Chapter Seventy-One: I Wish to Change My Allegiance

“Wait, I have a question. You said that all five towers’ inheritances were taken by your Sect of Owed Mystics, and that’s why the gate to the ruins was opened?”

In the dim valley, the trio walked and chatted to ease the tension.

From the conversation between Shen Wan and Yun Yi, piecing together their exchanges, it seemed the whole story was explained.

Gu Zhiping was still a bit confused, so he asked them.

Shen Wan shrugged, unconcerned. “The inheritances from the five towers were indeed taken by our sect. Otherwise, why do you think those people are chasing us? But whether the gate was opened because of that, I couldn’t say.”

Yun Yi nodded in agreement. “The eight Sky-reaching Towers are the key to opening the gate to the ruins. I never imagined your sect would be so formidable—Valley Ghost Sect hasn’t managed to light even two towers at once in hundreds of years.”

Shen Wan paused inwardly. He knew better than anyone how the towers were lit.

But that was something he could never explain, much less reveal. Seeing that neither of them seemed to notice anything suspicious, he quickly changed the subject. “Girl, what exactly is the gate to the ruins? Are we not inside the ruins after all?”

Yun Yi was about to answer, but Gu Zhiping tilted his head and interjected, “Wait, something’s off.”

Both of them turned to look at him.

“When Yun Yi and I went looking for you, only two towers were lit. That’s when you had just reunited with your sect’s disciples, right?”

Shen Wan glanced over, rolling his eyes, and silently nodded.

“And then, while we were searching for you, all the towers were lit, weren’t they?”

Gu Zhiping’s expression was stern. He was simply following the sequence of events—there was no denying it.

Shen Wan nodded again.

“And in such a short time, your sect took down all five towers, and you were present the whole time, correct?”

Gu Zhiping pressed further, forcing Shen Wan to step back nervously, swallowing hard.

Truth be told, Yun Yi had already realized this, but who doesn’t have secrets?

Besides, this opening of the ruins was for the entire valley; if someone had the skill to claim the inheritance, even by unusual means, no one could say much about it.

So she intended to stop Gu Zhiping from asking further—it was disrespectful to pry so much.

But before she could speak, Gu Zhiping slapped his thigh and shouted, “I knew it! Ah, ah, ah! I never should have left you that day! Ah, ah, ah!”

His outburst startled Shen Wan, their faces nearly colliding, and almost sprayed him with saliva.

Gu Zhiping squatted on the ground, covering his face in regret.

Yun Yi was speechless—this guy was up to his antics again.

Only then did Shen Wan realize that Gu Zhiping didn’t care how he got the inheritance; he cared that he wasn’t among those who received it.

He pursed his lips, abandoning any thought of comforting him.

Suddenly, Gu Zhiping sprang up with a grave expression.

He pulled out a transmission token from his belt and scribbled on it.

Shen Wan and Yun Yi didn’t know what he was doing, but he then held the token to his mouth and spoke loudly and clearly.

“Father, from today I sever ties with the Primordial Sect. I will join another sect. Do not worry for me!”

With that, he stuffed the token back into his belt, turned to Shen Wan, and said sternly,

“Senior Brother, let’s go.”

His movements were crisp and decisive, leaving Shen Wan dumbfounded.

“How is that even possible?”

Gu Zhiping’s intention was clear—he was betraying his sect and jumping ship to the Sect of Owed Mystics.

Shen Wan could even picture Gu Daobian beating his unfilial son to death at the sect gates—a dreadful scene.

Yun Yi covered her face beside them—this guy was beyond saving.

Gu Zhiping, however, was in high spirits, shaking his head cheerfully. He was never welcomed in his clan anyway, so keeping distance from his father would spare them both some heartache.

But he had no idea what butterfly effect his message would trigger.

Primordial Sect headquarters.

Gu Daobian had not attended the Valley Ghost Sect’s dual cultivation ceremony; he was guarding the sect at home.

At that moment, he was in a concubine’s chamber playing “Werewolf” with his beloved Lotus Sister—“I’m the wolf, and I’m going to eat you!”

But just as he was enjoying himself, his transmission token sounded at his waist.

Annoyed, he opened it, and Gu Zhiping’s resolute voice came through.

Silence—dead silence.

With a crack, the token shattered into pieces; Lotus Sister curled up in the corner of the bed, too frightened to make a sound.

“Scoundrel! Unfilial son!”

Gu Daobian’s scruffy beard trembled, his face ashen. He abandoned the game, swept his robe, and stormed out of the concubine’s chamber.

Of course, Gu Zhiping had no idea his father would be so enraged.

Trailing after Shen Wan, he kept calling “Senior Brother, Senior Brother,” irritating Shen Wan to no end.

Luckily, their antics made time fly, and soon a beam of moonlight pierced the narrow valley, casting itself upon the stone walls.

The three stepped into a vast valley pit.

Yun Yi lifted her breath—she seemed to sense something, and murmured, “Isn’t the spiritual energy here a bit denser?”

Gu Zhiping inhaled as well. “Yes, it’s even richer than the Primordial Sect’s sacred ground.”

The two began circulating their inner spiritual seas, opening their pores, standing greedily in place and absorbing, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Shen Wan smacked his lips, ignored them, and began scanning the surroundings.

The valley pit was enormous, like a huge volcanic crater. The bottom was not deep, barren, and empty.

As Yun Yi absorbed the spiritual energy, her feet unconsciously moved forward, seemingly drawn by the energy, straight to the edge of the pit.

Looking down, she saw a small patch of clear spring at the bottom.

The spring shimmered with a pale blue ripple, clear to the base.

Yun Yi’s pupils dilated, her body shivered, and her voice trembled.

“A spiritual spring? Such pure spiritual spring!”

Her voice was soft but full of amazement.

Shen Wan and Gu Zhiping followed, and upon seeing the spring below, Gu Zhiping’s mouth gaped wide, his eyes shone, and he raised a foot to jump down.

Yun Yi grabbed him back—she didn’t want such a fine spring sullied by this rascal.

Shen Wan stroked his hairless chin, nodded in agreement, feigning surprise.

Truth was, he saw nothing.

Gu Zhiping, denied, pouted in dissatisfaction.

Yun Yi ignored him, scanning the area again, and murmured under her breath, “This seems like a spiritual convergence point—the energy was already dense, and as it condensed and settled over time, it gradually formed drops, resulting in this spring.”

Her reasoning was clear and well-founded. The two nodded along, half understanding.

“So what are we waiting for? Since we found it, shouldn’t we collect it right away?”

Gu Zhiping was eager, but still awaited Yun Yi’s approval.

Yun Yi was unhurried; she searched her storage pouch, finding only a few small bottles suitable for spiritual liquid, but they were useless for this spring.

After thinking for a moment, she said, “Since we can’t take it away, let’s just absorb it.”

Gu Zhiping was overjoyed. With her permission, he wasted no time, leaping down into the pit.

Yun Yi shook her head helplessly, her figure drifting as she followed.

As soon as they reached the bottom, they immersed themselves in the spring, sitting firmly and absorbing rapidly.

Shen Wan didn’t move, for he couldn’t see any spring below.

Just a black expanse of stone, not a blade of grass.

But to avoid suspicion, he cautiously leaned his body, preparing to climb down and pretend.

He had just reached halfway when a hoarse voice echoed from above.

“This spiritual spring belongs to the Valley Ghost Sect. The two children below, come up at once, and I’ll overlook your transgression.”

The voice was solemn, offering no room for argument.

Shen Wan frowned, finally looked up, and met the gaze of the speaker.

The person was dressed in black, short in stature, flanked by two others in identical attire.

The black-robed man also noticed Shen Wan below, his eyes flickering, as if he hadn’t realized there was someone down there.

Shen Wan, seeing only three people, felt emboldened.

He climbed up in a few brisk steps, looked down at the short black-robed man, and sneered, “I found this place first. You’d best leave now, and I won’t hold you accountable.”

The black-robed man responded with a cold snort, too lazy to reply.

Despite the boy’s height, to him, he was nothing more than an ant easily crushed.

Shen Wan held his head high, not yielding an inch.

“Damn, trying to act tough in front of me? I am Demacia!”

Just as he thought this, the elder flashed before him like a slide show.

A large palm struck out, landing squarely on his chest.