Chapter 171: Weight

Chapter 171: Weight

~~~

Do you feel that person over there?

Liu Jins heart drops when Xun Hunwen casually points to where Senior Brother Guo and the others are. Even that seemingly harmless gesture could kill them all if Xun Huwen wished for it.

Of course, you do. You had hopes in him until a few moments ago. I dont blame you for it. Hes strong. Many Sects in the Crimson Cloud Empire would feel their future is assured with someone like him in their ranks. Even if were speaking of the Four Great Sects,--Xun Huwen snorts--hes decently remarkable. However, hes made not a single move to approach this place since I showed up. He was coming this way, you know? But as soon as he sensed me, he stopped.

Xun Huwens words sting, but Liu Jin cannot blame Senior Brother Guo for showing common sense. Even with the increased physicality given to him by the treatment he and Senior Brother Luo developed, Senior Brother Guo is no match for Xun Huwen. Trying to fight him would just lead to his death.

And thats exactly why he fails.

Anyone would rightly hesitate to face you! Liu Jin shouts despite how much it hurts him to do so. There is no failure in that.

Wrong. Xun Huwen sighs and shakes his head. You should know better, junior. Lets see, maybe youre confused by all this noise. Lets remove it.

Xun Huwen snaps his fingers, and the world around them vanishes. The Qi, the noise, the scents. Liu Jin can no longer feel any of it. It is as if hes suddenly in a completely different place.

Impressive, isnt it? Xun Huwen rubs his chin as he looks around. It is small, but not many people are capable of creating their own spatial realm, not that I am creating anything. I am also not good enough to completely remove us from the outside world yet. You can see the battle if you turn your head enough, though I dont recommend doing so. The way your body is, you might just break your neck.

Prompted by his words, Liu Jin immediately creates more Qi snakes to support his neck and other weak areas of his body.

Xun Huwen laughs. See, thats exactly what Im talking about. Youre still struggling. Deep down, you dont believe you are dead. I can feel your very existence desperately trying to be acknowledged. But no, lets not get ahead of ourselves. Things have an order for a reason, even if it is a stupid reason. When I created this spatial realm, the first thing you noticed was missing wasnt the wind or the noise or even the lovely smells. It was the Qi. Thats normal. The ability to sense Qi is a useful one, so we rely on it to the point it begins to supplant all our other senses. Youre probably at that point or close to it already.

Liu Jin looks away. He has had this feeling for a while, but it is as if Xun Huwen can see right through him.

However, useful is all it is. Qi is not the deciding factor in cultivation. Just look at Lady Ling. She sensed my Qi and had the audacity to believe herself my superior. All because she is in the Ninth Level of the Heaven Realm while I am in the first. The same thing is happening here. That disciple feels my Qi and believes himself to have no chance against me.

Xun Huwens eyes bore into his.

Isnt that the stupidest thing?

Liu Jin frowns. Are you are you speaking of Dao?

Xun Huwens face noticeably brightens. Oh, good. You know that much. But no. I am speaking of the weight of our existence. A Dao is an after effect. A consequence of proper cultivation.

Liu Jin blinks. A consequence?

Lady Ling might be in a higher cultivation realm than me, but my existence is infinitely heavier than hers. I matter more than her, so a reality where she can defeat me does not exist.

I matter more.

Liu Jin stares at Xun Hunwen. The older disciple just said something impossibly outrageous.

Confused? Lets see, the old man of the Infinite Mountain once said our existence is like gravity. Hes a bit of a bore, but he has the right idea. When we cultivate, people think were just cultivating Qi. Taking it from our surroundings, using it to refine our bodies so they may better use Qi, and so on. Worthless people like that are the norm.

Xun Hunwen holds out his palm. Two blue spheres of Qi appear on top of it.

Think of these two orbs as cultivators.

Suddenly, a myriad of smaller red orbs appear around them.

And these are opportunities. I am not speaking figuratively here, he adds, noticing Liu Jins confusion. When I say opportunities, I mean exactly that. Being at the right time to overhear an important conversation. Impressing a local, affluent person. Encountering an old man who gives you good cultivation advice. Stumbling upon an old manual. Rescuing a beautiful damsel. Being chosen for a task allows you to reap great rewards. Those opportunities are always out there waiting for people to grab them. Just by looking at the orbs, youd think these two people have an equal chance of reaching these opportunities, but look at what happens if we change things a little..

One of the spheres suddenly grows brighter and bluer than the other. As it does, the smaller red orbs are pulled into its orbit. The opportunities are no longer within equal reach of both cultivators.

Youre probably thinking something like, Naturally, the stronger cultivator has greater odds of seizing the opportunities around him, but it goes far beyond that. Hes not trying. Hes not doing. Theyre inevitably being pulled towards him. It is because of-

The weight of our existence, Liu Jin mutters, looking at Xun Huwens projection. He wishes he didnt, but he understands exactly what Xun Huwen is trying to convey.

Exactly! Xun Huwen grins approvingly. We do not cultivate our bodies. We do not cultivate Qi. We cultivate our very existence, and the more refined it is, the heavier it becomes. Heavens Will no longer has any say on our paths. Instead, we are the ones that bring our will into the world. Our words are the ones with weight. Our acts are the ones that matter. Everyone and anything else is nothing but fodder.

You are wrong Liu Jin glares. You are not...

Because if Xun Huwen is truly, intrinsically more important as a person, then what does that make everyone else?

What does it mean for the thousands of people that live at the whims of the strong?

Is he supposed to accept they are nothing but fodder?

Is that so? Xun Huwen asks. Then how are you here?Rread latest chapters at novelhall.com

What?

How did you recover from my attack when it should have left you in bed for several weeks? How did you survive in the Dead Plains when it has killed several cultivators in higher realms than you? How did you reach the True Realm so quickly? How did you face the fleshcrafters technique and take it as your own? How are you standing before me once more?

Xun Huwens finger slowly comes down until it points at Liu Jins head.

Do you understand what I have been trying to tell you, junior? Clashes between cultivators are not clashes of Qi but clashes of existence. You have survived so far because the weight of what you have cultivated refuses to submit to the world around you. Can you feel it? Your existence clashing against mine? Can you rage and scream until the Heavens themselves have no choice but to allow you to continue existing?

Distortions begin spreading around them.

If you cant accomplish something so simple, youll die right here.

~~~

Lu Mei is not amused.

Ever since she made contact with Feng Hao, her condition has rapidly improved. That being the case, she has to wonder why she is not out there making sure she and Jin have a way to escape ready for when all inevitably goes poorly.

Jin wont leave without the Young Master, so she would have to knock Feng Hao out first, something easily accomplished. The girl from the Exploration Division, Fan or something, would give her a bigger challenge, but with the Eternal Flame and a potential hostage on her side, a bigger challenge is all it would be. Hardly an insurmountable one.

And yet, she is following along. Walking deeper into a dark temple full of stale air, unreasonably sinuous passages, and unfamiliar Spirit Beasts, many of which she has already killed. All at the whims of a child!

It is not because she feels whatever it is that he is feeling.

Certainly not because the Eternal Flame within her is telling her to keep going.

Not at all.

What is this place?

The inner sanctum of the temple, comes the useless reply from Fan. The girl walks with her eyes firmly on the walls, occasionally running her hands over their surface. It is a miracle that she has yet to trip.

It seems I was wrong about this place. Or rather, I was looking at an incomplete picture. I believed this to be a place of worship, a sanctuary of sorts.

Lu Mei makes a choice.

Young Master Feng Zhi! Lu Mei snaps at him. Focus!

Do not interrupt! This does not concern

He trails off, anger gradually giving way to surprise and shock. It is only natural.

For the first time, Lu Mei calls on the Eternal Flame in the direct presence of a member of the Feng Clan.

Your brother is trying to tell you something. It would be in everyones best interests for you to listen.

The barrier might be too strong for them, but with Feng Zhi

Brother, Feng Hao says. I understand that you want to protect me. I could have died when I ran away. I know that now. I was reckless. If you dont want to listen to your reckless younger brother, then at least listen to the Eternal Flame inside us. You want to protect me? Heres something that can do that.

With Feng Zhis help, it might just be possible.

Lu Mei holds her breath as Feng Zhi finally turns to the barrier and the monolith inside.

~~~

Xun Huwens spatial realm shatters around them.

The outside world comes back in full force, and with it, something new. A golden radiance spreads throughout the entire battlefield.

Liu Jin screams.

The light ravages his body with binding intensity. It isnt just him. All the foul beasts attacking them are annihilated one by one. Even the ones he controls are destroyed by the light.

Only the humans are left untouched.

Only he is the exception.

Well, isnt that interesting? Xun Huwen says, looking down on him as the light sears what little flesh Liu Jin has left. Would you look at that? All the monsters are being killed, yet I am whole, and you are not.

Liu Jin grits his teeth and finds the strength to glare at Xun Huwen. The light burns, but it starts doing something else as well.

It heals.

His wounds heal. His bones bend. His flesh and muscles regrow. Then theyre burned again. Heal and burn. Burn and heal. Liu Jins body is fulminated by light and repaired several times in a single second. Xun Huwen could easily kill him, but he seems content to watch him scream, to wait and see whether the light will kill him or save him.

When Liu Jin finally collapses on the ground, hes tired and wounded, yet whole. At the very least, it seems all his bones are inside his body this time.

The light is done with him, it seems.

I am impressed, Xun Huwen says. Still, that is just one requirement cleared. What will you do about this?

The distortion around Xun Huwen spreads to swallow Liu Jin whole. There is nothing he can do to dodge under his own power.

Senior Brother Guo saves him instead.

The Earth Realm disciple appears out of nowhere, dashing with all his strength to carry him out of the way.

Senior Brother Guo! Liu Jin shouts with worry. The Earth Realm disciple might have saved him, but who will save him?

Well, well, well, if it isnt the coward who was too scared to approach me, Xun Huwen says as he immediately cuts Senior Brother Guos escape route.

You speak the truth, Senior Brother Guo says. However, this speed was granted to me by the efforts of my juniors. What is the point of it if I fail to use it to save one of them?

Interesting. Xun Huwen says. But pointless.

Senior Brother Guos legs are gone.

In an instant. In the blink of an eye, everything below his knees disappears. Senior Brother Guo screams and falls, and Liu Jin falls along with him.

Is this it? Xun Hunwen asks, slowly walking up to them. How disappointing.

Lightning strikes.

For a moment, everyone stops. Even Xun Huwens calm is broken. The power upon them does not belong to a cultivator in the Earth Realm or even in the Heaven Realm.

It is the power of a Renegade.

It seems we meet again.

Duke Liu Jin whispers as he sees the Renegade he ran into during his first days in the Dead Plains. His eyes widen further when he sees who is next to him. Lei Kong..

My lord! Lei Kong cries out as he rushes to his side. What have they done to you, my lord?

So this is the one, then? I had a feeling. The Duke turns to face Xun Huwen. Whatever your designs, it seems I must keep this one alive for now. Leave.

Xun Huwen laughs.

Even though he is face to face with a Renegade, Xun Huwen dares to laugh. Liu Jin is not sure whether that speaks of bravery or madness.

I see! I see! Of course! Xun Huwen holds his gut as he tries to get himself under control. So great is his laughter he even wipes a tear from his eye. I understand. It seems I no longer have any role left to play. Not here or on our side of the Dead Plains.

The Duke raises an eyebrow. You believe yourself capable of crossing? I gave you the courtesy of words, but it seems I have met a madman. Very well, if you wish to kill yourself, I shant interrupt.

He is going to let him go.

He is going to let him go!

The realization chills Liu Jin to the core. He wants to shout and scream at the Duke that he should kill Xun Huwen right now, but multiple wracking coughs cut him off. Perhaps, it is a good thing they do. The Duke is not his ally. There is no telling how hed react to being ordered.

Even if he did decide to kill Xun Huwen, that might not necessarily be for the best. A single attack from a Renegade could devastate this area. Even if the Duke decided to show an uncharacteristic amount of restraint for his Realm, Xun Huwen wouldnt. Not with his life on the line. His dying gaps might kill them all.

This is goodbye for now, junior, Xun Huwen says, bending and waving goodbye at him. I will be taking the next step. It is up to you to decide whether you wish to follow one day.

Xun Huwen vanishes, and the battlefield is left silent. The disciples are too scared to speak in the presence of a Renegade, and the beasts have all been annihilated by the barrier. Even the Dead Qi outside begins meandering away after a few breaths.

The battle is over, and they have survived.

~~~