"Wang Tian, my friend, why are you being so stubborn? Just quietly hand over the Samsara Pearl, and I’ll grant you mercy!”
“Damn demon, you're cornered! Obey us and give up the Samsara Pearl, and perhaps we might allow you to live!”
“Old fogey Wang, you’ve massacred millions of innocent lives just to refine the Samsara Pearl. You deserve to die. Today, we shall enforce justice on behalf of heaven and get rid of you from the face of the world.”
“Wang Tian, a thousand years ago, you publicly insulted me, looted my entire clan's treasury, and killed all my talented juniors. This sin can only be repaid with your life. Today, I swear by my ancestors, you will feel the same pain I had to suffer. Die!”
Waves of shouts and insults erupted from the crowd, each voice proclaiming words of justice and righteousness. Today, all the experts of the Vast Sky Continent have gathered because of the man before them. More specifically, because of the treasure he had refined—the Samsara Pearl.
The Samsara Pearl is one of the Eight Heavenly Treasures, ranked sixth among them. Rumors stated that these treasures had existed since time immemorial, though no concrete evidence supported this claim. Even the events of previous eras were shrouded in mystery, let alone the mythical Primordial Beginning. In this era, tales of the Primordial Beginning were considered mere myths.
The mere rumor of one of the Eight Heavenly Treasures could cause widespread unrest. Now, the treasure was right before them, and the crowd's eyes gleamed with greed. They wanted nothing more than to tear Wang Tian apart and seize the Samsara Pearl for themselves.
Despite their overwhelming desire, no one dared to make the first move. Each person was wary of Wang Tian's power, not wanting to become cannon fodder for others.
Standing alone before these powerful cultivators, the pressure alone could have suffocated a lesser man. But Wang Tian stood calm and unfazed by their accusations and so-called words of righteousness. Clad in a black robe, his eyes were as dark and abyss-like as the night, staring coldly at the crowd. His hair was disheveled, and his body was covered in blood. The sheer amount of blood he had shed created an intimidating sight. He surveyed the endless swarm of cultivators surrounding him like bees, knowing there was no escape. His death seemed inevitable.
Some sneered at his sorry sight, some gloated over his misery, and others were gleeful at his impending demise. The crowd's expressions varied, but Wang Tian remained expressionless. Rumors had always claimed he was devoid of emotion, and now people wonder if those rumors are true.
Only Wang Tian knew the truth. He still felt emotions, but their intensity had dulled over the centuries. His vast experience had tempered him.
Has it been 100 years, 1,000 years, 10,000 years, or even 100,000 years since he was born? He could no longer remember. Time, impartial to all living beings, often takes something and gives something else in return.
Wang Tian had lost many things over the years but had also gained much. He lost his rashness and gained patience. He shed his immaturity and acquired wisdom. He abandoned his kindness and embraced selfishness. He would have forgotten his own name if not for the people constantly reminding him of it. He imagined the absurdity of asking others for his name and allowed a gentle smile to break through his indifferent facade.
"Ancient fossil! What are you smiling about? Just give me the Samsara Pearl, and I’ll let you off the hook. Otherwise, you’ll regret your entire existence," a middle-aged man in his thirties sneered, stepping forward with a look of disdain.
Wang Tian's smile vanished as he looked at the young man. "You talk about letting me go, but you have no idea what you're saying," he responded calmly.
"Junior, you weren't even sucking your mother’s tits when I started my journey. The Samsara Pearl is not something that a mere insect like you can take and control. You are simply not worthy."
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
An elder, his beard as white as snow, stepped forward. "Enough of your sophistry, Wang Tian! You have wreaked havoc for too long. Today, you will pay for your sins!"
With a swift motion, the elder unleashed a torrent of spiritual energy; his attack was aimed directly at Wang Tian. Yet, Wang Tian remained unmoved. With a flick of his wrist, a barrier of light erupted around him, deflecting the elder's attack effortlessly.
"Is that all you have?" Wang Tian sneered. "If you wish to take the Samsara Pearl from me, you will have to do better than that."
From the rear of the crowd, a young woman clad in azure robes stepped forward. Her eyes were cold and calculating.
"Wang Tian, your arrogance will be your downfall. Everyone, attack together! Overwhelm him with our combined strength!"
At her command, a multitude of experts launched their attacks simultaneously. Beams of light, torrents of flame, and blasts of raw spiritual energy converged upon Wang Tian. The ground trembled, and the sky darkened under the sheer force of their combined might.
Wang Tian's demeanor grew stern as he let out a powerful roar, launching a fierce counterattack that shattered the oncoming assaults and sent his assailants sprawling.
Despite Wang Tian's formidable strength, the relentless onslaught of attacks took its toll, accumulating injuries and causing him to cough up blood. As death approached him, he started to reminisce about his life. Suddenly, he began to recite his life into a poem.
Millennia of deeds and sins dissipate like smoke, standing alone in the dustless realm. Through countless tribulations, I persist, with rivers and mountains stained in blood, yet my will remains unbroken.
Others' greed burns like fire. My heart is serene and firm as a mountain. As many springs and autumns pass in life, only the Great Way remains unchanging.
They call me arrogant and accuse me of sins that are too grave to bear. Yet what is sin in a world where virtue is lost? In the eternal dance of life and death, we are all but fleeting shadows. In the vast expanse of time, what is one man's truth?
If today I soar on the wind, my smile will gaze down upon the insignificant world. The rise and fall of ages have become but a dream. Only with true longevity can one grasp the summit.
Time slips by, aging us in vain. In the cycle of the Heavenly Way, who can stand as a rival? Unafraid of life and death, my heart is unshackled. Laughing proudly in the martial world, my soul finds serenity.
Through seas changing into mulberry fields, my heart is like stone. Eons of hardships are laughter's topic. Even if life and death become fleeting shadows, the Great Way is boundless. Only I walk alone.
Once a madman, now an old soul with a tainted destiny, my heart does not regret it. Heaven's way is merciless; only I comprehend. One day I will conquer the heavens; it is never too late.
As Wang Tian said these lines, a massive, nine-colored thunderbolt descended from the heavens, striking him with divine fury. Already weakened by his previous injuries, the thunderbolt, like a punishment for defying the Heavenly Dao, pushed him to the brink of death.
"If Samsara Pearl can really regress me back to my youth, I will still be a demon in my next life." With this thought, he tore a small fragment from his original soul and infused it into the Samsara Pearl.
“Haha, fool! That's what you get for rebelling against heaven. Everyone, attack! He has but a single breath left in him.”
“Hurry up and surrender the Samsara Pearl!!”
The group of Dao Masters surged forward, their eyes gleaming with greed, eager to seize the Samsara Pearl. But as they closed in, a brilliant light erupted from Wang Tian, blinding everyone in its vicinity. With a deafening roar, the energy surged outward, engulfing all in its path.
Wang Tian self-detonated.
His body was blown to pieces.
His soul was obliterated.
He died.
Most of the cultivators surrounding Wang Tian had not anticipated his sudden self-detonation. After all, self-detonation eradicates any chance of reincarnation and typically releases only 20–40% of a cultivator's total energy. It is simply not worth it, except if they have any technique to amplify the magnitude of explosion.
Even those who had considered the possibility and had deployed powerful techniques to shield themselves from the explosion were caught off guard. Was Wang Tian a fool to self-detonate, fully aware of its disadvantages? No, Wang Tian's final act was a calculated decision. If he was to be killed, he intended to drag as many of his enemies to hell with him as possible.
To achieve this, Wang Tian devised a unique technique during the final days of the Heavenly Demon Purging War. This technique allowed him to self-detonate with 150% of his energy, sacrificing all the essence stored in his body—vitality, blood essence, spiritual energy, and soul power. Additionally, he combined this energy with the power released from the detonation of all his treasures.
One must understand that Wang Tian had lived for nearly half a millennia. Even though he had used up 70% of his accumulated foundation during the war, the remaining accumulation of an Empyrean was still formidable. As a result, the combined explosion equaled the full-force attack of a Celestial powerhouse.
[The total energy produced by the self-detonation of the Black Lotus Demon Empyrean was equivalent to 260 megatons of TNT (one megaton is equivalent to 4.18 × 10^15 joules).]
The full-force attack of a Celestial was nothing to scoff at. The devastation was immense. Nearly 45% of the Vast Sky Continent was destroyed. Glaciers melted, mountains shattered, and forests and water bodies dried up.
The sky cracked open, and the land was riddled with massive holes and craters. The deafening noise of destruction echoed everywhere. Living beings did not even have time to scream before they were obliterated.
Wang Tian proved to be a vicious and merciless demon to the very end.
Kill Count (Direct and Indirect):
3rd Step Cultivators:
Empyrean: 5
Dao Master: 350
Firmament Cloud: 800
2nd Step Cultivators:
Everlasting Realm: Thousands
The Life and Death Realm: Tens of Thousands
Divine Sea: Hundreds of Thousands
Saint Realm: Millions
Severing Mundane: Tens of Millions
Sky Scraping Realm: Hundreds of Millions
1st Step Cultivators:
Quadrillions
Mortals and Beasts:
Sextillions