by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
“Within the legends of the immortal era, gods and devils fought an immense war, and immortals and ghosts fought for dominance. The bones of gods piled into mountains and the blood of immortals flowed like rivers. Why is that?
“The Immortal Dao, the Devil Dao, the Ghost Dao, the God Dao. Which one of them doesn’t consider itself to be the true and correct Dao?
“If their Daos were all correct Daos, then what are these other Daos we have now? Just which Dao is supreme? Where is the supreme expert with their supreme Dao?
“Why is it that the culture of the immortal era has disappeared now, severing our inheritance? I’ll trouble fairy Yu Tong to tell me, what is the Dao? What is the King Dao? What is the Hegemon Dao? What is the Humane Dao?” asked Long Chen.
Long Chen couldn’t help feeling anger inside. His original intention wasn’t to release his anger on her.
But when Yu Tong called his Dao into question, it was a kind of humiliation. That wasn’t something he really cared about, but the pride within his soul had gone berserk.
After merging with the Pill Sovereign memories, as Long Chen’s cultivation base had grown, the will within him influenced him less and less. But today, Yu Tong’s words had made that will furious.
Yu Tong’s face was red, and she almost felt dizzy. There was no way for her to retort to Long Chen’s words because his words were entirely correct. If there really was only one correct Dao within the innumerable Daos, how could there be gods and devils, immortals and ghosts?
As Long Chen said these words, his image was also reflected on the wall of a private room.
The pavilion master looked at Long Chen and sighed, “It’s no wonder he formed a resonance with the ninth divine emissary. Even his viewpoint of the Dao is almost identical to hers.
“Back then, the ninth divine emissary said that the Heavenly Daos were tyrannical and that she would walk her own Dao. Her words were viewed as blasphemy against the heavens, and she was attacked by countless experts.
“However, her Dao-heart was as stable as a boulder, and she was determined to walk her own Dao. She faced the cultivation world head-on, slaughtering out her own path. However, that path was too bloody…”
The veiled woman said, “Yu Tong’s Dao-heart isn’t stable enough. Long Chen’s words caused a flaw to appear in her Dao-heart. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We go out for tempering to experience this world’s countless Daos and increase our comprehension. Daos are not differentiated by strong and weak, high or low. It seems Yu Tong needs more tempering.”
The pavilion master looked at her with praise. “Ah, Zi Yan, your level of comprehension is truly admirable. Within the Illusive Music Immortal Palace, when it comes to comprehension, there probably isn’t anyone else who can compare to you in the junior generation. Perhaps there will come a day when you can lead us back to our splendor in the immortal era.”
“Pavilion master is too courteous. There are countless geniuses within our Illusive Music Immortal Palace. I don’t want to compete with them. I just want to have the freedom to pursue the Music Dao. As for what realm I can reach, that will be up to fate,” sighed Zi Yan.
“Oh, another person came?” Zi Yan suddenly saw another person appear in the scene.
…
Just as Yu Tong was at a loss on how to reply, an icy voice rang out. “Even someone who is not a Celestial dares spout lies about the Heavenly Daos? Truly an ignorant insect. Long Chen, you really know how to boast shamelessly.”
Long Chen narrowed his eyes. He saw two people appear at the entrance to this floor. Obviously, they had heard his words while they had been coming up.
One was a young man in extravagant robes and a jade belt. He wore a golden crown on his head, and he was outstandingly handsome. The woman beside him was slightly older, but she was a late Xiantian expert.
“How coincidental. I never expected that you, Yin Wushang, would also come here,” said Long Chen lightly.
He really hadn’t expected Yin Wushang to appear here. However, this was Qing Prefecture, the Mo family’s territory. He didn’t believe Yin Wushang dared to cause any trouble here.
Hearing that this was Yin Wushang, everyone’s expressions changed. Evidently, they had heard of him.
The various large powers all had Celestials. However, they didn’t tell the other disciples who they were because they were afraid of giving them a blow to their confidence.
If people learned of Celestials too early, then many of them would lose confidence in cultivating. Celestials were the favorites of the heavens. That was practically cheating.
But the people present were all rather prestigious geniuses. They naturally had the qualifications to learn about some things.
It was precisely because they had heard of him that they were so shocked. They hadn’t imagined that a legendary Celestial would appear at the Immortal Intoxication Pavilion. It had to be known that Celestials were all kept hidden by what power they belonged to, and those powers wouldn’t easily reveal them.
“It’s no coincidence. I came because I heard you were here. Last time, I let you escape. This time I’ll take your little life. I don’t believe you’ll have the luck you had last time.” Yin Wushang walked up to Long Chen, not concealing his goal at all.
The people here felt quite refreshed upon hearing that. They had long since felt Long Chen was displeasing. Now that a Celestial was targeting him, they almost applauded.
“Take my life? Hehe, those who want to take my life only get one chance. Once that chance is over, it’ll never come back again. Last time, in our one against one, you still didn’t have the power to stop me from leaving. Now that I’ve advanced to Meridian Opening as well, do you still feel like you’ll have a chance?” Long Chen shook his head.
Now they were unable to believe their ears. Long Chen had already fought with Yin Wushang, and apparently he had only been at Bone Forging back then. They were really unable to imagine how Long Chen was able to escape Yin Wushang in that situation.
Yin Wushang was a Celestial, someone unrivaled within the same realm. Fighting across realms was incredibly easy for him. These people might have dared to insult Long Chen, but they didn’t dare say a word in Yin Wushang’s presence.
Their insignificant abilities were useless in the face of a Celestial.
“Last time you were just lucky. Otherwise, not even ten lives would have been enough for you,” sneered Yin Wushang.
“You really have lived for nothing. How are you even a Celestial? Luck is also a kind of strength. If you still don’t understand that, it seems you really haven’t grown up at all during this time. According to your own logic, if you hadn’t been lucky and she hadn’t saved you, there would no longer be a Yin Wushang in this world,” said Long Chen.
Crack.
A person who had been sipping his wine shook, and his wine cup shattered on the ground.
That sound was like the sound of a hammer smashing viciously into their hearts. They couldn’t bring themselves to believe Long Chen’s words.
From his tone, it seemed he had been the one to defeat Yin Wushang. Everyone was filled with shock, and those that had ridiculed him before began to sweat.
As for that person who had challenged Long Chen to a deathmatch, he was paralyzed. If Long Chen had agreed, he would have long since gone to another world.
Although Long Chen’s cultivation base wasn’t apparent, they all knew Yin Wushang was a true expert. Would someone who could speak with someone like Yin Wushang really just brag? Furthermore, if Long Chen was bragging, then Yin Wushang wouldn’t just accompany him in his bragging.
For a moment, the entire hall was deathly silent. However, Long Chen and Yin Wushang were both glaring at each other. The atmosphere was tense with hostility.
“Hahaha, I didn’t expect that you had such glorious battle achievements! Why didn’t you tell me?” Mo Nian stood up and patted Long Chen on the shoulder.
“Is there anything glorious about it?
It was just a scuffle. And in the end, I was the one who fled miserably,” said Long Chen.
Yu Tong looked at Long Chen. She realized Long Chen was an open and straightforward person. He said whatever he wanted to say. He didn’t even bother concealing his own disgrace.
That made her feel a trace of admiration for him. She had truly gotten a bit angry when Long Chen had responded to her and put her at a loss for words.
Now she realized that his words were reasonable, which was why she had no retort. For her to get angry because she had lost some face meant there was a problem with her Dao-heart. It seemed she still needed more tempering.
“Hmph, if you hadn’t fled quickly last time, you’d already be dead.” Yin Qing finally opened her mouth.
Long Chen was too lazy to speak to her. He only spoke to Yin Wushang because he had the qualifications to face him. But Yin Qing was no longer on the same level as him.
Long Chen didn’t say anything, but Mo Nian did. “Hey, when you come here, you have to spend your own money to eat. Don’t think that if you stand next to us, we’ll give you our scraps! If you have nothing else, leave and stop holding us back from our meal.”
“Hmph, someone from a second-rate family does not have the qualifications to speak to me… what?” Yin Wushang was suddenly filled with disbelief. “You… you…”
“What, did you think no one else could become a Celestial?” sneered Mo Nian.
“Hahahaha, how unexpected! Even a declined family was able to use their inheritance to give birth to a Celestial. Hehe, however, relying on an inheritance instead of naturally awakening still makes you trash. Even if you’ve become a Celestial, you’ll be the lowest-ranking Celestial. Is that worth being proud of?” Yin Wushang suddenly laughed.
Mo Nian was furious, but he was held back by Long Chen. “When a dog barks at you, will you bother talking reason with the dog? Have you already forgotten what you said about the King Dao and Hegemon Dao? For such people, use your fists, not your mouth! Come, let’s keep drinking.”
Yin Wushang and Yin Qing’s expressions became exceedingly ugly, but this place was the Immortal Intoxication Pavilion, and they didn’t dare attack here. Furthermore, they had their own reasons for coming to Qing Prefecture this time. They could only temporarily endure.
“Everyone is a guest of the Immortal Intoxication Pavilion. Why must you get angry here? How about I play everyone a song to enjoy instead?”
Chapter 571 Devil Star
This voice rang out in everyone’s ears, sounding both like a bird and the tinkling of bells. Just hearing that voice could make a person feel like they were floating in the clouds.
Everyone hastily turned to see that at some unknown point, a large stage had appeared at the front of the hall.
There was a zither rest on the stage, and on it was a simple and unadorned zither. A woman in a white veil and white robes was sitting beside the zither. She appeared like a lotus blooming out of the water, untouched by the dust of the mortal world. That voice had come from her.
“You’re all very fortunate. Elder sister Zi Yan is our Immortal Intoxication Building’s top expert in the Music Dao. Even we don’t normally get a chance to listen to her play,” said Yu Tong.
When Zi Yan appeared, Yin Wushang’s pupils shrunk. He sensed a strange aura from her body. He and Yin Qing found a place to sit, temporarily putting aside their grudge with Long Chen.
“The sun and moon are not whole; heaven and earth are imperfect. What is the point of struggling back and forth? I will be so bold as to play a song for everyone. I hope everyone can properly reflect on it!”
Zi Yan slowly extended her hands, brushing gently upon the zither.
Twang! Long Chen felt his own heart jump slightly along with that zither sound.
Three more notes rang out. Long Chen suddenly felt as if he was being drawn into that beautiful music.
“What a terrifying control! A single note from her zither can probe a person’s pulse, and from that, she adjusts the rhythm to draw you in. This woman is much more profound than Yu Tong.”
As Zi Yan played her zither, even Long Chen, who didn’t know the slightest thing about music, felt incomparably comfortable. This was a kind of musical meditation that delighted the heart.
As the music played, Long Chen saw a scene before him: mountains spreading into the distance, crystal-clear water flowing to and fro, birds singing in trees. That beautiful scene was something a person wouldn’t have the heart to destroy.
In this scene, Long Chen felt a rare pleasure and peace within him. At that moment, he forgot all his vexation, all his fury. He immersed himself in this world.
Peace, warmth, not the slightest struggle. Everything was tranquil and harmonious, comforting and natural. It was a wonderland without the struggles of the mundane world. Long Chen immersed himself within a green field, enjoying the feeling.
Suddenly, the birds flew away in a panic. Countless fierce Magical Beasts appeared and charged in Long Chen’s direction. Looking at those Magical Beasts, Long Chen didn’t feel the slightest panic. He allowed them to run past his side.
He knew this was all an illusion, just an artistic realm this white-robed woman was showing him.
Once those Magical Beasts rushed past his side, the scene changed again. Those Magical Beasts appeared in a human city, crazily attacking people.
The city’s army was defending as best as they could, but these Magical Beasts were too fierce. Blood and flesh flew through the air. Countless miserable screams and wails came from the city.
Long Chen stood on the city wall, watching this bloody scene. For some unknown reason, this scene gradually began to transform into Phoenix Cry’s capital.
Long Chen even saw Shi Feng, fatty Yu, and Shou Hou’s figures. They were brandishing their weapons. Even in the face of these Magical Beasts they had no chance of defeating, they still fought.
“Even knowing this is all fake, I still can’t bring myself to just watch you all die in front of me.”
Long Chen took out a saber. With a single slash, those Magical Beasts were all killed and disappeared.
“Chen-er, you’ve returned! Thank goodness. Otherwise, the capital wouldn’t have been able to hold on.” Long Tianxiao looked at Long Chen with gratification.
Seeing these figures before him, Long Chen felt a burst of warmth within him. After being parted for so long, he didn’t know how his father and mother were now.
“Chen-er, where are you? Are you still alive? Mom and dad miss you…” Suddenly, a voice rang out in Long Chen’s mind.
“That’s enough! Stop before you go too far!”
Long Chen coldly shouted and smashed a fist forward. The space around him broke, and the entire scene disappeared.
Twang!
A strange sound rang out, and the zither music came to a sudden halt. Only now did everyone wake up. Some people were completely shocked, not knowing what had happened. They felt as if they had been dreaming.
In that dream, they had seen many things, things that were related to them. They hastily looked over to Zi Yan.
They saw her motionless, her hand holding a zither string that had snapped.
“My skills are still not refined enough. I’ve caused everyone to laugh,” she apologized.
“Many thanks for this great favor! It felt like I had lived through my life again, and I’ve benefited greatly! I am truly endlessly grateful.” Quite a few people stood up to thank her. Long Chen didn’t know what they had seen, but it seemed they had comprehended many things.
“Everyone is too courteous. Right now, I feel a bit unwell, so I’ll take my leave.” After saying that, she turned and disappeared behind the zither stage.
When that woman returned to the private room, before the pavilion master could say a word, she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
“Zi Yan!” cried the pavilion master.
Zi Yan’s veil fell from her face, revealing her incredibly beautiful complexion. She had pictures
que eyebrows, a jasper nose, cherry lips, and a face that was like fine jade. However, her face was now slightly pale.
“Pavilion master, I’m fine. I just suffered a slight backlash,” explained Zi Yan.
“A backlash?”
“Yes. When I played the Heart Reincarnation Song, everyone entered that reincarnation realm. Only Long Chen stayed at the edge the entire time, unwilling to enter.
“I focused my spiritual music energy on him, but I didn’t expect his heart to be so firm. When I tried to draw him into the reincarnation, it seemed to have touched upon something that deeply aggrieved him.
“He actually forcibly escaped from my realm, and being caught off guard, my mind received a heavy shock. The backlash also snapped one of my strings.” Zi Yan was still shocked.
“Did you see his secrets?” asked the pavilion master.
“No. I didn’t deliberately try to pry. I just wanted to draw him into the reincarnation, letting him relive his life. But he had only just begun to enter that realm when he forcibly escaped. It seems his heart is hiding many things that he doesn’t want others to know about,” said Zi Yan.
Although she hadn’t deliberately pried, she could still sense that at that time, she had touched something that pained Long Chen greatly. When playing that song, she had connected her mind to Long Chen’s. The change in Long Chen’s emotions was something she had clearly experienced.
“This Long Chen is a dangerous person. Zi Yan, you should stay away from him as much as possible to avoid having your Dao-heart influenced,” sighed the pavilion master.
“Pavilion master, do you still remember what my master said when she told my fortune? She said I would run into a devil star in my lifetime, and that would change my entire fate. One thought might turn me into a god, and another thought might turn me into a devil. It is all predestined.” Zi Yan looked at the image on the wall.
“Then you mean…”
“I’m not sure. But when I touched Long Chen’s inner heart just now, my mental realm also became chaotic, and I was unable to maintain a peaceful heart. I bitterly focus my cultivation on my mental realm, and even my master said that my mental realm is something rarely seen. However, with just one brief interaction with Long Chen, my mental realm was broken. It really is hard to believe…” said Zi Yan.
