After Severing Her Emotions, the Whole Sect Was Overwhelmed with Grief - Chapter 29:

Chapter 29: Moving Toward a Final Break

After Liu Qingyue finished speaking, Ruan Xinyou’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Liu Qingyue’s gaze was filled with pride. He had long held a grudge against Bai Ying, and now was the perfect chance to teach her a lesson. This was the best opportunity—he would spread news of the duel to the entire sect and gather everyone to watch. He wanted to drag Bai Ying from the peak of her pride and crush her ruthlessly, letting her taste what real pain felt like.

She was simply too arrogant. She’d forgotten who had always been helping her. Without him, she was nothing.

“But Senior Brother,” Ruan Xinyou said with concern, “what if Bai Ying finds someone else to transfer spiritual energy to stabilize her root? If her spiritual root is fixed… you might not be able to beat her…”

“What are you thinking?” Liu Qingyue sneered. “Who would be willing to help her?”

“The requirements to stabilize her root are extremely strict. Not only must they also have a fire spiritual root, but their cultivation must be nearly equal to hers. As far as I know, only you and I qualify. As long as you don’t suddenly grow soft and help her, she’ll definitely lose.”

“If Senior Sister had asked me in the past, I absolutely would have helped her… But now that she’s slandered me like this, I won’t anymore…” Ruan Xinyou wiped her tears as she spoke, appearing deeply wronged again.

Liu Qingyue lowered his voice to comfort her, cursing Bai Ying inwardly for the thousandth time. He had never met a girl more kind than Ruan Xinyou—how could Bai Ying be so heartless to her?

…

Three days later, the area around the sect’s dueling arena was packed. Everyone was waiting to witness the match between Liu Qingyue and Bai Ying.

This kind of event was rare within the sect. Normally, if disciples had a dispute, they could resolve it at the sparring platform with a simple exchange of moves—any serious injury was forbidden. But duels in the official dueling arena were different.

There, each participant would face off against a fierce demonic beast. While overseen by powerful elders to prevent death, many challengers still came out crippled. This was a serious arena meant for life-and-death trials.

Liu Qingyue’s decision to challenge Bai Ying here, knowing full well that she was suffering from spiritual root instability, was clearly malicious.

He laughed to himself with a hint of self-mockery. He had truly cared for Bai Ying. Every time he sent her energy, he would consult the sect’s physicians about the best timing. He’d carefully schedule the next time he could transfer his power to her, avoiding conflicts like closed-door cultivation or dangerous excursions.

He had treated her well. But she had repaid him with ingratitude.

She probably didn’t even remember those dates—but he remembered them all.

Now, seeing Bai Ying walking toward the arena from afar, Liu Qingyue strode toward her as well. He stood in front of her and warned, “Bai Ying, I’ll give you one last chance. If you publicly admit you falsely accused Junior Sister Ruan, I’ll let this duel go. Otherwise, you’ll regret it.”

This was Liu Qingyue’s final bit of mercy. But Bai Ying didn’t even spare him a glance. She walked straight to the duel judge.

Fury flared in Liu Qingyue’s chest. She didn’t even bother replying! “You’ll understand soon enough what regret feels like!” he shouted after her.

Both participants stepped into the dueling arena. The judge raised his hand and summoned two golden contracts. Each combatant was to write a binding condition on the paper—if they lost, they must fulfill the winner’s demand, no matter how outrageous it was. Once the fingerprint was pressed, the vow would take effect. Breaking it would trigger a heart demon that could torment and destroy the cultivator’s mind.

Liu Qingyue wrote exactly what he had planned: if he won, Bai Ying must admit that she had framed Ruan Xinyou and publicly apologize to her.

But when he glanced at what Bai Ying wrote, his eyes widened in disbelief.

She had written: If I win, Liu Qingyue must never appear before me again—for the rest of his life.

Su Yu, watching from the sidelines, felt his heart jolt.

He had warned Liu Qingyue three days ago not to go through with this duel. The bond between them and Bai Ying had already begun to fray, and now… it was being severed for good.

He hadn’t expected her to go so far as to write something like that in the dueling contract.

Oaths made in the dueling arena had to be honored. The moment they were made, a heart demon imprint would form. If the vow was broken, the cultivator would suffer mentally and spiritually—possibly to the point of death.

Bai Ying genuinely never wanted to see Liu Qingyue again. She had completely abandoned this “Third Senior Brother.”

Even though he wasn’t the one being targeted, Su Yu’s heart still ached bitterly. He wondered if the day would come when Bai Ying turned away from him too. He had hoped to heal the fractures between them… but things had only gotten worse.

Liu Qingyue’s rage exploded. He had never imagined Bai Ying would write such a vow.

That damn woman!

His face turned bright red, nearly blood-colored, as if it were about to bleed. His eyes widened fiercely.

Bai Ying had the nerve to write that?

She really wanted to die!

Fine!

If she wanted to die so badly, he’d grant her wish!

Liu Qingyue slammed his fingerprint down on the paper and strode into the arena.

The dueling arena was divided into two separate zones—one for each challenger. A demonic beast would be summoned in each area, equal in strength and of the same species.

Victory would go to whoever defeated their beast first. If either of them was defeated first, they would lose.

As Bai Ying and Liu Qingyue stepped into their respective zones, two Midnight Tigers were released—both at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. This was higher than both of their cultivation stages—Bai Ying at the early stage and Liu Qingyue at the mid stage.

But for Bai Ying, this level of beast wasn’t much. She had already defeated beasts at the Golden Core Realm. This was nothing.

She summoned her treasure artifact, her figure light as a feather, gracefully suspended midair like a falling celestial feather. Her clothes fluttered, her hair flowed, and brilliant waves of spiritual power surged from her palm, striking the beast with precision and ease. She looked completely calm and confident.

On the other side, Liu Qingyue was struggling. He couldn’t challenge opponents above his level. Against beasts of equal strength, he could manage. But facing a stronger Midnight Tiger, he spent more time dodging than attacking.

Spectators all around the arena cheered one-sidedly for Bai Ying, recognizing her overwhelming power.

Every time she launched a strike, they applauded loudly. In contrast, Liu Qingyue’s side was silent and cold.

Hearing the lopsided cheers, Liu Qingyue clenched his fists tightly. While continuing to dodge, he kept glancing at Bai Ying’s side.

Just wait, Bai Ying, he thought bitterly. Your time is almost up. Maybe one more cup of tea’s worth of time, and your spiritual root will start breaking down.

Let’s see how they cheer for you then—when you fall flat from your own arrogance.