C23 ‘the Heart of the Sage Is Peaceful, but the Master Is Unfaithful.’
The battle had come to an end.
Ye Ning returned to his abode, declining the greetings from his fellow disciples and the elders' heartfelt concern. He shut his door, declaring a ten-day seclusion.
Once assured of solitude, Ye Ning filled a basin with water to wash his face.
"Splash..."
The icy water drenched his skin, yet it left him feeling... utterly unaffected.
"Is this what it means to be free from mundane troubles with sufficient cultivation?" he mused.
"Then again, today..."
Staring at his reflection, Ye Ning wondered if he was still truly himself.
Ten steps to kill, a thousand miles without a trace.
The verse, once cryptic, now resonated deeply within him.
His swift defeat of the Little Underworld King, shattering the Nine Netherworlds Mystical Armor with his Sword Qi Green Snake, was executed in a single, fluid motion. The thrill of that moment was undeniable.
He felt an exhilarating rush from the act of killing, a sensation he knew wasn't influenced by the Heart Devouring Bead.
"Perhaps this is the dream of every would-be hero."
The Little Underworld King, a man of many evils, swayed by his whims – his death was merely an end to his misdeeds.
"But on the flip side, with the Little Underworld King gone, I'm spared future troubles."
In the original tale, the Little Underworld King was a constant thorn, with a significant role. He murdered junior brother Lee Yu, coveted Chen Qingwei, and even assaulted Chiang Yun. He kidnapped an important female disciple, only to meet his end at Chiang Yun's hands.
His antics had been a catalyst for Ye Ning's own growth.
"With his demise, peace will be mine for quite some time."
Ye Ning was immensely pleased. Another resolute step on his journey to righteousness.
"Yet, vigilance is key."
The line between heroism and bloodlust is perilously thin.
And with the Heart Devouring Bead ever-present, the threat to his soul was unending.
"Speaking of the bead, it's time to write in my diary."
Journaling had become his greatest joy, a source of unexpected rewards.
The benefits varied – yesterday's entry yielded a charm increase, a boost in stamina, and three years' worth of cultivation.
Today, I, Ye Ning, reluctantly took a life. But in doing so, I saved countless others.
Ten steps to kill, a thousand miles without leaving a mark. The deed done, I walk away, my deeds and name concealed.
Even in this strange world I've traversed to, should demons wreak havoc, I, Ye Ning, will forsake tranquility to vanquish evil for the sake of the people.
At this moment, that is my heartfelt conviction.
Today, my Master faced down a Void Treading behemoth with a display of sheer might and dominance.
His swordplay was a dance of light, slaying demons effortlessly.
One day, I too will wield such power. But I must remain true to myself, my spirit untainted by the bloodshed.
This isn't a hollow vow, but an inevitable truth.
With the diary system at my disposal, my power grows daily.
And let's not forget, in the original story, I am the ultimate antagonist, the supreme demon!
A mere Dao Transformation Stage was all it took.
Ye Ning pondered briefly before adding to his diary:
When Master smiles, she rivals the beauty of blooming flowers.
When Master wields her sword, she outshines the splendor of the heavens and earth!
But why, I wonder, does Master not have a dao companion?
Well, that concludes today's diary entry.
There's nothing to report about Chen Qingwei and Chiang Yun, so I'll leave them out.
Respected host, you have completed today's diary entry. You have earned: five years of Golden Core cultivation and an introduction to the Infinite Splitting Sword technique.
Upon seeing the reward, Ye Ning's face broke into a serene smile.
"Truly, a day of splendid gains!"
He then sat cross-legged on the bed and began his closed-door cultivation.
Meanwhile, Jin Lingzi was immersed in her own meditation chamber.
A being of her stature had no need for a bed; a simple meditation cushion sufficed.
Ye Ning had experienced a rush of exhilaration after defeating the Little Underworld King today.
For Jin Lingzi, however, the event was as tranquil as still water.
A mere Return to Void Stage was easily dispatched!
The real concern was the assassination order.
But Jin Lingzi had no interest in dwelling on it.
Should the Nether Hall's Master dare, let him come to her directly!
She was ready and waiting.
"Ning, is he still keeping a diary?"
Stealing glances at her disciple's diary had become her daily ritual.
Soon enough, the diary updated!
"Just as I thought, Ning has written again."
She began to read intently.
The first line caught her eye:
'To save ten thousand, I, Ye Ning, would willingly take a life.'
Indeed, Ning's soul was exceptional, set apart from the rest.
A smile graced Jin Lingzi's lips.
"How could such a Ning fall into demonhood and become utterly unforgivable?"
What true villain, what true thug, could utter such noble words?
She continued to read with great interest.
The next line took her by surprise:
"Ten steps, one life taken, a thousand miles without a trace."
"Having acted, one departs, concealing both deed and fame."
Such a mindset!
Truly worthy of my disciple, Ye Ning.
Today, many accomplished cultivators in the Cultivation World chase fame and immortality, resorting to any means necessary.
Even I have toiled for the rise of the Irontalons, haven't I?
Which among the mighty would possess such a 'hidden ambition' as Ning?
Ning, he is indeed my Ning.
Jin Lingzi paused, sensing something amiss.
"No, this is the Eldest Senior Brother of the Irontalons, Ye Ning!"
She couldn't resist reading on.
But the next moment left her stunned.
When Master smiled, she was as radiant as a flower.
When Master drew her sword, she commanded the awe of wind and cloud!
But then, why does Master lack a dao companion?
The first two lines were indeed facts.
Though she had never heard such praise for herself.
Yet, Jin Lingzi felt a surge of joy upon reading them.
But the last line left her utterly dumbfounded.
"Insolent, utterly insolent!"
"Rebellious disciple, this rebellious disciple!"
Was it for her disciple to question whether Master needed a dao companion?
This rebellious disciple was clearly asking for trouble!
...
Time flew, and half a month slipped by.
The tale of Ye Ning's victory over the Little Underworld King had, over these weeks, spread to every corner of the Cultivation World.
Swiftglades Sect.
Jiang Tiannan, the revered Eldest Senior Brother of the Swiftglades Sect, also known as the Holy Son of Swiftglades, studied the incoming message intently for a while.
With an approving smile, he remarked,
"Ye Ning has slain the Little Underworld King?"
"Though the Little Underworld King hadn't ascended to the Golden Core Stage, he had already been at the pinnacle of the Spiritual Pedestal Stage for many years."
"It seems he was likely seeking to hone his skills against me this time."
"Alas, he bit off more than he could chew."
In trying to sharpen his sword, he instead snapped the blade of his own life.
"Big brother, Ye Ning is at the Golden Core Stage. His victory over the Little Underworld King isn't all that shocking."
"In my presence, the Little Underworld King wouldn't stand a chance either."
The speaker was Jiang Feng of the Swiftglades, who had a sparring match scheduled with Ye Ning three months hence.
His tone carried a hint of scorn, yet it was underscored by a palpable eagerness for battle.
Ye Ning's reputation was growing too strong.
He declared confidently, "No matter his strength, he's merely an Irontalons disciple. How could he ever stand shoulder to shoulder with us of the Swiftglades lineage?"
"Big brother, just you watch. In two months' time, I'll surely strip him of his fame."
"I'll defeat him before he even steps foot in the Irontalons!"
