Chapter One: Reaping What One Has Sown

A tidal wave of pain swept over Jiang Heng, as if flames had engulfed her entire body. Her eyelids twitched, her limbs contorted in spasms, desperate to cry out for help, but not a single sound escaped her throat.

Around her, the mocking voices of her fellow disciples echoed.

“A true disaster that lingers for a thousand years—she can’t even die like this.”

“I’ve never seen someone so shameless. Jealous of her junior sister to such an extent, and even resorting to such underhanded means in broad daylight.”

“She should reflect on why Senior Brother Shen and the others favor An’an. She insists on behaving disgracefully, then blames everyone else for defending the ones who truly deserve care.”

Those voices drifted near and far, stirring tempests within Jiang Heng’s heart, leaving her numb with shock.

Hadn’t her soul already been annihilated, destined never to enter the cycle of reincarnation again?

Why could she hear these words? And where was she now?

She did not know how much time had passed before she finally opened her eyes, trembling and drenched in cold sweat.

Upon seeing her surroundings and recalling the voices she’d just heard, a heavy blow struck her heart, and a realization dawned.

She had been reborn.

Jiang Heng stared blankly at the ceiling of the confinement chamber, her mouth opening soundlessly as she wept for a long time.

Gradually, her tears transformed into bitter laughter.

Hundreds of years of companionship—her revered master and senior brothers, those she cherished more than herself—had driven her to ruin for the sake of Xu Ning’an, who had only joined the sect a decade prior.

All the grievances and injuries had been hers to bear, while Xu Ning’an basked in favoritism and affection, seizing everything that rightfully belonged to Jiang Heng.

Yet, they sided with Xu Ning’an without a second thought, hurling all the filth upon Jiang Heng, punishing and tormenting her without mercy.

In the end, just because Xu Ning’an shed a few tears and uttered a baseless oath, Jiang Heng was condemned as a demon cultivator.

There was no examination of her divine sense, no appraisal of her spiritual bones, not even a chance to defend herself.

She could only watch as those she’d once trusted and relied upon most plunged countless swords through her body, ending her life.

This time, she would not make the same mistake.

From now on, they would no longer be her cherished kin—merely strangers, paths that would never cross again.

Each would go their own way, never to interfere with the other.

At that moment, a familiar voice sounded beside her ear.

“Jiang Heng, you have truly gone too far this time. It’s no wonder Second Senior Brother struck you. Don’t be ungrateful or harbor resentment, and certainly don’t take it out on your junior sister. You brought this upon yourself.”

Jiang Heng forced her eyes open.

It was her Fourth Senior Brother, Xia Zhiyu.

He had joined the sect not long after Jiang Heng, their ages nearly identical. Childhood companions, they had once been inseparable.

In public, Xia Zhiyu was a spirited, carefree youth, but in private, he was gentle and attentive, cherishing Jiang Heng as his own sister, spoiling her in every way.

He took her to catch spiritual pets, crafted paper kites with magic to amuse her, and risked reprimand to buy her beloved candied hawthorn from mortal towns, handing it to her with a radiant smile.

Everyone else called her “junior sister,” but he always called her “little sister.”

Until Xu Ning’an arrived.

Xia Zhiyu’s affection gradually shifted to the new junior sister, and he began addressing her as “junior sister” more often, with Jiang Heng relegated to “junior sister” or even just her name.

All because of a petulant remark from Xu Ning’an, Xia Zhiyu tricked Jiang Heng into bringing out the gifts he’d once given her, then publicly tore them to pieces, vowing to give Xu Ning’an something even better.

Everyone helped Xia Zhiyu console Xu Ning’an, and not one person cared about Jiang Heng, who watched her destroyed gifts with silent tears.

Jiang Heng’s return to this point in time marked the fifth year since Xu Ning’an had been accepted as a personal disciple. The relationships hadn’t yet deteriorated to outright hostility, but they had already inflicted real harm upon her—including Xia Zhiyu.

Jiang Heng no longer harbored any hope for them.

After speaking his piece, Xia Zhiyu braced himself for tears, denial, and protest.

But to his surprise, Jiang Heng only looked at him calmly, her expression devoid of emotion.

Her eyes were like bottomless lakes, unsettling Xia Zhiyu.

He wanted to ask her why she looked at him that way, but recalling Second Senior Brother’s instructions, he paused.

Xia Zhiyu composed himself and continued.

“So, you should give ‘Star Ripple’ to your junior sister as an apology. She’s liked it for a long time. That way, Second Senior Brother will calm down, and Master won’t hold it against you.”

Star Ripple was Jiang Heng’s spiritual sword.

When she was formally accepted as a personal disciple, Master Cloud Hidden Immortal bestowed the sword upon her and personally taught her how to nurture its spirit.

Her senior brothers contributed greatly as well—some traveled across neighboring countries to find upgrade materials for her, others risked their lives to recover the sword from villains. Many memories, both joyful and tearful, were entwined with it.

The sword was not only a symbol of her master’s favor, but also carried most of her cherished memories of the sect.

In her previous life, Xu Ning’an refused any other sword—she wanted only this one.

Anyone who suggested she choose a better sword would be met with red eyes, lowered head, and stubborn silence.

The senior brothers, helpless, could only negotiate with Jiang Heng—threatening and coaxing her to surrender Star Ripple to Xu Ning’an.

Jiang Heng refused, so Second Senior Brother Huo Shiqing and Third Senior Brother Jiang Huaixu set a trap, causing her to commit a grave mistake and owe Xu Ning’an a huge debt. In the end, Master intervened and forced her to give up Star Ripple.

She endured the sorrow, tried everything to reclaim the sword, but only grew more estranged from her master and senior brothers. Their attitude toward her soured—scolding, severe punishments, all because Xu Ning’an cried and they threatened to cripple Jiang Heng’s spiritual roots in anger...

Xia Zhiyu noticed Jiang Heng was dazed, about to speak when the object at his feet startled him.

He looked down—it was Star Ripple!

Jiang Heng closed her eyes, her voice weak and cold. “Take it. I don’t want it anymore.”

Her fingers nearly broke the skin of her palm, but her face remained calm.

She had already resolved to sever all ties with them in this life; why cling to things that belonged to another time?

It had been a gift from her master, and since he ultimately wished it to go to Xu Ning’an, she might as well return it.

She would not force what was never hers.

As Xia Zhiyu left with Star Ripple, the relief he expected was clouded by a strange heaviness.

On the way back to the Pure Spirit Hall, the image of Jiang Heng stubbornly clutching Star Ripple, refusing to let go, and her recent cold, tranquil face replayed in Xia Zhiyu’s mind.

Suddenly, he realized something and muttered, “This is bad.”

How could he have forgotten—Jiang Heng was gravely injured!

Because their junior sister had been hurt in the spiritual beast incident, everyone was gathered around her, offering comfort and care, leaving Jiang Heng unattended.

No one had visited Jiang Heng to check on her injuries, much less given her medicine or examined her.

And as her senior brother, instead of asking about her recovery, he had come only to take away her most treasured weapon.

No one understood better than Xia Zhiyu how much Jiang Heng valued Star Ripple, how important it was to her.

He abruptly halted his flying artifact, hesitating as he looked toward Jiang Heng’s residence.

But in the end, he turned away and continued toward the Pure Spirit Hall.

This was Jiang Heng’s own doing—no one else was to blame.

She needed a stern lesson, so she would realize how her behavior made others detest her and finally correct her faults. It was for her own good.