Volume II: The Manifestation of the Nine Provinces, Entering the Lingxu Mountains Chapter 158: Better to Guide Than to Block

Lost in a maze of chaotic thoughts, Chen Yu experienced an increasingly turbulent mind. His facial features twisted into a grimace, resembling someone undergoing agonizing torment.

His heart was in absolute turmoil. Illusions ran rampant in his mind, and his very consciousness felt on the verge of being submerged. He fought desperately to fend them off with the Hundredfold Heart-Refining Technique, yet those demonic illusions crashed against him like gigantic waves, one after another.

Within the depths of his mind, Chen Yu seemed to witness his own future.

He saw himself accomplishing nothing, eventually aging and dying in obscurity. Then, the vision shifted to a war-torn world where he witnessed the humiliation suffered by his imperial father, his mother, and his younger sister. He saw the lifeless corpses of Jing Zhi and Xue Han. He saw the vengeful specters of Zhu Gui and the others demanding his life. He beheld the scorn and spit of Xue Ren and his associates... A vast, overwhelming tide of negative emotions surged over him from all directions.

Deep within his heart, Chen Yu continuously warned himself, shouting internally: Hold the line... Hold the line...

Drowning in that ocean of negativity, Chen Yu was steadily eroded, sustained only by a final shred of sanity.

"What can I do? If I fail to break through this barrier of delusion, I will go mad sooner rather than later," Chen Yu cried out in his heart with bitter reluctance.

He had no idea how much time had passed. Ultimately, slaughter became the sole theme within Chen Yu's mind. He went on a frantic killing spree against the illusions in his head, watching one familiar figure after another perish beneath his sword. Yet the very next moment, they would revive, lunging at him like malevolent ghosts. Moreover, their power had grown even greater.

Consequently, Chen Yu had no choice but to resist with even greater ferocity. He wanted to escape, to break free from this realm of illusions. What he failed to realize, however, was that amidst this endless slaughter, his inner demonic nature grew stronger as well. That final scrap of sanity was on the brink of total collapse and abandonment.

"Is this truly the only ending left for me?" Chen Yu sighed helplessly in his heart. Looking at his parents and brothers baring their fangs and brandishing claws at him, he felt no pain, only resignation. "Perhaps ending it all like this isn't so bad after all."

His demonic nature lunged toward his soul consciousness, tearing at his very spirit. Yet Chen Yu offered no counterattack, as though he had grown entirely weary of resisting.

A searing pain spread outward from his mind, engulfing his entire body. His physical form trembled, with only the Hundredfold Heart-Refining Technique operating autonomously to preserve his last lingering trace of divinity.

As the demonic nature saturated every corner of his being, Chen Yu experienced a peculiar sensation amidst the agony. At that moment, he felt more like an impartial spectator, observing his own inner darkness. From initial rejection and resistance, to understanding, and finally to acceptance...

His demonic nature was like another facet of himself, acting as a mirror that reflected his cultivation journey...

At that exact instant, Chen Yu seemed to attain a profound realization.

Demonic nature? Divine nature? Neither was anything more than his own self. In cultivation, one cultivates the true self. Why should one ever discard a part of oneself?

Chen Yu finally understood. On the path of cultivation, diversion is better than blockage; one must be reborn amidst nirvana.

He understood that he needed to completely let go of his ego, to stop resisting and instead merge with his inner demonic nature, perceiving the shifts of heaven, earth, yin, and yang. Demonic nature and divine nature were simply the expressions of yin and yang.

The way of nature is tranquil, hence all things in heaven and earth are born. The way of heaven and earth is pervasive, hence yin and yang prevail. Yin and yang push against each other, and transformation flows smoothly in accordance. Therefore, the sage knows the way of nature cannot be violated, and thus guides it... People know the marvelousness of the divine, but do not know how the non-divine is the source of such marvelousness...

Unexpectedly, a mere trial of heart-refining had allowed Chen Yu to comprehend the Dao of Yin and Yang. Once the opportune moment arrived, he would be able to step into the Yin-Yang Realm.

As Chen Yu comprehended the Dao of Yin and Yang, the demonic nature permeating his body progressively quieted down, losing its frantic volatility.

Through that demonic nature, he saw himself as though gazing into a mirror, gaining a deeper comprehension of his cultivation.

Chen Yu remained seated like this for an entire month, completely motionless and serene. Had no one spoken of it, even the guard disciples outside the Heart-Refining Cave would have forgotten about Chen Yu entirely. Or rather, they would have assumed he had perished inside.

That disciple was Mo You, who had been assigned to the Heart-Refining Cave as punishment.

Ten days ago, when he walked out of the Heart-Refining Cave, he had inquired about Chen Yu's status from the guarding disciple. Learning that Chen Yu had entered the cave of his own volition, he could not help but feel profound admiration. At the same time, deep internal emotions stirred within him, and he mused: It seems I truly am no match for you.

Though he knew Chen Yu had yet to emerge, he firmly believed that Chen Yu would return safe and sound.

Thus, time trickled away moment by moment. The Chen Yu sitting cross-legged in the Heart-Refining Cave no longer possessed his initial restlessness; instead, his entire being radiated a sense of detachment and tranquil poise.

Chen Yu slowly rose to his feet. His eyes were as clear and brilliant as stars in the dark night. The corners of his mouth curved upward slightly. Although this trip to the Heart-Refining Cave had not brought any dramatic increase to his cultivation level, he was well aware that his current strength was simply incomparable to when he had first entered the cave.

"Heart-Refining Cave, I thank you," Chen Yu said with a calm smile, walking out toward the entrance of the cave.

His emergence immediately startled the guard disciple.

"You're actually still alive, and you haven't gone mad," the disciple said with a surprised laugh. "Judging by that joyful expression of yours, you must have reaped quite a harvest inside."

"You flatter me, Senior Brother," Chen Yu asked with a smile. "Senior Brother, how long have I been inside?"

"About a month and a half."

"Is that so? A month and a half?" Chen Yu nodded slightly, thinking to himself: The point-scoring matches of the Outer Sect Grand Tournament must be drawing to a close. Having been absent for so long, many senior brothers will surely want to challenge me.

After bidding farewell to the guard disciple, Chen Yu made his way to Peach Blossom Peak.

His journey to the Heart-Refining Cave had yielded abundant rewards. He could just use these next few days to properly organize and assimilate everything.

Chen Yu sorted through the techniques he practiced, discarding the dross and keeping the essential, while his strength rapidly surged.

Circulating the Hunyuan Scripture, he pressed his middle finger against the Baihui acupoint on the crown of his head, then extended his palm, gently tapping the crown in rhythm with the circulation of the scripture. With a soft click, the Baihui apex aperture sprang open in response.

As the eight apertures opened, Chen Yu's magical power grew even more formidable with each circulation. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth poured into the top of his head like a golden dragon plunging into the sea, flooding his entire body.

A day and night later, Chen Yu awoke. Despite cultivating for so long, he still felt completely refreshed and clear-headed.

With a flick of his mind, his magical longsword flew out, shooting forward like a thunderbolt. With the sword in hand, his movements flickered until his figure multiplied into a hundred projections, only to merge back into one the very next instant, as if the dazzling display had merely been an illusion.

Satisfied, Chen Yu smiled and murmured with quiet confidence: "Below the Yin-Yang Realm, no one will be my opponent anymore. Even against those in the Yin-Yang Realm, I daresay I can fight a match or two."

"However, I am still a fraction away. If I can break through to the Nine-Aperture Realm of One Origin, then I can truly strive to contend for a spot among the top hundred."

Chen Yu did not immediately show himself at the Demon-Suppressing Palace; instead, he chose to first consolidate his cultivation and await the arrival of the final deadline.