Refining the Mountains and Rivers Chapter 1626

On the journey forward, Qin Yu hugged his wet clothes as well as a wet tree branch. 

On the surface, the branch looked like it was in a trance and was emitting a very faint green light as it pointed out the direction for Qin Yu. 

Without it, it would be extremely easy for Qin Yu to lose his way in this unending darkness with no directional indications. 

An hour had passed since Qin Yu had moved by himself. 

The coldness in the darkness had increased by a third. 

This was already very scary. The heat that his soul was emitting could no longer melt the frost quickly enough. The water froze to become ice. With every step that Qin Yu took, there was a soft cracking sound. 

It was the thin ice around his body that was cracking, but to Qin Yu, it felt as if his bones and flesh were tearing. 

It was hard to describe the feeling. 

The soft green light from the tree branch grew dimmer and the speed at which it pulsed was now a lot slower. Frowning, Qin Yu touched the tree branch and his face grew paler. 

By giving the branch some warmth, Qin Yu had to withstand more of the damage from the frost, and the ice layer on him grew thicker. 

Following that, every step Qin Yu took brought him an even greater amount of pain when the ice layer cracked. 

But this was necessary. If he lost the navigation from the tree branch, Qin Yu would not find the right ‘place’.

The matter of how important it was to find the right spot was emphasized earlier. 

Crack –

Crack –

The cracking rhythm sounded through the darkness. Each and every step brought a bone-breaking pain that was equivalent to getting his bones scraped.

In front of him was pure darkness with no end in sight. This brought even more hopelessness than the pain he was feeling. 

But having reached this point, it was not possible to turn back. They would either both live and leave this place together or he would die here and Rourou would remain sleeping. After she woke, she would still be that impressive and powerful mysterious being from space time. She would merely lose a small fragment of her memories from her long life.

As he thought of this, Qin Yu bit his lip with determination in his eyes.

Two hours later, the tree branch in his arms seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. The thick ice covering it was stuck to Qin Yu and it would flash a green light every once in a while. 

Qin Yu seemed to be wearing thick, heavy ice armor. The sound of the pieces of ice knocking against each other could be heard with every step. 

His vision seemed to blacken slightly. This showed that his mind was on the verge of giving in, as if he could fall at any second. 

However, this had happened multiple times but Qin Yu still pressed on. Albeit slower, but never stopping. 

Another hour passed and Qin Yu was completely covered in ice. He was like a moving ice cube. Only a soft ‘crack crack’ sound could be heard from inside the ice, showing that he was still alive. The speed at which he was progressing was very very slow. Often, he had to take several breaths before he could take a step. 

‘Pa’, a soft sound could be heard amongst the ‘crack’ sounds. It was the tree branch in Qin Yu’s arms. It could no longer withstand the cold and it had frozen completely before disintegrating into powder.

“Why do you still want to go forwards? If it is because you think that you have nowhere else to go, I can give you another choice.” A calm voice could be heard. Qin Yu paused for a while, confirming that it was not his imagination. 

“Who are you?”

“That is not important. What is important is that I can let you leave this place alive. You just have to take a different path.”

“Why?”

“Because I think you are an interesting being. It would be a waste for you to die here.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“It is simple.”

There was a warmth that seemed to shine on Qin Yu. He felt as if he was a traveller about to die of thirst in the desert who had finally received a sip of sweet cold water. 

At this moment, his heart throbbed. His survival instinct reacted.

That voice sounded once more, “As long as you are willing, you can leave at any time. You don’t have to do anything, you just have to be willing.

“After leaving this place, you will realize that you did not lose anything from being here. In fact, you might have even gained something after experiencing the dark cold wave. When that time comes, you will become stronger. If you focus on cultivating, it might be possible for you to return to this place to rescue her.

“And death…especially dying in here, is forever and permanent. Your soul fragments will become nourishment to the one that you are trying to save. They will be collected, separated, and absorbed. Of course, though this might not be her intention, believe me when I say that this will be how it ends.”

Qin Yu was trembling and there was still the soft cracking sound from the ball of ice. He did not know who the owner of this voice was, but he believed whatever he was being told. 

However, he remained silent and did not move, enduring the heart-wrenching pain. 

“Qin Yu, you are a lot more outstanding than I imagined. If you had agreed to what I just said, you would have lost a prize that I would have given you. Yes, it was a test, and you passed. If you choose to leave now, I will help you undergo a huge transformation. For example, letting you see the entrance of the King realm much earlier.

“You have persisted until now and this shows your loyalty sufficiently. No one will doubt you. Moreover, no one will know about this. This is a promise that I am giving you.

“Believe my sincerity, take what I am offering you and leave this place…I promise that this is your only chance.”

Qin Yu could no longer speak. But because of the unknown power, all of his thoughts could be heard out loud in this world. 

There was a short moment of silence in the darkness before his calm voice could be heard, “You have not experienced enough. When you are doing things like this, you must have more emotion in your tone in order to have more persuasive power.

“Additionally, I believe that you have been watching me ever since Rourou fell asleep right…you hid for so long and only came out now to offer me the terms. It seems like you really do not want me to rescue her from this place. This also means that I am very near to my goal right?”

After waiting for a few moments, Qin Yu thought that the voice would not speak up again. However, it sounded once more, “Qin Yu, you are a lot smarter than I thought. As someone who is clever, you should be aware of the meaning to your existence.

“Saving her means that you will die. This is the sentence that I give you…it is effective from now!”

Qin Yu’s heart contracted intensely. A strong fear of death overcame him. There was no reason for it, but instinct made Qin Yu believe that whatever this thing had said would become reality. 

If he saved Rourou, he would die!

Qin Yu’s emotions were running wild and his strong sense of survival was fighting back. 

Nod, Qin Yu, hurry and nod. 

With just a thought, you can do anything. You will be able to leave this scenario that you are fated to die in and achieve a change that is unimaginable. 

Do you know what the doorstep of the King realm means? After being able to see it earlier, you will be able to prepare in advance and build a solid ladder. Eventually, in time you will be able to step through it and become the true peak existence in the Desolate world. 

When that time comes, what can that clan do? Saving Ning Ling will also a possibility and a bright and brilliant future awaits. It is so much better than this ending where you are fated to die, and this is all achievable with just a single thought. 

What are you waiting for? Nod, hurry and nod!

Internally, his instinct was pushing him and rumbling like crazy. Blood spurted out of Qin Yu’s nose, mouth, and ears. Strangely, it did not freeze from the coldness. Instead, it flowed into the ice. Like blood dripping into clear water, it spread outwards and turned the block of ice red. 

“I –” Qin Yu’s body trembled and the blood ice continuously broke. ‘Crack crack’. It was like a rapidly beating heart, “Reject you!”

Woosh –

In his mind, the instinct cried out and disappeared. Along with it, the voice that Qin Yu heard also disappeared. 

He had made his decision.

It was not that Qin Yu did not fear death, but he knew that in this world, anything he gained required a price. 

The more he gained, the bigger the price!

Leaving this place alive, the door of the King realm…this meant that Qin Yu would pay an even higher price than what he was going through now. 

What would it be? Qin Yu did not know, but it would not be good. It might even allow him to live, but he might live a life in which he would rather be dead. 

Then why didn’t he take the gamble?

The reason why Qin Yu gave the other option a shot was simple. It was because the owner of the voice only dared to appear after Rourou fell asleep. 

This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

This had a deeper meaning that he could decipher…must I die just because you say so? Maybe not. 

Moreover, what he bet on had optimistic projections for the future. The difference between having Rourou by his side and not was massive. 

The bigger the risk, the bigger the wins. This time, Qin Yu was even betting his life. He just needed to win! 

“Your choice is right.”

A warmth emerged from within his chest. It was Qin Yu’s beating heart. It was now like a sun emitting warm rays. 

The ice covering his body started melting and disappeared rapidly. 

Panting, Qin Yu quickly closed his eyes. Under the rays, he was extremely, extremely pale. 

A sun rose from his chest and appeared in front of him. A vague figure could be seen within it, and it was looking at Qin Yu with a complicated expression. 

Qin Yu massaged his eyebrows as he struggled to open his eyes. He allowed tears to flow out, “I am guessing that there is a but after your sentence.”

“You are right.” The figure in the sun spoke calmly as it looked focused, “You were wrong on one thing. The reason why he appeared only after the owner of this place fell asleep is not because he could not appear before, but because it was agreed upon between the two of them.”

Qin Yu frowned, “Did I bet wrongly?”

The figure in the sun nodded, “No one can change their judgement.” Leaning forward slightly, he looked at Qin Yu, “Now, are you regretting your choice?”

Qin Yu blinked, “Is there a point in regretting?”

The figure in the sun shook his head. 

Qin Yu smiled, “Then why should I regret?” He looked up at the darkness above him, “Since you came out by yourself, it means that I am at the right place. Is it here?”

“Yes.”

Qin Yu pointed and made a dashing gesture, “Go!”

Woosh – 

The huge sun rose up. ‘Boom boom’ there were loud sounds as light erupted in the place like waves, crashing in all directions. 

In a flash, it lit up this world that had been shrouded in darkness for eternity. 

This was where the Ancient Divine Spirits had created the world!