Chapter 77: Outside Lumen City Lies the Deer Platform (15)
This stone chamber wasn’t a sealed-off room with no way out. Dressed in a strange imperial robe, Bo Yan pushed open the stone wall in front of him. Behind it lay a secluded path, lit on both sides by glowing white light from mermaid candles that never extinguished.
The Soul Abyss wasn’t empty. As soon as Bo Yan stepped out of the stone chamber, a group of attendants was already waiting to serve him. These cultivators were all at least at the Dao stage, yet none dared to speak. Even their breathing was careful and suppressed. It was even quieter outside the chamber than within.
The passage was an underground corridor. Bo Yan casually picked up an oil lamp handed to him and began walking upward.
His voice was hoarse as he asked offhandedly, “What’s the situation now?”
The closest attendant kept his head lowered and replied in a tone that was neither too loud nor too soft, “Daoist Changping died at the Eastern Sea while guarding the demonic realm’s formation core. In the Shattered Stone Mortal Realm, traces of demonic activity were discovered by Cuiwei Palace. To eliminate any future threats, Fairy Hongtao destroyed the entire realm. From now on, the Shattered Stone Mortal Realm no longer exists. Due to the severe killing involved, and to quell condemnation from the righteous path, Cuiwei Palace has sent her to the Cave of Ten Thousand Demon to atone for a thousand years.”
“And, over a mere bottle of Snow Abyss Ice, Tianqing Sect was driven into desperation and once again clashed with the Xu family. The Xu family had long resented Tianqing Sect for seizing their territory. Three nights ago, they launched a surprise attack in the middle of the night, intending to drive Tianqing Sect back to the Middle Realm. But Tianqing Sect gained the upper hand and caused heavy casualties.”
The attendant added respectfully, “Just yesterday, after He Shan killed the old patriarch of the Xu family, the new patriarch no longer dared to provoke Tianqing Sect. Avoiding further conflict, he announced that he would leave for the Eastern Sea today. By now, he should already be on his way.”
None of the attendants behind Bo Yan dared to even glance at his expression. They waited for a long time but heard no comment from him—no approval or disapproval.
All of them were worried, and the one who had spoken was especially afraid that he had said something wrong without realizing it. Had he not known that their Lord hated pleas and crying, he would have already dropped to his knees with a loud thud, begging for mercy.
But Bo Yan had only asked the question casually. Having lost his memory, he was still in a state of confusion. Naturally, he had little interest in the attendant’s report and didn’t react at all.
He continued walking through the stone passage, listening to the echo of his footsteps in the quiet corridor. The deeper he went, the colder his heart became.
Bo Yan couldn’t understand why he had to become this “Yan Yi,” or why he didn’t want to be the “Bo Yan” he was now. What purpose had he had before losing his memory that made him want to capture Bai Chunsheng?
These things were clearly at odds with the memories he had now—yet reality offered no room for denial.
Wasn’t he and Bai Chunsheng Dao companions?
Back in the ruins of Mount Changliu, Bai Chunsheng’s reaction had clearly shown that he loved him. So why had he lied to him?
—When they were escaping, that heartless thing had left him behind without hesitation.
If he wanted answers, it seemed Bai Chunsheng was the only one who could give them.
No one else could truly answer Bo Yan.
They walked in silence for a long stretch before the nervous attendants dared to finally breathe easier.
Outside the stone passage was the largest inner palace in the Soul Abyss—Water Abyss Realm. Even in the pitch-black depths of the abyss, the central Yaoyue Pavilion was as brightly lit as eternal daylight. From afar, the sides of the stone path were bordered by thick, black abyssal water. At the end of the path was the inner palace—the Yaoyue Pavilion.
As they approached Yaoyue Pavilion, the Lord suddenly asked, “The words ‘Yan,’ ‘Yi,’ and ‘sword cultivator’—what do they bring to mind?”
Without hesitation, the attendant replied, “Naturally, Yan Family’s Sword Sovereign Yan Jingqiu. He was the most brilliant sword cultivator in all of history. For thousands of years after his death, there may never be another Little Immortal Lord like him. In this current age, only that Sword Sovereign dares call himself number one, and no one disputes it.”
“Is that so?” Bo Yan’s voice sounded like it came from a great distance.
Hearing the Lord’s ambiguous tone, the attendant thought Bo Yan was about to praise the Sword Sovereign and boldly added, “In recent months, a young sword cultivator of exceptional talent has emerged in the Ancient Forest Spirit Realm. Some even started calling him ‘Xiao Yan,’ hoping to crown him as the second Sword Sovereign. What a joke. How could the Little Immortal Lord’s talent be matched by mere mortals?”
Bo Yan said nothing for a long time.
He suddenly remembered how Bai Chunsheng had often said that he looked remarkably like that Yan Family Sword Sovereign.
Author’s Note:
Bo Yan remained silent for a long time.
Bo Yan could not find the words.
Yan Jingqiu had painfully become his own’s substitute.
Meanwhile, Bai Chunsheng: glug glug glug—was still underwater, ears perked up, eavesdropping.
Why was there no more noise up there?
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
