Chapter 33: Beneath the Cliff
Events had spiraled out of control.
Chen Yin plummeted over the cliff, followed closely by Shen Shuanglian. Both their fates hung precariously in the balance.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Yu Xiang’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly. Then, with a desperate cry, she charged towards the edge of the cliff.
From the sidelines, Luo Qiaoqiao’s urgent voice rang out, “Quick! All Heavenly Net Sect disciples, search for them!”
“Mo Jie, you old dog! If anything happens to Chen Yin, the Mist Spirit Sect will pay dearly!”
Meanwhile, amidst the chaotic crowd, a pair of fox ears emerged from the void, then quickly retreated, drooping dejectedly.
…Just before Chen Yin unleashed his sword strike, Luo Luo had received his command through their master-servant contract:
“Hide, and take care of yourself until I return.”
Although she had witnessed Chen Yin’s strength, the place he had fallen into was the infamous Heavenly Path Perilous Domain, feared throughout the cultivation world. Luo Luo couldn’t help but worry.
Young Master, please be safe. The little fox looked up from within the void, her heart heavy with concern.
Meanwhile, Elder Mo Jie remained motionless in the air, his expression shifting through various shades of anger, shock, and disbelief. His hands were clasped behind his back.
“Elder Mo Jie, about this matter…” A fellow elder from another sect asked cautiously.
Mo Jie simply snorted and said indifferently, “That arrogant fool thought he could withstand my attack. He fell off the cliff and is probably shattered to pieces by now.”
“As for our chief disciple, I will report to the Sect Master immediately and request a search party.”
Someone else reminded him, “There’s also that Yin Mengwan girl…”
“She must have gone to the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain to search for her lover. We’ll deal with her when we search for Frost Moon Sword Immortal.”
Seeing Elder Mo Jie’s grim expression, the others didn’t dare to press further. They exchanged a few brief words and left.
Elder Mo Jie also flew away on his sword, heading towards a deserted area.
The moment he was alone, his composure crumbled. He coughed up a mouthful of blood.
A figure appeared behind him, placing a hand on his back to help regulate his chaotic spiritual energy.
Elder Mo Jie’s eyes were filled with shock, anger, and disbelief.
…Within his dantian, countless shards of energy floated aimlessly.
It was his foundation.
Chen Yin’s sword strike had completely shattered his foundation.
“That brat…” he gritted his teeth.
“Don’t move,” the middle-aged man beside him said in a low voice as he helped heal his injuries. “Your foundation is destroyed. If you don’t return to the sect immediately and use vast resources to repair it, not only will your cultivation be affected, but your life might even be in danger.”
Elder Mo Jie knew this all too well and could only nod grimly. “Thank you, Junior Brother.”
“It’s nothing. You were acting on the sect’s orders. Consider this injury a sacrifice for the sect.”
“But that young man named Chen Yin…” The man stroked his beard thoughtfully, his eyes narrowed. “You felt it too, right? That strange power in his sword strike?”
“Yes.” A strange light flickered in Elder Mo Jie’s eyes.
“There’s no mistaking it.”
“—It was Dao Resonance*.”
The man was baffled. “But that’s impossible! Senior Brother, even after years of being in the Supreme Clarity Realm, you’ve only barely sensed the existence of Dao Resonance. How could that boy, a mere Cloud Ascending Realm cultivator, not even a Grand Clarity Realm expert, possibly use a sword technique infused with Dao Resonance?”
“Could it be… that Yu Ling gave him some kind of protective treasure?”
Elder Mo Jie didn’t answer.
He didn’t know, and he didn’t have time to care.
There were only two things on his mind now.
Return to the sect immediately and focus on healing his injuries.
And then, when he recovered…
He would kill those two little bastards.
***
The Heavenly Path Perilous Domain was the name given to the central region of the Heavenly Path Mountain Range.
It was the heart of the continent, with an abundance of spiritual energy far exceeding that of ordinary immortal mountains and blessed lands. It was a perfect place for cultivators to cultivate.
However, no cultivator dared to cultivate here.
Because it was said that even Grand Clarity Realm experts feared the dangers within the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain.
Some said it was filled with ancient, ferocious beasts from the primordial era, each possessing power comparable to a Grand Clarity Realm expert.
Others claimed it was riddled with poisonous swamps and miasmas so potent that even a Grand Clarity Realm expert would die upon contact.
There were also rumors that the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain was connected to a higher plane of existence, the legendary immortal realm.
But no one knew for sure. Because even Grand Clarity Realm experts rarely ventured into this forbidden zone.
Now, beside a picturesque waterfall…
A delicate figure was dragging a heavy man, her steps faltering as she struggled to move forward.
She was dressed in a light blue palace dress, now torn and dirty, her beautiful face covered in dust.
She seemed to be seriously injured, unable to use her spiritual energy. She could only drag the man’s clothes forward like an ordinary mortal.
She walked slowly, her movements labored, her hair clinging to her sweaty neck.
But her eyes were filled with unwavering determination.
Finally, beside the waterfall, Shen Shuanglian found a natural cave. With great difficulty, she dragged Chen Yin inside and placed her hand on his chest.
“…System, exchange for a Soul-Returning Life-Renewing Pill.” Her lips were pale, but her voice was calm.
After a moment, the System’s slightly aged voice echoed softly:
“Are you sure? The Soul-Returning Life-Renewing Pill is very expensive. You’ve only saved enough points to exchange for one.”
“If you give it to him, you won’t have any protection if you encounter a life-threatening situation in the future.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Shen Shuanglian said nonchalantly. “Whether I live or die is irrelevant.”
“…I don’t want to lose him.”
The System was silent for a long time, then sighed softly.
“Ah, you’re still a child after all.”
“Fine, do as you wish.”
The next moment, a pill, radiating a fragrant aroma, appeared in the air.
Shen Shuanglian took the pill and tried to feed it to Chen Yin, but he couldn’t swallow.
So, she bit her lip, put the pill in her mouth, and chewed it.
Then, she leaned down and kissed Chen Yin’s lips.
A faint medicinal fragrance emanated from Chen Yin’s body. Shen Shuanglian waited until all the medicinal power had entered his body before reluctantly parting her lips, her head lifting with a sense of loss.
She felt Chen Yin’s body gradually warming up, his breathing becoming stronger, and her heart eased slightly.
But as soon as she relaxed, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over her.
Her eyelids drooped, threatening to close. She shook her head violently, trying to stay awake, and sat beside Chen Yin, hugging her knees.
Finally, the System couldn’t bear to watch any longer and said softly, “If you’re really tired, just sleep for a while. I’ll wake you up if anything happens.”
Shen Shuanglian shook her head, resting her chin on her arms, and gazed at him with a slight tilt of her head.
“…It’s okay. I’m not tired.”
“I finally have a chance to watch over him like this.” Her eyes held a deep and hidden tenderness.
***
Chen Yin woke up about half an hour later.
He opened his eyes and blinked. Shen Shuanglian was leaning against his knees, fast asleep, her soft breathing and murmurs filling the air.
He didn’t move, just lay there quietly, staring at the ceiling.
…He was questioning his life choices.
According to his original plan, things should have gone like this:
He would take Elder Mo Jie’s attack head-on, not resisting, but enduring the full force of the blow, acting as if he was almost killed.
Only then would it be consistent with his persona as a weak Cloud Ascending Realm cultivator.
As for his injuries, they didn’t really matter. The most overpowered aspect of the “Forgotten Everlasting Heart Sutra” was its regenerative abilities. As long as he had a breath left, no matter how severe the injury, he would recover completely with time.
So, Chen Yin had only used his sword energy to protect his vital points, ensuring he wouldn’t be killed instantly, then endured the full force of the Supreme Clarity Realm attack and obediently fell off the cliff.
As for the sword strike he had returned to Elder Mo Jie, it wouldn’t kill the old dog, but it would definitely be enough to keep him out of his hair for a while.
Then, once he fell off the cliff, Xiang’er, worried about his safety, wouldn’t just sit there and wait to be captured. She would find a way to escape in the chaos and come looking for him.
Then, he just had to escape from here and meet up with Xiang’er before anyone else, and things would be much easier after that.
But no matter how much he calculated, Chen Yin never expected…
His Senior Sister, Shen Shuanglian, would actually jump off the cliff with him.
…Seriously, Sister, what are you doing?
His plan had been perfect. Once he fell off the cliff, he would be free to act on his own, without any restrictions.
But now, with his Senior Sister by his side, he had to keep up the act.
So, he continued to pretend to be gravely injured, lying motionless on the ground.
As the “Forgotten Everlasting Heart Sutra” repaired his body, Chen Yin vaguely heard Shen Shuanglian mumbling something and felt her feed him some kind of pill.
But he couldn’t remember how she had done it.
Thanks to the pill’s effects, not only had his injuries completely healed, but his dantian and spiritual sea felt even stronger than before.
But Chen Yin still didn’t dare to wake up. Recovering too quickly would arouse Shen Shuanglian’s suspicion.
At that moment, Shen Shuanglian was leaning against his knees, fast asleep, looking like a peaceful young girl. Her delicate nose twitched slightly, making him want to take a bite.
Chen Yin stared at her for a moment, then looked away.
…Senior Sister, why did you jump off the cliff with me?
Even if you’re a righteous and kind-hearted person, you wouldn’t risk your own life for a stranger, would you?
After racking his brains for a long time, Chen Yin couldn’t come up with an answer. A bold thought gradually formed in his mind.
Could it be… that what he had boasted to Master had actually come true?
Did his Senior Sister truly have a crush on him, a secret love so strong that she would risk her life for him?
…N-no way, right?
***
T/N:
道韵(Dao Yun)-Dao Resonance
Alternative Translations: For better understanding of this concept, here are some possible translations:
- Dao Resonance (Selected translation)
- Dao Rhyme
- Essence of the Dao or Embodiment of the Dao
- Dao Harmony or Harmony of the Dao, etc.
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