Chapter 102: Yan Huaixuan’s Memories

Chapter 102: Yan Huaixuan's Memory

"Yan Huaixuan?"

"Yan Huaixuan!"

Shen Lian propped up Yan Huaixuan's head. "Hey, what's going on?"

He reached out, trying to feel Yan Huaixuan's spiritual energy, only to find that the two forces had started tearing at each other again inside his body.

Ling Yun pursed his lips. His master, in order to suppress the inner demon, was now throwing caution to the wind, even hurting himself in the process.

At this rate, his master would eventually end up destroying himself along with the inner demon.

The inner demon inside Yan Huaixuan's body realized this too.

"Yan Huaixuan? You want to destroy yourself and take me down with you?"

"Are you out of your mind!"

"Yan Huaixuan, you're not really going to believe whatever Shen Lian says and play the hero, are you?"

No matter how the inner demon screamed, Yan Huaixuan's soul sat cross-legged in the sea of consciousness, eyes lowered, silent as can be.

The inner demon let out a cold laugh. Yan Huaixuan hadn't even finished suppressing it this time, and then he went and let it out again just to draw the Heavenly Thunder. Now it wanted to obediently go back? Dream on!

It wrapped itself around Yan Huaixuan's soul, refusing to let him leave the sea of consciousness.

Shen Lian tried pouring spiritual power into Yan Huaixuan, but it did nothing.

Yan Huaixuan's soul seemed to have completely vanished.

The purple curse shackles kept flickering on and off on Yan Huaixuan's body.

Like they were fighting something.

Shen Lian couldn't go to anyone for help now—he absolutely couldn't let anyone discover the secret hidden on Yan Huaixuan's body.

But after racking his brain, he had no choice but to summon the system.

"Get the hell out here."

A small paper figure crawled out—not the original one, but a body Shen Lian had made for the system. This paper figure basically trapped the system and was bound to Shen Lian by a slave contract.

With just a thought from Shen Lian, the system would be dead.

Shen Lian said icily, "What's Yan Huaixuan's situation right now?"

Although the system had been chopped down quite a bit, it still had some memories left.

It was also the first time it had seen Yan Huaixuan today, and it was stunned.

"Wait, you actually succeeded? Dragon Proud Heaven actually went demonic?"

Shen Lian's hand froze.

The system said, "Heavenly Immortal Realm? At this point in his last life, Yan Huaixuan was already at the peak of Supreme Golden Immortal, just one step away from ascension."

Shen Lian sneered, "I asked you what his condition is right now. If you try to change the subject again, I'll throw you into the Endless Purgatory right now."

The system's eyes darted back and forth.

The next moment, Shen Lian cracked his whip at it. "What, waiting for Yan Huaixuan to fully go demonic so you can soak up all that resentment?"

The system was taken aback. "How do you know? No, I don't—"

Chen Xue: "..."

It silently flew over to the system and angled its blade to reflect light, showing the system the line of small text floating above its head.

"Hahaha, Yan Huaixuan has gone demonic, my plan actually worked. Shen Lian turned out to be somewhat useful. Once I absorb the resentment, I'll find a way to betray Shen Lian!"

The system said, "Wait, what? You didn't tell me there was this thing above my head!"

How was it literally showing its inner thoughts like that?

Shen Lian gave a faint smile.

The system immediately shouted, "I was wrong! Right now, his soul must be trapped in the sea of consciousness by the inner demon."

Shen Lian frowned, staring at Yan Huaixuan's forehead.

"Is there anything I can do to help him?"

The system didn't dare hold anything back now. "There's no use doing anything to his body right now. You might as well try entering his sea of consciousness."

Hearing this, Shen Lian's mind raced.

In the current situation, if Yan Huaixuan couldn't wake up soon, Shen Lian might not be able to protect him at all.

Shen Lian immediately withdrew the system and had Chen Xue and the paper figure stand guard.

But Chen Xue hesitated. "Wait, master—the sea of consciousness is the most important and private place for anyone. You might not be able to get in."

Shen Lian had thought of that too. "I'll give it a shot."

It was a shot in the dark, and besides, he was also worried that the inner demon might actually seize Yan Huaixuan's body.

But Shen Lian never expected that he would enter Yan Huaixuan's sea of consciousness without hitting any resistance.

Yet Shen Lian had no time to ponder that, for he saw that Yan Huaixuan's sea of consciousness was basically in ruins.

Above, pitch-black darkness and frost and snow were locked in a standoff, the entire sea of consciousness raging wildly.

And at the very center of the sea of consciousness, Shen Lian saw countless scattered fragments—all of them fragments of memories.

Shen Lian had no interest in snooping through Yan Huaixuan's memories; he only wanted to find Yan Huaixuan's soul as quickly as possible.

But as he walked, Shen Lian couldn't avoid bumping into some of them.

Most were fragments of Yan Huaixuan training. At first, Shen Lian tried to avoid them.

After discovering that Yan Huaixuan did nothing but cultivate and cultivate...

Shen Lian: "..."

He stopped bothering to dodge them.

But unexpectedly, right then, Shen Lian collided with one fragment.

The scene in that fragment of memory was all too familiar to Shen Lian.

It was the mortal realm.

But it differed from what Shen Lian remembered. In this fragment, Yan Huaixuan stood inside a lavish palace, surrounded by countless servants.

There was also a delicate, beautiful woman whose features resembled Yan Huaixuan's by three parts.

A name instantly sprang to Shen Lian's mind.

Yan Huaixuan's mother, Consort Xian—a woman whose name, whenever brought up in the harem, would make people pause in thought.

At first, Consort Xian had no power or influence, yet she received the emperor's boundless affection—the harem might as well have been empty for her sake. But as time passed, the emperor's heart gradually changed, and he began to frequent other consorts' chambers.

Consort Xian then simply shut her door on the emperor.

Even when the lofty emperor humbled himself before her, he was met with nothing but cold indifference.

Until—she set herself ablaze.

Because of her, Yan Huaixuan had been born Crown Prince of the central palace, but after Consort Xian's self-immolation, he was cast into the cold palace. Only around age ten was he briefly brought out by the emperor, but not long after, he was deposed once more.

Shen Lian pushed those stray thoughts aside and stared hard at the scenes within.

He saw Consort Xian holding Yan Huaixuan, her tone cold, "A Xuan, you carry the bloodline of the ancient clan. You were born for the upper realm. Don't hold any expectations for love, like your mother did."

As she spoke, her eyes slowly closed. "I gave up my chance at ascension for him, yet he..."

Then, over and over, she repeated into Yan Huaixuan's ear, "Yan Huaixuan, you must ascend to the upper realm and restore the glory of our family. I've failed our kin's expectations. I deserve to die. I deserve to die."

"You must remember—don't harbor any emotions. You must cultivate the Heartless Dao."

Seeing Consort Xian cry, little Yan Huaixuan reached out as if to wipe her tears away.

But Consort Xian smacked his hand away, "I told you—don't have any emotions, not even for me."

Yan Huaixuan didn't understand. All he knew was that the woman before him was his mother, but Consort Xian's heart had already turned to ash.

Yan Huaixuan was turned away again and again.

Until his once innocent, smiling face gradually went silent.

Shen Lian's breath caught.

But then, one day, Consort Xian suddenly called for Yan Huaixuan.

Though puzzled, Yan Huaixuan was overjoyed. A smile he hadn't shown in ages spread across his face as he practically sprinted to his mother's palace.

What he saw was Consort Xian turning back amid the sea of flames, staring at him coldly.

And saying to him.

"Yan Huaixuan, you must ascend to the upper realm."

"This is the last lesson your mother teaches you."

"Sever all emotions."