Although Chen Chao was disliked by many young cultivators from the foreign lands, in reality, Yun Jianyue did not dislike him. Therefore, right from the start, there was no inherent hostility between them. If they were going to fight, it would be for various reasons, but absolutely not because one of them wanted to kill the other.
It was just a simple determining of the victor.
Yun Jianyue chuckled and said, "If we were really fighting for life and death, today would undoubtedly be your death. Because I have to return alive to see Senior Sister and tell her about this."
Yun Jianyue had gotten an answer from Chen Chao that he had been uncertain about for a long time. But, since he had not acted on it, Yun Jianyue naturally had no intention of dying. Cultivators sometimes said that attachment was a dreadful emotion, but in many cases, it could also be a useful one.
Chen Chao said, "Actually, I like a girl too."
"That sword cultivator in the academy?"
There were not many sword cultivators in the academy, but the most famous one at the moment was undoubtedly that young girl.
Yun Jianyue said, "She has read many books and seems like a gentle person. But when she started practicing the sword, I don't think she's a gentle person. Although I haven't met her, I know she's not as outstanding as my Senior Sister."
Chen Chao rolled his eyes at him and said, "You're acting like a complete moron."
Yun Jianyue did not rebut. In his heart, the girl he liked was the best, what was wrong with that?
Chen Chao said, "I don't want to waste any more words with you."
Yun Jianyue asked, "After the fight, will the loser leave?"
Chen Chao furrowed his brows but nodded and said, "Yes, they will."
Yun Jianyue nodded in agreement with this arrangement.
Chen Chao swallowed his last medicinal pill. His previous injuries had mostly healed, and he began to mobilize the qi within his body. A white mist slowly flowed through his body, and the scarce qi felt like a rare rain that began reviving the parched fields at this moment.
It was a special feeling; rather comforting.
It was mainly because it had been so long since he felt it.
In reality, Chen Chao felt that he could not possibly be defeated. If Yun Jianyue chose to kill him, that sheet of paper would save his life at the critical moment.
However, it seemed that Yun Jianyue would not have that idea.
He had to stay calm.
……
……
After enduring the excruciating ordeal and waiting, a cultivator finally walked out of the white mist.
This was a young cultivator, his face covered in blood, looking incredibly weak. But no matter how weak he was, he had managed to walk out of that place. He dragged his exhausted body, laboriously making his way out. As soon as he stepped out, he saw a group of cultivators in the distance watching him.
Someone quickly asked, "What happened inside?"
Soon, another person chimed in anxiously, "Is there something inside that we don't know about?"
The young cultivator looked at the other cultivators present, his expression filled with confusion as he contemplated their questions. Just as he was about to speak, his vision suddenly darkened, and he fell unconscious.
Within the white mist, he had exhausted all the strength within his body. Being able to walk out was a testament to his incredibly strong willpower. Now that he finally walked out, he could no longer hold out.
As he collapsed, a cultivator immediately came forward, lifted him up, and placed his palm on his chest. Streams of qi poured into that young cultivator's body.
But a moment later, he shook his head and said with a frown, "His injuries are too severe, he won't wake up anytime soon."
Although they were prominent figures with profound cultivation bases, there were many things that could not be helped.
Distant Wanderer watched from a distance and did not speak.
Daoist Ning Gui and Daoist Mo Ying exchanged glances. Daoist Ning Gui said, "There was some fear in his eyes. It seems he encountered something he couldn't understand or accept. This ancient ruin isn't as simple as we thought."
Daoist Mo Ying nodded and said, "Indeed, but the truth won't remain hidden for too long. He's just a kid with ordinary talent."
There was a lot of meaning in that statement, and Daoist Ning Gui understood it clearly.
More than one cultivator would be able to leave the white mist alive. This young man was just the first.
Sure enough, as time passed, more and more young cultivators emerged from the white mist. Although most of them immediately collapsed upon exiting like that first cultivator, there were also many cultivators who opened their eyes weakly.
Under their questioning, they began to share their stories.
Not everyone was a good storyteller, and not all their stories were captivating. But as long as the story was true, even if it was dull and uninteresting, there were always people willing to listen.
They also spoke about the grave digging, citing various reasons. Some did it because of their sect's expectations, so they had no choice but to dig up graves. Others wanted to explore ancient secrets, so they had no choice but to dig up graves.
There were also people who had various reasons, but ultimately, it was because they had no choice.
No one willingly dug up graves.
No one went to dig up graves for selfish desires.
None.
They were all good people.
The cultivators were very silent, no one questioned them.
Some things did not need to be said.
Maintaining silence was nothing difficult.
"At that time, all those skeletons came to life and started killing people like mad. We barely managed to escape..."
For some reason, they omitted certain details, such as their previous intent to kill Song Changxi or their teaming-up later on to deal with Chen Chao.
No one mentioned these events.
Everyone reached an unspoken consensus.
"Since those stone monuments were so sturdy, how did they collapse in the end?"
A cultivator caught a loophole in the story, looking at the youngsters and asking.
The real answer from the story should have been related to the page in Chen Chao's possession, but at the time, they had not paid attention to these details. They had only noticed the overwhelming, terrifying aura within the cemetery, which ran rampant in that space. No one paid attention to Chen Chao, and no one knew that the source of that terrifying aura was Chen Chao.
They would not believe such a thing, and there would not be such an answer.
So, the story ended there, not entirely complete, but the general idea was clear.
"Fellow Daoist Distant Wanderer, since something like that happened inside, shouldn't we be allowed to go in?"
The cultivators looked at Distant Wanderer and became pressuring him once again.
Many cultivators had already died inside, and those who were still alive did not know when they might meet the same fate.
Distant Wanderer did not answer them, he just looked at the two daoists and said, "Fellow Daoists, how do you two see this?"
At this point, he had given up on these cultivators completely. Since those items had been tossed around so carelessly, he might as well toss the responsibility onto these two individuals.
Daoist Ning Gui and Daoist Mo Ying exchanged glances but did not speak.
Daoist Ning Gui remained silent for a long time, then shook his head and said, "Since it was agreed upon beforehand, there's no room for changing our minds. The rules have already been set, and they must be followed."
His voice was calm, but it did not sound that way to those who heard it. He had his own attitude, and at certain times, his attitude represented the stance of the Infatuation Daoist Temple.
Daoist Mo Ying frowned, wanting to say something, but he did not say it.
……
……
Further away, officials from the Great Liang Dynasty stood under the shade of trees, listening to the voices in the distance. A thin official among them said sarcastically, "Even the daoists of the Infatuation Daoist Temple can be such sanctimonious individuals."
While the people argued and discussed among themselves, no one had asked for the imperial court's opinion, and they had refrained from getting involved in this matter.
"I don't quite understand what they're thinking, but I'm not worried at all because the information from Lord Warden Commander's side is clear - it's to believe in that young man completely."
The official in charge of this matter smiled and added, "I know many people don't believe in him, but did anyone believe in him before the Myriad Willow Convention?"
Although Chen Chao was disliked by many young cultivators from the foreign lands, in reality, Yun Jianyue did not dislike him. Therefore, right from the start, there was no inherent hostility between them. If they were going to fight, it would be for various reasons, but absolutely not because one of them wanted to kill the other.
It was just a simple determining of the victor.
Yun Jianyue chuckled and said, "If we were really fighting for life and death, today would undoubtedly be your death. Because I have to return alive to see Senior Sister and tell her about this."
Yun Jianyue had gotten an answer from Chen Chao that he had been uncertain about for a long time. But, since he had not acted on it, Yun Jianyue naturally had no intention of dying. Cultivators sometimes said that attachment was a dreadful emotion, but in many cases, it could also be a useful one.
Chen Chao said, "Actually, I like a girl too."
"That sword cultivator in the academy?"
There were not many sword cultivators in the academy, but the most famous one at the moment was undoubtedly that young girl.
Yun Jianyue said, "She has read many books and seems like a gentle person. But when she started practicing the sword, I don't think she's a gentle person. Although I haven't met her, I know she's not as outstanding as my Senior Sister."
Chen Chao rolled his eyes at him and said, "You're acting like a complete moron."
Yun Jianyue did not rebut. In his heart, the girl he liked was the best, what was wrong with that?
Chen Chao said, "I don't want to waste any more words with you."
Yun Jianyue asked, "After the fight, will the loser leave?"
Chen Chao furrowed his brows but nodded and said, "Yes, they will."
Yun Jianyue nodded in agreement with this arrangement.
Chen Chao swallowed his last medicinal pill. His previous injuries had mostly healed, and he began to mobilize the qi within his body. A white mist slowly flowed through his body, and the scarce qi felt like a rare rain that began reviving the parched fields at this moment.
It was a special feeling; rather comforting.
It was mainly because it had been so long since he felt it.
In reality, Chen Chao felt that he could not possibly be defeated. If Yun Jianyue chose to kill him, that sheet of paper would save his life at the critical moment.
However, it seemed that Yun Jianyue would not have that idea.
He had to stay calm.
……
……
After enduring the excruciating ordeal and waiting, a cultivator finally walked out of the white mist.
This was a young cultivator, his face covered in blood, looking incredibly weak. But no matter how weak he was, he had managed to walk out of that place. He dragged his exhausted body, laboriously making his way out. As soon as he stepped out, he saw a group of cultivators in the distance watching him.
Someone quickly asked, "What happened inside?"
Soon, another person chimed in anxiously, "Is there something inside that we don't know about?"
The young cultivator looked at the other cultivators present, his expression filled with confusion as he contemplated their questions. Just as he was about to speak, his vision suddenly darkened, and he fell unconscious.
Within the white mist, he had exhausted all the strength within his body. Being able to walk out was a testament to his incredibly strong willpower. Now that he finally walked out, he could no longer hold out.
As he collapsed, a cultivator immediately came forward, lifted him up, and placed his palm on his chest. Streams of qi poured into that young cultivator's body.
But a moment later, he shook his head and said with a frown, "His injuries are too severe, he won't wake up anytime soon."
Although they were prominent figures with profound cultivation bases, there were many things that could not be helped.
Distant Wanderer watched from a distance and did not speak.
Daoist Ning Gui and Daoist Mo Ying exchanged glances. Daoist Ning Gui said, "There was some fear in his eyes. It seems he encountered something he couldn't understand or accept. This ancient ruin isn't as simple as we thought."
Daoist Mo Ying nodded and said, "Indeed, but the truth won't remain hidden for too long. He's just a kid with ordinary talent."
There was a lot of meaning in that statement, and Daoist Ning Gui understood it clearly.
More than one cultivator would be able to leave the white mist alive. This young man was just the first.
Sure enough, as time passed, more and more young cultivators emerged from the white mist. Although most of them immediately collapsed upon exiting like that first cultivator, there were also many cultivators who opened their eyes weakly.
Under their questioning, they began to share their stories.
Not everyone was a good storyteller, and not all their stories were captivating. But as long as the story was true, even if it was dull and uninteresting, there were always people willing to listen.
They also spoke about the grave digging, citing various reasons. Some did it because of their sect's expectations, so they had no choice but to dig up graves. Others wanted to explore ancient secrets, so they had no choice but to dig up graves.
There were also people who had various reasons, but ultimately, it was because they had no choice.
No one willingly dug up graves.
No one went to dig up graves for selfish desires.
None.
They were all good people.
The cultivators were very silent, no one questioned them.
Some things did not need to be said.
Maintaining silence was nothing difficult.
"At that time, all those skeletons came to life and started killing people like mad. We barely managed to escape..."
For some reason, they omitted certain details, such as their previous intent to kill Song Changxi or their teaming-up later on to deal with Chen Chao.
No one mentioned these events.
Everyone reached an unspoken consensus.
"Since those stone monuments were so sturdy, how did they collapse in the end?"
A cultivator caught a loophole in the story, looking at the youngsters and asking.
The real answer from the story should have been related to the page in Chen Chao's possession, but at the time, they had not paid attention to these details. They had only noticed the overwhelming, terrifying aura within the cemetery, which ran rampant in that space. No one paid attention to Chen Chao, and no one knew that the source of that terrifying aura was Chen Chao.
They would not believe such a thing, and there would not be such an answer.
So, the story ended there, not entirely complete, but the general idea was clear.
"Fellow Daoist Distant Wanderer, since something like that happened inside, shouldn't we be allowed to go in?"
The cultivators looked at Distant Wanderer and became pressuring him once again.
Many cultivators had already died inside, and those who were still alive did not know when they might meet the same fate.
Distant Wanderer did not answer them, he just looked at the two daoists and said, "Fellow Daoists, how do you two see this?"
At this point, he had given up on these cultivators completely. Since those items had been tossed around so carelessly, he might as well toss the responsibility onto these two individuals.
Daoist Ning Gui and Daoist Mo Ying exchanged glances but did not speak.
Daoist Ning Gui remained silent for a long time, then shook his head and said, "Since it was agreed upon beforehand, there's no room for changing our minds. The rules have already been set, and they must be followed."
His voice was calm, but it did not sound that way to those who heard it. He had his own attitude, and at certain times, his attitude represented the stance of the Infatuation Daoist Temple.
Daoist Mo Ying frowned, wanting to say something, but he did not say it.
……
……
Further away, officials from the Great Liang Dynasty stood under the shade of trees, listening to the voices in the distance. A thin official among them said sarcastically, "Even the daoists of the Infatuation Daoist Temple can be such sanctimonious individuals."
While the people argued and discussed among themselves, no one had asked for the imperial court's opinion, and they had refrained from getting involved in this matter.
"I don't quite understand what they're thinking, but I'm not worried at all because the information from Lord Warden Commander's side is clear - it's to believe in that young man completely."
The official in charge of this matter smiled and added, "I know many people don't believe in him, but did anyone believe in him before the Myriad Willow Convention?"
