Chapter 763 - 405: Mountain Man (3)
"The person I’m looking for is below."
The old man gazed at the rock wall and spoke lightly,
"You’ve come all this way, isn’t it to find him?
Carry the candlestick and continue forward, find him before the candle burns out.
That kid might not be good here, nor there, but the thing he likes least is owing people.
As long as you help him this time, whether to save all beings or exterminate demons, he will risk his life to help you."
Huangfu Yi slowly came to his senses, momentarily dazed,
"What, so, you’re not the Nine Heavens... that Ruyi True Monarch?"
But the old man spoke no more.
Suddenly, a burst of wicked fire uncontrollably surged from Huangfu Yi’s heart, flaring up as he jumped and roared,
"What do you want from me after all! Do you want my life! Or is even my life not enough!
Which of the things you asked me to do have I not done! I’ve made it this far! You’re still playing charades!
Damn it, can’t you tell me clearly!"
The old man shook his head and withdrew his hand.
"More words are useless, seeking the path, seeking the path, one can only attain the path by walking it themselves.
So if you’re ready, then go die.
Die once, and you’ll understand everything."
"You! Fine! Let’s see what other tricks you can play!"
Huangfu Yi was no longer interested in arguing with this pseudo-god old man, stepped forward, snatched the six-fingered candle, held it high in his left hand to light the way, right hand wielded an iron rod, and continued down the stone stairs.
Downward, downward, downward
Downward, downward, downward
Downward, downward, down...
Damn it, what, what is this all about, how far has he gone, isn’t the Centipede Cave this deep...
Huangfu Yi panted heavily, looking back into the endless darkness, but just with this moment of hesitation and uncertainty, suddenly, in the blink of an eye, he found himself unable to remember where up was, where down was.
Unaware of where he was, unaware of where he stood, Huangfu Yi realized he was already in a place without light, without sound, in endless darkness.
No hint of Refining, no hint of wind, the only thing he could hear was his heavy heartbeat, the only thing he could see was the corner illuminated by the candlelight.
In that flickering candle flame, pale hands reached into the depths of darkness, like a drowning man grabbing at that faint glimmer of despair.
But there was nothing ahead.
Empty and silent, only the youth stood alone in the empty field, not moving forward for a long time.
Huangfu Yi was afraid.
Of course, he would be afraid, he was just human after all.
Why is it so dark
Why is it so quiet
Why is there no one else
Why, why, why does he have to come down alone, why, why, why must he do this, why, why, why must it be him to die, why, why, why must he die alone here...
"Hoo"
Then the candlelight went out.
The endless darkness descended like a curtain, like a thousand-pound gate falling, severing the last nerve.
"Ah... ah... Nine Heavens Profound Lady True Inheritance! Nine Luminaries Nine Luminaries Sword Pavilion Master! Sword Sect Leader! Supreme Infinite Sword Master! True Lord of the Mysterious Heaven!!"
Huangfu Yi crazily swung his rod and shouted, wildly thrashing at the void.
"True Lord of the Mysterious Heaven!! True Lord of the Mysterious Heaven!! Xuantian!! Xuantian!! Ruyi!! Ruyi!!
Come out!! You, come out for me! You, come out for me! You, come out—"
Then Huangfu Yi suddenly froze.
In front of him, there was someone
Though unseen
Though unheard
But someone had his back to him, standing in the darkness.
Because the black of the shadow and the black of the void are not the same color.
"Who’s there?"
Huangfu Yi reached out his hand, trying to touch that bottomless darkness.
"Hoo"
At that moment, the candle light shone again.
On the pale hand, there were only five fingers left.
And as the flickering candle light brightened, Huangfu Yi finally saw.
Right in front of him, within arm’s distance, there was a young man standing with his back to him.
Wearing a green robe, black hair draping his shoulders, straight as a sword.
"Xuan... tian?"
Then the person turned around.
Then Huangfu Yi saw.
His face.
Then the candlelight went out.
Then Huangfu Yi opened his eyes, found himself standing in front of the stone chamber, left hand clutching the candlestick...
Only four fingers left, and the fifth finger wasn’t melted but had a smooth, mirror-like wound, as if severed by a sword.
"Oh, you came back."
Then the old man facing the wall spoke with a pleased voice, slowly turning around,
"Now we can talk."
"Ah—!"
Huangfu Yi jolted as if shocked, releasing his grip, roaring wildly, leaping several yards away from the candlestick, keeping his gaze fixed on the old man, frantic desperation in his pupils, tears of blood flowing, the former solitary brave man was gone, leaving only a frightened cat, overwhelmed by immense fear.
But the old man was unperturbed, smiling benignly, brushing aside the white hair on his forehead, revealing an ordinary, human face.
"Yes, look closely, a human face.
So what did you see? Tell me? Is it matter, or non-matter."
Huangfu Yi stared at his face, trembling, unable to utter a word.
But the old man had already seen through his eyes, through the sword scars remaining in his pupils.
Non-matter
Non-human
Is Taiji
Half is Yin
Half is Yang
Endless and unceasing cycle
Karma, indescribable myriad phenomena
"Hmm, truly ascended..."