C20 Leaving the Clear Essence Sect

The Dragon Head Sect Disciple's strength was so feeble that it took Qin Yu by surprise. After absorbing Qin Yu's punch, the disciple fainted on the spot, collapsing into his own puddle of urine.

Without hesitation, Qin Yu dragged him aside and swiftly stripped him of his clothes, swapping them for his own. The only downside was the urine stain on the garment, which emanated a pungent odor that Qin Yu found revolting.

However, given his need to escape the Clear Essence Sect, the stench was a minor inconvenience. After changing, Qin Yu concealed the unconscious disciple in a nearby thicket. He then tidied up the soiled Dragon Head Sect uniform and, taking a deep breath, made his way out of the Limitless Hall.

Outside the hall, Qin Yu spotted Yun Hee leading a group of Dragon Head Sect Disciples toward the sect's main gate. He quickly fell in line at the rear, keeping his head down and blending in seamlessly. His disguise was effective; no one from the Clear Essence Sect recognized him.

As they proceeded, Yun Hee's occasional cold snorts could be heard ahead, clearly agitated by the recent events in the Limitless Hall, particularly the Sect Master's thunderous rebuke that left him unsettled. Yun Hee hadn't anticipated the Sect Master's power to have grown so significantly in just a few years.

Qin Yu remained silent and inconspicuous among the Dragon Head Sect Disciples as they approached the southern gate of the Clear Essence Sect. The sight of the sect guards standing firm made him feel somewhat uneasy.

Despite his nerves, Qin Yu pressed on, knowing he had no alternative. He just hoped for a smooth exit from the Clear Essence Sect.

Passing through the southern gate, Qin Yu's excitement was palpable. This was, after all, his first departure from the sect. He had grown up in the dilapidated area designated for Miscellaneous Affairs Disciples, enduring a life of servitude to the Core Disciples and the bullying from his peers. Being unable to cultivate or fight back due to his physical limitations, Qin Yu often questioned the purpose of his existence.

However, everything changed after that night when the Eldest Senior Brother forced Qin Yu to become a spiritual beast. He discovered an immense power within his seemingly frail body, enabling him to easily defeat disciples like Chu Feng, who was at Level Two of the Body Tempering Stage, and even a core disciple such as Chu Yao!

Qin Yu hadn't planned on what to do after leaving the Clear Essence Sect, but now he was brimming with hope for the future. He could cultivate and already possessed the formidable strength of Body Tempering Stage Level Five, a level his peers could hardly reach. With such power, he was fully capable of leaving the Clear Essence Sect's territory to seek out a stronger sect to join.

He was confident that with diligent cultivation, he would eventually become a formidable figure who would earn the admiration of the sect elders. On his journey of cultivation, he would rise through the ranks. His goal was to return to the Clear Essence Sect one day, stand before everyone who had once bullied and scorned him, and proudly declare his name: Qin Yu, the powerful.

As Qin Yu was about to leave through the southern gate of the Clear Essence Sect, he suddenly heard someone running up behind him. Turning around, he recognized the guard disciple he had clashed with in the Celestial Punishment Hall. His heart skipped a beat, and he hesitated for a moment.

The guard had a brief exchange with the disciple at the gate and was ready to depart when he noticed Qin Yu's pause. Leaning forward for a closer look at Qin Yu's retreating figure, he suddenly called out to the Dragon Head Sect Disciples, "Hold on a second."

At his call, all the Dragon Head Sect Disciples, including Yun Hee, halted. Qin Yu was taken aback, not expecting such an interruption at this critical juncture. He gritted his teeth and subtly turned his face away, avoiding the guard's scrutinizing gaze.

Yun Hee slowly turned to address the guard, his brow furrowed with concern. "What's the matter? Does the Clear Essence Sect intend to keep us here?"

"Elder Yun, you've got it wrong. I didn't mean anything of the sort," the guard hastily explained, his eyes still lingering on Qin Yu. "It's just that one of your disciples bears a resemblance to someone we've been searching for at the Clear Essence Sect."

At that moment, Yun Hee stepped forward, standing tall in front of the guard disciple. With a sneer, he said, "How could we, the Dragon Head Sect Disciples, be anything like you people from the Clear Essence Sect? I suspect it's because Elder Feng had a few words with me today and left things on a sour note, prompting you to come and mock us."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!" The guard disciple, clearly intimidated by Yun Hee's words, hastily gestured with his hands in denial.

"Hmph, I doubt you'd have the courage," Yun Hee scoffed. His mood was foul, and he took the guard disciple's behavior as a direct challenge. After a sharp rebuke, he continued, "Go back and tell your Elder Feng that I, Yun Hee, will not let this go!" With that, Yun Hee turned on his heel and strode towards the southern gate.

As soon as Yun Hee departed, the Dragon Head Sect Disciples, including a very anxious Qin Yu, quickly fell in line behind him.

The guard disciple stood there momentarily dumbfounded, casting another glance at Qin Yu before shaking his head ruefully, no longer daring to approach. He had heard of Yun Hee's unpredictable temper; angering him could very well result in a beating right there at the southern gate, and he was not foolish enough to court death.

Watching Yun Hee exit through the southern gate, Qin Yu's heart, which had been lodged in his throat, gradually settled. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of gratitude towards the old man. Without Yun Hee's explosive reaction, his departure from the Clear Essence Sect wouldn't have been nearly as smooth.

Qin Yu looked up at the sky, where the sun shone brightly, warming his face and, it seemed, his heart as well.