ETR | Chapter 43

When Qin Lou heard Shen Guan’s question, his hand involuntarily trembled.

“Did Xueman tell you this?” he asked.

Shen Guan paused for a moment and replied, “Yeah.”

He didn’t mention to Qin Lou that he had only learned about all this himself just a few days ago.

“This cultivation method… is it also related to his hatred for Yuan Shu?” Shen Guan took a step forward and continued, “Because of that method, Xueman suffered something seriously terrible at Yuan Shu’s hands, which is why he hates Tianshu Academy so much, right?”

Xiao Xueman, despite his ruthless strikes, was never the kind to hold grudges. He usually solved things on the spot, rarely dragging them out. For Tianshu Academy and Yuan Shu to make him hate them so deeply, they must’ve done something unbelievably vile—enough to etch into his bones and make him swear to see the entire sect fall before he’d be satisfied.

Qin Lou stayed silent for a long time. He slightly turned his head—if Shen Guan had been a bit more observant, he would’ve noticed that Qin Lou’s fingers had been trembling ever since Xueman’s name came up.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to talk to Shen Guan about it. It was just… thinking about what had happened to Xiao Xueman made his chest ache like it was happening to him too. The words just wouldn’t come out.

In the end, it was Yin Ying at his side who spoke first: “Do you know about some of the shady cultivation methods for breaking through Spirit God?”

Of course Shen Guan knew—he himself was Spirit God Tier 3.

Breaking through Spirit God was unbelievably difficult. Any spirit practitioner or yao who made it to this level would never pass up even the tiniest chance to advance further. They tried everything—strange spells, rare pills, even extreme approaches. Some believed in the idea of “no destruction, no construction,” and after years without progress, would destroy their cultivation and start over from scratch. Needless to say, they failed.

So even though Spirit Gods were supposed to live super long lives, the number of Spirit Gods on the Spirit Realm Continent always hovered around a hundred. Most of them died chasing the next breakthrough and didn’t even make it halfway through their expected lifespans.

Qin Lou, at Spirit God Tier 9, was the known highest rank on the continent. The former sect master of Tianshu Academy, Yuan Shu, was Spirit God Tier 8—just a step away from Tier 9.

“Yuan Shu had already hit a wall after reaching Spirit God Tier 5. That’s already top tier on the continent, but he still wasn’t satisfied,” Yin Ying sighed, then continued, “There are records that talk about using the talents of other spirit practitioners or yaos as a kind of ‘medicine’ to quickly boost one’s spiritual power. That’s one of those shady, crooked methods. It sounds simple when we say it, but in reality, the conditions are insanely strict—especially when it comes to the source of the ‘medicine.’”

Shen Guan: “…”

He knew Yuan Shu. That guy had rare dual-type lightning and gold spiritual power. Super hard to cultivate with. Yet even when he was young, he’d already become a Spirit God.

“So Xueman was… he was the ‘medicine’?”

Shen Guan widened his eyes and practically whispered the question in disbelief.

“We only found out later. After winning the final battle, our sect captured quite a few people from Tianshu Academy. One of them was named Zhong Tang—he was one of the core members back then. He told us a lot,” Yin Ying took a deep breath, “And then there was the Baiyu Snow Eagle Clan. When I backed them into a corner, they finally told the truth too.

Xueman’s true form is a Tianxi Divine Tree. You probably haven’t heard of that spiritual plant—heck, even we barely know anything about it. The Tianxi Divine Tree doesn’t belong to any species. There’s only one in the entire Spirit Realm. It’s technically wood-type, but its essence is the culmination of all spiritual power. Legend has it that just cultivating near it brings far more gains than normal.

Of course, you probably can’t feel it now. Xueman’s gained full sentience and can control his spiritual power, so he doesn’t give off that aura anymore. But when he was still small and hadn’t matured yet, when he couldn’t control his power at all, he was found by Tianshu Academy and taken away. He became… Yuan Shu’s long-term medicine.”

Xiao Xueman had never told Qin Lou or Yin Ying any of this. Whenever he mentioned his hatred for Tianshu Academy, he would just say it was a blood-deep grudge. He never explained the details. In front of others, he always looked like someone strong enough to handle anything—as if nothing could touch him. Even in the end, he had managed to protect everyone.

It was only after Xueman left in that way that they gradually pieced everything together.

“Yuan Shu’s already dead, and Xueman doesn’t need our protection anymore,” said Yin Ying, “But every time I think about it… I still feel regret.”

There were just too many regrets. If only they’d known everything earlier… maybe their heartache for Xueman would’ve outweighed their unease and selfishness at the time. Or maybe… if only they’d been born earlier, even just a little before Xueman, they might’ve saved him before any of this happened.

“Even now, Xueman probably still won’t talk to you about this. I don’t think he knows we know either,” Yin Ying let out a bitter laugh. “At this point, only a few of us know. Everyone from Tianshu Academy is dead. The ones in the Baiyu Snow Eagle Clan who knew are gone too.

Shen Guan, the reason I’m telling you this—besides the stuff with the Fox Clan—is because now, you’re the only one who can stay by his side. I know you won’t betray Xueman or leak anything to us, but I’m seriously afraid something might happen to him again. Especially now with Xiao Wan… he’s still so small. Shen Guan, if anything comes up, can you please let us know? None of us want anything to happen to Xueman ever again.”

Shen Guan didn’t reply. He didn’t agree, but he didn’t reject the request either.

“I obviously don’t want anything to happen to Xueman,” he said. “So, you’re saying you’re sure the Fox Clan is using the same method?”

Yin Ying gave a small nod.

“When I found out, I locked everything down hard. I didn’t want this method getting out,” Qin Lou finally spoke. “A hundred years ago, Xueman and I worked so hard to bring Tianshu Academy down. But as long as there’s profit to be made, even with Yuan Shu dead, this method we both hated to the bone… is still being used. If there’s even a tiny chance, I won’t let it go.”

Even though Shen Guan asked, he already had a pretty good idea in his heart.

That letter had mentioned Yuan Shu. And the current Fox Clan patriarch had leveled up way too fast—it pretty much confirmed the suspicion. Not to mention how eager he had been to make a move on Shen Guan back then.

Now that he thought about it, all the other elders backing him back then, showing no sympathy at all… and that wild expansion policy he pushed—it might not have been simple impulsiveness. If there were real benefits in it for him, especially power gains, everything else became secondary. This world, after all, only listens to strength. If you’re strong, you can do whatever you want.

Shen Guan had the bloodline of a Samadhi True Fox—a super rare bloodline. The current patriarch also had fire-type power, but nowhere near Shen Guan’s talent. Even with Shen Guan slacking hard in cultivation later on, he still reached Spirit God Tier 3. That alone proved how insanely gifted he was.

To be targeted as “medicine”… Shen Guan felt more than just anger. There was this deep, unspeakable chill running through his bones.

“If this is really the case, all those tumors need to be cut out,” Shen Guan’s expression darkened. “This kind of twisted cultivation shouldn’t even exist.”

Not to mention—he still had that blood-deep grudge from when they hunted him down.

The only thing he didn’t know was whether or not the Fox Clan had spread this method further. Now, they were already trying to worm their way into Wangtian Immortal Sect, trying to strike deals for shared resources.

Even with shortcuts, cultivating to Spirit God still needed tons of rare resources, besides the key “medicine.” Back when Tianshu Academy was the top sect, they barely managed to afford it. The Fox Clan didn’t have that kind of power.

That’s why Qin Lou hadn’t made a move yet. He wanted to net them all in one go—and he was afraid that acting too soon would tip them off.

“You know the Fox Clan better than anyone. That’s why I’m talking to you,” Qin Lou said. “Unless there’s absolutely no other choice, don’t let Xueman find out. This is his nightmare. It’s all in the past for him. I really don’t want him to relive it.”

Shen Guan stayed quiet for a moment, and for once, he agreed with Qin Lou.

“What do you plan to do?” he asked.

“The recent internal clean-up hasn’t been made public yet. A few sect leaders got replaced, but that’s still top secret,” Qin Lou said. “We’re the number one sect—any small shake-up could cause rumors. The Fox Clan’s in the Second Heaven. They won’t know any of this yet. We’ll find a way to lure him out.”

Even though Wangtian Immortal Sect was powerful, going to the Fox Clan directly would be a huge commotion—definitely alerting them. And the yao clans weren’t pushovers. Their territory was their turf. Even someone like Qin Lou would be limited on their land. If the target escaped, it’d be a complete mess. Qin Lou wasn’t about to let that happen.

Now Shen Guan finally realized what he was getting at.

“No wonder you asked me to come here in person and told me so much. Qin Lou, you want to use me as bait?”

Unlike someone like Xiao Xueman with a special race, this method needed very specific “medicine.” The way that guy tried to grab Shen Guan back then said it all—Shen Guan’s talent was irresistible to him. Even now, they probably hadn’t found a replacement.

“I won’t let anything happen to you. This is Wangtian Immortal Sect. Even if I have to take the hit myself, I won’t let you get hurt—not just for Xueman’s sake, but because I promised,” Qin Lou said. “I swear.”

“Enough, save it. I’m not agreeing to this because of your promise. I’m doing it for Xueman,” Shen Guan said. “He’s saved me more times than I can count. Without him, I’d be dead already. For him, I won’t say no to this. And… there’s still the Fox Clan.”

It was just a few foxes up top stirring up trouble. Most of the Fox Clan probably didn’t even know. Some might’ve been victims too—just like him. If they could take out the rotten ones, at least the rest could have some peace.

That was probably Shen Guan’s last shred of loyalty to the Fox Clan.

They kept discussing the next steps. Before Shen Guan left, Qin Lou said one last thing about Xiao Xueman:

“Don’t let Xueman know.”

“I got it,” Shen Guan replied. “I know how to handle it.”

There was no way Xiao Xueman wouldn’t notice he’d gone out. When Shen Guan got back, he explained first—half-truth, half-lie:

“The Fox Clan stirred up more trouble. It’s reached here. Since I was the former patriarch, I went to listen in a bit. Sigh, let them mess around. Sooner or later, they’ll pay for it.”

Xiao Xueman never pressed him on these kinds of things. He’d just finished giving Nan An a supplementary treatment earlier. Right now, he was holding little Wan and checking on some newly refined pills. Hearing this, he just offered some comforting words:

“Those who commit too many wrongs are bound to destroy themselves. If you don’t want to get involved, just let them be.”