Chapter 71: The System’s Backlash
“I’m taking her.”
Chen Yin’s words were spoken with such ease and confidence…
…That the entire demonic sect’s grand hall fell silent.
The Dao Master stared at him for a long moment, then burst into laughter.
“Hahaha, are you joking?”
“Of course not.”
Chen Yin shrugged. “She’s my only Junior Sister. What else am I supposed to do but take her home and make her my wife?”
Yu Xiang, her tears still fresh, stared at Chen Yin in disbelief.
“Oh?”
The Dao Master raised an eyebrow. “Are you so confident that you can take her from me?”
“I don’t know if I can,”
Chen Yin’s smile faded slightly. “But if you don’t let her go, you might die.”
“Is that so? Then let’s see what you’ve got.”
With that, he slowly stood up and took a step forward.
As his foot landed, a resounding thud echoed in the hearts of everyone present.
It was as if his step had landed on their very souls.
The immense pressure instantly made Yu Xiang’s face pale. She struggled to stand, ready to shield Chen Yin.
“Stop! If you dare touch him, I’ll fight you to the death!”
Shen Shuanglian also leaped onto the platform, landing gracefully beside Chen Yin. She whispered:
“He might be a Grand Clarity Realm expert. If he has also comprehended Dao Rhythm, your sword technique might not be enough to defeat him.”
Chen Yin nodded. “That’s true.”
“Although that sword strike is infused with Dao Rhythm, it’s still a bit strained against a true Grand Clarity Realm cultivator.”
“Fortunately…” He lowered his gaze, and the flawless white jade Eternal Light sword slowly emerged from his sleeve.
The pristine sword hovered before him. He held it with one hand, his expression calm and unwavering.
“…I never said that was my only sword technique.”
Shen Shuanglian stared at him in awe.
“Since you’re so confident, then show me what you’ve got!”
The Dao Master slowly approached, a murderous glint in his eyes. A black sphere, as silent as the void, slowly materialized in his hand.
The moment the black sphere appeared, all the candles in the hall extinguished, plunging the vast space into darkness, as if all light had been absorbed by the sphere.
In the darkness, Chen Yin’s voice reached Yu Xiang and Shen Shuanglian’s ears:
“Get back. Protect yourselves.”
Yu Xiang wanted to say something, but Shen Shuanglian pulled her hand and retreated to a safe distance.
“Senior Brother, he—”
“Trust him,” Shen Shuanglian whispered. “It’s enough.”
The black sphere in the Dao Master’s hand expanded, an oppressive aura emanating from it.
As the sphere grew larger, a desolate and decaying wind swept through the hall, making it feel like a forgotten ruin, filled with the stench of rot.
He held the sphere with one hand, the other behind his back, his voice cold:
“You have one last chance to reconsider.”
Chen Yin stretched his neck, a carefree expression on his face. “Ah, it feels good to finally let loose.”
This wasn’t Mount Yu. He didn’t have to worry about destroying the mountain with his sword and being scolded by his Master.
And there was no one to worry about injuring. Xiang’er and Senior Sister had obediently retreated to a safe distance.
Besides the scroll’s space, this was the first time Chen Yin could freely unleash his three sword techniques without any restraint.
It felt incredibly liberating.
“Why do you people always like to give others a chance?”
Chen Yin raised his sword, a playful smile on his lips. “Do you really think anyone cares about your pathetic offer?”
“Seriously? That’s just disgusting.”
The Dao Master’s eyes narrowed, and his aura turned menacing.
“You like to talk? Then die!”
He released the black sphere. As if freed from its constraints, its oppressive aura expanded exponentially, consuming everything around it.
The terrifying power, resembling a black hole, forced everyone in the hall, from ordinary demonic cultivators to elders, to prostrate themselves, desperately resisting its pull.
Chen Yin stood motionless before the black sphere, his gaze calm and unwavering.
The Eternal Light sword hummed in his hand.
“I’ve been waiting for this.” He whispered to the sword.
You’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, haven’t you?
He slowly raised his sword, an ethereal aura emanating from its blade.
It was an enigmatic and profound aura, ancient and primordial, like the dawn of time. But it was also becoming increasingly intense and fervent.
The crystal-clear blade of the Eternal Light sword began to glow, like a beacon in the darkness.
Brighter and brighter.
From a tiny flicker, it grew into a radiant moon, then transformed into a blazing sun.
Eternal darkness, illuminated by a single, enduring light.
“—Second Sword.” Chen Yin whispered.
The next moment, the blinding sword light erupted.
Like the sun piercing through the night.
The scorching light, like boiling water, slowly consumed the darkness. The black sphere in the air shattered under the force of the strike.
Everyone was blinded by the intense light.
Only the Dao Master remained standing, unmoving, as the blinding sword light filled his vision.
“Weng!”
The afterimage of the bright light lingered in everyone’s eyes.
As the dust settled, Chen Yin stood calmly on the platform, his sword in hand, his clothes spotless.
Across from him, the Dao Master was silent.
He slowly looked down at his arm.
…His left arm was gone, severed cleanly at the shoulder.
He stared at the empty space for a long time, then slowly looked up and asked:
“…Why didn’t you kill me?”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to.”
Chen Yin shrugged lightly. “It’s my sword that didn’t want to kill you.”
He wasn’t joking.
The moment his Second Sword struck the Dao Master, the Eternal Light had shifted slightly on its own.
So in the end, the sword had only severed his arm.
Even so, the wound was clean and cauterized, as if there was no cut at all.
The Dao Master couldn’t understand that power. He only felt a strange numbness where his arm had been, no pain, no spiritual energy, no sensation.
It was as if his arm had simply vanished from existence.
He had never seen or heard of such a strange and domineering power.
He glanced at the sword in Chen Yin’s hand.
“What’s the name of that sword?”
“Eternal Light.” Chen Yin answered without hesitation.
“Do you recognize this sword?”
The Dao Master didn’t answer. His eyes, filled with an unreadable emotion, were fixed on the sword.
After a long silence, he let out a deep sigh.
“The eternal night is not desolate, for the Eternal Light shines forever.”
“…You may leave.”
He closed his eyes slowly. “From this day forward, our demonic path no longer needs a Holy Maiden.”
Chen Yin was taken aback, confused by the sudden change of heart.
“Then we’re even.”
Chen Yin said softly, “I’ll take my Junior Sister home, and you get to live. We’re square now.”
With that, he sheathed the Eternal Light sword and slowly descended from the platform, walking towards Yu Xiang and Shen Shuanglian, as countless demonic cultivators watched with fear and awe.
“Let’s go,” he smiled.
“Everything’s alright now.”
Yu Xiang, still reeling from the earth-shattering sword strike, seemed lost in thought. After a while, she finally mumbled in a daze:
“Senior Brother…”
“Hey, hey, hey, don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts now.”
Chen Yin said quickly, “You’re already mine now, you have no say in this.”
“You don’t have to make any more difficult choices. Senior Brother will take care of everything.”
Yu Xiang was silent for a long time, then her nose twitched, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Hey, don’t cry now.”
Chen Yin panicked. “We can talk about everything when we get home. We’re still in their lair.”
“Don’t air our dirty laundry in public.”
Hearing this, Yu Xiang burst into laughter, her tears turning into a smile.
“Stinky Senior Brother. Who’s your wife?”
“We’re all family on Mount Yu. Why wouldn’t you be considered my wife?”
Chen Yin’s serious explanation made Yu Xiang both angry and amused.
Shen Shuanglian remained silent, following closely behind Chen Yin, observing the two of them.
“Alright, stop crying.”
Chen Yin reached out and wiped away Yu Xiang’s tears, gently rubbing her swollen eyes. He said softly,
“It’s time to go home. Master is waiting for us on the mountain.”
“…Okay.” Yu Xiang nodded obediently.
“This time, when we get back, you have to tell Senior Brother everything. No more secrets.”
“Okay.”
“That’s more like it.” Chen Yin finally smiled, a sense of relief washing over him.
As the three of them walked out of the main hall, Yu Xiang suddenly stopped.
A weary and venomous voice echoed in her mind.
“…Yu Xiang, you have disappointed me greatly.”
“The moment you step out of this demonic sect’s main altar, the plot will collapse completely.”
“And I, who failed to maintain the plot, will disappear along with it.”
“Since you’ve chosen to be ruthless, don’t blame me for being unkind.”
Yu Xiang’s eyes widened in horror.
“Senior Brother, watch out!”
Chen Yin frowned and was about to turn around when an invisible wave of energy shot towards him.
The Eternal Light sword appeared in his hand instantly. As he was about to strike, a faint, ancient sigh echoed in the air.
“…Sigh.”
“Forget it.”
“I don’t have much time left anyway. Might as well do one last good deed.”
Shen Shuanglian froze, and a faint wave of energy emanated from her as well.
The two invisible waves collided in mid-air. The next moment, a furious voice filled with despair rang out:
“!? You! You’re insane!”
“Stop it! I’m not giving up! I’m not giving up!!!”
The ethereal voice echoed for a moment, then faded into nothingness.
The surroundings were calm, as if nothing had happened.
But Chen Yin instinctively reached out his hand, and two objects appeared in his palm.
…Two small, broken pieces of metal.
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