What shocked Su Changyu even more was that the faces of the corpses covering the ground were exactly the same as the white-haired cultivator from before. It was as if these were all his own corpses!
Despite considering himself resolute and different from ordinary people, Su Changyu couldn't help but break into a cold sweat at this eerie scene.
"Hehe, don't be so nervous. They are just dead people; what is there to be afraid of? You should know that the living are much scarier than the dead."
The white-haired cultivator said with a sinister smile.
With a light wave of his hand, a set of tables and chairs rose from the ground.
"Sit down and enjoy the view. It's been many years since anyone has come here."
After the initial horror of the strange dual voices and the terrifying scene around him, Su Changyu gradually adapted. Calming his mind, he sat down.
"I wonder how I should address the senior?" After sitting down and seeing the white-haired cultivator staring blankly at his surroundings, Su Changyu couldn't help but ask.
"I am called Mr. Yin."
"Hehe, others call me Mr. Yin Yin."
Mr. Yin spoke somewhat self-mockingly.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Yin. I am Su Changyu." Su Changyu introduced himself calmly.
At this moment, Mr. Yin suddenly turned his head and carefully scrutinized Su Changyu.
After a long time, he shifted his gaze away.
"Tsk, it seems that fate has its own plans..." Mr. Yin muttered to himself.
Su Changyu didn't understand what he meant.
After a while, Mr. Yin spoke again, "You also encountered a bottleneck in building the foundation, guided by a chance in your heart, and that's why you came here, right?"
"Building the foundation?" Su Changyu was taken aback; he had just reached the late Qi Refining stage.
Just as he was about to deny it, Mr. Yin continued, "Hehe, you'll get used to it. Anyway, every few years, there will be a cultivator guided here."
"Every time someone comes, I have to repeat the same thing. I've gotten tired of it."
"Immortals fight, and mortals suffer. It's really annoying..."
Su Changyu furrowed his brows; Mr. Yin seemed eccentric, and his words were hard to understand, lacking any clear meaning.
"Well, let me say it again."
Mr. Yin also sat down and said, "So-called foundation building is the foundation of cultivating the Dao. Do you know what this foundation is?"
...
"I built the foundation with myself as the spiritual object!"
His body split in half, revealing another face within the blood and flesh of his internal organs.
Two faces, inside and out, spoke in unison.
Finally, with two creepy smiling faces, this explanation concluded.
Su Changyu, initially shocked by the horrifying scene, stood up, but after seeing Mr. Yin return to normal, he sat down again.
"I built the foundation with myself..." Su Changyu's eyes showed a strange look.
"What? Is your heart moved?" Mr. Yin looked at Su Changyu with a somewhat crazy gaze, full of temptation.
"The foundation perfectly overlaps with oneself, and all magical techniques become one's own. From then on, regardless of any cultivation method or secret art, you learn it at a glance and master it with a thought."
"Punching down arrogant geniuses, stepping on hidden experts..."
"Why not take action now?"
Mr. Yin looked at Su Changyu with a slightly mad look, full of temptation.
Su Changyu, on the other hand, managed to maintain his composure and calmness. "So, may I ask, what is the price, senior?"
"If everyone can easily 'build the foundation with oneself,' won't geniuses be everywhere?"
"If everyone is a genius, then there is no distinction between ordinary and extraordinary talents."
Mr. Yin laughed foolishly and pointed to the hundreds of corpses on the ground. "These are the price!"
Su Changyu didn't understand and could only remain silent.
"After dissecting hundreds of 'myself' and gaining sufficient confidence, I began to 'build the foundation with myself' again."
"Even so, I am still a little short of perfect success."
"Ordinary cultivators attempting to 'build the foundation with themselves' are simply seeking their own demise."
Mr. Yin explained with a cold sneer.
"The human body is so exquisite and complex. How can an ordinary person fully understand oneself to build the foundation without relying on external forces?"
"Being able to achieve this solely by oneself, without external assistance, is also considered a rare genius in the world."
After hearing this, Su Changyu suddenly understood.
He couldn't help but feel a bit despondent.
Knowing others is wisdom; knowing oneself is enlightenment.
Su Changyu was well aware of his own cultivation talent.
Absolutely not a genius.
Not even mediocre.
Describing himself as a "mediocre talent" would be an exaggeration.
Moreover, the possibility of "building the foundation with oneself" was now out of reach.
Mr. Yin saw the change in Su Changyu's expression and chuckled, "Su kid, don't be discouraged."
"At this moment, you appearing before me indicates that everything is destined."
As he spoke, he extended his index finger and lightly tapped Su Changyu's forehead.
In an instant, countless images and knowledge crazily surged into Su Changyu's mind. These were scenes and insights from Mr. Yin dissecting hundreds of foundational corpses. There were also more precious experiences of the process of 'building the foundation with oneself' and the semi-successful attempts.
...
Suddenly receiving such a massive amount of information, Su Changyu felt a bit overwhelmed. His temples throbbed, and it seemed as if his head was about to split open. However, he knew in his heart that this rare encounter was probably the only chance to change his fate in this lifetime.
So he gritted his teeth and persevered.
After a while, he sat exhausted in the chair, his whole body soaked in sweat.
Mr. Yin shook his head repeatedly upon seeing this.
After a moment, Su Changyu revitalized himself and respectfully bowed to Mr. Yin.
"Thank you, Senior!"
"Hehe, no need to thank me." Mr. Yin showed a malicious smile. "Originally, you had no intention of 'building the foundation with oneself.' Now, I've passed the experiences in my mind to you, making you consider taking the risk."
"Remember, everyone is unique, and my situation may not necessarily apply to you. Perhaps, due to this, you will fail and perish."
"In that case, it would be me who caused harm to you!"
Su Changyu said solemnly, "Life and death are fated, wealth and nobility are in the hands of heaven."
Mr. Yin's smile disappeared, "Well said."
Bluntly, he said, "Now that this matter is settled, you can leave!"
Unexpectedly, he suddenly issued an order for Su Changyu to leave, and Su Changyu was momentarily surprised. But since Mr. Yin had already said so, he couldn't insist on staying.
After another bow, he was about to leave.
Before leaving, looking at the numerous corpses of Mr. Yin on the ground, Su Changyu couldn't help but ask, "Senior Yin, I wonder where these bodies come from?"
Mr. Yin scanned the surroundings, his gaze becoming somewhat lost.
"Yes, where did these bodies come from?"
"Oh! I remember now!"
"It was during a heavy rain! Countless bodies fell from the sky like rain, and I took the opportunity to collect some..."
Mr. Yin seemed a bit eccentric as he muttered.
Getting the answer, Su Changyu felt another chill in his heart.
Not daring to stay longer on this eerie island, he left in haste.
Watching Su Changyu's departing figure, Mr. Yin slowly returned to normal.
Touching his chest, it seemed to hide some precious treasure that was difficult to give up.
...
After a long time, the extinguished flames flared up again.
Completely engulfing Yin Yin Island.
(End of this chapter)