# 271
Chapter 271 – Madness
On the desolate earth, a youth stood with difficulty, clutching his head and letting out a pained moan.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three white magic arrays shattered from his body; the mind magic that had been suppressing his emotions lost its effect. As his soul was torn apart, the overwhelming grief and agony burst free like wild beasts from a cage, flooding Lin Qiye’s heart.
Aunt, A Jin, Captain…
While his soul was being ripped to pieces, scenes of the past flickered through his mind like a slide show. He collapsed in agony, tears mixing with sweat and dripping onto the ground, turning the dirt to mud.
The pain was unbearable—not just in body and soul, but in the softest depths of his heart.
Whoosh!
Several golden figures streaked across the sky and landed beside Lin Qiye.
They looked at the tormented youth on the ground, frowning, then turned to Xia Simeng at the front, as if asking for her decision.
Xia Simeng strode to Lin Qiye’s side, pressed her palm to his forehead, and channeled mental energy into him.
His soul had already suffered severe damage; he couldn’t even resist, unaware that the members of Team Phoenix had arrived.
At this moment, his consciousness held only endless agony and unprecedented sorrow.
A moment later, Xia Simeng’s face darkened.
“What’s going on…” She stood up, staring at Lin Qiye in shock.
“Captain, what’s wrong?”
“His body is severely overdrawn; his soul is like it’s been thrown into a blender, constantly shredded and separated. Logically, within ten seconds his soul should scatter, yet another force is miraculously repairing it…”
“Breaking and repairing at the same time?” Kong Shang knitted his brow. “Never heard of such a thing… What happened to him?”
Xia Simeng bit her lip, worry filling her eyes. “If his soul simply dispersed it would be quick, but since it keeps being restored, his pain is frozen at this instant.”
“What do you mean?” a girl in the team asked, puzzled.
“Imagine someone jumping off a building to die, but time is forever locked two seconds before death—forced to relive the agony of that fatal instant again and again, unable to escape. Of course, soul-tearing pain is a hundred times worse.” Kong Shang explained.
“Then… can we save him?”
Xia Simeng slowly closed her eyes and shook her head helplessly. “This kind of injury… we can’t do anything.”
“Don’t die!”
Suddenly, the groaning Lin Qiye jerked his head up, eyes blood-red, roaring, “Don’t die… I won’t let you die…”
A Forbidden Ruins was barely opened; countless golden lights appeared and vanished within, as if something were trying to form yet dissipated in vain again and again.
The abrupt change startled Team Phoenix. Seeing those golden lights, Kong Shang pondered, then exclaimed in surprise:
“【Mortal Divine Realm】? He’s Lin Qiye?!”
Everyone froze, turning doubtful eyes to him.
“He’s the dual-god agent? What’s he doing?”
“He’s trying to create a miracle,” Kong Shang said uncertainly. “Perhaps… there’s something he can’t let go of?”
Xia Simeng knelt, gently lifting Lin Qiye. “Are you alright? What do you want to do?”
His pupils began to dilate. Head lowered, he snarled in pain, “I’ll resurrect them… I’ll bring them back…”
The golden lights around him flickered; miracles appeared and shattered without exception.
Just then, a Daoist with bound hair and a simple wooden hairpin walked slowly from afar. His coarse robe fluttered in the breeze; at a glance he looked no different from an ordinary temple priest.
Yet those eyes seemed to hold the cycle of creation and destruction within them, bright as stars.
The instant he appeared, Team Phoenix felt an invisible force imprison their bodies—under that gaze they couldn’t move a finger or even shift their eyes.
The Daoist drifted forward; his rough sleeve brushed past Xia Simeng, whose eyes widened in shock.
As captain of Team Phoenix, she was a “Boundless” realm expert; together they could fight mythical creatures.
Yet before this man, they couldn’t withstand even a glance.
Who… was he?
The Daoist walked straight to Lin Qiye, extended a finger, and lightly traced something on his forehead, as though drawing a sigil.
When the final stroke finished, Lin Qiye’s body trembled; the flickering golden lights vanished. All strength left him and he collapsed.
The Daoist looked at him, admiration in his eyes.
“Lin Qiye, your path is longer than you imagine. If you can pass this trial, you will truly set foot upon your own road…”
He flicked his wide sleeve and continued onward.
Soon, his figure vanished between heaven and earth.
The force suppressing Team Phoenix finally lifted. They turned sharply, exchanging glances filled with terror.
Xia Simeng knelt again, sending mental energy into Lin Qiye’s body, her eyes gradually brightening.
“How is he?” Kong Shang asked.
“His soul has stabilized.” Xia Simeng was bewildered. “Who was that? How did he do it…”
“No idea.” Kong Shang glanced in the direction the Daoist had gone. “Even a Human Apex couldn’t suppress us all with a single look. Do you think he might be…”
The same possibility surfaced in both their minds.
Xia Simeng hesitated, then shook her head. She bent down, slung the unconscious Lin Qiye across her back, and started walking.
“Who he is may no longer matter; we only need to know he’s a friend, not a foe. The rest… someone else will worry about.”
Just then, Lin Qiye, on her back, lifted his head slightly and opened his eyes in a daze.
“You’re awake?” Xia Simeng said joyfully. “How do you feel?”
Lin Qiye seemed not to hear. He stared blankly at the air beside him, then a smile spread across his face…
He reached out, as if trying to grasp something.
“Aunt… I’m home…”
Xia Simeng stopped abruptly, glanced back at him, then looked questioningly at Kong Shang.
Kong Shang opened his mouth, uncertain. “Has he… gone mad?”