Chapter 408: Leaving the Sect

Ye Zhiyao’s expression turned ugly at the sight.

It wasn’t that she absolutely had to continue the fight. In fact, this war held no meaning for her. Whether they fought or not was of no importance to her.

But... she couldn’t stand the smug look on Lu Sangjiu’s face.

And she certainly couldn’t bear to see her acting like a savior, dictating terms from on high!

’On what grounds? She’s clearly inferior to me in every way, yet she’s always so damn lucky!’

’Everyone likes her. Everyone wants to help her.’

’But how can they not see the injustice I’ve suffered, being suppressed and ostracized by Lu Sangjiu?’

’I refuse to accept this!’

Ye Zhiyao shot a sharp look at Master Qian He. "It’s one thing for you to defend Lu Sangjiu, but are you really going to agree to a truce now?"

"Have you forgotten? The Cold Crow Sect started this by capturing our Seven Emotions Sect disciples! Then they lured the Old Ancestor over, ambushed him, and destroyed his physical body. The Old Ancestor almost didn’t make it back!"

"Are you just going to swallow a humiliation of this magnitude? How will other sects view our Seven Emotions Sect in the future?"

"Or is it that... Sect Leader, you feel that now that the Old Ancestor has lost his physical body, he’s no longer a match for you, so you can completely disregard him?"

Her last words were a grave accusation.

Master Qian He hastily knelt. "This disciple would not dare!" he said respectfully.

"It’s just... I fear most people would prefer a truce right now. Under these circumstances, if our Seven Emotions Sect insists on fighting alone, I’m afraid we won’t be a match for the Demon Cultivators."

Ye Zhiyao sneered. "So what? You’re just going to bow to reality and trample the sect’s dignity underfoot?"

"If you do this, the disciples’ lives may be saved, but... will they still have the courage to press forward fearlessly and maintain a firm heart for the Dao?"

Her accusations were growing more and more serious.

Master Qian He frowned. "This disciple has no such intention! It’s just that, since we can negotiate, we can naturally make our own demands."

"The Old Ancestor’s physical body was destroyed, but there are Secret Techniques that can help him reconstruct it. The materials are just scarce. If we can negotiate with the Western Demon Realm to have them provide the materials, it would be a form of compensation for our side."

"Wouldn’t that be much better than fighting to the bitter end?"

He said ’fight to the bitter end,’ but if the other sects truly abandoned them, the Seven Emotions Sect, in its current state, would be no match for the Western Demon Realm!

At this moment, it was clear that Ye Zhiyao was simply putting Master Qian He on the spot for her own satisfaction, completely disregarding the entire Seven Emotions Sect!

This was a conversation between the Old Ancestor and the Sect Leader. Lu Sangjiu hadn’t wanted to step forward, fearing she would make things difficult for the Sect Leader.

But Ye Zhiyao was going too far, and she couldn’t hold back any longer. "If you’re so against a truce, why haven’t we seen you on the front lines?"

"You hide behind the sect, enjoying the fruits of the disciples’ labor, shamelessly using all sorts of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to increase your own cultivation. And now, when there’s a solution, you insist on sending the disciples to their deaths."

"Ye Zhiyao, are these words your own, or are they the Old Ancestor’s?"

With Lu Sangjiu’s words, many people began to look at Ye Zhiyao with a hint of scorn, clearly finding her actions improper.

She instantly became flustered and angry. "The Old Ancestor resides in my body! If something happens to me, will you bear the consequences?"

Lu Sangjiu stared at her coldly. "No one is trying to force you onto the battlefield. I’m just advising you not to talk big when you have no skin in the game."

"To put it bluntly, we don’t even know if your words truly represent the Old Ancestor. You should stop throwing your weight around, borrowing his authority."

As she spoke, she helped the Sect Leader to his feet and added coolly, "If you’re really that unconvinced and so eager to fight, fine."

"After our side has finished negotiations, you are more than welcome to lead the Seven Emotions Sect to attack the Western Demon Realm yourself. No one will stop you."

"You..."

Ye Zhiyao was choked speechless, her expression a colorful mixture of emotions.

’Why? I clearly have the Old Ancestor as my protective talisman, so why is everyone still siding with Lu Sangjiu?’

Seeing the contemptuous gazes from the others, Ye Zhiyao gritted her teeth and resorted to baseless accusations. "Lu Sangjiu, you’re defying your superior! Do you have any idea how disrespectful that is?!"

Lu Sangjiu fell silent for a moment, then turned to glance at Duan Xingyun. She gave him a respectful bow. "Ever since I came to the Seven Emotions Sect, I have been deeply grateful for Master’s protection."

Then she looked to the Sect Leader. "The Sect Leader has also defended me many times and treated me like family, for which I am equally grateful."

Duan Xingyun immediately understood Lu Sangjiu’s intention and couldn’t help but speak up. "Little Jiu..."

Lu Sangjiu smiled at him and cupped her hands. "Master, there’s no need to persuade me. I’ve already made my decision."

With that, she respectfully presented her Seven Emotions Sect disciple token to Master Qian He. "The Seven Emotions Sect of today is no longer aligned with my principles. As of today, I formally withdraw from the Seven Emotions Sect. From now on, I have nothing more to do with it."

When Lu Sangjiu said this, Li Qiancheng, Luo Linlang, and the others grew anxious.

"Little Junior Sister, don’t be rash!"

"Yeah, don’t say you’re leaving the sect just because you’re angry with Ye Zhiyao!"

"If you leave, what will we do?"

Lu Sangjiu smiled at them. "It’s not an impulsive decision. I’ve actually been thinking about this for a while."

As more and more people learned of her identity, and as word of her Immortal and Demon Dual Cultivation began to spread,

Lu Sangjiu knew she couldn’t hide her secrets for much longer. Once they were public, she feared it would bring trouble to the sect.

Lu Sangjiu didn’t want to drag the sect down. Besides, she truly disliked the toxic atmosphere Ye Zhiyao had created in the sect.

’In that case, it’s better to formally withdraw today.’

’And by doing it now, in front of so many people, even if my identity is exposed later, others probably won’t be able to drag the Seven Emotions Sect into it.’

Luo Linlang looked at Lu Sangjiu with teary eyes, gritted her teeth, and said, "Then I’ll also..."

"Second Senior Sister!"

Lu Sangjiu’s voice sharpened, cutting Luo Linlang off.

She looked at her seriously. "Master is still in the sect, and he will never leave the sect."

That single sentence stopped the words "I’ll go with you" from leaving Luo Linlang’s lips.

’That’s right. As much as I don’t want to part with Little Junior Sister, I can’t just abandon Master.’

’Master has been in the sect for hundreds of years. He is inseparable from it; he would never leave it in its time of need.’

’So how could I... be so selfish?’

Li Qiancheng and Shen Yuzhao understood this as well, so neither of them said a word.

Master Qian He looked at the disciple token Lu Sangjiu offered him, his heart filled with mixed emotions. But he also understood that with Ye Zhiyao’s current status in the sect, Lu Sangjiu would only suffer endless grievances if she stayed.

’In that case, why should I force her to stay?’

Sighing softly, Master Qian He said, "Alright. I will accept the token. From this day forward, Lu Sangjiu is no longer..."

But at that moment, Ye Zhiyao suddenly cut in, "Wait!"