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Chapter 390: Beginning of the Fall [Begin Vol. 5!]
With a crack, the jade bird at Healers hip shattered. He sat upright, sweat running down his back. Putting a hand to the pieces, he looked around. Who died? 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
Mortal lived up to his name, Rogue replied.
Healer rubbed the back of his neck, quietly reviewing the memories. He shook his head. Fuck.
Its a lot, Rogue agreed.
Heaven is after us. The Heavens. Thats why we have the character Heaven on our hand. Thats why we were brought here to this world. The Heavens want to capture us and invade this world, Healer muttered.
But obviously they cant easily interfere in this plane. Otherwise, wed have been captured by the Heavens long ago, Rogue pointed out.
Healer took a deep breath. Thats true. Then wed better continue to be unassuming, quiet, ordinary small cultivators. We dont want to catch the Heavens eyes!
Rogue cleared his throat. Then, destroying All-Heavens Sect?
Obviously we cant give up! All we have to do is make sure it isnt us who destroy All-Heavens! And the obvious solution, is to allow Li Xiang to lead the charge! Healer declared boldly.
Rogue laughed. Thats true!
Healer ran a hand through his hair and climbed to his feet, rising from his meditative stance. Restlessness consumed him, despite the late hour. Its because of the way Mortal died. Choosing death I thought I would never. But in the end, were all clones. Even if we die, we simply return to First. That is the true Hui. Thus, we find death acceptable.
Unacceptable! We cant get used to thinking this way! Horrible, horrible. No, Ill have to take care not to end up in a situation where I have to choose death. This small Hui cannot become so familiar with death!
Ah, Im not sure if the others have realized, or if they care, but First is the only clone that we must not allow to die. As he possesses the majority of our soul, his death is equivalent to our endthat is, Xiao Huis end. Although individual clones might be able to escape death and cultivate individually for long enough to become unique existence and not clones if he dies, we will no longer be able to return to being Hui. That is a fate none of us desire, not even Sectgoer with his heart-demon.
In the dark of night, Hui silently strode the halls of his compound. The simple white building stood within a few kilometers of All-Heavens territory. Indoors and out, not much adorned it. Knowing it would be temporary, Hui had built it simply. But maybe that was a mistake. All-Heavens still hasnt come to recruit me, despite the rumors of a miracle healer spreading around the area. Perhaps I should have made it lavish and eye-catching. Ah, but then I feared that someone might attack it, or attempt to steal my limited wealth but it would have been better than failing this way.
He let down his hair and ran his hands through it, thinking to himself as he combed it out. After so long bound up in a ponytail, it had a distinctive wave in it where his hairband usually held it. What else can I do to catch their attention? Maybe I should simply present myself to the sect. It would be obvious, but its not unreasonable for a life-qi cultivator to seek out the sect that focuses on life qi. Still, Id rather not. I can gain a more favorable position within the sect if they recruit me. Even Rogue, approaching them as a fifth-stage cultivator, was only put onto a rogue cultivators group, not inducted into the sect. They arent so small as to desperately accept every fifth-stage cultivator.
Ah, although fifth-stage cultivators cant be considered as common as clouds, they still have dozens. Sixth stage would be a different situation but Im not Master. I cant simply cultivate to sixth stage in the blinking of an eye. And besides, sixth stage is exponentially more difficult than fifth. One has to forge their own path, or successfully inherit someone elses. Since I clearly cant inherit Masters path, Im stuck with forging my own, but thats no simple task. I need to fully comprehend my Dao, first. As it is, Im not even sure what my Dao is! Faking death? But then what about talismans? I could walk a talisman path as well. And a faking-death path what does that even look like? Hui breathed out and shook his head.
Though most of all I strongly suspect that we have to rejoin into one Hui before we can progress in realm. Or maybe inhabit our true body again? To some extent, the two are one and the same.
He paused by the next door and pushed it open just enough to peek inside. Ying Lin laid on a bed, fast asleep. Seeing her peacefully sleeping, he let it shut again. Still sleeping like a mortal? Come to think of it, she truly hasnt been a cultivator for long enough to break her mortal habits. I should take more care to teach her our way of doing things. Its too easy to be lax, when theres no one else to show her the proper way.
Hui sighed heavily. He quietly petted Zhubi, though even that wasnt as relaxing as he usually found it. Even Zhubi has his own situation. Is nothing simple in this world?
This world
From the beginning, Yunxus interest in me was solely because I was an otherworlder, as he called me. The Heavens, likewise, want me because Im an otherrworlder. Although Yunxu seemed convinced that we could both accelerate into Immortality by taking me to the Heavens, I doubt thats truly the case. For one, that Immortal doesnt want anything good for my world, and neither does Yunxu. Though I didnt have it easy in my world, that doesnt mean I want to see it destroyed, and I cant imagine that the Immortal is so stupid as to imagine that I would go along easily with his plan. That means hes prepared to use force to enforce his plans or to put it simply, this small Hui is unlikely to survive whatever it is that he wants to do with me. Besides, he's trying to access my original world. It was extremely difficult for him to access the mortal realm of his own world. If its that difficult, I cant imagine its easier to access a whole different world, let alone invade it. Whatever spell formation he uses for that, whatever it takes as its price, I cannot expect to survive it!
Hui frowned, twisting his nose. To think, I thought immortality was the end of the road. Instead, it seems that even once I become immortal, Ill have to overthrow the Heavens to survive!
Ah, oh well. That Immortal cant easily access this mortal realm, so Im safe for now. Once I ascendthat is, assuming Ill ascend, Ill be able to rely on Mast er
Hui sighed deeply. When have I ever been able to rely on Master? No, no. I need to refine my death-faking to such extremes that even an Immortal cannot see through it! And the sooner, the better!
A heavy thump on the roof startled him from his thoughts. Hui looked up, then activated his third eye. Qi became visible to him, even through the physical barrier of the ceiling and the roof. Theres someone on the roof no. He squinted, and the faint qi signature beside the first person resolved into a separate set of qi passages. Two someones! The second one is so injured as to be nearly dead, thoughwell, I can guess why they came here. Ah a Healers job is never done!
Pushing off, Hui blasted through his compound in a single bound. He stepped down just inside the door, arriving just as his late-night visitors limped inside. Smiling, Hui tucked his hands behind him. Welcome, honored guests. To what do I owe the honor of your illuminous presences
A woman supported a bloodied and badly-injured man. His eyes half-shut, his breaths came short, his life on the verge of flickering out. She reached out, grabbing at Huis robes with a bloody hand. Youre the healer, right? Please please help
Not hesitating a moment, Hui took the man into his arms and pressed a finger against his forehead. Instantly, strange energy surged out at him, a burning, aching sensation that sought to devour him. Hui yanked his hand back, his eyes wide. What happened to him?
The woman gestured outside. Hui turned and watched as waves of jade-white energy rolled over the sky from a great distance away. That energy we were too close when the Immortals began to battle. He protected me, but the immortals energy infected his body at the same time.
Huis breath caught. He backed away, suddenly nervous. The Immortal? This is his energy? I, I cant, I cant be caught! Im so close to getting into All-Heavens, I
Calm down. Deep breaths, Hui. Master is handling the Immortal. If I have faith in no one else, I at least have faith in Master. This far away, I doubt the Immortal is paying attention to every last cultivator infected with his energy.
Besides isnt this an opportunity? An opportunity to learn more about the Immortal! If I can figure out a way to corrupt or negate his energy, Ill have a huge foot up in battle whenever I face him! Assuming this small cultivator reaches the Immortal realm, naturally. Ah, but though that may be a great distance off, its never bad to be prepared!
Will you will you help us? the woman asked, her face paling as she saw Huis nervousness.
Hui took a deep breath and forced back his fears, plastering on a smile instead. Elder Sister, please leave it to me. I cannot guarantee success, but I will do everything in my power to help this man.
Thank you! Thank you, she said. Tears squeezed out of her eyes at that, and she wiped her face hurriedly, embarrassed to let her emotions show.
Fellow Daoist is? Hui asked, carrying the man deeper into the complex toward one of his rooms.
Ah! Thats right, I havent introduced myself. That one is Wu Fanyun, and this one is Gui Yitong, she said, bowing her head.
Hui froze. A second later, he rushed over and helped her up. No, no, Elder Sister, please dont bow to this small cultivator. Er, that surname, Gui you wouldnt happen to be?
She nodded. Im Gui Deluns daughter. Though she grimaced. Father
Huis ears perked up. Father?
She shook her head. I shouldnt trouble you with my familys struggles. Please, focus on healing Wu Fanyun.
No, no, please trouble me! Im begging you to trouble me! Hui cried silently. I want to hear all about your family drama!
Externally, he simply nodded. Lengthening his stride, he flicked his hand, and a large lotus blossomed from the floor. A small lotus beast, androgynous and pale green in color, stepped out of the lotus. It grew from fist-sized to waist high in a blinking, then reached up, taking Wu Fanyun from Huis arms and supporting him on a large white lotus that grew out of its palms.
Gui Yitong let out a little cry of surprise, then knelt down, examining the small lotus beast.
Tucking his hands in his sleeves, Hui, too, inspected the beast with a small smile on his face.
Although I cut Mount Mus inheritance out of me and cant speak to plants like Mortal could, Im the clone whos focused the most on life qi. I discovered that, if we nurture the lotus body, we can grow a second core, or even a third and fourth. Those cores dont belong to us and wont create clones, but if we plant them, we can create new lotus beasts by feeding life qi into them.
Rogues voice sounded in his mind. Does that count as m!pre
Not a word more, Hui grumbled firmly.
