Her Hero

Li Yunshang felt lonely.

From childhood, she had everything—food served the moment she wanted it, clothes handed to her, endless spirit stones and spirit tools. All she had to do was speak, and the sect’s storeroom would give her whatever she asked for.

But money couldn’t buy everything. Like friends. Or talent for cultivation.

Her early life had been good. No friends, but a happy family. A gentle mother, an ambitious father. Thanks to them, she reached Lingyun Sixth Stage at a very young age.

After Lingyun Sixth Stage, one needed a spiritual root to begin Spirit Gathering cultivation. She wasn’t old enough yet, so she had to wait.

But reaching Lingyun Sixth Stage before age seven made her a genius—rare even among the most gifted.

At the time, Li Yunshang was proud. No friends? No matter. Once she grew strong, people would come begging to be her friend.

And sure enough, when news of her achievement spread, many sects and noble families sent representatives. They even ordered their children to spend time with her.

Indeed, in the cultivation world, strength was everything. During this time, she also heard of a prodigy in Xuancheng, Xuanzhou—Ye Feng. Born reciting poetry, already at Lingyun Ninth Stage, just one step from Foundation Establishment.

Such talent dazzled countless families. His fame overshadowed hers. That was the boy’s name—Ye Feng.

Li Yunshang wasn’t happy. So what if he’s a few years older and awakened his root earlier? Once I awaken mine, I’ll be just as good.

Soon, the year of the sect’s talent assessment arrived.

“Lingyun Sixth Stage. No spiritual root.”

The glowing characters on the detection stone burned into her eyes.

Her sharp fingernails dug into her palm, pain flaring.

No spiritual root meant she couldn’t cultivate. She was a waste. Even the lowest cultivators had at least a mixed root. She had *none*.

In this age of universal cultivation, even a stray dog on the street had a spiritual root. But she… did not.

Everything changed.

“Li Ziliang, you damn fool! Where have you been? Do you know our daughter Shang has no spiritual root?”

“What? I’m out drinking with several Alliance Sect leaders. This is critical! If we form an alliance, we can reverse our sect’s oppression by the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. No more bowing to them. Wait—what? Shang has no spiritual root?”

His excited voice cut off. He rushed back.

“Shang has no spiritual root? This… this can’t be! We both have roots. How could she have none? Did you cheat on me?”

“Li Ziliang, you cheat! And what about your nights drinking with that vixen from Thunderclap Mountain? It’s because you’re never home, never with Shang or me, always chasing your dream of building the greatest sect in the world!”

“Hey, don’t drag that into this! How is me not being home related to her lacking a root? I’m doing all this to protect you two in the coming chaos!”

“I don’t care. If you’d been there for her when she was little, would she be so lonely and friendless?”

“That’s not what we’re talking about! If it doesn’t work, we can have another child. One with a root.”

“Li Ziliang, are you even human? What are you doing to Shang? I won’t give you another child. Go find one of your fox spirits!”

“Hey! Why are you so harsh today!”

“Get out! Go live with your broken sect!”

That day, her usually harmonious parents fought bitterly. After that, they entered a long cold war. Her father seemed to age overnight, losing his former vitality.

Li Yunshang didn’t like her father. Irresponsible. Always away, coming home injured. When her mother scolded him, he’d just say, “A man dies young at heart,” and talk about building the greatest sect in the world.

But he wasn’t as bad as he sounded.

“I’ve heard rumors. A certain sea hides countless treasures. Maybe even one that can grant Shang a spiritual root.

I’ve arranged with the leader of the Cold Blood Demon Cult. We’ll go together. Don’t worry—he’s a demon, but he’s honorable. While I’m gone, the sect depends on you.”

Her mother said nothing. She was still angry from the earlier fight.

The ambitious man left with a heavy heart, as he always did.

This time, he never returned.

The Cold Blood Demon Cult leader never returned either.

He was presumed dead.

Young Li Yunshang was heartbroken. But it was okay. She still had her mother.

But fate was unpredictable. Without her father’s protection, years later, the sect fell into chaos. With no leader, several elders conspired with the oppressive Ten Thousand Beasts Sect to seize power.

“Qin Rou, hand over the sect seal! Li Ziliang’s been missing for so long—he’s probably dead somewhere!”

“Exactly! Hand over the seal, deactivate the sect barrier, and welcome the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. Without a leader, our only hope is to become their subordinate sect!”

“Don’t be stubborn! Hahaha… Qin Rou, if you serve me well, I might even take care of Li Ziliang’s wife and child.”

“Mother…”

“Mother…”

Hearing the shouts outside, Li Yunshang clung to her mother in fear.

“Shang, don’t be afraid. These are just hungry wolves barking. Li Ziliang, that fool, left us and never came back. Maybe he fell for some other fox spirit.”

The woman’s face was calm. Her voice was gentle as she comforted her daughter.

“Qin Rou, come out and greet the envoy of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect!”

“Elder Qin, don’t worry. As long as disciples remain loyal, these traitors won’t touch our sect.”

Screams and battle sounds erupted outside. Li Yunshang tightened her grip on her mother’s robe—then was gently pulled away.

“Mother!”

She looked up. Her mother wore a strange outfit. Not really strange—she’d seen her father wear it before. A look of heroic pride, as if the whole world rested in his gaze.

“Shang… remember. From now on, act as if your father never existed.”

With that, her mother drew her sword and walked out.

“Haha! Qin Rou, you finally came out! What do you think of my offer? I… urk… huh?”

One slash.

Blood flooded the sect. Traitors were slaughtered, their heads displayed at the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s gate.

That day, Xuanling Sect gained a Nascent Soul境 sect leader.

From that day on, Li Yunshang noticed her mother changed. She became like her father—leaving early, returning late, either negotiating with other sects or in closed-door cultivation.

They barely spoke. A few words a day, at most.

But in other ways, her mother spoiled her—spirit stones, artifacts, spirit pets. Whatever she wanted, she got.

She understood. This was a necessary sacrifice. Her mother was holding the sect together, waiting for that man to return. If he came back to find his sect reduced to a vassal, it would destroy him.

But… Li Yunshang felt deep pain. Loneliness.

No one was there.

Still, amid the sorrow, she heard a piece of news that, for her, was almost good.

The prodigy who had reached Lingyun Ninth Stage—Ye Feng—had died young. His cultivation never advanced. While peers Foundation Established, he stayed the same. Even his fiancée came to break the engagement.

Compared to him, she was better off.

But there were whispers:

“Look, that’s the sect leader’s daughter. They say she’s a monster who can’t cultivate.”

“Really? Could she be a demon spy?”

“Possibly. A monster.”

They were jealous. Jealous of her Nascent Soul境 mother. Jealous that she, unable to cultivate, still lived better than anyone.

Answering them was simple. Beat them up. Slap them.

She couldn’t cultivate, but she had her mother’s backing.

As long as her mother stood, no one dared challenge her.

So Li Yunshang’s life grew wilder. She walked the path of no return.

What was there to fear? Even when she messed up, her mother would talk to her.

She welcomed it. One talk meant more words than days of silence.

Maybe evil deeds always catch up.

She… was kidnapped.

Likely by the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. She was bait—to lure her mother out, then ambush and kill her.

This was it. Over.

Li Yunshang closed her eyes, ready to die. She wouldn’t drag her mother down.

Why was it always like this…

At the last moment, a figure slipped in. A strange man.

Muttering about finally finding the heroine, how exhausting it was, how deep she was hidden—how did the protagonist even find her in the story?

Words she didn’t understand. But Li Yunshang was happy. She wouldn’t die yet.

This person—she remembered. A Xuanling Sect disciple caught up in her kidnapping.

He was odd. On the way back, he kept muttering about “missions” and “plot progression.” When pursuers from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect appeared, he shouted, “Damn! Script’s wrong! Why are they here so early? And their cultivation is too high! Is this even fair?!”

Yet he grabbed her hand and ran, gripping it tightly—never letting go.

Even when she acted spoiled, demanding things, he didn’t abandon her.

She recognized him. The genius who once surpassed her, now fallen.

Unexpected. That he’d joined Xuanling Sect. That he’d come this far—stronger than she was, despite the same fate.

He was good. She didn’t want to drag him down. He’d worked hard to get here. She didn’t want him to die for her. So when he wasn’t looking, she let herself be taken again.

But he came back. Found her. Beat up the kidnappers. Then scolded her: “Don’t run off! What if I lose you?”

What a fool! Given a chance, and he still wouldn’t take it. An inner sect disciple’s salary was tiny. Why risk his life?

But thanks to him, later by accident, she entered a secret realm. Inside, a treasure that let her cultivate.

She could cultivate. Finally.

If only this happened earlier…

Her father wouldn’t have…

Lost in memory, Li Yunshang recalled her childhood.

Back then, her father wasn’t so busy. He played with her often. She clung to him, thinking the sect leader was the strongest man in the world. She wanted to stay with him forever.

“No, Shang. You’ll grow up. You’ll find a husband. No daughter stays with her father forever. Don’t end up unmarried.”

“But Dad, you’re so strong. I want to stay with you.”

“Hah! Even I can’t compare to your father. But I still married him.”

“Mother, you’re strong too. You convinced Grandfather to let you marry Father.”

“Nonsense. A man should protect his family. Your father’s weak. His cultivation isn’t even as high as mine.”

“Qin Rou, don’t say that in front of the child. Shang…”

“Go away.”

Watching her parents bicker, Li Yunshang, unknowingly fed a mountain of dog food, thought for a moment. Then, in her childish voice, she said:

“In the future, I’ll marry a man stronger than Father. A hero. When I’m in danger, he’ll come on a rainbow cloud to take me away.”

“Hah! A hero? More like a bear. No one stronger than your father exists. You’ve been reading too many novels… ow!”

“You’re not stronger than Father either, yet you married him.”

“I won by true love, winning over your grandfather. That’s different.”

“Then why didn’t you marry Father?”

Just like then, Li Yunshang smiled slightly.

Father, I’ve found my husband. Just like you said—still not as strong as you. But… I’m keeping him.

You had your chance. You didn’t let go. So don’t blame me for clinging now.

Ye… no. Xiao Yu.

My hero.