Yefutidaolu

Chapter 347 Contrast
On the banks of the Yellow Springs, the surging turbid waves and the deathly stillness of reincarnation once again rush towards us.

Xia Youdu stood on the shore, still somewhat dazed, seemingly not fully recovered from the conversation that had just decided her "belonging." The ancestor had casually "arranged" her, and Gao Jian had "happily accepted" it, while she... was like an object being disposed of at will.

Shame, indignation, resentment, confusion, and a stinging sense of being slighted intertwined, leaving her deeply troubled. She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something to Gao Jian beside her—perhaps a question, perhaps a venting of her frustrations.

But Gao Jian seemed oblivious to her complicated expression, simply raising his hand naturally and gently patting her shoulder. The gesture wasn't exactly intimate, even carrying a casual, comforting undertone, yet it made Xia Youdu stiffen slightly.

“Miss Xia,” Gao Jian’s calm voice interrupted her unspoken words, “let’s get going. You must know the way to the library well. We… we’ll talk on the way.” His tone carried an unquestionable guidance, having already taken control of the situation.

Xia Youdu bit her lower lip, swallowing back the words she wanted to say, and silently led the way. The two walked in silence through the eerie yet grand complex of buildings, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they had moved away from the core area of ​​the Underworld, and the surroundings became relatively quiet. Gao Jiancai spoke again, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching Xia Youdu's ears:

“Now, theoretically speaking,” he paused, his tone carrying a cruel calm, “no one will care what I do to you. The Ancestor has already handed you over to me.”

Xia Youdu's steps faltered, her body tensing instantly! She turned sharply to look at Gao Jian, her eyes filled with wariness, anger, and a hint of barely perceptible panic.

Gao Jian met her gaze, his eyes deep, as if he could see into her soul: "Is it very uncomfortable? This feeling of being powerless and manipulated by others?"

Xia Youdu's breathing became rapid, her chest heaved violently, and her lips turned white, yet she stubbornly remained silent.

Gao Jian didn't seem to expect her answer and continued, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to you."

These words were like a pardon, causing Xia Youdu's tense nerves to relax abruptly. A look of astonishment and...disbelief flashed in her eyes. What...what did he mean? To let her go? Why?
The wariness in her eyes hadn't completely dissipated, but the intense hostility and fear had indeed been somewhat diluted by this sudden "kindness," replaced by a deeper sense of bewilderment.

Gao Jian took in her reaction, a hint of pity curving his lips, but beneath that pity lay a cold, insightful understanding:
"What? Are you glad? Glad that I let you go? Glad that I didn't use the 'power' bestowed upon you by the Ancestor to do whatever I wanted to you?"

Xia Youdu seemed to have her secrets exposed. She suddenly turned her head away and quickened her pace, as if trying to escape the suffocating gaze and analysis. From beginning to end, she remained stubbornly silent, expressing her resistance only through her actions.

Gao Jian didn't mind, and simply followed slowly behind her, his voice like a cold stream, gently flowing through Xia Youdu's heart:
"It must feel terrible to be treated like a piece of 'goods' that can be given away at will and have no autonomy, right?"

"And then you feel secretly relieved that someone has 'mercifully' let you go, and even... feel a little 'gratitude' towards me that you shouldn't have?"

"Now, have you noticed...?"

Gao Jian's voice suddenly became sharp and clear, like a heavy hammer blow:

"You and those 'living souls' in the Netherworld who are kept in captivity and waiting to be harvested are actually... no different."

All her movements froze instantly! As if nailed to the spot by an invisible force!

Humiliation, anger, fear, confusion... all the churning emotions were shattered at this moment by this cold and cruel truth! Only a bone-chilling cold and... an undeniable sense of agreement remained!
yes……

The ancestor regarded a billion lives as worthless, just to gain a possibility.

The old ancestor regarded Xia Youdu as a valuable "lucky charm" and casually gave it to Gao Jian, just for the sake of a possibility.

In the eyes of the ancestor, what essential difference is there between her fate, her feelings, and her desires, and those of those souls who are kept in captivity, waiting to be harvested and turned into food for resentment?

Her self-proclaimed status as a core disciple, her perceived "noble appearance," and her self-perceived unique value... are nothing more than a more exquisite and useful "commodity" in the face of a higher level of power and will!
Gao Jian didn't say another word, just quietly watched Xia Youdu lead the way, her stiff back view.

That is indeed the case in the realm of the living and the dead.

Are they disciples, so we should treat them as our own?
Maybe so.

Only a fool would believe that.

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Qingxuan Zhenren, Xia Youdu's master, is a woman with a cool and aloof temperament like a plum blossom under the moon, and who looks no more than thirty years old. She is sitting cross-legged on a warm jade futon.

Her aura was heavy and composed, and the majesty of a ninth-realm expert was restrained. However, at this moment, her eyebrows were furrowed, her fingertips unconsciously calculating, and her face grew increasingly pale.

Clearly, she learned of what had happened deep in the Nether Sea immediately—the Ancestor had actually given her beloved disciple, Xia Youdu, to that Gao Jian!
"Outrageous!" Master Qingxuan abruptly opened her eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. Du'er was her most prized disciple, exceptionally talented, pure-hearted, and the apple of her eye, whom she cherished like her own child! The Ancestor's actions were tantamount to tearing out her own flesh to appease an outsider!
Without the slightest hesitation, Qingxuan Zhenren rose to her feet, transforming into a streak of cool light, and rushed straight towards the cave where the ancestor was. She had to fight for what was right! She had to get Du'er back!
Using her elder status, she quickly gained access to the outer perimeter. Facing the black-robed figure seated within the cave, his aura unfathomable, Master Qingxuan suppressed her anger and a trace of instinctive fear, bowing respectfully, her voice urgent and earnest:
"Ancestor! Your disciple Qingxuan humbly begs you to rescind your decree!"

"Oh?" Ancestor Yuanlu's voice came from above, tinged with a hint of nonchalance. "What is it?"

"It's about Du'er!" Master Qingxuan raised her head, looking directly into Du'er's eyes. "Ancestor, Du'er is blessed with a 'lucky star,' a destiny one in ten thousand, bestowed upon us by the very fortune of the Netherworld! Her secret techniques are exquisite and her potential is boundless! She is utterly loyal to the sect and will surely become a pillar of the sect in the future! To give her... to give her to an outsider as... as an assistant is a waste of her talent and a great loss to the sect!"

She took a deep breath, trying to appeal to his emotions and reason with him: "Ancestor, please understand! Du'er's good fortune is also beneficial to the overall fortune of the sect! If his secret techniques can be improved, they can also benefit fellow disciples and relieve your worries! I implore you to consider Du'er's loyalty to the sect and rescind your order! If you need someone to assist you, I am willing to recommend another capable person! I will certainly not delay your important matters!"

Master Qingxuan spoke with sincerity and reason, attempting to awaken the patriarch's consideration for the future of the sect.

Ancestor Yuanlu listened quietly, his expression obscured by the blurry image. Only after Qingxuan finished speaking did he slowly open his mouth, his voice still calm, even carrying a hint of reassuring laughter: "Qingxuan, I understand your thoughts. Du'er is indeed a promising talent. However, this matter is settled. Gao Jian sees this child as possessing profound comprehension, crucial to my path. Du'er's lucky star's presence is also an opportunity for her, and in the long run, it may not be a bad thing for the sect."

He paused, his tone carrying the "magnanimity" of someone in a superior position:
"How about this, once you have a great insight to help me comprehend it and I have succeeded, Du'er will naturally return. Or... you can find another disciple and carefully train him, and the sect's resources will naturally be tilted towards you."

These dismissive phrases like "find another one" and "resource allocation" were like adding fuel to the fire of Qingxuan Zhenren's burning anger! This wasn't the disciple's fault! This was her precious disciple being treated like a commodity to be traded!

"Ancestor!" Master Qingxuan's voice suddenly rose, filled with barely suppressed excitement and indignation, "Du'er is unique! How can she be compared to ordinary disciples? Her value..."

She wanted to continue arguing her case, recounting Xia Youdu's many special qualities and contributions, and explaining what the rarity of being blessed by such a lucky star meant to the sect...

However, she didn't finish her sentence.

An indescribable, bone-chillingly terrifying pressure, like eternal ice that has never melted for billions of years, suddenly emanated from the other party! Instantly filling the entire space!
The smile on Ancestor Yuanlu's face vanished completely, replaced by an extreme indifference, as if looking down upon ants. He didn't roar in anger, but simply uttered a single word clearly from beneath the hazy black mist:

"roll."

The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a chilling wind from the depths of hell, instantly freezing Qingxuan Zhenren's blood, bone marrow, and even soul! That single word "Get out" contained the unquestionable will and icy disgust of a giant of the twelfth realm!

Qingxuan Zhenren lowered her head, her mind reeling!
Yuan Lu waved his hand dismissively.

That gentle persuasion earlier was merely a last shred of courtesy given to her because she was a sect elder! Did she really think that she, a mere ninth-realm "disciple-grand-nephew," had the right to interfere with and bargain with the decisions of a twelfth-realm patriarch?!

Overwhelmed by immense fear, like a drenching tide, she was instantly engulfed! All her courage and all her reasoned arguments proved as fragile as paper in the face of that single word, "Get out!"

"Disciple...takes leave!" Master Qingxuan's face was ashen, cold sweat instantly soaked her back. No longer caring about anything else, she hurriedly bowed and almost staggered as she left the place.

The cold air outside the hall brought her back to her senses slightly, but the humiliation, anger, and worry for Du'er remained undiminished. She couldn't give up! If things didn't work out with the Ancestor, she would go and bring Du'er back herself! While Gao Jian was still in the sect…

However, the moment this thought arose in her mind, a cold, emotionless voice transmission exploded directly in her consciousness:

"Elder Qingxuan, immediately proceed to Mount Beimang to apprehend the traitorous disciple 'Blood Shadow'. Seven days are required! Failure to do so by the deadline, or if the mission fails... execution!"

The command was concise, ruthless, and carried an undeniable aura of iron-fisted ruthlessness! This was a direct order from the sect's highest disciplinary hall! Behind it, the identity of who stood was obvious!

Qingxuan Zhenren's body trembled, and she abruptly stopped. Her face turned from white to pale, and finally to a deathly ashen color. She looked up in the direction of Xia Youdu's cave, her eyes filled with pain and helplessness.

She took a deep breath, the icy air filling her lungs, but it couldn't cool the sorrow in her heart. Finally, she transformed into a resolute streak of light, heading towards Mount Beiman without looking back.

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On the other side, in the more peripheral area of ​​the Netherworld.

Xia Youdu followed Gao Jian, looking rather sullen. Every now and then, she would glance towards the depths of the sect, towards the cave dwelling of her master, Qingxuan Zhenren, her eyes filled with a barely perceptible mix of expectation and grievance. She believed that once her master found out, she would definitely find a way! She would definitely come to rescue her from this "fire pit"!
Gao Jian took in her expression.

"What?" He stopped, his voice flat and emotionless. "Still hoping your master will come to save you?"

Xia Youdu bit her lip and didn't speak, but her stubborn eyes said it all.

"Don't worry," Gao Jian's voice carried an all-knowing indifference, "Your master has probably been assigned by the Ancestor to carry out some extremely urgent mission. You won't be able to see her for a while."

Xia Youdu suddenly turned her head and glared at him: "You're talking nonsense!" Her voice carried a hint of panic that she herself didn't realize.

"Don't believe me?" Gao Jian chuckled, as if looking at an ignorant child. "Then shall we change direction and go to your master's cave? It's not far anyway." He paused, then added, his tone carrying an air of complete control: "Don't worry, now you have to do whatever I say. Wherever I say we go, we go, and no one will blame you."

These simple words pierced Xia Youdu's heart like needles. Looking into Gao Jian's calm yet unfathomable eyes, a chill crept up her. Ultimately, a sliver of hope and worry for her master overcame her resistance, and she nodded stiffly.

The two soon arrived at the secluded and elegant cave dwelling of Master Qingxuan.

The cave's protective barriers remained, but inside... there was no one.

Xia Youdu stood at the entrance of the cave, looking at the familiar furnishings inside and feeling the lingering aura of her master, but she couldn't find the figure that brought her a sense of security. She stood there blankly, like a young animal abandoned in the icy snow, her eyes shifting from expectation to bewilderment.

Gao Jian's voice, like a ghost, echoed behind her, each word like an icicle, shattering the last vestiges of her illusions.

"What? You still think that just because your master is an elder of the Netherworld and holds a high position, he can protect you and help you escape this cage?"

He stepped forward, standing beside Xia Youdu, his gaze also fixed on the empty cave, his tone chillingly indifferent:
"What are you thinking about, Miss Xia?"

"Compared to our ancestor's great cause of becoming an Earth Immortal, there is nothing that cannot be sacrificed."

(End of this chapter)