98: Cut off the relationship, Ruyan save me

That damned Ji Ning.

Normally, she seemed silent and taciturn, like a block of wood, but who knew she was such a vulgar, chattering busybody.

Jiang Yu was quite angry and had to hold back the urge to teach Ji Ning a lesson.

However, Ji Ning was too idle; she needed to be given some tasks to prevent her from indulging in unrealistic fantasies all day long.

"What exactly was Ji Ning thinking to make her so angry?" Gu Qing saw her expression and immediately worried for Ji Ning.

Although Jiang Yu didn't explicitly say it, mentioning Ji Ning twice in a row surely meant she had overheard Ji Ning's unpleasant thoughts.

"Hall Master, Ruyan is severing ties with her parents. What are your thoughts on this?"

Gu Qing thought for a moment. Since he couldn't openly intercede for Ji Ning, he would first divert Jiang Yu's attention.

Given Jiang Yu's temperament, she might calm down after a while and soothe herself.

"This..."

Jiang Yu's hand, holding the communication jade, paused. After a brief contemplation, she took out the Star Compass to divine.

When in doubt, a divination would clarify everything.

"Great auspiciousness."

"There is no father-daughter connection between them."

Jiang Yu put away the Star Compass, and her gentle, watery eyes once again showed anger.

"..."

A big shot is truly a big shot, terrifyingly so.

Ji Ning, may you seek your own blessings.

Facing the overpowered Jiang Yu, Gu Qing couldn't help at all.

However, Gu Qing still wanted to make an effort: "Hall Master, Ruyan dresses simply and doesn't have a single decent dress or piece of jewelry. I want to buy some for her, but I don't know what girls like."

"I think it's more than that, isn't it?" Hearing this, Jiang Yu's beautiful eyes flickered, and she smiled brightly.

"..." A little flustered.

"If you want to buy something for Qingyue, just say so; there's no need to be embarrassed." Jiang Yu's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she teased.

She had heard from Su Qingyue that Gu Qing had bought her a fairy dress, which was so beautiful she couldn't bear to wear it.

"Haha~"

Gu Qing gave an awkward laugh. Jiang Yu could even circle back to this; it truly was a winding path, and things were unpredictable.

"At least you have some conscience, knowing to buy things for Qingyue. Her sincere feelings for you are not in vain."

Jiang Yu had a good impression of Su Qingyue, almost raising her as her own disciple, for Su Qingyue was so clingy to her.

Immediately, she went with Gu Qing to the largest commercial building in the imperial capital, full of spiritual artifacts and treasures used by Little Fairies.

"Gu Qing, what do you think of this one?"

Jiang Yu changed into a white, gold-threaded, wide-sleeved dress, which accentuated her tall figure, with proportions that were perfect, not an inch too much or too little, and all the flesh intelligently grew where it should.

Coupled with her flawlessly beautiful face, she was simply breathtakingly beautiful.

Of course, beauty was only external; what was most captivating was Jiang Yu's temperament, which held an inner spiritual grace and the divine charm of heaven and earth, like a noble and gentle deity.

Every movement she made exuded elegance and grandeur, captivating the soul.

But strangely, others seemed unable to perceive her beauty; the maidservants looked at her as if she were an ordinary person.

This was due to her profound cultivation realm, which allowed people to automatically overlook Jiang Yu's appearance.

"Very good."

"What about this one?"

"Very good."

"What's so good about it? You didn't even look closely before saying it was good."

Jiang Yu's eyes sparkled as she meticulously compared various dresses, determined to choose the most beautiful one.

She let out a dissatisfied huff at Gu Qing's perfunctory answer.

"Hall Master, I truly think you look good in anything, really, I swear." Gu Qing was getting a bit fed up.

Several hours had passed, dozens of items had been picked out, and not a single one was bought. Could you believe it?

And this was just dresses; would they also look at jewelry later, and perhaps even rouge and powder?

Moreover, it was agreed that they would buy for Su Qingyue and Liu Ruyan, so why was Jiang Yu trying them on herself?

By the time Jiang Yu finished choosing, it would probably take at least a day or two.

Gu Qing, smelling the mixture of clothes and jewelry in the air, felt his head spinning.

Oh no... he felt like he had fallen into a bottomless pit.

He shouldn't have brought Jiang Yu to buy things, really.

"System, is she really a Supreme Dao Venerable expert? Why do I feel like she's no different from a normal woman?"

"You also know that normal women like shopping, right? She is a normal woman."

"?"

"She is indeed the Purple Lotus Dao Venerable, but the Purple Lotus Dao Venerable is not her, understand?"

"You mean, she has the origin of the Purple Lotus Dao Venerable, but doesn't have the Purple Lotus Dao Venerable's memories?"

"That's right!"

"Host, even though she doesn't have the Purple Lotus Dao Venerable's memories, she possesses the Purple Lotus Dao Venerable's Supreme Dao Fruit. Even borrowing a sliver of its power would be enough to destroy the entire cosmic plane. Therefore, Host, you must not harbor any ill intentions towards her."

"?"

"No need for your reminder, I'm not interested in Chaos Supreme Treasures." Gu Qing directly shut down the system, saving himself from its annoying presence... "Ruyan, how did you and Gu Qing meet?"

On the other side, in the imperial palace, Jiang Qiuyue smiled, like a noble and benevolent mother.

"We met in the mountains." Liu Ruyan's expression was cold, and she felt a wave of sadness inside.

Liu Yuanzhong and Jiang Qiuyue had always regarded her as a disgrace, constantly scolding and insulting her.

She had once yearned for their parental affection, even a smile would have been enough.

But no matter how much she cried and begged, the two never even gave her a glance; their cold and disgusted expressions remained vivid in her memory.

Now, she had done nothing but join the Star God Temple, and their attitude towards her immediately changed drastically.

They had been sending people to inquire about her well-being and deliver various treasures, as if they were completely different people.

Liu Ruyan knew this was because she had joined the Star God Temple and gained Gu Qing's attention.

Otherwise, she would still be the demonic girl they detested.

"I see he is very fond of you. Is he pursuing you?"

Jiang Qiuyue took her small hand and said earnestly, "Ruyan, men are the least reliable; they are fickle. Aside from your beauty, you have no other strengths, so you must not agree too easily."

"???"

Liu Ruyan blinked.

What did Jiang Qiuyue mean by that?

"Ruyan, Mother knows you harbor resentment and blame Mother for being biased, but what you don't know is that all the civil and military officials impeached you, wanting to put you to death. I had no choice but to ignore you; this was a disguised way of protecting you."

"...So what?"

"Your sister has never done anything to wrong you. In the years you were missing, she worried about you more than anyone. Mother doesn't want there to be any misunderstanding between you sisters."

"After all, you are twin sisters; no one dotes on you more than your sister."

Seeing Liu Ruyan unmoved, still with that lifeless expression, Jiang Qiuyue felt annoyed.

But she still patiently said, "Your sister has unparalleled talent. If she were to join the Star God Temple with you, she could also protect you."

"After all that talk, it turns out you want me to introduce her." Liu Ruyan sneered and pulled her hand away.

First, she belittled her, then slandered Gu Qing; it was all to pave the way for Liu Ruyi.

Fortunately, her mind was firm, and she wasn't an innocent young girl, otherwise, under Jiang Qiuyue's onslaught, she might have become too self-conscious to ever hold her head high.

Indeed, she was the mother of a nation, with deep cunning.

For the sake of her own daughter, she would even utter such despicable words.

"What? You're unwilling?"

Seeing this, Jiang Qiuyue's face immediately turned cold.

"Hahaha!"

"Ridiculous!"

Liu Ruyan looked at her with a mocking gaze, as if she were looking at a clown.

The daughter whom Jiang Qiuyue and Liu Yuanzhong protected dearly, thinking she was a goddess reincarnated who could lead the Liu family to glory.

Little did they know, Liu Ruyi was a heartless demoness.

She hadn't even revealed the news of her apprenticeship to Jiang Yu to them.

From this, one could see how ruthless Liu Ruyi was.

She simply didn't care about their lives or deaths.

She didn't even want them to bask in her glory.

"Do you want to join the Star God Temple?"

Liu Ruyan turned to look at Liu Ruyi.

"Yes!"

Liu Ruyi's smile was pure, and her beautiful eyes were bright and spirited, as if containing starlight.

However, deep within her eyes, a hint of indifference was hidden.

Although Liu Yuanzhong and Jiang Qiuyue cherished her as a treasure.

In her eyes, they were no different from the ants among the myriad beings.

She kept them around before to coerce Liu Ruyan.

Now that they were useless, she couldn't be bothered to deal with them.

Her sister was the only one she loved in her life.

Even though her sister had grown up, she didn't quite like it.

But she firmly believed that one day her sister would return to her youthful appearance.

Her sister belonged only to her.

"But I don't want you to join the Star God Temple. What do you say we do?"

Since Liu Ruyi wouldn't speak, Liu Ruyan naturally wouldn't reveal the matter.

After all, the Star God Temple was a sect that transcended the world.

Its reputation alone could bring countless benefits to the Liu family.

"I'll follow whatever sister wants, as long as sister is happy." Liu Ruyi blinked her curled eyelashes, her eyes like starlight, her smile pure and innocent.

"Wicked girl, how can you be so narrow-minded? Are you still my daughter?"

Jiang Qiuyue was furious, finally dropping her pretense. Her Void Dao Realm cultivation erupted, and she said coldly, "If you don't agree, I'll disown you."

She knew how much Liu Ruyan cared about her and yearned for her affection.

Jiang Qiuyue didn't believe that Liu Ruyan wouldn't agree when threatened with disownment.

However, what she didn't know was that that was the young Liu Ruyan.

The current Liu Ruyan was Empress Niu Colu Ruyan, without a sentimental attachment to family.

She wouldn't foolishly cling to Jiang Qiuyue, knowing Jiang Qiuyue detested her.

"Alright then, I also don't have parents like you. From now on, our ties are severed."

Liu Ruyan's voice echoed through the imperial palace, devoid of any emotion.

"You... what did you say?"

Jiang Qiuyue's mind buzzed, and she stared blankly at Liu Ruyan.

"I, Liu Ruyan, am severing ties with you, Jiang Qiuyue, Liu Yuanzhong, and the Liu clan."

Liu Ruyan's tone was resolute.

"Wicked girl, you are simply rebellious."

Jiang Qiuyue's face was bloodless, and her finger, pointing at Liu Ruyan, trembled uncontrollably.

An inexplicable sense of suffocation arose in her heart.

Although she didn't love Liu Ruyan, and even detested her, she was still her flesh and blood, her own daughter.

"Evil spawn, you belong to my Liu family in life and in death."

Hearing Liu Ruyan's voice, Liu Yuanzhong rushed over, his face full of anger.

The former Liu Ruyan leaving was no big deal; he didn't care.

But the current Liu Ruyan was different.

She was a disciple of the Star God Temple.

This was supreme glory, capable of bringing endless benefits to the Liu family.

Therefore, he would never allow Liu Ruyan to ruin things.

"Hmph!"

Ji Ning, who had been silently watching the drama unfold, let out a cold snort. The Saint Dao laws permeated the air, instantly making the two enraged individuals pale and tremble.

Under the pressure of the Saint Dao laws, everyone in the imperial palace felt as if they were facing heavenly might, prostrating themselves on the ground, their lives not their own.

"Saint... Saint..."

Liu Yuanzhong's eyes were filled with terror, as if struck by lightning.

The Saint Realm, that was an existence beyond the mundane, capable of surveying heaven and earth with a single thought, transcending into sainthood.

Liu Ruyan was merely a newly inducted disciple of the Star God Temple, so how could she have a Saint Realm protector?

No, this certainly wasn't Liu Ruyan's protector; it might be Gu Qing's protector.

But Liu Yuanzhong couldn't understand how a Saint would become a protector.

The people in the imperial palace were equally incredulous.

A Saint Realm expert was like a stabilizing force, capable of suppressing destiny and ensuring the longevity of a Dao lineage. How could they be easily mobilized?

Could it be that Saint Realm experts in the Star God Temple were already overflowing?

"Ruyan wants to sever ties with you. Do you have any objections?"

Ji Ning's voice was indifferent, as if she were addressing a group of ants.

"No."

"I have no objections."

Liu Yuanzhong and Jiang Qiuyue immediately forced smiles, bowing subserviently, not daring to show any dissatisfaction.

After all, a Saint could not be insulted.

Even if their Liu family also had a Saint Realm expert, they still couldn't provoke them.

"That's good then. Write down the letter of severance."

Ji Ning retracted her aura, instantly becoming like a transparent person, deeply concealing her achievements and reputation.

Liu Yuanzhong tremblingly wrote it down and presented it with both hands.

"Ruyan..."

Seeing Liu Ruyan take the letter and leave without hesitation.

Jiang Qiuyue's heart felt as if a large piece had been dug out, leaving it empty.

Liu Yuanzhong's face gradually turned gloomy, but he dared not vent his anger.

"Your Majesty, we..."

Jiang Qiuyue's voice trembled, and she suddenly remembered the young Liu Ruyan.

So tiny, soft and obedient, with clear, bright big eyes, pink and plump, like an elf.

Her voice was sweet and childlike, with a hint of adorable clumsiness.

So pure, was she really a born demoness?

If she were a demoness, how could the Star God Temple accept her?

After all, the Star Great Dao inherited by the Star God Temple had nothing to do with the demonic path.

"Hmph, severing ties is fine. This wicked spawn doesn't know what's good for her and is destined not to go far."

Liu Yuanzhong interrupted her words before they could be spoken.

He couldn't be wrong.

The one who was wrong was Liu Ruyan.

"But..."

"There are no buts. Ru Yi will surely lead our Liu clan to glory."

Liu Yuanzhong's voice was firm.

Without Liu Ruyan.

He still had Liu Ruyi.

Jiang Qiuyue's face was pale, and she nodded. She understood.

However, a wave of regret spread from the bottom of her heart, tearing at her.

If... if she hadn't listened to the rumors back then, if she had given Liu Ruyan a little more care.

Would the outcome have been different?

On the other side, Liu Ruyan walked out of the imperial palace, feeling completely relaxed.

It was as if the shackles that had always bound her had suddenly disappeared.

She no longer felt resentment towards her parents, nor did she have any lingering obsessions.

From now on, the sky was vast for birds to fly, and the sea wide for fish to leap.

"Senior Ji Ning, thank you."

Liu Ruyan thanked Ji Ning solemnly.

If it weren't for Ji Ning's help today, she wouldn't have been able to smoothly sever ties.

"No need!"

Ji Ning replied, her figure slowly fading, disappearing in an instant.

Liu Ruyan pursed her lips, and her anxious, uncertain heart found a sense of belonging.

Gu Qing treated her sincerely.

Jiang Yu took her as a disciple.

The Star God Temple would be her strongest backing.

Liu Ruyan felt honored and was full of aspirations for the future.

"Ruyan, save me, I'm in..."

Gu Qing's voice transmission abruptly cut off. Just as Liu Ruyan was panicking, Jiang Yu's voice came from her ear again.

She told her to enjoy herself in the imperial capital or even challenge other prodigies.

Liu Ruyan was utterly confused.

She couldn't understand what these two were up to.