Chapter 1292 Shattered Dreams
Chen Yang stood before them, his presence evoking different reactions from the three.
To Huang Xiu and Liu Hei, Chen Yang was now unfathomable. They sensed no fluctuation of internal energy from him. They knew Chen Yang had gone to the Earth Realm and broken through to become a more powerful existence. However, the aura Chen Yang exuded now was beyond anything they could grasp.
Elder Fan, on the other hand, chuckled and admonished, "When did you get here, you rascal?"
After they returned to Qin Yi's residence in Snow Forest, Chen Yang returned the demon core he had prepared to Huang Xiu. He then presented another pill, saying, "Taking this will help you transform, sparing you the ordeal of metamorphosis."
Transformation was, in itself, an act against heaven's will, a defiance of the rules. Chen Yang's pill could shield Huang Xiu from heavenly scrutiny. Huang Xiu accepted his demon core and carefully put away the pill Chen Yang had given him. After a long pause, he softly said, "Thank you."
Huang Xiu knew that for Chen Yang to kill him now would be infinitely easier than before, perhaps as simple as a thought. He naturally dared not linger.
Liu Hei watched Huang Xiu's retreating back, laughing heartily. "How long has it been? Last time you were here, he even fought you, but this time, he doesn't even dare to speak!" He then turned to Chen Yang, "What level are you at now?"
Chen Yang replied with a calm smile, "Fifth layer of He Dan." He added, "Not a powerhouse in the Earth Realm, but effortlessly dealing with beings below Foundation Establishment."
Chen Yang and Liu Hei accompanied Elder Fan, sharing several pots of new wine. Seeing that the elder had peacefully fallen asleep, they set off towards Wuling.
As Chen Yang's departing figure was about to disappear, Liu Hei suddenly inquired in a low voice, "Now that you've reached the He Dan realm, can you help Qin Yi resolve the matter of the Holy Moon Divine Venerable?"
Liu Hei had originally dispatched Zhang Dao and Wu Bandao to avenge Qin Yi, but he had no clue about the whereabouts of the Holy Moon Divine Venerable. After much thought, only Chen Yang seemed capable of handling this.
Chen Yang slapped his forehead, turned back, and assured Liu Hei, "Senior, rest assured, not long ago, the Holy Moon Divine Venerable died. I witnessed it myself."
Liu Hei was stunned by this news. A smile slowly spread across his face, and he nodded. Seeing Chen Yang ascend the mountain, Liu Hei mused, "Qin Yi, oh Qin Yi, Chen Yang might just be the one who can bring you back."
As Chen Yang ascended the mountain path for the second time, he chuckled at the pressure surrounding him. Even those in the Foundation Establishment realm would find it difficult to move under such pressure. He wondered how he had managed to ascend it back then.
As Chen Yang continued forward, a figure suddenly appeared before him. It was Wuling, whom he had not seen in a long time. Wuling's eyes were filled with disdain as he spoke sarcastically, "Knowing these steps are useless to you now, yet you still walk them one by one. Are you mocking my insufficient strength?"
Wuling had sensed Chen Yang's arrival the moment he appeared in the mountains. He had expected Chen Yang to fly up directly, just as Qin Yi had after withstanding the steps' pressure. He hadn't anticipated Chen Yang choosing the same method as before, one step at a time.
Seeing Wuling's scrutinizing gaze, Chen Yang could only offer a wry smile. "Just feeling the pain of climbing this thing back then!" He added, "Never forget your original intention!"
Wuling noticed a hint of confusion in Chen Yang's eyes as he spoke. This confusion wasn't due to his own appearance, but rather... a problem with his Dao heart.
"I recall you haven't been gone for long, have you?" Wuling remarked. "What's wrong, you look like you've experienced several life-and-death partings!"
Chen Yang shook his head bitterly, offering no further explanation. Life-and-death partings were one thing. What had truly impacted Chen Yang was the experience of living as a ten-thousand-year-old tree spirit. While it had honed his spiritual power, it had also caused some changes in his Dao heart.
Since Wuling had appeared, Chen Yang no longer walked step by step, lest Wuling truly become uncomfortable. This made Chen Yang wonder if Wuling had suffered some past trauma.
The scenery on the mountain was unchanged, just as it had been before. Though only a few months had passed, Chen Yang's inner restlessness gradually calmed upon arriving here. He intentionally or unintentionally cast aside the conflicts between the Earth Realm and the Human Realm, as well as other matters.
Previously, Chen Yang might not have felt the impact of such matters. But now, as a fifth-layer He Dan realm cultivator, he possessed acute sensitivity to them.
After Chen Yang inquired, Wuling did not beat around the bush. He stated directly, "Of course. What do you think this place is? Qin Yi placed the Ascension Road here and gathered so many martial arts manuals, all so he could cultivate here in peace. Only by casting aside worldly distractions and cultivating with a focused mind can one reach the end. Every blade of grass and tree around is placed with special meaning. To transcend the cycle of reincarnation, one must cultivate that sliver of heavenly opportunity."
Chen Yang did not argue with Wuling. After witnessing many He Dan realm powerhouses in the Earth Realm, Chen Yang understood that everyone had their own Dao. Even if they cultivated the same techniques, the paths they ultimately walked would be different. Unless, like Shi Xinchou, someone carved a path for them. The path Wuling spoke of was undoubtedly influenced by Qin Yi.
Before Chen Yang could speak, Wuling's tone suddenly shifted. "However, all of this was Qin Yi's dream. He is dead, and it is time for this dream to be shattered." He continued, "The great change in heaven and earth you mentioned, I can sense it. So, are you here just to express your feelings about this matter?"
Chen Yang, standing to the side, glanced with a sheepish grin towards the distant study. "The cultivation techniques of the Nine Heavenly Witch Secrets... I wish to search for them again."
Wuling rolled his eyes and muttered, "I knew it!" But as Wuling moved forward, he suddenly stopped, looking puzzled. "That's not right? I've already given you all the Nine Heavenly Witch Secrets here." He added, his eyes full of suspicion, "In just a few months, have you already digested all those techniques?"
Even Qin Yi could not achieve such speed. Wuling declared, "Let me be clear, it was because you inherited Qin Yi's legacy that I was willing to let you take some of the techniques back... This is not a library." These techniques were things Qin Yi had painstakingly collected, and Wuling naturally did not want them to disappear without reason.