Chapter 658: Chapter 317: Sword Cultivator Xiang Yuntian_2
"I know."
"All your fellow disciples are dead, turned into flower fertilizer."
"I know."
Yuan Province said, "I know you have resolved to die, haven’t you?"
"But in truth, death is not the best choice in this world."
"My master, Leng Rufeng, was once a member of the Dao Sect, but now he is an elder of Purple Cloud Mountain. He appreciates you greatly and is willing to offer you a chance."
Su Yebai retorted coldly, "Don’t even think about it..."
"There’s no need to keep up this act."
Yuan Province sneered, "Now that your master, brother disciples, and all your fellow sect members are gone, leaving only you in the Spirit Realm as a member of the Dao Sect, who are you trying to impress?"
"There’s no one left but you. Should you go to martyrdom, who will know? Who will celebrate your death? If you join Purple Cloud Mountain, who would know? Who would dare blame you?"
"Think carefully, think wisely."
"Rest assured, even if you do not agree, we will not kill you. Have you heard of the Black Abyss of Eleven Days? We will throw you into it tied up; you will not die quickly, but suffer centuries of immobility and loneliness, perishing in isolation and despair..."
"I believe Daoist Sect Leader Su is a wise man."
With a gesture of his hand, someone stepped forward and escorted Su Yebai away.
...
That night, Su Yebai could not sleep.
After experiencing great upheavals, he believed he had long steeled his resolve to die.
Indeed, when he was captured along with Taiqingzi, Song Qingsong, and others, he showed no weakness.
But now, only he remained.
Suddenly, his heart was engulfed in confusion.
As Yuan Province had said, whatever he did now seemed meaningless. The Dao Sect was no more, all his fellow members were gone, whether he persisted or gave up, no one would know.
As deep night approached, a stunning Li Ji entered carrying a jade basin, kneeling to wash his feet. The warm Spirit Liquid eased the tension in his body accumulated over days, and his spirit seemed to relax.
At that moment, Su Yebai suddenly felt that everything in this world seemed so beautiful.
So worthy of longing.
"No..."
He let out a pained howl and suddenly threw Li Ji onto the bed, raging, and weeping bitterly...
...
"Master, these people are tough, will this tactic work on him?"
Amidst the ruins of Celestial Dao Peak’s old site, Yuan Province stood respectfully behind a purple-robed Taoist, asking doubtfully.
For three years, he had tried every method, from coercion to torture, but had had no success at all.
He had offered future prospects, Immortal Elixirs, Anomalous Qi, all the best things; could a mere few words and a beautiful woman truly be enough to sway Daoist Sect Leader Su Yebai?
The purple-robed Taoist gazed at the ruins of the Dao Sect, sighing silently before he finally spoke, "When there are still plenty of comrades in this world, persistence is easy."
"People find strength in groups, gaining spiritual power and support from others, but in solitude, it’s easy to become weak."
"Do you know how I joined Purple Cloud Mountain back then?"
Yuan Province bowed his head, not daring to speak.
He knew that these past events were a sensitive topic for his master, Leng Rufeng, untouchable, dangerous to even mention.
However, Leng Rufeng now seemed unbothered by bringing it up, speaking calmly, "That year, I ascended with many immortals from the Dao Sect to the Immortal Realm, resolved to die in battle against strange forces."
"Sadly, I did not die, but everyone else did!"
"I thought I was the only one left in the Immortal Realm, looking back at the Thirty-Three Heavens, now ruins, the Immortal Palace fallen, Daluo gone... do you know the kind of loneliness and fear I felt?"
"Such loneliness and fear can dispel all moral shackles, break all the spines of heroes!"
Yuan Province replied, "Disciple understands!"
Then he added, "Master, failing to obtain the treasure of the Dao Sect affected your cultivation, this disciple deserves to die a thousand deaths, please forgive me..."
Leng Rufeng replied, "I don’t blame you. After all, even I don’t know what the Dao Sect’s treasure is. I only heard from a Daluo that acquiring the foundational treasure could fend off all strange calamities. If we can’t find it, then we’ll think of something else."
"Su Yebai might know about the whereabouts of some of the Transboundary Ships. Investigate thoroughly, and perhaps we can uncover the nests of those Immortal Rejuvenators!"
Yuan Province said, "Disciple understands. Tomorrow I will go find him and inquire about this matter..."
"No."
Leng Rufeng shook his head, "Wait a few more days, let Su Yebai wallow for a while longer. He needs a process to thoroughly overcome himself. If you ask tomorrow, it might lead to inner conflict and struggle."
Yuan Province kept silent, but in his heart, he wondered if his master had personally experienced these matters, hence knowing them so well.
...
Two months later.
Li An suddenly received news.
Daoist Sect Leader Su Yebai formally joined Purple Cloud Mountain.
This left him in a daze.
He thought all the heroes of the Dao Sect were dead.
He suddenly understood why Purple Cloud Mountain had abandoned Taiqingzi, because they had set their sights on Su Yebai.
Had Su Yebai genuinely surrendered, or was it a temporary ruse, like Daoist Immortal Ying Ruyun, infiltrating Purple Cloud Mountain awaiting a change in circumstances?
