Chapter 00233: Panic
# Panic
Chapter 233
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 233: Panic
Qingyu sat beside the elders of Yanyue Sect, Gu Youchang and Pang Xiangxiang, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease.
She was just a maid, yet she had been invited to the Ascension Realm this time.
Under the escort of the two elders, Pang Xiangxiang and Gu Youchang, she was attending the engagement ceremony of the young sect master.
Although this was something that could make one tremble with excitement, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.
Could it be that because the young lady had left, the young sect master wanted her to take her place? The young sect master, Yi Jiang, was about to get engaged to someone else.
Even if she were to replace the young lady, she would only be a concubine.
She couldn't understand why the young lady had left.
Even as a concubine to the young sect master, it would have been a step up, becoming someone of high status, at least ensuring that she wouldn't have to worry about cultivation resources.
The Desolate God Sect was the number one sect in the Ascension Realm, the top sect in the Threefold Heaven Star Continent.
Moreover, the young lady had already reached the peak of Qi Refinement before she left.
If she hadn't left, she would have surely succeeded in Foundation Establishment here.
It was a pity that Qingyu's looks were far inferior to the young lady's, otherwise, she might have had a place as a concubine.
Now, she was also at the peak of Qi Refinement.
After the young sect master's engagement ceremony, should she find an opportunity to ask the young sect master for a Foundation Establishment Pill?
As Qingyu thought this, she suddenly felt as if there was something she hadn't considered.
The young lady had left when she was at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, and it was after being invited by the young sect master to come to the Ascension Realm.
Now, she was also at the ninth level of Qi Refinement...
Why did they have to wait until they reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement before being brought to the Ascension Realm?
"Elder Pang, you've cultivated the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art, right?" Qingyu suddenly asked.
Pang Xiangxiang, who had been staring at Yi Jiang in a daze, not knowing what she was thinking, was startled by Qingyu's question and instinctively replied, "Yes."
"Elder Pang, it shouldn't be that difficult to reach the True Core Realm with the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art, right? Why did you stay at the Foundation Establishment Realm? Will I also be stuck at Foundation Establishment in the future?"
Knowing that she was about to become the young sect master's concubine, Qingyu, despite her anxiety, spoke with some confidence to Pang Xiangxiang.
When the old sect master was around, Pang Xiangxiang held a high position.
But now that the old sect master was gone, even menial tasks fell to Elder Pang, showing how her status had plummeted.
Pang Xiangxiang snapped out of her thoughts and glanced at Qingyu, sensing the look of someone about to become the young sect master's wife.
She sneered inwardly.
Still dreaming, huh? Thinking that cultivating the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art would allow her to reach Foundation Establishment? Did she think everyone who cultivated this art could be like Pang Xiangxiang?
"You'll soon find out why I'm stuck at Foundation Establishment," Pang Xiangxiang said with a hint of mockery.
Qingyu, having been the young lady's personal maid, was naturally skilled at reading people.
She had caught the disdain in Pang Xiangxiang's eyes.
"Aunt Pang, is it true that the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art can't lead to higher realms?"
As she asked this, the sense of superiority Qingyu had felt earlier vanished, replaced by unease.
Even her form of address had changed.
The young lady had also cultivated the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art, reaching the ninth level before being invited here, and then she had secretly fled.
Now, Qingyu was also at the ninth level of the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art and had been invited here.
She hadn't fled, but recently she had felt something strange about her cultivation.
"Remember this: tonight, serve the young sect master well. Don't think about unnecessary things at the last moment. If the young sect master finds you useful and wants you to serve him again, you might have a chance at Foundation Establishment."
This finally made Qingyu realize that there was something seriously wrong with the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art.
She quickly stood up, about to kneel before Pang Xiangxiang.
Pang Xiangxiang hurriedly stopped her.
"Do you want to die? This is the main hall of the Desolate God Sect."
Qingyu looked up, tears streaming down her face.
"Aunt Pang, please tell me what's really going on. Why did the young lady run away?"
Pang Xiangxiang sighed.
"Qingyu, you and your young lady didn't get along well, did you?"
Qingyu quickly replied, "Before she ran away, we were on good terms..."
Pang Xiangxiang sneered.
"Good terms? If you were, she wouldn't have passed the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art to you."
After Yi Wandao was killed, Pang Xiangxiang knew her good days in the Yanyue Sect were over.
For her, it was either leave the sect or submit to the new sect master.
Now, the Yanyue Sect was embroiled in power struggles.
If Yi Jiang weren't a disciple of the Desolate God Sect's new sect master, Qiao Sha, he wouldn't have the authority to have her and Elder Gu escort Qingyu here.
As for continuing as the Yanyue Sect's leader, even with Yi Jiang's master being the Desolate God Sect's leader, it was impossible.
So, for Pang Xiangxiang, telling Qingyu the truth didn't matter much.
Qingyu, tears in her eyes, looked at Pang Xiangxiang.
"Aunt Pang, I once spoke up for Steward Qiong, and the young lady might have misunderstood me..."
Pang Xiangxiang said indifferently, "The Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art is a cultivation technique meant for others, a cauldron transfer technique. You were brought here because your cultivation has reached the peak of Qi Refinement, and it's time for the transfer. So, what do you think it means that your young lady passed this technique to you?"
Qingyu felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.
She finally understood why the young lady had fled the Yanyue Sect and had given her the technique before leaving.
This was her way of punishing Qingyu one last time after escaping herself.
Qingyu instinctively looked around, her first thought being to flee.
Pang Xiangxiang knew what Qingyu was thinking and said calmly, "If you run, you'll die. This technique requires dual cultivation with the master to transfer the energy. Otherwise, your essence and blood will burn out. Even if you somehow survive, you'll be like a bitch in heat, constantly seeking mating opportunities."
Qingyu shivered.
"Aunt Pang, please save me."
Pang Xiangxiang actually felt some sympathy for Qingyu, having cultivated the technique herself and knowing how terrifying it was.
Faced with Qingyu's plea, she could only shake her head.
"I can't save you. Only one person can."
"Who?" Qingyu couldn't contain her fear and asked urgently.
Since coming to the cultivation world, she had stopped seeing herself as a maid.
Her goal was to become someone superior, an immortal revered by countless mortals.
Just as she was about to achieve her goal, she was doused with cold water.
"It's the young sect master. If you can please him during dual cultivation, he might not forget you. Then, he might leave you some of his essence, allowing you to survive."
"Aunt Pang, what about you..."
Qingyu's face turned pale.
Pang Xiangxiang chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"Me? That's what I did. I worked hard to please Yi Wandao in bed. Not only did he spare my life, but he also helped me establish my foundation."
Yi Wandao wasn't dead, so she couldn't say this.
But since he was dead, she had no fear.
No matter how much Yi Wandao had cared for her, she would never forget this deep-seated hatred.
If it weren't for Yi Wandao, would she have fallen to this state? No amount of cultivation resources could help her reach the True Core Realm.
The reason was that when Yi Wandao stripped her of the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art's true essence, he also took away her foundation.
She had established her foundation, but it was a false one.
As for reaching the True Core Realm, she would never achieve it in this lifetime.
Such a great enmity, yet she couldn't take revenge.
Instead, she had to constantly please Yi Wandao to survive.
The reason she had lived until now was that she had worked hard to be even less than a dog in front of Yi Wandao.
In the Yanyue Sect, she had received some care, but so what?
This care was earned through her efforts in bed, exchanging her life's foundation and dignity worse than a dog's.
If she could, she would never want this kind of care.
Deep down, she was very grateful to Ding Huan.
If it weren't for Ding Huan, she wouldn't have been able to take revenge.
If it weren't for Ding Huan, she wouldn't have been able to leave the Yanyue Sect, as Yi Wandao would have killed her.
After completing this escort mission, she decided to leave the Yanyue Sect.
"But Aunt Pang, didn't Guanwan manage to escape?" Qingyu asked, unwilling to accept it.
Pang Xiangxiang looked at Qingyu with some pity.
"Logically, as a maid, you should be good at reading people. How could you not see that Ding Huan is capable? Guanwan escaped because Ding Huan helped her. Now, she's living better than anyone in the Blue Star Sect."
She inwardly despised Qingyu.
You had the chance to know Ding Huan, such a strong backer, but instead of using him, you slandered him.
Now, look at you.
The Ding Huan you looked down upon not only killed the Yanyue Sect's leader but also established a new sect.
He could have been the one to save you, but you've offended him deeply.
Qingyu's lips turned purple, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
She muttered to herself, "I didn't know he was so capable. If I had known..."
Qingyu didn't continue.
Did she really not know? Ding Huan had led so many people through the Great Chasm Canyon and the Lost Swamp.
Could he have been without ability?
It was just that she had looked down on Ding Huan, an ordinary mortal cook, from the bottom of her heart.
Moreover, this cook had taken the job of her relative who was also a cook.
Pang Xiangxiang suddenly thought of something.
The more she thought about it, the more possible it seemed, and her eyes grew increasingly excited.
If Ding Huan could save Guanwan, could he save her too?
If Ding Huan could repair her foundation, she could reach the True Core Realm, or even higher.
No, after returning to the cultivation world, she must seek out Ding Huan.
No matter what, she wouldn't rest until she asked him.
Hadn't Ding Huan established the Blue Star Sect? She would join the Blue Star Sect.
She could earn spirit stones for the sect; that was her forte.
The ceremonial elder of the Desolate God Sect was already announcing in a loud voice:
"Today is a joyous day for the Desolate God Sect and the Luo God Palace. The disciple of our Desolate God Sect's leader, Yi Jiang, will be engaged to the disciple of the Luo God Palace's leader, Han Xiaonü, to form a lifelong bond, united in heart, pursuing the great Dao together. Now, let us welcome the Desolate God Sect's disciple, Yi Jiang, and the Luo God Palace's disciple, Han Xiaonü..."
As the ceremonial elder's voice faded, Yi Jiang and Han Xiaonü, dressed in wedding attire, slowly entered the hall from the left and right sides.
(End of Chapter)