Chapter 1735: The Red Dust Flows; Fourth Calamity (8)

Chapter 1735: The Red Dust Flows; Fourth Calamity (8)

Like a dream...

Life, after life, after numerous lives...

The life of a mortal was wonderfully brilliant, from their first breath to their last. They existed as a finite concept, something they understood on an instinctual level at inception. A phenomenon of unprecedented mystery shrouded by the torrents of red dust of mortality.

The life of a mortal was disastrously cruel, from their first breath to their life. They existed as a pitiful concept, something they refused to understand on an instinctual level at inception. A phenomenon of unprecedented pity, shrouded by the torrents of red dust of mortality.

The duality of life, the silent struggle of existence.

And as of this moment, a young mortal that was destined for death, defying fate time and time again, brazenly and completely, was subjected to a calamity of mortal life. There were times when he felt fulfilled and satisfied. This specific time was lacking any loss, and every day was a radiant dawn worth exploring. Then, he suffered loss after loss after loss after loss. While his heart had died and crumbled at times, like dried dust in the wind, inexplicably, this young mortal always rebuilt himself.

Time and time again.

And yet, each time his heart grew stronger. Subtly. Invisibly. Until one day, Hell, Heaven, Divinities, and Calamities were no longer able to shake his heart.

The Red Dust Dimension, the fourth level of Hell, known as the Calamity of Mortal Despair, faced its toughest challenge since inception: shake the heart of a mortal that had reached an unprecedented peak, one that had tasted despairing loss and reached acceptance with a calm smile.

Eighteen lives would unfold as they made the attempt.

Firstly, the Life of Stagnation; for the Sinful Pride, this was an unprecedentedly difficult and perilous tribulation to face, enough to instill the harshest and most frustrating form of despair in one's life—seeing the elevation of all those around you, while you... stagnated like still water.

It was like the saying of certain individuals who peaked during academic education, experiencing great social success and popularity, yet when thrust into the greater world, these individuals could never reach a similar height of respect, wealth, and ability. They might never become number one in certain physical activities or outperform at their business as their formerly underperforming peers.

This type of despair could break countless men and women without mercy. And many have broken, taking their life with a grievance against the world, unable to improve their outlook no matter how they tried. A sad end.

Wei Wuyin experienced this in the greatest stride. He was not originally the Inheritor of Sin: Pride. While he was incredibly proud, that had been refined and tempered by the incessant humbling of loss and acceptance. His pride was gained through rightful acquisition after numerous trials and tribulations. He didn't feel owed anything by the world nor felt that his life of contentment was painful.

When he took his last breath in that life, he was surrounded by loved ones and a thriving legacy. How could he be dissatisfied by such an idyllic end?

When he arrived at their doorstep, the man arrived alongside his former love while carrying her child. He wasn't emotionless. He wasn't even angry. But the teaching of his brother remained in his heart. He drew his branch like he would a saber from its scabbard without the slightest bit of cultivation, yet there was an unprecedented sharpness emitted from its edge.

A single swing to end it all.

That day...

...Wei Wuyin was viciously tortured and crushed, crippled of his four limbs, and left dying while his last living minutes tasted like his own blood with the soft pattering of rain on his face, almost reminiscent of tears. The cloudy skies seemed as if the heavens themselves were pitying him.

He died alone.

The first two lives had opposing finales, yet not once had his heart to live or cultivate wavered.

Outside the Red Dust Dimension, the variety of hell denizens were all equally silent. At some point, for some inexplicable reason, the dimension began to expose itself and reveal the faint, vague contents of each life. While they couldn't get exact details, they knew what type of despair-inducing calamity he was facing.

And when the second life ended, the Life of Unforgiving Love, Soul Deterge Mist hadn't descended. Not even a single speck. This was unprecedented. And they were all shaken to see a mere mortal subjected to such a torturous life and not feel a single ounce of pain.

It had to be understood that Wei Wuyin was fully immersed in the dimension. There were no external signs of resistance or attempts to escape from reality by regaining a sense of self. He was largely experiencing these calamities with only his sense of existence from his life.

What type of suffering must a mortal experience, no—what type of mentality and sense of existence had to be cultivated to face this life with an unmoved heart?

Incredible.

Back in the final moments of his life in the second life, his right eye released a faint sharp glow.

Wei Wuyin hadn't died alone.

He was never alone.

He would never be alone in any life.

And with his family by his side, what was there to despair as long as he had them? Stagnation? Brutal loss of love? Let's see what else Hell had to send their way!