Chapter 296: Perhaps, You Should Wake Up
Chen An remained silent. He stood in place, watching the man’s retreating back. The young man frowned, lost in thought.
Mu Sanniang tugged on his palm. “What’s wrong?”
After a moment of consideration, Chen An said, “That person who just left should be the second disciple of Shang Xuan Peak, Feng Xiang Song, as the legends say.”
“He’s rumored to be an extraordinary individual. Ever since he entered the Foundation Establishment realm, he’s been constantly tempering his sword intent and practicing sword techniques in the Nether Prison, feeding his sword intent with all sorts of ferocious demonic beasts.”
“Furthermore, he stays in the Nether Prison for two to three months at a time, making him a legendary figure within the Inner Sect. Disciples of Shang Xuan Peak often use him as a benchmark.”
Mu Sanniang listened quietly, then let out a soft “Oh.”
She suddenly stated, “I don’t like him.”
Chen An was taken aback. He explained, “Actually, Senior Brother Feng has a decent reputation in the Inner Sect. It’s just that he’s not one to beat around the bush, and his words can be quite hurtful. There shouldn’t be any major issues with his character.”
He added, “People from Shang Xuan Peak are like this. You’ll get used to it.”
Mu Sanniang still shook her head, “It’s not because of that.”
“Then why?” Chen An asked, a little puzzled.
The girl looked up, her gaze fixed on him, and said seriously, word by word, “Besides my younger brother, I don’t like anyone else.”
This sudden, direct statement stunned the young man. He coughed a couple of times, his eyes darting away.
Mu Sanniang’s eyes curved upwards, clearly in a good mood. She stepped forward and hugged the young man, whispering, “Then I’m leaving.”
Hearing this, Chen An snapped back to attention and quickly grabbed her hand. Seeing Mu Sanniang look at him, he said, “Wait a moment, Sister.”
Then, Chen An began to pull items from his storage bag. As he pulled them out, he mumbled, “This is the Wind-Settling Bamboo Slip. Its activation method is the same as the life tablet, just infuse a wisp of spiritual energy. In critical moments, it can help you immobilize enemies…”
“This is the Hundred Refinements Glazed Mirror. Wear it on your chest, and it can block a full-powered attack from a Foundation Establishment cultivator…”
“This is the Spirit-Nourishing Jade Banner, which can accelerate spiritual energy regeneration…”
“These are the Evil-Repelling Glazed Socks, which can… uh, my apologies, I grabbed the wrong item.”
And so on. After pulling out over a dozen magic treasures, the young man still seemed unsatisfied. Due to Mu Sanniang’s Qi Refining cultivation, Chen An had to regretfully put away many more powerful magic treasures. This was the confidence that came from being the Sect Master’s personal disciple.
Lost in these thoughts, he instinctively reached for more, but his quick reflexes made him put them back immediately, only catching a fleeting glimpse of a bright red color. Seeing that the girl didn’t react, Chen An breathed a sigh of relief. After all, he had been keeping the matter concerning Jiang Qiuchi from his sister, not explicitly mentioning it. He could vaguely sense Mu Sanniang’s intense possessiveness towards him. He knew that if he told her everything, Mu Sanniang would likely storm out that very night to confront the person.
However, considering the vast difference in realms between Jiang Qiuchi and Mu Sanniang, Chen An felt his sister’s chances would be grim. In fact, a significant reason he hadn’t shown more forceful resistance was also because of Mu Sanniang. Jiang Qiuchi’s style was always a blend of righteousness and wickedness. If he had stubbornly refused, he would never have been able to put Mu Sanniang’s mind at ease. Of course, he lacked the ability to refuse anyway.
After accepting all the magic treasures given by her younger brother, Mu Sanniang took a step back, releasing the hand she had been holding all along. She looked up towards the dark, deep abyss. Bone-chilling coldness emanated from it in waves. Mu Sanniang took out the life tablet she had prepared earlier and, without hesitation, poured spiritual energy into it.
The teleportation formation within the life tablet was quickly activated, engulfing the girl’s figure bit by bit. The life tablets were a pair, with one kept in the hall and the other carried by the disciple. It was equivalent to a pass to the Nether Prison, and also a form of protection provided by the Tai Xuan Sect for its disciples. If something unexpected were to happen, and a disciple died in the Nether Prison, the sect could quickly pinpoint the location of the incident through the life tablet.
Soon, the girl’s figure completely vanished. The cave entrance, symbolizing the Nether Prison, returned to silence. Everything around was quiet. There were no plants or animals on the surface, only a solitary cave entrance, exuding desolation and deathly silence. Considering such a desolate atmosphere, it was no wonder few people were willing to come here. Ultimately, although the Tai Xuan Sect designated it as a trial ground, it was still a genuine prison. It even held imprisoned fiends who could cause bloodshed if released.
A gentle breeze stirred, lifting a bit of fine sand and depositing it on the young man’s plain robes. Chen An stood motionless, maintaining his original posture for a long time. He kept his head slightly bowed, making it impossible to discern his expression. It wasn’t until dusk approached and darkness enveloped the land that the young man slowly turned and began to walk.
Along the way, under a sky dotted with sparse stars, only a few figures could be seen. Shang Xuan Peak in the night appeared even more tranquil. The evening breeze carried a refreshing coolness, causing Chen An to tighten the collar of his robes. He knew this chill was due to his proximity to the Nether Prison. He couldn’t help but wonder what the true Nether Prison would be like.
As Chen An pondered these things, his thoughts turned to the girl’s frail figure, and his mood became somewhat dejected. His initial thought was to enter the Nether Prison with Mu Sanniang. Although they would be separated by the teleportation formation, they would still have a chance to reunite within the Nether Prison. However, Mu Sanniang disagreed. The girl’s stance was firm, leaving Chen An feeling helpless.
Perhaps he could disregard her wishes and force his way in. But as Mu Sanniang herself had said, would constantly living in her younger brother’s shadow truly be effective? Chen An couldn’t answer this question. The moonlight cast the young man’s shadow long before him. Perhaps there was another reason, known only to himself, why he chose to let Mu Sanniang enter the Nether Prison alone. This was Mu Sanniang’s destiny. It was unavoidable. Just like two years ago, when the girl descended the mountain alone and killed twenty-seven demonic beasts.
Summoning his flying sword, Chen An leaped into the air and flew towards Tianxuan Peak. He suppressed his negative emotions, trying to comfort himself. It was just a short separation. It was only seven days, and it was possible Mu Sanniang wouldn’t even last seven days in the Nether Prison before being teleported out early. Moreover, for cultivators like them who pursued longevity, a mere few days was hardly a separation. Perhaps it was only the unending wait from his first life as a mortal that caused Chen An to feel these unnecessary emotions.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in his mind. “Are you worried about her?”
The system’s sudden reappearance didn’t cause much change in the young man’s expression. He didn’t reply, merely continuing his sword flight. After a moment, the system spoke again. “Perhaps, you should wake up.”
(End of this chapter)
