by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
He knew that no matter how high his cultivation base grew, he wouldn’t be able to change her thinking. Perhaps she was right and the two of them were simply fated to be enemies. It was an unchangeable destiny.
“Long Chen, you fiend, fairy Zi Yan is trying to guide you to the right path, and you spout such arrogance to hurt her! You really are worse than a beast!” scolded one of the Righteous path’s disciples.
Despite both being from the Righteous path, it was unknown just how many disciples looked down on Long Chen, viewing him as having nothing more than dogshit luck. They thought that if they were that lucky, they would definitely be stronger.
That was especially true when they saw his words cause tears to fill Zi Yan’s eyes. That disappointed expression provoked their desire to protect her, and they immediately pointed their spears at Long Chen.
“Yes, I really am worse than you,” sighed Long Chen.
This reply first dumbfounded people before they quickly realized that he was cursing them as beasts.
“Long Chen, do we really need to fight to the point of you die or I die? Life in this world should comply with the Heavenly Daos. Whether you’re living or surviving, it’s the same thing. We can all grow under the protection of the Heavenly Daos. Look at the Sovereigns. Which one of them walked to the peak by being merciless and vicious? Which one of them relied on slaughter to solve their problems? Bloody methods only intensify the conflict,” said Zi Yan.
Long Chen’s expression changed slightly. He thought of the crux of the problem. The Sovereigns had been respected by all races, not just because of their power, but because of their wisdom and magnanimity.
This was something that he knew as well. There were many legends regarding the Sovereigns, and although some of those stories might have been embellished, it was true that only the Sovereigns had been able to obtain the approval of all races.
He thought of when he had encountered Sovereign Yun Shang. At that time, Sovereign Yun Shang had been wearing white robes and had seemed a bit surprised to see him wearing black.
However, the Sovereign had then said that Long Chen walked a different path from them. Now that Zi Yan brought up the Sovereigns, he seemed to understand something.
“Zi Yan, there’s no need to say any more. You are right, but I am also not wrong. Neither of us will give up our way of thinking, so don’t try any longer. The more you try, the more it will hurt. Your so-called Heavenly Daos are nothing more than a joke. They also treat people according to different standards. Kind people always end up bullied, while evil people go unpunished. As for the cycle of karma, I’m too impatient to wait for karma to punish them. I remember enmities, and anyone who tries to kill me or harm my people will not be let off. I am not so magnanimous. I do not have that skill, or that self-restraint, or that interest in being a good person. What I need to do is protect the people beside me. As for how others view me, their hostility toward me, whatever.” After saying this, Long Chen turned away, no longer acknowledging Zi Yan.
This was an argument with no solution. Saying any more was meaningless. However, there was one thing that he didn’t understand, and it was the role of Illusive Music Immortal Palace in the Martial Heaven Continent.
They claimed to be the protectors of the continent, but their true origins were a mystery. No one knew.
Zi Yan saw Long Chen turn away, clearly not wishing to continue this conversation. Then, she lowered her head and sadly walked away to find her own corner to sit down in. Waves of divine light came out of her, screening her from the other people’s sight. She didn’t want others to see her like this.
It was unknown whether she was furiously venting behind her curtain of light, or whether she was silently sobbing.
Long Chen knew that Zi Yan was hurt right now. He didn’t feel good either, but this reality made him helpless. He really hated those people who brainwashed others. They were a bunch of conmen.
The Corrupt path and Bloodkill Hall were like that. After their brainwashing, their faith would become so solid that it made their people frightening.
When a person thought that there was only one correct answer to something, and all other answers were worthy of death, that meant there was a problem with that person’s cognitive abilities.
One person might see a sapling and be correct in that, but if an ant looked at it, they would see a towering tree. Their responses would naturally be different.
If you thought that your answer was the only correct one and you had to force that ant to accept your answer, then that was bigotry. And bigoted thinking was frightening.
All things had two sides. How could there be an absolute correct answer?
If a thief was caught, people would want to beat him to death. But what if he stole a few pieces of bread to save his starving mother on her last breaths?
Then you would need to view this problem from multiple angles. Standing in the position of the thief, the spectator, the person who was stolen from, or the thief’s mother, that was four viewpoints already, four different answers.
However, brainwashed people did not see four different answers. They only had one answer, and if others did not have the same answer, they would criticize and condemn them, forcibly educating them to the correct answer. If you refused, they would raise their butcher’s blades.
The reason Long Chen didn’t dare to rapidly increase his cultivation base was because he was afraid of one day becoming a crazy person due to the Nine Star Hegemon Body Art’s influence. He had to make sure he could always see himself clearly.
As for Zi Yan, the only things in her mind were the teachings of the Illusive Music Immortal Palace. She was like an empress standing on the city gates, looking at starving commoners eating tree bark just to stay alive and then curiously asking why they didn’t eat meat.
Long Chen’s eloquence wouldn’t lose to anyone, but he was profoundly helpless when it came to Zi Yan. He had no time nor energy to fight with her like this. So in the end, one of them would very likely fall.
Zi Yan was heartbroken, but Long Chen was also distressed. Zi Yan knew that there was no way for her to change Long Chen, but she continued to try, fighting for the slightest hope. In comparison, Long Chen felt a bit ashamed of how he had given up. Zi Yan was still fighting for him, but he didn’t have the time.
He was in a race against time. Anything that blocked his way might come with a great price in the future. He couldn’t hold back just for Zi Yan.
One of the ancient race experts took this chance to speak. “What a despicable man you are Long Chen. How dare you hurt fairy Zi Yan like this? Just wait until we enter the Yin Yang world, I will personally kill you to avenge fairy-”
“Then let’s not wait.”
Long Chen’s figure suddenly flashed forward. He charged at that ancient race expert.
No one had expected Long Chen to suddenly attack. He arrived in front of that expert in an instant.
However, that person was also an expert, and he didn’t panic. He had no time to summon his manifestation, but a pair of runic wings appeared behind him. He smashed a fist at Long Chen, while his runic wings also slammed toward his head.
This was a two-prong attack, simple but vicious. When Long Chen’s fist met his fist, his wings would slam into Long Chen’s head.
If Long Chen tried to block the wings, he would have to endure the punch. If he focused on the punch, his wings would shatter his head. The wings were one of the ancient race expert’s divine abilities.
However, Long Chen ignored the pair of runic wings. His fist continued to smash into that ancient race expert’s fist.
The ancient race expert was surprised. He had expected Long Chen to retreat and block his wings. Long Chen’s most likely course of action would be to launch a kick at his opponent’s abdomen to escape his current predicament.
That would naturally cause Long Chen to fall into a trap. The ancient race expert had a chain of backup moves that would even give him a chance to kill Long Ch
en if he acted as expected.
However, Long Chen was acting very foolishly by charging in a suicidal manner, causing this expert to be a bit panicked.
If it was anyone else, he would be confident in killing them. But it was Long Chen. This seemingly foolish act of his made him feel very uneasy.
By this point, there was nothing else he could do. He could only circulate all his power.
Just as Long Chen’s fist was about to strike, he spread his fingers, turning his fist into a claw that caught his opponent’s fist.
At that moment, the two runic wings slammed toward Long Chen’s head. However, just as they were about to strike, lightning flashed. The two wings shattered.
Crack.
With his right hand clenching and pulling on the ancient race expert’s fist, his left hand smashed into the ancient race expert’s nose.
Chapter 1808 Mysterious Man
Long Chen’s fist smashed into that ancient race expert’s nose. The immense force caused his head to cave in.
A pair of lightning wings flashed on Long Chen’s back. It was these lightning wings that had blown apart the ancient race expert’s runic wings.
When he saw those lightning wings, Yan Nantian’s expression changed. So Long Chen had gained control of this rudimentary form of a paragon art so quickly.
These lightning wings were the paragon art, the Sundering Lightning Heavenly Wings. It was just that right now, Long Chen was relying entirely on Lei Long to unleash this technique. He was still unable to cooperate with Lei Long to unleash the move, so its power was very limited. It was still in a rudimentary form.
Despite that, it was enough to instantly destroy this ancient race expert’s divine ability. However, because it had only appeared for an instant, it hadn’t unleashed the fluctuations of a paragon art, so others weren’t able to realize what it was.
Only Yan Nantian had noticed the power of this move, and he was stunned by its power. If Long Chen grasped the complete form of this paragon art, he might be able to dominate these geniuses.
“Long Chen, you are courting death!”
Seeing Long Chen heavily injure his disciple and then grab him by the neck, the Netherpassage elder that had come with this ancient race disciple immediately shot to his feet.
However, he had just moved when a sharp ray of Sword Qi slashed over. That Netherpassage expert coughed up blood and hastily retreated.
“I previously said that anyone in the same realm can challenge Long Chen. But if Netherpassage experts want to attack, don’t blame me for not being courteous. Have you forgotten already?”
Yan Nantian looked at these experts coldly, appearing cold yet domineering. There was frosty killing intent in his eyes.
Ye Lingshan looked in shock at Yan Nantian. This time, he hadn’t used her sword. He had merely waved two fingers but had still been able to use them as a sword and injure a Netherpassage expert.
Yan Nantian’s attack once more shook everyone. They were experiencing the terrifying power of someone at the peak of the Death realm. None of them could stop him.
“Long Chen… what… do you want?” gasped that ancient race disciple in his hand.
His body suddenly exploded. Not even his Yuan Spirit was spared. Long Chen’s hand was bloody, and his gaze was cold. “It’s not what I want, but what do you want? I was too lazy to deal with you just now, but you still forced me like this. Since that’s the case, let’s not bother with anything fancy. There’s no need to enter the Yin Yang World. Anyone who wants to kill me can come challenge me right now! Let us fight to the death right here and see who is left standing in the end!”
Long Chen was feeling vexed due to his complicated relationship with Zi Yan. Hence, when someone actually added oil to the fire, his temper naturally couldn’t endure it.
“Since you want to die, alright!” True Immortal Jiaoqi was the first to step forward. His copper eyes stared at Long Chen. Popping sounds began to ring out of his skeleton.
BOOM!
Just at this moment, explosive rumbling came from the air. The mist over the distant mountains had become thin, and a surge of life energy surged out of the Yin Yang World.
“We can enter!”
A Netherpassage expert formed hand seals, summoning life and death energy that formed a channel through the mist. He then tossed his disciple inside.
“Count yourself lucky. But just wait, I will definitely cut off your head in the Yin Yang World,” said True Immortal Jiaoqi before entering the life and death channel created by his Xuan Beast elder.
There were actually over ten more days until the Yin Yang World was fully open. At this time, the mist had yet to scatter, so it should be impossible to enter.
However, Netherpassage experts were capable of creating a channel with their life and death energy so that Soul Transformation experts could enter.
This way, these disciples would have a ten day head start into the Yin Yang World. That would give them an advantage over the other disciples.
However, creating a channel capable of getting through this mist exhausted a great deal of life and death energy. Ordinary Netherpassage experts were only able to send a single person in. Stronger ones would be able to just barely send two in. Any more would be too much.
“Long Chen, just wait. You will definitely die a miserable death in the Yin Yang World!”
A few more of the heavenly geniuses added in their shouts before charging into the Yin Yang World.
Ye Lingshan pulled Long Chen into their channel. Although they moved second, they were even faster than the others.
Originally, True Immortal Jiaoqi was the fastest, but Long Chen and Ye Lingshan quickly overtook him. That wasn’t because they were rushing, but because Yan Nantian’s life and death energy was superior to the others, allowing the two of them to be the first to enter the Yin Yang World.
The two of them charged through the mist, vanishing from sight.
Just a moment later, True Immortal Jiaoqi also entered the Yin Yang World. The others quickly followed, vanishing one by one.
Only once the majority of people had entered did Zi Yan put away her curtain of light. Although her face was now calm, her eyes were slightly red. She had clearly been crying.
“Little girl, come over here.” Yan Nantian beckoned to Zi Yan.
“Zi Yan greets senior.” Zi Yan respectfully walked over and bowed.
“I can send you in. If you enter yourself, it will take quite a bit of your spiritual yuan. That’s a dangerous condition to be in while in the Yin Yang World,” said Yan Nantian.
Enter herself? The experts in the surroundings were startled. Zi Yan was able to enter the Yin Yang World on her own?
“Many thanks for your kindness, but I can protect myself.” Zi Yan expressed her gratitude, but she declined.
Yan Nantian did not get angry at being refused. He amicably said, “There is no absolute right or wrong in this world. You put in so much bitter effort for Long Chen because you think you are saving him, but in reality, you’ve only made more enemies for him. You’ve made others grow jealous, and from jealousy is born hate. You’ve given them another reason to kill him.”
“Senior, I-”
“Don’t explain yourself for now. I know you had kind intentions, and Long Chen knows this as well. Everyone knows that you did this out of the kindness of your heart. However, if kindness is used in the wrong place, it becomes a bad thing. This is also what I mean when I say that there is no absolute right or wrong. Whether something is right or wrong, true or false, depends on a person’s viewpoint. If you want to accurately judge this world, you need to use multiple yardsticks to measure it. If you can switch to a different status and experience another person’s life, you’ll experience things from a different viewpoint. Perhaps… you will have unexpected gains.”
Zi Yan looked at Yan Nantian with gratitude. She once more respectfully bowed. “Many thanks for your pointers.”
“Wahahaha, who do I see here? Why it’
s fairy Zi Yan. I’m honored.”
Suddenly, a voice rang out. A tall man wearing a cloak and a mask on his face walked over. He looked at Zi Yan enthusiastically.
“Sir, you are…?” Zi Yan looked at this man curiously. Divine runes were flowing around his mask that made it impossible for others to see his true face. Just seeing his eyes, she didn’t find him familiar at all.
“Fairy Zi Yan, have you forgotten me so quickly? I’m- cough, this isn’t a good place to speak. But you do know me! We met in the Eastern Wasteland, and I’ve even heard your music before!” urged that man.
“Sorry, I really don’t remember you.” Zi Yan shook her head apologetically.
“What the… Is the only one you remember from the Eastern Wasteland Long Chen? That’s very hurtful.” That man lowered his head sadly.
“Sorry, I still have things to do, so I’ll take my leave first.” Zi Yan looked at him for a long time before confirming she really didn’t know him.
Zi Yan lightly pressed a hand against the air. It was like a zither was present in the air, and the world was split open, forming a narrow channel for her.
In front of everyone’s dumbfounded gazes, Zi Yan gracefully walked into that narrow channel and vanished from sight.
When she vanished, the split-open world returned to normal as if nothing had happened. However, that sight deeply shook people’s minds.
“My word, fairy Zi Yan has gained the approval of the Seven String Sea Suppressing Zither! She can communicate with the world spiritually, using the very heavens as her strings,” exclaimed a Netherpassage expert. Was she really a Soul Transformation disciple? This kind of power was enough to annihilate Netherpassage experts.
Many people felt thankful that Long Chen had been so stupid as to refuse Zi Yan’s kindness. If he ended up with Zi Yan, no one would be able to do anything to him.
The Illusive Music Immortal Palace’s disciples’ strongest point wasn’t their combat power, but their ability to commune with the Heavenly Daos. Whoever could dual cultivate with her would never have a bottleneck in their lifetime!