Hidden away at some corner of the Three Realms. Away from all the chaos and conflict still ongoing since Hongjun imparted his Dao upon the denizens of this land. A stray comment of light zigzagged across the sky, plummeting at immense speed into the side of a spiritual mountain.
A man stepped out of it groaning. Not in any true pain, more out of annoyance. The smoke cleared to reveal a haggered Haotian. Face flushed while gripping his forehead.
“FUCK!” Haotian cried out. He kicked the dirt beneath his feet and fell to his knees. An aura of despair hung around him.
Within his psyche, a cloud of silence from the great ocean neighboured a man trapped by what could only be described as an inner demon. Haotian rolled onto his back after another cry.
As he lay on his back, Haotian trapped himself in contemplation. After the tribulation, all manner of lesser factions formed and vied for power along with the major ones. Even with the titanic Heavenly Demon faction that formed during the war, they were not big enough to suppress all beings.
His ears involuntarily heard all manner of chaos going on in the world. Countless mortal beings were born every second, and died every second when giants of the cultivation world fell upon them. After all, how would an immortal notice an ant?
But he could also not begrudge mighty immortals either. It was not wrong to seek something as beautiful as the Dao. Nor was it wrong to create territories to rule over. And their titanic strength is not something they could manage when placed in life death situations.
His eyes unsteadily gazed upon Zixiao Palace. There was no answer there nor did he want it to. Merely a warm yet cold master he trusted yet detested. His origin stayed silent like a dead fish, another source for his rage.
In a sense, Da Hai was his owner. As a clone, he had his own autonomous mind unlike an avatar, who were little more than an extra limb, nor an incarnation which were only projections of one’s will. He was born to be Da Hai’s tool, but did he ever utilize him properly?
Never since his desire for revenge became inconsistent as he became content to play house with his new family. Haotian cannot fault him for that, he had loved ones too, Hongjun and Yaochi, his friends he made during the war. But he cannot help but feel confused as to why he was brought into existence in the first place.
Haotian felt like discarded trash from Da Hai. But from Hongjun, he found a raging narcissist.
He wasn’t even the real Haotian, seventh disciple of Dao Ancestor Hongjun and Jade Emperor of the Three Realms. He was a puppet of Da Hai, placed at Hongjun’s side to relay information. He was also Hongjun’s beloved disciple and heir, not his bell boy and discarded toy as stories would like to say.
Even now, he didn’t know how to feel about his master. Everything he’d done went against everything he believed in. But Hongjun was also the his truest ally in all this mess. More so then Da Hai could ever be. The teacher who nurtured him and wanted the him to succeed. But his actions went against Haotian’s moral code, pissed on it during the final days of the war.
“Ha ha ha ha. What the fuck even am I?”
“Who dares step upon my mountain.” An arrogant voice demanded from higher up, causing Haotian to open his tired eyes.
“Monkey?” He gasped upon sensing a deeply familiar Dao.
From the mountain depths, a figure flew out wearing a white daoist robe. The aura of a Nascent Soul realm cultivator emanated from his body. From the feel of it, a fresh one barely a hundred years old.
But what drew Haotian’s attention was the Dao of Liu Er permeating his body. The illumination was nowhere near as strong as the ape itself however. What’s more, this man was clearly not the monkey as his soul isn’t even the same. As such, he didn’t give a rat’s ass about him.
“Who the fuck are you supposed to be?” Haotian grunted without getting up. “Look just leave me be. I’m not in the mood.”
“Humph. Any, you dare break into this lord’s mountain? The audacity. You have any idea who this seat is?” The man demanded again. He poured his might as a Nascent Soul realm expert out, drowning them both in it.
Haotian would admit to it being fairly powerful. This man would not struggle against most Nascent Divinity experts. Could even survive a Worldly Saint’s casual punch if he was prepared. But in front of Haotian? He might as well not exist.
The man though was confused when Haotian made no effort to move. This wasn’t how the script was supposed to go. He quickly activated his cheat, the Ultimate Dao Sign-In System’s scanning feature.
Years ago, he transmigrated into this world and activated the Sign-In system. Ever since, he’s never left his mountain home as the rewards he got was simply fantastic. Legendary pills, supreme techniques, divine armaments. He was utterly invincible, not even the wildlife dared go against him.
He was aware how in stories like this, the outside world was very dangerous. So he always stayed at home singing in each day and diligently cultivating. With the system’s help, his journey had been easy.
While he wasn’t aware how high cultivation went, in stories like this he shouldn’t encounter something out of his league. According to the system, the next realm was Nascent Divinity so this man should be in that realm or slightly higher.
“Hmph,” he snorted when Haotian seemingly went back to sleep. “I am True Monarch Dao Venerate Who Ascends Beyond the Nine Heavens, Master of All Heavenly and Earthly Mysteries, Emperor of the Eternal Cosmos Whose Name Causes Stars to Tremble and Rivers to Reverse their Flow. Ancestor of Ten Thousand Immortals.”
“I said fuck off.” Haotian didn’t move but a gust of wind knocked the system wielding man back a few paces, shocking him. He quickly dashed away and hid back in the mountain.
After that anticlimactic encounter, Haotian heard a sift, “sign in,” the very next day and understood. Seems the man was content in hiding for now and Haotian did not care enough about him to bother him.
That very sign in gave the man a movement spell which he quickly cultivated. After stabilising himself, he continued to cultivate pretending Haotian never existed. He could only only hope for the next few sign ins to give him better goodies so he could get rid of Haotian.
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“Monkey, how aggrieved would you feel if you learned your Dao gave this guy the one thing it wouldn’t give you?” Haotian sighed “So scared yet you still stayed, confusing. Does he honestly think he can bridge the gap between us? But people like him are nothing without their cheat. Just another fraudster.”
“Just like my relationship with you Da Hai you old bastard. Hahaha.”
…
“Master, about senior brother.”
“I’m aware Yaochi. He seems to have entered a tribulation of his sorts. It’s perfectly normal and he’ll overcome it with time. Just focus on absorbing your purple qi and ascend quickly.”
“But master, why would someone like senior brother fall into this? I know the Heavenly Dao imprisoned the Heart Devil, but this created a curse of inner demons. Did the curse of the Heart Devil get to him? Could you perhaps beseech the Heavenly Dao for aid?”
“Nonsense silly girl, he’s not cultivating within the Heavenly Dao. This is his own mental thoughts. Have faith in your senior brother. He’ll overcome this and begin seeking the Dao in earnest.”
“How do you know master? Nothing in this world is guaranteed.”
“How wouldn’t I know? I’m his master.”
…
Haotian was not aware of how many years had gone back while he lay there. His mind in an indecisive state not unlike his original self back when he had been a newborn. But for Haotian, it was far more complicated.
Should he sweep across the Three Realms? If cultivation forced so much conflict via resource disputes, should he force all beings to give up the Dao? But that went against his principles as a cultivator. Even the Three Corpse Method enraged him.
Even in that scenario, he knew he did not posses the power to do so. He could ask Hongjun, but he did not wish to know how his master would twist his goal to his own distorted understanding of him.
“RAGH!”
CRACK!
“Oh my god!”
The system user fled again. His shiny new sword broke before it even reached Haotian. It seemed no matter what sign in rewards he received each day, he could not touch Haotian. But he did not stop trying.
The man seemed to be insane, always believing he can dispatch Haotian with every new sign in. The weight of Liu Er’s Dao had become heavier. But to Haotian it was like the difference between one millimetre and 2 millimetre.
He didn’t even produce enough noise to bother him. Undisturbed, Haotian remained in this timeless state until the day it did change.
“Hm?” Haotian did open his eyes one day. “He wondered here?”
A middle aged man hovered not too far away, seemingly in shock.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” the middle aged man readjusted the sceptre in his grip.
“Senior brother Yuanshi,” Haotian scoffed. “Why are you still an immortal. Shouldn’t you be a saint?”
Troubled, Yuanshi descended to join Haotian on the ground. “You don’t have to call me that. And I think we both know my hesitation.”
“Hahahahahaha! Even a child can tell the trap for what it is. What a perversion Dao cultivation has become.” Haotian sat up for the first time in a long time and rested an arm on his knee. “But seriously, what are you doing here?”
“Wandering, though from the looks of it” Yuanshi admitted after analysing Haotian. “Pondering on what path I should take. Sainthood under heaven, or pursuing my own Dao. The choice is obvious but I can’t help what I feel.
“Strange to not hear news of you despite your status though. But if you’ve been wandering, troubled by…well events that’s transpired in our lives. I am the same.”
He walked forwards and sat crossed legged in front of Haotian. After a period of awkward silence, Yuanshi manifested a tea set between them.
But Haotian waved his hand and replaced tea with bottles of wine. “More fitting,” he said.
“Familiar,” Yuanshi said after taking a sip. “Taste just like…like…East Sea Dragon Palace, Kailong Chen’s supply of the Oceanic Suppression Lord’s gift.”
“Heh heh, look at you using such noble titles for all the good those did him. Just call Da Hai by his name, not like anyone cares.”
Yuanshi frowned at the disrespect. “How did you come by it? The last time I tasted this was…years ago before everything went to shit.”
“Made it.” Haotian stared hatefully at his own untouched glass. This wine was one of the few substances able to affect Chaos Immortals into a woozy state. Poisonous to Golden Immortals to the point of one droplet being a lethal dose.
“I was not aware the dragons had, much less shared brewing secrets. Much less someone of Zixiao Palace’s lineage.” Yuanshi eyed Haotian with suspicion. But he only found the man chuckling in an almost maniacal way.
The Jade Pure One wondered if this man had suddenly lost his mind. With the way he was laughing, he wondered if the tragedy of the final days of the anti-devil war had broke him. It shouldn’t have, a Chaos Immortal’s will power should not be that weak.
“That’s the best part isn’t it?” Haotian scoffed. “Wanna know a secret? One huge secret?”
“I am not Haotian. Not the innate god that was or ever will exist. You know that Oceanic Suppression Heavenly Lord you love so much?” Haotian waved around himself dramatically and downed an entire glass.
Yuanshi sat stunned, he glanced at him as if he were crazy.
“Oh don’t give me that look. Ha ha ha. You know the original you was a pompous arrogant ass who hated anything not human looking…sorry Dao body…well you get the idea. Did you know that one day, you in all your arrogance will turn against your bro…sorry sister and imprison her and annihilate her sect? Your own school will be split in half, turning to the west and become Boddhisatvas. I wonder how the Heavenly Lord of the Primordial Beginnings feel about that?”
Yuanshi silently drank his glass of wine, savouring its favour. He gazed upon the sky and sighed before answering.
“Taishang told me so I’m well aware of this future.”
“?” Haotian perked up in genuine surprise.
“My brother, he doesn’t think. Carefree as they come. If he sees such shocking events, he just reacts in the moment. I now realise how destructive this can become. For pooling such foolish tests on me? My respect for him has dipped, even if my sister forgave him, I cannot find it in me.”
Yuanshi paused pondering on his own thoughts. He was being surprisingly open after a few drinks. But it felt nice, to air some grievances out.
“My goal is to advance forward. I do not want to be turned into Heavenly Dao’s puppet. Becoming a saint, this three corpse method, all it serves to do is transfer ourselves back into the Heavenly Dao’s grip. We might as well have never become Golden Immortals nor left the cycle of perpetual reincarnation.”
Yuanshi’s anger arose as he spoke further. “Is Dao cultivation not propagating one’s own path towards the origin. Why must I discard my own hard earned Dao for the three thousand Dao’s of the godfiends? How sacrilegious.”
Haotian shook his head. ‘Seems the godfiend perspective on what Dao is, passed on to you. But do you have the cruelty to obtain it like my master?’ His hand subconsciously tightened.
“Seeking the Dao is a beautiful thing,” Haotian admitted. “But do you not fear heaven’s wrath for those words?”
“I’ve visited and asked both modern and surviving ancient beings. I have not been struck down so either it doesn’t know, or it doesn’t care.” Yuanshi revealed the Hongmeng Purple Qi in his possession. “Or most accurately, it knows I have no choice at all.”
“Tongtian and Taishang are much the same,” Yuanshi revealed. “Sainthood is easy. With this I need only reach in and grab absolute command of one of the Great Daos. Heaven’s support would make me an existence no different from Hongjun. But the filth I feel from this method.”
“For all your differences, you share the same goal?”
“Never deviated. Taishang and Tongtian for all my issues were once one with me. That’s why we work so well together. All three of us are at our wits end.”
“Three as a unit, why don’t you just seek the Dao as one?” Haotian said but laughed at the absurdity of such a scenario.
“Heh, after all we’ve been through? Unlikely.” Yuanshi gave a slight smile. This experience was not one he’d expect, but he felt that it had benefitted him greatly. He felt more at ease speaking with Haotian, even if the topic is heretical to the Heavenly Dao.
“Honestly though, speaking openly like this. Haotian I may not know you well. But do you have a death wish?” Yuanshi asked. Though he had spoken more, and Haotian listened more. What Haotian had said was not forgotten by him.
That seemed to have broken Haotian out of his shock as he openly laughed. “Oh what the hell. Might as well right? I’m just a spy put on Hongjun’s side with a task I don’t even think my creator knew. He’s not the best planner, mostly an idiot waving in the dark. His war against my master isn’t even his top priority.”
“What’s the point of existence anymore? I’m not the real Haotian who serves and respects heaven. I’m not the hero from fantasy purging this world of evil, look how that turned out. I’m not even my own cultivator, just someone building things off of Da Hai’s foundation. A true stain on the will of heaven, you’ll probably get some merit if you kill me this instant.”
Haotian made no move to protect himself while Yuanshi shook his head. “What is merit from heaven if it’s reward for killing an innocent man?”
“The real Yuanshi would’ve jumped at the opportunity.”
“A farcical Yuanshi maybe. There is no purpose to killing you. You are just like me. A man lost on what to do with all this chaos. I’m choosing to cultivate further and see where my path goes. But you’re not a real cultivator. You can’t seriously be waiting for something to kill you.”
“Like I said Yuanshi, I don’t feel much point in my existence.” Haotian chuckled some more and downed his entire glass. Waiting for that moron up the mountain to get strong enough to take my head doesn’t sound too bad.”
Yuanshi stood up. “Then stay on this mountain until you do figure out something. I appreciate our talk. But I do not respect this. I wish you luck in finding your own way.”
He stood up and brushed his robe with a renewed vigour. He noticed quite some time has passed since he left Kunlun and he should return soon. He needed to have a real talk with his family. Haotian’s situation was his own tribulation to deal with.
‘With Da Hai deceased, Hongjun and absolute power, and the demise of nearly all life in existence several thousand years ago tearing his righteous morals apart. Haotian really has nothing huh. It would be a shame if this is the last chance we meet.’
On the way out, Yuanshi slapped aside the young man Haotian was talking of taking his head. Though he sensed the Dao of the irritable monkey on him, he was such a minuscule insect that Yuanshi barely noticed him. Besides, he’s Haotian’s pet.
Haotian meanwhile sat there in silence. After a while, he got up and walked into a nearby cave. There he sat down and meditated. ‘My own way? What even would be my own way? Can I even cultivate my own Dao? Do I even have the talent?’
There, an innate god meditated on his own turbulent thoughts for years on end while a younger man signed in each day in hopes of killing his obsession.
It would not be until yuanhuis later when a young taoist named Youxiong would be the first to encounter the sleeping Haotian.