Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 235 - 205: Phantom of the Mind, Utopia in Chaos

Chapter 235: Chapter 205: Phantom of the Mind, Utopia in Chaos

"I’ll go explore it," he said. "This place seems to have a heavy Yin presence, which can overwhelm those with low cultivation or those whose Qi-Blood is weak."

Zhou Ping’an had always trusted his soul sensing abilities.

Ever since he practiced the Karmic Fire Red Lotus Visualization Method,

he found that he was virtually immune to most psychic attacks.

Moreover, he could sometimes get strange premonitions a bit earlier than others.

Especially, he could know about the fortunes and misfortunes of events, as well as whether a journey would be smooth, even before any signs of danger emerged.

This was quite magical.

Zhou Ping’an didn’t know whether this was a bizarre ability produced after his soul had purified to a certain extent,

or a skill spontaneously developed after practicing the Karmic Fire Red Lotus Visualization Method to a certain level?

There was no need to delve into it.

As long as it was useful, that was all that mattered.

Standing at the mouth of the valley now,

not only did he not sense any danger, but deep within his heart, he felt an eagerness to try, as if there were benefits and opportunities awaiting.

What was there to fear, then?

"It cannot be done."

"Absolutely not..."

"Sir, please reconsider carefully before acting."

No sooner had Zhou Ping’an finished speaking

than several voices of dissent followed from behind him.

He turned around in surprise,

to see the Third Miss Lin’s face full of concern, seemingly fearful that once he entered, he would not be able to come back.

Xiao Xue and a few Offerings also looked anxious and clearly disapproved.

It didn’t take long for Zhou Ping’an to understand why.

In the days since,

ever since he entered Lin Residence, resolved internal conflicts, and eliminated external foes...

He had nearly unified Qingyang City and, in all aspects, had become the ruler of this remote city.

Lin Huaiyu might not think too much about it.

But in the eyes of the Offerings and Protectors who had submitted halfway, Zhou Ping’an’s importance was likely far greater than that of the Third Miss Lin.

After all, his achievements were astounding, showing them a future.

And giving them some hope.

Who wouldn’t want their lord to grow stronger and attain higher status?

So, at this time, his safety was no longer just his own affair.

It carried the safety and aspirations of all.

That’s why, upon hearing his proposal to venture into Yinfeng Valley alone, so many opposed at once.

Little Jiu’er, on the other hand,

showed no change in expression.

In the little girl’s mind, he was far more formidable than the Handsome Monkey King...

She hadn’t even considered whether it was dangerous or not.

"This subordinate wishes to serve as the vanguard, venturing into the valley to test where the danger comes from,"

Fang Tielin, with his bronze face flushed red, stepped forward, thumping his chest resoundingly.

Zhou Ping’an couldn’t help but laugh: "Old Fang, have you been watching too many dramas? I don’t even count as a general right now; what subordinate are you..."

That’s to say, under the governance of a dynasty for hundreds of years, the desire to make one’s mark had already been deeply ingrained in everyone’s blood.

Who wouldn’t want to hold office or become a general?

It all depended on whether there was an opportunity.

Zhou Ping’an’s actions of carving out a territory might not be considered orthodox.

But in these turbulent times, it was enough to make many people devoted.

In modern society, there were historical instances where people had led groups of several thousand and occupied a few towns, boldly declaring themselves emperors; it was the same here.

There were always those who dreamed of rising to greatness.

Understanding clearly, yet playing dumb.

Fang Tielin chuckled naively, "This subordinate is rough and tough all around, with a body trained transversely, and full of Yang energy.

Even if Yin energy were to assault me, it would not kill me instantly; with the general’s care, I believe all will be well."

"I should go instead."

A man in his forties, resembling a farmer, waved the hoe he was carrying on his shoulder, "Our goal isn’t to do anything in Yinfeng Valley, and we don’t need to go too far or break through the Yin wind Formation.

If it’s too dangerous at night here, it’s better to let me enter and move out a couple of Seven-leaf Tithonia plants.

In this way, maintaining them safely in a place until they bloom is also an option."

This man was "Golden Jade Hoe" Zhang Ye.

Avoiding confrontation whenever he saw the enemy, such a timid character now seemed willing to show off a bit.

This was not in line with his character.

Not only did Zhou Ping’an find this strange.

Even Lin Huaiyu thought it curious...

Not to mention what the rest thought with their gazes.

Embarrassed by the attention, Zhang Ye’s face turned red, and he hesitantly said: "I have always been timid and faint at the sight of blood but not born a coward.

Before joining Baicao Hall, I would roam the mountains, digging up medicinal herbs, never flinching at dangerous places."

Fine.

I believe you.

Zhou Ping’an’s face was adorned with a gentle smile.

He waved his hand to silence the others who were anxious to speak.

Pointing to Fang Tielin, the transversely trained martial master,

"Since that’s the case, Old Fang, you explore the path.

But we’ll tie a rope around you, so if anything happens, we can pull you back out."

After some thought,

Zhou Ping’an acquiesced.

After all, these people meant well.

Or rather, given the consensus, it wouldn’t be right to insist on his own way and give the impression to his subordinates of being willfully obstinate.

The team was still in its early stages, and his image hadn’t fully taken root in their minds. Some things still required careful attention.

Fang Tielin’s transversely trained body was actually quite good, with robust Qi-Blood and abounding vitality.

In the face of danger, they might be able to hold on a little longer.

To understand what kind of peril lay within the valley was also good.

Zhou Ping’an asked himself, with his own vigilant presence and powerful mental induction, he should be able to protect the other party.

As for the proposal of Zhang Ye with the Golden Jade Hoe.

It could only be said that it was a strategy of last resort.

In Zhang Ye’s eyes, perhaps the Seven-leaf Tithonia was just a few herbs.

Although he didn’t understand why he and the Third Miss showed such determination to obtain it.

In his mind, no matter how important the herb was, it was, after all, just an ingredient, and could not compare to the importance of a human life.

Therefore, he suggested transplanting them.

It wasn’t that he was unaware that the transplanted herbs might not bloom on time.

He surely knew but preferred to take that risk and chose the lesser of two evils.

When it related to the path forward in cultivation,

Zhou Ping’an naturally could not allow anything to happen to those few medicinal herbs.

Who knew, after this missed opportunity,

how long it would take to find the Seven-Petaled Tuberose again.

He couldn’t wait.

...

Regarding the suggestion to tie a rope around his waist, Fang Tielin showed no resistance, cheerfully tying a roughly ten-zhang-long hemp rope, smiled broadly, and walked into the valley.

He moved slowly, but he never stopped, occasionally turning his head to look back.

Everyone watched his retreating figure.

With a sense of growing tension in their hearts.

Zhou Ping’an suddenly tightened his arm and sharply pulled back on the rope.

"Buzz..."

The hemp rope actually emitted the sound as if it were a vibrating bowstring.

A tall figure had already broken through the air in a nosedive, yanked out.

The crowd looked in surprise, then swiftly turned their heads to look into the valley...

They saw another person still walking forward with a goofily open smile, turning his head to laugh, and continuing onward.

For a moment, a chill arose in their hearts.

’If the person still walking into the valley is Fang Tielin, then who was the one pulled out?’

"That’s an illusion, no need to look further, nor to attempt a rescue,"

Zhou Ping’an slapped his palm onto the figure before him, and the Life and Death Impermanence Heart Technique circulated.

Death’s energy transformed into life force.

With eyes tightly shut, Fang Tielin’s face, once blackened, and his rigid body, radiating an icy chill, quickly warmed up and he opened his eyes.

"What happened?"

Zhou Ping’an asked in a deep voice.

"Goodness, I was just walking when I seemed to hear a very pleasant song. I didn’t pay much attention to it, and then, I don’t know why, I just fell asleep..."

Fang Tielin looked baffled.

"It seems like I had a dream too, but I can’t quite remember what it was about. Why can’t I remember?"

Seeing the residual fear on Fang Tielin’s face.

Lin Huaiyu couldn’t help but ask, "Do you remember if it was a good dream or a nightmare?"

"It must have been a nightmare; my heart still feels tight and painful."

Actually, it was not at all surprising.

Everyone saw it.

The burly man, at this moment, still had traces of tears in the corners of his eyes.

Though he did not know the reason for his tears, he had definitely cried.

"You can’t go, and it would be futile for you to try; the more who enter, the more who would become lost..." Zhou Ping’an pondered for a moment, then seeing Lin Huaiyu’s resolute expression, he suddenly stopped her.

"Third Miss, you saw just now, didn’t you? The valley is likely a hallucinatory trap. For martial cultivators with weak spiritual power, it poses a tremendous lethal threat. Once one loses control of their mind and diverges from their true self, the danger is immense.

However, such influence on the mind doesn’t really affect me.

Even if I can’t cope, I still have confidence in making a full retreat."

"Then, be careful,"

Lin Huaiyu took a deep breath, thought for a moment, indeed Zhou Ping’an had not been affected before.

He was also the first to discover that something was wrong with Fang Tielin.

Additionally, it was he who could directly dissolve the yin energy that had afflicted the entrapped Fang Tielin, saving him.

From this point of view,

Zhou Ping’an truly had the means to deal with such attacks.

The Third Miss expressing her approval, the others voiced no further objections.

In fact, Zhou Ping’an’s interventions and treatment actions just now filled them all with a sense of wonder.

They could not even understand what they saw, let alone question it.

But with anxious hearts, they watched Zhou Ping’an step into Yinfeng Valley.

...

One step.

Two steps...

Ten steps.

Zhou Ping’an’s vision blurred.

He vaguely felt that he had forgotten something?

"Huh, this village has such beautiful scenery, is it a paradise?"

"Who am I again? What is this paradise? It feels both familiar and strange.

That’s not right, I can’t possibly have forgotten my own name. What’s my last name again..."

Zhou Ping’an rubbed his head vigorously, even forgetting his own surname.

However, he remembered that should it become too dangerous, he was to ignite the Karma Fire and incinerate everything.

In his mind, a Hong Lian slowly revolved, with the light of the Karmic Fire subdued, seemingly ready to erupt into a raging inferno at a single command, burning everything before him into ashes.

"It seems there’s no danger, though..."

Zhou Ping’an felt mentally exhausted.

No, not mentally exhausted, but his legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead. After a few steps, he sprawled beside the green grassy path, finding it hard to breathe.

He touched his chest and felt his coarse cloth shirt with some white gauze wrapped inside, and he could faintly make out some red bloodstains.