An individual's spirit is limited. Even the current Zhao Li couldn't withstand the almost infinite erosion of obsessions accumulated over tens of thousands of years.
While each one of them was insignificant to Zhao Li, when their number reached a certain point, a qualitative change occurred.
Under the erosion of those endless obsessions, Zhao Li's Soul became incredibly heavy.
Those obsessions invaded his Soul, forcefully injecting their experiences into his memories, as if to make Zhao Li bear their past and then continue living with that past.
As Time passed, Zhao Li didn't know how many times he had jumped through Space-Time or how many obsessions he had carried. He only felt as if his Soul had been torn apart, with parts of his Consciousness directly dissipating and his awareness gradually becoming hazy.
Although this feeling was painful, it was still bearable for Zhao Li. What truly made him uncomfortable were the emotions of those obsessions. Their regrets and obsessions contained almost no beauty, which led them to generate hatred and resentment. The erosion of these emotions made him feel like he was mentally ill.
If this continued, his Soul might truly no longer belong to him.
Zhao Li no longer passively accepted this. An indescribable characteristic emerged from his body. The moment it appeared, the Torrent of obsessions rushing towards him abruptly stopped, and the obsessions that had been imprinted on his Soul were silently dissolved.
This was a special energy born from the evolution of the world he had created. He didn't know what it was called, but its uses were infinite, seemingly able to transform into any usable energy.
"While it's not wrong for you to want to live, I don't want to die either!"
His Soul became pure again, and Zhao Li breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at the illusory shadows that had stopped but instinctively still yearned to live, and murmured.
Life is precious. No life that has ever existed wants to completely disappear. Therefore, at the moment their Soul is Scattered, what remains is definitely a yearning for life, hatred for their Enemy, and fear of annihilation.
When his Soul was being eroded by their resentment, these complex emotions were also transmitted to Zhao Li at the same time, making his burden heavier and heavier.
Every sentient being, after gaining intelligence, has many things they want to do. Not completing them leads to regret. But now, no matter how much regret there is, no matter how strong the obsession, besides turning into ignorant and unaware Lingering Thoughts here, what use is there?
"It's been unknown how long since you were annihilated. What use are the remaining obsessions? Even if this life were longer, I wouldn't leave the slightest regret. In this life, I only seek to live without regret."
In jump after jump, Zhao Li saw too many regrets. Although those Imprints of obsession had been expelled by him now, the experiences within them remained in his mind, filling in the experiences he lacked and making him clearer about what he needed to do now.
"If you can erode my Soul, then I will also let you feel my will."
Zhao Li didn't choose to retreat. That chaotic, indescribable light emitted from his body again, with golden brilliance flashing. Beneath it, his Soul was carried, rolling back towards that energy Torrent.
Any feedback is mutual. If obsessions could impose hatred, fear, and many other emotions onto his Soul when eroding it, then Zhao Li could also feedback his own belief to these existing obsessions.
A belief of no regrets!
Their existence originated from the obsessions that living beings were unwilling to let go of when they were annihilated. As long as Zhao Li's belief could assimilate them and make these forms generate the belief of having no regrets in this life, their obsessions would dissipate. Without the sustenance of obsessions, these special existences would also dissipate.
Twenty years of Time on Earth appeared in his Sea of Consciousness. Although it seemed so insignificant compared to his experiences in this world, these memories held a significant weight in his mind. It was precisely because of that period of memory that Zhao Li became the person he is today.
"When I made that choice, I didn't know I would have such a wonderful experience again, but I still made that choice. Even if I had to do it again, it would be the same, without regret."
Although he still had many regrets he hadn't fulfilled, such as his parents' increasingly haggard faces, or how they would feel when they learned that their child, whom they had anticipated for years, lost his life just as he was about to become their pride, he would feel regret for these things. But Zhao Li knew that even if he had to do it again, he would still make the same choice. He wouldn't stand by and watch life disappear in struggle.
If he were concerned about his own safety and turned a blind eye to everything that was about to happen, his safety could indeed be preserved, but how could he face his guilty conscience?
"A person's life, whether long or short, seeks nothing more than Clarity of Mind."
Now, he was striving for Clarity of Mind. Streaks of Soul light, remnants of obsessions, they intertwined and assimilated each other!
Sometimes, the belief in the parts of Zhao Li's Soul that were dispersed gained the upper hand, resolving some obsessions. Other times, Zhao Li's Soul was eroded again, causing the light enveloping his Soul to flicker slightly...
When the light dissipated, endless Death Qi flowed in again, supplementing the obsessions...
After an unknown amount of Time, Zhao Li vaguely felt a pull stronger than any previous obsession. He focused his gaze and saw that the obsession was slowly transforming into a clear shadow.
He tried to make contact and actually felt a conscious Will within it.
"Hmm? Even in this state, can Will still exist?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhao Li's heart. He then allowed the Will to pull him, and once again he felt Space-Time shifting, entering that person's era.
Even with the Abyss behind him, even surrounded by more and stronger enemies than himself, even with a Spear piercing both his legs, forcing him to rely on the Long Saber in his hand to stand, his back remained straight, and his body still possessed a Will that could pierce through the dark sky.
That Will made him, though not tall, feel as if the entire world couldn't contain him. Just a glance from afar would inspire feelings of awe and reverence.
Without knowing why, Zhao Li thought of a person—Xiang Yu. At this moment, he was like the Overlord who had committed to Breaking the Cauldrons and Sinking the Boats.
He roared up at the sky, and the aura around him suddenly increased, as if endlessly, never stopping its growth.
Then, he suddenly held the Long Saber that was supporting him horizontally. A dazzling Saber Light flashed. Even the existence at the same Realm as him had a hint of confusion in their eyes. Then, after losing support, the Fellow crashed to the ground.
And those who had surrounded him gradually lost the light in their eyes and fell down like him.
"Dou Di, can they only use this method?"
Zhao Li sighed in his heart. When he saw that unyielding figure, he knew his Realm; a genuine Dou Di.
And that move, he saw it clearly. That unknown Dou Di had given up all Life Force. From the beginning, he had burned his Soul but held it back, brewing that brilliant Single Strike.
"You, want to refine this Mountain Range?"
Just as Zhao Li was feeling emotional, a voice entered his ears.
Zhao Li looked and saw that the fallen God of War had stood up again. Then, as if he had seen himself, he broke free from the scene within the obsession and looked at him.
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