a bit biased too.” The young man filled his master’s wine cup and smiled. “You’ve been rather ordinary for many years; it’s good that you’ve come to this realization.”

The master finally relaxed and drank with pleasure.

“Phew, phew, phew!! So bitter!!”