The Decaying World

A gentle breeze blew. Within the Clear Wind Daoist Courtyard, four people stared at Xin Shuai. For a moment, no one spoke.

The suffocating atmosphere gradually spread, making Song Yunhui and his mother feel as if they couldn’t breathe. They quietly began to move toward the house.

They could see the situation clearly now. This Clear Wind Dao was practically a demon’s den. Even a powerhouse like Xin Shuai was surrounded, too afraid to move, her expression taut.

The mother and son knew exactly what this meant.

’What do we do now?’ Song Yunhui exchanged a look with his mother.

’We wait. The Bright Heart Association is incredibly powerful. Since they’ve made a move on someone from the Lin Family, the two sides are bound to clash. That will be our chance to slip away.’ Song Shihan secretly transmitted her thoughts.

The two weren’t using a Secret Technique based on Inner Strength to communicate—such methods could easily be intercepted by someone with powerful Heart and Spirit. Instead, they were using a special relic from the royal secret vault for their mental exchange.

At this moment, both of them felt a strange, surreal sensation.

At first, they thought they had just accidentally run into a classmate with a strong sense of justice. Then, they discovered this classmate possessed an incredibly strong Sensing Power.

After that, when crisis struck, they found out their classmate’s family was actually quite influential.

And now, they were discovering that "quite influential" was a massive understatement. It was downright absurd.

Song Yunhui suddenly felt the absurdity of it all, like randomly bumping into a stranger on the street only to find out they were the heir to one of the federation’s top families.

’The situation is beyond our predictions now. Let’s wait and see how it unfolds. Don’t be rash.’ His mother’s voice came through the relic again.

Song Yunhui nodded slightly. Together, they slowly backed up to the doorway of the house, pressing themselves against the wall.

"Everyone, if I were to say this was all a misunderstanding, would you let me leave?" Xin Shuai’s voice was low and solemn as she finally spoke.

"You killed two Disciples of our sect... and you think you can just walk away with a simple explanation?" Master Yunxia laughed.

"There’s still time! I can bring them back!" Xin Shuai said quickly. "As long as it’s been less than half an hour since brain death, reviving them won’t have any major side effects!"

Lin Hui raised an eyebrow. With a thought...

...the two bodies lying in pools of blood outside the door flew inside, landing gently in front of Xin Shuai.

"Show me."

Xin Shuai didn’t hesitate. She immediately took a small golden vial from a pouch on her lower back and poured out two drops of a special liquid that looked like mercury.

She then pried open the mouths of the two corpses and dripped one drop into each.

Next, she quickly placed her hands over the fatal wounds on their throats. A soft blue light shone, and the wounds on the bodies quickly healed, leaving no trace.

Witnessing this power, the four from Clear Wind Dao were all inwardly stirred.

It wasn’t True Power, nor Void Power, nor Mental Power or any of the other known types of Pollution Power. Instead, it faintly exuded a dense, oceanic aura.

Then, Xin Shuai quickly began performing chest compressions on the two bodies, attempting resuscitation.

In less than half a minute, the two men actually, slowly opened their eyes and regained consciousness.

"Greetings, Daoist Master!"

The moment they awoke, they saw the four people standing in the courtyard. The most conspicuous among them was Lin Hui, and they scrambled to their feet to bow to him.

"There’s no need for formalities. I have seen your resolve. Go and rest for now. I will have a reward for you later," Lin Hui said seriously.

’The Eye of Life I just evolved... it’s time to start using it on these Disciples who are truly loyal to the Clear Wind Dao and to me.’

The two men quickly got up, shot a hateful glare at Xin Shuai, bowed to Su Yaping and the others, and then left the courtyard.

"Not going to try anything?" Lin Hui glanced at Xin Shuai.

She had her entire body covered, but in her earlier moment of panic and horror, her figure and the timbre of her voice had been faintly revealed. She was likely a woman.

"You have the aura of my Association Leader. I wouldn’t dare," Xin Shuai answered honestly, lowering her head.

"Aura? Interesting. This is the first I’ve heard of judging someone’s strength and weakness based on aura alone," Lin Hui said with a small smile.

Since the men had been revived, the substantive grudge between the two sides was gone. Now, they could talk properly.

"Yes. The essence of an aura is the natural release of one’s Heart and Spirit combined with their personal qi. According to our Association Leader’s research, the pressure from an aura comes more from the natural fusion of one’s Heart and Spirit and personal qi with the surrounding environment. This fusion rapidly amplifies one’s own oppressive presence, creating immense pressure on the enemy."

Surprisingly, Xin Shuai actually offered an explanation.

"That actually makes some sense," Pang Jiu couldn’t help but nod in agreement. "Essentially, a so-called aura is a struggle between one’s Heart and Spirit and qi for control over the surrounding environment. The one who wins this struggle will have their aura rapidly strengthened and amplified. From this perspective, home-field advantage is quite important."

"Not necessarily," Master Yunxia chimed in. They were all powerful practitioners of the Martial Dao who had been in Cultivation for many years. In fact, aside from Lin Hui, she had the highest Martial Arts Realm among them.

"Sometimes, one’s status, words, attire, the atmosphere, their expression, or even a simple trick can cause an enemy to defeat themselves. They conjure up a non-existent pressure, using their own imagination to oppress themselves with their own Heart and Spirit. So, the essence of an aura is still an invisible clash of Heart and Spirit."

"Makes sense." Lin Hui nodded repeatedly as he listened. This was already touching upon the profound nature of psychological warfare.

"Yes. The essence of an aura requires consideration of many factors... one’s confidence, their perception of themselves, their perception of others, and their use and fusion with the environment are all elements that must be considered," Xin Shuai said in a low voice.

"Then, in your heart, what is my aura like?" Lin Hui grew interested and asked with a hint of curiosity.

"You..." Xin Shuai hesitated. "From you, I sense..."

"Speak freely. I won’t get angry." Lin Hui could see she was holding back.

"..." Xin Shuai paused, looked at Lin Hui, and steeled herself. "Fear!"

"Fear?" Lin Hui, Pang Jiu, Master Yunxia, and Su Yaping were all taken aback by this answer.

"Yes..." Xin Shuai nodded emphatically. "Your aura is filled with fear... But, it’s not a fear of others or of external things... It’s a fear... of yourself!"

"A fear of yourself, naturally emanating from the depths of your own heart!"

The statement seemed rather bizarre.

How could anyone in this world be afraid of themselves?

Song Yunhui was puzzled, but seeing the adults’ expressions gradually turn solemn, he knew there was something he wasn’t considering, something he didn’t understand.

He turned his head to look at his mother.

His mother’s expression was also grave.

"Don’t be anxious... listen to what she has to say!" She seemed to have made a connection.

"Mother, have you... seen this before...?" Song Yunhui suddenly realized.

"..." Song Shihan didn’t reply.

"Interesting." Lin Hui clapped lightly. "Continue. Don’t stop."

At this point, the atmosphere in the courtyard had become faintly oppressive.

Xin Shuai felt it too, but she didn’t dare to defy his request. Cursing her luck internally, she lowered her head and continued.

"An aura like this... someone who generates a fear of themselves from the depths of their own heart... You are the third person I have met like this... People like you live in constant fear that your own Infinitely growing power might destroy everything..."

"Then what about her?" Lin Hui interrupted, glancing at the unconscious Xia Si on the ground.

"She’s different. She is being suppressed. It’s also fear, but she isn’t afraid of herself, but of someone else... Only when one can no longer find a worthy opponent externally, will they..." Xin Shuai said quickly.

"An interesting theory." Lin Hui nodded. "Now for the last question. What was your purpose in coming here?"

In an instant, the airflow in the courtyard stopped, completely freezing in place.

Cold sweat instantly trickled down from Xin Shuai’s temples.

She knew that the answer to this question would be the key that decided whether she could leave here safely.

After a moment’s thought, she dared not delay and answered.

"To bring back Song Yunhui and his mother, and also, to take away the one with the extremely strong senses."

"Very good. You’re not lying." Lin Hui nodded. "From now on, you’ll stay by my side. We can consider letting you go when your master comes to my door in person."

"...Yes." Xin Shuai lowered her head, not daring to say another word.

The next instant, she suddenly sensed Lin Hui’s aura completely retract and vanish. He was like an ordinary person; she couldn’t feel a thing.

Her head immediately bowed even lower.

"Now, the rest of you, follow me."

Lin Hui glanced at Master Yunxia and the other two, then turned and vanished from the courtyard.

He didn’t leave anyone to guard Xin Shuai. At such a close range, if she dared to make a move, he could eliminate her in an instant.

"Yes!" the three replied, bowing their heads.

’The Eye of Life... it’s time to spread it throughout the sect.’

*

*

*

「In the catacombs beneath the Moon Tower.」

The Association Leader was still continuously casting the Seal Technique, but behind him, the Fourth Princess, Song Feishi, had already received a series of urgent reports from subordinates outside. The Extreme Desire Heaven and the Taixu Origin Disk had sensed something was wrong. They had joined forces with two Deputy City Lords and were on their way to investigate.

"Association Leader... the city’s great formation is activating..." Song Feishi sent via voice transmission.

"Don’t be anxious. We still need a little more time." The Association Leader’s expression was calm, his hands steadily releasing one seal after another.

This time, he had brought three Heart Marshals. One was sent to capture Song Yunhui, one was guarding the flagship and the evacuation formation, and the third was already outside, responsible for interception.

The three of them, coordinating with the nine Sea King guest elders, should have no problem temporarily suppressing the Blood Ancestors of Black Cloud and the Deputy City Lords.

Just then, the Association Leader’s hands suddenly paused, as if he had sensed something.

He hadn’t shown any reaction when the Deputy City Lords from Extreme Desire Heaven and the Taixu Origin Disk had arrived together, yet now, for some reason, his hands had stopped for an instant.

"What is it?" Song Feishi noticed this and quickly asked.

"Xinyue has been captured," the Association Leader replied.

"...Clear Wind Dao?" Song Feishi reacted instantly. "I told you, that Daoist Master’s power is utterly terrifying..."

"It doesn’t matter. It’s not a bad thing for her to suffer a bit. We’ve had it too easy for too long, to the point that some bad signs have started to sprout within the Association," the Association Leader said placidly.

Song Feishi was about to say more, but she saw the Association Leader suddenly retract his hands, the seal-casting complete.

"Let’s go. It’s done. Next, we’ll go pick her up and leave together." The Association Leader turned around, a faint blue-black halo dispersing from his fingertips.

"Yes."

The two walked out of the catacombs, only to stop in their tracks.

The Association Leader’s eyes instantly turned deep and dark. He stared at the three figures floating in mid-air to the side of the Moon Tower.

Xie Chang’an, Zhang Yao, and Gongsun Xinlian.

The three great City Lords had all arrived, surrounded by scattered Blood Ancestors. Everyone was connected by dense, green threads.

"It’s been many years. You haven’t changed a bit..." Xie Chang’an greeted the Association Leader, his expression calm.

"A mere substitute body, and you dare to stand in my way?" the Association Leader said faintly.

"Of course I can’t block you alone. That’s why I brought everyone with me. If it’s just to stall for a bit of time, we can at least give it a try," Xie Chang’an replied.

"Xie Chang’an, you may have misunderstood something." The Association Leader raised his hand and gently swiped his index finger across the spot between his eyebrows. Where his finger passed, a deep, blue-black vertical pupil appeared on his forehead.

The vertical pupil continuously absorbed and devoured everything around it, even the air, stirring up a faint, swirling vortex.

"I lured you away simply because you’re annoying... not because I fear you."