Shen Qing's action just now also shocked Hong Chaoyang's heart.
As the daughter of True Immortal Hong Die, Hong Chaoyang enjoyed great prestige outside. With True Immortal Hong Die as her backer, she could act recklessly among the disciples of the Qingyun Sword Sect.
However, in private, where no one else knew, she was actually disliked by True Immortal Hong Die.
There were quite a few Taoist companions in the cultivation world, but few of them had offspring.
This was not only because it was more difficult for cultivators with higher cultivation levels to conceive, but also because the process of giving birth was no less difficult than surviving a tribulation.
The offspring of cultivators were born with single spiritual roots, which allowed them to cultivate faster than ordinary cultivators and gave them a unique advantage.
True Immortal Hong Die had narrowly escaped death when she gave birth to Hong Chaoyang, and since then, her cultivation had stagnated.
Although she didn't blame Hong Chaoyang for all this, she still regarded Hong Chaoyang as her own possession, controlling every aspect of her life, both overtly and covertly.
True Immortal Hong Die had a male disciple. Although he didn't have a single spiritual root, he had a strong comprehension ability, and his cultivation speed was no slower than that of Hong Chaoyang, who had a single spiritual root.
True Immortal Hong Die constantly compared Hong Chaoyang with this male disciple, which made Hong Chaoyang increasingly doubt herself.
One of True Immortal Hong Die's favorite sayings was, "Women are not as unrestrained as men by nature. They have a lower understanding of cultivation. If they get involved in love, they will be even more deeply trapped. The path of the Great Dao is difficult, and men are more suitable for it."
Due to True Immortal Hong Die's constant nagging, Hong Chaoyang began to wonder if women were inherently weaker than men.
So, when Shen Qing said that short sentence, Hong Chaoyang seemed to suddenly wake up.
In the cultivation world, strength was respected. Hong Chaoyang was born proud and had unique advantages. How could she be confined by gender?
She was a woman, a proud woman.
Thinking of this, spiritual energy suddenly gathered around Hong Chaoyang. She looked at her hands in surprise.
Was she about to break through?
Shen Qing turned around, equally surprised.
She was breaking through just like that?!
The surrounding disciples gathered around. Some of them voluntarily helped Hong Chaoyang guard against any disturbances.
"Sister Hong, don't worry about breaking through. We're here. We'll guard for you. We'll also find a way to deal with Senior Brother Pei."
Hong Chaoyang looked at Shen Qing with a complicated expression. She really hadn't expected to break through in this situation. Subconsciously, she said to Shen Qing,
"Sister Shen, I trust you. Since Senior Brother Pei is in danger, you're the leader of this team now. Protect them."
After saying this, Hong Chaoyang sat down on the spot and began to meditate and comprehend.
Facing the trusting looks of the disciples, Shen Qing closed her eyes heavily.
How did she become the team leader?!
She was only at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. What on earth qualified her for this position?!
There were so many senior brothers and sisters at the Golden Core stage. Why didn't they choose one of them? Hong Chaoyang was really making things difficult for her!
"Senior brothers and sisters, do you have any good ideas?"
Shen Qing asked tentatively, but the disciples all shook their heads in unison.
They all stared at her with big, innocent eyes, waiting for her to give orders.
It wasn't that they didn't want to contribute. It was just that Shen Qing had single - handedly solved the troublesome ghost vines that none of them could deal with. Her powerful figure was deeply engraved in their minds.
Who didn't admire the strong?
Even though the object of their admiration only had Foundation Establishment cultivation, it was strange but somehow reasonable.
Shen Qing sighed and rubbed her forehead. She turned around helplessly.
Not far away, Shen Chuyun, who had been knocked flying, had briefly lost consciousness and then was awakened by the pain.
He felt as if his internal organs had been displaced, but the pain also cleared his mind a lot.
He didn't quite understand why he had been so emotional just now and said such things to a strange female disciple.
Obviously, she hadn't done anything wrong. He seemed to have vented all his dissatisfaction with Shen Qing on her. The overwhelming malice even scared Shen Chuyun when he came to his senses.
Was that really his intention?
Shen Chuyun struggled to get up, supporting himself on the ground. Besides being confused about his unreasonable words and actions just now, he also felt that something was wrong with his whole body.
He was itchy and in pain all over, but he could feel that he wasn't seriously injured.
Shen Chuyun tried to circulate his spiritual energy. Besides a slight tingling in his meridians, there was no other abnormality.
Was he really that tough?
After being blown up and knocked flying, the only thing he felt was pain.
But Shen Chuyun didn't know that the thick black mist on his body had already penetrated deep into his bones...
"Shen Qing, Senior Brother Pei and Senior Brother He have been so kind to you. You must save them."
Shen Qing turned around and saw Shen Chuyun limping towards her. His tone had returned to normal, without the slightest bit of the aggression from before.
The completely different attitudes made Shen Qing frown slightly, but she attributed all the abnormalities to the control of the plot.
Shen Qing didn't care about Shen Chuyun's changes, so she didn't think deeply about it.
After the commotion just now, Pei Xuanjing and He Yu had sunk a little deeper in the marsh. Now, only their faces were visible.
If they waited any longer, these two people might die here.
Shen Qing clenched her fists tightly, her eyes filled with coldness.
Pei Xuanjing and He Yu. In her previous life, their actions had contributed to her death.
Now that they had fallen into Lin Yibai's trap, it was their retribution, Shen Qing thought maliciously.
Maybe it would be better to just let them die. After all, everyone was watching and there was nothing they could do. The blame wouldn't fall on her.
Facing Shen Qing's inaction, Shen Chuyun was filled with panic.
Shen Qing was really different!
"Shen Qing, I'll accept your beating, but Senior Brother Pei and Senior Brother He have been so kind to you. Are you really going to watch them die?!"
Shen Qing pursed her lips tightly and turned to glare at Shen Chuyun.
"They've been kind to you too. Why don't you go and save them?"
Shen Chuyun was at a loss for words. He looked at the two people in the pond who were about to lose their strength with a troubled expression.
He didn't dare. He was afraid of death too.
"I... I'm injured. I really can't do anything..."
The last few words came out in a whisper. Shen Qing could hardly hear them.
A sarcastic smile appeared on Shen Qing's lips. She turned away and didn't look at him anymore.
In the marsh pond, Pei Xuanjing heard Shen Qing's voice. In a daze, he slowly said a few words.
"Little Sister Shen..."
Pei Xuanjing's voice made Shen Qing pause for a moment, and then her eyes were filled with disgust.
This form of address was what Pei Xuanjing had called her when she first entered the sect. But now, it only made Shen Qing feel extremely nauseous.
Pei Xuanjing was the first disciple accepted by True Immortal Heng Ling. He was upright and treated everyone equally.
However, for Shen Qing, who was physically weak, Pei Xuanjing always showed a little pity and took extra care of her.
Shen Qing's feelings for Pei Xuanjing were more like those towards a gentle elder brother.
But later, because of Lin Yibai's diary, Pei Xuanjing thought she was jealous. Overnight, he withdrew his care for her.
Without any investigation, he convicted her and, in the name of training, allowed everyone to humiliate her.