Chapter 87: The Dignity Abandoned

Shen Qingyun did not reply. Instead, he wore a faint smile as he spoke, “Do you know why cultivators above the Spirit Aspect Realm are forbidden from entering the Ghost Valley?”

Gu Yang’s expression was grim. If he could, he would rather not engage in this pointless conversation with Shen Qingyun, but now, nothing was within his control. Shen Qingyun said whatever he wished, and Gu Yang had no choice but to accompany him.

“Cultivators who surpass the Spirit Aspect Realm and enter Ghost Valley will have their minds corroded by the valley’s mysterious power, eventually turning into monsters consumed by slaughter,” Gu Yang said. This was recorded in the Scripture Pavilion and was no secret.

“Do you know why the mind is corroded?” Shen Qingyun pressed further.

This time, Gu Yang offered no answer, only shaking his head slightly in honest admission of his ignorance.

“Once a cultivator surpasses the Spirit Aspect Realm, he can autonomously absorb spiritual energy from the world to replenish what his dantian lacks. This is something those at or below the Spirit Aspect Realm cannot achieve.”

Shen Qingyun reached out as if grasping the void. “And in Ghost Valley, what is most lacking is spiritual energy.”

Gu Yang was aware of this as well. During his time in Ghost Valley, he had relied solely on pills purchased painfully from the Pill Hall to replenish his expended spiritual power. He dared not absorb the valley’s energy for fear that it would invade his mind.

But what was Shen Qingyun driving at?

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Gu Yang asked in a low voice.

“Do you still not understand?” Shen Qingyun gazed at him calmly. “The power of Ghost Valley can corrode anything, but the key is whether it is absorbed.”

“If you have surpassed the Spirit Aspect Realm, your body can absorb external energy. Ghost Valley is most deficient in spiritual energy of the heavens and earth, but what it has in abundance is the power that corrodes the mind. Animals that wander into Ghost Valley are the same; they lack intelligence, so when they hunger, they consume the valley’s offerings, thus passively absorbing the power.”

Shen Qingyun’s lips curled slightly as he looked at Gu Yang. “Do you understand now?”

Before Gu Yang could speak, the formations on both sides had already shifted. Faintly, a rumbling sound arose.

As the formation operated, the valley’s special power was visibly drawn into the array. Within it, black-purple smoke began to fill the space, darkening from a pale shade to deep.

Catching the scent of the smoke, which carried a terror that seemed to shake even the soul, Gu Yang’s expression changed dramatically. He glared furiously at Shen Qingyun, almost roaring, “What are you trying to do? How is this any different from simply killing us all?”

“At least you’re not hopelessly stupid,” Shen Qingyun replied with a laugh, as if commending Gu Yang.

Gu Yang’s expression did not soften at all. His voice was cold as he said, “You are a demon!”

Shen Qingyun laughed again and said, “Of course. With your strength, you could break all my formations within the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.”

This was not an insult to Gu Yang’s capabilities; it was simply true. Shen Qingyun was confident in his formations—Gu Yang could not break them in less than a stick of incense.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yang’s face grew even darker—not because Shen Qingyun claimed he needed a stick of incense to break the array, but because he only had half that time left!

Now, he understood what Shen Qingyun meant by this ‘grand gift.’ In just half a stick of incense, the valley’s power would be saturated within the array. By then, even if he broke the formation, those released would be nothing but monsters with minds corrupted, driven only by slaughter!

If they were allowed to grow in the valley, Gu Yang would be forced to kill them himself.

But how was this any different from the outcome at the start?

Gu Yang’s heart burned with hatred—hatred for Shen Qingyun’s ruthlessness, for his disregard of lives and the bonds of brotherhood.

“A demon like you will surely face heaven’s wrath someday!” Gu Yang said bitterly.

“Whether I suffer heaven’s wrath is no concern of yours, Senior Brother Gu,” Shen Qingyun replied unconcerned, smiling. “You only have half a stick of incense left, and much of it has already passed.”

Gu Yang started in alarm. He had wasted much time without realizing it.

No longer able to spare a moment for hatred, Gu Yang summoned a crescent moon saber, intricate patterns upon its blade radiating a chilling surge of spiritual power.

Shen Qingyun’s eyes narrowed at this unexpected move. With a fifth-tier spiritual weapon to aid him, combined with Gu Yang’s Spirit Aspect Realm cultivation, he would need less than a stick of incense to break the array.

But it still was not enough.

Gu Yang raised the saber, its blade gleaming, and released a ribbon of saber energy that flew straight toward the array’s light curtain.

The saber energy sliced through the light curtain, carving a long fissure into its seemingly impenetrable surface.

Witnessing this, not only did those trapped inside the formation show delight, but even Gu Yang’s expression eased slightly. It seemed the formation was not as formidable as Shen Qingyun claimed—it was all just empty threats.

But soon, the fissure began to heal, vanishing without a trace in less than three breaths!

Gu Yang’s relaxed expression tightened once more. This formation was not so easily broken after all!

Clenching his teeth, Gu Yang’s spiritual power surged around him. Behind him, an elephant-shaped specter materialized; as it formed fully, the elephant let out a resounding call. Gu Yang struck the light curtain with his saber again, calling out, “Crush it for me!”

The elephant trumpeted again, its form swelling severalfold, stepping past Gu Yang’s body, and its massive legs pressed upon the light curtain.

In the moment the elephant’s legs made contact, the seemingly solid curtain softened, sinking deeply where it was trodden.

Gu Yang followed with three more ribbons of saber energy, each more formidable than the last. The final strike was so sharp and dazzling it hurt the eye.

Yet, when the saber energy hit the curtain, it would slice out a fissure—only for it to vanish within a few breaths, leaving no trace. It was utterly useless!

“Again!”

Unwilling to concede, Gu Yang shouted and unleashed his full power, more forceful than the initial stage of the Spirit Aspect Realm but far from its middle stage. A fierce wind tore through Ghost Valley, dust swirling.

The elephant, spurred on, grew more substantial, its enormous form soaring into the sky, stepping with elegant might before plunging down.

Below, those trapped within the array looked up at the elephant’s massive body falling toward them, hearts gripped by terror. Though they knew Gu Yang was trying to save them, anyone would struggle to remain calm at such a sight.

Such a colossal body—wouldn’t it crush them into pulp upon landing?

Some worried, but their fears proved unfounded. When the elephant landed, the curtain did collapse beneath it, but was then rebounded, sending the elephant flying!

…

Time slipped by. The black smoke inside the array thickened. Gu Yang stared at the light curtain, panting heavily, his eyes red with urgency. Watching his teammates inside pounding on the curtain, the dense smoke made their breathing difficult. They tried to break the formation from within…

But it was all in vain. Their strength was less than Gu Yang’s; he had used all his methods and spells, to no avail. Even if a fissure appeared, it would heal within a few breaths.

“Half a stick of incense—almost gone.”

Gu Yang thought to himself, nearly drained of spiritual power, his inner voice weakened.

Turning to Shen Qingyun, Gu Yang’s eyes held a plea. “What will it take for you to spare them?”

“Have you given up?” Shen Qingyun sneered.

Gu Yang gave no answer, only closed his eyes and bowed his head in silence.

That gesture said everything.

“So, you are nothing special after all.” Shen Qingyun mocked, his eyes full of contempt.

“Shut up! Who are you to speak of Senior Brother Gu?”

Inside the formation, seeing Gu Yang bow his head, everyone’s eyes reddened with anxiety, glaring at Shen Qingyun.

Hearing the curses from within, Shen Qingyun seemed not to notice. He turned to Gu Yang. “Do you truly wish to save them?”

Gu Yang raised his head immediately. “Yes. If you will spare them, I’ll do anything.”

“Very well. Kneel and write a confession.”

The moment the words left Shen Qingyun’s mouth, Gu Yang had not yet responded, but his teammates erupted.

“What nonsense are you spouting…”

“Making Senior Brother Gu kneel to you—who do you think you are?”

“Don’t listen to him, Senior Brother Gu. If I become a monster, let me die by your hand!”

…

As their voices echoed around him, Gu Yang’s expression grew unexpectedly calm, his face devoid of any emotion. He said to Shen Qingyun, “I hope you will keep your word.”

“I never go back on my promises,” Shen Qingyun replied.

“Good!” Gu Yang said, without hesitation, bending his knees.

“Senior Brother Gu, don’t!”

The moment Gu Yang knelt, all curses ceased, and even time seemed to stop flowing.