Chapter 607: Old Times

Chapter 607: Chapter 607: Old Times

One man, one jar of wine. Though neither could drink much, with their Cultivation levels where they were, it was hard to get drunk.

Yang Yansi needed no further mention—born of the military, his Cultivation at Profound Sea First Layer, not even a whole jar of Immortal Brew could make him blush. The man opposite him likewise showed not a trace of flush or rapid breath, though he did seem a bit more talkative tonight.

"Before I came, I thought you might have made another breakthrough. I didn’t expect you to still be stuck at Profound Sea First Layer, and it seems you’ve hardly improved at all."

"Cultivation is like sailing against the current. The higher you climb, the more treacherous the water grows. My battered boat could only get this far after braving life and limb; now it’s near impossible to paddle further ahead." In Yang Yansi’s words, there was an openness. In the past, he had felt stifled and resentful, but after all these years he had come to terms with reality. With his current Cultivation, he was still first-class in all the land—could he really go on longing for that legendary realm of Transcendence?

But Yang Yansi could not help a sigh. "Your Cultivation, Prince, has improved a great deal. Last time we met was thirty-three years ago, wasn’t it? Back then, you and I were both at Profound Sea First Layer. Now you have surpassed me and reached Second Layer?"

"Mm. I only broke through last month. That threshold took me a full eight years to endure. Heh, back then I always said I’d be the one to go further—and now, it seems, I’ve won, haven’t I?"

After thirty-three years apart, business concluded, the wine brought them back to memories of the past. This was reminiscing, too.

"Hahaha..." Yang Yansi laughed loudly. "Do you recall, Prince? I thought my advantage in entering Profound Sea Realm before you would let me step into Second Layer ahead of you. Turns out I still hadn’t seen things clearly enough. I overestimated myself."

The man across from him also laughed for a good while, but finally said, "No, no, your talent and mine are almost the same. Our honored teacher used to say your accomplishments in Cultivation would one day surpass mine. I didn’t accept it back then, but in the end, the old master was right."

Yang Yansi chuckled, unconcerned. He thought the other was only joking. Now that he’d reached Profound Sea Realm Second Layer, must one still cite the teacher’s words to judge whose talent and achievements were greater?

Seeing that Yang Yansi only smiled in silence, the other continued, "Do you really think I’m joking with you? Heh. You’ve not seen me in all these years—didn’t you find my appearance rather off-putting?"

"You are uglier, that’s for sure." This time, Yang Yansi sounded more at ease than before, as if the wine had helped restore a touch of old familiarity between them.

Those eyes—absolutely chilling—and the scar on his face made him someone people would avoid on the street, perhaps even report to the authorities for being an Evil spirit.

A normal person’s eyes could hardly be so starkly black and white and so strangely pure in color.

Still, Yang Yansi had a guess in his heart, thinking the change in the eyes likely came from the other’s practice of some special Magic Technique. And Magic Techniques were a person’s foundation—how could one reveal such things carelessly? It wouldn’t be proper to ask, and besides, after more than thirty years apart and with urgent business before them, Yang Yansi decided to treat it as nothing, simply looking past it.

"This is the price I paid for breaking through to Profound Sea Realm Second Layer. You mastered ’Borrowed Life’; I used ’Merging Life.’ After enough merging, I ended up like this. My appearance is ruined, but these eyes have their own peculiar uses."

"Merging Life?! That is a Forbidden Skill, Prince, you—"

"Those who aim for great things have no need to mind such minor details. And now I’ve succeeded—not only entering the Profound Sea Realm Second Layer, once hopeless for me, but also shattering the shackles of talent. From here on, my own path is born within my heart!"

The path? Born within my heart?

Somehow, as Yang Yansi heard these words a sense of foreboding crept into his chest, though he couldn’t say exactly what was wrong.

"Prince, playing with Forbidden Skills is never wise. You should... ai!" He wanted to urge caution, but in the end, he couldn’t say it. The other had learned it already, and gained immediate benefit—how could he look back? It was probably too late to turn back now.

There was something neither man mentioned. If that so-called ’Merging Life’ was a Forbidden Skill, then what was the price? What consequence did it bring?

One didn’t want to say; the other didn’t dare to ask.

"But your eyes, usually...?"

"Ordinarily, they don’t look like this. A little concealment will do—no one will notice. Oh, here, take this. The previous one should have one more use in it, then it’s spent. This is new, made by my own hand. Its range is even farther than normal, and it can carry more messages. Keep it well."

The man handed over a Thousand-Mile Sound, though it was a circle larger than usual, and the Array patterns carved on it were distinctly different.

"You always learned quickly. I remember, back then, in Artifact Refining you were the best among all of us. Yang Xiusheng once wanted to recruit you into Fenghong Manor—I thought he meant to nurture you as his successor. What a pity you had other ambitions."

"A pity? You really see it as a pity?"

Yang Yansi lifted his teacup and took a silent sip, not replying.

The other man snorted coldly. "I don’t see it as a pity. Yang Xiusheng is Royal Family and chosen of the previous generation to hold the Golden Sword and lead Fenghong Manor, which has always kept a neutral stance. His wish to draw me into the Manor seemed a favor, but it was really to block the path I should have fought for with all my might. Yang Xiusheng’s position was warped from the start."

Having said this, the man took from his Storage Bag a silver bottle, shaped like a wine flask. But when he uncorked it, Yang Yansi, sharp of nose, didn’t catch the faintest scent of alcohol—rather, there was a strange sweetness about it.

After downing a large gulp at the mouth of the bottle, he put it away without giving Yang Yansi a chance to ask, and continued, "How’s that boy been lately?"

"Quite well. Smart, decisive in his actions, and with a solid talent for Cultivation. Those above and below both look favorably on him. But he did run into a bit of trouble recently. Didn’t harm him, but he suffered a silent loss."

"Heh, a loss is nothing—suffering a loss teaches you caution, as long as the man is alright. When things begin, try to keep him out of it. I don’t want him pulled in so early."

Yang Yansi nodded. "Don’t worry, I’ve made all the arrangements. The Pseudo-Evil Cultivators on that side will draw him away—he won’t be caught in the storm to come. Only, the boy’s always acted on his own—are you sure he’ll accept the fate you’ve set for him?"

"Heh, you yourself call it fate. Since it’s fate, do you think he’ll have a choice? When the time comes, fate won’t let him refuse anyway."

Their conversation went on until mid-midnight. At last that man left, and Yang Yansi watched as he once again vanished strangely into the night, thinking to himself: At last, it’s about to begin.

Afterward, Yang Yansi’s vigor faded, his stooped back showing age, and hands clasped behind him, he returned to his room to rest.