177 - We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 177: When One Dies, Truly Nothing Remains "Big sister Zixia, why..." Jiang Xin's mind went blank, unable to process what she was seeing and hearing. "Ah Xin," Zixia smiled, though her expression carried a hint of sorrow, "In this world, how many 'whys' are there really?" Zixia took a deep breath, looking at Jiang Xin with a calm demeanor and a hint of pity in her eyes: "From the very beginning, I saved you all only because of your good potential, which could assist my master in breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage through alchemy. To me, you were merely ingredients for a pill." "Before you, I had already brought seventy or eighty boys and girls back to the Danyang Sect, turning them into one pill after another." "That can't be true," Jiang Xin shook her head vigorously. "I know what I felt. Sister Zixia, you genuinely cared for us, and you were truly happy when you were with us." "Hehehe," Zixia chuckled coldly, "What if I was? What if I wasn't? Being with you, sometimes I could indeed forget my true intentions, but it was only temporary." "What does it matter if I pity you? I still brought about your demise." Zixia gazed into Jiang Xin's eyes, her expression turning distant. "Ah Xin, I know you're different from others. You can sense others' emotions, hear their thoughts, but only when you focus on someone specifically. So I continually adjusted my emotions, hiding my true intentions, avoiding being alone with you. That day, you happened to be gathering herbs on the mountain. I didn't intend to capture you. But unexpectedly, you came to me of your own accord. As they say, 'a road to heaven yet you choose hell.' My brother was right. Ah Xin, this is your fate." Zixia turned her back, no longer glancing at Jiang Xin: "Someone, take them to the Guest Peak and lock them up. Feed them Marrow Cleansing Pills daily, and in fifteen days, throw them into the pill furnace for refining." As Zixia's words ended, two disciples entered and dragged Xiao Mo and Jiang Xin away. Jiang Xin, disoriented, could only stare at Sister Zixia in disbelief. Xiao Mo did not resist either. After all, he was just a child, and the opponent was a cultivator; any resistance would be futile. After they were taken away, Teng Ziming entered the alchemy room again, with a slight smirk: "Junior Sister is still kind, not putting them in the dungeon, but letting them stay at Guest Peak." "Even death row inmates get a good meal before execution," Zixia glared at Teng Ziming, "Do you have any objections, Senior Brother?" "Of course not," Teng Ziming shook his head. "That little boy beside Jiang Xin has good potential as well. I suggest using him for alchemy, and keeping Jiang Xin as a disciple. A person who can read the thoughts of others is extremely rare. In doing so, Junior Sister can even save Jiang Xin's life. Isn't that the best of both worlds?" Hearing Teng Ziming's suggestion, Zixia fell silent. Seeing her hesitation, Teng Ziming smirked slightly and left the alchemy room: "Think about it, Junior Sister." Not long after, Xiao Mo and Jiang Xin were brought back to the courtyard at Guest Peak. The array formation activated, trapping them inside, preventing escape. In the following days, Xiao Mo was fed Marrow Cleansing Pills daily. Every time he consumed one, it felt as if his bones and flesh were being crushed, causing him intense pain and forcing him to roll on the ground. Aside from this, he could only eat Fasting Pills to stay full. Xiao Mo felt like a grass carp fattened in a bathtub before it was prepared for a meal. That Jiang Xin was not given Marrow Cleansing Pills suggested that Danyang Sect intended to spare her life. Every time Xiao Mo writhed in unbearable pain, Jiang Xin would try to hold him. Yet every time, Xiao Mo pushed her away due to the pain. Seeing Xiao Mo's plight, Jiang Xin felt immense guilt. "Xiao Mo, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault," she lamented. On the tenth day of their confinement, after ingesting another Marrow Cleansing Pill and collapsing in pain, Jiang Xin knelt beside Xiao Mo, holding him while tears streamed down. "Why blame yourself?" Xiao Mo spoke weakly, "I chose to follow you. My decision, my responsibility." "But—" "Enough of the 'buts.' Wipe your eyes. You're about to drip tears into my mouth." "Oh, oh" Jiang Xin hurriedly wiped her tears away, her eyes resolute, "Xiao Mo, rest assured, if you die, I won't live either!" "Don't be foolish," Xiao Mo shook his head, "Even if I die, you must live. When one dies, truly nothing remains." "No! I won't live with this guilt!" The once frail girl now showed her determined side. Xiao Mo's mouth opened slightly, wanting to say more, but aware that Jiang Xin wouldn't listen. As he tried to sit up, suddenly, a thunderous explosion resonated above the Danyang Sect, as if the sky itself had split open. Following that, ripples of spiritual energy spread from the skies. The array formation trapping them was unexpectedly shattered by these ripples! "Xiao Mo? What's going on?" Jiang Xin looked at him, bewildered. "Could it be... an invasion?" Xiao Mo glanced up, seeing numerous cultivators attacking the Danyang Sect. The sect's elders soared to confront them. Though Xiao Mo was unsure of what was happening, he quickly stood up, grabbing Jiang Xin's hand: "Ah Xin, let's seize this opportunity and escape!" "Alright," Jiang Xin nodded vigorously. As the Danyang Sect's protective array was breached, more and more disciples from the Mountain Ghost Sect flooded in. Disciples of Danyang Sect were baffled as to how the Mountain Ghost Sect broke through their defenses. Logically, they shouldn't have had the strength to do so. But there was no time for contemplation; they could only defend themselves. "Daoist Dan, where are you? Come out and face your death!" The Mountain Ghost Sect's leader, Zhou Ye, shouted, his voice echoing throughout the mountains. "Arrogant Zhou Ye! Today shall be your end!" Daoist Dan soared into the sky, charging at Zhou Ye with a longsword. "Bring it on!" Zhou Ye drew a giant axe to meet the challenge. The cultivators of both sects clashed fiercely, the sounds of battle, cries, and clashing weapons filled the air. Amidst the chaos, Xiao Mo pulled Jiang Xin's hand, running frantically down the mountain. Xiao Mo's heart pounded faster. No one seemed to notice them. Perhaps, just perhaps, they might actually escape!