The scene truly stole Clark's breath! It resembled an underground city! Black iron lighting fixtures, the massive temple with its golden ornaments, and its magnificent architecture!
And the grand staircase leading inside the temple!
Clark asked his master:
· "What's the story of this place? Did it belong to an ancient sect or something similar?"
· "You could say that! But this place was the headquarters of a man who, it is said, was exiled from the spirit world due to his malice! He wanted to replace one of the ancient rulers and obtain immense power! The funny part of this story is that he faced everyone alone! He lacked nothing! Power? No! He didn't lack it! In fact, he was among the strongest of the powerful! He claimed to be the weakest among them! But in reality, he could crush them in the blink of an eye! Do you remember when I told you: be a dog that licks feet? You don't know the benefits you might gain! Or the amount of trouble you might avoid! No one wants to run over a dog wagging its tail!"
Clark began crawling along the steps leading into the temple. He looked at the wounds on his body! He saw they had begun to fester from the crawling he had done through the dirt and filth! But that only strengthened Clark's resolve! He did not complain or say, "I'm afraid for my life! Heal me, please!" Instead, he remained silent! Nothing but sparks flashed from his eyes! Only infinite determination! The man's heart was truly a mystery!
Finally, Clark placed his hand and pulled himself up! He emerged from behind the ancient temple! A flowing, overflowing black aura radiated from it! The darkness was utterly profound! Clark crawled behind the Master! He felt a strange sensation! As if skeletons were chasing him!
The Master spoke, saying:
· "This is one of the temple's tests! Its lights do not appear unless one's heart is sufficiently refined! You know, Clark, the Demonic Path holds immense difficulties! Therefore, will you fight the challenges? Will your heart struggle, or will it fall?!"
Clark felt a chasm appear in the ground behind him! It tried to pull him into the earth's depths! He heard the screams of all those he had killed! Memories from the past! But they were blurred! Burning emotions! Numerous near-death experiences! He saw himself dying in the most horrific ways!
Clark asked himself a question in his mind! It echoed in his thoughts as he endured this terrible trial: Why do we struggle against death? Against other people? Against our circumstances? What's the difference between human perseverance? Is there really any difference? Are we all walking the same path? Struggle after struggle! An eternal, unending torment! Tell me, when does true rest come? Can a weak person like me achieve immortality? Was it destined for me? Or will I ultimately fail to find the answer and surrender to death due to old age?! It's truly laughable! But I will not lose! As long as I am alive! As long as blood pumps through my veins! I will not surrender!
Alert!!! New Trait: Steel Will!
Trait Description: Possesses high immunity against all mental or spiritual attacks!!!
Clark quickly regained his senses! He finally saw the light! He saw a great hall before him! It extended with a long corridor and a strange design of successive stairs and rooms, like a human brain! The luminous ceramics! The architecture was wondrous! That followers of the Demonic Path could build something so magnificent! But what truly piqued his curiosity was that strange basin from which a strange liquid flowed! It resembled the seminal fluid of a horse!!!
Quickly, the Master spoke:
· "Do you see that basin?! It is called the Fragrant Water of the Immortal World!!! Or as it's known: The Refining Waterfall of Paradise!"
Clark was shocked! He exclaimed loudly:
· "The Immortal World! Truly?! But how?! Where did such a great thing descend from the world of the Immortals?!"
· "The reason! After the great catastrophes, many strange things occurred! Phenomena beyond human comprehension! Only the great sects obtained them! The Fragrant Water of the Immortals which is before you! Then the great Light of Wisdom! And finally: the Chasm of Fate! Those things were in the world of the Immortals! But the locations changed, and they came here! The sects think they are merely blessings bestowed upon them by their Buddhas and gods! But that is a pure lie! All those things came here for a completely different reason! Clark! The world is changing radically! And I believe you are the one who will possess the world! I did not lie! You yourself said previously: I was born with the qualities of kings!"
Clark laughed loudly:
· "Then! I must pass through all those things! And oh, the miracle! At its beginning, I find the Fragrant Water! Keke ke!"
· "You must know something! The Light of Wisdom truly grants one great wisdom! But that is at the cost of your lifespan! It is said: If the light strikes you directly, it might steal half your life due to the horrifying speed of absorption! It is said: A man gains wisdom with advancing age! But the Light of Wisdom strikes you with insane aging! Great wisdom comes with it! And your lifespan decreases! Therefore, the majority prefer to observe from afar, nothing more! As for the Chasm of Fate! Its benefit is still unknown! I can describe it as something: It is what controls destiny and the threads of fate! They described it: It is a giant spider weaving its threads!!!"
Clark was stunned by the information presented to him!
The Master spoke again:
· "Now I will tell you a secret! Why didn't I heal you?! In truth! The Fragrant Water heals a person's body! It even enhances their power! Based on the foundation of their refinement! You possess the foundation of the Celestial Demonic Refinement! And you draw your power from it! But through continuous refinement! And learning a refinement method! I will grant it to you! You will utilize the Fragrant Water to its fullest potential! Focus with me! This technique is called: Emotional Refinement! You draw the power of your refinement from your emotions! Evil! Good! Love! Sorrow! All those things! But those emotions might consume you! Which made this technique one of the forbidden techniques! Despite its power and strangeness! You might turn into a madman! Therefore! Are you ready for it??"
· "Do I have a choice?! Of course I am ready for it! But what about healing my body?! I don't know! But I am severely injured!"
· "And here we come to a great advantage! The Fragrant Water will heal your body! And your bones will become stronger and stronger! The more you treat yourself with it! But! It is better to use it for refinement! And not use it for healing! Except in a critical condition after training!"
· "Why???"
· "Your body won't keep up with the fantastical healing sessions! On the contrary! The foundation of your refinement will be destroyed! And after that! You know!!!"
· "Fine!"
· "Now! Mr. Clark! Remove your clothes completely! I don't want any piece of cloth covering you! And enter the basin!"
· "Remove them completely?! Really???"
· "Yes! And don't ask too many questions! Do it!"
Clark did not object! He removed all his clothes! He did not hesitate! Instead, he crawled forward towards the basin! He lifted himself! And fell into the basin! He felt like he was drowning! Quickly, he composed himself! And sat in the basin! Instinctively! His body knew how to swim!! But he felt a great sensation! He felt a slight tingling! Due to the rapid reaction of his circulatory system! But relief flowed into his brain and body!
The Master spoke:
· "Now, Clark! You feel the effect of the waters! To embody your emotions! Think of the deepest spiritual point in your heart! And release it in the form of Qi! You might release memories! Things you love! But those emotions will strengthen you! Utilize them well! And coexist with them! Do not hate them! Do not fall under the influence of relief! Rather! It is good to train while in a recovery stage! Because this is training for your personal refinement!!!"
Clark thought about his soul! He felt immense emotions! For a mysterious entity buried in his heart! He felt memories flowing!
The Master was watching in horror! Clark didn't notice! But his eye had turned black! Covered with a red light! Its appearance was terrifying! The aura was demonic! No! Beyond limits! No! And no human on Earth could possess it!
A question echoed in his heart:
· "Is he really?! Or what?!"
Meanwhile, Clark had transitioned to another world! Ancient memories! He saw himself in them in a strange form! He had realized that will is built upon three things: Hope – Desire – Perseverance. And he possessed all three in his life!
Then he began to see the past! Where his journey of seeking began... In his previous life! He was talking to that woman, whose beauty he had never seen the like of! She was called the Venerated One! "Star of the Nine Seas"! And she was Loona! It is said: There is a great river called the River of Time! In it flows the life of humans and the entire universe!
Clark loved Loona immensely! One night! While sleeping at her feet! He asked her:
· "Is it possible for us to become immortal, O Loona?!"
She said, surprised:
· "What do you mean?!"
He said:
· "I mean to live forever! Just you and I! We love each other! We explore the world! For what frightens humans more than anything... is Time!"
Loona smiled and said:
· "We don't need things like that! Our love will immortalize us! Even in another life!" Then she kissed him!
But... everything turned grey! In the other life! Clark suffered hell! In the end! Loona died! He was furious, standing by her corpse! His gaze was cold! His tears had dried up! And nothing remained! He said:
· "Hahaha... it was a foolish word we said! And we did not fulfill it!"
He held the music box in his hand and said:
· "In the end! You lied to me! What is the goal of all this?! For me to be in another world! Where you don't exist?! Was it just an amusement to console the fool who loved you?!"
She had abandoned her body! And did not reach the "World Above the Immortals"! That which no one had reached! It was called the Heaven Layer! Or the Protecting Hands! A living existence! Yet, at the same time, non-physical!
She sacrificed for people! But why do we sacrifice for the stability of the world and for humans we don't know???
He asked himself, Clark:
· "What is the goal?! What is the use?! Even if I sacrifice! In the end... you left! And abandoned me! That is betrayal! I was always betrayed!"
Love dies! Lust! In the end! Mere bodies that will turn into weak bones! Wealth?! I will die in the end! So what's the use?! Power?! They are all perishable, hollow desires! Created to weaken our hearts! But... if my heart becomes as hard as iron! Then it will never stray from its path again!
He activated the music box! Time accelerated! The universe shook! And the third world, in which Clark now lives, was created! He clung to the light... then he awoke!
He saw his master around him! Who was sitting calmly! He laughed bitterly and said:
· "In the end! I was a fool! I saw things from a foolish perspective! They say: You should not know your past! Perhaps! Because it is something you should not know! But! The real question! Is death truly torment?! Or merely freedom???"
To be continued.....