Chapter 797

Chapter 797: Thoughts of Mortals

"What… what should I do?" The Thin Girl gritted her teeth as she watched Ye Yun’s gentle smile fade into cold indifference. She swung the stone dagger she’d painstakingly sharpened toward the sleeping youth again, killing him. Staring at the Black Sword Ring now on her hand, she finally allowed herself a relieved smile.

"You won’t hate me for this in the future?" Ye Yun asked calmly, observing her expression.

"Never! You’ve granted me cultivation methods, a kindness greater than heaven itself. It’s like you’ve reshaped my entire life. From now on, I’ll regard you as my blood father. Please accept me!" Hua Yi knelt, slamming her forehead against the earth until blood stained her dry hair. When she lifted her head, madness flickered in her eyes as she gazed at Ye Yun.

"Humanity’s despair comes not just from fools, but from those like her." Ye Yun sighed, wiping blood from the girl’s cheek. Noticing her trembling body, he vanished without another word.

When Hua Yi looked around again, she stood exactly where she’d been before. The Two Girls still teased the youth practicing swordplay nearby. Terrified, she reached out to touch her sisters. Seeing their puzzled looks, she forced herself to dismiss everything as a fleeting dream—one she’d never acknowledge, no matter how bitterly it lingered.

*I must’ve met an immortal. Only they could do such things. My choice was wrong… but even if given another chance, I’d do the same.*

"Little sister, staring at him again?" The Two Girls giggled. Hua Yi summoned a springlike smile. "No! I just wondered what you two see in him."

"His sword skills! So impressive!" Zi Yi laughed, then nudged Hua Yi. "What about Qing Yi? She’s smarter than us—what does she think?"

"There’s only one boy in the village! Should we chase grandpas instead?" They burst into laughter until noticing Hua Yi’s tearful stare. "Little sister, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing… just a bad dream. I feared you’d leave me." Hua Yi wiped her eyes with a hollow smile.

"Impossible! We swore to stay together forever!" Zi Yi patted her back playfully. "But what’ll happen when you marry someday?"

Hua Yi smiled gently, rejoining their banter. She buried the memory like an unacknowledged nightmare.

*

"Was illusion magic necessary for that little girl?" The Ancestor grumbled as Ye Yun walked through the forest. "And draining your mental energy like that—can your body handle it?"

Ye Yun shrugged. "They’ll forget this. That girl’s already laughing with her sisters—such nature breeds future ruthlessness."

"Yet we cling to hope. Besides, my illusions are crude. The true power lies in City of Oblivion’s deception." Ye Yun glanced at the Black Ancient City spinning in his Storage Treasure.

"You’ve become reckless since regaining your true self," the Ancestor muttered. "Your mental energy remains unstable."

"It’s a trivial cost." Ye Yun chuckled. "I know my limits."

"What next? The Thunder Spirit needs more than just the Immortal Dao Stone."

"Let the Immortal Dao Sect handle the rest. As their Invited Elder who helped seal the Demon Race, their sect leader and Grand Elder’s approval suffices."

"Then to Red City’s Great Sky Teleportation Array. How quickly can you reach it?"

"Less than an incense stick’s burn time at minimum effort." Ye Yun smiled faintly. "Faster, if pushed."

"Monstrous," the Ancestor snorted. Though Ye Yun had slain an Eighth Level Earth Immortal Great Demon King using only extreme cold power, his dissatisfaction with his current strength was palpable.

*

As lightning streaked across the sky, Ye Yun glanced down at another village. *Their greed disappointed me once. Why bother?* His thoughts churned. *This foolishness… perhaps my true self’s influence.*

He recalled his past kindness with wry amusement. His pure-hearted nature now embarrassed him—he was no villain, but certainly no saint.

*Why do they choose weakness?* He watched mortals below live aimlessly. *Knowing cultivators exist, why not strive higher? Age? Resources? Weaklings’ excuses.*

True respect belonged only to experts. Friendship meant nothing without strength. Survival demanded betrayal—a truth all knew yet ignored.

The Thin Girl’s choice to kill her sisters for power had betrayed her trembling heart. Ye Yun understood her resentment, her desperation to escape mediocrity. Yet it disgusted him.

*Is this hatred for complacent mortals… or myself?* Confusion gripped him. Even his true self couldn’t reconcile his pure-hearted nature with his demonic side.

Powerlessness weighed heavy. Had recent Spiritual Shock weakened his resolve? Or was this the cost of reclaiming his true self?

He accelerated, Red City’s silhouette piercing the horizon. Answers lay ahead—or perhaps more questions.