75. Tales of Reincarnation III - End of Volume I
Inside a once dilapidated and abandoned residence is now a wide and spacious room that looks like a modern library. Though it was renovated thousands of years ago, it has still maintained it aesthetic design as if it was constructed yesterday.
Clay closed a book and placed on the table besides an empty cup to tea. He got to his feet and stood by the window and looked towards a mausoleum beside a tree and sighed in contemplation. He is still astonished that he outlived his disciple the fact that he only has less than six months to live.
The research he found at Naga Cave did warn him of time movement difference but not to this extent. What was less than a minute spent inside the Soul Space Dimension is six thousand years equivalence in real life. If not because of Re'y's graveyard and the current patriarch of Mur Av'ic village telling him of these details, he would still have thought it was still the same afternoon some six thousand years ago before the experiment.
He is currently lost as to what to do next. To him, it still feels like he just exterminated Gen Zadan Sect three months ago and still unable to accept that only yesterday he was hoping the sanctuary he build would last a couple thousand years yet here he is living within the same future he envisioned.
Everything felt unreal.
After installing twenty Spiritual Veins inside Sab Angan Water Volcano, the leader of a Naga pack led him inside a sealed underwater Sacred Temple.
The temple was once a spacecraft of scientists funded by Immortal Blood Sect which descended from Upper Plane to conduct experiments when this planet has reached its final stages of evolution. A day after they landed, they realized that the planet was discovered by another party called Gar Wahgar Federation. Although they could immediately bar other factions from entering and disrupting their mission, part of their policy was to investigate the other party if they have made progress in their Spiritual Vein research. It was then that they have learned about Brung's Research about Black Qi.
Clay was able to retrieve a portion of the research including more advanced knowledge about spatial space. After a few days, he crafted a spatial ring with a space a thousand times larger than the space he originally created. After a few tests and experimenting on the gravity-related magic tool of the thugs who once crucified him, he had successfully created a dimension with floating mountain and a breathable space.
He should have had stopped there and gave in to eternal slumber but part of him still refuses to die and the arrogance brought by having been able create artificial Spiritual Veins deluded him into believing that he might be able to discover a way to time travel as mentioned in Alb Ei's theory.
The experiments mentioned that a cultivator on the Second Phase of Dao would tear space inside a spatial ring to open the Soul Space Dimension before the true nature of Black Qi can be observed. The color alone changes to dark blue thereby the name Blue Qi and unlike its chaotic properties when exposed outside, the Blue Qi starts to manifest similar properties to Spiritual Qi.
Although he had become powerful, his strength boosted on the 6th power was not sufficient to tear space within the spatial ring and he did not want to involve Re'y on this exercise. It was then he remembered when he closely observed a Black Qi infested subject back in Amkayan Province. There was a bluish mist surrounding the soul of the subject and he thought it probably is the same as the Soul Space Dimension.
During his encounter with Urda, this eccentric muscular old man told him that Blood Moon Sect were keeping a few of these live samples for rearing Yin-related Magic herbs. Since this sect came after his life and Urda had a deep grudge with them, he decided Blood Moon Sect as his destination.
When he exterminated Gen Zadan Sect, he wanted Re'y to record the merciless culling and use it to terrorize and blackmail nearby powerful sects but later it was not deemed necessary as the Nascent Souls within the neighborhood came to witness his ruthlessness. He did not use the recording crystal however he was not sure if what this news would reach human territories.
Since he was in need on experimental subjects and needed to threaten and bring fear to all surrounding sects, he travelled back to Amkayan Municipality.
When he arrived at the confines of Blood Moon Sect, he used the same method to exterminate them like how he did with Gen Zadan. The only problem is that, not a single soul showed up to witness his glorious madness.
Clay broke the talisman given to him by Urda when they parted. He had been meaning to repay this man. After an hour, he saw a silhouette from afar not daring to come close. He could not see who it was, but the white feathered mount gave him a clue it was Urda. Clay extracted the circulation circuits of the Black Qi infested cultivators and stored his precious experiments into his ring and flew into the horizon.
When he came back to his residence, he installed a chipped spatial ring at the edge of the table and went inside the floating mountain he created inside the spatial space. He then took out the Black Qi Spiritual Vein and drew seals to transport a few random things inside the Soul Space Dimension.
There were no changes on the items, so he transported himself following the same process when items are stored inside a spatial ring. Upon successfully entering the dimension, he did not feel any difference as if he was still inside the same spatial space. Only a few breaths passed, and he decided to come out to gather Black Qi mist and observe the Blue Qi transformation.
However, when he came out, six thousand years had already passed. The old residence was renovated and due to sentimental value, the furnitures were not replaced including the long table he installed the spatial ring. It felt like a dream to him. It was like going to the toilet and when you come out, thousands of years had gone by.
For six thousand years, the sanctuary was only able to filter one rebirther and although he was not from earth, he is still glad to know that reincarnation anomaly is not specific to him.
His true purpose was indeed to filter rebirthers from earth and in fact, he named the sanctuary Fitagoras as one of the biggest clues that the progenitor of the sacred temple. He could have had named it using the names of major countries, but he needed to consider people from earlier times and Pythagoras Theorem came to his mind and the game Chess should be enough to hint people starting from 1900s.
After reading the biographies left by Re'y and Ya'ur, Clay now has an idea what the universe is like. It is basically divided into four planes namely, Mortal Plane devoid of Qi, Lower Plane where Spiritual Qi is abundant and only flew selected planets having Heaven Qi for Ascendants, Upper Plane where Heaven Qi Veins thrives like Spiritual Veins, and finally Immortal Realm.
Just like earth where science always disagrees with theology, the rest of the Planes have a similar deep-seated animosity and contradictions. Science operates on the principle that it can explain everything and although it may not now, it can and may in the future. However, Dao Cultivation follows the art of metaphysical cultivation to this day science could not unravel.
It is interesting that within the vastness of cosmos within each plane that there is no central power. Every organization wants and competes to become the ruler causing wars from small scale to galactic wars.
Clay walked back to his desk. He pulled up another book and although he read it hours ago, he wanted to make sure he did not miss anything.
According to the current patriarch of Mur Av'ic village who is currently waiting for him outside, it was said that they retrieved or rather it was left behind by an Ascendant at the shoreline of Endless Sea. A year after it was found, they assembled a team to navigate the seas despite unknown perils.
However, after five years for aimless navigation, they were greeted by a puppet in the middle of the sea saying that only Ascendants are qualified to pass through. They returned in disappointment. It is well known that those who had achievements in Dao comprehension were able to use the ancient Planetary Teleportation Arrays, but none of them has ever returned.
Only Nascent Soul experts were allowed during the trip and the reason why it was treated with importance was because it contained alphabets of the English language similar to the language used in many of the test contents surrounding the mystery of Chess Competitions. Somebody spread a rumor that understanding that language would lead them to understanding where the Boulders that produces Qi came from.
Clay opened the book.
"People call me Midi. The concept of time passes differently when a cultivator breaks through to Ascension. When I returned to my home planet, I thought my brother would still be alive, but I was wrong. What felt like yesterday was more than two thousand years since I left.
I wanted to interact with my brother and teacher's descendants but the sect master of Falling Sword Sect stopped me before I could knock on their doorsteps.
The earliest of my memories is living on a small wooden hut with my brother. Though the village was poor, everyone was still accommodated with enough rations, however everything changed when two itinerant cultivators passed by and discovered my brother's rare body constitution.
I grew up in comfort and I remembered the times I envied my brother as I did not have an ounce of his talent. He was always the focus and when the villagers approached me, most of the time it was to gain his favor. The people whom I had true connection with could be counted. Part of my jealousy was that they did not allow me to break through to Mid Low Qi Condensation. I do not know why but I had come to understand that cultivation resources are precious, and it would be better if it was allocated to my brother.
When I was fifteen, teacher brought us to a new residence near a World Tree. I was young that time and did not know the value of this tree, but it was at that time I learned why they did not want me to break through. It appears that they had been feeding me elixirs and rare herbs so I could slowly build a strong body constitution.
The following day when we arrived, teacher guided me with a sword technique. It was difficult at first, but after a few months, a strange phenomenon happened. Whenever I swung my sword, I felt that I could slice everything. I did not know what it was but that feeling has gotten stronger as I got closer to the World Tree.
One day, that feeling integrated with my cultivation and it has become natural. Teacher said it was called Dao Heart and he thought me methods to hide it and should only show it when necessary. There were many things I wanted to understand, and I did learn them slowly as years went by.
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Every year, we would often burn incense before an altar at the center of the Sect teacher has built. There was a statue of a horrifying demon I once saw on the hill my brother used to practice at Mur Av'ic village. Teacher said his name is Ancestor Clay and it was because of him that we get to enjoy Spiritual Qi abundance and to honor him, we would copy questions on papers every five years and distribute them before the Chess Competition starts. There was always a portion of foreign alphabets to this day I have no clue off.
The next thing I knew, two hundred years passed, and I had reached the Peak of Nascent level. Even my Sword Heart advanced to a new level surpassing everyone. It was at this time teacher wanted me to visit an Ancient Teleportation Array.
Anyone could activate the array with sufficient Qi Crystals, but teacher said that there is something only Dao Cultivators could see. When I imbued the Formation with Dao aura, a hidden message was revealed. The planet we lived in is under the protection of Immortal Blood Sect and by using the array, one would be teleported near a satellite then would be picked up and brought to a subsidiary faction called Falling Rain Sword Sect. What threw me off was condition set in exchange of Ascension and that was to never return.
The truth was, I just wanted a normal life but fifty years ago that time, I realized the need to keep improving. A war almost broke out with nearby human alliances and at that time, I was still on the First Phase of Sword Dao. I was always under the impression that our Sect was unrivaled but having been informed of almost a thousand cultivators all at Nascent Level, I learned how important it is to have strength to protect something. Thanks to at least twenty Naga Protectors who were blessed by Ancestor Clay that we had suppressed the advancing enemy forces.
I was there when we confronted the leaders of the leaders of human alliance. The Naga Protectors only activated their Aura to send them running. Teacher once told me that Ancestor Clay exterminated a Major Sect singlehandedly and I thought it was a myth. According to teacher, their strength was not even close to Ancestor Clay.
After that incident, teacher showed me a crystal recording on how Gen Zadan Sect was exterminated and learned the dark history of Fitagoras Sanctuary. He told me it was the reason we cultivate. I know it was twisted to allow the deaths of thousands and thousands of cultivators to build a sanctuary and a haven everyone loved, but this was all in the past now. This world is governed through power and it could have been us exterminated at that time.
Teacher said his Dao Foundation was shaken that day and has yet to recover but for me, this fueled the progress of my Dao Comprehension. After three years of seclusion, I had reached the 2nd Phase of Sword Dao.
I waited for my brother to get married and I only activated the Teleportation Array when the couple had their first child. I do not know what is on the apex of cultivation, but I will cross that road when I get there.
Years passed and I eventually activated the planetary portal, left everyone and joined Falling Sword Sect.
Every Tier attained in Ascension level is an added ten thousand years to that cultivator's lifespan. With this long life, one is able to accumulate resources to advance however the fight for resources is heavy and troublesome. Teacher did warn me about it and although I could have had displayed my talents to gain the support of the sect, I did not want to stand out and remained an outer disciple.
After a thousand year, I felt I was at the boundary of 2nd and 3rd Phase of Sword Dao. I still did not inform anyone as I have learned that only ten people have reached the 2nd Phase within the entire sect and the youngest of them is a thirty thousand years old fellow disciple.
Although I was at the boundary, there is this thin barrier I could not seem to break even after another five hundred years of seclusion.
I have read many books about how our predecessors have managed to overcome this hurdle and almost all of them suggested that I should sever mundane connections. The world of Dao is mysterious and the process of severing is not as simple as ignoring or forgetting someone.
Every disciple is required to contribute to the sect and given I have been secluded for a long time, I decided to take a break and I participated on a planetary mission.
Upon our return, our ship stopped at a neutral satellite to participate in an auction. Before the start of the auction, certain consolation and less expensive items would be displayed to entertain guests while waiting. With my meager savings, I knew I won't be able to afford anything and just when my mind was drifting off, the third item announced was a treasure map.
Treasure map is a general term space pirates would use to describe irretrievable ship wreckage caused by natural forces in space and most of them include spatial distortions and the way they would determine them is through listening to deep space distress signals. If pirates determined that it is too risky for their team to retrieve the ship's remnants, they would gather evidence of the accident and sell it to a generous buyer.
This time, one of the evidences presented is a book and the cover contains foreign characters similar to the alphabets I used to copy to produce questionnaires we would roll out during Chess competitions back in Fitagoras Sanctuary. I spent everything I had and bought the map and learned that the reason they could not retrieve the shipwreck was because of the sighting of a suspected spacecraft from Immortal Emerald Soul Sect.
When I saw those characters, the layer which I spent less than two thousand years trying break to advance to the 3rd Phase of Sword Dao began to crack. It was as if the world is telling me that I can only advance my Dao Comprehension after I retrieve the rest of the items this book came from.
I do understand that everyone has their own unique way of enlightenment however the books I have read all involved arduous training, extremely precious materials, life and death situations, and some even described almost impossible situations to gain even the slightest of advancement of Dao Comprehension, however the way I am progressing is mysteriously smooth.
In short, I feel like the Sword Dao chose me, but I cannot get rid of this indescribable feeling as if someone wants me to get there.
Before teacher introduced me the sword techniques, he mentioned something about reaching the apex of Dao. He said that everyone has a predestined fate and that the very essence of cultivation is to go against the heaven and make our own paths. I find it absurd and almost forgotten about it because it is self contradicting.
"If my life and everyone else's fate is predetermined, then is there even a sense to living? Is free will all an illusion?"
It is preposterous to entertain the idea that our fates is being controlled but if it is indeed the truth, then I will try to play along.
I do not know about the truths of this world but I hope I will find my answers when I reach the top.
When we got to the sect, the first thing I needed to do is to gain support without making troubles.
The Sect has a simple rule of determining qualifications of inner disciples. One must be able to climb the Terrace of Fallen Sword and get a token on the 50th step. When I first got to the sect, I only stayed on the 10th step to become an outer disciple.
The trick to reaching the top of the Terrace is to protect oneself with Dao Aura. With my comprehension nearing the 3rd Phase, the pressure was insignificant. Before I could reach the top, the sect master came out of seclusion to greet me. Although she was at Divinity Stage, her Sword Dao is only on the 2nd Phase.
When I told her about the Treasure Map with respect to my comprehension, she assembled a fleet the following day and led the mission herself without flinching.
After a month, she brought me a spatial ring containing what was left of the shipwreck. Due to unstable spatial tears, not much remained. There was another ship wreckage as well and they determined it was from a branch sect of Immortal Emerald Soul Sect near LP236 Sector using Mira System.
She handed me a book and according to her, they were musical notes. I felt bad using her. She even went through of decoding everything that is related to the foreign alphabets. They found a damaged soul slave in the ship and according to it, its master was trying to avenge his old world. It was able to translate one passage of a musical piece before it completely dissipated.
When I opened the first page, I saw the translated text.
"Years wander, we breathe in and breathe out. Destination arrived, but have desires come to halt?"
The world seemed to have stopped. I closed my eyes and with a deep breath, I sighed and smiled.
Just like that, I stepped into the 3rd Phase of Sword Dao. The sect master immediately went outside and set up an Isolation Formation. If I were a regular cultivator, I would appreciate what she did but I was different. Unlike people who would need thousands of years to consolidate their understanding of the Dao, the world is willingly giving it to me.
I stepped out and told her it was not necessary. I asked her about the next level of Dao and she told me how they have become an affiliated member of Immortal Blood Sect thirty thousand years ago. And that if I was interested, I should use the hidden Dimensional Teleportation Array before the last day of Galactic Alignment which was the following day.
I promised I will repay the sect when I get the chance to visit from the Upper World. She did not convince me to stay and said I was the pride of their sect.
With the sect's fastest ship, we arrived in less than a day. When we got to the location of the hidden array, I was not surprised it was located in the Endless Sea of my home planet.
I spent an entire evening watching the place that cradled me. I wish I could interact with my brother and teacher's descendants but the sect master told me that the moment Ascendants began interacting with the locals, the planet's flow of peace will be disturbed.
I left this book at the shoreline of Endless Sea. Everything is pre-destined and should reach its way back home.
I once read of Ancestor Clay's biography and his old world being destroyed. Now I found another one. I do not know what my part is in their story and why destiny let me tangle with their fates but I promise that if one day I reach the apex of cultivation, I will break the threads of fate and will make my own.
Midi
Clay closed the book. He looked at his palm. He clenched his fist and laughed softy like a deranged man. He laughed at how unfair the world is. Having killed countless of people yet here he was, alive and celebrated for the world he built and not condemned nor questioned and free of moral culpability.
He stepped out of the residence where the current patriarch of Mur Av'ic village was waiting.
"I will be gone and this time, for good."
When the patriarch realized his presence, Clay requested his silence. His legacy as a cold blooded killer and the founder of Fitagoras Sanctuary shall remain as it is and his appearance six thousand years later should not change anything.
Clay activated his strength to the 6th power and flew towards the Endless Sea. Originally, he wanted to spend his remaining days trying to emulate the experiments left behind during the Great Invasion but now that there is a Dimensional Array he could utilize, he wanted to give meaning to his finite life by meeting some members of the sect that once ravaged Earth. After less than an hour, he found a massive Island with a Teleportation Array in the middle. Two mechanical puppets flew to greet him.
The puppets could not properly assess the strength of their guest so they greeted and showed no hostility. The language they were using is Ul Dialect so Clay did not have issues grasping their messages. Clay landed on the array and summoned thousands of High Qi crystals.
"Can you help me plot coordinates in the Upper World?"
"Plotting the coordinates is easy but be reminded with the usage of higher versions of energy should you plan on teleporting to the Upper World. The strength you displayed rivals Divinity Stage but we have no records of your energy signature to assess the probability of successful transfer. Lastly, considering the Galactic Alignment is far from the future, it is suggested the Array must be fully powered."
The puppets are artificial constructs and are powered by Divine Qi and designed to guard and decides who can use the portal. They have intelligence and computing ability beyond that of a human and when they saw the energy type Clay summoned to power the array, they immediately warned him.
Clay spread his divine sense and roughly estimated he needs to use at least ninety percent of his reservoir to power the array. With a slight hesitation, he poured his Qi into the Array and said,
"My destination is anywhere near LP236 Sector using Mira System."
"There is no turning back once I activate array."
Upon hearing the puppet's response, a familiar and distant memory suddenly came to him, however the memory is vague. An image of a woman sitting before a scenic lake while wiping her tears. He felt like that woman said the same thing.
Then he suddenly recalled that that girl was the same woman he saw at the altar and the same woman he wished to have been with twenty years later. More memory fragments flooded his mind. Some of them were memories he treasured the most. His heart pounded and wanted to pause and cherish more of these but before he could turn to the puppet, the Array was activated.
The puppet seeing that there was no response from Clay construed the silence as a yes and activated the array. Fluctuations of dangerous cataclysmic energy radiated above the Array. The formation gave out a blinding light and with a "whish", Clay was gone.
Clay was shocked when he felt the immense pressure caused by spatial distortion. While he is protected with his strength boosted to the 6th power, the consumption was astronomical that only two breaths have passed and he could no longer maintain his aura.
On the third breath, he felt his wings and feet disintegrated and with another tick, his aura collapse and his entire existence was erased.
He did not even have time to regret before everything went dark.