My eighth birthday had come and gone. My adoptive father, mother, and older sister weren't my birth parents, but I truly felt they were the ones who had filled the emptiness in my heart.
On this beautiful morning, I lay in my room, lost in thought. My powers remained the same, and I now possessed three distinct techniques: one granted by Nirvana, another from the artifact my sister had given me, and the last from the face-changing mask.
A few nights ago, my father gave me a glimpse of the continent and its map. Its name was Yongtian, a continent so vast it contained countless imperial cities and territories that remained untouched by civilization.
I was currently on the border between Zhongyao and Qingwu Cities, and my plan was to journey to the Qingwu Continent. There, I would seek out someone with the surname Ming while also strengthening my abilities. Thanks to the mask artifact, I could freely change my identity as I saw fit.
Ever since acquiring Nirvana's power, my humanity felt as if it were slowly being stripped away. I saw cultivators as little more than sustenance, yet to me, this was a gift.
I possessed neither a spiritual root nor a dantian, so I was unable to cultivate in the traditional sense. But with Nirvana's help, I was incredibly grateful. Its system channeled power directly through my meridians, allowing me to fight on equal footing with true cultivators.
This power was like a curse, yet I embraced it willingly, even though it meant sacrificing what I once had.
It was time to pack the things I had acquired over the last two years before leaving for the next imperial city.
My father, mother, and sister were probably already waiting in the front yard. My father had given me a storage ring that could hold up to a hundred kilograms, so I only took the most essential items. My mother had also made a square piece of wood that fit perfectly in my palm. She told me to break it if I was ever in trouble. She hadn't explained why, but I suspected it held some kind of premonition or other secret.
When my sisters, Xiao Qing and Bing Ying, learned I was leaving, they cried hysterically. My older sister, Xiao Qing, handed me her personal sword. It looked slender but was incredibly sharp. She had even embedded a fifth level silver tier Ice Core Beast core into it. Believing I had no power of my own, she hoped I could use the sword's spiritual ice energy.
Sister Bing Ying also gave me seven pills with different effects. They were third-tier pills, the same grade as the one I had used against Yi Feng.
As I stepped outside, the morning sun shone brightly, blinding my eyes for a moment. I smiled as I saw them all waiting. Sister Bing Ying was there too.
Xiao Qing called out in a voice filled with reluctance, "Little brother, don't forget to come home! This house will always be open for you."
Xiao Chao handed me a small scroll with a poem he had written. "At the crossroads that stretch... Your presence is never hated, your ease is always awaited. So my son, be kind to everyone, and never forget where you took flight, even as you soar freely." Xiao Chao smiled, trying to hide the pain of my departure.
Yue Chan caressed my forehead and kissed it. Tears fell onto my cheeks as she said, "Be a good boy. Don't forget this family. This is my proof of love for you, my son."
I hugged Yue Chan. "I won't forget, Mother. Rest assured. I will return if fate allows it." As tears fell from my eyes, my heart screamed in silence. I don't want to leave you all, but my destiny is destined to be twisted and turn against me. I don't want those who are sincere to me to bear the burden I feel. I'll carry it alone. Thank you for helping me, even though I've used you all.
"Ji Tianwei, I'll be waiting for you," Bing Ying whispered softly in my ear, a strange smile on her face. "I've liked you for a while now. When you're an adult, don't forget me."
What is this?' I thought. 'I don't need anyone in my life. But I replied calmly, "Don't worry, Sister. If fate wills it, maybe I will fulfill it." I returned her smile.
"Mother, Father, Sister Xiao Qing, and Sister Bing Ying, I'm going now." I waved goodbye before walking through the gate. My steps felt heavy, yet my heart laughed at the whole charade. I'm sorry, I am no longer the Ji Tianwei you once knew. I'm merely a harbinger of destruction. I had hoped this fake happiness would be enough to fill the emptiness in my heart. Farewell, my false happiness.
...
Ji Tianwei walked west, towards the Qingwu Continent. This empire was known for its formidable military, not just its cultivators. He had a premonition that a fragment of the Empress's legacy was hidden somewhere on this continent.
Just outside the village gate, Ji Tianwei mumbled to himself, "This journey will likely take a while." He glanced around, still wearing the robe his father had given him. He had left his first robe in the closet as a keepsake, with all his important belongings stored safely in his new storage ring.
Suddenly, a luxurious flying carriage sped past him. It looked magnificent, gilded with shimmering gold from its roof to its wheels. Pulled by two powerful, armored horses, the carriage flew without a driver.
Its window was open, a red curtain fluttering in the wind. Inside, a beautiful woman was looking out. Her stunning sapphire-blue eyes met Ji Tianwei's for a brief moment.
Ji Tianwei ignored her. He thought to himself, She must be a noble from Zhongyao City. But why did that gaze feel so familiar? Her eyes were so much like my mother's used to be... for some reason, all the happy memories I had now felt so... ordinary. Maybe it's an effect of the Nirvana spell.
Ji Tianwei sighed. After getting some distance from the village, he headed into the forest, searching for the nearest river to wash away the sticky sweat on his robe.
"This river looks good," Ji Tianwei mumbled. "There's a large rock to hide behind." His legs ached. "If only I could fly... it would definitely be more efficient. But if I use the Shadow Step technique, the soul Qi I've accumulated will be depleted. And if I kill someone just to replenish it, that will attract too much attention. I have to use Nirvana's power wisely." He took off his robe, placed it on a rock, and walked towards the river's edge.
The cold water washed over his feet as he stepped deeper and immersed his entire body. He leaned against a large rock, looked up at the clear sky, and enjoyed the tranquility. "Ah, the coolness of this river," he whispered. "My fatigue is gone." He smiled faintly to himself. "Does this water also have some power? Hmm... of course not, haha." He laughed softly.
Ji Tianwei closed his eyes, letting his mind wander. Is that cursed book still around? I'll ask him about it later. For now, I'll just enjoy what I have. He thought about his powers. The Life Devouring technique also has a secondary effect: when it absorbs an opponent, they can't use their own techniques. But it drains a lot of my soul Qi and is only effective at close range. Luckily, Lin Dong was there at the time, so my soul Qi was restored, though it didn't increase. A sigh escaped his lips, and his face became a blank mask once again.
After his bath, he put his clothes back on and meditated on a stone slab, entering his sea of consciousness to ask Nirvana a question.
"Nirvana?" Ji Tianwei called out in the depths of his mind. "I have something important to ask."
A lump of darkness appeared, vaguely resembling a human figure. "You haven't contacted me in a while. What's the matter?" The voice echoed in his sea of consciousness.
"Yes, my apologies," Ji Tianwei replied. "The Cursed Book I left behind, is it still there?"
"No. That book was written by the Empress, who borrowed my power before her death. The book will vanish once it finds a new master. What else do you want to ask?"
"Was the Empress ever on the Qingwu Continent? My premonition tells me there's information about her descendants there. You were with her; you must know."
"I don't know, and I can't feel or see what you're doing. This is the only way we can meet," Nirvana answered coldly.
Useless, Ji Tianwei thought. He sighed. "Well, in that case, goodbye."
Ji Tianwei opened his eyes and grumbled, "Damn it!" He then returned to the road and continued his journey west.