After the main character who took the blame retired, the female lead quit.

Li Yunshang felt very lonely.

Although she had been waited on hand and foot since childhood, and had plenty of spirit stones and magical artifacts, she could easily ask for a large amount from the sect's inventory with just a few words.

But having money doesn't mean having everything, such as friends or the ability to cultivate... talents.

Actually, she used to have a good life. She had no friends, but a happy family, a gentle mother, and an ambitious father. Because her parents laid a very good foundation for her, she reached the sixth level of the Spirit Realm at a young age.

After reaching the sixth level of Spiritual Awakening, one needs a spiritual root to cultivate Qi. However, she is not old enough to continue cultivating for the time being.

But to reach the sixth level of spiritual realm before the age of seven is to be considered a genius, a genius that is one in a million.

At that time, Li Yunshang was quite proud, thinking that it was fine if she didn't have any friends. Once she became strong enough, people would naturally come to her, eager to be her friends.

Sure enough, as soon as the news of her reaching the sixth level of the Spirit Realm spread, many sects and families came to visit her, and even personally ordered their children to visit her more often.

Sure enough, in the world of cultivation, strength is everything. During this time, she also learned that there was a guy in Xuanyun City of Xuanzhou who was even more powerful than her. He could compose poems and write essays from birth and had already reached the ninth level of the Spirit Rhyme at a young age. He was only one step away from successfully establishing his foundation.

Such extraordinary talent! Countless families were captivated by her, overshadowing her brilliance. That person was Ye Feng.

Seeing this, Li Yunshang thought resentfully, "So what if she's a few years older and awakened her spiritual root earlier? Once she awakens it, she can do it too."

Soon, the year of the sect's talent test for seven-year-olds arrived.

"Sixth level of spiritual essence, but no spiritual root."

Looking at the large, gleaming characters on the testing stone, Li Yunshang felt they were particularly glaring.

The slightly sharp fingernail poked into my palm, causing a sharp pain.

Having no spiritual root means that she cannot cultivate and is a useless person. Other useless people at the very least have mixed spiritual roots, but she has no spiritual root at all.

In this era where everyone is obsessed with cultivating immortality, even a random dog on the street has spiritual roots, but she... doesn't.

Things have changed, because her life, which has gradually improved thanks to her talent, has changed.

"Li Ziliang, you bastard, where have you been gallivanting off to again? Do you even know that our Chang'er doesn't have any spiritual roots?"

"What? I'm out drinking with a few sect leaders from the Immortal Alliance. It's a critical moment. As long as we get on good terms with them and form an alliance, our Xuanling Sect can turn the tide from being oppressed by the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. We won't have to be at their mercy anymore. Wait a minute... what did you say? Chang'er doesn't have a spiritual root."

The father's excited voice stopped abruptly; he quickly returned.

"Shang'er doesn't have spiritual roots, but...we both have them, there's no reason why Shang'er shouldn't. Could it be that you've been cheating on me behind my back?"

"Li Ziliang, you bastard, you're the one who's cheating! I haven't settled accounts with you for drinking and carousing with that vixen from Xuanlei Mountain yet! It's all because you're always away from home, not spending time with Chang'er or us, and you insist on building this damn sect that's supposed to be the best in the world."

"Hey, hey, how did we get onto this topic? How is my not accompanying you related to Chang'er's lack of spiritual roots? In the end, isn't all this effort for your sake, so that you two can have a safe haven in the chaotic world ahead?"

"I don't care. If you hadn't spent more time with Chang'er when she was little, would she have been so withdrawn and had no friends?"

"We weren't talking about spiritual roots, so why are we bringing this up again? If all else fails, just have another one, one with spiritual roots, right?"

"Li Ziliang, are you even human? What do you take Chang'er for! If you want to have a baby, I won't give birth to it for you. Go find some vixen outside to have one for you."

"Hey! You smelly old woman, why do you smell so strong today!"

"Get out! Stay with your lousy sect!"

That day, my parents, who were usually very harmonious, had a long argument. After that, they were in a cold war for a long time. My father seemed to age instantly and was no longer as spirited as before.

Li Yunshang disliked her father. He was irresponsible, always leaving early and returning late, covered in injuries. When her mother scolded him, he would still mutter about how a man should remain a youth until death, and how he wanted to build the number one sect in the world. Wow! How amazing that would be!

But he was actually quite responsible, not as much of a jerk as he claimed.

"I've heard that countless spiritual treasures are buried in a certain sea area, and there might be a supreme treasure among them that can help Chang'er obtain spiritual roots."

I've made an appointment with the leader of the Bloodlust Sect. The two of us will go together. Don't worry, although he's from a demonic sect, he's still a fairly righteous person. While I'm away, the Xuanling Sect will be counting on you."

Mother didn't speak; she was still angry about the argument from a few days ago, so she didn't reply.

This man, with lofty ambitions and a heavy heart, set off as usual.

But this time, he didn't come back.

The leader of the Blood Demon Cult he mentioned has not returned either.

He has disappeared, and there is a very high probability that he is dead.

Young Li Yunshang felt very sad, but it didn't matter, she still had her mother.

But... things are unpredictable. Without her father's protection, a few years later, because the Xuanling Sect was leaderless, the elders contacted the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, which had been oppressing the Xuanling Sect, to plot a coup. For a time, Li Yunshang and her mother were in a precarious situation.

"Qin Rou, quickly hand over the sect leader's seal. Li Ziliang has been missing for so long, he must be dead somewhere out there."

"That's right. Quickly hand over the seal to unlock the sect's protective formation and welcome the Myriad Beasts Sect. Now that we have lost our sect leader, our Xuanling Sect can only survive by relying on the Myriad Beasts Sect and becoming their subordinate sect."

"Don't be so stubborn, hehehe... If you, Qin Rou, can serve me well, I might reluctantly support Li Ziliang's wife and children."

"Qin Rou..."

"Mother..."

Hearing the shouts of the people outside, Li Yunshang nestled fearfully in her mother's arms.

"Shang'er, don't be afraid. It's just some insatiable ingrates barking like dogs. That bastard Li Ziliang abandoned us mother and daughter and didn't even come back. Perhaps he's fallen in love with another vixen outside."

The woman, who had lost her husband, remained calm as she gently comforted her daughter.

"Qin Rou, hurry up and come out to greet the envoy from the Myriad Beasts Sect!"

"Elder Qin, please rest assured, as long as our disciples are still here, we will definitely not allow these thieves to lay a finger on our sect."

The sounds of fighting came from outside. Li Yunshang had just gripped her mother's clothes when the woman pulled her down.

"Mother!"

She looked up and found that her mother was wearing a very unfamiliar outfit. It wasn't that it was unfamiliar; before her father disappeared, she often saw him wearing such an outfit, with a heroic expression, as if the whole world was contained in his eyes.

"Shang'er...remember this, from now on, just pretend your father never existed."

With that, he picked up his sword and walked out.

"Haha... Qin Rou, you're finally out! How about the suggestions I made before? I... ugh... um..."

A sword pointed at the head.

In an instant, the entire Xuanling Sect was drenched in blood. The traitor was drained of his lifeblood and his head was displayed at the entrance of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.

On this day, the Xuanling Sect acquired a sect leader at the Nascent Soul Realm.

It was from that day that Li Yunshang discovered that her mother had changed, becoming like her father, leaving early and returning late, either discussing matters with other sects or cultivating in seclusion.

I can only say a few words to her each day.

But she wasn't neglected in other ways; on the contrary, things were even better than before. She was given spirit stones, magic treasures, and spirit pets—whatever she wanted.

She understood that this was a necessary sacrifice. Her mother was maintaining the Xuanling Sect, and she was waiting for that man to return. What a blow it would be for him if he returned one day and found that the sect he had built had become a branch sect of someone else. But... Li Yunshang felt very sad and lonely.

No one is with her anymore.

However, amidst her sadness, she also heard some relatively good news for her.

The once-promising young genius who was at the ninth level of the Spirit Realm and had a chance to establish his foundation died young. His cultivation level remained unchanged at the ninth level of the Spirit Realm. While his peers had already established their foundations, he remained the same. Even his former fiancée, with whom he had been engaged, came to break off the engagement.

In contrast, her situation is much better.

However, there are always some rumors:

"Look, that's the daughter of the Xuanling Sect Master. I heard she's a monster who can't cultivate."

"Really? We can't cultivate? Could it be a spy sent by the demon race?"

"Possibly, a monster."

These people are jealous. They are jealous that she has a mother who is at the Nascent Soul stage, and they are jealous that she receives better treatment than everyone else even though she cannot cultivate.

Dealing with these voices is simple: just beat them up and slap them a few times.

Although she cannot cultivate herself, she has her mother's support.

As long as her mother remains in power, she will be tolerated no matter what she does, and no one will dare to say anything.

As a result, Li Yunshang's life became even more unrestrained, leading her down a path of no return.

What's there to be afraid of? Even if she does something wrong sometimes, her mother will talk to her.

She couldn't be happier, since one conversation with her was more meaningful than several days' worth of conversations combined.

Perhaps it is true that those who do many evil deeds will inevitably perish.

She...was kidnapped.

The kidnappers are probably from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. She was the bait, meant to lure her mother out of the sect so they could ambush and assassinate her.

This is probably the end for them.

Li Yunshang closed her eyes, preparing to commit suicide; she didn't want to be a burden on her mother.

Why is it always like this...?

At the crucial moment, a figure crept over stealthily; it was a strange fellow.

He muttered something about finally finding the female lead, saying, "I'm exhausted! She was hidden so deep. I really don't know how the protagonist in the novel found her."

He was saying things she couldn't understand; he was such a strange person.

But Li Yunshang was happy, because she knew she wouldn't die for the time being.

She remembered the person in front of her; it seemed to be a Xuanling Sect disciple who had been kidnapped along with her.

This guy is really strange. On the way back, he kept saying that this was a mission, just going through the plot. But when he suddenly encountered the people from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect chasing after him, he shouted, "Damn it, the script is wrong! The pursuers are here too early! Damn, their cultivation is so high, are they trying to kill us?"

At the same time, he grabbed her hand and ran, holding it tightly, as if he never intended to give her up.

All they had to do was let go; after all, those people were after her.

Li Yunshang didn't understand. Even on the way, when she deliberately acted like a spoiled princess, making things difficult for him and asking for this and that, he still didn't give up on her.

She recognized him too; wasn't this the same genius who had been even more talented than herself back then, the one who had fallen from grace? It was truly unexpected.