A sea of cultivators and countless races stretched endlessly, forming an army that arched into a dome, enclosing a single figure.
Each of them packed shoulder to shoulder, their bloodied, grim faces tilted up, down, or stared straight ahead, each of their faces etched with a mix of fear, awe, and disbelief at the single figure suspended in the sky before them.
The man surrounded was bloodied from head to toe. His chest was punctured with holes ranging from tiny to large, he wasn't only only pierced but also slashed, each of his wounds on his body indicating the different kinds of weapons used to try to kill him.
Although his dark robes were pierced and torn apart, they still remained faintly visible. Beneath them, were tightly wrapped bandages that covered him from his feet to his face, leaving only his hands, mouth and eyes exposed.
He wore neither shoes nor gloves—his body complexion was pale. His bare hands were the parts left unwrapped, his hands were rough and coated with dried blood.
Every last one of his injuries should have been fatal, yet none seemed to have slowed him, let alone stopped him.
Apart from his wounds were his eyes, it seemed as if they were about to pop from their sockets, but if you looked directly into them, you'd see only the hollow, empty, stare of someone devoid of any emotion. As though he had never held a single care in the world.
Many people also hovered in the sky encircling the man, but yet none dared approach the surround man, they kept a distance of miles and miles, forming an endless circle that encircled him, although he had been surrounded some couldn't help but tremble, as they stared at the man, all humans, immortals, beasts, and all kinds of myriad races alike trembled upon the mere sight of the man.
He was truly surrounded on all sides, from heaven to earth. The man gaze swept his surroundings around him, he could only see enemies there was no sky or so-called ground—truly only the endless enemies that had him encircled him.
Outside the dome of enemies lay the battlefield he had carved, corpses of countless races carpeted the ground, their faces frozen in shock. Each of them had different wounds, yet all seemed to have been killed by the same blade.
In the far distance, burning cities smoldered beneath a sky of ash, black smoke curling across the horizon like clouds.
Suddenly, the man, wrapped in bandages, charged forward, gripping his blade tightly. He swung his blade through the air, the air seemingly tore apart. His slash cutting through everything in its path, leaving a faintly visible transparent trail, and those in the path of slash fell instantly, powerless at the force of the slash.
"UAGH!" The cries of the fallen echoed across the battlefield.
[Ding! 2743 EXP]
[Ding! 6821 EXP]
[Ding! 4937 EXP]
[Ding! 1592 EXP]
[Ding! 8310 EXP]
[Ding! 9764 EXP]
[Ding! 3058 EXP]
[Ding! 7126 EXP]
… Etc Etc
Suddenly, hundreds of red holograms, each displaying a different number, materialized before Xue Shen.
"Begone, demon!" the Immortal Buddha shouted, lunging forward. His palm shot toward Xue Shen—a colossal golden palm materialized, and barreled toward Xue Shen, shimmering as it came.
Xue Shen lifted his blade and slashed downward. The swing and the colossal golden palm met each other, and the realm around them began to vibrate as they collided. But, unfortunately for the Immortal Buddha, the had palm lost.
Yet the slash didn't vanish. It continued surging forward, aimed at the Immortal Buddha. The Buddha began chanting, his voice echoing as he recited Buddhist scriptures, and three vast golden barriers erupted into existence, shimmering brightly, it covered thoses behind him and himself.
SRKKKK!
The slash collided with the barrier, unleashing a shrieking noise across the battlefield, akin to like two swords grinding violently against each other.
CRACK!
The first layer completely cracked, and the second began to experience the full brunt of the slash. Cracks and fissures spread across its surface, yet it held firm. The third layer still shimmered brightly, untouched, as the slash finally dissolved into nothingness.
Just then, a mountain of a man charged from the front, bare-chested and wearing only fur pants, dual-wielding twin axes.
"Haha! Xue Shen! It seems you've grown weaker!" Shaung Zhan sneered, his wild, unkempt hair swaying in the wind.
"Well come on then! Xue Shen, it's time to finally end your insanity!" Shaung Zhan shouted. The Immortal Buddha rushed alongside him, both aiming to take down Xue Shen simultaneously.
"Die!"
"Die!"
SWOOOSH!
Suddenly out of nowhere a arrow, imbued with purple light, barreled toward Xue Shen's right eye. He tilted his blade, blocking it in time.
But almost at the same time, another projectile appeared from nowhere, heading for his left eye. It didn't glimmer and was almost transparent, phasing through the air as it barreled towards Xue Shen.
Focused on the purple arrow, Xue Shen did not notice the transparent one. He blocked the first attack, but then..
GWK!
The transparent arrow pierced through his left eye socket, ripping apart the bandages that covered his face. It tore through his flesh and bone, leaving a gaping hole as blood poured freely and the arrow exited out the back of his head.
"Haha! You're truly on your last ropes! Just accept the death you so love!" Shaung Zhan taunted.
Without hesitation, Xue Shen charged them both. His gaze fixed towards Shaung Zhan.
Xue Shen now stood within arm's reach of Shaung Zhan, he outstretched his hands as he reached to grab Shaung Zhan throat.
Seeing Xue Shen's hand reaching for him, Shuang Zhan swung his axes at Xue Shen's wrists, aiming to sever it mid-air. The axes sank deep, tearing Xue Shen flesh and tendon, but didn't cut through. Instead, the axes seemed to tightly weld themselves into his wrists.
The injury didn't slow Xue Shen at all. Far from it, as his hand tightly wrapped around Shuang Zhan's neck, he squeezing it with force, and plunged him downward through the air, dragging him toward the ground like a ragdoll.
With Xue Shen other hand, he drove his blade straight into Shuang Zhan's stomach, piercing deep into his muscle and gut, the blade tip exiting out of Shaung Zhan back.
"UAGHH!"
Shuang Zhan's blood spurted freely into the air as he screamed, thrashing violently in mid-air, trying to break free from Xue Shen grasp.
Shuang Zhan struggled desperately, trying to pull his axes free, but they wouldn't budge—seemingly fused to Xue Shen's wrists.
CRUNCH.
Suddenly Xue Shen bit into Shuang Zhan's neck, tearing flesh and tendon. His own teeth biting into his own fingers in the process, but he didn't care, and continued bitting as Shaung Zhan blood spattered across the air, mixing with the wind.
Suddenly, the Immortal Buddha was presented with an opportunity—and a dilemma. He could unleash a wide golden palm strike aimed at Xue Shen's exposed back while he was distracted. If he did, it might possibly kill Xue Shen… but it would also mean sacrificing Shaung Zhan in the process.
"Amitābha, Shaung Zhan! Your sacrifice won't be forgotten!" the Immortal Buddha declared, sending forth an even larger golden palm than before. Behind him, several Buddhist figures appeared as he casted the attack.
Immediately, an immense figure of a buddha stood behind him, and a golden palm shot forward, barreling straight toward Xue Shen's back.
"STOP! DON'T! AHHHH!" Shuang Zhan pleaded, staring at the Buddhist who was casting the attack. He thrashed even more wildly, punching and kicking, but none of his blows even fazed Xue Shen. Every desperate struggle was utterly useless
"Xu—Shen—! S-stop! He's… trying to kill us—both!"
Shaung Zhan choked out, his voice breaking between gasps as Xue Shen's teeth sank into his throat.
Xue Shen didn't seem to at all care or even acknowledge his words—his teeth only digging deeper into Shaung Zhan's neck.
CRRNNCH—KRRRCH—SPLTCH!
Xue Shen dug deeper, ripping Shuang Zhan's neck open, his teeth shredding flesh, and tearing the cartilage. The blood of Shaung Zhan ran into his mouth, and onto his hands, but he kept going, and continued bitting.
THUD.
The crowd scattered, screaming, as Xue Shen and Shuang Zhan crashed to the ground. Those unlucky enough to be beneath them were crushed instantly, leaving bodies strewn in their landing.
[Ding! 3407 EXP]
[Ding! 4964 EXP]
[Ding! 1332 EXP]
[Ding! 8183 EXP]
[Ding! 9922 EXP]
[Ding! 1506 EXP]
[Ding! 8708 EXP]
[Ding! 8967 EXP]
… Etc Etc
Multiple red holograms continued appearing before Xue Shen, signaling something.
BOOOOM
Suddenly, the golden palm collided with the back of Xue Shen, he felt as though gravity itself were pressing down on his body.
"MMMGH!"
A crater formed where Xue Shen and Shuang Zhan had crashed, rubble and dust flying everywhere, obscuring the landing site.
"DON'T STOP! KEEP ATTACKING!" The Immortal Buddha booming voice echoed, and everyone immediately followed.
Instantly, the crowd unleashed a barrage of attacks, beams of light of every color and massive explosions erupted in all directions, all converging towards Xue Shen.
"MORE! MORE!"
"DO NOT YIELD!"
The Immortal Buddha's eyes were bloodshot red as he ordered everyone to keep attacking.
[Ding! 2,000,000 EXP]
5 Minutes of constant barrage of attacks, later it was silence, no noise nor any signs of Xue Shen.
"Ahaha! H–He's dead! The Lunatic is dead!" the Immortal Buddha declared. Yet the crowd remained cautious. They had felt this same hope countless times, only to witness Xue Shen rise from the dead once again, though this time, they were more convinced he was truly gone.
One among them walked to the spot where Xue Shen and Shuang Zhan had crashed, stopping at the edge of the crater.
He looked to be trembling, yet still forced himself to step forward.
The glory of being the first to witness Xue Shen's death, and earning the honor of delivering the final blow, made him both brave and foolhardy.
He leapt down into the crater, inching closer and closer until the dust began to clear, and then, a sight caught his eye.
Both Xue Shen and Shuang Zhan body. Shuang Zhan's neck was completely severed, his head rolling lifelessly to the side, his eyes frozen wide in shock and despair.
Xue Shen risen onto his feet, blood, flesh, and splintered bone filling his mouth, which he spat out or licked away with indifference to the gruesome act he had just committed.
Xue Shen's back was torn and punctured, yet not a single injury seemed serious enough to matter.
"Mo–Monster!" the man shouted, staring at the decapitated body and Xue Shen's bloodied mouth before frantically turning and retreating in terror.
"SHUT UP" Xue Shen snapped, his eye flashing with anger at the sudden mention of the word. He unweld the welded axe from his wrist and hurled it towards the man's head.
SHK!
[Ding! 1200 EXP]
The axe had struck the man head, killing him instantly.
THUD
The crowd erupted in panic. Those who had moved closer to inspect Xue Shen's corpse all scrambled to retreat, while the Immortal Buddha's eyes widened in shock as he also backed away, horrified not only by the sheer brutality of Shuang Zhan's murder, but even more so by Xue Shen's terrifying invincibility.
Xue Shen unwelded one of the other axes from his wrist, then pulled his blade free from Shuang Zhan's body.
No one dared to interrupt or confront Xue Shen, who freely flew back to his position.
Silence fell.. fear and dread gripped everyone hearts, as they watched Xue Shen move. His hands, wrists, back, chest, and left eye were all wounded and punctured, yet none of it seemed to matter. Xue Shen appeared to be an unkillable monster.
Suddenly, a woman who had been meditating—seemingly healing her injuries—opened her eyes and froze, her gaze turning cold as she glared at Xue Shen.
"Stop this madness! Xue Shen! How many more have to fall before you end this madness?!" the woman hovering in sky with flowing white hair cried out. She was gravely wounded aswell, her entire right arm had been severed, yet with all her wounds still she looked ethereal. Behind her, countless swords floated in the air, all pointed toward the man. Her blue eyes, like shattered crystals, all filled with a mix of fury, despair, and disbelief as she glared at the man before her.
Xue Shen stared at the woman answered back, "All." his voice sounding rough, apathetic and hollow, as if the weight of his words didn't mean anything.
"What?! Are you mad? Do you truly mean to exterminate all of existence!?" she asked demanding a answer.
"And what's wrong with that?" Xue Shen replied.
"What's wrong with that!? Xue Shen have you lost your mind? You're asking me what's wrong with the annihilation of all life!?" The woman replied with disbelief in her voice at Xue Shen words.
Upon hearing the woman's words, Xue Shen's expression shifted to one of annoyance, his face twisting with clear disdain although not visible. He clutched his bandages on his head tightly. "Why? Why? Why? WHYY? is it that you all say the same thing!?" he shouted, his one remaining eye swept across the masses, hollow, emotionless, and piercing through everyone.
"Fools, all of you are blinded! By the strings of existence, dancing to its tune—like mere puppets!"
"I am freeing you all! Can't you see!?" Xue Shen spoke, his hand moving erratically as he talked, pointing, backhanding, gesturing like a politician addressing a restless crowd.
"See? the only thing we can see your insanity! Xue Shen! Cease this, Do you truly wish to die over your insanity!" The woman cried out.
"Death is not pain, it's liberation!" Xue Shen ignored the woman words and kept talking as if she hadnt said anything.
"Death is the gateway from suffering! Unlike existence, death grants you nothingness, the freedom from existence itself! So stop calling me insane! Stop it! I am a liberator! Can't you see? Do not fear me, instead rejoice! Rejoice in my presence! Rejoice in what I offer you! Let go of your meaningless existence! And come.. to death embrace!"
Xue Shen spoke, turning his body as if addressing the entire crowd, his movements were still erratic and somewhat unsettling.
"Ha! Such madness! If you truly love death so much, why don't you die first, huh, Xue Shen!" sneered a man hovering the sky, he wore red-and-white robes. His red hair flowed wildly, he stood out among the rest of the crowd, his very presence radiate a suffocating aura of threat and dread, unlike any among those gathered.
His left arm had been severed, his robes shredded by countless blade marks that tore deep into his flesh, each one fresh and bleeding.
"The Blood Demon calls me mad?" Xue Shen let out a bitter and hollow laugh, devoid of any actual trace of joy. "Hahahahahahahaha!"
"The irony! You! you and the Six Great Demons, have slaughtered millions, rivers of blood spilled just to have a little taste of more power! and control!"
Xue shen staring at his hands as he spoke about the Blood Demon.
Xue Shen's voice rose. "But you! all of you—all of you drowning in your own delusions of control! You'll never be satisfied! Always scheming! against each other, or with each other—it never ends! Always plotting, always chasing, new strength, new power—only to circle back again! Again and again and again! Repeating it all like… like puppets!" Xue Shen hand gestures were akin to like giving a speech, a burst of laughter a laugh without any joy came from his mouth. "All so meaningless!"
Silence fell. No one dared speak as Xue Shen's words echoed across the realm. He looked mad, and the entire crowd stared at him, everyone unsure of what to make of his words—but they all knew one thing was certain: Xue Shen was insane. "And now… only you remain among the six.." Xue Shen said, his voice now dropping low.
Xue Shen's voice dropped to a almost monotone voice, and almost normal tone, but low as it was, everyone could still hear him. "So tell me… now that you're the last one alive, do you still think your little victories matter? Do you think your desperate claws.. your pathetic struggles to be the strongest, mean anything now?" he asked tilting his head.
Xue Shen movements were now more controlled, and calm. He stood perfectly still. In stark contrast to his earlier erratic movements, he now seemed composed, almost normal.
"The most ironic, and hysterical thing is once you reign supreme you'll still want to crave more! That's how existence traps you, it infects you with such emotions, fills you with delusions, makes you chase hollow goals, and after you've completed a meaningless goal, it makes you want another and another.. and another... All so you can play its endless game! It gives you these useless emotions, and these useless emotions fuel useless dreams! Utterly pathetic!"
"You walk the path of pointlessness!"
"Come. As the last of the Six Great Demons remaining, embrace death with the rest of them." Xue Shen said as he extended his arm and lowered his palm toward the Blood Demon. "Let me put an end to your endless march of pointlessness." He continued gesturing for the Blood Demon to come to him.
"Ha! Thoses fools don't deserve to be labeled next to me! They were too arrogant and stupid for their only good! they deserved to perish!" The blood demon replied back, not acknowledging and belittling the five.
"Ha… you are all one and the same. How many ways did you and the Poison Demon try? Again and again you schemed, and yet here I stand! All your useless plots amounted to nothing… so I say, for one last time…"
Xue Shen said, still lowering his hand, palm facing down, as he curled his fingers toward the Blood Demon, taunting him to beckon to him.
"Come and join the rest of them."
"Her foolishness was her downfall she was too consumed with anger too see anything!"
"I told you to come embrace death.. Now come here and embrace it." Xue Shen tone was flat and apathetic as he still gestured with his fingers for the blood demon to beckon to him.
The Blood Demon remained completely still, not daring to move an inch closer. Though he appeared unfazed, a flicker of anxiety stirred within him—his body trembling ever so slightly.
"Coward." Xue Shen said, then immediately charged the blood demon, with his blade in hand.
The Blood Demon's eyes widened in surprise, and he nearly stumbled backward, but he quickly regained his footing. He wouldn't dare retreat—his image mattered too much. Immediately, he raised his sword and readied himself to block.
But just then the white woman haired immediately joined the side of the blood demon and another one as well, the Immortal Buddha.
ROARR!
A loud roar echoed through the crowd as a large figure suddenly appeared above the three. A massive dragon emerged, the lower half of its body completely severed, bleeding from multiple wounds that seemed to be caused by blades.
Now, with the support of these three, the Blood Demon felt confident.
"Ha! If you wanted to die so badly, you could've just said so!" he yelled, a slight boost of courage swelling within him.
All four readied themselves for Xue Shen's attack, but then, suddenly, he stopped.
"Pahahaha! Look at how quickly they all flock to your side!" Xue Shen laughed, his tone mocking. "You used to fight amongst yourselves, yet now.. Just to cling to your pathetic lives, you feel the need to protect one another!"
He put a hand to his head and shook it. "The ironic part? Once I perish, you'll go back to fighting amongst yourselves! Hahaha! It's truly a shame how corrupted existence has made you all. Everyone here truly needs purification!"
Xue Shen's attack had been intended to be a faint from the start.
"Amitābha.. The world has produced such a lunatic!" shouted the Immortal Buddha in golden robes shaking his head. Then turned and he spoke addressing the crowd "Do you all hear him? He calls murder and the destruction of all life on this realm purification!"
"Ha! And you baldies as well!" Xue Shen sneered. "You think your so-called enlightenment means anything? That your empty chants and hollow teachings can shield you from suffering? Your so-called compassion is a lie! your karma, reincarnation, dharma, dharma, and enlightenment are all chains that bind you!"
"You preach detachment while still clinging to your pathetic existence, pretending your teachings have value—when it's nothing but illusion! Even your pathetic, all-knowing, all-powerful Buddha is trapped in the same cruel game of existence!"
"Ha! The irony!" he spat. "Your Buddha claims he has achieved nirvana, that he has escaped samsara—hahaha! Fool! Does he not know that as long as you exist, you will never achieve so-called nirvana?"
"Blasphemy! How dare you speak as if you know anything!" The Immortal Buddha immediately felt enraged at Xue Shen ramblings and deranged remarks.
"Look at you! getting angry just because someone has stated the truth that you refuse to acknowledge!"
The Immortal Buddha felt his blood boil. Every fiber of him wanted to charge at Xue Shen, but fear held him in place, death was a real threat. Though Xue Shen seemed on his last ropes, he remained cautious: after all, Xue Shen had faced them all alone. Originally there had been twelve Immortal Buddhas, yet Xue Shen had slaughtered eleven of them all. Now only he remained, as he was tasked with protecting the young monks.
He felt a sudden touch behind him. He turned and saw the young monks behind him, all trembling and shivering like frightened children.
His heart sank at the sight. Shame coursed through him. If he died foolishly in this battle, he thought, the other sects and factions would surely descend upon his weakened sect without mercy. After all, they had made countless enemies along the perilous path of cultivation. Friends and allies could turn in an instant at the sight of profit or weakness. And now, standing before Xue Shen, he felt the entirety of the weight that responsibility had pressing down on him.
He couldn't help but let out a long, weary sigh.
"Ha? scared? it's okay baldie.. after all you'll soon be reunited with the rest of the your Immortal Baldies! haha! don't be scared of death it's peaceful!" Xue Shen said mocking the scared monk.
The Immortal Buddha stood there and stayed silent not uttering anything.
"Coward." Xue Shen said glaring at the Immortal Buddha.
Xue Shen then pointed at the woman with white hair, then swept his finger toward everyone around. "Existence corrupts all! Today you are kind, tomorrow cruel—then kind again, then cruel again! An endless cycle of madness! You keep repeating it over and over, a pointless loop that will never amount to anything!"
"Don't you see? It's not you, it's not him, her, it's not me—it's all existence itself! The moment something exists, it begins to desire. And once you desire, you suffer. Kindness turns to cruelty, peace to war, joy to grief. That's what existence does, it makes you chase what will always rot away. You aren't free. None of you are. You're just slaves trapped in existence unending game!"
"Xue Shen, stop your absurdity! If you're going to die, then die already! We care nothing for your insane ramblings!" the towering Dragon King roared echoing, his voice sounded akin to that of an older man, but rougher and deeper.
Xue Shen's eyes glared at the immensely colossal Dragon.
"Dragon King! Look who it is! I thought you had run from our duel, with your tail tucked between your… well, that saying doesn't quite work anymore, does it?" Xue Shen said, eyeing the cut tail, clearly mocking him. "Why have you returned… is it perhaps to seek death?" Xue Shen asked, tilting his head.
"And what is this?" Xue Shen paused, placing his hand over his mouth in a mock expression of shock. "Why does the proud dragon race need help from others? Is this your so-called pride and tradition? Weren't your people the strongest, the proudest of all?"
"WHERE IS THAT PRIDE? WHERE IS THAT HONOR!?" Xue Shen shouted, his face twisting into that of anger.
"Look at yourself! Your ancestors would be ashamed, the mighty Dragon King, forced to seek aid from other races! Your people have never relied on anyone, yet here you are, shattering your most sacred traditions, and your pride just to cling to life! Such insanity!"
"A lunatic like you is a stain on this realm." a man cloaked in shadows suddenly appeared behind the Dragon King, he held a cane topped with a tiny human skull atop the cane in his hand. "You must be erased before your madness spreads."
Xue Shen's laughter rolled across the heavens, cold and sharp. "I was wondering where your creepy ass had gone! And it's truly ridiculous, even the Man of Death calls me insane? You, who enslave corpses and.. commit unspeakable, despicable acts upon their remains… you cling to them all for power? You are the madness of all.
"How many years have you lived? Hm? You lived so long and yet what did it feel? What useless goals have you achieved? and you still crave for more! You live trying to rewrite and escape something as beautiful as death!"
"If you weren't so insane I would've made you mine.." a voluptuous woman sighed, sitting on a flying chariot pulled by blindfolded humans, her figure drawing hungry stares from all around. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders as she murmured, "A shame..." She shook her head, waving her fan lazily, not to cool herself, but out of sheer amusement.
Xue Shen's eyes shifted towards her, turning cold. "And you! You whore! Tempting fools into this farce, making them crave life's illusions! You, too, are ensnared by existence's trap—emotion itself!"
"Dragon King… I once respected your race, a people who never backed down and always held their heads high. Even you, mighty as you are, have long maintained the balance of the world and protected it. Yet now, all I see is a race consumed by endless wars for pride and conquest! But worry not—for in death's embrace, there will be no battles. No pride. No thrills, and there won't be a need to protect the world, for no such concepts exist. Only the sweet release of existence's curse!"
Silence fell. No one dared to rebuke him, nor did anyone wish to converse with Xue Shen any longer.
Xue Shen's gaze swept over everyone, taking in the sudden silence around him. He felt his essence reverse, empty and depleted, but as soon as he sensed this, he had made up his mind on something. Clenching his fists and spreading his arms wide, his voice rose, echoing across the entire realm; there was no corner that could escape the sound of his words.
"It's laughable, isn't it?
The strongest? Fooled!
The wisest? Fooled!
The cunning? Fooled!
The coward? Fooled!
The proudest? Fooled!
The modest? Fooled!
The kindest, the cruelest? Fooled!
Mortals? Fooled!
Immortals? Fooled!
Demons? Spirits? Beasts? Fooled!
Everything is Fooled!"
"FOOLED! ALL FOOLED! HAHAHA! YOU ARE ALL FOOLED!" Xue Shen's words echoed throughout the entire realm reverberating.
"Time, fate, life, bonds, ambition, emotion, morality, all mere constructs! Lies woven by existence itself!"
"You strut about thinking your choices matter! Seeking strength, showing kindness, embracing ruthlessness, chasing happiness, hoarding power, trying to attain benefits, chasing immortality! Even daring to defy death itself! Such foolishness!"
"Every last one of you dances on invisible strings! Puppets in existence's mockery! Mistaking existence's illusion for freedom, its delusions for purpose, the fleeting flicker of life for meaning!"
He unclenched his fists and, with suddenly tore away the bandages covering his face. His grotesque deformities were laid bare for all to see: the entire left side of his mouth ripped open, exposing his teeth, and raw flesh. His nose completely severed, exposing his nasal cavities, his two ears also completely severed exposing his ear canals. His left eye socket was completely pierced, and fresh blood still continuously pouring from it. Scars and burn marks marred his skin, and every strand of hair he had once possessed was burned away, leaving only scarred flesh and ash atop his head. His features were twisted, horrifyingly grotesque.
"FOOLS! EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU, FOOLS! FOOLS! FOOLS! FOOLS! FOOLS! FOOLS! ALL FOOLS!"
Everyone's faces were taken aback; most looked shocked, some grimaced, some turned away, but all twisted with disgust the moment they saw Xue Shen's grotesque, deformed face. The burn marks, scars, and torn flesh made him look inhuman. Xue Shen's eyes burned with madness — everyone could clearly see and feel how unhinged he was. No one wanted to get close, let alone stare at him. One thing crossed every person mind there as they stared at Xue Shen: this lunatic had to be killed.
"Ha.." Xue Shen breathed slowly and began calming down.
"I've heard it all: lunatic, madness, absurd, insane, deranged, maniac, obsessed, unstable. You all call me such things.." Xue Shen declared, his voice calm, "Yet none of you deny my truth… At death's door there will be no pain, no happiness, no fear, no pride, no humility, no ambition, no regret, no justice, no wickedness. You will not want anything, nor need anything. Only silence exist and…' Xue Shen paused for a moment before looking up at the sky, and extended his palms out, closed his eyes, and whispered, "Peace"
"Madness!" the white-haired woman shouted, tightly gripping her sword and raising it. "Everyone! If you have any ounce of you that wish to live, fight! We must stop this lunatic before it's too late! All of existence is at stake!"
"Fools" Xue Shen said quietly. "Once I am gone, you will realize, all is vanity. Nothing changes. You will keep living futile lives."
"Better you dead than the world annihilated!" the woman shouted back.
"Ridi—" Xue Shen tried to speak but coughed up blood, he moved his hand to his face, covering his mouth.
"Hah! Look, he's at his last ropes! we must finish him now!" the Immortal Buddha yelled out.
"Ha… it seems I cannot convince anyone." Xue Shen murmured softly, staring at the blood on his hands, and with the other hand that held his blade, he released it from his grasp.
THUD
The blade struck the ground, a visible crater appeared where the blade had landed. Those nearest were crushed instantly, and thoses that where the blade directly landed were instantly killed
[Ding! 2380 EXP]
[Ding! 8420 EXP]
[Ding! 3710 EXP]
[Ding! 5940 EXP]
[Ding! 1050 EXP]
[Ding! 7620 EXP]
[Ding! 4890 EXP]
[Ding! 9210 EXP]
[Ding! 3170 EXP]
… etc etc.
Suddenly, hundreds of red holograms appeared in front of the man. He side-eyed them for a moment, then ignored them. None of the crowd seemed able to see the holograms—only he could.
"I will bestow upon you one final gift," Xue Shen said, spreading his arms. "I shall finally rid myself of your presence."
"Hahaha! Death! I come your embrace! Those fools will soon understand!" Xue Shen screamed, extending them and raising his arms.
The world around him surged violently. The ground trembled. No, the entire realm shook, as if the world itself sensed a seemingly impending doom looming.
"He intends to self-destruct!" shouted the Immortal Buddha.
"H–He'll kill us all!" the man in the dark cloak stammered, his voice trembling as he immediately began to retreat.
"Don't run!" Xue Shen laughed. "Come! Witness my witness! Witness my beautiful gift!"
"Lunatic!" the voluptuous woman yelled, her chariot already in full retreat.
Panic erupted instantly. The sea of cultivators, that once formed a solid dome, dissolved into chaos, screams pierced the air, shoves and collisions broke out, and desperate flights as everyone began frantically retreating in all directions.
"Everyone, calm down!" the white-haired woman shouted, but her voice was drowned out by screams of terror. Realizing that fleeing was futile and feeling it her duty to stop Xue Shen, she immediately charged forward, her essence surging violently—it was clear she was intending to die alongside him.
Immediately, light spread, engulfing everything and blinding all. Xue Shen's skin split, his body inflating from within. He convulsed violently as his body began to disintegrate into white, and then… silence.
BOOM.
White light engulfed the entire world, everything was in white..
Silence… Xue Shen heard nothing. Only silence.
Although Xue Shen had died, his mind still lingered, suspended in what felt like an empty space. It wasn't dark, it felt like more a blank canvas, though not white: more like emptiness itself, and he could still think.
As his consciousness dissolved further, a thought remained. He had spent his life trying to convince everyone, yet none of it had worked. In trying to force liberation, he had failed to free those still bound by the curse of existence.
"I'm a failure…" Xue Shen repeated to himself, over and over. "Damn it… existence, curse you. I failed… I couldn't free this impure world from your chains."
Yet even in that silence, amidst the weight of failure, he felt peace. No anger. No regret. No sorrow. Only acceptance.
As he thought of his failures suddenly his memories flashed like a reel of film, fragments of his long-buried past resurfacing.
He drifted further into his memories, recalling his days in the Yunluo Realm. He wasn't truly from this world; once, he had been from a planet called Earth, until his death.
"System?" Xue Shen thought, but there was no response.
…. Still nothing.
The reels of his life approached their end, and one final image appeared: one malnourished boy, bruised, and scarred around the neck and two men, one seemingly a teenager and the other an adult, both bloody. All three looked identical, unmistakably a family.
They stared at Xue Shen direction.
His single eye softened for a fleeting moment as he stared at three, his gaze locked intently on them.
"I'm sorry…"
A thought tried to form in his mind, but he could no longer hold onto it as his consciousness slowly faded into nothingness.