FYN Chapter 430: Interrogating "Kang Keyang"
Chapter 430: Interrogating "Kang Keyang"
Having once served as the sect leader of North Pass Sect, Chen Yan had naturally collected and studied various cultivation methods in addition to the Kongshan Art, Purple Mansion Record, and Hidden Immortal Art.
He picked one from among the cultivation methods he had previously gathered and temporarily passed it on to Su Hongzhen.
This cultivation method was called the Mountain-Crushing Scripture.
It was an immortal cultivation method left behind by a top-tier sect that had once flourished in the Northern Region of Chenping Continent over eighty thousand years ago.
Back then, a Unity realm cultivator whom Chen Yan had befriended discovered a fragment of the Mountain-Crushing Scripture at an auction. He then joined forces with several great powers of the Upper Three Realms to collect additional fragments of this method, eventually piecing together and restoring the technique handed down by that ancient top-tier sect based on those remnants.
Although the restored version might still differ somewhat from the original one from over eighty thousand years ago, Chen Yan—who had been both a disciple of Kongshan Sect and Wind Ravine Valley in his past—gave it a thorough read-through.
This restored Mountain-Crushing Scripture, while still falling far short of the cultivation methods of the Five Great Sects, was more than sufficient as a core technique for a first-rate immortal sect on Chenping Continent.
When Su Hongzhen received the copy of the Mountain-Crushing Scripture that Chen Yan had written out for him, he was overjoyed.
However, Chen Yan's attitude was extremely firm, instructing Su Hongzhen to only dabble in this method and not to invest too deeply in it.
Because Chen Yan was afraid he might lead him astray.Su Hongzhen was destined to become the foremost Sword Immortal of Chenping Continent. Looking across the thirty-one Immortal Ascension Realm cultivators who had appeared in the continent's history, his status was second only to Immortal Venerable Fusheng, who had truly stepped into a realm beyond Ascending to Immortality.
A cultivation method of the Mountain-Crushing Scripture's caliber was absolutely inadequate for Su Hongzhen—it was merely a temporary transition.
Because the higher one's cultivation realm, the greater the cost required to change one's cultivation method.
Of course, Chen Yan was an exception.
Currently, he possessed three immortal cultivation methods: the Kongshan Art, the Purple Mansion Record, and the Hidden Immortal Art. As for Wind Ravine Valley's method, he had only dabbled in it without seriously practicing it.
As for the Great Derivation Art, it was hard to view it as a mere cultivation method.
Because it had completely transcended what were known as immortal cultivation techniques.
It derived and evolved all things.
Chen Yan's current mastery of the Great Derivation Art had reached an astonishingly profound level.
It was just that his current cultivation was still insufficient, preventing him from experiencing just what kind of enhancement this extraordinary Great Derivation Art could bring him.
"By the way, big brother."
Su Hongzhen, who was chewing loudly on spiced beef, suddenly looked up as if he had remembered something.
"What's up?"
Chen Yan said.
"When I went out to buy food today, I ran into Uncle Kang on the street."
Su Hongzhen said.
"... "
Chen Yan's chopsticks paused briefly in his hand, then he lifted his eyes.
Uncle Kang.
The only person Little Su addressed by that name was Kang Keyang, the youngest son of Kang Zongdan and the sole survivor of the Kang Family's main branch.
"And then?"
Chen Yan continued to ask.
"He asked what you've been up to lately and said that if you have time, he hopes you can come to Kang Mansion."
"I understand."
Chen Yan said slowly, setting down his bowl and chopsticks:
"After we eat, continue your cultivation."
"Alright."
Su Hongzhen replied.
Chen Yan had already long known the answer to what exactly had happened in Kang Mansion.
Because too many things were incongruous and didn't add up logically.
It had been this way from beginning to end.
He had originally been unwilling to get involved in these trivial matters that had nothing to do with him, so he had said nothing.
But—
"Immortal Master Chen, long time no see."
Jiangdu Prefecture, Kang Mansion.
This mansion, situated in the central district of Jiangdu Prefecture, was now lifeless and gloomy.
The grass and weeds in the compound had grown deep, with overgrown paths—untended for over a month.
The pond in the courtyard was covered with green moss, and the pavilion beside it had become entwined with vegetation.
And Kang Keyang stood inside that pavilion, watching the young man in plain white Daoist robes walking toward him.
"Long time no see, Senior."
Chen Yan smiled as he stepped on the wild grass beneath his feet, walking slowly toward the pavilion with a relaxed expression on his face:
"Seeing that Senior looks to be in decent spirits now, I feel somewhat relieved. The departed have passed, and those who remain must eventually move forward."
Upon hearing this, Kang Keyang's face first darkened, then he lowered his head with a bitter smile and gently shook his head:
"Moving forward... easier said than done. Those scenes are still etched into my bones even now; I can't forget them."
"I understand. Such heart-wrenching pain—who can easily let go of it?"
Chen Yan said.
"Yes... actually, in recent days, I've been constantly wondering if I should just follow them. That way, I wouldn't have to suffer like this, tormented every day by the sight of things that remind me of them."
Kang Keyang wore an expression of profound anguish.
Chen Yan, however, simply studied Kang Keyang's expression quietly, remaining silent for a few moments, as if measuring something.
Then, he finally spoke:
"Is that so? So Senior has been suffering over these matters?"
Hearing this, the pain on Kang Keyang's face receded slightly, then he looked at Chen Yan with a bewildered expression:
"I don't understand what you're saying, Immortal Master Chen."
"Because I had originally thought that Senior's sleepless torment was from guilt over slaughtering over three thousand people of the Kang Mansion."
Chen Yan said softly with a smile.
The pain, bewilderment, and confusion on Kang Keyang's face vanished completely the moment Chen Yan spoke those words.
Then, his expression went blank.
There was no emotion on his face.
He just stared vacantly in Chen Yan's direction with hollow eyes.
"As the legitimate son of the Kang Family main branch's patriarch, you originally had no qualification to inherit the position of family head. And, of course, you never intended to. By nature, you were unruly and only wished to roam freely and indulge yourself—there's nothing wrong with that, but...
"What was it that ultimately made you decide to shoulder the responsibility of being the Kang Family head?"
The "Kang Keyang" standing before Chen Yan remained expressionless.
"Was it your sense of responsibility toward the family?"
Chen Yan asked with a smile:
"No, that can't be it. After you received the promise from that Senior from Mirage Palace, did you truly hope that a talented junior could enter Mirage Palace to cultivate and obtain everything you had dreamed of? Or was it all... just a lie fabricated by you and that Senior from Mirage Palace, Senior Kang?"