Chapter 342: Suicide

San Jin's single sentence left Jiang Yuan completely stunned.

A look of detachment revealed itself in his eyes, as if his soul had already drifted beyond the mortal world.

The corners of his mouth drooped slightly as he suddenly let out a soft chuckle:

"Being good-looking is truly remarkable, huh."

As Jiang Yuan's voice faded, Cheng Le, who was still grinning hideously opposite him, seemed to feel it deeply, and a look of resentment also surfaced in his eyes:

"Anyone who is good-looking deserves to die!"

Roar, roar, roar!

A series of low roars rang out.

Tang Chang, whose body flashed with pitch-black lightning and who possessed four arms, having long been transformed by malice into an ancient divine beast, let out a low roar.

Jiang Yuan glanced at Tang Chang and gave a bitter smile:

"Senior Brother Tang, how did you end up like this?"

He had told Chen Yan that he had entered the third level of the Dream Abyss specifically to find Tang Chang.

Clearly, the Tang Chang before him was not the one he had wanted to see.

Jiang Yuan's gaze darkened; what exactly had he come to the third level of the Dream Abyss to do?

He had told Chen Yan it was to find Tang Chang.

The feedback given to Yu Changsheng's side was that he had entered the third level of the Dream Abyss to seek an opportunity to kill Chen Yan.

So, what was his true purpose for entering the third level of the Dream Abyss?

Jiang Yuan shook his head, and for the first time, a trace of murderous coldness surfaced in the depths of his eyes.

To the side, San Jin hung her head, her complexion pale, her aura low, carrying a trace of imperceptible melancholy.

She had not saved Chen Yan because Chen Yan was good-looking.

Nor was it some trite thing like falling in love with Chen Yan.

This was a mission.

It was a mission given to her by Xia Hanzhou.

When her mother betrayed the Great Xia and the whole world turned against her, only Xia Hanzhou had stood in front of her to protect her.

He raised her, taught her, and gave her a complete life.

Therefore, when Xia Hanzhou said the words, "She can die, but Chen Yan cannot die."

San Jin had determined that this was something she must do.

Now, could she be considered successful?

She constantly questioned herself, becoming increasingly dejected.

It was also at this moment.

Knock, knock, knock.

The wooden door on the stairs leading from the underground stone room to the main house was knocked upon.

Cheng Le's eyes were cold and sinister as he climbed up the stairs and opened the door only a crack.

Outside the door, Cheng Zizhen, who had golden feathers growing along her cheeks, complained:

"Dad, why did you have Auntie Ji tell me to come back early?"

Cheng Zizhen pouted, very dissatisfied; she had clearly wanted to stay with Chen Yan a little longer.

The coldness in Cheng Le's eyes dissipated, replaced instead by a gentle smile:

"It's too dangerous outside; telling you to come back early is for your own good."

"But..." Cheng Zizhen began.

"Alright, go rest. Chen Yan will be back tomorrow, and you will still have a chance to talk to him," Cheng Le urged.

"Fine." Cheng Zizhen nodded and turned around with slight regret.

The moment his daughter turned away, the corners of Cheng Le's mouth suddenly curled into a terrifying arc; he licked his lips, the malice in his eyes reaching an extreme intensity.

Enveloped by this malice, Cheng Le's body began to tremble, and his breathing began to accelerate.

"Zizhen!" Cheng Le hurriedly called out.

"What is it, Dad?" Cheng Zizhen turned back around.

Cheng Le's expression instantly became gentle, and he said softly:

"Bring your brother down to the basement."

Cheng Zizhen said in surprise:

"Dad, you said we weren't allowed to enter your basement."

"It's fine," Cheng Le said softly:

"Bring your brother over."

"Oh, okay." Cheng Zizhen left, a trace of anticipation still flickering in her eyes.

She was looking forward to meeting Chen Yan again.

Her cheeks were flushed; from the very first moment she saw Chen Yan, her heart had not stopped racing.

Was this the feeling of love at first sight?

What she did not know, however, was that after she left, her father crouched down like a dog, gasping for the air in the room, his appearance morbid to the extreme.

Inside the basement.

Jiang Yuan was completely numb from watching.

Bound to a stone pillar, he could only see a corner of the basement stairwell.

Within that very corner, Cheng Le lay prone on the stairs, his body twisting continuously, his head exposed outside the door, his breathing frequency reaching an extreme high.

…………

The outside world.

Inside a villa.

"What!"

Chen Xiyuan let out a shriek, the cup in her hand fell to the floor, and a look of terror appeared in her eyes.

Opposite her, a light screen stood in mid-air, and the figure of the Second Elder of the Chen Clan appeared within it.

"So flustered; can the Great Elder coming out of seclusion really scare you like this?" the Second Elder frowned and spoke.

"Second Grandfather, has the Great Elder already entered... the Great Xia?" Chen Xiyuan asked with rapid breathing.

"He has entered," the Second Elder said:

"It is all for the sake of Chen Yan; I also did not expect that the Great Elder would actually end his seclusion directly."

The old man with crane-like hair and a youthful complexion had a faint halo overflowing from his body, his aura peerless, as he picked up an exquisite glazed teacup and took a delicate sip:

"I have investigated clearly on my end; that collateral branch in Yunmeng is indeed of the Great Elder's lineage.

If Chen Yan is to return to the clan, he will likely enter under the Great Elder's tutelage."

The Second Elder spoke quietly, while Chen Xiyuan's complexion had already turned pale to the extreme.

Chen Yan had meditated upon that Seventh-Rank Fist Intent Stone, and a crystal of malice would absolutely form within his body.

This crystal of malice, basically no one in the entire world would be able to perceive it.

Except for the Great Elder.

The Great Elder of the Five-Clan Chen Clan.

That is an absolutely ruthless person.

Moreover, the Great Elder is extremely sensitive to the sensing of malice.

Once he senses that crystal of malice, Chen Xiyuan will be finished.

Nowadays, Chen Yan's value is absolutely not something she, a Chen Xiyuan, can compare to.

Previously, the Great Elder had always been in seclusion, and Chen Yan had not been so brilliant, so Chen Xiyuan naturally did not care.

But now, everything has changed.

Looking at the Second Elder within the light screen, Chen Xiyuan subconsciously wanted to kneel down, confess everything, and beg the Second Elder to save her.

"Second Grandfather, that Chen Yan, we..."

"We will not contend for him; leave him to the Great Elder, though we must still maintain good relations on our end," the Second Elder said.

Chen Xiyuan's complexion turned even paler.

It's over!

"Right, there is one more thing I need you to check," the Second Elder began, only to see that Chen Xiyuan was currently dazed.

"Ahem!" he gave a dry cough.

Only then did Chen Xiyuan hurriedly speak:

"Second Grandfather... please speak!"

The Second Elder glanced at Chen Xiyuan with dissatisfaction and continued:

"According to news received from the Great Xia side, the State Administration Office has issued a General Star Order.

Now, all the General Stars in the entire Great Xia who are not participating in the war or have already finished the college entrance examination are rushing toward Xiaoyang City.

You happen to be in Xiaoyang City; investigate what the State Administration Office is trying to do by issuing a General Star Order."

His voice fell, and Chen Xiyuan's breathing trembled:

"A General Star Order?!"

"What, I know this news even in Chen Prefecture, and you don't?"

The Second Elder frowned.

Chen Xiyuan nodded hurriedly, though her heart was incomparably shocked.

When a General Star Order is issued, that means a major event for the world is beginning.

What on earth has happened to cause the State Administration Office to issue a General Star Order?

And why are the General Stars of the world rushing toward Xiaoyang City?

Strange!

A major event!

Chen Xiyuan's brain felt somewhat dizzy.

With these two matters striking, she felt somewhat unwell.

However, compared to the General Star Order, she was more worried about the Great Elder coming out of seclusion.

Because this matter might cost her her life.

If only Chen Yan had died in the college entrance examination secret realm.

Chen Xiyuan thought to herself.

As long as Chen Yan is dead, then everything is over.

The secret that she had once harmed Chen Yan would also be completely covered up.

Chen Yan is a talent.

And even more so, a talent who admired her.

But now, she can no longer control this talent.

Moreover, it will also harm herself.

If only Chen Yan were dead, that would be good.

Chen Xiyuan roared such words in her heart.

She looked out the window and saw the massive college entrance examination leaderboard.

【First Place: Chen Yan: 4,820,000,000】

【Second Place: Yu Changsheng: 1,879,000,000】

【Third Place: Zhang Luobai: 1,450,000,000】

【Fourth Place: Zhu Lili: 1,310,000,000】

…………

Chen Xiyuan felt a bit dizzy; the name belonging to Chen Yan hung high in first place, far too dazzling.

Even with the points of Yu Changsheng and the others inside the Xunyang Tower skyrocketing, they still could not compare to Chen Yan at all.

The Xunyang Tower was the greatest opportunity within the college entrance examination secret realm.

After reaching the one-hundredth floor, the points obtained would be far higher than those below the one-hundredth floor.

Therefore, the top prodigies had all gone to the Xunyang Tower.

But they likely could not have imagined that, while they struggled in the Xunyang Tower, they were actually no match for a Chen Yan who had not even gone to the Xunyang Tower yet.

The name of Chen Yan would not only be famous in Qin Prefecture, but would also be famous throughout the Great Xia.

How could such a genius possibly die in the college entrance examination secret realm?

Chen Xiyuan felt somewhat desperate, feeling that she had completely messed things up.

It was also at this moment.

Chen Xiyuan's gaze shifted slightly, and she heard the discussions outside.

With a whoosh.

Chen Xiyuan's figure disappeared from within the living room.

Inside the light screen, the Second Elder was startled, a trace of indignation appearing in his eyes.

This junior of his was a bit too disrespectful toward him.

Very quickly, Chen Xiyuan's figure appeared once again within the living room.

What was different was that, at this moment, there was actually a flush on Chen Xiyuan's face.

"What happened?" the Second Elder asked in a cold voice.

Chen Xiyuan suppressed the joy in her heart and spoke:

"It is the Military Martial side arguing, requesting the Xia Clan to intervene in the college entrance examination secret realm."

The Second Elder frowned:

"Has the Military Martial gone mad? The Xia Clan has never interfered with the college entrance examination secret realm.

Did a Military Martial examinee run into trouble in the college entrance examination secret realm?"

Chen Xiyuan nodded:

"Chen Yan has entered the third level of the Dream Abyss."

Her voice had just fallen.

"What!!!"

Inside the light screen, the Second Elder roared, jet-black flames of light erupting all over his body, like an abyss, like a prison.

"Fool!" the Second Elder growled:

"Just how stupid is this Chen Yan to dare to go to the third level of the Dream Abyss? Those examinees who went to the third level of the Dream Abyss have never come back out."

The Second Elder was furious and disappointed.

He had not expected Chen Yan to be so arrogant.

"But Chen Yan still has an abstention token," Chen Xiyuan said.

The Second Elder sighed helplessly:

"This third level of the Dream Abyss is very strange; once you enter, the malice will bewitch you into destroying your own abstention token.

Why do you think those examinees who entered the third level of the Dream Abyss could not get out?"

As the Second Elder spoke, Chen Xiyuan turned around.

She could not hide the smile emerging at the corners of her mouth.

The feeling at this moment was as if she were about to be beheaded and displayed in public, when suddenly a pardon token arrived.

Chen Yan entered the third level of the Dream Abyss; he entered well.

It would be best if he died inside.

That way, everything she had done to Chen Yan would be unknown to anyone.

The First Elder would never be able to discover Chen Yan, and she could also rest easy.

She began to laugh, suppressing her body from trembling, but the wild joy in her eyes grew even more intense.

…………

"She is seeking her own death."

Inside the underground stone room, Cheng Le whispered with a sinister gaze, then immediately clutched his head.

But very quickly, his attitude changed instantly, his voice gentle, his eyes full of doting: "But she is my most beloved daughter."

The next moment, Cheng Le became manic, bloodshot eyes erupting:

"No, she is just a slut; seeing that Chen Yan, her eyes are about to burrow into someone else's arms."

Immediately after, his expression became gentle again.

"But she is my daughter."

He was just like this, one moment manic, one moment gentle.

An extremely pathological monologue.

Jiang Yuan watched this scene speechlessly and spoke:

"To be honest, being killed by you is simply an insult to me."

Boom—

Cheng Le kicked Jiang Yuan in the stomach with a boom and let out a low roar:

"Shut your mouth!"

Roar!

Tang Chang, who had four arms and was exploding with ink-colored lightning, also let out a low roar.

Jiang Yuan cursed under his breath, then said:

"You are not Cheng Le."

On the side, Cheng Le was still talking to himself, but Jiang Yuan suddenly roared:

"Who exactly are you? You are not Cheng Le at all!"

Cheng Le turned his head and looked at Jiang Yuan with extreme malice:

"What do you mean?"

Jiang Yuan sneered:

"Cheng Le, haven't you realized it yet? You are no longer the Cheng Le you once were."

Cheng Le was stunned, then a look of madness appeared in his eyes:

"Yes, I am long since no longer the Cheng Le of the past. The current me..."

Jiang Yuan did not give Cheng Le a chance to speak at all and continued:

"You know that the particles within each of our bodies are metabolizing every day.

One day, our entire bodies, every cell and bone, will become new."

Cheng Le was stunned, looking at Jiang Yuan.

"Are we at that time still the same us as we are now?!" Jiang Yuan roared, appearing as if he had gone mad at this moment.

Cheng Le frowned, looking at Jiang Yuan seriously at this moment:

"You... what are you talking about?"

"I mean, after our bodies constantly metabolize, one day, we will become another person.

This is the truth of the world, the ultimate mystery that has long been revealed to the world.

But no one has cared, and no one has even noticed that they are no longer the person they were a few years ago."

Jiang Yuan laughed wildly:

"The self of today has killed the self of the past.

I, Jiang Yuan, have killed my former self, and you!"

Jiang Yuan glared at Cheng Le with extreme ferocity:

"The Cheng Le of yesterday has long since been killed by the Cheng Le of today!!!"

He roared in a rage, raised his head at this moment, tears streaming from his eyes, and choked out:

"I have long since died, and you have long since died too."

At this moment, Jiang Yuan's crying was earth-shattering and extremely sorrowful, leaving even San Jin, who was beside him, dumbfounded.

"I have long since... died?"

Cheng Le was stunned.

"Yes!" Jiang Yuan spoke:

"You have long since died!"

Cheng Le frowned and shook his head:

"No, no, no!"

Cheng Le pointed at himself:

"Jiang Yuan, what you said is wrong. My previous physical body has indeed died, but I..."

A look of contempt appeared at the corner of Cheng Le's mouth, as if he had mastered everything at this moment:

"But my consciousness has never changed. Jiang Yuan, you are wrong, and you will be wrong!"

Who would have thought that a smile would appear at the corner of Jiang Yuan's mouth:

"Yes!"

Jiang Yuan yelled out:

"A person's physical body will renew, and the physical body will die, but a person's consciousness remains unchanged!"

Jiang Yuan's eyes widened, and he laughed like a madman:

"Therefore, we have not died."

"That's right." Cheng Le laughed:

"Therefore, we have not died."

"Wrong!!!" Jiang Yuan suddenly roared:

"I have not died, but you have died!!!"

Cheng Le narrowed his eyes and roared:

"Nonsense!"

"It is not nonsense!" Jiang Yuan screamed:

"A person's consciousness remains unchanged; even if the physical body dies, the person is still alive."

"Therefore, human death in the physical sense is absolutely not death!"

It was also at this moment.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of knocking on the door rang out.

Jiang Yuan wanted to curse inside.

Cheng Le, however, waved his hand:

"Continue what you were saying."

Jiang Yuan sneered:

"Physical death will not bring us true death.

Because our consciousness is still alive.

We can all rely on our consciousness to achieve eternal survival, but Cheng Le, your consciousness has changed!"

Cheng Le's pupils constricted.

Tears streamed from Jiang Yuan's eyes as he spoke with extreme sorrow:

"Cheng Le, you..."

His mouth twitched, and he said mournfully:

"You have been eroded by malice; the consciousness that originally would not undergo metabolism has also begun to metabolize because of the existence of malice."

Cheng Le opened his mouth, and a trace of confusion appeared in his eyes.

"Brother Cheng!" Jiang Yuan gritted his teeth, tears and snot flowing:

"Just as a person's physical body undergoes metabolism and produces death without the person themselves noticing.

In the process of your consciousness heading toward death, you yourself haven't realized it at all."

Cheng Le frowned, pointing at himself, he hesitated and said:

"So, my consciousness is already dead?"

"Yes!" Jiang Yuan shouted in a low voice:

"The Cheng Le of the past was a Third-Rank General Star, the future of the Great Xia; would he eat people?"

Cheng Le spoke with some difficulty, his face twisted together:

"No... he wouldn't."

But immediately after, Cheng Le grinned hideously:

"Since Cheng Le is already dead, then I have even less pressure to eat you!"

"No!" Jiang Yuan shouted in a low voice:

"Cheng Le, what is your name?!"

Cheng Le pursed his lips.

What kind of question was this?

But at this moment, Cheng Le still said with slight hesitation:

"Cheng Le."

"Why do you have this name?!" Jiang Yuan roared.

Cheng Le was silent, but the rage in his eyes was constantly condensing.

Knock, knock, knock...

The knocking on the door was still ringing out.

Cheng Le suddenly became irritable, clutching his head, and roared:

"Get lost!!!"

But his roar did not stop the knocking.

Because the walls of this stone house could only perceive from one side.

Seeing this, Jiang Yuan's voice softened as he looked at the person to the side, who was covered in black lightning and had four arms:

"Tang Chang, what is your name?"

Roar!

The four-armed giant roared, thunder rumbling all over his body.

"Cheng Le, do you see?" Jiang Yuan laughed loudly.

"See... what?" Cheng Le was somewhat dazed.

Jiang Yuan shouted in a low voice:

"Tang Chang is long since no longer Tang Chang; he doesn't even acknowledge that he is Tang Chang.

Tang Chang is long since dead; the one standing here now is the Ancient God Beast that killed Tang Chang!"

The moment Jiang Yuan's voice fell, Cheng Le looked at Tang Chang in astonishment and said blankly:

"Tang Chang... is already dead?"

"Yes!" Jiang Yuan said with extreme sadness:

"Even if you are unwilling to admit it, Tang Chang is indeed already dead."

Cheng Le was stunned, his expression changing at this moment:

"I am also already dead?..."

"No!" Jiang Yuan roared:

"You haven't finished dying yet; you still know your name is Cheng Le!"

Cheng Le frowned, his head burning, and he was a bit unable to make sense of the situation.

Knock, knock, knock!

The sound of knocking on the door was still echoing.

Jiang Yuan glanced at the door on the stairs and said gently:

"Brother Cheng Le, your consciousness has been maliciously erased for so many years.

Everything that belongs to you is dying; once your consciousness is completely erased, Cheng Le will be dead entirely."

His voice was coaxing, paired with superb tonal shifts, as he secretly activated a secret technique to influence the mind, causing tears to stream from Cheng Le's eyes.

"I am going to die, I am going to die soon..." A look of despair appeared in Cheng Le's eyes:

"What should I do!!!"

Snot and tears streaming down his face, he looked at Jiang Yuan as if pleading.

"You..." A look of sorrow appeared in Jiang Yuan's eyes, his pupils appearing so desolate amidst the interplay of light and shadow, as he spoke with difficulty:

"You can still take revenge!"

"Revenge?" Cheng Le was stunned.

"Yes." Jiang Yuan spoke, two lines of tears flowing out:

"Kill that malice that wants to kill you, kill that Ancient Divine Beast that is about to replace you."

A glimmer of light appeared in Cheng Le's eyes, and at this moment, as if he had grasped the final straw to save his life, he asked:

"How do I kill him?"

The sorrow on Jiang Yuan's face spread like vines as he said softly:

"Commit suicide."