Chapter 76: With Ling Tian Gone, No One Loves Huang Yan Anymore

“Victory, but alas...”
His tendons had been severed; the time left to him was scant.
Though he knew himself to be in an illusion, the pain was real.
For instance, the sensation now—though his physical body outside was unharmed, the pain was sharply felt within his spirit.
“You wished to see what I would do? Then let me show you exactly how I act!”
Ling Tian squinted, muttering softly, and began to prepare for what would come after.
When Phoenix Yan awoke, dazed and groggy, all that remained were ruined houses and a few corpses; Ling Tian’s trace had vanished.
Recalling the events of last night, her heart seemed gripped with an iron fist, the ache almost unbearable.
“Monk, monk, where are you?”
Struggling to her feet, Phoenix Yan sought anything connected to Ling Tian, hoping for a clue to his whereabouts.
Her foot struck a memory stone; she infused it with spiritual energy, and scenes unfolded within:
It was the first time she met Ling Tian.
When the scene ended, it pointed her toward another direction—there lay another memory stone.
This time, it showed the first place she and Ling Tian had visited together.
And then, another stone, and another scene.
She watched and watched, but found herself unable to see clearly—
Ah, it was her tears blurring her vision.
At last, the final scene: Ling Tian, frail and dying—
“When you see this memory stone, I will have gone far from here. My heart veins shattered, I feel life itself slipping away.
When I am gone, there is no need to search for me; you will not find me. In the final moments of my life, I intend to seek a quiet forest, and wait for death in peace.
Once, I did not understand a line from the Buddhist scriptures, but after all that has happened, I see it clearly now. I leave you these words:
‘Better to let go and forget each other than to cling together and suffer...’”
Phoenix Yan held the memory stone, silent for a long time, blood and tears streaming down her face.
Her heart throbbed with an indescribable agitation.
So, she had fallen for him? Had she been deceiving herself all along?
Only when he was gone did she awaken to the truth, but it was far too late.
When, when had it happened?
Perhaps that snowy night they spent together—it was then, but now, all was too late.
“So cruel, at the end you couldn’t even let me see you one last time?”
Phoenix Yan rose, carefully placing the memory stone against her heart, speaking sorrowfully.
Suddenly, a sharp pain struck her left cheek; she covered it with her hand, looking about in confusion, but saw no familiar figure, murmuring:
“Monk, my tooth aches...”
Ling Tian was gone from the world; no one would ever love Phoenix Yan again.
Finally, Phoenix Yan fainted.
When she awoke once more, a familiar face greeted her—only, it now bore a head of black hair, unlike before.
Seeing this face, Xiao Ling’er hesitated not at all; she threw her arms around Ling Tian’s neck:
“I was wrong, truly wrong, please don’t leave me. I like you.
I acted the way I did before out of spite, because when others asked you that question you answered as if it didn’t matter.
I just wanted to see you anxious; I never thought it would turn out like this. I regret it, I truly do. Please, don’t leave me!”
The memories in the illusion were so vivid that Xiao Ling’er had not yet adjusted, believing herself still in that woven memory.
Indeed, this trial was exquisitely crafted.
Even Ling Tian, now, felt a lingering influence from those memories.
“Ling’er... Phoenix Yan!”

Ling Tian called Xiao Ling’er’s name, hoping to bring her back to herself, but she seemed uninterested in that name.
Helpless, Ling Tian could only use the name she had in the illusion.
“This is the real world; what happened just now was the illusion!”
Seeing Xiao Ling’er look over, Ling Tian explained in detail.
“Illusion? My name is Xiao Ling’er? You’re not dead, and I’m not...”
She was stunned for a moment, then finally understood, but could speak no further.
She sensed a figure now etched indelibly into her mind.
“I’ll kill you, wretched woman, I’ll kill you!”
Ling Tian was about to speak, but was interrupted by a furious shout.
Somehow, the steps had widened, twice their previous size, as if two stairways had merged together.
Then, the figures of Liu Ruoyi and Phoenix Nest appeared before Ling Tian and Xiao Ling’er.
Yet, unlike the harmony between Ling Tian and Xiao Ling’er, their atmosphere was anything but pleasant.
Phoenix Nest sat atop Liu Ruoyi’s stomach, his expression twisted, cursing incessantly.
Both his hands gripped her throat tightly, intent on strangling her.
Of course, Liu Ruoyi was no innocent herself—her hands equally wrapped around Phoenix Nest’s neck, both their faces flushed and veins bulging.
One feared the next moment might see each kill the other.
Liu Ruoyi, gasping for breath, released her right hand, balled it into a fist, and struck Phoenix Nest squarely in the nose.
Phoenix Nest was sent flying.
With a thud, he landed on his back, and before he could react, Liu Ruoyi seized his throat again.
“They... they...”
Phoenix Nest struggled to rise, and as he did, he saw Ling Tian and Xiao Ling’er, each holding a watermelon, watching their life-and-death struggle.
Now this was truly spectating!
But, come to think of it, where did their watermelons come from?
Wait—why am I thinking about that? Shouldn’t I be focused on saving my own life right now?
“What do you mean ‘they’? Only the two of us are left here. Since you refuse to show your feelings and killed him, you’ll have to pay with your life!”
Liu Ruoyi evidently had not recovered, glaring hatefully at Phoenix Nest.
It was a fight to the death.
Phoenix Nest could do nothing but grab Liu Ruoyi’s chin, forcing her to look at Ling Tian and Xiao Ling’er.
Seeing them, a strange look flashed in Liu Ruoyi’s beautiful eyes.
Her original memories were restored, revealing that they were actually companions, not enemies.
“We... what are we doing?”
At this, Liu Ruoyi released her grip; certain now that the memories were just an illusion, and there was no real hatred between them.
Moreover, if either of them died, they would lose all chance at that opportunity.
And so, the two finally stopped fighting.
“You passed the second trial before us?”
Phoenix Nest straightened his clothes, looking at the pair, unwilling to admit it, but the truth was undeniable.
If not for seeing Ling Tian and Xiao Ling’er, one of them would certainly have died.
That illusion—truly terrifying.
Recalling their previous memories was nearly impossible.

He even felt, vaguely, that the illusion was somehow more real.
He could not distinguish them—truly could not!
“Such a shame, just a bit short!”
Ling Tian tossed his watermelon rind to the ground, shook his head, and sighed.
Phoenix Nest curled his lips; so you see me standing here alive, and it displeases you, does it?
Phoenix Nest was about to speak, when the steps of the third color shone brightly, and the four were transported to a battlefield, where a single line appeared:
“Only one man and one woman may enter the palace!”
At this, they all understood the palace lord’s meaning.
Of the four, only two could enter—the requirement being a man and a woman.
If only a pair entered this place, then the third trial would be nothing at all.
“Hahaha, good, just as I hoped!
If you surrender, I might even let you live!”
Phoenix Nest laughed, having long planned for this; only the previous trials kept the groups apart, preventing him from causing trouble for Ling Tian and Xiao Ling’er.
Ling Tian looked young—how could he possibly be his match?
“Perfect! In that case, friend, you take him, I’ll deal with the woman!”
A flash of cunning lit Liu Ruoyi’s eyes as she spoke.
“Agreed.”
Phoenix Nest replied; it was much as they had discussed.
Black flames surged from his body, striking at Ling Tian.
Ling Tian was not to be outdone, conjuring a shield from the energy of chaos.
Xiao Ling’er watched Liu Ruoyi warily—first, to prevent any sneak attack on Ling Tian; second, fearing Liu Ruoyi might target her instead.
Liu Ruoyi observed Ling Tian and Phoenix Nest’s clash, but made no move herself.
“Chaos Domain!”
Feeling he had gauged enough, Ling Tian no longer wished to play games with Phoenix Nest.
He unleashed the Chaos Domain, and soon Phoenix Nest was sent flying, coughing blood.
It was not that he was weak, but that Ling Tian was simply too strong.
Within the Chaos Domain, Ling Tian’s power was magnified many times over.
He had also gained the Ultimate Supreme Bone; Phoenix Nest was no match for him.
“Liu Ruoyi! What are you doing? I... cough...”
Phoenix Nest forced himself upright, glaring at Liu Ruoyi in fury.
He had kept Ling Tian busy for so long, expecting Liu Ruoyi to have finished off the woman, so they could join forces and defeat Ling Tian.
But what did he see?
Liu Ruoyi simply stood there, making no move whatsoever.
His anger flared, and he spat another mouthful of blood.
“I know you’re anxious, but don’t be. I’ll send you on your way now.”
A flash of cold light appeared in Liu Ruoyi’s eyes as she drew her willow-leaf curved blade.
“That’s more like it—wait, you mean...”
Phoenix Nest assumed she meant to kill Xiao Ling’er, but as he realized her intent, terror dawned on his face. Before he could finish his words, the blade pierced his throat.
Phoenix Nest stared at her in disbelief, as she smiled seductively beneath her veil and said lightly:
“Compared to entering the palace with you, I think I’d prefer a better companion...”