PDLP Chapter 48 Difficult Choices
Chapter 48 Difficult Choices
Starlight streamed down, revealing a magnificent palace. Inside, the resplendent halls were piled high with all sorts of rare and precious treasures. A dazzling array of magical artifacts shimmered with brilliant light, while ancient scrolls were neatly arranged on white jade bookshelves, exuding a rich spiritual energy. A faint fragrance permeated the air, soothing and delightful.
"Wow! So many treasures!" Wu Daxia exclaimed, his eyes shining as he rushed toward the nearest pile of magical artifacts.
Although Fairy Meng did not lose her composure like Hero Wu, she couldn't help but cover her mouth in amazement: "I never imagined that this place would be such a hidden paradise! Any one of these magical treasures is a rare gem in the world!"
I suppressed my excitement, my gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of treasures before finally settling on a massive crystal ball in the center of the hall. The crystal ball hovered in mid-air, emitting a soft white light, and some images were faintly visible within it.
Curious, I stepped forward and examined it closely, but my expression gradually became serious.
What was displayed in the crystal ball was not some rare beast or ancient secret technique, but a human tragedy!
A peaceful little village was engulfed in flames. Houses collapsed, thick smoke billowed, and villagers fled in all directions, their cries and wails echoing through the sky. A group of monks dressed in black, with ferocious faces, wielding sharp blades, were indiscriminately slaughtering the innocent villagers. Blood stained the ground, creating a scene resembling a living hell.
“This…” I gasped, a strong sense of unease rising in my heart.
"What's wrong?" Meng Xianzi noticed my unusual behavior and asked softly.
I pointed to the crystal ball and said in a heavy tone, "Look!"
Everyone crowded around, and when they saw the image inside the crystal ball, their expressions changed drastically.
"These beasts!" Wu Daxia roared, his fists clenched, his eyes almost spitting fire. "How dare they harm innocent people like this!"
"Why would they do this?" Doctor Zheng frowned, his eyes filled with doubt and confusion.
"Perhaps it's to steal something," Chief Zhou guessed. "Or maybe it's to cultivate some evil or heretical practice, requiring living people for sacrifice."
Just then, the crystal ball in the center of the hall suddenly shone brightly, and an old voice rang in everyone's ears: "Congratulations, you have passed the first test and arrived at my treasure vault."
Everyone was startled and looked up in the direction from which the sound came, but they couldn't see anyone.
"Who is it? Who is speaking?" Wu asked warily, his hand already gripping his weapon tightly.
The aged voice continued, "I am the master of this cave, Chen Xuan. You need not be alarmed. I have been gone for many years and am now just a remnant soul."
"Immortal Chen!" My heart skipped a beat as I recalled the records I had seen outside the stone gate. "Are you the legendary immortal, Immortal Chen?"
"It is indeed I." Chen Xianren's voice carried a hint of melancholy. "I have spent my entire life pursuing the path to immortality, but in the end, I could not escape the fate of reincarnation. Now, my physical body has long since decayed, leaving only this wisp of soul to guard my legacy."
I took a deep breath, suppressing my excitement, and asked, "Master Chen, what exactly do you mean by showing us the images in the crystal ball?"
Chen Xianren's voice rang out again: "That is the second test."
His tone turned serious: "You must make a choice..."
Chen Xianren's voice was deep, carrying a trace of ancient compassion: "What you see is not the past, but a tragedy that is happening now. The village is called Qinghe Village, and the evil cultivators are from the demonic sect Blood Fiend Sect. I am powerless to stop this calamity, but you can."
"The second test is a choice. You can choose to enter my treasure vault, inherit my mantle, and gain great power. Or you can choose to leave here and save the villagers of Qinghe Village."
As soon as Immortal Chen finished speaking, Hero Wu eagerly said, "Is there even a choice? Of course, we should protect the treasure vault first! Immortal, think about how important these magical treasures and secret manuals are to us cultivators! With them, we can improve our strength more quickly and better protect this world, right?"
"Master Wu is right!" Chief Zhou nodded in agreement. "If these treasures fall into the hands of the demonic path, the consequences would be unimaginable!"
My brow furrowed, my heart filled with mixed emotions. I could understand Wu Daxia and Chief Zhou's thoughts, but I simply couldn't bear to watch those innocent villagers being slaughtered.
“But…” I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but was interrupted by Chen Xianren’s voice.
"Choosing to save people means giving up my legacy. Have you thought it through?" There was a hint of a sigh in Chen Xianren's voice.
"I've made up my mind! I choose to save people!" I said without hesitation, my tone firm.
"Yao'er!" Doctor Zheng looked at me worriedly, then hesitated to speak.
I smiled slightly at him to reassure him, then turned to the others and asked, "What about you? How are you choosing?"
Without hesitation, Wu Daxia said, "I choose to protect the treasure vault! Great men don't concern themselves with trifles. Only by possessing great power can one better protect the weak. My mind is made up!"
Chief Zhou echoed, "I also choose to protect the treasure vault!"
My heart sank, and I turned my gaze to Fairy Meng...
All eyes were on Fairy Meng, her face frosty, her tone icy: "I choose to save lives. Life is the most precious thing, incomparable to any treasure. We cultivators should protect all living beings, not abandon innocent people for our own selfish desires!"
Meng Xianzi's words were resounding, like a thunderclap in everyone's ears. Chief Zhou and Doctor Zheng both turned extremely ugly. One was a bandit who had tasted blood on the edge of a knife, and the other was a doctor who practiced medicine to save lives. Deep down, neither of them was heartless.
I saw Chief Zhou's rough hands clenched into fists, his brows furrowed, as if he were engaged in a fierce internal struggle. Doctor Zheng, on the other hand, kept stroking his beard, his expression shifting between light and shadow, clearly also caught in a dilemma.
Silence filled the cave, oppressive and suffocating. I took a deep breath and broke the silence: "I believe that even without the inheritance of Immortal Chen, we can become stronger step by step through our own efforts. But if we watch those villagers die, our conscience will be forever tormented, and our Dao heart will be tarnished."
My gaze swept over Chief Zhou and Doctor Zheng. A struggle flashed in their eyes, but they ultimately remained silent.
The phantom of Immortal Chen stood there quietly, like an outsider, coldly observing everything.
"Time is running out. Have you made your choice?" Chen Xianren's voice rang out again, like a death knell, causing Chief Zhou and Doctor Zheng to tremble simultaneously.
"I..." Zhou Zhaizhang opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know how. Doctor Zheng also seemed to have made up his mind, took a deep breath, and was about to speak when I spoke first: "I've decided to go save people first!"
My tone was firm and left no room for argument. I looked at Chief Zhou and Doctor Zheng and said earnestly, "Gentlemen, I know your concerns. But please believe me, even without the inheritance of Immortal Chen, we can still become strong! Moreover, only by upholding justice and kindness can we truly understand the essence of cultivation and go further!"
My words seemed to touch them, and a hint of wavering flashed in the eyes of both Chief Zhou and Doctor Zheng.
"But if we leave, this treasure trove..." Doctor Zheng was still somewhat unwilling.
Just then, a chilling voice suddenly came from the depths of the treasure vault: "Who said you could leave?"
I was startled and turned sharply to look in the direction from which the sound came. Deep within the treasure vault, a cloud of black mist was slowly rising...
My heart skipped a beat. The voice was chilling and piercing, as if it came from the deepest abyss, sending shivers down my spine. Chief Zhou and Doctor Zheng turned deathly pale and couldn't help but take a few steps back.
"Who is it?!" Wu the Swordsman drew his longsword, looked around warily, and shouted sharply.
The black mist churned even more violently, as if mocking our ignorance: "Hmph, a bunch of ants, do you even deserve to know my name? I advise you to stay here obediently and accept Immortal Chen's inheritance, perhaps then you can still eke out a living. Otherwise..."
The black mist didn't continue, but its unspoken meaning sent chills down my spine. I took a deep breath, suppressing my fear, and said loudly, "Since you claim to be a descendant of Immortal Chen, you should understand the principles of eliminating demons, upholding justice, and protecting all living beings! Now that demons are rampant and countless lives are being lost, how can we sit idly by?!"
"Hahaha, what a fine way to exorcise demons and protect the righteous path! Do you know that power is everything! As long as you possess great power, everything in this world will submit to your feet! And the legacy of Immortal Chen is the shortcut for you to obtain power!" The black mist was full of seductive meaning, trying to shake our resolve.
My gaze was firm and unwavering: "Power, without the restraint of justice, will only become a tool for evil! We cultivators pursue the Way of Heaven and the protection of the world, not our own selfish desires!"
"Stubborn fool!" A roar came from the black mist, followed by a powerful pressure that swept in from the depths of the treasure vault, like Mount Tai pressing down on me, making it almost impossible for me to breathe.
I gritted my teeth, struggling to stay upright. Fairy Meng stood beside me, her beautiful eyes shining with unwavering resolve: "Xiao Yao is right, we cannot be misled by power! Even without Immortal Chen's inheritance, we must uphold our Daoist principles!"
"Fine! Fine! Fine!" A sharp, piercing laugh echoed from within the black mist. "Since you are so stubborn, don't blame me for being impolite! If you leave here, you will face a fate far more terrible than death!"
My heart sank; I knew that things were unlikely to end well today. I looked around and saw that the faces of Hero Wu, Chief Zhou, and Doctor Zheng were all filled with determination.
"Let's go!" I decided without hesitation, taking the lead and heading towards the outside of the treasure vault. No matter what lay ahead—a mountain of knives, a sea of fire, or an abyss—I would not give up on saving those innocent villagers. Because I knew this was my path, the direction of my heart!
Our group rushed out of the treasure vault without hesitation. As soon as we stepped out of the cave, we felt a chilling killing intent rushing towards us...