"A pity. A true pity."
Gazing at the disheveled, madman-like Wuya, Immortal Master Zhen Ting sighed with regret. "Possessing the Immortal Dao Edict Mandate and obtaining the Present-Era Mandate, he should have had boundless prospects. Yet to suffer such tribulation... a pity. Truly a pity."
Immortal Master Zhen Ting could see that although Wuya's cultivation and fortune remained, his Heart-Mind was already shattered beyond repair, his spirit had completely collapsed, and even his soul was lost. This was the most taboo occurrence for a cultivator. Cultivation could be regained, fortune could be reacquired, but once the Heart-Mind was shattered, reshaping it was no easy task—it was as difficult as ascending to heaven. It would require ten years, a hundred years, even a thousand or ten thousand years to rebuild the Heart-Mind. Coupled with a collapsed spirit and a dazed consciousness, recovery became even more improbable.
"He brought this upon himself. What's there to pity?"
True Yang Wine Immortal said, "If he hadn't made a move against that Gu kid back then, he wouldn't have suffered such a blow. But then again, this kid's resilience is too weak. He can't even withstand a setback like this, and that Gu kid didn't even do much to him."
"Wuya has always been arrogant, believing himself to stand at the peak. It wasn't until he met the Red Sky Sovereign that he realized he had always been at the foot of the mountain."
The speaker was Ghost Elder. Earlier, when Wuya went mad, he had injured Ghost Elder, leaving him severely wounded. Clutching his chest, his face ashen, Ghost Elder looked at Wuya with complex emotions and shook his head. "Wuya simply couldn't accept this reality, which is why he lost his mind..." As he spoke, Ghost Elder was filled with self-reproach, blaming himself for not properly advising Wuya.
"Senior Brother, I advise you to lock this kid up. Judging by his condition, it won't be long before his self-awareness vanishes, his human form perishes, and he completely falls into demonhood. You should make preparations early."
After True Yang Wine Immortal finished speaking, Ghost Elder, disregarding his own serious injuries, knelt and pleaded, "I beg all the elders to give Wuya a chance. I believe Wuya can surely emerge from this predicament."
True Yang Wine Immortal said bluntly, "You're also a senior. You should know that in cases like his, it's almost impossible to recover. This isn't something that can be solved by mere words or time. Since ancient times, how many who have had their Heart-Mind shattered, spirit collapsed, consciousness blurred, and soul lost have been able to stand up again? None. Not a single one. At least, in all my years, I've never seen one..." As he spoke, True Yang Wine Immortal's tone shifted slightly. "Well, that's not entirely true. That Gu kid fell into demonhood three times in the past and still managed to awaken from it each time. Unfortunately, he is not that Gu kid, nor does he possess that Gu kid's indomitable will that even Heaven cannot steal, or that unbreakable heart that fate cannot destroy."
"Immortal Master Zhen Ting, I beg you... please give Wuya a chance!"
Ghost Elder kowtowed in earnest plea.
Immortal Master Zhen Ting shook his head slightly, sighing.
Although he said nothing, he understood that the facts were exactly as True Yang Wine Immortal had stated. Since ancient times, few who had their Heart-Mind shattered, spirit collapsed, consciousness blurred, and soul lost had ever stood up again. Because once one falls into demonhood and loses their humanity, they become selfless, desires dominate everything, Humans cease to be Human, Ghosts cease to be Ghost, To satisfy their desires, by any means necessary.
At that moment, an ethereal yet exceptionally calm voice came from an unknown direction: "Expel him from the Shangqing Sect."
Just as everyone was startled and suspicious, two figures materialized out of thin air on Bairi Peak.
One was an elderly woman who appeared aged.
The other was a woman dressed in a sheer red gauze garment, with a face of peerless beauty, stunningly captivating. Her beauty was neither seductive nor coquettish, nor was it ostentatious. It was a beauty that could make fish sink and geese alight, a beauty of unparalleled elegance and grace—dignified, magnificent, like a breathtaking, majestic, and peerless painting.
Seeing the woman, everyone was astonished.
For this woman was none other than the Sect Master of Shangqing Sect, Female Sect Master Ye Tianlan!
No one had expected the Sect Master to appear so suddenly. The elders, recovering from their shock, dared not delay. Led by Immortal Master Zhen Ting, they immediately bowed in greeting.
Yunwan also stepped forward joyfully, performing a kneeling salute. "Master, you... have you emerged from seclusion?"
Ye Tianlan merely nodded in acknowledgment, then looked at Wuya and said in a faint voice, "Exceptional talent brought you fame at a young age. Extraordinary fortune made your cultivation path smooth. The Immortal Dao Edict Mandate made you arrogant. By chance obtaining the Present-Era Mandate made you mistakenly believe you were the True Mandate Son. Instead of focusing on cultivation and serving the Edict Mandate, your state of mind inflated, and you presumptuously sought to seize Heaven's fortune."
"At the foot of the mountain, had you maintained an ordinary heart, you could still have been a promising talent. Unfortunately, you coveted fame and gain, eager to prove yourself, leading to your current fate. You cannot blame others; it is entirely your own doing, deserving of your punishment."
"You should not have involved yourself in this spectacle, especially the spectacle of the Red Sky Sovereign. You cannot afford it, nor can you bear the consequences."
"Heaven's transgressions may be forgiven, but self-made calamities are inexcusable."
"Today, this sect expels you. Henceforth, whether you live or die, leave it to fate."
"No! Female Sect Master, I beg you to give Wuya a chance!"
Ghost Elder kowtowed repeatedly, pleading.
"It is not that this sect does not give him a chance. That day at the foot of the mountain, when he stepped forward intending to make a move against the Red Sky Sovereign, his fate was already sealed."
With that, Ye Tianlan waved her hand. As radiance bloomed, the disheveled, soul-lost Wuya vanished instantly, as if he had never existed.
Ghost Elder, like a deflated balloon, collapsed to the ground, unable to utter another word.
"Elder Zhen Ting, I trouble you to announce this matter to the world."
Immortal Master Zhen Ting nodded in assent.
Just as Ye Tianlan was about to turn and leave, Su Hua's voice came from behind.
"Female Sect Master, please wait."
"Fairy Su Hua, there's no need for such formality. You may call me by my name."
Ye Tianlan turned to look at Su Hua and said quietly, "Does Fairy Su Hua have some matter?"
"I wanted to..." Su Hua had only spoken two words when Ye Tianlan, as if discerning her question, responded, "He has already left."
"Left?"
Su Hua indeed wanted to ask about Gu Qingfeng's whereabouts. She had been waiting at the Shangqing Sect these past few days but had not seen any trace of Gu Qingfeng. However, she wasn't overly worried because she knew that if Gu Qingfeng hadn't seen his master, Elder Zhen Jue, he definitely wouldn't have left. Yet she hadn't expected Ye Tianlan to say that Gu Qingfeng had left.
"Did he see Elder Zhen Jue?"
Seeing Ye Tianlan nod, Su Hua immediately panicked and asked urgently, "When did this happen?"
"Not long ago. He... didn't bid you farewell?"
"No... I never even saw him!"
Su Hua was both anxious and angry, indignantly saying, "That fellow clearly knew I was waiting for him. How could he just leave without a word!"
Then she asked again, "Do you know where he went?"
Ye Tianlan shook her head. She did not know.