"Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Zheng Jie: Despicable devil. You live. For now."
"Fairy Yijun: ??? What is this guy suddenly on about?"
However, no matter how much Yan Yu prods into the Sect Master, there was only complete silence from Zheng Jie. As someone who was victim of one of the Heaven Path cultivator before, he knows how could it be that easy. The stronger the cultivator, the greater their will. When they have extend their great will on anything, they either achieve it, or fail and leave a mark on their cultivation forever.
This Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, there is no way he is any lesser than a Sky River cultivator. And that means his will is tremendous. How could he let evil goes out of his sight?
And yet, no matter how much he tries to get a rise out of him, there was only silence.
For now, Yan Yu could have tried and prods into this Fairy Yijun on the screen, however after interacting with her, he found it is not worth it. From the start it is clear that she is nothing more than a frog inside a well, it is not worth it. Yan Yu has found her not amusing.
Zheng Jie on the other hand...
Right now he has one big reason to continue and associate himself with the guy.
"System Notice: Mission: Escape from the Hell dimension
What does this mean? Yan Yu wants to find out. Being imprisoned within the Hell dimension was the greatest grudge in his entire life. However, now that he thinks about it, he does not remember why the resentment and hatred was engraved within his soul. The cause is forgotten, however something tell him...
'You ...must not forget.'
'You ...must not forget-'
How could he sit still when this system is telling him his entire life goal is within his grasp? However, how could he fight this Zheng Jie when he is still stuck in the Hell dimension? This is a paradoxical clause. But the System did not give anymore hint, it was as silent as ever.
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Through out my entire life I was a painter. When I was young, I saw an exquisite artist performed his art on the street. Not many even gave him a glance, but I was fascinated with the craftsmanship. It was like he puts his entire life upon the painting. Not many appreciate true art. And that is why what I wanted when I grew up was to be a honest artist.
However, no matter how many paintings I had drawn, it does not satisfy me. Even though I became a renowned artist, my fame resonate within the entire continent, I could not complete "that" painting. The painting that is the culmination of my entire life. The painting that will satisfy me.
And so I left the fame and fortune behind. Instead of the city, it was only mountain and rivers that stretch as far as the eyes can see. The goodwill of people runs out, no matter how famous one is, being too eccentric to not even draw a painting for 30 years is too much. I became poor, no people know about me.
Even so, everyday I try to finish my last painting.
On the paper, a woman not of this world was gradually formed. It was not based on any woman I have met, not of any beauty. How could human match the standard of beauty that I wanted? It was a beauty that was completely borned from my mind. The shape of her lip... the teary eyes... her jade like skin...
No matter how long I try, I could not complete the painting. It took me 20 years to finish the eyes that I was satisfied with.
I'm in my 80. The food inside the house has run out. I took the painting into the market, trying to dazzle people with my drawing skill for money. However, not even one person give me a glance. The beauty of my painting did not matter to the people who can only care about what they are going to eat tomorrow. A child runs over and gives the poor old man 5 coins. He does not have more to give, that was his allowance for candies.
I remember myself when I was young and realize I have wasted 70 years of my life on an unfinished painting.
Today suddenly a young man arrives at my house. Every step of his was filled with grace and elegance. He was like a character straight out of a painting, like the standard of beauty I have strived for my entire life.
I asked why the young man has come to my lonely house. He pointed toward the painting, my heart skips a beat.
"Is young master interested in this lowly painting? This is just any drawing you can find on the market, and it is not finished yet."
However, the young man's face was stilt as he looks at me.
"Of course it is not finished. Creating a life is difficult, even for a cultivator on the highest realm."
Cultivators?! Immortal?
Shakily, I ask him
"What business does immortal have with me?"
"Not you, but this painting." He murmurs. A cold chilly wind was blowing at that moment.
"It was your obsession that created this soul, this life. From the teardrop eyes, to the shape of her lips. It was your inability to let go that have strayed this soul into the wrong path of Devil cultivation."
I did not know what he was saying at that moment, the visage of the young man was too bright for mortal eyes.
"Desire, love, obsession, the more you fall, the more miserable you become. Even for this painting, it has good intention for the artist who created it. However, the more you continue on this path, the more miserable you will become, and even moreso for it, the moment you pass from this world, leaving it alone, the more it strays down the path of the Devil, the more miserable it will become in its remembrance and its love, becoming a great evil in the future."
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The immortal raises his sword, I could not move, even as my beloved painting was about to be torn to shred by cold blade. However, at that moment, the immortal stops.
"Do you want to finish the painting?"
He asks me.
With the cheap brush made from duck feathers, and the ink made from soot and glue, not at all suitable for painting, I try one last time. However, even with such instruments, the painting still manage to progress. I have made more progress than I ever could in the last 10 years. Her flowing hair, her red dress... The red that is just like a bride's wedding dress. I use my blood for the red, and the ink for the black. A red dot in the middle of her forehead...
Just like that in no time, the painting was almost finished. Just one final touch...
However, I could not finish it. I try to stall for time so that the immortal wouldn't destroy the painting. However he took my hand, moving it to the paper.
"Finish it."
I shakily finish the beauty mark. At that moment, the painting was finished. A picture of a beautiful bride on her wedding day.
"No matter how good your intentions are, Devil Path cultivator has bad karma. The desire, obsession... It will not just hurt you, but the people around you."
The immortal finishes. At that moment, a woman steps out from the painting and bows down to him, her eyes was teary but on her lip, there was a smile. She bows respectfully and turns toward me. In her eyes, there was tears, but she was smiling at me.
She was my entire life's work. She was my dream.
A woman in her wedding dress.
She brought up her hand, suddenly surrounding us was decoration like a wedding. The immortal was just watching us, unmoving.
The children in the neighborhood hearing the commotion, suddenly run around and shout
"Old man Chun is getting married."
"And the bride is a beauty."
"An 80 years old man marrying a beauty!"
I shakily bow and let the ceremony proceed. In my eyes, there was tears.
At the end of the ceremony, the immortal raises his sword and cut down the bride. On her face, there was only gratefulness as she looks at me. The immortal also turns to look at me at moment.
"Have the burden on your heart been lifted?"
He was right. I have finished my painting, however immediately after there was only a great sorrow.
"The burden on my heart has been lifted, however how could I be happy now." I told him.
"It is to be expected." He told me. "Meeting and parting are part of every human's karma. However, after you finish her painting, she was a complete soul, an actual living breathing being and not just a painting. It was a miracle even I cannot complete, be proud of that. Because you complete her painting, her complete soul could now enter the after life and enter the cycle of reincarnation instead of just dissipating into nothingness."
I listen to his heart, and it seems another burden has been lifted. Entering the cycle of reincarnation, could I see her again?
However at that moment there was still a lot of sorrow.
The immortal looks at me.
"You still continue to cling onto karma. But that is fine, that is human's nature. Live good now."
A cold wind blows, and the figure was not there anymore. I laugh, I cry, however, at that moment I feel my burdens have truly been lifted, but it leaves behind a lot of sorrow.
I remember the immortal in my memory. If being heartless is what it takes to be an immortal, than perhaps in this life and the next, I don't wish to be an immortal at all.
The phenomenons continue throughout the 3000 worlds, and on that day, a legend was born. It was a legend about a young man who appears with the cold wave, holding a sword to slay all devils.
Yan Yu was right about one thing, his karma with the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect is not quite done, however he was also wrong about one thing. Zheng Jie's great will was not about slaying just Yan Yu, the sect master was a mad man whose Great Will is to destroy all Devils. The thought was that, only after he has become one with the Heaven Dao could it be completed, however at his stage, it was only one step from ascension. Zheng Jie was always going to do this before his final ascension no matter how much it will cost him, however what Yan Yu gave him was an excuse.
The moment his Divine Sense cover the heaven and earth, he saw all devil cultivators on heaven and earth, even though that did not include the Devil cultivators trapped within the Hell dimension. How could Zheng Jie left them alone?
"Zheng Jie is heartless." The Heavenly Queen who was hosting the Royal Banquet with her husband suddenly says while gritting her teeth, causing the party goers to exclaims in surprise.
"There are really no cure for him anymore." She says. "Even going that far."
At that moment, there was a knock on the door of the Heavenly Palace.
At that moment Yan Yu jumps up in surprise at the flashing red screen that suddenly appears in front of him.
"System Notice: Mission: Escape from the Hell dimension