Chapter Sixty-Five: The Ancient Divine Path

"Let’s fight. If you lose, you must take responsibility for your insults! You will apologize to us and go to Qi Tian to admit that you are a cheap woman!"

She arched her eyebrows, looking at Qian Ling with a mocking expression. She had ultimately avoided targeting Qian Ling directly, knowing full well the weight of Qian Ling’s background.

"You...!"

Qian Ling’s face flushed with embarrassment. When it came to martial arts, everyone knew her talent was mediocre; at seventeen, she had only reached the Acquired Dark Energy stage. Were it not for her father being a Peak Master, she would have had no place in the inner sect at all. Challenging her to a duel now was a guaranteed victory for the other side.

Yu Shanshan—that woman—was already at the Innate Transformation stage. Her Ren and Du meridians were cleared, and her internal energy flowed without end. No matter what desperate measures she took, Qian Ling knew she stood absolutely no chance.

Qian Ling stared at Yu Shanshan’s graceful figure, unable to utter a single word.

"If you're too afraid to fight, then shut your mouth! Don't just bark like a stray dog! Speak!"

Yu Shanshan emphasized the remark about "barking" deliberately, her confidence soaring as if she had already conquered the world.

"I'll take you on!"

Seeing Qian Ling’s distress, Luo Yinmei stepped forward and pulled her behind her. She radiated a chilling aura, a coldness that seemed to push everyone a thousand miles away.

Luo Yinmei was also at the Innate Transformation stage. The two of them had clashed countless times, with Luo Yinmei losing more often than not. However, she had earned her place in the inner sect through sheer strength. Even if she were to lose, she would never lower herself to grovel, nor would she watch someone else be implicated because of her.

Cold true energy permeated her entire body. Her expression was frigid, and she was only a hair's breadth away from drawing the sword hidden within her robes.

Though the weather on Wudang Mountain was already cold following the snowfall, the temperature plummeted further under the influence of Luo Yinmei’s energy. The onlookers were forced to retreat several paces.

Facing the brunt of the pressure, Yu Shanshan remained indifferent, her arms still crossed over her chest, as if she were blind to the change in Luo Yinmei.

"Such immense power... as expected of an inner sect disciple!"
"So this is what it means to be Innate!"
"An incomparable strength!"
"We were just complaining about her earlier—she won’t hold a grudge, will she?"

This was the first time they had witnessed the true might of an inner sect disciple. Pale-faced, they began to regret their actions; gossiping behind someone’s back was one thing, but being overheard was another.

For these newcomers who had only been here a few months, inner sect disciples rarely emerged to "fight." Anyone capable of changing the surrounding environment in an instant seemed like a deity in their eyes. Watching the air grow increasingly frigid and feeling the momentum building, she realized that such gifted geniuses were not to be trifled with. She hurriedly retreated a dozen steps, hoping to avoid being caught in the fallout.

"That is enough! You are both talented disciples, yet here you are, squabbling over a man in public and demanding a duel! What kind of behavior is this!"

The Elder of the Hall of Punishment could no longer remain silent and roared in reprimand.

"Do you want to be thrown into solitary confinement?"

The Elder paused, a thought crossing his mind. "Actually, since you are both so fond of Qi Tian, perhaps you want to end up like him—locked away together!"

The crowd fell into an immediate, deathly silence. In their eyes, the Ancient God Path was a prison; once confined there, one stayed for at least a month. During that time, no one spoke, and even finding food was a struggle.

"Since no one is volunteering, get out of here and disperse at once!"

The Elder waved his hand impatiently, signaling them to leave.

"No! I want to go to the Ancient God Path!"

Just as they were all trembling and turning to leave, this sentence suddenly rang out. The crowd was stunned and turned back in shock.

It was Yu Shanshan. Her face was pale, and it was clear she had summoned every ounce of courage she possessed to say those words.

"Someone actually *wants* to go there?"

The crowd whispered among themselves, astonished by the inner sect disciple’s audacity.

"Just thinking about it... makes me feel bitter."
"For the sake of love, she truly is reckless!"

"Do both of you want to go?" the Elder asked, looking at the two who remained standing in place.

Hearing this, Yu Shanshan’s companion instinctively took a step back, as if afraid, or perhaps trying to draw a line between them. Seeing her friend recoil, Yu Shanshan’s expression shifted, and she reached out to grab her.

As she reached out, the friend stepped back again, shaking her head with a pale face, silently refusing.

"Can you really bear to watch me go to the Ancient God Path alone?" Yu Shanshan’s voice trembled as she pleaded, reaching out once more.

"..."

This time, the friend did not retreat and allowed herself to be held. Feeling the warmth of her hand, Yu Shanshan felt a flicker of comfort, her fear subsiding slightly. She turned to the Elder.

"Yes!"

"Then follow me!" the Elder said coldly. No one had ever volunteered to suffer in the Ancient God Path before; she was the first, setting a record.