Chapter 132: Suffering for the Sake of Pride
After saying this, the Daoist vanished.
A pathway, shimmering with light, appeared in the center of the platform—the way out.
But neither Chen Yin nor Qingying moved.
Qingying stared at Chen Yin with a confused expression, while he lowered his head in thought.
…He had gained much from this experience.
Many of the questions that had plagued him had finally been answered.
First, the Heavenly Dao Fragment was a System. This had finally been confirmed.
Chen Yin had always been curious. What was so valuable about this Heavenly Dao Fragment that the Mist Spirit Sect was willing to risk everything, even commiting a massacre, to obtain it?
Now, it made sense if it was a System.
And the reason why Yin Changli and his wife had refused to reveal its location, even in death, was also clear.
They had given it to Xiang’er.
It was not only an act of defiance, but also a way to ensure her survival.
Only the power of a System could shield its host from the scrutiny of cultivators, protecting them from harm.
With this, the truth behind the Changli Palace incident was finally revealed.
But Chen Yin still had some lingering questions.
…Was the Heavenly Dao Fragment truly that important to them?
The elders of the Mist Spirit Sect were already Grand Clarity Realm experts. With or without a System, they were among the most powerful figures in the cultivation world.
What was the value of a Heavenly Dao Fragment to them?
Could it be related to ascending to a higher realm?
Another question was the scroll. As expected, there wasn’t a second copy here.
In his previous life, he had obtained the mysterious scroll after passing the trial here, learning the three earth-shattering sword techniques.
This time, he had also hoped to find another scroll, a treasure of such immense power.
But it seemed the scroll was one of a kind.
Even with his rebirth, there wouldn’t be a second copy.
And the Daoist’s expression… he seemed to know something about his transmigration. Chen Yin wondered if his rebirth was somehow related to the ancient Immortal.
He also wasn’t sure why the Immortal wanted to eliminate Chosen Ones.
He had a hunch.
If the Immortal truly despised Chosen Ones, why wasn’t Ephemeral Mountain a dead end? Why did he offer a way out for those who saw through the truth?
He felt that the Immortal might not have wanted to kill all Chosen Ones.
Or perhaps…
What he truly wanted to eliminate were the Systems themselves.
Lost in thought, Qingying’s voice suddenly brought him back to reality:
“Chen Yin, how… how do you know about Chosen Ones?”
Qingying couldn’t help but ask, “You’re not a Chosen One, are you—?”
“I’m indeed not a Chosen One.”
Chen Yin looked up slowly. “But you are. Aren’t you?”
Qingying’s heart skipped a beat.
The System’s voice shrieked in her mind, “Holy shit, how did he know?! I thought this guy was a golden thigh, is he actually the protagonist? But he doesn’t have a Protagonist System?!”
It couldn’t figure out Chen Yin’s background.
“There’s nothing to be surprised about.”
Chen Yin didn’t bother explaining. He simply said, “Since you’re a Chosen One, you must have a System, right?”
“Is it sentient? Can I talk to it?”
Qingying shook her head slowly. “No. It can’t communicate with non-Chosen Ones. It seems to be forbidden.”
“Then ask it for me.”
Chen Yin’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly are you Systems?”
Qingying felt the System fall silent.
After a long while, it sighed softly.
“Honestly, we don’t know.”
“Perhaps we’re just created beings, like that formation spirit. Or maybe we’re not even beings, just machines, tools.”
“From the moment we gained consciousness, our only purpose has been to ensure the completion of the plot records. It seems that’s our reason for existence.”
“I’m sorry.” Its voice sounded weary. “I can’t answer his question.”
Qingying relayed the System’s words to Chen Yin, who pondered for a moment, then decided not to press further.
“…Fine.”
“I don’t care about your Systems’ purpose.”
“Just don’t interfere with the people I care about.” He said softly. “Other than that, do whatever you want. It’s none of my business.”
With that, Chen Yin turned around, but not towards the exit of the formation.
“What are you doing?” Qingying called out.
“Setting up tombstones.” Chen Yin said calmly.
This was the last thing Chen Yin did on Ephemeral Mountain.
He cut down trees and carved them into tombstones, placing them neatly on the platform.
Each tombstone bore an inscription, either a name or a Daoist title.
Five hundred and sixty-nine tombstones in total.
Qingying watched from a distance, her arms crossed, as he completed his task.
Chen Yin worked in silence, his gaze fixed on the tombstones, his expression unreadable.
After setting up all the tombstones, he stood there for a long time, then began to read the inscriptions, starting from the first one.
“Fellow Daoist Chang Yangzi.”
“Fellow Daoist Feng Xun.”
“Fellow Daoist Huang Li.”
“Fellow Daoist Xun Kai…”
One after another, the names echoed through the empty mountain.
He read the names of Huang Manlou and Yu Manli.
He read Xu Xiu’s name.
He read the names of everyone he remembered.
Finally, he stood before Qingchen’s tombstone.
“…Fellow Daoist Qingchen,” he murmured softly.
A gentle breeze swept through the mountain, carrying the names away.
“Rest in peace,”
He bowed deeply towards the five hundred and sixty-nine tombstones.
In the darkness…
Luo Luo had been trapped in this lightless space for two days.
If it weren’t for the book and the night-pearl Chen Yin had left her, and the faint glow from the gem, she wouldn’t have been able to endure it for even a minute.
As she continued to read the storybook, the gem suddenly flickered, its light intensifying slightly.
Luo Luo’s ears perked up, and a look of joy appeared on her face.
“Young Master! Sister Qingying!”
“You’re finally back!”
Chen Yin gently embraced the little fox who had leaped into his arms and kissed her forehead softly. “Did you wait long?”
“Not really, just two days.” Luo Luo’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she blinked. “I thought you and Sister Qingying would be gone for ten days or half a month.”
Just two days? Qingying frowned, puzzled. They had been inside for two months.
Chen Yin, however, wasn’t surprised. He simply smiled. “I’ll tell you about our adventures later.”
Qingying looked up at his gentle smile, then lowered her gaze.
…He wouldn’t tell Luo Luo what had really happened there.
He would probably make up a fun and exciting story to entertain her.
She suddenly wondered what kind of character her brother would be in his story.
Would he still be that pure and innocent boy with a bright smile?
She thought it might not be so bad that way.
Chen Yin turned to Qingying, who was staring at the ground with a distant expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Qingying pursed her lips.
Luo Luo, nestled in his arms, blinked. She felt that Sister Qingying, usually so cold and aloof, had changed after their return from the secret realm.
“Are we leaving now?”
“Yes.” Chen Yin nodded slowly. “You’re finally free from this annoying guy.”
“Congratulations.”
“Oh… oh…” Qingying’s long eyelashes lowered.
Chen Yin looked at her, puzzled. “I thought you would be happy.”
“What? O-of course I’m happy.”
Qingying pouted. “I’m so happy I could die! Just the thought of never seeing your annoying face again makes me ecstatic! Let’s get out of here, and once we leave the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain, we’ll part ways!”
She glared at him fiercely.
Chen Yin exchanged a look with Luo Luo and shook his head helplessly.
As Qingying walked ahead, fuming, the System in her mind spoke:
“I’m telling you…”
“Don’t talk to me!”
“No, seriously, let’s be realistic…”
“What do you know?”
“Even if I don’t understand humans, I can tell you’re just throwing a tantrum.”
Qingying’s eyes widened in anger. “When did I throw a tantrum?!”
“Then tell me, where are you going after we leave?”
“I…”
Qingying’s voice trailed off.
A flicker of confusion appeared in her cold eyes.
…Right.
Now that A’Chen was gone…
And she had nowhere to return to in the secret division…
She was truly homeless.
This feeling wasn’t unfamiliar. As a child, wandering the streets, she would often wake up in the middle of the night, her heart aching with loneliness.
She bit her lip, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
“I have nowhere to go.”
The System, once again acting as a mediator, said, “Why not stay with that guy? What’s so bad about it?”
Qingying immediately gritted her teeth. “No way!”
“Why not?”
“…Just no! He only knows how to tease and humiliate me.”
She said angrily, “I don’t want to stay with that annoying bastard!”
But her voice lacked conviction, as if she couldn’t even convince herself.
The System sighed.
“Sigh. Suffering for the sake of pride.”
“You humans are so strange.”
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