Chapter 520: The Zhao Clan Abandons, The Princess Stands Firm
"Elder Zhao, my demand has always been very simple."
"I hope you understand, I’m not deliberately targeting the Zhao clan of Shengya Mountain. After all… Zhujun is also a Zhao clanswoman…"
Situ Yang looked at Zhao Yu’e intently, his words carrying deeper meaning.
"I understand this matter."
Zhao Yu’e nodded with a complicated expression.
Situ Yang’s meaning was clear.
As long as the Zhao clan of Shengya Mountain agreed to cooperate, to pressure Zhao Qingluo and in turn draw Wei Tu to accept the duel…
Then not only would he not become their enemy, but it was even possible that from this day forward, he would reconcile with Zhao Zhujun and take her as his Dao partner.
A stick in one hand, a sweet date in the other.
Zhao Yu’e had to admit that the Situ Elder standing here today was no longer the same Situ Dao Child from two hundred years ago.
He had grown far too much.
To speak frankly, the Zhao clan of Shengya Mountain didn’t truly fear Situ Yang. They were all members of the same sect, and no one would dare risk the disgrace of open bloodshed among their own.
But… was there any need, for the sake of one Zhao Qingluo, to make things this tense with Situ Yang and the sect master’s entire lineage behind him?
What’s more, Situ Yang wasn’t making things impossible for the Zhao clan. He had already offered plenty of benefits.
In the end, what he wanted wasn’t murder. He only wanted Wei Tu to fight, to erase the humiliation of two centuries ago.
"Could we… tempt Wei Tu with treasures instead?" Zhao Yu’e paused, trying to win a little more time.
But as soon as the words left her mouth, she shook her head helplessly. Treasures that could move a Nascent Soul ancestor weren’t so easily found.
Situ Yang might have background, yes, but that didn’t mean he had endless resources within the Nascent Soul realm.
Compared to that, threatening Zhao Qingluo was far more cost-effective.
If a matter could be solved with power, why bother wasting wealth?
…
Very quickly.
Zhao Yu’e made her choice.
After all, it wasn’t a hard choice to make.
Though Zhao Qingluo had now reached the peak of Golden Core and was indeed outstanding within the Zhao clan, that realm didn’t guarantee she could break through to Nascent Soul.
And a Golden Core peak without hope of advancing—within a clan founded on Nascent Soul ancestors—had little real value.
Besides, this decision wasn’t meant to kill Zhao Qingluo.
As long as Zhao Qingluo was willing to cooperate…
No harm would come to her.
"Qingluo, for the sake of the clan, you should know what you must do!"
After a short while, Zhao Yu’e brought Zhao Qingluo into a secret chamber for a private talk.
Her expression was heavy, her gaze locked onto Zhao Qingluo as she spoke word by word.
"What I must do…"
Zhao Qingluo didn’t know what had just been exchanged between Zhao Yu’e and Situ Yang through sound transmission. But from Zhao Yu’e’s attitude now, and the words she was speaking, she could more or less guess.
Her face twisted in conflict. She bit her lip and said, "Ancestor, I have already parted ways with Wei Tu on the path of the Dao. I don’t want to deceive him, and I don’t want to write a letter to lure him here."
She admitted it. Her obsession with the immortal path outweighed her feelings for Wei Tu. But that wasn’t reason enough for her to selfishly draw Wei Tu into this.
"Ancestor, I’ve already reached the peak of Golden Core. Even if I lack a perfect chance for forming the Nascent Soul, I am certain I can break through. Please, Ancestor, trust me…"
Zhao Qingluo bowed low to the ground, pleading.
She wanted to prove her worth, that her value far surpassed whatever benefit Situ Yang could bring to the Zhao clan.
But sadly, her words did not move Zhao Yu’e. Instead, the elder’s face grew colder still.
She spoke no words, but her gaze pressed down with unmistakable force, urging Zhao Qingluo to choose quickly.
'What should I do?'
At that moment, Zhao Qingluo felt as if all the strength in her body had suddenly been drained away. She was like a powerless mortal, unable to break free from her restraints.
She had cultivated for over 500 years…
And yet today was the first time Zhao Qingluo had ever felt so helpless. This helplessness went far beyond even that year when she was poisoned with lust toxin and faced Old Demon Xue.
"Easy come, easy go." Zhao Qingluo finally felt a stab of regret in her heart.
It was a simple truth. One she had already understood long, long ago.
But knowing was easier than doing.
Over 200 years ago, when Wei Tu had gathered the courage to climb Shengya Mountain to find her, she had failed to find her own courage. She did not go down the mountain with him. She had chosen not to give up the resources and status bestowed by the Zhao clan of Shengya Mountain.
She had chosen instead the simplest path laid out before her.
Now, that very path was about to bury her.
What she had received easily, could just as easily be taken back by those who had given it!
More than 200 years ago, Zhao Yu’e had believed in Wei Tu. She believed that a borderland rogue cultivator could surpass Golden Core and step into Nascent Soul…
But today, Zhao Yu’e did not believe her. Did not believe her own clanswoman.
…
Half a cup of tea’s time later.
Seeing Zhao Qingluo delay her decision for so long, looking weak and frail, Zhao Yu’e shook her head.
If Zhao Qingluo had shown decisiveness, she might still have believed she had a chance to break through to Nascent Soul, and might have resisted the pressure coming from Situ Yang.
But sadly, Zhao Qingluo lacked that resolve.
With a Zhao Qingluo like this, how could she ever believe she would one day advance to Nascent Soul?
Opportunity, patrons, Dao heart…
Of these three, Zhao Qingluo possessed none.
Even in terms of Dao heart, all she had was diligence.
But true Dao heart meant facing difficulties head-on, not always taking the easy path.
And more importantly—right now Zhao Qingluo was being disobedient.
The strong could have their own opinions. But the weak? They had no right to any.
A moment later, Zhao Yu’e sighed softly. She reached out and touched Zhao Qingluo’s hair, speaking gently:
"Qingluo, you are a member of the Zhao clan. Ancestor will not harm you. If you feel resentment, resent me alone. Once you break through to Nascent Soul, you can come seek revenge against me."
"Everything I do is for the clan."
"The clan must always have someone to sacrifice."
When she finished, Zhao Yu’e shook her head, flicked her sleeve, and transformed into a streak of light, leaving the secret chamber.
The very next instant, Zhao Qingluo heard Zhao Yu’e’s voice from outside, announcing her punishment.
"Proclaim my decree: Zhao Qingluo bribed clansmen and stole the position of direct heir. From this day forth, she is stripped from the main bloodline and confined within Shendu Island. For the next 300 years, she may not leave."
"Three hundred years without leaving?"
Hearing those words, Zhao Qingluo froze, realizing this was Zhao Yu’e’s way of punishing her refusal to obey the clan order—she was being sentenced to a slow death.
A Golden Core’s lifespan was 800 years.
Now, she had already lived more than 500.
That left her with less than 300 years.
"Three hundred years… to Nascent Soul…"
A bitter smile crossed Zhao Qingluo’s face.
Just now, she had tried to persuade Zhao Yu’e, saying she could break through to Nascent Soul, hoping to win recognition and spare both herself and Wei Tu from further schemes.
Now, Zhao Yu’e had not granted her request, yet had still given her a chance—a chance to reach Nascent Soul.
If she could really do as she said and step into Nascent Soul, then everything could still turn around.
But how could breaking through to Nascent Soul be so easy?
Trapped here in confinement, her chances of success were all too clear.
"Wei Tu, though I don’t know why you refuse to accept Situ Yang’s challenge, I… cannot make things harder for you…"
"And besides, this is my only chance left to reach Nascent Soul."
Zhao Qingluo gently stroked her face, then lifted her head, gazing silently in the direction of the Kang Kingdom.
Right now, her Dharma body was still at its peak. But once enough time passed in confinement, who knew what state she’d fall into.
After thinking it through, Zhao Qingluo wasted no more time. She sat cross-legged on the spot, began circulating her cultivation method, and frantically absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around her.
Before long, the spiritual energy nearby condensed into a vortex, spreading outward from the secret chamber.