Chapter 984: I, What Am I?

Dong!

In the dead silence of the darkness, the sound of a reviving heartbeat echoed, just a faint, barely perceptible one.

"Where... is this..."

Consciousness returned, and Shou Ye found himself still submerged in the solution.

Unlike the cold deep-sea currents, the liquid surrounding him now was warm and rich in energy, like a comforting swaddle from childhood, evoking a strong sense of security.

Ka—

Beyond the darkness, it seemed a door was being pushed open.

A sliver of light pierced through, only for the door to slam shut with a bang.

Through the precise instrument holding the immersion solution, Shou Ye vaguely saw two blurry figures standing near the door when the light briefly illuminated the space.

"How is it?" The voice was extremely calm, yet for some reason, the calmness in it conveyed a profound sadness.

Submerged in the solution, Shou Ye felt his heartbeat quickening as the sorrowful emotion began to surface. He even sensed tears welling up in his eyes, inexplicably about to flow.

"It failed, Bei Huai Daren...

"Three hundred and sixty-five Shi Gui Shi, all ended in failure. For this first batch of test subjects, we clearly selected the best candidates.

"Among them, there were powerful body cultivators, those with astonishing comprehension in ancient sword techniques, and even the rare dark attribute users. Unfortunately, without exception, they all perished under the Gui Shou power."

The person responding was clearly of much lower status.

Shou Ye vaguely recalled this voice—it seemed to belong to the experimenter in this dark laboratory.

However, he noticed that even this powerful experimenter was speaking while starting to sob, eventually apologizing repeatedly:

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Bei Huai Daren!

"This is all my fault. If I had tried harder, perhaps one of the Shi Gui Shi could have succeeded.

"Then, our plan would have been complete.

"My sins are grave; I deserve to be executed...

"Waaah, don't kill me, Bei Huai Daren! I was wrong..."

These contradictory words were startling.

Because Shou Ye hadn't heard any sign of Bei Huai Daren making a move.

After a long pause, once the experimenter's emotions had somewhat stabilized, that calm yet sorrowful voice returned:

"Control your fear; don't let my ability affect you. This is just the first batch of experiments; the fault isn't yours.

"Also, I hate crying. If it happens again, I really will kill you."

"Uh..." The experimenter's words seemed choked off. After sniffling, he hesitantly said, "Sorry, I lost control! But Bei Huai Daren's ability is truly hard to resist. After crying, I felt much better."

"This place is too oppressive. Since the experiment failed, I'll give you a break. Go out and take a walk."

"Yes!"

The experimenter's emotions had lifted a bit, but they quickly turned to sadness again.

This time, only soft sobs emerged, as if the experimenter had learned to keep his emotional fluctuations from being too obvious.

Ka—

The door was pushed open again.

In the light, Shou Ye tried to make out the figure of the departing superior, but only a black silhouette came into view; nothing else was clear.

"Wait!"

At that moment, the departing figure suddenly stopped, their tone becoming strange: "You said, all of them failed?"

"Uh, yes, all failed. They're all dead, not a single one left." The experimenter spoke and grew fearful again, followed by sobs. "Wuu wuu, does Bei Huai Daren mean..."

"I sense a third emotion here. Your experiment succeeded; someone is alive."

"Impossible!"

No argument followed.

The footsteps—tap tap tap—drew closer.

Even though they were right in front of him, Shou Ye strained his eyes but still couldn't make out the two figures' faces.

"Which number is this?" The calm and sorrowful voice sounded nearby.

"Number seven, the dark attribute Lian Ling Shi. He's also a subordinate of Wu Yue Jian Xian."

The experimenter continued while crying, "He's one of the black-and-white duo in the white-clothed team. There was originally a light attribute kid, but he was eliminated in the first round because his physical condition wasn't as strong as Shou Ye's."

"Shou Ye?"

"Yes, his name is 'Shou Ye'."

"Keep an eye on him. His emotions are leaking out, meaning he's starting to revive. He might even remember this memory from just after waking up... And in your earlier words, you revealed too much information."

"Bei Huai Daren, forgive me!" The experimenter instantly became terrified and burst into tears. "Please kill me, please kill me. My sins are unforgivable, waaah..."

"I'll give you three breaths to rein in your emotions." The voice carried disgust.

"Uh, sorry, I lost control again." The experimenter switched faces in an instant and then assured, "Bei Huai Daren, rest easy. His memories won't awaken. In this area, we have methods to make it absolutely foolproof!"

"There's no such thing as absolutely foolproof in this world. If Shou Ye has an accident, you'll answer with your head."

The footsteps faded away.

The light at the door was once again swallowed by darkness.

Everything returned to silence.

Dong!

The heartbeat sounded again.

Shou Ye opened his eyes, this time seeing a world of chaos.

In this realm filled with gray and frenzy, a beam of righteous Hao Ran Zheng Qi light descended from the sky, guarding a patch of clarity.

Within the light stood a tall figure with double wings on his back, holy like an angel.

"Who are you?" Shou Ye asked.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized he had grown since that earlier scene. At least now, he could start communicating with this unknown entity.

"I am Xing Ye." The tall, winged angel smiled as he spoke.

"Xing Ye? Why are you here? Where is this? I... wasn't I in the deep sea?"

Xing Ye apparently lacked the ability to respond to questions. After smiling for three breaths, giving Shou Ye enough time to think and calm down, he continued:

"Hello, unknown little one. When you see me, I am already dead.

"Don't try to talk to me. This is just a remnant of my will, meant to tell you, this poor lucky one, a few things—and that's all."

Shou Ye fell silent.

Xing Ye maintained his smile and went on:

"When you see me, you must have already glimpsed another scene. That's the real thing I wanted to show you.

"Of course, it's more likely that in your lifetime, until death, you'll never see me or that scene.

"Your faith is too firm!"

Xing Ye paused, his smile tinged with amusement, as he said:

"But have you ever thought that your so-firm faith itself is worth doubting?"

"Hmm, I suppose you won't doubt it... because the brainwashing power of Sheng Shen Dian Tang is too strong. Others don't even get a chance, and while I'm a bit stronger, the only thing I can do is leave this remnant.

"But... forget it!"

Xing Ye shook his head, smiling bitterly as he added:

"This spiritual imprint of mine is for you to hear if you can see me, so I won't ramble on.

"If your faith remains firm, you won't see me at all. But if you've started to doubt it, then some external force must have impacted you.

"Forgive me for rambling again, but this is the nagging of a dying person—you should understand."

Shou Ye remained silent.

Xing Ye's gaze was unfocused as he continued his monologue:

"Let's get to the point!

"Remember the people you saw in that earlier scene. I don't know who they are or their exact identities, because I'm just an outsider.

"But you might know. If not... you can investigate.

"If you're tired, you don't have to. I don't know your personality, but I think if you became their so-called chosen one, your abilities must be decent.

"Forgive me for rambling again..."

At this point, Shou Ye saw tears suddenly fall from Xing Ye's eyes, and his speech quickened:

"My time is running out; they might discover me soon.

"I'm really sorry; I wanted to leave you some crucial information, but after saying all this, I realize that besides guarding that first scene you saw upon waking, I have nothing else to give you.

"My memories, my abilities, including where I came from and why I'm here... I've almost forgotten it all!

"All of it was scattered by that person!

"And who that person is..."

Xing Ye's words suddenly halted, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

Then, this holy winged angel suddenly squatted down helplessly, hugging his knees and crying out loudly:

"Waaah, waaah...

"Who is he? Who on earth is he?

"I'm so embarrassed; I wanted to leave you with a noble image, but I...

"He trembled and covered his face, sobbing profusely:

"I'm sorry, please spare me. I shouldn't have left this backup; I have sinned. Please kill me!"

"No! Little one, remember, it was that person—he shattered my body, spirit, and soul, and threw me into this damned place. You must remember...

"Waa—"

A ghostly wail-like scream interrupted Xing Ye's own words, startling Shou Ye as well.

Then, Shou Ye watched as bloody tears streamed from Xing Ye's eyes, his gaze widening, his breath weakening.

When the sadness reached its peak, Xing Ye's mouth and nose were completely blocked by some foreign substance. His face turned purple, his lips deathly pale, and the scene froze on his terrified and grief-stricken face.

Everything seemed about to end...

"Pfft!"

Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. As if regaining his breath, Xing Ye said in panic and sobs: "Remember, they called me... Gui Shou!"

With that final word,

"Boom!"

Xing Ye's form shattered.

The surrounding chaotic world also suddenly fragmented.

Dong dong!

Dong dong!

The heartbeat pounded rapidly as consciousness returned from the darkness.

In a final burst of light, Shou Ye heard the faint underwater currents of the deep sea and what seemed to be someone calling out.

"Shou Ye!"

"Wake up, Shou Ye!"

It wasn't an illusion...

Someone was really calling me...

I... I'm not dead yet!!!

Shou Ye held his breath, driven by the curiosity sparked in the first scene, the final enlightenment from Xing Ye in the second, and the words Xu Xiao Shou had once said... about Gui Shou Lu Ke!

"I have to live!"

The silent Qi Hai couldn't help him materialize this intent.

But suddenly, a power not his own surged from his soul, like a helping hand extended from the shore to a drowning person.

"Open!"

The Hao Ran Zheng Qi hidden in his Qi Hai was transmitted through that hand, delivering the last bit of true energy.

Deep under the sea, the forbidden spell barrier was instantly activated.

With this breath, Shou Ye finally lifted his heavy eyelids and saw that he was still in the underwater sphere, still on the brink of death.

The only change was that he hadn't been hallucinating.

There was indeed another person in front of him.

"Shou Ye?"

"Is it really you? You're awake?"

Rao Yao Yao, with the Xuan Cang Shen Jian on her back, looked joyfully at the familiar figure in the water sphere.

She had descended from the deep sea and, in this time, had seen the bodies of many Wang Zuo and Zhan Dao trial officials.

She never expected that Shou Ye, also at the Zhan Dao level, could hold on until this moment, until the time she called out to him.

Is this the strength of the first batch of test subjects?

"Rao Yao Yao?"

Shou Ye focused and saw the sword-bearing woman outside the water sphere, unaffected by the water pressure. He instinctively stepped back half a step, his eyes filled with alarm.

"Hmm?"

Rao Yao Yao sharply noticed this subtle change, but with the important matter at hand, she asked, "Shou Ye, why are you here? Weren't you taken by Yan Wang Huang Quan? Did he also fall into the water?"

Yan Wang Huang Quan?

Shou Ye didn't immediately recall the name, but the water sphere's draining force grew stronger, and he couldn't withstand it. Where was the time to think?

"I don't know, I don't know...

"I only know that on Gu Yin Ya, when I opened my Dark Realm, Xu Xiao Shou kicked me..."

Gui Shou Lu Ke!

A disheveled, snarling image of Xu Xiao Shou suddenly burst into his mind, shouting "Gui Shou Lu Ke"... Shou Ye's words stopped.

"What do you mean?" Rao Yao Yao looked at him, puzzled.

Shou Ye struggled to swallow, forcing his eyelids up: "N-nothing... Yan Wang Huang Quan did fall into the water..."

Rao Yao Yao frowned.

What had happened to Shou Ye? Why was his behavior suddenly so strange?

Was it the heart demon emerging at the brink of death, making him think of his nemesis Xu Xiao Shou?

"Rao Jian Xian!"

Without pausing, Shou Ye seized the moment of his fleeting clarity and asked desperately: "Can I ask you something?"

Rao Yao Yao's heart skipped a beat, sensing something ominous. She stopped her actions to help break the water sphere and alleviate the pressure for Shou Ye.

"Speak!"

Shou Ye's lips trembled as he asked: "I want to know, all those Gui Shou that our Hong Yi captured... where did they end up?"

As soon as the words fell, a chill swept through the deep sea.

Rao Yao Yao's eyes narrowed, her hand unconsciously touching the Xuan Cang Shen Jian as she asked in surprise: "Shou Ye, what... happened to you?"

"Rao Jian Xian!" Shou Ye suddenly grew agitated, but intense pain followed. He took a deep breath to calm himself. "Can you answer my question?"

"We executed them."

"Executed them?"

"Yes, exactly that."

This definitive answer left Shou Ye speechless.

After a moment, the water sphere's draining force seemed intent on tearing him apart, bringing excruciating pain.

Only then did Shou Ye realize he had no time left.

But his mind was in turmoil; he didn't know whom to believe. Trembling at the lips, clutching his head, he asked in pain and confusion:

"Then... what about me?

"What am I?"