Chapter 538: Blind

Chapter 538 Blindness

Upon hearing this, the old woman washing silk felt a pang in her heart and couldn't help blurting out, "No!"

She thought Qi Yuan had agreed to Liu Chudong's proposal, sacrificing himself to bring back Shenlin.

That was something she did not wish to see.

She believed in Shenlin, any Shenlin would do.

Liu Chudong was filled with respect: "Everyone has the right to choose for themselves. Whatever choice Brother Qi makes, I will support and understand.

I also know I shouldn't have said those words, but I had no other way.

I never expected... Brother Qi would actually agree."

Qi Yuan blinked: "Who said I was going to erase my own consciousness?"

As he spoke, Qi Yuan pulled a light sword from his storage artifact and handed it to the old woman washing silk.

"I am leaving Raksha, and I don't know when I'll return. During this time, you will take charge of Raksha and maintain its stability.

If you encounter an invincible enemy, activate this artifact, and Shenlin will appear."

The Shenlin that had drunk the poisonous rain was destroyed.

But as the degree of role-playing increased, Shenlin respawned like a boss.

My Shenlin can still be used.

"As for what you mentioned... what Shenlin expects..." Qi Yuan looked at Liu Chudong, "When I return, perhaps everything will be resolved."

"You're leaving?" Liu Chudong was astonished.

Liu Sheng also looked at Qi Yuan in surprise.

In his view, since Shenlin had gained consciousness, it was no longer a divine artifact but a god-level being, like a human.

All humans have emotions and desires, and seek something.

Raksha, once the world's strongest nation, though now in decline, still ranked among the top three.

Wealth, resources, power, beauty... everything was available.

Even a god-level weapon master like Liu Sheng could not easily give up such things.

Qi Yuan was actually willing to abandon all this and leave Raksha?

How could he not be shocked.

"Yes, I am leaving Raksha. I have many important things to do," Qi Yuan said.

Liu Chudong was stunned, never expecting Qi Yuan to leave.

Liu Sheng couldn't help asking, "Why not rest for a few years before going?"

"No, time is precious. I must go quickly," Qi Yuan said earnestly.

With that, his figure vanished into thin air.

Chen Kangbao, who was eating buns, looked up with a joyful expression: "Alright, let's go!"

The carriage came with a grand rumbling and left in silence.

In the night, no one knew that the terrifying god who had slain the gods during the day and shaken Raksha... had already departed.

Liu Sheng watched the carriage's retreating silhouette, a thousand words on his lips.

Not staying for one night?

Spending the night in the harem or something?

He admired Qi Yuan even more.

If it were him, he would surely be reluctant to leave like this.

Even if he left, he would have to... stay one night, enjoy some pleasures, right?

The harem was full of charming women; they would likely offer themselves without any coercion.

Of course, Liu Sheng only entertained such vulgar thoughts.

"Brother Qi... is truly a sage," Liu Sheng couldn't help sighing.

...

"Are you ready? I'm about to head to the Divine Tree Abyss."

In the Divine Tree Token, Qi Yuan scanned the information above and sent a new message.

The NPC commentator was always online: "You're still alive, which is somewhat surprising to me."

Ji Wuyun also came online: "Brother Qi... you're not dead?"

She had just been bathing, her hair still wet.

"Don't curse me. Even if you die, I won't," Qi Yuan said. "This so-called Void Paradise, do I have to take on tasks frequently? If so, you'd better not recommend me. I'm used to being free and easy."

The Blood of Thorns staff member was slightly taken aback: "This does fit your usual style, but it's a pity."

Indeed, it was a pity.

Staying in this world, or even in this embryonic universe, held no future.

If he joined the Void Paradise and went to the Zhou Universe, he could avoid disaster.

"I've finished my business. Should we meet at the Divine Tree Abyss?" Qi Yuan said. "And by the way, I can supervise for your Blood of Thorns whether they've been training hard."

The time to play the blind artifact master was approaching. If he didn't go to the Divine Tree Abyss to meet up, he would go blind.

Once blind, his eyes would likely be unable to perceive information differences, and he wouldn't be able to communicate through the Divine Tree Token.

This would also affect his combat.

"The gods of Blood of Thorns wouldn't dare to cross you now," the Blood of Thorns staff member said truthfully. "But compared to the task, I'm more interested in the Divine Tree Abyss. I've heard even the Yang God is interested in it."

The Yang God, a venerable figure in the Zhou Universe, was someone he had to look up to.

Through his ancestors, he knew the Divine Tree Abyss was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

Although this embryonic universe was not even one percent the size of the Zhou Universe, it was still vast, and Yin Gods could spend their entire lives exploring it without finishing.

Among so many worlds, those with a Divine Tree Abyss were rare.

This time, after some thought, he decided to explore the Divine Tree Abyss with Qi Yuan and the others before considering whether to complete the task.

As for Qi Yuan... he was indeed strong.

But he was not weak either.

Standing at the peak of the Three Steps of Heaven, and equipped with some powerful tools from the Void Paradise, he was not afraid even if Qi Yuan made a move.

He had confidence.

Unless the Ancestral God of this embryonic universe intervened, or a Yin God who had reached the pinnacle, he was confident he could escape from anyone else.

"They're not coming?" Qi Yuan didn't mind.

In the Abyss of Divine Wood lies the divine wood.

According to the information obtained, the divine wood is the finest material for forging artifacts.

Many divine instruments in this world are made from the divine wood.

Since he intended to forge a brand-new Divine Presence, he naturally had to make a trip to the Abyss of Divine Wood.

"Tell me the exact location of the Abyss of Divine Wood, and I'll go there now," Qi Yuan said.

"It lies in the far west of the Raksha Kingdom, where the sun sets."

Qi Yuan looked up, scanning the scattered stars. "Is there a more specific description?"

"It is beneath the Sunfall Cliff."

The Abyss of Divine Wood was a hidden place, not known to all, but the Sunfall Cliff was famous.

"Old man, do you know the Sunfall Cliff?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

"I do," Chen Kangbao quickly replied. "I heard the story of Quark Chasing the Sun when I was a child."

Quark Chasing the Sun?

Qi Yuan fell silent.

Once, he had told many stories to the Voice of Silence.

Twisted versions.

Among them was Quark Chasing the Sun.

"Quark had an elder brother named Kuafu, tall in stature, feet on the earth, head against the sky, racing with the sun until he died.

Though Quark was born short, even invisible to the human eye, he could not bear to see his brother fall. So he too imitated Kuafu in chasing the sun, and in the end... the sun plunged into the Sunfall Cliff, and he leaped after it."

"...What a touching story. The one who made it up must have great depth," Qi Yuan commented.

"In the royal treasury, I found a map of the Azure Mountain Realm. Young master, are you going to the Sunfall Cliff?" Chen Kangbao asked.

"Yes," Qi Yuan nodded.

At that moment, a message came from the Divine Wood Token, sent by Ji Wuyun.

"Shall we meet?" She was somewhat afraid to go to the Abyss of Divine Wood.

"If you're scared, you might as well give the Divine Wood Token to Brother Qi Yuan," said the staff member from Blood of Thorns.

Ji Wuyun hesitated, then finally said, "I'll go."

"I estimate I'll arrive in a month. See you in a month. I hope this meeting won't have any surprises."

"Oh, I've jinxed it again."

"But it's fine—I'm so lucky that if something goes wrong, it's usually not me."

...

Traveling under the stars, rushing day and night. Braving wind and rain, weary from the journey.

This time, Qi Yuan traveled swiftly, arriving at the Sunfall Cliff in less than a month, ahead of schedule.

The Sunfall Cliff lay at the western edge of the sky, where the ground was rugged with rocks and nearly barren of grass.

A setting sun descended, as if plunging into the depths of the cliff ahead.

"Young master, there's a stele here," Chen Kangbao said.

He read the inscription aloud: "In days of old, a tree stood still in primal chaos. Now I think of you, as a tree longs for spring. So faint, so faint, seek me not."

The voice was distant, carrying a desolate and mournful tone.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a tall figure stepped down.

If one looked closely, they would see that his pupils lacked focus.

His clothes were somewhat thin, and though his face had flesh, his demeanor seemed aloof and melancholic.

The Sunfall Cliff was not a secluded place; many young men and women came here to visit.

Many noticed the servant and his master, and when they saw the handsome young man, regret and disappointment flickered in their eyes.

So handsome, yet such a pity—he was blind.

This young man was, of course, Qi Yuan.

A few days earlier, the restriction of May had descended, forcing him to play the role of the Blind Artificer.

Moreover, if he failed to complete this role, he would remain in this state.

The Blind Artificer's greatest trait was his blindness.

Secondly, he was reclusive, with the madness of a genius artificer.

Lastly, he had no wife, no friends, and fared even worse than Qi Yuan the son-in-law.

As soon as he began playing the Blind Artificer, Qi Yuan felt himself grow much more withdrawn.

He had also lost his sight.

Wherever he looked, there was only darkness, or a faint red glow.

"Is it ahead? Let me feel it," Qi Yuan said, knowing of this stele.

He had once overheard the murmur, "So faint, so faint, seek me not."

He was quite curious about this stele.

"Young master, be careful—there are many stones on the ground," Chen Kangbao warned.

"Don't worry. Though I'm blind, could I possibly trip over a stone... and fall into the Sunfall Cliff?"

Qi Yuan approached the stele.

Behind him, a young woman's voice called out in warning.

"Blind man, don't go forward. The path is uneven—be careful you don't slip in."

Qi Yuan nodded but paid no heed.

The Blind Artificer was always aloof and taciturn; to play the part, he naturally had to imitate that.

"That guy doesn't appreciate kindness," the young woman muttered, annoyed. "He might as well fall..."

Before she could finish, her eyes widened. "Help! Someone's fallen into the Sunfall Cliff!"

The one who had fallen was none other than the blind young man.

The moment his hand touched the stele, for some reason, he suddenly tumbled into the Sunfall Cliff.

The young woman angrily slapped her own face. What a jinx she was.

Though the blind young man had been rude, he didn't deserve to die.

"That man fell into the Sunfall Cliff... looks like there won't be a body left."

"His servant doesn't seem worried at all—could it be..." some conspiracy theorist muttered.

Many bravely peered down the Sunfall Cliff, but all they saw were clouds and mist—nothing at all.

“The young master is a god descended to earth—how could he die?” Chen Kangbao was not anxious; he sat calmly by, waiting.

……

“He fell?”

The wind kept roaring in his ears; Qi Yuan did not resist, his thoughts slowly reviving.

He had merely touched the stone tablet when suddenly an irresistible force swept over him, and he tumbled off Sunset Cliff.

Midair, with his strength, he could have stepped on his left foot with his right and flown back up.

But he seemed to catch a different scent; after a moment’s thought, he let himself fall.

“Leaves, grass, flowing water…”

Qi Yuan heard these sounds.

He also smelled a thick vitality.

“No… my divine power…” Suddenly, Qi Yuan was startled, for his divine power had weakened considerably in this region.

“Is this a place where heaven and earth are cut off?”

“I won’t die from the fall, will I?”

Qi Yuan was speechless—if he died from a fall in this game, it would be a huge embarrassment.

However, he still had a trace of divine power within him.

Without any hesitation, he suddenly flailed upward to reduce the force of his fall.

“Hope… I land in the river.”

If he landed on some rock, he’d really be done for.

Thump!

A soft resistance struck him; Qi Yuan felt as if he had crashed into many ropes or a net.

A powerful impact hit him; he felt his heart as if it had taken a heavy hammer blow, and blood spurted from his mouth, mixed with fragments.

He hadn’t been injured in the battle with the Six Gods, but now falling off a cliff had wounded him—Qi Yuan was speechless.

At this moment, his injuries were severe, and his whole body was tangled in ropes.

“Cough, cough…”

He coughed again, his breath weak.

“The deeper the valley, the stronger the confinement. Now I… am probably only a little stronger than an ordinary person.”

Such injuries were serious for Qi Yuan.

If he died here, it would be laughable.

Just then, a rustling sound came, like footsteps on withered yellow leaves.

Qi Yuan struggled and looked toward the source of the sound.

But now he was blind and could see nothing at all.

“Who’s there? Alive?”

A pleasant, crisp voice came, tinged with doubt and a faint aloof coldness.

“Cough… alive, fell from above,” Qi Yuan managed to say.

He used his hands to push the ropes off his body.

“You broke my swing?” the voice came again.

“Swing? Maybe…” Qi Yuan struggled to speak; his injuries were severe, he was growing weaker, and if he spoke more, he felt he would pass out.

“You’ll pay for it!” The crisp, cold voice came, brooking no argument.

“Save me… I’ll pay you ten thousand!” After saying this, Qi Yuan’s mind went dark, and he finally couldn’t hold on and fainted.

“Okay.”

“Where are you?”

“Why don’t you speak?”

“You’re not dead, are you?”

“Maybe… I’ll bury you under the tree as fertilizer.”

The woman approached cautiously, walking with care.

If Qi Yuan could still see the light, he would have noticed that the woman before him… was blind.

Finally, the blind woman stopped in front of Qi Yuan, a complex expression in her sightless eyes.

“It’s been so long since anyone came here.”

Her delicate hand rested on Qi Yuan’s chest, her expression serious.

“This injury… so severe, you almost died.”

She looked at this young man who could not see, hesitated briefly, then bit her own fair arm.

Blood dripped, falling into Qi Yuan’s mouth.

Her face turned as pale as paper.

“I want to get out…”

(End of chapter)