Chapter 595: Is This Still a Human?

"Uncle, I won't leave. As long as I can see my grandfather's last face, even if it shortens my life by ten or twenty years, I don't mind!"

Le Zhuang didn't wait for Daozhang Xuanqing to finish speaking and blurted out, "Uncle, I've heard that when Guimen Gate appears at a funeral it draws the departed's soul out. I don't know if that's true or false?"

Daozhang Xuanqing nodded, about to say something, when his peripheral vision caught Wang Ping'an sneaking aside, apparently also unwilling to leave, and he scolded with a laugh, "You little brat, you want to join every bit of excitement!"

As he spoke, two spheres of magical energy burst from Daozhang Xuanqing, instantly appearing around Le Zhuang and Wang Ping'an, enveloping both of them.

Le Zhuang asked in astonishment, "Uncle, what is this?"

"What else could it be? Of course it's something that protects your life. Your grandfather entrusted you to my care—do you really think I'd watch you waste ten or twenty years of lifespan with my eyes open?"

Daozhang Xuanqing let out a cold snort; before he could finish his sentence, a series of crisp sounds rang out—the Guimen Gate above Le Wenmao's coffin gradually opening—drawing both Daozhang Xuanqing's and Le Zhuang's gazes. Xuanqing turned toward the opening gate, eager to see what lay beyond.

After all, a thing like Guimen Gate, even though he is a cultivator, he has only heard of it and never seen it with his own eyes.

Le Zhuang's gaze, however, was fixed on Le Wenmao's coffin, tears glimmering in his eyes.

During the period when his grandfather lay on the bed, the grandfather often mentioned that when he passed on he wanted him to take care of himself. Each time it made him feel very upset; hearing it repeatedly, he couldn't say he no longer cared, but at least he could accept it. Yet today, when his grandfather truly departs from the world…

He then realized that his so‑called "acceptance" was all a lie; he didn't want it at all—his grandfather leaving him.

As the Guimen Gate gradually opened, strands of pure yin qi seeped out. Daozhang Xuanqing felt the yin qi, couldn't help but shiver, as if he had fallen into a millennial ice vault; his heart startled, for such pure yin qi exists only in the Underworld.

If a cultivator practicing yin‑evil methods encountered this pure yin qi, they'd be happier than finding heavenly treasures.

No.

The yin qi spilling from the Underworld is by no means inferior to heavenly treasures for those who practice yin‑evil methods.

Daozhang Xuanqing hurriedly marshaled his internal magical energy, not only to resist the invading yin qi from the Guimen Gate, but also to enshroud the entire spirit hall, preventing the yin qi from dispersing and harming others.

Later.

Just as Daozhang Xuanqing was about to focus more on what lay beyond the Guimen Gate, he suddenly noticed something abnormal nearby. Instinctively turning his head, he saw the magical shield surrounding Wang Ping'an suddenly tear a huge hole, and he exclaimed in shock, "How is that possible?"

Besides Wang Ping'an, Le Zhuang was also protected by his own shield against the yin qi. The shield safeguarding Le Zhuang showed no sign of damage; yet the shield protecting Wang Ping'an inexplicably tore a huge hole.

Daozhang Xuanqing didn't understand what was happening, but he feared the yin qi would flow through that hole to Wang Ping'an, permeate his body, and damage his lifespan.

The next moment.

A strand of pure magical energy condensed in his palm, and just as Daozhang Xuanqing was about to release it to repair Wang Ping'an's damaged shield and disperse the yin qi seeping into it, the yin qi spilling from the Guimen Gate seemed drawn by an unknown attraction, swarming in from all directions.

The direction—right where Wang Ping'an stood! "What, what, what—what on earth is happening?"

Daozhang Xuanqing's pupils contracted sharply; his face and eyes were filled with disbelief.

He had seen situations like Wang Ping'an's before—many similar cases that occur during cultivation—but Wang Ping'an was only a few months old, not even understanding anything, let alone practicing cultivation, so such a phenomenon shouldn't occur.

"Wait… could it be the Innate Dao Body at work?"

A flash of insight flickered in Daozhang Xuanqing's mind, though he had never heard of any link between the Innate Dao Body and yin qi. He admitted he knew little about the Innate Dao Body, and no one could guarantee whether Wang Ping'an possessed any other supernatural traits beyond it.

Daozhang Xuanqing forced his worry aside, staring intently at Wang Ping'an; the magical energy in his palm no longer launched. He wanted to see why this child attracted the gathering yin qi, to understand what effect the yin qi seeping into Wang Ping'an's body would have, and worried whether it would harm him. If he noticed anything amiss with Wang Ping'an, he would rescue him at once.

"Uncle, what's wrong, what's happening…?"

Le Zhuang, who had been staring intently at his own grandfather's coffin waiting for his spirit to appear, was startled by Daozhang Xuanqing's voice. Before he could finish speaking, his peripheral vision suddenly caught the damaged shield around Wang Ping'an, his body enveloped by a gray‑black haze, and he exclaimed in shock:

"What is that?"

The moment he finished speaking, a flash of insight sparked in Le Zhuang's mind, and he hurried, "Uncle, has Ping'an been attacked by yin qi? Save Ping'an quickly!"

Although.

This novel you to

Daozhang Xuanqing said Wang Ping'an was his senior brother, but he couldn't bring himself to call a one‑ or two‑year‑old child a senior brother.

"No need to worry!"

Daozhang Xuanqing observed carefully for a long time; the shock on his face was turning into horror, and he exhaled a heavy breath of foul air, saying:

"Your senior brother isn't being attacked by yin qi; the yin qi is being drawn to your senior brother, and this yin qi is strengthening his physique!"

Cultivators who practice yin‑evil methods usually suffer severe bodily depletion, as the qi they absorb is harmful. This is the first time he's seen someone use yin qi to strengthen the body. If Wang Ping'an were not his disciple, but someone he knew well, he couldn't help but suspect the child might be a demon or monster.

How bizarre!

"Ah—Uncle, didn't you just say that being attacked by yin qi would shorten one's lifespan?"

Le Zhuang's face was full of puzzlement; if he hadn't seen Daozhang Xuanqing's serious expression, he might have suspected Xuanqing was teasing him. Yet he couldn't help but worry, "Uncle, is Ping'an really okay?"

"I actually hope this kid gets into trouble!"

Daozhang Xuanqing gave a wry smile, his face showing complex emotions, and said, "But this kid is not only fine; it's actually a good thing!"

(End of Chapter)