“Putting your search for divinity and the plans the great one has for you aside, I do have a personal interest in you. Your life is quite interesting from the perspective of a philosopher. If you answer some of my questions I will release you from this dream.”
The Scholar sat back down as he examined Feng Zhiming’s expression.
“Demonic Crow of the Heavens was what you called yourself, at the surface level it's quite a grand and great title for one as talented and clever as yourself, however Isn’t it a contradiction?” He began his inquiry.
“Where’s the contradiction, are the heavens inherently against demons? If they were, wouldn't we all be dead or struck down by the great Dao. What’s wrong with demons of the heavens?”
Feng Zhiming replied with complete confidence in his voice, it was not the first time he had been asked this question and it would not be the last.
“Haha wonderful.”
The scholar clapped.
“I sense sarcasm.” Feng Zhiming did not enjoy being mocked, especially when it was about his beliefs.
“No, no, there is no sarcasm, it is just interesting to see you attribute demonic aspects to the so-called heavens, yet hold no clear theological beliefs.”
Feng Zhiming frowned.
“Of course the Dao is the closest thing to a God I have observed.” he tried to rebuttal.
The scholar smirked as Feng Zhiming spoke.
“Unwise young crow, do not lie to me, I can read your past like a book, or at least the majority of it.”
He rested his chin on his hand.
“Are you going to sit here and tell me the Great Dao is an actual God with agency? Don’t you believe it's closer to a force like time, a greater form of Qi rather than an entity.”
Feng Zhiming’s eyes darkened.
“Who are you to speak on my beliefs and teach me my own points of views.”
His fists still enveloped by darkness curled up.
“I’m not teaching you your own points of views, I’m just providing guidance to a deeply troubled child who can’t even understand his own motivations.”
The scholar’s eyes narrowed and he tilted his head.
He who had seen innumerable unborn rise and fall, he who had been blessed with knowledge even immortals would covet, how could he lose to a fledgeling barely 100 years old.
“You say you know what God is, the light of divinity washes over you, yet what is that shadow in your heart?”
Feng Zhiming’s frown deepened.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I respect your insight senior but don’t claim to know me, even if you know my past, you do not know everything I have ever thought.”
The temperature in the library began to rise.
“No need to reply if you don’t want to. I will merely speak, unborn one. Someone who believes they know God would not seek divinity, in fact they would spend their days in worship.”
A scarlet hue began to encompass the room.
“When you kill, what do you think?”
“I don’t think, I know that what I did was necessary.”
The scholar nodded.
“Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe you are a supremacist of your own will, a good trait for one to have, a trait that will take you far, beyond just the superficial layer of cultivation.”
“I’m sure you understand, I can’t be truly sure anything else exists, since I experience qualia and only my own perception, I can only measure decisions by the fidelity of my will.”
Feng Zhiming was about to bite down but realized that he did in fact not have an apple, his storage ring wasn’t in the dream with him.
“I must say that is a very compelling point. However that hinges on nothing else holding value without your perception. Is this the reason you seek divinity, you want t-”
“I’m not answering any more questions, respected Scholar.” Feng Zhiming interjected.
“Someone such as yourself, one who has murdered, one who has stolen, one who has sinned. Someone such as that would seek God only for one reason.”
“Enough!”
Feng Zhiming had to end this conversation, he was barely stopping himself from attacking the scholar.
The scholar reclined further in his couch, as if he was moving away from the matter.
“I will refrain from pursuing the topic, unborn one. If it is something you are unable to handle at this moment, perhaps my Lord will educate you on it.”
He shifted the conversation.
“However since you have entertained me, I will teach something else. It is true you are wise and you are exceptional for a 100 year old child more so than the majority of the other Caelum Juravi. But that does not mean you can outmaneuver others with tens to hundreds to thousands of times your experience.”
As he spoke the library began to catch fire.
“The main reason I have brought you here is to warn you, this isn’t like the stories you’ve heard of in legends, where the hero must overcome villains and achieve his goals.”
Feng Zhiming listened closely.
“Your real enemies aren’t even Dao Lords. They are entities that could kill you an infinite number of times before you could comprehend even a quanta of their existence.”
The flame reached the two of them, yet when it touched Feng Zhiming he did not feel anything. Even when it climbed him and touched his eyes he did not feel pain.
“Maybe it's because this is a dream.” he thought to himself.
“It seems you possess the bloodline of a beast of the Yang element, it’s rejecting the Astra realm. Or is it your traveling companions trying to help you?”
Feng Zhiming opened and closed his hand repeatedly, the darkness was slowly burning away.
“Just how many secrets do you possess?” the scholar rubbed his head as he looked at the library that had been nearly engulfed in flames.
Feng Zhiming ignored the question.
“So who are my enemies, who am I fighting against?” Feng Zhiming asked while trying to shift his focus from the prior conversation.
The scholar burst out in laughter.
“You seem to be mistaken about something, allow me to abolish the beauty of your ignorance.”
He snapped his finger and the flame vanished, returning the library to what it used to be.
He was a being who had been appointed by the Great One of Truth and Veracity as an overseer of the Astra realm, he had complete control over the reality of this world.
“There is no fight to be had. All you need to do is run, hide and evade. In this war for supremacy you are but a crown for the victor, a boon to be had. You, my confused child, are vested with one of the hundred constituents of a scattered hegemony.”
Feng Zhiming looked to the ground with a sour expression.