96. Once Upon a Time There was a Soul – End of Vol 2
When Clay opened his eyes, he realized he was lying on flat bed like a futon on the floor. He could hear a soft piano playing from across the room and the musical piece is none other than Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2. He felt like he was dreaming.
He remembered he was knocked unconscious after giving an answer to unknown lizard-looking cultivators.
Clay did not panic and looked at the ornamental light fixture on the ceiling. The chandelier’s design was very familiar.
Clay got up and sat on the bed as he observed the room in daze. There is faint smell of pine tree combined with a sweet aroma of tea he once enjoyed.
“Is this an illusion or am I dreaming?”
Clay closed his eyes and circulated his Qi and looked into the Soul Seal within him to confirm he is not hallucinating. As usual, the moment he consciousness entered the Qi Node in his forehead, he felt the cold and forbidding aura surrounding his soul.
*Sigh
After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and made a grabbing motion with his hand then stood up.
“Why am I back here?” He thought to himself and slowly walked across the room.
He wanted to go outside and look around but when he got to the next room, he paused upon discovering where the smell is coming from. It is coming out from a cup of tea being sipped by a middle-aged man standing and peacefully looking through the window enjoying a cup of Rabi’y tea.
The last time he was awake, although he knew he was going to die, he had already accepted his fate but still decided to go with the flow and see whatever destiny laid for him, that is if there is indeed a destiny.
Clay walked towards the window adjacent to where the middle aged man was standing and as soon as he had a view outside, the image of a bronze-like statue from afar greeted him.
Clay looked at the engraved words at the base of the statue.
“We find meaning in mortality – Mur Brung”
Clay smiled upon confirming he really was back at Mur Av’ic Village. He is currently inside the second floor of residence they initially stayed at when he was travelling with Re’y during his first reincarnation. Looking at the empty village square, memories of him searching for cure when he was a transformed beast poured through his mind.
“I wanted to utilize the room within this village repository on that isolated hill but it was renovated six times the past thirty thousand years. You may not recognize it”
Clay looked at the middle-aged man standing not far from his right. Black shoes, light brown jeans, long sleeve navy blue polo neatly tucked, tall, properly shaved, classic side part hairstyle and the lab coat that makes him look like a scientist. If there is something wrong with this man, it is that his two fingers are missing and looks like it is continuously disintegrating but very slowly. Even the man’s left ear when focused show signs of slow decomposition to dust but there was no blood. At least he was a fellow human.
“This place is usually lively but during Chess Championship Competition, even a dying elderly would magically revitalize and attend the Chess festival. That’s how impressive your legacy is.”
Clay was surprised by how friendly the man sounded however he finds it hard to believe he was not abducted again. Maybe a friend of Rahm Rah but who knows.
“I don’t know how you found this place and even if you kill everyone in the village, may I remind you that I can only help you decode Fei Hong’s inheritance if you let me see every text she left. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to touch those Dao Stone” Clay did not show any signs of agitation. Having already accepted death and the worst fate there is, he was no longer afraid as he wanted to get straight to the point.
“You must have been through a lot.”
The man materialized a ring and tossed it over to Clay then said, “Fei Hong’s inheritance or the Dao Stones you are referring to is within that ring and let me assure you I have no interest in power. In fact, it is my will you use it on your own. You want power to protect yourself right? And your loved ones and everything dear to you. Although it’s a bit too late, you can still use it if you decide to continue on living” The man looked at Clay and sipped his tea.
Clay is cynical and wants to snort in derision upon hearing the man’s hypocritical claim saying he is not interested in power. He would rather talk to his previous abductor as they did not sugarcoat their intentions than talk to someone who wants to sound affable but with motives.
He did not respond and took a deep breath. He suspects he had been Soul Searched and he could care less if there is another sinister scheme awaiting him but he was curious how Mur Av’ic village has been. It never occurred to him he will one day return back to the same place he spent the remaining days of his life on his first reincarnation.
Since it has survived the test of time, he wanted to know if the Fitagoras Sanctuary he built has filtered other rebirthers. When he originally built the sanctuary, on the surface it looks like he wanted to help rebirthers especially from Earth but deep down, he still hoped that Kirsten would reincarnate and find her way back into his arms.
Clay smiled while thinking of his life and if there ever is an end to his misfortunes.
He then looked at the spatial ring again but still did not inject his Qi on it. If the ring indeed contains the Dao Stones.
Was it possible he was rescued?
Clay could not shake the feeling that everything is a facade so he asked, “Just tell me you want?”
“What I want?” The man looked at Clay again and forced a smile.
“What I want is you absorb the power of Dao Stones to temporarily elevate your Dao Comprehension to Materialization Stage so you could gain a slight ability to resist the restraints of this plane existence. After that, I want you to guide the Soul Seal lying within the sea of your consciousness to fuse with your soul as it would make a perfect capsule and after that, we will shoot you out into subspace so that your soul will be expelled from this universe once and for all.”
There was momentary silence before Clay could no longer control his laughter.
“Ha ha ha ha”
“Ha ha ha ha.” They both laughed in unison then after a quarter of a minute, the man said. “I know right? Even I madly laughed when I first heard of it.”
Clay continued to laugh but not because it was funny but he just heard the most ridiculous and absurd idea of his lifetime.
“And if I refuse to participate in your little game?”
“Then there is nothing more I can do and I did say you can still use it if you wish to continue on living.”
The man took a sip and after a deep breath, his face became serious and continued. “But know that your refusal will cause the end of the world as we know it. It’s not going to happen so soon. Maybe two billion years, or two and a half but certainly won’t get past three. It’s a quite a long time actually. A normal human can reincarnate more than a thousand times given such length of time.”
“You’re not kidding, are you? Is crazy talk a new form of torture now? Because I don’t think it’s working. The last time I woke up, some nasty red lizards threatened to bottle my soul and let it float in the void for who knows how long. Why not come up with something more sinister like killing every citizen of this planet?”
The man was indifferent and looked at his empty cup. He sighed and placed the cup at a space at the edge of the window and placed his hands at his back.
“You were friendlier and less skeptical the first time we met. Why don’t you look what’s inside this ring again and see if I can clear your doubts of me.”
The man lifted his right hand and flicked his fingers.
*Click
The man turned around and walked towards the elongated table on the middle of the room.
Clay feels like the man is not lying and is beginning to think that he may have been rescued but the moment he heard that “click”, his suspicion stomped on the trust that started to form and expected he will be tortured any time now.
Clay watched until the man sat down.
Seeing that nothing is happening, he decided to check the contents of the ring. The ring did not look special and it does not have restrictions nor complicated arrays protecting it.
There are two items in the ring and one looks like a crystal dodecahedron the size of a meter and a book. The book looks ordinary but the crystal radiates a pure Dao aura he felt like he would melt in its presence. If not because of the Essence Flame residing and protecting his meridians, he reckons that he will have been burnt from the insides.
Clay could feel his Essence Flame woke up and wants to devour the crystal like a famished tiger.
He did not want to do anything reckless as he remembered what the man just said that he wants him to integrate with the Dao Stone. He stopped himself and took out the book.
TEMPLE OF GLE ISHA
“I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE DAO”
“NO ONE PASSES TO THE IMMORTAL WORLD BUT THROUGH ME”
The cover page is written in Ul Al’iya dialect and Clay got curious as it sounded like a passage in the Christian Bible back on earth.
He did not know why this man wants him to have this book and he was about to open to the first page when he felt someone approached from the outside. It was too fast that when it arrived, he only heard the door creaked.
He knew someone entered so he turned to the door expecting to the guest. Clay stored the book back into the ring and as the footsteps got louder, a woman with a silver short bob hairstyle slowly revealed herself and walked towards the man and when the woman was near the table, she took out six plates all with an unknown meat on them and neatly arranged the table like a waitress. She then took a knife and fork placed them on a napkin then followed by a bottle of wine and glass.
“This here is Midi. She rescued you from those red lizards. She was little when you first met. She was Re’y’s disciple, I think. Not too sure but I hope you can still remember her.” The man said as he took a slice if neat.
“I hope Lord Lao Ayan likes it.” Midi said as she politely served the meal.
Clay expected a vicious torturer but someone else showed up instead. Indeed he recalls the two little frivolous kids Re’y picked up during his previous life. The problem is he could not distinguish their resemblance.
“I hope you wouldn’t mind if I talk to him alone.”
“Not at all your Lordship. I will be outside if you need me.”
Midi slightly bowed then left the room.
Clank
Clank
Clay stood by the window confused as he watched Lord Lao eat. He can tell by the sound of the knife touching the plate that Lord Lao seems unable to control his hands.
Clay stood motionless despite the subtle sign he should join Lord Lao. He does not have a full grasp of what is going on but if he attempts to flee, he should be able to gather some clues.
Clay stepped on the window and materialized his Qi to his back and formed his wings.
“At least have a meal before you escape. Some poor guy spent three days preparing this meal to ensure it would perfectly satisfy a human tongue. Did you…”
Clay ignored the invitation and did not let Lord Lao finish his sentence .Without hesitation, he jumped out of the window and flew upwards. Regardless if he was indeed saved or is waiting to be tortured, the only way to find out is to act tactless and get on their nerves.
*Whish
He was expecting someone would forcefully pull him down the moment he got out but he could not feel any threats with his heightened senses. Even so, he continuously propelled himself upwards and after almost two minutes, he stopped and levitated upon reaching a thousand meter altitude.
Surprised, he looked down and observed the village. A lot has indeed changed. The first time he came to the village, almost every house looks like it was going to collapse. Even after the incident of Soul Space Dimension, when he came out six thousand years later, the villagers tried to preserve the land and established another village not far from their ancestral land.
Now another thirty thousand years had passed, the dilapidated house which he once isolated himself had finally changed and become mansion. The other village where they migrated to has become a city. Even the landscape of their sacred temple looks like it had been heavily modified.
If there is something that has not changed, it is the village square and the residences around it. The other thing is Re’y’s mausoleum.
“Regret awaits those who won’t live.” Clay reinforced his eyes with his Qi and read the epitaph erected on the grave.
For a moment, he basked in the memories of his past. If only he could maintain his flight.
Disrupted by his limited strength, he returned to his original worry. He still doesn’t understand if he was really saved.
While he could kill himself now, he recalled he had already decided to play along and see what destiny had in store for him. Besides, even if he could run now, he will not be able to outrun the speed nor hide from the unfathomable strength of Midi.
“I feel sorry this village will be exterminated along with me.” Clay thought as he retracted his wings and free fall.
Like a meteor falling from the sky, Clay felt the strong force of gravity but before he could hit and splatter himself to the ground, he reactivated his wings to negate the pull of gravity and landed like a soft feather.
Clay was surprised that nobody intervened. As if they will let him die if he chose not to land safely.
Clay walked into the house upstairs where Lord Lao was enjoying his meal.
When he entered the room, he sat opposite Lord Lao. Even without being invited again, he grabbed a spoon and a fork then sliced the meat at the center of the table and placed it on his plate.
With an intent of not showing table manners, he grabbed the bottle of wine but before he could pour some on his glass, he noticed Lord Lao’s left ear completely gone. Earlier was still complete though it looks like it was disintegrating like a charcoal dusting off.
“What happened to your ear?”
Lord Lao looked at Clay and said, “What you’re witnessing now is decomposition brought about by the shifting laws that governs this universe. I estimate that by the time we’ve finished this meal, that I will have had completely turned to dust.”
Clay smirked. “You’re dying and you want to engage me in a conversation of nonsense.”
“Nonsense? Ha ha ha I truly wish everything is nonsense.”
“You mentioned we’ve met before but I don’t recall meeting you at all. Having performed Soul Search on me, you of all people should know that the people I’ve interacted with both present and past lives can be counted. Unless of course along the process of Soul Search that you screwed up and made me forget which begs the question, why not just alter my memories so I could do your bidding?”
“If it were possible, then this conversation should not have had happened. Regarding altering someone’s memory, it is broad topic and while it is technically possible, your soul is just too unique that even Immortal Kings can’t do anything about it. As for Soul Search, why would I want to do that when I have seen the future?”
Clay chewed a slice of meat, bewildered if he can get a proper conversation. After swallowing, he continued. “When you said earlier it was too late, did you mean the people I’m close with at MA6Z2 Planet?”
“Not only them but every citizen within Arizan Conservatory and a few cities surrounding it.”
“For someone who has seen the future, you had countless opportunities to save me from those predicaments yet here I am. Nothing to go back to. If you want me to do something, you could have had done something and earned my trust. “Clay said sarcastically as he drank from the glass of wine.
Lord Lao is still calm then said, “When I was at the peak of my power, I was able to touch this universe’s framework and I have seen multiple versions of the future. All of which you ended up being miserable despite interventions. This version of your life is no different. It’s true it would have been better if you have stayed on your soul form, unborn but unfortunately you must be allowed to live so that a savior will be born. Technically this is your forth life and”
“Enough of your mystic mumbo jumbo. Just tell me what you want already.” Clay interrupted.
“Why don’t you use your Divine Eyes and look into my soul.” Lord Lao calmly replied.
Clay was not surprised Lord Lao already knew of his ability and activated his Godly Sight. It should have been the first thing he did but he was too focused thinking about what will happen to him. He was still relaxed but the moment the pentagram form in his eyes and activated his Godly Eyes, he was astonished with what greeted him.
When Clay first ask Re’y to display his Dao Powers, he saw a small light bluish mist that surrounded Re’y’s soul but what he is seeing now is humongous and so large that he is within the mist. He looked around and could not see where the mist ends that he may need to levitate again to see the whole pattern.
But the problem is that the mist surrounding Lord Lao’s soul is not light blue. It is dark and deep blue almost similar to the mist he saw on one of the Black Qi infected cultivator when he was travelling and searching for a cure for his beast transformation during his first reincarnation.
“What you’re seeing now is a version of Blue Qi Subspace Form Number 42 or what cultivators call Dao Powers. It’s a corrupted version brought upon by the shifting laws of the universe so the color is different. This is how every cultivator in the Immortal Realm perished and this is how cultivators within the Lower Planes will perish in the next two to three billion years to come. Now do you believe me now when I say this universe’s fundamental laws are changing? It’s changing to the point that everything will cease to exist. And it’s changing because of you. Because of you my friend.”
Clay was still full of doubts but after seeing the condition of Lord Lao’s power, his views shifted 180 degrees. He had always trusted his divine sight and there is no way Lord Lao could fake the reflection presented to his Godly Eyes. He does not know anything about the Immortal Realm and it is unbelievable to learn that everyone within the Immortal Plane died. But what is more ridiculous is that their deaths were caused by him and to hear that the universe is ending because of him is just inconceivable.
“You said we’ve met before and you called me a friend. I really can’t remember anything. Can you tell me who I was that I would cause such unimaginable destruction?”
Lord Lao smiled seeing that Clay’s sudden politeness. “You were a mortal during your first life and nothing special. It’s unfortunate that your memories were seal when my Dao Companion locked your soul but it’s true, you were just an ordinary mortal. And speaking of your first life, you made me promise to give you this when we talk again.” Lord Lao paused and retrieved three bottles of transparent liquid and placed it on the table. Outside the bottles have a strap in the middle that says “Rand Paws” written in bold letters before a picture of an angel and a demon fighting on a lake of fire.
Clay eyes squinted upon seeing them. Those are three bottles of hard liquor he used to drink when Kirsten broke his heart. For twenty years he had drank them whenever he got depressed but still miraculously reached his eighties.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I still can’t remember anything and may I ask how exactly did an ordinary mortal caused the Immortal Plane to perish and exactly how did I cause you to lose your powers?” Clay grabbed one of the bottles and opened it. The strong alcohol smell was as nasty like he remembered it.
“Indeed, why. Why and how does a normal looking speck of a soul caused this universe to flow unnaturally. I’ve been pondering on that question for billions of years.”
Clay looked at Lord Lao quizzically. Had he not seen Lord Lao’s true condition, he would still talk sarcastically and treat him like a crazy person.
Lord Lao responded by shrugging his shoulders whilst chewing. “I may look ordinary now but I was one of the seven Exalted Immortals, the highest known level of cultivation.”
After drinking from the glass of wine, he said. “Allow me to tell you happened.
You see, the world is very different now. In the past, when this universe was stable, innumerable space beasts roam the vastness of the cosmos and everyone was busy getting stronger and I was no exception. Maybe a few arguments and misunderstandings, sometimes war here and there but everyone and everything was busy minding their own business until one day, within a corner and emptiness of space, a teeny tiny soul appeared. It just appeared out of nowhere. Not even the slightest spatial distortion or single lightning storm, it just appeared. Then, that soul dispersed and joined the cycle of Samsara like every souls would do when someone dies.
That soul was nothing special and it was too ordinary that even a cultivator who eats souls to get stronger would discard it and would not even bother looking at it. Not even dust would bother its existence except for one. And it is not even a living being.
It’s the consciousness of this universe. It treated the soul differently like it has been invaded.
I’ve studied the fundamental laws of this universe for billions of years yet the consciousness of the universe still remains a mystery. To this day I cannot properly explain its method in expelling that soul and why can’t it not expel directly, but one thing is certain. It wants to remove that soul from its system by using the inhabitants within its system.
You see that book in the ring?”
Clay was attentively listening and took out the book again.
“That book is the bible of a religion called Gle Isha Temple. It was established by the first prophet, Uwhe Ya. He was the chosen one, chosen by the consciousness of the universe.
And as the heaven’s son, his existence was a cheat. In only ten thousand years, he has reached the apex of cultivation at an unimaginable rate.
When a cultivator breaks through to Immortal Level, they will start as Wandering Immortal, then Immortal Lord, then Kings and finally, Exalted and each realm is still divided into nine levels. There is a myth about another level, called Supreme Immortal but that’s another story.
Time has no meaning in the Immortal World but if we calculated how fast he cultivated, it should be approximately ten thousand years. It takes millions of years for a Wandering Immortal to reach the second level from being a level one yet the chosen one gained strength too fast that it rivaled us, the Exalteds.
The only problem is that, the crazy speed of his cultivation is as crazy as the notion of his teachings and theosophy. He professed the end of the universe and said that those who would not listen will burn forever in hell.
Your first two lives, and although your first memories are sealed, you were actually an atheist. I’m sure you’re familiar when church-goers would knock on your door and tell you about salvation.
In the same manner, nobody listened. If not because of Prophet Uwhe Ya’s strength, he would not have gained followers. “
Clay starts to get annoyed thinking if becoming talkative is part of becoming stronger. Just recently he encountered a cabbie driver who did the same thing. Now that he thinks about it, this conversation he’s having now is no different.
“Moving on, their primary objective is to sacrifice that unknown soul to their God. I don’t know how they got a hold of that soul but they did. At that time, nobody cared and we allowed them to do what they want but on that glorious day of their sacrificial offering, their temple released an aura of a heaven defying treasure and it was felt throughout the Immortal Realm.
The only way for immortals to continue their meaning is to gain strength and that sudden eruption of power is what everyone needs including us, Exalteds who had been trying to figure the secret of the next level for billions of years.
War broke out and the planet at which the Temple of Gle Isha was erected crumbled. Prophet Uwhe Ya maybe strong but his battle experience was very little compared to us who have fought our entire lives. The prophet and his myrmidons all died but their faiths had not waivered one bit.
Before Uwhe Ya’s soul vanished, he said, everyone shall perish.
The sad thing is that, after the war, we have found no treasure. No matter how we searched, the source of that mythical energy vanished. But if there is something that remained, it is the last words of the prophet. It lingered towards everyone’s mind even after a million year.
Life moved on but the last words of the prophet haunted us like curse. It reverberated to every immortal that a few started to have visions including me and my Dao Companion.
My first vision was the Tide Bringers turning into red mist. They are species of water elementals on a distant galaxy. I ignored it at first but news about a certain blue planet turned into red one day reached my ears. Then followed by more news of planets after planets turning red. Later I learned that what caused it were the blood of all those cultivators.
My second vision was Froggrans eating each other. They are frog looking cultivators residing within a galaxy close to the Tide Bringers. I don’t know what caused them to lose their sanity but all of them either ended up being eaten or died in starvation.
Before my third vision, I felt something was wrong. It was not just me but everyone. However no matter how we searched our bodies, nobody can figure out anything. Then the third vision happened. Licean Cosmic Beast growing astronomically large that they consumed planets.
My sect, including I started investigating.
One day, a disciple of mine reported about a book. He said that everything that was going one was written on a book. It was a book related to a sect which was exterminated during a recent war.
It’s the same book you’re looking at.
Anyway, my instinct told me everything that was happening is because we did not listen to that prophet and that unknown soul.
Later, I’ve mobilized everyone to investigate any followers of Prophet and believe it not, all of them vanished. Rumors say they are now residing in a paradise their god who created them.
After years and years of investigation, I had finally found the prophets origins. It did not take much effort to locate his inheritance including a technique called Timeless Eternal Eyes. According to Uwhe Ya, cultivating this technique will allow someone to receive blessing of god and it was the same technique I’ve used to locate that unknown soul. It allowed me to see both future and the past as long as it is related to you.
I don’t know what’s so mysterious about that soul but I’ve used the Timeless Eternal Eyes technique to peek into the past. It was there I’ve learned that Prophet Uwhe Ya used all his strength to imprison that soul during his finals moments.
The first thing I did was to destroy that soul but just when I thought I was relieved, I had an epiphany. The soul recreated itself. As one of the most powerful beings, coupled with an ability to see the past and the future, recapturing your soul was easy. But no matter what I do, that soul remained indestructible.
Countless years passed of finding a way to destroy that soul and I became a scientist in the process. I was not the smartest but through time, I’ve learned many things including the inner workings of this universe. Similar to this village ancestor, Mur Brung, I studied similar things.
It’s beautiful to have an understanding of our universe and even more interesting discovering the existence of other universes. Did you know that universes are like floating bubbles? And what’s amazing is that every bubble has its own fundamental laws
Now when I say, the fundamental laws of this universe is shifting, I’m referring to the delicate balance of primordial energies which comprise our existence. They are Spiritual Qi, Blue Qi, and Nether Qi.
It was at that time I understand why the consciousness of the universe is trying to expel that soul from its system.
You see, that soul has a unique ability to draw powers outside the bubble. I have seen the future several times and no matter what I do, that soul always ends up creating Spiritual Veins channeling foreign energies creating an imbalance.
And that soul is you. Do you understand it now?”
Lord Lao paused and smiled looking at the empty plates. He then grabbed the bottle and poured some into his wine glass.
Clay suddenly was worried as he remembered that Lord Lao will turn to dust after the meal. Although he has yet to verify Lord Lao’s story, he wanted to listen more of it.
*Ahh
Lord Lao exclaimed from the taste of wine.
“You’re going to leave me hanging with your unfinished story?”
Lord Lao took another sip then continued. “Compared to other universes, ours is still in its infancy stage and does not have the ability to maintain the balance of those three primordial energies. Given your soul’s ability to infinitely re-spawn, the universe is trying to expel your soul out. The sacrificial offering Prophet Uwhe Ya conducted was actually a method to shoot you out of the system. Had no one intervened, everyone would probably is still alive.
The consciousness of the universe is like a beast. It knows how to survive and is not very smart. I wondered why it allowed its plan to be disrupted in the first place. At that time, I did not know why it is shifting the amount of Blue Qi from its core and I’ve only realized it later that it was doing it in preparations of your actions. Every time you create Spiritual Veins, the consciousness of the universe will ensure that your creations will not draw energies from elsewhere.
As you know, Blue Qi is the source of our Dao Powers. When Blue Qi manifests in reality without properly permeating into the 42 Dimensional Sub-Spaces, it becomes unstable we call it Death or Black Qi. I’ve been researching on ways to reverse the process but the deeper the sub-space, the trickier it becomes to this day, the 10th sub-space remains impervious to any attacks.
That shifting of Blue Qi towards the outer layers of the universe created an imbalance of the three primordial energies on its core. If we assume the proportion is 70 spiritual energy, 25 Blue Qi, and 5 Dormant Nether Qi, Blue Qi has been sucked dry to less than 1 percent and raising the spiritual energy to 94. This proportion is creating a new law where original Dao Powers could not manifest.
An immortal is defined by their Dao powers and without it, we die and what happens when we die, our immortal powers decomposes and goes through the universe recycling process but with its Laws changing, the decomposing energy accumulated on the 10th sub-space distorting reality dimension and it was only a matter of time when everything collapsed.
The once mighty Immortal Plane had ceased and is now a gigantic big nebula.
If only I have found about what the consciousness of the universe was up to. Its destruction could have been avoided sooner. “
Clay noticed earlier that Midi had an unfathomable Dao powers so he asked, “If what you’ve said is true, how come Midi is fine and exuberating with mystic Dao powers?”
“Do you remember when you were playing with your Vein Model and let out so much of blue mist which were absorbed by the World Tree? Midi absorbed it all. And since she is the new chosen one, the consciousness of the universe made way for her to further elevate her Dao Powers. “
Clay notice Lord Lao’s left hand has already disintegrated and is afraid this man will disappear without completing his story. “You could have just sealed me and let me be but anyway, tell me about how we first met.”
Lord Lao was poured more wine into his glass like nothing happened.
“Sealing you was actually the first solution but somehow your soul just vanishes after a couple thousand years. We can keep doing it but that doesn’t stop the universe from self destructing so after failing too many times, I released your soul and you lived for the first time.
I thought that by convincing you to not create those Spiritual Veins that the consciousness of the universe will see it but I was wrong. That’s why I said the consciousness of the universe is not that intelligent.
You were thirty years old when I approached you at some restaurant at Session Road. Your life was in crumbles you wanted to go back in time to undo your mistakes.
At that time, we can still control our Dao Powers and during that conversation, I had an enlightenment and the barrier to become a Supreme Immortal cracked. I went back to the Immortal World hoping I could break through and acquire a new transcendental powers to fix the universe but when I was away, I felt the explosion of the Mortal Plane.
I’ve seen too many futures and somehow I forgot that one of those futures, that fellow Exalted Immortals sacrificed themselves in an attempt to open a portal outside the universe. But even with their combined powers, they still failed.
Their residual energies caused the fabric of the Mortal Plane to easily crumble. Similar to the Immortal World, the Mortal Plane became a gigantic nebula as well and worst, it accelerated the change in Law causing me and other remaining immortals to have barely control of our Dao powers.
I was lost at that time and while I was thinking about giving up, my Dao Companion brought a man. His name is Ixfel Alnuma from the Orient Sector of the Lower Plane.
He was holding the same bible and he prophesized that one day during a galactic alignment and a Sword Saint will be born to drive away evil.
The prophesy was broad and I suspected that it will end up again in failure so I took a break and look things into perspective.
Using the technology we developed to peek into other universes, and after thousands of years, we finally discovered why simply expelling you out did not work.
In truth, when my fellow Exalted Immortals sacrificed themselves, they were actually able to dig a hole and throw your soul out but you got absorbed back again and that’s because your soul has the same composition as the souls within our universe.
And you can probably guess the new plan. First, change your soul composition then throw you out again.
It sounds simple but we needed to be careful that time. We need to ensure you will be absorbed to a stable universe. And for a stable universe to pass by, it would take 14 billion years in the future.
And compare that to your estimated time of rebirth which is 10,000 years, the plan we have in mind is doomed to fail. Since we can no longer peek into the future, we were left with one option.
And that is to delay the fulfillment of the current prophecy
I had to look for other surviving immortals to help me out imprison your soul. With my wife sacrifice herself, we were able to prevent you souls from entering Samsara until the time is ripe.
Which brings us now. It’s comforting to see our plans of delaying the prophecy succeeded.
Believe it or not, I did not want you to have a miserable life. I did my own preparations but the consciousness of the universe has its own way of influencing the future. The plan was that you should have been discovered as a prodigy in Alchemy. You should have had become influential and will have the power to rule over people. We even prepared a Fire Class Dao Stone that will help you touch the Realm of Grand Dao.
There were two possible futures awaiting you should you have had become that figure in our vision. You will either gracefully exit this universe, or that Sword Saint will force you to be expelled out.
But what did we get instead?
The consciousness of the universe is obstinate in creating instances where you will be forced to perform genocide after genocide for the sake of the prophecy it created. It created Fei Hong who took away the Dao Stones.
I’ve planted thousands of puppets to guard the Mortal Plane and even nurtured a sect to look after you in the future but after all I’ve been through, shit happened.
The last of the plan is seal myself so that one day I could wake up and secure your future but the universe did not want me to meddle further. It allowed my Dao Power to leak while I was asleep.
You asked me why, despite countless opportunities, have I not helped you during your difficult times?
If I said I did try, would you believe me?”
Clay’s is still confused. Why would he believe him? Right now his only way to verify the veracity of Lord Lao’s claim is to ask questions and check for inconsistencies so he asked, “I can create more Spiritual Vein Models and maybe you can regain your powers back.”
“Do that and you will expedite the calamity of our existence. The shifting happened as a defense mechanism of this universe’s consciousness preventing your creations to draw powers from outside but it can only do so much.
If we fail to force you out this time, the doom of this universe is ensured. This new law created by the imbalance of primordial energies can last two billion years but still as fragile as glass. By that time Blue Qi has been depleted completely to zero, it will create an opposite resonance towards its outer layer then explode from within.
I don’t want you to think that I am not telling you everything. The moment you merge with the Soul Seal, you will understand how destructive shifting law is. What I’m saying is that, that destructiveness will be multiplied a hundred times that once you’re out of the universe, and although I’ve performed countless experiments to destroy your soul and have not succeeded, that does not mean your soul will re-form when outside the universe, let alone inside another universe. It’s one of the reasons why you changed your mind during those moments when he projected the future. You chose to remain living within this universe and die along with everybody when the universe reaches its limits, because you were afraid to die.”
Lord Lao poured more wine on his glass then stood up and walked towards the window. Clay on the other hand though is still thinking if everything were true.
Cold breeze entered through the window and Lord Lao slightly tilted his head upwards to feel the wind then sipped from his glass.
*Sigh
“I had been afraid that this universe will be destroyed and each time I peek into the future, I can only see destruction and the seed of hopelessness germinated in my heart. I even lied when my wife asked me if her plan would succeed. In her dying moments, I wanted to give her hope.
But when I went to slumber and thought about the conversation I had with you at that restaurant, my views of the world changed. I was enlightened, I stopped worrying and purged all resentments I had towards your existence.
You said our lives is like book and we are not the main characters. We are background characters who had been deluding ourselves into thinking that the story revolves around us. That crappy story book predetermined the destruction of this universe and maybe that’s how it really should be. I don’t know who the main character is nor do I care anymore but I have long come to terms with the inevitable.
With the temporary stability of this universe’s fundamental laws, everyone will be given a chance to live again within two billions years. With this stability, anomalous rebirths will stop as well that even I, a once revered cultivator will forget everything on my next life.”
Lord Lao placed his glass near the cup where he had drunk his tea from earlier, and then he turned around to look at Clay.
“Except for you, my friend. You will continue to remember memories of your life every time you die. I’m certain you will refuse to believe everything I said but my only wish, if we are destined to meet again in my next life, can you prepare me the same meal? My personality may change but I am confident that I will always enjoy such transcendental dishes.”
“That’s it? You’re not going to convince me to die for a greater cause?”
“If it was before, I would kneel and beg you to fuse with that Dao Stone. I have seen versions of this future and Midi as the Sword Saint failed two times and I wish I could pretend I care, but I don’t. They say that the destruction of this universe is an inevitable destiny but I beg to differ. I think it is a predetermined plot from a story book and you are the main character. Maybe after this, you’ll be on your journey in discovering who you are and where did you originate from but it is no longer mine to worry about. It’s yours.”
Lord Lao smiled as he looked at Clay.
“Farewell and live long my fr… “
In that moment, the skin on Lord Lao’s face turned into dust while being blown by the wind. After around five seconds, Lord Lao completely disintegrated and turned to dust except for his Clothes.
At the same time, Clay activated his Divine Eyes. Lord Lao’s Soul looked like a wiggling little and slowly vanished together with the corrupted Dao Powers.
Clay was speechless and in that moment of confusion, he felt Midi entered the room. Clay did not speak and observed Midi stashed away what remained of Lord Lao. Midi then turned around and slowly walked towards the door.
“If you did not save me and if I’m reincarnated again, will my next life any better?”
Midi stopped her tracks but still did not look at Clay.
“This lifetime, what should have had happened is that the cultivators who abducted you will be severely injured allowing you a chance to escape. Then you chose to transform your body into a beast again and this time, using Divine Energy. Unstoppable, you moved to destroy Andara Federation starting with Kyan Han Sword Sect. Your next move is to avenge earth by exterminating Immortal Green Mist Soul Sect. We were destined to fight and in the end, you scattered your soul.
For your next lives, although I only saw two possible futures, the consciousness of the universe will create the same scenarios where you will be forced to kill innumerable people again like you did here in this planet. I’m unable to foresee past those two futures so I cannot tell if you will ever have a normal or happy life.
I made a deal with Lord Lao but seeing he failed to convinced you, I will let you live in peace as promised.”
“Thank you for answering my question.”
Midi slightly bowed and stepped out of the room.
Clay poured the hard liquor into the glass. He is still in disbelief. It was too much to listen to in one seating.
*Arghh…
Clay took a shot. The bitterness of Rand Paws has not changed. Clay played around with the un-opened bottle as he thought about his life. He smiled and focused on those moments when Kirsten was still his girlfriend. They were both young and naïve and embraced the gift of time.
Clay took a few more shots and slowly got inebriated.
He does not know if Lord Lao played reverse psychology on him and even if he does not believe Lord Lao’s story, one thing is still certain. He had lived three lifetimes of misery.
Clay retrieved the Dao Stone from the spatial ring and placed it on the table. He does not know what a heavenly treasure is but the Essence Flame in his dantian was agitated it wanted to crawl out and swallow what’s in front of him.
The truth is, he does not want to do it. However if this is the only way to achieve a lifetime of happy ending, then there is no harm in trying. If he will indeed remember his past lives again when he reincarnates, and if he is reborn on a universe which is not trying to expel him, then maybe and just maybe he will live a better life and there is only one way to find out.
Will he truly die in the process? There is only one way to find out.
Clay adjusted his circulation to resemble that of Fire Element and after a minute, he touched the Dao Stone.
The dodecahedron shined as the energy of the Dao Stones are being absorbed. With his perfect Qi control, the energy fused with him smoothly. Clay had never felt so strong before. While he is still at Qi Condensation Realm, he could feel that his strength is far stronger than that when he was a transformed beast.
At the same time, Clay slowly felt the Soul Seal inside him broke releasing a frozen energy. He could feel the two energies clashing so he sat in meditative position.
Later, his mind into a trance then lost consciousness.
Meanwhile, outside the residence, Midi set up an Isolation Formation to contain the burst of power. She did not expect that Clay would actually fuse with the Dao Stone. All the futures they have seen were the opposite. Midi extended her divine sense and to observe what was going on and upon witnessing the extent at which Clay has fused with the Soul Seal, she fired a signal into the sky.
Moments later, a Peak Divinity expert descended and kneeled in respect of Midi.
“Reinforce the Formation at the center of nebula. We’ll meet up in three days. You’re dismissed.”
“As you command.”
Midi patiently waited. She thought Clay would need help integrating the with Dao Stones but she was surprised by how everything is going according to their plan.
Three days later, Midi removed the Isolation Formation. Thick smell of burnt wood flowed outwards as everything within ten meter radius had turned into ashes but at the center is a floating wisp of soul. Midi grabbed of what’s left of Clay then flew through the skies.
In a blink of an eye, she exited the planet’s atmosphere and floated in space. With the wave of her hand, the space before her was sliced creating a passage toward the Upper Plane.
Upon entering the Upper Plane, she did the same thing to create a passage to the Immortal World.
The moment Midi set foot into the Immortal Realm, her body started to emit golden aura and as she moved closer to the nebula, her Immortal powers started to manifest. Her powers surrounded her like caterpillar cloaked in cocoon, but moments later, the cocoon grew larger then slowly transformed to form limbs. From a viewer’s perspective, Midi formed a gigantic avatar of herself. She reached the height as planet earth and continued to grow.
However no matter how large she has gotten, she is still tiny and looked like speck of dust when compared to the nebula that formed when the Immortal Realm collapsed.
“Those who do not wish to be caught in the explosion, descend into the lower realm now.”
After Midi sent out signals, she vanished from her spot and appeared closer to the center of nebula where the Single Point Explosion Array had been set up.
Midi flew into the middle of the Formation ignoring the unimaginable destructive forces of nature.
At a spot where atom breaks down yet she stood there like it was nothing.
Midi raised her hand and slowly, a giant sword was formed above her. Then she extended her aura to activate the Formation.
Along with the activation of the formation, the nebula started to shrink. In a span of a minute, the immeasurable nebula decreased to half of its original size
Midi smiled in satisfaction.
Midi commanded the giant golden sword floating above her and hit the center of the formation. Similar when she tore space, a hole was created at the center then threw Clay’s wisp of soul into the hole she just created.
Seeing Clay’s wisp of soul entered, Midi activated her full strength to power up the formation until her powers were depleted.
Meanwhile, the humungous nebula which stretched billions of light years away, shrank again and again and continued getting smaller and when it reached the size as large as the hundred thousand kilometer formation, Midi said,
“Thy will be done.”
After saying that, an unimaginable blinding explosion happened obliterating everything in its path including Midi’s Soul.
Fireworks is beautiful but when the explosion is magnified to the billionth degree, it becomes unworthy to behold.
Following the explosion, Clay’s wisp of soul continuously moved deeper and penetrated the 42 dimensional subspaces that make the membrane of the universe.
Clay is in his ethereal form and he is good as a dead but if he was conscious, he will see how he exited an infant universe and with the Soul Seal changing his form to match the composition of his soul similar to the atomic level of the passing universe, his soul gravitated towards the other universe.
The receiving universe was five times larger from which Clay originated from and it has a functional and stable protective system. It did not reject Clay and allowed it to be absorbed creating a ripple in the process.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the universe, an existence who has reached the apex of cultivation is observing the universe where Clay had been absorbed into. This primordial being had been observing this universe in hopes of conquering it for a new source of power. Their research of planar transfer had come to a halt for millions of years but on this day, the protective membrane has considerably weakened.
This being is unaware that on the other side is a foreign soul that has already entered causing a ripple which causes a weakness on the protective membrane.
The cultivator was surprised with the sudden weakening of the membrane and with each ripple that passes through, the state of the barrier is being restored to its impenetrable form.
With the pressure of limited time, the primordial being casted any worries and jumped into the membrane without any hesitation.
Moments later, the protective membrane of the universe was restored to its original state.