Chapter 98: Heart Like Still Water!

At the foot of Nine Heavens Peak, all was silent.

Ye Yuan had been standing on the fifth step for two hours, yet it had taken him only one hour to conquer the first three hundred and thirty-three steps!

The students watched the figure on the mountainside, their emotions shifting from initial surprise, to excitement, to disappointment, and finally to sighs of regret.

The fervor had plummeted from its peak to freezing point.

Ye Yuan's method of tackling the trial gave everyone the feeling of a strong start followed by a weak finish.

The beginning was too fast, but failure struck right at the start of the second stage—the contrast was too great.

By now, no one believed Ye Yuan could pass; their confidence had faded with the passing time.

He had already stood on one step for two hours, and there were still three hundred and twenty-eight steps ahead!

How could he possibly get through?

"Hmph, playing tricks! He must have used some underhanded method earlier to succeed so smoothly!" Su Yubai snorted coldly.

"Based on past experience, the second stage of the Nine Heavens Path is most likely an endless illusion. Moreover, as the steps rise, the illusions become more terrifying, eventually trapping one beyond escape. Ye Yuan is already so deeply immersed on the fifth step; it seems hopeless." Zhang Songtao spoke up, a rare occurrence.

Hu Changsheng looked at Ye Yuan with a grave expression.

Didn't he know what Zhang Songtao said? After years of exploration, although the specifics of the Nine Heavens Path remained uncertain, much could be inferred from the students' behavior.

Undoubtedly, the content of the second stage was the easiest to determine.

Because almost all students who survived this stage emerged delirious, clearly having lost their minds in the illusions.

Moreover, in the second stage, the earlier one fell into the illusion, the more dangerous it was.

This illusion could continuously evolve, becoming more real and harder to escape as it progressed.

Basically, someone like Ye Yuan, who fell so early, had almost no chance of breaking free.

"What a pity. A supreme genius who could have shone brilliantly, yet he falls here."

"Ye Yuan is a genius, but someone like him is destined not to go far, because he is too sharp."

"Yes, what is too hard is easily broken. Ye Yuan didn't know how to bide his time; he challenged the academy's rules and ended up like this. For him, Lin Tiancheng was destined to be a nobody; he could have killed him in a thousand ways later, why rush?"

"Let's go, let's go. Ye Yuan is beyond saving; he won't wake up."

Many had lost patience and confidence, drifting away in twos and threes.

...

In the illusion, Ye Yuan saw Ji Canglan again!

"Haha, junior brother, you've finally come out of seclusion! I've been waiting for so long! These days, more and more guests have arrived, and I'm almost overwhelmed. If you didn't come out, I'd have to resign to Master." Seeing Ye Yuan, Ji Canglan laughed heartily.

Ye Yuan's mind was somewhat unsettled. Seeing this great enemy again, even in an illusion, he could not maintain inner peace.

Ye Yuan had a way to break the illusion, but he did not do so.

Nor did he try to change the illusion's course and fight Ji Canglan to the death, because that was meaningless.

He intended to use this illusion to elevate his state of mind!

The state of mind is intangible and seemingly useless for cultivation; few martial artists pay it any heed.

Yet Ye Yuan knew that the state of mind greatly benefited a martial artist's future path, even determining their potential and limits to some extent!

For a martial artist, a strong state of mind was like adding wings to a tiger!

If two martial artists of identical realm and strength fought, the one with the higher state of mind would surely win!

For Ye Yuan, even a sliver of increased strength was precious.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, senior brother." Ye Yuan forcibly suppressed his murderous intent and spoke apologetically.

"When did we brothers become so distant? I was just joking, junior brother, don't mind it. I know you pursue the Dao of alchemy and dislike mundane affairs; I'll handle as much as I can. But this grand meeting is very important to the Medicine King Hall, so I had no choice but to ask you to come out."

Ji Canglan's face was full of sincerity, without a trace of pretense; no one could see his wolfish ambition.

Ye Yuan also smiled and said, "It is only right to share your burden, senior brother."

In the following days, Ye Yuan followed Ji Canglan, busying himself with the affairs of the Pill Appreciation Assembly.

Even though these were things he had once hated most, Ye Yuan performed them meticulously, as if fully immersed in the illusion, taking on the role.

After all, he was just being himself—this posed no difficulty for Ye Yuan.

The Pill Appreciation Assembly proceeded as scheduled, and Ji Canglan finally bared his fangs.

Having drunk poison that temporarily nullified their power at the assembly, Ji Zhengyang and Ji Qingyun were now lambs to the slaughter.

"Master, don't blame your disciple for being ruthless; I had no choice." Ji Canglan pointed his sword at Ji Zhengyang.

Ji Zhengyang's heart was like dead ashes; he closed his eyes and said, "Since it has come to this, words are useless. I only hope you will spare Yun'er's life."

Ji Canglan gave an evil smile upon hearing this: "Sorry, Master, I'm afraid I cannot fulfill your dying wish. If you don't root out the weeds, they will grow again when the spring wind blows. I don't want to leave such a potential enemy. Junior Brother Yun's talent is astonishing; given the chance, he might threaten me in a few decades."

With that, Ji Canglan swung his longsword, sending a sword aura straight at Ye Yuan.

At that moment, Ji Zhengyang's body moved; he blocked the sword aura for Ye Yuan!

Without Yuan power to protect him, Ji Zhengyang's body was instantly shattered by the sword aura!

At the same time, Ji Zhengyang's soul force erupted violently, sweeping toward Ji Canglan!

Seeing this, Ji Canglan roared, "You old fool, you're burning your soul! Do you want to be annihilated?"

"Boom!"

A fierce collision occurred; Ji Zhengyang's soul dissipated completely, while Ji Canglan spat out a mouthful of blood, clearly injured.

Ye Yuan watched this scene coldly, without excitement or indignation, not even a trace of emotion.

Reliving this unforgettable moment again was like reopening a scar on his heart; the spiritual pain was beyond ordinary comprehension.

And at this point, the illusion was extremely dangerous! If he couldn't hold on, Ye Yuan's future...

Ji Canglan, sword in hand and clutching his chest, walked step by step toward Ye Yuan.

"Junior Brother Yun, don't blame me. I had no choice. Take your journey well..." Ji Canglan said as he walked.

Ye Yuan looked at Ji Canglan and suddenly smiled faintly.

Ye Yuan sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes, as if completely giving up resistance.

However, as Ji Canglan approached, Ye Yuan's aura gradually became faint, until finally it was completely imperceptible, as if he were dead.

A sword strike came, and the whole world gradually grew thin.

Faint, faint...

Finally, it dissipated...

...

Ye Yuan slowly opened his eyes, feeling the real world, and murmured to himself, "So this is heart like still water..."