by <unknown>
"Father, when Yun-er was preparing the herbs just now, I used the Melancholy Gathering Grass and accidentally got the fumes in my eyes. That's why I'm like this."
Melancholy Gathering Grass was a ninth rank herb with extremely powerful stimulating effects. Even with Ji Qingyun's status as an Alchemy Emperor, if he got the fumes in his eyes, he would also cry nonstop.
Ye Yuan did not know why he would inexplicably come up with a white lie even though he knew perfectly well that the Ji Zhengyang in front of his eyes did not exist.
As expected, Ji Zhengyang laughed when he heard it. "Yun-er is overly careless. Even father dares not to overlook this Melancholy Gathering Grass. How could you be so careless?"
Ye Yuan quietly received this teaching. "Father is right. Yun-er will be more careful next time."
Ji Zhengyang let out a sigh and said, "Oh Yun-er . . . Father knows that you are infatuated with the Alchemy Dao, but there isn't only the Alchemy Dao in this world. Cooping yourself up in a pill refinement room all the time will do you no good!"
Ye Yuan once again replied respectfully, "Don't worry, Father. Yun-er knows when to stop."
Ji Zhengyang shook his head and said, "You, oh you. What do you want me to say about you? The Alchemy Dao is boundless and everlasting. Even if we pour our entire lives into it, it would be hard to even glimpse a ten-thousandth of it. Even if you really stepped into the Deity Realm in the future and become an Alchemy God, it is but another beginning. When alive, one has to take note of many other things. You will see that the vastness of this world far exceeds your imagination when you step outside of the pill refinement room. You should learn more from your senior apprentice brother about this point."
Ye Yuan's face changed upon mentioning his senior apprentice brother. The killing intent in his heart unconsciously welled up but was quickly pressed down.
The current Ye Yuan could not be compared to the past. If he did not even have this bit of shrewdness, how could he talk about revenge?
One had to know that what he was worse off than his senior apprentice brother was not limited to cultivation realm, but instead, he fell behind in all aspects!
And wasn't this illusionary realm an excellent place for Ye Yuan to temper his heart realm?
Although he knew that this illusion array was automatically activated, and nobody knew what was happening inside, Ye Yuan still did not wish to expose these things that were buried in the innermost part of his heart.
Firstly, it was to temper his heart realm. Secondly, it was to prepare for all contingencies.
After all, his origin was simply overly startling. If it was leaked, it might be hard to not arouse some big trouble.
And Ye Yuan's current strength was far from being able to protect himself.
However, Ji Zhengyang apparently seemed to have discovered Ye Yuan's flash of killing intent and was very puzzled.
"What's wrong? You had a conflict with your senior apprentice brother?"
Ye Yuan smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, father. It's just a small spat. It will be fine after this period of time."
Ji Zhengyang then smiled and said, "So that's the case. Then it's fine. A peaceful family will prosper. Small fights and arguments are fine, but if you two brothers turn on each other, this Medicine King Hall will decline sooner or later."
Ye Yuan secretly sighed. This was more than just turning on each other!
This scoundrel killed the master who imparted to him all his abilities and raised him for several hundred years. He even murdered his master's only son!
Such an unfilial son could not be tolerated by heaven and earth!
Ji Canglan!
When I return to the Divine Realm someday, I will definitely grind your bones to dust! '
"I will. I wonder why Father came to look for this child?"
Although the killing intent in his heart was billowing to the skies, Ye Yuan did not let out the slightest bit.
Ye Yuan knew that he seemed to have broken through in terms of his heart realm.
After hearing that, Ji Zhengyang smacked his own head and smiled wryly. "You see, I'm already old and muddle-headed. I forgot about the proper business after talking to you. Father has refined a half-step divine pill and was about to convene a Pill Appreciation Grand Assembly. When visitors from all around come to congratulate a few days later, you and your senior apprentice brother shall arrange all the matters. Don't treat the guests discourteously."
Hearing this, Ye Yuan's entire body trembled!
Just now, he was immersed in past events and completely did not think about what time the illusionary realm brought him to.
Only now that Ji Zhengyang mentioned it did Ye Yuan suddenly awakened. This so-called Pill Appreciation Grand Assembly was precisely when Ji Canglan revealed his fangs!
What Pill Appreciation Grand Assembly was this? This was simply a Father and Brother Killing Grand Assembly!
The so-called visitors from all around were also single-handedly arranged by Ji Canglan.
He really did not know how Ji Canglan operated over these few years to suddenly bring over dozens of Divine Kings. With the inside colluding with the outside, they swiftly brought down the Medicine King Hall!
The Medicine King Hall was also a top-tier power in the Divine Realm. Just the Divine Kings under Zhengyang Zi's command numbered over a dozen. But Ji Canglan had handled everything for several hundred years, causing the Medicine King Hall to fall apart immediately.
Ji Qingyun was oblivious to the outside world, so he was hoodwinked by everything that happened. Even after he reincarnated today, he still could not understand just how Ji Canglan did all those things under the eyes of the father-son pair.
When he closed his eyes to await death, he was seized with remorse over his usual indifference. But it was already too late for regrets. Ji Zhengyang was dead and his Dao dissipated!
Hence, the purpose of Ye Yuan's existence in this life was to do two things!
The first thing was to personally kill Ji Canglan and avenge this immense hatred. The second was to figure out just what force was supporting Ji Canglan from behind!
Ye Yuan believed that Ji Canglan would undoubtedly be unable to do this alone.
Wishing to overturn a colossal bring such as the Medicine King Hall? The force behind Ji Canglan must surely be powerful to the point it terrifies people at the sight of it.
But so what?
If he could not take revenge for Father, then what was the point of him, Ji Qingyun reincarnating?
He, Ji Qingyun, lived his life proudly. How could he possibly lead this sort of ignoble life?
Even if taking revenge was harder than reaching the heavens, Ji Qingyun would still try reaching this heaven!
Wasn't it just practicing martial arts?
Since Ji Qingyun was able to be hailed as the alchemist closest to Alchemy God during his previous life, he could become the martial artist most likely to step into the Deity Realm in this life!
How could a tiny little Nine Heavens Road thwart me, Ji Qingyun, on my heaven trampling journey?
"Don't worry, Father. It's only a small matter between Senior Apprentice Brother and me. This child will definitely work together with Senior Apprentice Brother and manage the matter of welcoming guests properly," Ye Yuan smiled and said.
Even as surging waves billowed in his heart, Ye Yuan obstinately did not reveal the slightest bit!
Ye Yuan did not permit even the slightest flaw in his heart realm. The more one was facing a powerful enemy, the more one had to maintain the steadiness of their heart state.
When experts exchange blows, what was fought was not only strength but also the strength of the heart!
"Haha! Then I can rest at ease," Ji Zhengyang laughed heartily and said with a smile as he stroked his beard.
Chapter 98. Heart Like Still Water! |
There was complete silence at the foot of the Nine Heavens Peak.
Ye Yuan had already stood at the fifth step for four hou
rs, while he only used a total of two hours to clear the first 333 steps!
The students looked at that figure halfway up the mountain. From the initial shock to excitement, then to dejection, and all the way until the current sighs of regret and pity.
The fever fell from the highest point down to the freezing point.
Ye Yuan's rushing style involuntarily gave everyone a feeling of a strong beginning but a weak ending.
The first stage was too quick, but the second stage was a failure right at the start. The difference between before and after was too great.
At this point, nobody thought that Ye Yuan could make it anymore. Their confidence gradually faded along with the passing of time.
Standing for four hours on one step. There were still 328 steps behind!
How would he pass?
"Humph! Playing tricks! He must have used some trickery to gain advantage previously. That's why it went so smoothly!" Su Yubai snorted coldly.
"Based on past experiences, the second stage of the Nine Heavens Road could very well be an eternal illusionary realm. And the derivative of this illusionary realm would become increasingly terrifying along with the increase in steps. Finally, it would leave people unable to extricate themselves. Ye Yuan already sunk in so deeply at the fifth step, I'm afraid it's hopeless to save the situation." Zhang Songtao also made a rare remark at this time.
Hu Changsheng looked at Ye Yuan with a grave expression.
How could he not know what Zhang Songtao said? After so many years of fumbling about, even though the specific situations inside the Nine Heavens Road could not be confirmed, they were still able to conjecture many things according to the students' performance.
Without a doubt, this second stage's content was the easiest to confirm.
Because almost all the students who survived this round became insane. Clearly, they lost their minds inside the illusionary realm.
And in this second stage, the earlier one fell for the illusionary realm, the more dangerous it became.
This illusionary realm was able to continuously develop as it derived non-stop. The further it went, the more realistic it became, and the more they would not be able to extricate themselves.
Basically, those who got trapped so early like Ye Yuan had virtually no possibility of escaping the illusionary realm.
"A pity. A pinnacle genius who could have been extraordinarily splendors actually plummeted here."
"Ye Yuan might be a genius, but somebody like him was destined to not walk far. Because he failed to show restraint."
"Yeah. Too tough, and it's easily broken. Ye Yuan doesn't know how to tolerate, that's why he challenged the academy's rules, which resulted to his end. To him, Lin Tiancheng was doomed to be a minor character. There would have been thousands of ways to mess him to death. Why did he have to be impulsive?"
"Disperse then. Let's go. It's already hopeless for Ye Yuan. It's impossible for him to wake up."
Quite a few people already lost their patience and faith and left in groups.
. . . . . .
In the illusionary realm, Ye Yuan saw Ji Canglan once again!
"Haha. You finally exited seclusion, Junior Apprentice Brother. This brother waited for a long time! There are more and more guests these few days; I already can't handle it anymore. If you don't come out, I would have gone to Master and washed my hands off this matter." Seeing Ye Yuan, Ji Canglan laughed.
Ye Yuan's emotions were somewhat chaotic. Seeing this great enemy again, Ye Yuan was unable to keep a calm state of mind even though this was inside an illusionary realm.
Ye Yuan had methods to break apart the illusionary realm. However, he did not do so.
He did not wish to alter the direction the illusionary realm was heading to and fight to the death with Ji Canglan. Because that was meaningless.
He wanted to make use of this illusionary realm to advance his heart realm!
Heart realm was something fleeting and abstruse and looked like it was completely useless towards cultivation. Very few martial artists placed their thoughts on it as well.
However, Ye Yuan knew that heart realm was extremely useful towards a martial artist's future cultivation road. It even determined to a certain extent the martial artist's potential and limit!
To martial artists, heart realm was something akin to adding wings to a tiger!
If two martial artists with the exact same cultivation strength were to battle it out, the final victor would definitely be the one with the higher heart realm!
To Ye Yuan, even the slightest increase in strength was extremely valuable.
"My apologies. I've let Senior Apprentice Brother wait for too long," Ye Yuan forcefully suppressed the killing intent inside him and apologized.
"Since when have us brothers been so distant? Brother is only joking with you. Don't take it to heart, Junior Apprentice Brother. I know that Junior Apprentice Brother is pursuing the great Alchemy Dao and doesn't like to be distracted by mundane matters. I will do my best to take on what I can handle. Except, the assembly this time around is crucial to our Medicine King Hall. So I have no other options but to invite Junior Apprentice Brother out."
Ji Canglan was filled with sincerity without the slightest bit of hypocrisy. Nobody could have seen through his wild ambitions.
Ye Yuan also smiled and said, "I'll naturally help Senior Apprentice Brother share the burden."
The following few days, Ye Yuan followed Ji Canglan and began to busy themselves with the various matters of the Pill Appreciation Grand Assembly.
Even if these things were what he hated the most in the past, Ye Yuan still did them conscientiously, as if he was wholly immersed in the illusionary realm and substituted himself inside.
In the first place, it was himself. This posed no challenge at all to Ye Yuan.
The Pill Appreciation Grand Assembly went according to the planned routine. Then Ji Canglan finally revealed his fangs.
Due to the fact that they drank a poison during the Pill Appreciation Grand Assembly which made people temporarily lose their abilities, Ji Zhengyang and Ji Qingyun were already currently lambs awaiting slaughter.
"Master, don't blame this disciple for being heartless. This disciple also can't help it." Ji Canglan pointed the sword in his hand at Ji Zhengyang.
Ji Zhengyang's heart was akin to dead ashes. He shut his eyes and said, "Now that things have come to this, no point talking anymore. I only wish that you can spare Yun-er's life."
Hearing that, Ji Canglan smiled sinisterly. "My apologies, Respectable Master, I'm afraid I can't satisfy this dying wish of yours. If the roots of the weeds aren't removed, they will grow again come spring. I don't want to leave behind an enemy with such potential. Junior Apprentice Brother Yun's talent is astonishing. As long as he's given a chance, he will probably have the strength to threaten me after several decades."
Finishing, Ji Canglan swung his longsword. A gleam of sword light shot directly towards Ye Yuan.
At this time, Ji Zhengyang's body suddenly moved. He blocked this sword light for Ye Yuan!
Without essence energy to protect his body, Ji Zhengyang's body was instantaneously pulverized by the sword light!
At the same time, the might of Ji Zhengyang's divine soul abruptly erupted and swept towards Ji Canglan!
Seeing the situation, Ji Canglan howled, "You miserable old fool! You actually ignited your divine soul?! Do you want your soul to dissipate?!"
Rumble!
A violent clash. Ji Zhengyang's divine soul crumbled away, while Ji Canglang also vomited a large mouthful of blood. Clearly, he had also sustained injuries that were not minor.
Ye Yuan looked on at this scene coldly and did not become agitated nor was he indignant. There was not even any trace of emotion.
Having experienced once again this scene, which was engraved into his bones and heart, it was equivalent to prying open the scars in his heart. This sort of spiritual pain was something that the average person could not
feel.
Yet, when the illusionary realm reached this moment, it was also incredibly dangerous! If he could not make it through, Ye Yuan would no longer exist after today!
Ji Canglan held the sword as he clutched his chest and walked towards Ye Yuan step by step.
"Don't blame Senior Apprentice Brother, Junior Yun. I also can't help it myself. Take care along the way," Ji Canglan said as he was walking.
Ye Yuan looked at Ji Canglan and suddenly gave a light smile.
Ye Yuan crossed his legs to sit and shut his eyes as if he totally gave up resisting.
However, as Ji Canglan's approached, the aura on Ye Yuan's body gradually became fleeting; until towards the end, his aura could not be sensed at all, as if he had died.
With a slash, the entire world gradually became dim.
Fainter and hazier . . .
Finally, it vanished . . .
. . . . . .
Ye Yuan slowly opened his eyes and felt the real world, muttering to himself, "Is this Heart Like Still Water?"
Chapter 99. Essence Energy Vortex! |
Inside the pavilion opposite the Nine Heavens Peak, Su Yubai stood up and patted the dust off his body.
"Nothing to see anymore. Let's go. It's hopeless for Ye Yuan. I even thought that he had some reliance, to dare tackle the Nine Heavens Road. In the end, he only crossed five steps in the second stage and was done."
"I don't want to watch anymore either. Waste of time!"
"Time to go, time to go. After such a long time, turns out it's a farce. I still thought that there was some show to watch. After messing around for the greater part of a day, he's still the same as the rest."
Su Yubai walked off, and the other elders naturally lost interest and stood up one after another.
They watched Ye Yuan stand there unmoved for four hours, and were actually bored out of their minds already.
Now that they were assured Ye Yuan would not wake up, they naturally felt that there was no longer the need to watch on.
Su Yubai circled past the stone table and led the crowd out of the pavilion.
