The End of the Immortal Path

Chapter 195 - 142: What? Illegal Immortal Cultivation?

Above the clouds.

Someone was performing Sword Flight.

Their speed was unhurried, allowing them to occasionally admire the scenery below.

With no rush and no worries, it was a time when one could feel most at ease.

Especially when heading home.

’Logically, this year’s annual assessment should be over by now. Jiang Man is sure to take first place, but I wonder how everyone else will rank.’

Yan Yiqiu controlled the altitude of her sword, taking in the beautiful mountains and rivers.

She couldn’t help but start calculating the rankings.

’Without the three geniuses from before, Zhuo Bufan should at least make the top four. With Jiang Man in the mix, that would be the top five. But Zhuo Bufan has gotten more resources recently and has been pulling some intense all-nighters. I suspect he has a chance to break into the top three.’

’Zhao Yaoyao has also seen an increase in resources and has been working tirelessly. Logically, she has a shot at the top seven. Lin Qingshan’s resources are much poorer; he’ll barely make the top ten.’

’Wei Beichuan should be able to make the top fifteen. He also has the potential to be in the top seven.’

After doing the math, she realized that five of the top fifteen were students she had taught.

If she only counted the top ten, there would be roughly four.

They took up almost half the spots.

With such results, there was only one thing she should expect upon her return: the gasps of surprise and envy from her many peers.

Such an achievement as an Instructor was something few could ever hope to match.

Her future on the Immortal Path seemed like a wide, open road.

The more she thought about it, the more excited Yan Yiqiu became.

’What a wonderful year.’

Jiang Man, in particular, was certain to bring her immense glory.

But just as she was lost in these thoughts, she suddenly received a message telling her to stay where she was and wait for someone from the Sect to arrive.

This struck Yan Yiqiu as odd. ’Why would the Sect contact me out of the blue?’

「A long while later.」

Three men in black robes appeared before Yan Yiqiu.

"Men from the Law Enforcement Hall?" Yan Yiqiu asked curiously. "What do you want with me?"

The Immortal Sect had been under a great order for many years, so it was rare for anything within the Sect to require the Law Enforcement Hall’s intervention.

No one wanted to risk their life challenging the four words "Immortal Sect’s Great Order."

Everyone had to enter the Sect and attend lessons through proper channels.

This was true for both the Yunqian Bureau and the Outer Sect.

These were places that could least afford to be disturbed.

Of course, there were certainly still influences, but the situation was far, far better than under normal circumstances.

Especially the Outer Sect.

And since she was an Instructor in the Outer Sect, she almost never saw anyone from the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Yan Yiqiu, Instructor of the Outer Sect Cloud Mist Peak’s Eighth Courtyard?" the young man in the lead asked.

Yan Yiqiu nodded. "That’s me."

"Your leave has been canceled. Please come with us," the leader said with a sigh.

"Why?" Yan Yiqiu wasn’t flustered. "I’d like to know on what grounds you’re asking me to come with you."

"Are you aware that the students in your courtyard have been staying up all night for their Cultivation?" the leader asked.

Yan Yiqiu nodded. "What about it?"

The leader explained, "Someone reported you for violating Sect regulations, for guiding the Eighth Courtyard of Cloud Mist Peak in illegal Immortal Cultivation."

"Illegal Immortal Cultivation?" Yan Yiqiu was completely stunned.

’And *I* was the one guiding them?’

"You’ve got to be kidding me," Yan Yiqiu said, finding it hard to believe.

The leader stated firmly, "I am not. And it wasn’t just one or two people who reported it. There were too many, so we have no choice but to ask you to come with us."

Yan Yiqiu’s mind went blank. She never would have imagined being reported for "illegal Immortal Cultivation" just because her students were pulling all-nighters.

"It’s just staying up late. It can’t be that serious, can it?" she asked.

The young man leading them replied kindly, "Normally, no, it wouldn’t be. But this has blown up into something rather big. In any case, you’ll understand once you go back."

Yan Yiqiu was extremely curious about what had happened.

’What could possibly have turned pulling all-nighters into something illegal?’

She asked again but received no answer.

She had thought she would happily return home, then go back to the Sect to bask in everyone’s admiration. But now...

’I’m being dragged back for illegal Immortal Cultivation?’

「Meanwhile.」

Because of what happened with Jiang Man, Yu Wanyi was forced to hide in her residence again, not daring to go out.

Although the rankings for the Eighth Courtyard had been released this time... many hidden opportunities could no longer be vied for.

For the "investors," the losses were enormous.

Although it was because their own investments weren’t skilled enough, not everyone could calmly accept their own failure.

Many people felt that even if you were going to be number one, there was no need to completely obliterate everyone else’s rankings.

One should always leave a little leeway.

Yu Wanyi let out a heavy sigh.

Just then, a figure descended. It was Fairy Huai Jing.

"Master?" Yu Wanyi said, pleasantly surprised. "What brings you here?"

"Did your investment really defeat the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Third Courtyards all by himself?" Fairy Huai Jing asked.

"It’s absolutely true," Yu Wanyi replied, standing up and nodding.

"He shouldn’t have entered the Training Secret Realm," Fairy Huai Jing lamented. "Geniuses are not supposed to enter that place, especially a genius like the one you’ve invested in.

"It is a well, one that most easily traps geniuses whose minds are not yet mature enough.

"The greater the genius, the more easily their Heart Spirit is trapped, making it difficult for them to advance even an inch in the future."

Yu Wanyi, however, was unconcerned. "He’ll know once he’s inside. If it’s really too much, he’ll definitely withdraw on his own."

"Young geniuses are proud and arrogant; they don’t know when to advance or retreat," Fairy Huai Jing said, shaking her head and sighing. "Thanks to you, your master has been made an accomplice to this folly."

From the beginning, she had wanted to stop it and had raised the requirements.

Who could have expected that Jiang Man was such a genius that he met all the requirements directly?

He entered so quickly that she didn’t even have time to find someone to swap him out.

’Such a promising sapling is likely half-ruined now.’

After that, Fairy Huai Jing vanished from the spot.

Yu Wanyi paid it no mind.

But soon, people from the Law Enforcement Hall found her.

This left Yu Wanyi stunned.

’What does the Law Enforcement Hall want with me?’

’Did Master Uncle Xiang report me?’

「Inside the Secret Realm.」

"The Secret Realm is like a well, locking the heart and severing belief."

Jiang Man stood on the Teleportation Array, a look of surprise on his face.

As soon as he arrived, he saw a stone tablet. It said that the lingering might of an Evil God in the Secret Realm had left behind a Lock of Heart Thoughts.