[Death]

If the world suddenly became dark, and then huge blood-red letters appeared in front of your eyes, anyone should be able to properly understand their situation, right?

Unfortunately, reality is not that gentle.

So-called death is emptier, more ethereal, and more terrifying than darkness.

Those who want to actively embrace such a thing likely have problems with their minds. But, after all, who in their right mind would want to become a craftsman...

In the absolute void, Ji Jue could feel that his consciousness was, as he wished, gradually dissipating and becoming annihilated.

No fear could be felt.

The last thing to emerge from his chest was the fulfillment and joy when theory is validated.

Ah, ah, indeed...

He smiled and fell into that void.

Embrace death.

The world seemed to die with him, twisting, collapsing, obliterating...

I think, therefore I am. At the moment when observation concludes, everything returns to void, and once again, the Spirit First emphasized by Ascension is felt.

When awake, all things sing; in drunkenness, the universe is silent.

When my consciousness dissipates, what meaning does this world hold for me?

This is the final method, his only reliance.

This is the most thorough [rejection] and [negation] that self can choose when perception sinks into illusion and consciousness is shrouded by hallucination—achieving an alternative 'extinction' by unrestrictedly approaching death.

Not a single thought arises.

However, compared with the truly carefree and fearless 'Supreme Enlightenment', this is undoubtedly a heretical path of inner demons.

When self-awareness completely dissipates, all illusions and Illusions have no place to stand and will dissipate together.

For instance, savoring poison like sweet wine kills both the Illusion Dream and the self.

The only difference from suicide is the slight chance of recovery...

And so, in the absolute void and emptiness, the last trace of Ji Jue's consciousness completely dissipated, annihilated, leaving only deathly silence.

A long, long deathly silence, not knowing how much time had passed, the diffused consciousness struggled to coalesce again.

Until the touch of an external force arrived...

"Ji Jue, wake up!"

It seemed as though someone was calling out, so distant and blurry, yet in the stagnant water, it stirred the first ripple, followed by a second, a third...

Ji Jue? Who? What is that...

Oh, I remember now...

The spirit of the void, an epiphany.

[I]

The moment a thought arises, it triggers a chain reaction akin to the recomposition of the soul.

Countless parched memories surged back, recombining like the Big Bang, radiating and revolving around that name, reassembling and rearranging.

Everything that was fragmented and divided began to coalesce again, as the self reappeared, scattered surging memories reorganized through observation, reforming into the proper appearance.

Yet, there were too many gaps and insufficiencies; the false memories formed by delusions and hallucinations completely vanished, making the gaps so apparent.

Critically important voids!

Ji Jue began to trace forward, recalling everything he had experienced, those absurd Illusions and the episodes of struggling and restarting within dreams.

Forward, further forward.

When did I fall into this long dream?

Was it when Wen Sheng, in desperation, activated the Huangliang Remains? No, that old dog might be unreliable, but not to the point of standing by idly at such a moment unless...

So that's it. Even when seeking aid from the Heavenly Furnace, I had already fallen into the dream?

In other words, it dates back further, before Wen's resignation, no, even further back, before Wen's resignation...

Ji Jue had a sudden realization—in that drunken haze!

A bitter insight rose from his heart, with a faint self-mockery.

Ha, Pride of Embers...

When I decided to oppose the Heart Core, I should have remained vigilant 24/7, but due to the workshop's protection, I let down my guard.

Never expected, at that moment, to be infiltrated by the Huangliang Remains.

But why am I in a dream?

Clearly, I was cautious, not leaving any opportunity for opponents to implant spiritual or cursing elements, and I didn't contract Dream Loss—no, it's not just that. Why are there so many layers of Dream Shadows, like a cage, tightly sealing me within...

It's as if facing a great enemy!

It seems as though they fear me, but why fear?

Wouldn't it be better to just kill me? Unless...

He had no means.

In that moment, a hidden glimmer deep within consciousness and perception quietly surfaced, like mist—an indistinct emblem and mark, illuminating Ji Jue's soul.

Could it be... something I extracted from Wen Sheng's Spiritual Body?!

So, this is the answer?

"Ji Jue, wake up!"

The shouting voice resounded once more, even clearer than before.

Ji Jue could feel, in this expanse of darkness and void, the gravitational pull of that call. It was like a spider's thread, futilely falling, pulling him time and again, forbidding him from sinking deeper into the darkness.

Yet with that pull, within the void and darkness, Ji Jue finally gained a sense of up and down, instinctively lifting his head, looking upwards.

In that instant, the emblem within his soul vibrated once more, shooting rays of light.

And so, he saw...

The awe-inspiring thing that seemed to fill all void—an Invisible elephant, countless rainbows pulsating from the foam, interweaving, outlining the form of a high tower, yet like a bizarre giant tree, quickly turning into the skeletal remains of a coiled serpent...

Boundless, limitless.

Magnificent yet fleeting.

"Is that so?"

Ji Jue lifted his head, gazing upwards from the base of the high tower, as if faintly seeing the very top, where a vast material darkness churned and entwined around the high tower, entwining and restraining countless tiny bubbles of light, engulfing everything.

Fierce, solemn, indescribable.

He couldn't help but want to laugh:

"—You, are you watching me, aren't you?"

Darkness is silent, darkness is formless, seemingly deaf yet mockingly gazing downward, disdainful of the prisoner's boastful words.

So absurd.

This turbulent sea of Dream Shadows, like a tower built from countless bubbles, magnificent yet ready to shatter at a touch and infinitely illusory...

What is there to be proud of?

Compared to truly grand things, it's utterly insignificant!

Ji Jue closed his eyes disdainfully, no longer looking.

In this void beyond dreams, he followed the thread of attraction tossed from afar, suddenly ascending like a bolt, racing out from the shattered cage!

In a flash, he willingly plunged into the endless dream conjured by Illusion!

As if breaking through a fragile Dream Shadow.

Bang!

Ji Jue opened his eyes.

Then, the blood-like sun, the cracked sky, the scent of blood and ashes, like a world of Hell, and even her smiling face appeared before him.

He awoke.

Though still within the Illusion Dream...

"Ji Jue?"

Inside the speeding car, constantly jolting, the girl in front of him called his name, watching his open eyes, unable to contain her delight, her cheeks stained with blood and mud asking a curved arc.

Ji Jue was momentarily stunned, looking at her slightly youthful cheeks, about seventeen years old, never seen before, yet the contours between her brows felt familiar, resembling someone he knew.

Just like being liberated from a heavy burden, she breathed a sigh of relief, her smile barely hiding fatigue and scars.

Yet her eyes remained unchanged.

Still crystal clear, with a brilliant sparkle.

"Wen Jie?"

Ji Jue suddenly realized, finally understanding where the call in the dream came from: "Really, long time no see."

"Finally awake, Ji Jue."

Wen Wen, in the guise of a girl, looked at him, relieved, "So slow, really made me wait for a long time..."

"Had a very long dream." Ji Jue shrugged, "Almost couldn't wake up."

"Oh? What did you dream of?"

"Probably... something happy? Although very false, still hard to let go."

"Dreams are all fake, don't get confused."

"So, if you want something, you can't just imagine it, right?" Ji Jue answered without hesitation: "You have to grab it with your own hands, seize it, clutch it tightly, never let go."

"..."

Wen Wen's eye twitched slightly, "Generally speaking, aren't you supposed to create with your hands?"

Ji Jue laughed, telling her.

"Anyway, it's pretty much the same."

So close at hand.

For a moment, Wen Wen wanted to speak but stopped, always feeling that this rascal was pondering some nonsense again, but such a familiar taste, definitely the real one.

No one else could pull it off.

"Welcome back, Ji Jue."

She raised her hand and knocked on Ji Jue's head.

Finally, her heart was completely at ease.

Boom!!!

A roar came from the distance, the speeding car suddenly jolted, almost overturning, a sharp sound coming from below.

"Chassis damaged?"

Ji Jue subconsciously frowned, gritting his teeth, couldn't stand it: "Transmission has issues too? Seriously, how did this junk car end up like this? How long hasn't it had oil?"

"You stop already!"

Wen Wen rolled her eyes at him, "You better focus on your situation first... we're running for our lives now, get serious!"

Boom!!!

Amidst the loud noise, the car seemed to suddenly soar then land, iron howling as it ran wild.

And Ji Jue rolled around inside the cabin.

Yes, literally...

The sound of cracking arose from his body... Ji Jue saw his shattered arm fly up, mingling with fragments of his leg.

Emmmm...

He struggled to bend his head down, feeling his body sluggish as iron stone, yep, almost entirely turning to stone.

Like a damaged statue, legs broken, right arm severed at the root, left hand only a half elbow remaining.

A huge crack appeared over his chest, hollow inside, the fissure extending upward, through the neck, creeping across his face.

Beyond that deep breach, in the darkness, only a faint glimmer showed.

Literal stone figure stick.

"Oh my—"

Ji Jue was stunned: "How did it turn into this state?"

"It's a long story."

Wen Wen sighed wearily, even lacking time for a brief explanation.

Boom!

After another loud noise, the voice on the intercom grew increasingly chaotic.

"Help, help!! Those ghost things are chasing us!"

"Shi Mao! Shi Mao!!!"

"Sis, Shi Mao is gone."

Amidst the sharp roar and scream, the voice that followed carried a sob.

Like a storm racing by, the cracked roof of the cabin was sliced off, along with half the cabin, falling away, soaring into the sky like falling leaves.

Revealing the blood-red sky, spreading ominous clouds, and amidst the deep layers of clouds, one figure after another soaring atop the firmament!

Pursuing closely!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.