He and It Chapter 179: Inquire Here (7)

Chapter 179: Inquire Here (7)

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: GaeaTiamat

 

He died.

No, to be precise, with the cultivation base of the nascent soul, there had long been a specialized term used to describe the death of such cultivators.

—”Fallen Body.” The nascent soul, as a realm that had already touched the edge of the Dao, enjoying a lifespan of a thousand years, and an immortal soul. At that moment, unexpectedly, it was instantly killed by someone with no cultivation base, unable to escape even the nascent soul, and turned into a handful of shattered black ashes.

Even if the matter were treated as a joke, no one would find it funny. It would only make them appear as the utmost fool in the eyes of the world.

The tomb was silent as death. After being released by the nascent soul demonic cultivator, the four people fell numbly onto the black stone. However they didn’t feel pain; they only felt that they were going mad, hallucinating, or that excessive demonic energy had reshaped their senses and minds. Otherwise, how could they see such an exaggerated scene that couldn’t even be dreamed of?

Of those who weren’t trapped in the formation, and barely escaped death under the golden flames that filled the sky, was a foundation establishment stage demonic cultivator who struggled to save his own life, and didn’t dare look back as he desperately fled towards the exit.

After killing the nascent soul, Liu Fuguang’s strength seemed to quickly diminish. His arm trembled, and he was unable to hold up the heavy, Bright Sun Pearl anymore. With a loud clang, the considerably dimmed pearl fell onto the top of the golden tower, and he himself rolled onto the eaves of the tower. Fortunately, a square stone rose in time and supported his body; otherwise, he would have fallen into the abyss below.

“Go…” He curled up on the black stone, and held his abdomen where the injury was, as he said in a voice that shook, “Go, quickly, go!” 

He had ignited the true fire contained within the Bright Sun Pearl that was able to kill a nascent soul demonic cultivator, and had exhausted all his strength. However the remaining golden core demonic cultivators who had already formed the array…he had the will but not the strength to stop them completely.

Liu Fuguang’s reminder made the four people tremble in unison. Sun Yinian reacted first. His eyes flashed like lightning, instantly shifting from the formation to summoning ghost beasts to Liu Fuguang. He leapt up, intending to grab Liu Fuguang and take him away.

However, he was a step too slow. Before he could grab Liu Fuguang’s sleeve, the formation violently twisted and then burst open fiercely.

With the nascent soul demonic cultivator who maintained the formation lost, none of the golden core cultivators inside survived. The enormous demonic energy ignited by the explosion blew everyone on the scene away, and thousands of square stones shattered into scattered fragments that flew in all directions. Sun Yinian’s protective garment resisted for a moment, but the faint light was extinguished under the impact of a wave that could destroy the heavens and the earth.

In the critical moment, Meng Xiaotang couldn’t even grasp the timing of his reaction. It was a life-saving magic tool refined by the sect that actually sensed the fatal energy vortex. A bronze ancient clock appeared amidst the chaos, and firmly protected its master within it. The sound of collisions between demonic energy and shattered stones turned into a continuous and melancholic hum.

Xue Li thrust out his sword, the sword energy like a rope, suddenly wrapped around Zhen Yue’s waist, and pulled him to his side. He spat out a mouthful of blood essence, instantly releasing a sword intent bestowed by the ancestor. The sword edge was like a towering mountain as it collided with the demonic energy generated by several golden core cultivators’ self-detonations.

Compared to them, Liu Fuguang had no more strength to protect himself. Just at that moment, the Bright Sun Pearl shone again. Although it was much dimmer than before, it still enveloped Liu Fuguang’s body, preventing the overwhelming demonic energy from invading him.

It was unknown how much time passed until the sword intent dissipated, and the surface of the ancient clock was covered with cracks. The raging demonic energy that filled the tomb finally began to subside. Meng Xiaotang, disregarding everything, lifted the large clock, only to see that the thousands of neatly floating black square stones that originally had been there were now scattered fragments, that gathered into streams and swirled in the disorderly gusts blowing from the abyss. Sun Yinian lay on one of the larger pieces, and spun along with it. His chest was soaked in blood, but although his breath was weak, fortunately, he was still alive.

“Senior brother!” She was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, and wanted to leap to the rescue. However the previous injuries inflicted on her by the nascent soul demonic cultivator hadn’t yet healed. As soon as she activated her spiritual power, her whole body ached as if she were being cut by knives. “Wait for me! I’ll save you!”

“Stay there…” Sun Yinian coughed up blood. He struggled to retrieve a pill and swallowed it forcefully. Only the wealthy Heavenly Yin and Yang Sect’s alchemists could swallow pills so recklessly. “Hide. Do you hear…?”

Meng Xiaotang was puzzled. “Senior brother?”

At that moment, she finally realized that the light in the tomb had completely disappeared.

The brilliance of the Bright Sun Pearl was gone, and the tomb suddenly became terrifyingly cold and gloomy. She gradually lifted her head, and Zhen Yue emitted a freezing “clucking” sound from his throat. Xue Li had long been silent as a cicada in winter.

—A half-human, half-dragon, translucent giant ghost beast hovered at the top of the tomb. Its “human face” lacked features, but its entire body flowed with deep and ever-changing eyeballs. It was covered in viscous black liquid tentacles, that curled and writhed and things continuously dripped from various parts of its body. Its humanoid form was vague, as was its dragon tail, with only a rough outline remaining of its form. It opened its mouth which almost split it to the chest, and the inside was layered with spiral-like layered teeth.

As the Dragon’s foremost companions, the ghost beasts under its command grew stronger and more unpredictable the more it resembled a dragon. According to the records in the ancient jade books, when the Dragon Patrol Day arrived, there would be black clouds filling the sky; ghost dragons and fish soaring magnificently; while half-human, half-dragon ghost beasts serving as generals, would flood the world in all directions as the eyes and tentacles of the Ghost Dragon, frantically searching in every corner of the three thousand worlds.

The interrupted formation had prevented the demonic cultivators from summoning an entire army of ghost beasts, but it did attract an extremely violent and ominous ghost beast general!

It was over.

In extreme trembling and fear, Meng Xiaotang vaguely had a thought rise in her mind, everything was too late, it’s over…is this how it ends? Am I going to die here?

Her gaze slowly shifted, and locked with her senior brother’s. He was ashen-faced. Then, involuntarily, her gaze sluggishly moved to the golden tower. Liu Fuguang was still there, clutching his damaged dantian, as he struggled to support his body. Even though they were far apart, Meng Xiaotang could see the beads of sweat that covered his cheeks like tears, as if he were being washed by rain.

The faint light of the Bright Sun Pearl sprinkled down, and made him seem glow as well. Liu Fuguang knelt with difficulty, and looked at the ghost beast, which faced him. One was extremely weak and fragile, looking like a short-lived human who could be blown away with a breath; the other was extremely terrifying and powerful, and able to withstand the onslaught of a thousand troops and horses. The four of them looked up, witnessed that extreme contrast, and couldn’t help but tremble uncontrollably.

Meng Xiaotang wanted to call out “Brother Fuguang,” but she was trembling too violently. Only a breath of cold air escaped her shaking lips, and turned into white mist.

“…Come.” Liu Fuguang said softly. He held his hands open, his expression dazed, as if through the terrifying ghost beast, he saw another distant time and place, “Come…come to me.”

The ghost beast trod on the wind. When it heard Liu Fuguang’s voice, it couldn’t help but take a step forward, then it immediately stopped. It hesitated, shook its head and tail, then retracted its sharp claws and curled its lips. The black tentacles all over its body split apart, then merged back into one, as they violently undulated and distorted, like flames flickering and flashing in the cold wind.

To describe the posture as an utterly detached observer, it seemed as if it was so terrified that it was about to curl up into a ball.

The four of them stared, dumbfounded, at the ghost beast general, with its tail tucked tightly between its hind legs, then watched it slowly move towards Liu Fuguang. Its countless eyeballs were tightly closed, but occasionally, one or two would open, and stare directly at Liu Fuguang’s face, to greedily watch for a few moments before closing again as if unable to bear it.

In this way, it gradually approached Liu Fuguang. When it reached him, it bowed its head and ears, its body trembling so much it could barely maintain its original form. It emitted intermittent sounds from its mouth, resembling both a hoarse scream and a mournful cry.

Liu Fuguang reached out his hand and gently held its head. His fingers, like white jade, instantly disappeared into the frenzied writhing tentacles. But then, like boiling water poured on snow, the tentacles he touched burst into thick, melting smoke that gushed out like a flood, and took the massive body of the ghost beast with it, as it rapidly collapsed and dissipated.

“It’s okay, it’s okay…” Liu Fuguang stroked the beast’s head and murmured softly, “It won’t hurt anymore, and you won’t be sad anymore. Go. Go to where you should have gone long ago. The moment of liberation…is today.”

His voice was so gentle, and carried such immense forgiveness and love that it almost drove people crazy. He was a dream, the most beautiful creature in the world, capable of drowning everything, and one would need to spend their entire life wailing and crying to resist the burning fire brought by that love.

He slowly let go, and the ghost beast staggered backward. Its deformed mouth split to the extreme, revealing a toothy smile. Countless shining eyes opened on its body, all sparkling with overwhelming warmth and bliss.

It turned around and ran, ran towards the bottomless cliff, ran towards the endless abyss, and collided with its own end in satisfaction and in the center of love—disintegration and destruction happened in an instant.

For all the countless years that I lay in that jade coffin, forced into endless slumber, I pondered painfully, why did Yan Huan betray me? As he looked at his hands, Liu Fuguang’s expression was blank and lost. Now, it seems like I understand. Yan Huan probably hated me very much because I had the power to destroy him completely, but I didn’t.

His hands dropped uncontrollably, exhausted, and Liu Fuguang’s gaze gradually glazed over. Just before he completely passed out, he heard a few panicked calls.

“…Brother Fuguang!”

“Young master…young master!”

***

Spring of the 176th year of Chenghui, Liu Fuguang sat in front of a round mirror that was polished like a silver moon, absentmindedly staring at himself.

“Your Highness.” A maid stood beside him, meticulously combing Liu Fuguang’s long hair, full of reluctance. “Why do you frown?”

Eastern Swamp was the country of the sunrise, and when Liu Fuguang was born, true immortals came from all directions to congratulate his parents. They said, this child received the grace of the sun and moon, but his fate is determined, and it would be difficult to escape the will of heaven; he was destined to unite with a great evil god.

After receiving that ominous interpretation, the Lord of the Eastern Swamp’s expression changed. He endured the true immortals, staring without scolding them, which caused the banquet to end on a sour note.

Gradually, Liu Fuguang grew up, and the prophecy of the immortals gradually came true. He possessed a naturally gentle and kind Dao-heart, advanced rapidly in his cultivation, and also had a dazzlingly beautiful face. His smile was like the spring sun nurturing the earth.

As the little prince of Eastern Swamp, talented and beloved by all, he should have been the undisputed candidate to inherit the throne. However, everyone in the world knew that fate had determined that he would have a connection with the Dragon God Yan Huan.

“I’m thinking about Yan Huan,” Liu Fuguang sighed, as he shook his head and spoke absent-mindedly. “He must have a big grudge against me. There has never been a lasting marriage arranged since ancient times, has there?”

The maid couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re talking nonsense again.”

She had looked after Liu Fuguang since he was a child. The years of cultivation could be so cruel. Many years had passed in a blink of an eye, and Liu Fuguang still had the appearance of the young man from the past. She, however, had aged, with gray hair at her temples, and her eyes were no longer as clear as they used to be.

“You are the prince of Eastern Swamp, and many people see you as the Immortal Lord Fuguang,” the maid said affectionately. “There is no one who does not love you. You can rest assured.”

Liu Fuguang shook his head. “It’s because I’m going to bond with the Dragon God, that my title includes the position of Immortal Lord. Really, I’ve only reached the basic stages. How can I be called an Immortal Lord so soon?”

“You’re so young, and you’ve already become a nascent soul cultivator. There has never been such a precedent from ancient times until now,” the maid laughed. “This old lady is talking nonsense, but I won’t allow you to underestimate yourself.”

Liu Fuguang smiled. His reflection shone in the mirror like a full moon, and radiated brilliance throughout the room as if he were a precious gem; indescribably dazzling.

He gently took the golden comb from the maid’s hand and said, “Go take a rest for a while. This is the Dragon God’s palace. It’s easy for mortals to get tired if they stay too long.”

“Being by your side, feeling warm all over, both in body and heart…How could I be tired?” the maid retorted playfully. Despite her words, she couldn’t disobey Liu Fuguang’s orders. She bowed slightly and slowly retreated.

After watching the maid’s departing figure, Liu Fuguang reined in his smile, and looked around the magnificent and luxurious palace, the Dragon God’s domain. He didn’t know how others saw this palace, but to him, it was beautiful, yet too eerie. The pure black floor seemed to ripple with thin threads of blood, and the ceiling exuded a strange hue, neither flesh nor metal, as if sculpted from a blend of both. Standing inside the palace felt like being inside a living creature –  always hearing pulsing breaths from all directions.

It seemed more like a nest than a palace.

This place belonged to Yan Huan, the Dragon God, the last ancient dragon descendant in the three thousand worlds. Many wild rumors circulated about his origins, the most recognized one being that he was born on an ancient battlefield.

During a calamity that nearly destroyed the heavenly order and the Earth’s pivot, the eight sons of the Yellow Emperor, who ruled the four corners where their father resided, fought the eleven daughters of the Flame Emperor, who devastated everything. They battled for the Dao fruit, plunging all worlds and realms into the chaos of creation, ultimately perishing together in the grasp of the giant god Pangu. ¹

The only thing left on the battlefield was a dragon egg.

It was soaked in the blood of the ancient gods’ mortal combat, the unwillingness and hatred of fallen deities, and the savage ferocity of mutual devouring, and finally hatching into a small, pitch-black dragon that had nine eyes but was born without sight. Its first cry at birth brought back war, famine, and disasters to a world long at peace after the calamity had passed.

Now, under the arrangement of a true immortal, the evil Dragon God Yan Huan was about to have a Dao companion, who was only a weak human at the Nascent Soul stage.

How would he see me? Liu Fuguang wondered. Would it be hatred, dislike, indifference…or, like me, a bit of curiosity?

From childhood to adulthood, he had never felt “dislike” from others. At that moment, thinking that a Dragon God might despise him, Liu Fuguang was not nervous or afraid, but rather curious.

Outside the palace gate, footsteps gradually approached.

The dragon palace attendants turned at the sound. Even though they had seen him countless times, they were still struck by his appearance, and hastily bowed their heads in awe.

Dragon God Yan Huan ascended the steps, dressed in pitch-black robes, with twin horns on his forehead and deep-set features; his handsomeness was almost offensive. The simple gold ring hanging from his ear added an irresistible, devilish charm to his face.

A god’s appearance was always remarkable. As he stood at the door, he smiled slightly. His coldness faded and revealed a dangerous charm in his dark eyes, like a roguish lover, making it unclear whether he wanted to love or kill someone.

“Has he arrived?” Yan Huan asked, already knowing the answer.

The attendants, whose cultivation levels were at least at the nascent soul stage, just three steps away from ascending to immortality, responded respectfully to Yan Huan’s question. “The Immortal Lord has arrived.”

Yan Huan’s smile grew more dangerous as he walked through the palace door. His gaze met Liu Fuguang’s as he went inside. Both were momentarily stunned. Liu Fuguang’s eyes widened, as he stared fixedly at Yan Huan, unable to hide his surprise. As he faced the legendary Dragon God Yan Huan, he did not see a…humanoid creature.

He was entirely black, composed of countless writhing tendrils, barely retaining a form with hands and legs, and no eyes on his face but there were nine large eyes that roamed around his body—such a creature.

A monster.

At that moment, Liu Fuguang felt a pang in his heart, not of fear, but of sorrow. To think there was such a Dragon God in the world was…truly pitiful. The longer he remained silent, the more terrifying Dragon God’s gaze became.

At first sight, Yan Huan sneered inwardly. What a pity, he thought, just another shallow person attracted by the exterior.

The author has something to say:

Yan Huan: Wearing a beautiful exterior, he walked into the palace arrogantly. Ha! You were stunned, you fell in love with me!

Liu Fuguang: Saw through him at a glance, felt pity, avoided his eyes, and patted him on the head. Sigh, whatever you say.

Yan Huan: Strangely felt very comfortable, tried hard to avoid this comfort because his heart was as hard as stone and could not be changed. Hmph…hmph!

Still, Yan Huan replied: …Again. Pat me again…