Reality is cruel

This was the first time Qin Yue had ever performed soul-searching on someone, and the results were exceptionally successful.

In the realm of cultivation, the technique of "soul-searching" was something that invariably turned people pale with terror. Among those whose souls had been searched, the vast majority suffered varying degrees of damage to their intellect and spiritual consciousness, with a crippling rate exceeding ninety-five percent. Even those fortunate enough to escape major injury would forever remain shadowed by the vulnerability of having every secret exposed, perhaps harboring lifelong psychological scars, becoming overly cautious, resentful, and plagued by lingering obsessions; if their terror ran deep enough, it could even evolve into inner demons.

For cultivators, killing and fighting were of little consequence—death was, at worst, the loss of a single life. But if someone subjected them to soul-searching, everything they held most dear would be placed at the mercy of another, handing their enemies a fatal leverage that guaranteed a lifetime of constraint.

Cultivators in this realm cared little for the lives and deaths of strangers, yet because their conditions for cultivation were superior and their lifespans abundant, their daily interactions with others far exceeded those of terrestrial cultivators. Consequently, they valued their kin, disciples, and mentors much more deeply than worldly practitioners did. From a young age, they internalized a singular truth: only these close bondsmen would come to their rescue without a moment's hesitation, while everyone else was utterly unreliable. Thus, profound emotional attachments naturally took root, and some would rather embrace death than suffer a soul search. Furthermore, cultivators always harbored countless secrets. Take Luo Yu’s family, for instance; if anyone were to search their souls, the consequences would be utterly unimaginable, plunging them into an endless nightmare.

For all these cumulative reasons, soul-searching had always been regarded as the most vicious form of interrogation. Not only was its harm immense, but the risks of employing it were correspondingly high. Practitioners of the same cultivation tier could not search each other's souls; even if the caster was one tier higher than the target, they were extremely vulnerable to karmic backlash. It required a margin of two tiers higher to be considered safe, making it a veritable "forbidden art." Unless a situation involved one's own life and death, an opponent of utterly depraved character, or an irreconcilable blood feud, no one would casually use it on another. This served as a sort of humanitarian respect shown to enemies. Even if there were pressing matters that required inquiring of the opponent, standard torture and coercion were usually tried first; and if the captive stubbornly refused to speak, one would still deliberate heavily before resorting to it.

Luo Yu had always preferred a benevolent approach and had no initial intention of resorting to soul-searching on these assassins. Although he was somewhat prone to gossip and lacked a certain sense of proportion, he still harbored an aversion to such an absolute form of mental intrusion. As the saying went, "Do not impose upon others what you yourself desire." If the opponents were willing to confess, he had no desire to stoop to such base tactics.

Qin Yue understood Luo Yu’s mindset and naturally accommodated him—though in his view, soul-searching was far more convenient than coercion, and since these individuals all deserved death, there was no need to stand on ceremony.

When the two men requested leniency, Qin Yue was not the sort of person who believed that an offense must be punished by death. However, if they wished to survive, they had to pay a price. Therefore, he straightforwardly searched their souls and let them go.

Luo Yu tacitly understood Qin Yue's actions and raised no objections, offering a silent default: when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and show mercy where you can. Since Qin Yue had searched their souls and released them, it meant those two posed no future threat.

The remaining three individuals had assumed those two men were Nascent Soul cultivators and never imagined that Qin Yue’s casual flick of the sleeve had actually been a soul search. In their view, the outcome of having one's soul searched was either madness or idiocy. For someone to survive a soul search completely unscathed required someone at the Deity Integration stage—those two must have expected their necks to be snapped on the spot, which explained their overwhelming terror.

The male cultivator who had used the spirit bugs watched Qin Yue release the pair, his eyes rolling as he interjected, "This humble cultivator was also merely employed by this immortal fairy, yet I am not of the same faction as those two. Might senior show mercy and spare me alongside them?"

As soon as these words fell, the cultivator pinned beneath Luo Yu’s foot flew into a rage. "Zichen! What do you mean by this? Are you attempting to abandon your sister to save your own skin? To be so cowardly, refusing even to acknowledge your own kin, you are an absolute disgrace to the family gate and a blot on our lineage!"

The one called Zichen stiffened, turning to glance at his sister. Seeing her keep her head down in silence, a flash of reluctance crossed his eyes, but he gritted his teeth and hardened his heart. "When my sister married into this family, our elders withheld their consent. It was she who stubbornly insisted on wedding your cousin... Now that this disaster has befallen them, out of regard for my sister, I came in secret to assist, yet I hold no deep-seated enmity with these two immortal friends... Given the current state of affairs, I have done all that duty and righteousness require. Must you drag me down to my death before you are satisfied?"

Having delivered this harsh speech fiercely, he cast one final look at the woman and slowly added, "As the old saying goes, 'A married daughter is like poured water.' My sister has established her own household now, and the consequences of her actions must be borne by her alone. Even if I feel a pang of reluctance, what can I do? A maiden family ought not meddle in a husband's household affairs, and by coming here at all, I have already breached the rules."

Though Zichen's words sounded cold and unfeeling, in the face of life and death, they could hardly be considered a grave fault. The "cousin" was instantly rendered speechless, his reddened eyes glaring viciously at the other man.

The female cultivator silently listened to her brother's words, then slowly raised her head. Her expression was as cold as ice, entirely detached. "I have dragged you down. Since it has come to this, please do as you wish."

Zichen’s expression remained unchanged as he raised his hands in a bow toward Qin Yue. "This humble cultivator knows nothing of the matters you are investigating. I only recall my sister mentioning once that years ago, the Black Dragon secretly negotiated with her husband, half-coercing and half-tempting him, leaving my brother-in-law with no alternative. As for that Black Dragon, I have never laid eyes upon it. Since it is this creature that brought ruin to my sister's household, if I ever discover its hiding place, I will report it truthfully to you. The truth is as I have stated, and my words are exhausted. I sincerely hope the two seniors will show mercy and grant me a path to survival."

Qin Yue nodded noncommittally: a man who knew when to advance and when to retreat was something of a talent and deserved a degree of appreciation. However, for such a capable individual to bear a grudge against him was an entirely undesirable outcome.

He slowly paced over to the man, walking in a leisurely circle around him, before suddenly reaching out to place his hand atop the other's head. With just the lightest touch, he withdrew his hand.

Zichen’s expression abruptly warped in terror. His body jerked violently to the side, and he began to tremble all over, staring at Qin Yue with an unnamable horror, his mouth agape and unable to utter a sound.

Qin Yue offered a cold, mirthless smile, his gaze chilling and fraught with murderous intent. "Indeed, a rare talent. Deep bonds between siblings, minds attuned in perfect sync; enduring humiliation and bearing curses without complaint; possessing both courage and strategy, loyalty and righteousness... If he were to survive this day, he would surely be no mere creature of the shallow pond in days to come... What a pity, truly."

Hearing this, the female cultivator instantly drained of all color, her voice sharp and fierce. "You... what do you mean by this?!"

"Tang Piidan, Tang Zichen... born of the same womb, twins of the tenth month. Inseparable since childhood, refusing to abandon each other through multiple brushes with death... Yet this brother's sudden change of tune was just a bit too convenient, making it rather difficult to swallow his previous speech."

"You... you actually... searched his soul?!" Tang Zichen was consumed by shock and fury. "Just what level of cultivation do you possess?!"

Hearing their exchange, Tang Piidan was left utterly dumbfounded. Soul-searching? He had actually searched Zichen's soul?

Recalling how the two men had been permitted to leave earlier, sudden clarity dawned upon Tang Piidan.

Six years ago, although Qin Yue had participated in the battle, he had displayed no combat prowess. Everyone watching knew he had sustained severe injuries, though the exact extent remained unknown. Looking back now, Tang Piidan could no longer fathom what his true cultivation level might be... Rumor held that he was a Nascent Soul cultivator, but what if he had originally been at the Deity Integration stage, and his cultivation had simply plummeted due to heavy injuries?

Otherwise, how could he have performed a soul search on Zichen with such casual ease?

Otherwise, how could that Void-Transformation spirit fox obey his commands?

Otherwise, how could that Void-Transformation Black Dragon have been so deeply wary of them, yet still rallied so many people to seek revenge even when he was gravely injured?

Tang Piidan knew little of Qin Yue and was unaware of the specific details surrounding the battle in the Cara Arena, but she knew this man had forced the Black Dragon to suffer a loss. When that Black Dragon had negotiated privately with her husband, its words had been vague, claiming only that it had been framed by this Nascent Soul cultivator. Yet viewed in hindsight, every detail was rife with suspicion: to force a Void-Transformation Black Dragon to suffer a loss—was that something an ordinary person could ever achieve? Why had she trusted it so blindly back then?

Tang Piidan was consumed by bitter regret, but matters had progressed to this point; what other choice remained? This blood feud would likely never be avenged... The opponent's murderous intent was laid bare, and she feared she might not even be able to preserve Zichen's life! Zichen was the younger brother she had cherished since childhood, a direct-line descendant of the Tang family who commanded deep respect among their peers. If he perished here, the clan would never let the matter rest... If the opponent were merely at the Nascent Soul or Void-Transformation stage, it might still be manageable, but if he were at Deity Integration... wouldn't the family be marching toward self-destruction?

Qin Yue refused to answer Tang Zichen's question, merely letting out a slight sigh—he had probed this man's intentions thoroughly: he was willing to bear the stigma of cowardice solely to escape, spread word, and summon reinforcements, intending to hire high-priced experts from the city to rescue his sister. As long as he could snatch his sister back, he would harbor no complaints even if it meant dying together with them... This temperament was remarkably similar to that of a certain feline.

Thinking of Luo Li, the murderous intent in Qin Yue's eyes receded ever so slightly. Yet he was no benevolent saint; as long as someone posed a potential threat to himself and his family, he cared little for what hardships they faced.

At that thought, Qin Yue spoke with indifference, "I cannot spare your life, but I will grant you a swift and painless end." With those words, a dazzling, long blade suddenly manifested in midair. Radiating brilliant light and scorching like the midday sun, it hovered steadily, its tip aimed directly at Tang Zichen's chest, primed and ready to strike.

"No!" Tang Piidan let out a scream of pure terror, flinging herself forward to shield Tang Zichen with her body. "Wait!"

"Sister, move aside!"

Protecting her brother, Tang Piidan glared at Qin Yue with eyes burning with resentment, her tone dripping with unyielding bitterness. "Senior possesses vast and boundless divine powers... This foolish woman had eyes yet failed to see, blindly rushing onto the path to death! My husband and I brought this upon ourselves and deserve our fate; but Zichen is the direct heir of the Tang family! If Senior harms a single hair on his head, you will be forging an irreconcilable blood feud with the Tang clan. Unless Senior intends to exterminate the entire Tang lineage, they will never let this rest! I beg Senior to show mercy where you can!"

Qin Yue remained entirely unmoved, his expression serene without so much as a blink. What did exterminating a clan matter? As long as someone was bent on seeking death, he had no qualms about sending them on their way.

Seeing that her threats failed to move him, Tang Piidan’s heart sank deeper into an abyss. Even their Void-Transformation ancestor was not held in regard by this man; he truly must be a Deity Integration expert... Even if he were only at Void-Transformation, coupled with that nine-tailed fox, it would still be impossible to deal with him.

"Cen'er..." Tang Piidan let out a desolate laugh, despair etching itself across her delicate face. "Since you are the direct grandson of the Tang family, you must think of the clan. Do not act on impulse or follow in your foolish sister's footsteps; and above all, never drag the family into the grievances of the Song clan..."

"Sister, what do you mean by this?" Tang Zichen asked in mounting panic. "Sister, do not speak nonsense!"

Tang Piidan gently pushed him aside, turned to face Qin Yue, and slowly took two steps forward. Her graceful figure lowered, and she actually sank to her knees. "I beg Senior's great mercy and compassion! Spare him! Tang Piidan is willing to die to atone for the crime of offending Senior!" With that, she suddenly yanked the golden hairpin from her hair and drove it fiercely toward her own throat—

"You!" Luo Yu cried out in shock, instinctively channeling his spiritual power to save her, only to be instantly rebuffed by Qin Yue's barrier.

"Sister!" "Sister-in-law!"

Tang Zichen's face turned ashen as he lunged forward, gathering Tang Piidan into his arms. "Sister, Sister! Why would you... why would you do such a thing!"

Blood gushed profusely from Tang Piidan's neck, staining the front of her garments crimson. She raised her head with great effort and offered her brother a faint smile. "Cen'er... Sister's suicide... is also a release, entirely unrelated to anyone else... You must heed my words... Never... harbor resentment or strike a pebble with a boulder... Sister... does not need you to do this... I only wish for you to... live... well..."

Her voice grew fainter and fainter, until finally her head slumped to one side, and she breathed her last.

If a cultivator had their spiritual energy and divine power locked away by restrictions, and their physical body suffered fatal damage, their primordial spirit would have no escape and would perish alongside the flesh. At this moment, Tang Piidan, bound as she was by restrictions, had well and truly fallen.

Luo Yu watched the unfolding scene with a deeply heavy heart. "Why didn't you let me save her?"

Qin Yue gave him a cold glance. "That woman harbored a resentment too deep to be dissolved. What would be the point of saving her? Would you have me kill her a second time with my own hands?"