Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 572 - 280: Ye Beichen, Senior Evil, Li Linglong! I Am the Mortal World’s Tai Sui_2

"You all go back first; I still want to practice a bit more."

Senior Evil spoke softly.

"Then return early; I’ll save a steamed bun for you."

Ye Beichen, accustomed to it, slowly walked away with Li Linglong.

The sun set behind the mountain, and echoes filled the emptiness.

The world seemed vast, as if only Senior Evil was left. Watching the gathering and scattering clouds, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness.

"Perhaps, I’m destined to be alone."

He knew his talent couldn’t be compared to Li Linglong and Ye Beichen. No matter how hard he tried, the gap would only widen, and sooner or later, they would belong to different worlds.

When that time came, with the world so vast, who in Zhongnan Mountain would want to approach him?

"In life, one cannot escape the four words: birth, death, fortune, and misfortune..."

"There’s a tremendous potential hidden within you... a power that could overshadow everyone..."

At this moment, an eerie voice echoed through Kongshan, like a whisper from the depths of one’s heart, resonating in Senior Evil’s ears.

...

Rumble.

Lightning tore through the sky, and rain fell in the desolate forest deep in the mountains.

Senior Evil slowly opened his eyes, feeling intense pain in his leg.

Every year, Daoists of Zhongnan Mountain wander the mountains to subdue demons and ensure peace.

This time, with Ye Beichen and Li Linglong absent, and other fellow disciples considering him a jinx, none wanted to team up with him. Senior Evil, alone, accidentally fell into a hunter’s trap in this deserted mountain. Despite avoiding several critical traps with his skills, his right leg still got caught in a beast trap.

Crack...

The sound of firewood cracking filled the air, and the rising firelight spread before him.

Senior Evil gazed at the bonfire in front of him, somewhat dazed. Looking around, he found himself in a dilapidated temple, sitting before a fox with fur as glossy as brocade. Its eyes, human-like, bore complex emotions.

"Spirit Monster!?" Senior Evil’s expression changed slightly, intending to move but aggravating his wound.

"Don’t move, or it will leave a hidden ailment."

At this moment, a fluctuation emanated from the fox, its Primordial Spirit manifesting, allowing Senior Evil to understand its words naturally.

"Did you save me?" Senior Evil asked with a strange expression.

They ventured into the desolate mountains to hunt for demons and slay monsters.

Yet here he was, saved by a Spirit Monster.

"Is it strange?" The fox shot him a sidelong glance, seemingly seeing through Senior Evil’s thoughts.

"Your life or death is no concern of mine, but since I saw you, not saving you would be akin to killing you."

The fox’s words stirred something deep within Senior Evil, as he unexpectedly found a hint of the Dao in this Mountain Spirit and Wild Monster.

"Are you a Daoist?" The fox glanced at Senior Evil.

"Mm!" Senior Evil nodded slightly, humming softly.

"So, do furred beasts not deserve to save people?"

"Can only you cultivate the Dao while we’re meant to harm people?" The fox’s words bore a hint of coldness.

Senior Evil was stunned, momentarily speechless.

"All things are born equal; there is no high and low, no right or wrong... You can cultivate, and so can we—what’s the difference?" The fox said, gazing at the leaping flames.

"The only difference lies in the prejudices of the heart..."

"Prejudice is a mountain in people’s hearts..."

Saying this, the fox slowly lay down, resting its head as it drifted to sleep in front of Senior Evil.

This defenselessness, this pure heart, evoked feelings in Senior Evil he had never felt before.

...

Rumble...

Lightning split the sky, and the ancient temple was reduced to ruins; scattered flames were visible everywhere.

The flame-colored fox lay in a pool of blood, its final gaze falling on the collapsed Senior Evil, a line of clear tears flowing from its eyes.

"Why? Why did you kill it?" Senior Evil asked dazedly.

"What madness is this? It was a Spirit Monster, an evil demon..."

In the distance, a group of Daoists poked at the fox’s corpse, seemingly ensuring its death.

"Haha, I told you, anyone with you is bound to have bad luck!"

At that moment, one of the Daoists chuckled lightly.

"Senior Evil, this fox met you, and was doomed to die..."

"You could say you contributed to subduing demons."

"So, should we credit you for this?"

Everyone laughed aloud, then picked up the fox’s corpse and left.

"Haha... Haha..."

Just then, a manic laugh echoed through the ruins.

"Hmm!?"

The group of Daoists stopped, looking back at Senior Evil, who was laughing with his head down, exchanging puzzled glances.

"What madness has taken you?" one of them scolded.

"You’re right... Anyone with me comes to a tragic end, doomed for calamity..."

"But... Ah, the Dao... inherently has Yin and Yang..."

"With fortune and misfortune intertwined, auspiciousness and calamity coexist..."

Senior Evil slowly rose to his feet, his clothes fluttering without wind, as a terrifying and profound aura gradually enveloped him.

"Their doom is my fortune!"

In the eerie moonlight, Senior Evil’s twisted face bore a sinister smile, filled with despair for humanity and madness for the mortal world.

"Senior... Senior Evil... what are you trying to do?"

A terrified voice rang out in the night, followed by cries of agony, with scarlet blood staining the cold, dark night.

...

No one knew how much time had passed.

As the bright moon descended, the pre-dawn darkness was both cold and intense.

Bodies lay scattered in pools of blood, not far from the fox’s corpse.

On the ruins, the flames grew stronger, like human rage, seemingly wanting to burn everything to ashes.

When Ye Beichen and Li Linglong arrived, they beheld a scene reminiscent of Purgatory.

"What happened? What happened?"

"Little Senior... Little Senior..."

Ye Beichen’s eyes widened in shock, yelling disbelievingly.

Just then, Li Linglong grabbed him, guiding his gaze...

Ye Beichen was stunned, as if struck by lightning, horror welling up in his eyes. Before him, Senior Evil sat amidst the ruins, just as he usually did during training. Only this time, his aura was completely different, eclipsing day and night, silencing even the wind and thunder.

"Little Senior, what happened?" Ye Beichen’s expression changed, attempting to rush over, but Li Linglong stopped him.

Such a subtle action caught Senior Evil’s eye, drawing a slight smile on his face.

"Li Linglong, you are not only beautiful but also smart."

"Ye, in movies, it’s often said the prettier the woman, the less you should trust her. Be careful of our Senior Sister—that’s my last advice to you."

"Last advice?" Ye Beichen frowned.

"Did you kill all these people?"

Li Linglong asked gravely, and with those words, Ye Beichen’s face showed an unimaginable disbelief.

Senior Evil neither confirmed nor denied. Instead, he raised his head, gazing at the vast night sky, murmuring softly.

"Look, how bright is the Tai Sui tonight."

"Since ancient times, the Tai Sui has governed the fortunes of the mortal world..."

"Indeed, great calamity brings great fortune... the cycle of life never ends..."

"In the turning years, I finally realize... I am who I am!"

A long sigh echoed in the blood-red night, as Senior Evil slowly rose, his eyes void of any emotional ripple. Behind him, flames soared, symbolizing the cycle of time and the grasp of fortune and misfortune.

"Little Senior..." Ye Beichen’s heart trembled, as he suddenly felt that from now on, the Senior Evil he knew would no longer exist in this world.

"Ye Beichen..."

"From now on, I am this world’s..."

"Tai Sui!"

As the words fell, the figure stepped into the void, disappearing into the vast night.