Chapter 774

Chapter 774: Changes in Mindset

Ye Yun believed that more life experiences were always better. Even with life-and-death risks involved, these trials allowed him to improve himself to the greatest extent. Compared to tedious cultivation, he preferred teetering on the edge of death, as this method carved deeper into his heart.

His demonic side undoubtedly reveled in this approach—burning his blood repeatedly at its peak to unlock his utmost potential. Though this path offered rapid growth, Ye Yun felt uneasy about such extreme methods. Until he reached the Heavenly Immortal realm, this demonic influence would remain a lingering concern.

Though confident his current foundation could break through to the Earth Immortal realm, he continued pushing himself. The Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique proved exceptionally challenging, requiring perfect balance between physical strength and true spiritual power. Enhancing his physical body naturally expanded his spiritual capacity, like pouring a cup of water into a vat. Without deliberate suppression, this growth would stretch endlessly.

The technique’s ultimate goal was to keep him at his peak during every cultivation stage, leaving no potential untapped. Only then could he achieve its intended effect, propelling himself to his limits. In his current state, leaping through realms in battle became as effortless as snapping his fingers.

Yet to fully inherit Xuelian’s Heavenly Immortal legacy, he needed to reach the Earth Immortal realm. Moreover, having grasped the essence of the sword of cause and effect, he could recreate the might of the Slash Immortals even without their full inheritance.

This left him conflicted. His Sword Path was gradually taking form, and the dying wish of the Zhanxian Heavenly Immortal weighed on him—to see this path flourish. Though he’d forged his own way, he couldn’t disregard an immortal who’d sacrificed himself for humanity.

When teaching the Killing Immortal Classic to Qian Ying and her sister, he felt his inner pressure lessen. Perhaps this stemmed from inheriting Blood Qi Heavenly Immortal’s lingering sentiments, as the latter had aided him greatly. Besides, Shui Yingying and Shui Lingling’s Divine Arts rivaled the Killing Immortal Classic, making switching techniques unnecessary.

Abandoning one’s cultivation was only feasible when the foundation remained weak. Shattering a formed dantian inflicted agony akin to death—most couldn’t endure it, and survivors became broken shells. Ye Yun saw no threat from such individuals, dismissing them as no different from corpses. His past arrogance had blinded him to their worth.

Looking back, he realized those spared by his blade had all proven useful in his path of cultivation. Like whetstones sharpening a sword, these trials honed his nascent path. Thus, he now welcomed encounters with so-called extraordinary geniuses.

Failure was unacceptable—it meant becoming a stray dog. Only endless victories could build his ladder to the Heavenly Immortal realm. Total triumph over all foes would bring final ascension. This was the Heavenly Immortal path he envisioned.

He once asked the Ancestor about the Heavenly Immortal realm’s nature and why none existed on Lingyao Continent. Were they all dead from the Battle of Immortals and Demons, or still recovering? The answer eluded him.

With demons reappearing in the human realm, another invasion seemed imminent. The strongest races of the Three Realms would clash at the Demon Realm’s final gateway. Even humanity’s efforts might prove futile—hence the rapid openings of the Xumi Treasure (training Nascent Soul stage cultivators) and the Celestial-Demon battlefield (guiding Earth Immortals toward Heavenly Immortal realm).

Heavenly Immortal inheritance became the ultimate treasure for Earth Immortals, surpassing even supreme Immortal artifacts and pills. Yet watching Qing Li’s innocent joy, Ye Yun kept his guard up against the Devil Race. Out of compassion, he hid his hostility, unwilling to burden her young heart with the world’s cruelties.

Such suffering was his alone to bear. Adding another would taint his pure-hearted nature with soul-crushing loneliness, risking loss on the arduous cultivation path.

“When will my path end? Has fate already set my limits, like characters in a book?” Ye Yun’s heart grew heavy. Once a firm believer in defying heaven, his understanding of the sword of cause and effect now hinted at destiny’s existence—a celestial will he’d alternately relied on and rejected. Surviving each crisis left him grateful, though much credit lay with the Ancestor’s protection. This safety had cost him growth opportunities.

“Dwelling on the past breeds self-contempt.” Shaking off his thoughts, Ye Yun’s eyes flickered with icy detachment beneath his warm smile—a hidden coldness unnoticed by most.

“Troublesome,” the Ancestor mused, observing Ye Yun’s stalled breakthrough. Mo Wenxian had passed this mental trial, but Ye Yun’s pure-hearted nature now bore a flaw. “Cleansing this stain is tedious, but leaving him unaided now would be shameful.”

Delaying intervention, the Ancestor withdrew into Ye Yun’s mind.

“Qing Li, we depart.” Ye Yun called softly, noting Mo Tianxiao’s impatience as the succubus girl hopped playfully on air currents.

“Ah!” Qing Li blushed, bowing her head. “Forgive my negligence, Master.”

“No harm done. Next time, I’ll let you enjoy longer.” Ye Yun chuckled awkwardly. “In Lingxiao City, I’ll buy you jewelry—human girls your age adore such trinkets.”

“Sparkly things from the stone tablets?” Her eyes lit up.

Mo Tianxiao laughed. “Brother Ye, your succubus amuses me! I’d have dominated her without coddling.” He saw demons as mere tools, baffled by Ye Yun’s respect for Qing Li. Assuming hidden control methods, he shrugged and flew ahead as a blazing streak.

Ye Yun activated spatial laws, understanding Mo Tianxiao’s unspoken warning. Despite Qing Li’s youth, he never dropped his guard. Protecting her was duty—the Succubus Clan had been exterminated by their Demon King due to his actions.

Teleporting, he softened the spatial pressure on Qing Li, noting her fearful pink eyes. Even his pure-hearted nature couldn’t erase innate distrust of demons.

Catching up, Mo Tianxiao feigned surprise. Annoyed by Ye Yun’s equal treatment of a demon, he’d flown ahead but held no real resentment—Ye Yun’s aid in Nine Demons Burning outweighed minor grievances.

Without a Great Sky Teleportation Array, they flew onward until finding a city like Red City.

“We’ve crossed a thousand miles,” Mo Tianxiao sighed as sunset tinged the sky. “My true qi lasts but tens of thousands more. You’ve used spatial laws constantly—how fare you?”

“Barely keeping pace. When you exhaust your qi, we’ll rest and recover.” Ye Yun smiled. “I’ll stand guard.”

“With Brother Ye watching, I’ll rest easy!” Laughing, Mo Tianxiao transformed into a comet streaking across the heavens.