The World Is Interesting Because of Foolish People

In Bai Xuanling's divine sea.

Perhaps because both Chu Xingchen and Xuan Le had been beaten up by Bai Xuanling before, they shared a common ground. Coupled with Bai Xuanling's intimidating presence, their interactions seemed smooth—at least for now.

Chu Xingchen and Xuan Le walked side by side through the desolate expanse of the divine sea, their expressions amiable as they engaged in casual conversation.

Whether Bai Xuanling was wary or not was unclear, but there were certainly things she refused to speak of. The answers Chu Xingchen sought likely lay within those unspoken truths, so his focus naturally shifted to Xuan Le—the heart demon who shared nearly the same memories but was at odds with Bai Xuanling.

Pointing at the crimson ruins and the cultivators locked in endless slaughter in the sky, Chu Xingchen asked, "Has this place always been a battleground like this for so many years?"

"Big Sister's heart is steeped in violence, so naturally, this is all it can be," Xuan Le replied.

"Ah, no wonder you were so impatient when we first met. If I had to watch this for centuries, I'd be on edge too."

"Surprisingly, you can say something reasonable. I was wrong before," Xuan Le responded, her tone still gentle.

Chu Xingchen grinned gratefully. "Sister Xuan Le truly is magnanimous. By the way, can’t you control this a little? Let them fight if they must, but can’t the scenery change into something more pleasant? Mountains, rivers—though not as refined as this—wouldn’t they be a better choice for relaxation?"

Xuan Le glanced at Bai Xuanling, who trailed behind them with an icy expression, and chuckled.

"Big Sister just isn’t generous enough. If she’d let me borrow a bit of her emotions, I could change it. But she doesn’t trust me."

Curious, Chu Xingchen pressed, "Then, Sister Xuan Le, can you perceive Bai Xuanling’s external vision and memories?"

Xuan Le withdrew her gaze, her tone cooling.

"You’ll have to ask her about that. I’d rather not be sealed away for another few years."

Seeing her attitude shift, Chu Xingchen dropped the probing and instead inquired about the scenes unfolding before them.

According to Xuan Le, most of these scenes were remnants of the great calamity that befell the Tianyan Sect. The clearer a figure appeared, the stronger their connection and memories.

She pointed at a carefree middle-aged man wielding a spiritual treasure sword, a gourd of wine hanging at his waist as he charged toward a dozen cultivators.

"Peak Master of Haijing Peak, known as the Drunken Peak Master—Zhang Miao, a Great Ascension cultivator. Normally, he was a slurring drunk, stumbling around in a haze, relying on his disciples to drag him back home. But on that day, he sobered up... and never woke again."

"His only goal was to cover his disciples’ retreat and shield the breach in the grand formation."

"The Tianyan Sect’s most famous brew, 'Spring Warmth,' was his recipe and method. But later, even with the recipe, no one could recreate the true 'Spring Warmth.' Maybe it lacked the touch of a drunkard’s chaos. The remaining genuine stock is nearly gone."

Xuan Le turned her gaze back to Bai Xuanling.

"I recall you still have a jar, don’t you? Too precious to drink?"

Bai Xuanling didn’t answer. She didn’t even look at Xuan Le, her eyes fixed on the lone figure charging forward, pierced by countless beams of light, his spirit scattering—yet he never took a step back.

A drunkard, fearless in death. Maybe the alcohol had rotted his brain.

When Bai Xuanling remained silent, Xuan Le’s smile deepened. She gestured toward a white-bearded elder nearby.

"Quanyong Peak’s 'Stubborn Old Man'—Qi Zhimu, a Great Ascension cultivator. A rigid old fool whose disciples were just as dull, always spouting abstract nonsense and nitpicking over trivialities."

"But this stubborn old man was extraordinary. He survived the frontlines of the world-shattering calamity, only to die that day."

"His disciples obeyed his words—'stand by your sect brothers'—and chose to stay as the rearguard. Most of them followed the old fool into oblivion."

"The survivors were left with dwindling strength, too weak to rebuild Quanyong Peak. In the end, only a half-ruined, neglected minor peak remained in the Tianyan Sect, its traces nearly erased."

"Such sacrifice, yet even their legacy fades. Who remembers them now? Truly, both stubborn and foolish."

Bai Xuanling watched as the white-bearded elder, gripping a wooden staff, was slowly shattered. His final gaze was one of worry—directed at the disciples he had painstakingly nurtured.

His disciples were gone. His legacy was nearly gone.

As if... none of it was worth it.

Noticing something, Xuan Le spoke with increasing fervor.

"Longliu Peak’s Zhang Pingyun."

"Beiyao Peak’s Chen Gu."

"Chiming Peak’s Zhou Youlai."

"..."

"Every last one of them, fools crowned with idiocy. Great Ascension cultivators could’ve fled anywhere—why die so easily?"

"Heroic sacrifices? Dying is simple. Who had to clean up the mess they left behind?"

Xuan Le locked eyes with Bai Xuanling.

"Had you abandoned the Tianyan Sect back then, roamed free as an immortal, would you be tormented by a heart demon now?"

"With our talents, immortality was within reach—transcending the heavens and earth!"

Bai Xuanling finally met her gaze, her voice calm.

"You could’ve left too."

Xuan Le’s smile twisted oddly.

"Wasn’t I just a naive fool back then?"

Bai Xuanling’s eyes narrowed, her grin turning wild.

"This world is full of fools who do things that seem utterly stupid—laughable, worthless."

"But the world needs more of these fools to stay interesting."

"Because they refuse to let go. Because they’re unwilling. Because they rage. Because they rejoice. They do these idiotic things."

"If everyone fled, if everyone hesitated, if everyone calculated every step—then the world would be unbearably dull."

"That’s what makes people fascinating."

"Emotions are the same. Pity you’re just a heart demon—you only understand yourself."

Xuan Le tilted her head slightly, her demeanor relaxing abruptly.

"If you say so, then so be it."

Chu Xingchen observed them both. He knew full well that Xuan Le’s provocations had a clear purpose—to rouse Bai Xuanling’s emotions.

Whether it was for spite or something else remained unclear.

But the fact that Bai Xuanling engaged in argument rather than cutting her down with a sword meant Xuan Le’s words had struck a chord.

Bai Xuanling didn’t just want to win by force—she wanted to win in spirit.

Still, this was an opportunity.

Feigning ignorance of their silent battle, Chu Xingchen pressed on with naive curiosity.

"Were these people all friends from the past?"

Xuan Le answered, "The ones with faces were. The faceless ones weren’t."

Chu Xingchen scanned the surroundings. "Are they all here?"

Bai Xuanling sensed his intent and reached for him.

But Xuan Le intercepted her hand effortlessly, replying smoothly,

"Good question. Of course not."