NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15
Chapter 015: “Fine, I’ll Leave!”
What kind of person was Lu Ye? Bai Qiulan knew him well enough.
She didn’t harbor any hatred toward him, but she struggled to reconcile the distorted relationship they shared. In the past, she justified their connection under the pretense that it was necessary to alleviate her Chaotic Yin Toxin. She endured it with clenched teeth and a bitter heart.
But once the toxin was resolved, Bai Qiulan found the arrangement increasingly intolerable. She could no longer accept this morally questionable and socially unacceptable dynamic.
Especially considering her role as a master. Every time she submitted to him, it felt like trampling on her dignity as both a master and a cultivator.
How could she not be ashamed?
With her own inner conflict brewing and the subtle prodding of the other women, Bai Qiulan finally acted on her frustration.
At that moment, the words “Perfect Returning Origin Pill” struck Yue Hongling like a thunderclap.
“The Heaven Stiffness Toxin freezes half of one’s energy. Does this mean Senior Brother used only half his strength to form his core? And that’s why he chose to take the Perfect Returning Origin Pill himself?” Yue Hongling’s voice trembled with urgency.
Bai Qiulan sighed softly.
“Most likely…”
Yue Hongling’s eyes turned red, and she bit her lip so hard it bled without her even noticing.
What a fool she had been!
Even as a former Heavenly Sovereign, it was impossible for her senior brother to form a top-tier core using only half his energy. He wouldn’t even have reached the level of a Heavenly Core.
Yet, she had been blinded by selfishness, assuming her senior brother was wasting the Perfect Returning Origin Pill just to spite her.
She never considered that he might have his own reasons for withholding it.
“Senior Brother… I’m sorry!” Yue Hongling shouted toward his room.
For the first time, she apologized.
But the room remained silent.
Bai Qiulan, a powerful cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm, had always respected Lu Ye’s privacy and never used her spiritual sense to probe his quarters. Now, however, her anxiety got the better of her.
“Lu Ye! Are you in there? I have something important to tell you!”
No response.
Finally, gritting her teeth, she extended her spiritual sense—and found the room empty.
Lu Ye was gone.
In truth, he had left long before.
With Chu Ling kneeling outside his door and three women constantly creating a commotion, Lu Ye had decided that every woman in the world was a stumbling block on his path to greatness.
He found a quiet place to cultivate alone, focusing entirely on his progress.
His cultivation was progressing at an astonishing rate, pushing toward the 9th stage Core Formation Realm.
Of course, while relentless training was essential, so too were vital resources.
One such treasure within the Dao Sect was an ancient key, long regarded as a mysterious artifact with no apparent use. However, Lu Ye knew it was the key to the God Burial Ridge, where an ancient deity had fallen.
The treasures of the ancient god weren’t particularly valuable, but a Divine Blood Flower had grown from the god’s corpse. This rare flower was one of the three celestial treasures Lu Ye needed to form his first life essence.
The other two—Wood Spirit Pearls and Profound Yin Soul Fruits—were equally indispensable. While these treasures might be trivial for cultivators in the Integration or Nascent Soul stages, they were priceless for someone at the Core Formation stage.
To acquire the ancient key, Lu Ye planned to participate in the sect’s disciple tournament. Winning would grant him access to the Dao Sect’s treasure vault.
Unlike in his previous life, this time the tournament would be far less challenging.
As time passed, autumn arrived. By September, the mountain air had turned chilly, and the red maples blanketing the peaks burned like flames.
Lu Ye’s cultivation had reached the ninth layer of the Core Formation stage. He could break through to the Nascent Soul stage at any time but chose to stabilize his foundation further.
If he couldn’t ascend yet, he would push his current strength to its limits, even attempting to reach the legendary thirteenth layer of the Core Formation stage.
One day, a majestic bell echoed across the sect.
“Boom!”
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
Radiant spiritual energy spread through the air as a commanding voice announced:
“All peak masters, assemble the disciples of the ninety-second generation at the Dao Plains immediately!”
Sword lights streaked through the skies as disciples from seventy-two peaks flew toward the main peak, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
Lu Ye, riding a simple but functional flying sword, joined the procession without bothering to look for anyone else.
As he arrived at the main peak, he spotted Bailan Peak.
To his dismay, the familiar trio—Chu Ling, Yue Hongling, and Bai Qiulan—began making their way toward him.
“Senior Brother, I’m sorry!”
“Master, I’m sorry!”
“Hu…”
Bai Qiulan opened her mouth, nearly calling him “Husband” in front of everyone. She stopped herself just in time, breaking into a cold sweat.
Chu Ling and Yue Hongling, both stunningly beautiful, had already drawn the crowd’s attention. Now, watching the two of them apologize in unison left everyone bewildered.
What’s going on?
Lu Ye showed no interest in their apologies.
“If apologies could solve everything, why would we need swords?”
Without a word, he turned and walked away.
But as he moved, the three women followed.
Step by step, they trailed after him.
Frustrated, Lu Ye stopped and growled, “Leave!”
The three froze in place.
Satisfied, Lu Ye walked off, indifferent to the sea of eyes fixed on him.
Did I just hear that right?
The crowd could hardly believe their ears.
Three stunning women had followed him, apologized to him, and this man—this madman—had simply told them to “leave”?
Chu Ling smiled faintly, undeterred, and resumed following him.
Yue Hongling, on the other hand, flushed with embarrassment. She was someone who valued her pride, and being publicly scolded like this made her want to disappear.
“Fine, I’ll leave!” Yue Hongling huffed, stomping off in the opposite direction.
Bai Qiulan sighed deeply, weary from the whole ordeal, and followed Yue Hongling.
Lu Ye had assumed that his sharp words would drive all three away. Yet when he glanced back, Chu Ling was still trailing behind him.
He chose to ignore her presence.
Meanwhile, the vice sect master began to address the gathered disciples.
“The Dao is vast, humanity is resplendent, and the seasons turn with heavenly order. Today, under the crimson autumn leaves, we gather for the 90th Sect Disciple Tournament…”
With the formalities out of the way, he announced the rules and rewards for the competition.
“The tournament begins now!”
The rules were simple: a single-elimination format, where every disciple had to participate and give their all.
Lu Ye listened carefully.
No changes from the last life. Perfect.
He was ready.