Chapter 061: You’d Better Rely on Yourselves

She gazed at Shan Zhiqing and the disciples of the Primordial Sect, letting out a cold laugh. "Though the Primordial Sect claims to be the greatest among all sects, in truth it has existed for a mere eight hundred years. Only under the hand of the current sect master has it reached its present standing."

Before the assembled crowd, she summoned the Nine-section Thunder Whip, which transformed into a flood dragon. With a flick of her hand, the dragon instantly grew more than tenfold in size!

The enormous dragon coursed with a violet light of thunder and lightning, filling half the cavern. Lifting its head, it let out a resounding roar that reverberated through the cave, sending the disciples of the Primordial Sect stumbling backward until they pressed against the stone walls.

Never before had these disciples witnessed a Thunder Whip capable of assuming the form of a dragon; awe and fear gripped each of them.

"You believe that entering the so-called greatest sect makes you superior to others, but in truth you are nothing more than frogs at the bottom of a well, blinded by your own narrow view!"

Yan Shu swept her cold gaze over their disheveled faces and sneered disdainfully, "Understand this: it is not you casting us out—rather, it is I who refuse to associate with a band of worthless fools!"

No sooner had her words fallen than Xiao Jihan's voice sounded from outside. "Master, it's time to go."

Yan Shu shot Shan Zhiqing a frosty look, reclaimed her dragon, and strode out without a backward glance.

For a moment, the cavern was plunged into utter silence.

After a while, someone spoke in a low voice, "If I’m not mistaken, any weapon capable of taking the form of a flood dragon must be at least an acquired spiritual treasure, right? Does that mean she… she must have reached at least the Nascent Soul stage?"

"Her cultivation is one thing, but if I remember correctly, she said earlier that she was not yet a hundred years old? Senior Brother is a Heaven-grade spiritual root, and it took him over two centuries to reach the Nascent Soul stage!"

At this, the cave fell into another heavy silence.

After a long pause, someone suddenly spoke. "I recall now—she said her status in her sect was extremely high, and someone addressed her as Grandmaster…"

"It's just the so-called Thunder Peak Sect, which none of us have heard of. So what if her status is high there?"

"But that's the point! No one's ever heard of this Thunder Peak Sect. Maybe it doesn't even exist?"

"A hundred years of cultivation to reach the Nascent Soul stage, wielding a spiritual treasure, and of such high status—and just now, I heard Junior Brother Xiao call her Master. And she's aligned with thunder… Could she be that person?"

The crowd exchanged uncertain glances. Someone, not understanding, whispered, "That person? Who?"

A companion explained quietly, "She established her foundation at ten, formed her core at fifteen, achieved Nascent Soul at thirty, and broke through to the Divine Transformation stage before sixty. A once-in-ten-millennia prodigy, born with the Dao Embryo and a mutated thunder spiritual root. One of the five peak lords of the Mystical Heaven Sect—Yan Shu, Immortal Yan!"

Yan Tong… Yan Shu!

Every disciple of the Primordial Sect in the cavern felt a jolt of shock, swiftly followed by an overwhelming wave of shame.

They… they had just called Yan Shu a useless good-for-nothing! They had even complained that she was a burden!

They had scoffed at her, demanding how she could have the gall to seek their protection!

They themselves had barely reached the Core Formation stage after more than a century of cultivation—where had they found the audacity to utter such words?!

If there were a crack in the earth, the disciples of the Primordial Sect would have gladly buried their heads in it.

Yan Shu…

Shan Zhiqing stood there in despair, her nails digging deeply into her palm.

No wonder… No wonder Senior Brother once said he admired a woman whom he would have to strive endlessly to be worthy of.

She had always believed those to be empty words, a mere idealization. Never had she imagined that he had spoken the absolute truth!

For some time, shame hung heavy in the cavern. Suddenly, someone recalled an urgent matter and cried out, "This is bad! Senior Brother surely knows Yan Immortal's true identity. When he returns, what are we going to say to him?"

At these words, every head in the cavern turned to Shan Zhiqing.

She steadied herself, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up at the others and choked out, "So what if she is Yan Shu? Can you really say the earlier incident was my fault?"

The others exchanged uneasy glances.

Upon reflection, it was clear that it had been the youngest junior sister who first provoked Immortal Yan.

But if they were honest, all bore some responsibility for driving her away.

Moreover, the youngest junior sister was the only daughter of their master. If it came down to it, they would rather risk offending Immortal Yan than cross the little sister.

Those who understood this quickly chimed in, "Junior Sister is right—this has nothing to do with you. If anyone is to blame, it's Immortal Yan for hiding her true identity, and us for worrying too much about the sect's reputation. That's how the misunderstanding arose."

"Exactly, Junior Sister bears no fault."

"When Senior Brother returns, we'll explain everything to him. He'll surely understand."

"What is it that I’m supposed to understand?"

Yu Wenche strode into the cavern, his first action seeking out Yan Shu. But no matter how he searched, neither Yan Shu nor Xiao Jihan could be seen.

His brow furrowed at once, and he fixed his gaze directly on Shan Zhiqing. "Where are they?"

She wept softly, refusing to speak. The other disciples, who had just vowed to defend her and explain everything, also lowered their heads in silence.

Yu Wenche's expression grew cold. He turned his sharp gaze to one of the disciples. "Zhang San, what exactly happened?"

Yu Wenche was the foremost disciple of the Primordial Sect and a direct descendant of the imperial family. The disciples, though partial to Shan Zhiqing, still held him in awe.

Thus addressed, Zhang San dared not prevaricate. He recounted every detail, omitting nothing, from beginning to end—including how Yan Shu had transformed her whip into a dragon and departed in anger.

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenche's face darkened completely.

Shan Zhiqing, seeing his demeanor, tried to explain, "Senior Brother, I meant no harm. All I said was that Senior Sister Yan was deeply devoted to Junior Brother Xiao."

At this, the Primordial Sect disciples felt a wave of dismay.

They had all rallied to defend her, yet now she tried to wash her hands of the matter entirely!

Still, as she was the master's only daughter, none dared voice their displeasure. One by one, they lowered their heads, saying nothing.

Yu Wenche, face as black as thunder, turned his gaze from Shan Zhiqing to the crowd and said coldly, "The Brahma Secret Realm is a place of trial. I have already violated its spirit by lowering my cultivation to accompany you. Since you believe yourselves capable of standing on your own, I shall take my leave."

At this, panic broke out. "Senior Brother, what do you mean? Master clearly said you would guide us all the way."

Yu Wenche sneered, "Master only asked me to assist from the sidelines. You are all at the Core Formation stage now, and in such numbers—this is only the middle region. Even without me, you can handle it. Since this is a trial, it must serve its purpose."

"If I remain with you, you will never truly be tested. Do not worry—I will wait for you at the entrance to the inner region. For now, you must rely on yourselves!"

With these words, Yu Wenche turned and strode away, ignoring their desperate pleas.

The rain had already stopped.

After leaving the cavern and making sure no one was following, Yu Wenche took out the Mystic Spirit Mirror and sent a message to Yan Shu.