Chapter 131: Congratulations, You’re Correct
Dust to dust.
Ashes to ashes.
Finally, Qingchen’s figure, his head bowed, slowly dissipated into nothingness.
Only the Daoist’s gentle lecture and Qingying’s soft sobs remained on the silent mountain.
Chen Yin stood behind her, saying nothing.
After a while, when Qingying’s cries had subsided, he finally spoke:
“I’ve fulfilled your brother’s last request.”
“I’ve kept my promise.”
Qingying looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen, her voice choked with tears.
“…Is that why you didn’t kill me?”
“Indeed.”
Chen Yin’s expression was impassive. “If it were anyone else who tried to kill me, I wouldn’t have shown such mercy.”
“But after learning your identity, I decided to spare your life.”
“Because I made a promise to your brother.”
In his previous life, he and Qingchen had been the last two remaining on Ephemeral Mountain.
Qingchen had spoken, and Chen Yin had listened.
He had watched as the young man, with a mixture of wry amusement and resignation, had ended his own life.
Chen Yin had stood there for a long time, staring at the spot where Qingchen had vanished.
Finally, he had bowed deeply.
“…Fellow Daoist Qingchen.”
“I, Chen Yin, am not a hero.”
“But if I ever make it out of this place…”
“I will keep my promise, for as long as I live.”
He hadn’t done anything extraordinary.
He had simply kept his word.
And he had succeeded.
As the sun began to set, Qingying finally calmed down.
She knelt on the ground, her eyes red and swollen, staring at the spot where her brother had vanished, as if he was still there, smiling at her.
Chen Yin didn’t disturb her, just silently accompanied her.
After a long while, he heard her hoarse voice.
“…Chen Yin.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think… A’Chen was smiling when he died?”
Chen Yin thought for a moment, then said:
“Unlike the others, Qingchen maintained his clarity and sanity until the very end. Even in death, he didn’t want to become like them.”
“Besides you, he had no regrets.”
Qingying didn’t reply. Her eyes, as dark as the night sky, were filled with a deep sadness.
After a while, she took a deep breath and stood up slowly.
“Thank you.”
“A’Chen and I… have no regrets now.” She said softly.
Chen Yin was silent for a moment, then reached out and patted her head gently.
Qingying looked up at him, her eyes still red-rimmed.
But she didn’t resist his touch.
“What are you doing? Trying to comfort me?”
“I’m not that shallow. You said it yourself, this would make you feel better.”
“Consider it a bonus service for your brother.” He said softly.
Qingying’s lips moved slightly, then she lowered her head and mumbled, “…I’m not that fragile.”
“But you’re not that strong either.”
“It’s okay to be vulnerable sometimes! Isn’t it?”
Chen Yin looked at her, surprised by her almost childish tone, unsure what to say.
Qingying seemed to realize that she sounded like a spoiled little girl and quickly turned her head away, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“Alright!”
“Now that you’ve fulfilled your promise to my brother…”
“We’re even, right?”
Chen Yin nodded and gently touched her forehead.
Qingying blushed and couldn’t help but ask, “What are you doing?!”
“You forgot. I still have something inside you.”
Qingying realized that the sword energy that had been lingering in her dantian was now gone.
The sudden lightness in her body made her feel strangely empty.
She mumbled softly, “Th-thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
This time, Chen Yin didn’t tease her. His polite tone made her feel uncomfortable.
A strange sense of anxiety and unease washed over her.
It seemed that after they left this place, they would truly part ways, their paths never crossing again.
She couldn’t help but frown.
Chen Yin, however, didn’t seem to notice her subtle change in mood. He said, “One last thing to take care of.”
With that,
He turned and looked at the Daoist in the sky.
The Daoist, with his ethereal aura and handsome features, looked like an immortal. He stood there, his eyes half-closed, lecturing on the Dao Scripture to the empty platform.
No one was listening. The only two people present, Chen Yin and Qingying, stood before him silently.
“We’re the only ones left. You don’t have to continue.”
The Daoist’s voice trailed off, then he smiled gently. “In that case…”
“Fellow Daoist, have you gained any insights?”
He was looking at Chen Yin.
Qingying also turned to him, curious to see what he would do.
Had he truly comprehended the Dao?
“Fellow Daoist, tell me,”
The Daoist asked with a smile, “what is the Dao?”
Chen Yin looked at him, his eyes deep and lonely.
After a long silence, he shook his head slowly.
“…I don’t know.”
A look of disappointment flashed across Qingying’s face. The Daoist also chuckled softly. “It’s alright. The Dao is not easily attained. Failure is common.”
“In that case, we’ll continue tomo—”
“There’s no need for tomorrow.”
“No one will ever comprehend the Dao from your lectures.” Chen Yin said calmly, his gaze unwavering.
“Why?” For the first time in two months, the Daoist asked a question.
“Because from the very beginning, your Dao Scripture was fake.”
…It wasn’t the Dao at all.
And this wasn’t a place for enlightenment and cultivation.
Ephemeral Mountain…
…was an execution ground.
Everyone who entered was a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
Chen Yin’s voice was calm, but his words were sharp and piercing.
His words brought a sudden silence to the platform.
Qingying’s eyes widened in shock and anger, while the Daoist’s expression remained unchanged, his smile still serene.
“What makes you say that, Fellow Daoist?”
“I’ve been suspicious from the very beginning.”
Chen Yin said slowly, “Cultivators seek the Dao and immortality. They spend their entire lives pursuing it.”
“But I’ve never heard of any Dao that could drive someone to madness in just a month.”
“They didn’t lose their minds because of the Dao. It’s because what you’re teaching isn’t the Dao Scripture at all, but a wicked and corrupted technique.”
“It doesn’t lead to enlightenment, only madness.”
The Daoist’s expression shifted subtly, but he still asked, “How can you be so sure? Perhaps they truly are lost on the path to enlightenment?”
Chen Yin shook his head.
“No one has ever said that failing to comprehend the Dao will lead to madness. We simply assume that the Dao is something abstract and profound.”
“But if failing to understand it leads to madness, then is it truly the Dao?”
“What if… it’s just a wicked and corrupted path disguised as the Dao?”
He looked at the Daoist calmly, but his eyes held a hint of suppressed anger and coldness.
The Daoist fell silent for the first time.
After a long while, he suddenly burst into laughter. “Interesting.”
“Your insight, Fellow Daoist, is enough to pass this trial.”
“Indeed, this is not a place of enlightenment, but a trap created by my master to slaughter prodigies.”
“Slaughter… prodigies?”
Qingying was stunned. “Why? Who would do such a thing? What’s the point of killing prodigies?”
“I apologize, but I’m just a spirit bound to this formation. I can’t reveal that information.”
The Daoist said with a smile, “But judging by your expression, Fellow Daoist, I assume you already have an idea.”
“I didn’t know before.”
“But now, I think I’m starting to understand.” Chen Yin said softly.
Qingying looked at them with a confused expression, as if she were listening to a foreign language.
“Since you’ve passed my master’s trial, my task is complete.”
The Daoist chuckled. “Originally, my master left a reward for those who succeeded.”
“But… strangely, I can’t seem to find it.”
“Do you perhaps know the reason, Fellow Daoist?”
He looked at Chen Yin with a mysterious smile.
Qingying was even more confused. How could a spirit bound to a formation lose the reward left by its master?
Only Chen Yin seemed to have realized something. He frowned slightly.
“But I can’t let you leave empty-handed.”
“Instead, I can answer three of your questions.” The Daoist said slowly.
Chen Yin had many questions for him. He thought for a moment, then asked, “First question.”
“Is your master the ancient Immortal?”
“Yes.” The Daoist replied calmly.
“Second question, what is the Heavenly Dao Fragment?”
The Daoist raised an eyebrow, his smile widening.
“The Heavenly Dao Fragment is the proof of a Chosen One.”
His words made Qingying’s heart skip a beat. Chen Yin closed his eyes and sighed.
…As expected.
This explained everything, even Xiang’er’s situation.
“Chen Yin, how—”
Before Qingying could finish her question, Chen Yin opened his eyes, his gaze intense.
“Last question.”
“The ancient Immortal created this formation not to slaughter prodigies…”
“But to specifically eliminate Chosen Ones.”
“Isn’t that right?” His eyes narrowed as he looked at the Daoist.
The Daoist was silent for a long time.
Finally, he sighed softly.
“I’m starting to regret this now.”
“It seems among all these people…”
“…You’re the one who should have gone mad and died.”
Chen Yin didn’t speak. He waited for the Daoist’s answer.
After a while, the Daoist looked at him with a strange smile.
“Congratulations.”
“…You’re correct.”
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