Chapter 2: The Reversal of the Meridians

Mysterious Water Pavilion.

The sound of drums and gongs filled the air, accompanied by the booming of ceremonial cannons.

The disciple induction ceremony of Master Mysterious Water was drawing to a close, with many disciples leaving in small groups.

Yù Rúmù walked calmly all the way, her graceful figure attracting the attention of everyone present.

When those disciples caught a glimpse of her true appearance, they hurriedly paid their respects, each vying to show themselves before the goddess.

Having witnessed such scenes many times before, Yù Rúmù merely smiled gently, nodding in acknowledgment.

As she departed, a lingering fragrance followed her, causing the disciples to sigh in admiration: "Senior Sister Yù truly lives up to being Master Mysterious Water’s foremost disciple—gentle and elegant, like a celestial goddess."

"Among Master Mysterious Water’s six great fairies, which one is not breathtakingly beautiful, with graceful minds and charming talents? Even within our Yin-Yang Heavenly Sect, any of them could compete for the title of Holy Maiden. Only Wang Lin, who was admitted as an exception later, is different."

"I wonder what kind of enchantment Wang Lin received from Master Mysterious Water—elevated from the ranks of menial servants, yet after so many years, he remains an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, nowhere near the prodigy of the Ye family."

"Exactly, even with a top-tier fire spiritual root. I've never seen such a useless top-tier root before. After eight years of cultivation, he’s only at an average level. I bet he spent more time scheming to please the Master and the fairies."

"Well, with such beauty around, how could he focus on cultivation?"

"Hahaha... hahaha."

Despite the mocking voices coming from a distance, Yù Rúmù’s profound cultivation could not miss a single word.

The smile in her eyes dimmed slightly.

She recognized Wang’s ambition—he was not the kind to drown in lust.

Yet, she found herself unable to refute their remarks.

After all, eight years of cultivation had barely brought him to the Foundation Establishment level.

Moreover, he had disregarded the bonds of fellow disciples and recklessly stormed into the Ye estate to severely beat Ye’s junior disciple.

Among their peers, he had long been deeply disliked.

Yù Rúmù sighed softly.

She felt a share of responsibility for not guiding Wang better.

Unbeknownst to her, she had already arrived outside Master Mysterious Water’s mansion.

“Master, disciple Yù Rúmù requests an audience.”

“Enter.”

The gates slowly rose, and bright laughter echoed from within.

So the little junior brother was here as well.

Yù Rúmù’s complexion brightened as she stepped briskly inside.

“Senior Sister, you have arrived.”

Inside the mansion, a youth clad in a golden-red robe approached. His steps were slow but determined.

With sword-like brows and starry eyes, his piercing gaze was sharp and clear. The crimson robe could not conceal his broad and tall frame, which exuded an almost imperceptible imperial aura.

“Junior Brother.”

Yù Rúmù nodded slightly, then respectfully saluted the woman seated above.

“Greetings, Master.”

Master Mysterious Water wore an embroidered official robe, her hair elegantly coiled high. Her shapely figure filled the qipao, and her dignified yet simple beauty carried a gracious and noble air.

Smiling warmly, she said, “What brings you here?”

Yù Rúmù looked at the smiling Master Mysterious Water, pondering silently, then bowed deeply.

“Master, Sixth Junior Brother has admitted his mistakes and reflected on them. I beseech you to withdraw your judgment.”

Master Mysterious Water was momentarily taken aback, then turned her gaze to Ye Chen below.

Feeling the Master's eyes, Ye Chen spoke up: “Master, since Senior Brother Wang has already acknowledged his fault, there’s no need for further punishment. After all, my grandfather only felt it was humiliating to have someone intrude into the estate without cause.”

Master Mysterious Water smiled with gentle eyes.

“You’re always so considerate, but who will be considerate of you?”

At that, a wave of spiritual energy surged, swirling around Ye Chen’s injured leg.

“How does it feel now? Tell me, does it still hurt?”

Ye Chen felt a cool flow of spiritual energy circulating through his leg, bringing immense relief.

“Thank you, Master. I feel much better now. Actually, I understand Senior Brother Wang. Born humble and from the menial ranks, he must have suffered much oppression, which bred a certain resentment towards the wealthy.”

“Finally accepted into your sect, feeling warmth long forgotten, he naturally did not want to let go. My presence threatened him, and in a moment of impulse, he acted against me. But I do not blame him—after all, a gentleman never covets what belongs to others.”

Hearing this, Yù Rúmù looked at Ye Chen’s injured yet still dignified figure.

A thought arose in her mind: some people are born to rule the world.

Ye Chen paused, then looked toward Master Mysterious Water.

“Since Senior Brother Wang was accepted by you, Master, he must have his merits. As for his punishment, if you agree, my grandfather will certainly not dispute it.”

His words dripped with pride and condescension—aimed clearly at Wang Lin.

Master Mysterious Water nodded slowly.

“If you will not pursue it, then spare him the agony of the fire prison. I have prepared a seal—Rúmù, take this to the fire prison tomorrow and bring him out.”

A smile appeared on Yù Rúmù’s face.

“Thank you, Master.”

“Don’t thank me. It’s because little Ye understands the principles. But Wang Lin was reckless and brought shame upon the Ye family. Tomorrow’s apology is essential, and he must apologize to Elder Ye as well.”

“Master, that’s unnecessary.”

Ye Chen quickly interjected, but Master Mysterious Water interrupted.

“Family power naturally requires honor. When you take leadership of the Ye family, its prestige will be paramount. That cannot be lost.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“But don’t make it too public—leave Senior Brother Wang some dignity.”

At this, Yù Rúmù’s smile deepened; her watery eyes turned toward Ye Chen.

“All right, enough playtime. You may all leave now.”

Master Mysterious Water waved, signaling them to depart.

Seeing Ye Chen’s difficulty moving, Yù Rúmù immediately stepped forward to support him.

He waved her off, dragging one leg slowly forward.

“Junior Brother Ye, is your leg truly all right?”

“No need. Compared to the hardships of cultivation, the pain of this leg while walking is nothing.”

The evening breeze brushed past, and Ye Chen pressed his lips, speaking calmly.

“Thank you for forgiving Senior Brother Wang, and thanks to the Ye family for their leniency.”

To storm into a clan and dare to injure the heir was unforgivable anywhere.

Especially in a top-tier family of the Heavenly Sect, where Elder Ye, head of the Yin-Yang Heavenly Sect’s Law Hall, stood watch.

“Luckily, you were here. If Senior Brother Wang had stormed into another family, I don’t know how I would have saved him.”

At this thought, Yù Rúmù’s eyes reddened slightly.

Then Ye Chen’s broad shadow appeared before her, smiling.

“It’s nothing. I will protect him.”

Those words instantly eased Yù Rúmù’s mind, and she gazed at Ye Chen with deep gratitude.

“All right, my attendants are just ahead. Farewell, Senior Sister.”

“Take care and get well...”

Watching Yù Rúmù leave cheerfully, Ye Chen’s lips curled into a chilling smile.

...

...

Within the fire prison, the most unbearable suffering was the extreme heat.

The fire prison of the Yin-Yang Heavenly Sect adjusted itself according to the prisoner’s strength, never slaying them outright but subjecting them to eternal scalding agony.

Wang Lin sat cross-legged amidst the blazing flames, focusing entirely on resisting the torment upon his soul.

In his previous life, his cultivation advanced slowly.

Though he possessed a top-tier fire spiritual root, his progress was even slower than those with lesser roots.

The problem was, he could not find the cause. He only remembered feeling dizzy and then waking imprisoned in the fire prison.

He knew nothing of what had transpired.

He only knew that after waking, his cultivation speed plummeted.

Before, no matter how harsh the environment, he could always sense the condensation of heavenly spiritual energy.

Now, in the boiling, scorching fire prison, it was difficult even to gather elemental energy, let alone feel the flow of spiritual energy.

This dealt a heavy blow to his cultivation.

He had originally relied on his top-tier fire spiritual root to earn Master Mysterious Water’s favor.

But now, with his fire root’s power gone, he didn’t even know how to face his master.

As the flames roared and burned hotter, Wang Lin opened his eyes and began to employ the Serenity Mind Technique.

Under the fleeting coolness it brought, Wang Lin started contemplating his options.

Only two paths lay before him.

The first: to beg for help from Master Mysterious Water.

She possessed a precious Innate Bone Replacement Pill—valuable enough by name alone—which could help him restore his Dao foundation and recover his spiritual root.

But this was the first path he abandoned.

Not only might Master Mysterious Water refuse, but she valued his spiritual root above all.

Revealing the loss of his root now would have catastrophic consequences.

Wang Lin suddenly realized his dire situation, and cold sweat poured down his back.

Thus, only the second method remained.

The cruelest and most decisive.

Counterflow Meridian Severance.

This technique was typically a last resort for those with ruined spiritual roots.

The meridians were intricately intertwined, and everyone’s body differed greatly.

How to break through tangled meridians and cleanse the spiritual root was exceedingly difficult.

Not to mention the excruciating pain from severed meridians—pain so intense it could cause the weak-willed to faint.

But he had no choice.

If the loss of his spiritual root were exposed...

In this cultivation world where strength was paramount...

No master or senior sister could be trusted anymore.

The best outcome he could imagine was being sent back to menial ranks, becoming a complete waste.

The worst was not surviving, falling prey to enemies or...

Certain people who disliked him, torturing him to death.

Wang Lin fell silent.

His previous life’s memories reminded him clearly: without value or potential, he was a waste.

The supposed bond between master and disciple was, in truth, just an exchange of benefits.

This life, he had seen it all clearly.

Only by becoming strong could he achieve what he truly desired.

Those fake brotherhoods and false affections were nothing but obstacles on his path to power.

Resolving himself, Wang Lin felt his meridians swell as spiritual energy gathered.

The counterflow meridian severance was about to begin.

Just as he focused, ready to assault his meridians,

A gentle breeze wafted in, carrying a refreshing fragrance.

A voice like heavenly music sounded:

“Junior Brother Wang, you may come out now.”