Ow. That talisman actually did something… I hope it killed him. I used up the others I got from the elders while running but I had forgotten about that one... I'm sorry Edward.

The texture of cold stone greeted his face as he lay there, aches and pains slowly making themselves known.

Maybe I can just lay here. I can’t keep going… What if he is still alive?

Groaning, he opened his eyes to find himself facing the obelisk, its surface lit in silver light.

What the fuck?

Felix pushed himself up onto shaky legs to find a place of dark gloominess. The pillar rose before him, rising out a floor made of the same black stone and lit by stars from above.

Seriously, what in the actual fuck? Did I pass out at night? But the floor wasn’t stone?

He stumbled back and found himself on a black stone platform rising out of an endless sea of fog. Perfectly round, the platform was a perfect circle with the obelisk rising seamlessly out of its center.

...Is this the afterlife? Then why would that pillar be here? Wait…

The words etched into its surface were different from the one near the dog shrine. They weren’t even the same language. His head began to hurt as he studied them.

Great, just great. Probably some secret technique or something. Another thing that should be my good fortune but is useless to me. Well, that’s not helpful. Wait, I should have been flung back toward the pillar if the physics of this world didn’t do something stupid… Did I come through here? Like a portal thing.

He poked its mirror-like surface.

Nope, hard as it looks.

Turning away from the pillar, he walked up to the edge of the stone island and stared out. The roiling fog spun and twisted despite the lack of wind. A few strands even flowed over onto the island before fading away. Those that made it to his feet would stay a little longer, coiling almost playfully up his legs before disappearing. He lifted one of his legs and had to shake it thoroughly to dislodge one such strand.

Unnatural. There is probably something special going on with this fog. Why is the lighting so bad?

He craned his head to look up. Stars twinkled far above, and Felix frowned at their low number.

There must only be a few hundred up there… and they barely have any brightness. This fog seems particularly good at reflecting light. I bet without that I wouldn’t be able to see that far out into this fog sea. Am I outside then? Maybe I am actually trapped underground in some massive chamber. Fake stars and all that, especially since I don’t see a moon. Yet the fog stretches on for as far as I can see… can a cavern really be this big?

A crick in his neck forced him to look back down. He surveyed the surroundings and did a double-take. About a hundred meters out, something broke the monotony. A looming shadow that had a distinct square shape. It was a few stories high and dwarfed even the pillar.

Okay… so there is something else. God this is all creepy as hell.

Felix tried to study the shadow.

Can barely even make out its outline. Do I investigate? I mean it hasn’t moved so it probably isn’t something alive. No, enough of this. I just want to go back to the sect and cultivate until I am immortal. No more of this gaining experience and learning about the world. Get a big enough stick and solve my problems like a normal cultivator.

Felix walked around the perimeter of the island and even went back to study the obelisk a few times. The stone and obelisk were truly one solid piece and he could find no crack in the stone. It was just him, the island, the sea of fog, and the looming shadow. He treated the worst of his wounds and finally went back to the edge of the platform closest to the looming shadow.

Well… maybe I should check it out? I need to rest but I shouldn’t lose my awareness of my surroundings near an unknown. Since that is the only real unknown nearby, I can probably sleep once I am sure it is safe. Assuming that Grunk bastard can’t follow me.

He pulled out one of the manuals he had in his storage pouch, poking the fog at the island’s edge. The fog was so thick that the book disappeared once it was a finger length deep. After a few more tests, Felix tried the very tip of his finger and felt nothing.

Okay… maybe it is just normal fog.

Taking the book back in hand, he reached out as far as he could and felt contact when he was up to his shoulder.

No way… there can’t be ground just below the fog.

He spun around and slowly used his foot to feel out below the fog. A smile spread across his face as he found flat stone below. After a few more tests, he took a tentative step away toward the large shadow.

Got to be careful… what if there are giant holes, I wouldn’t even have time to save myself.

With painstaking care he moved forward, testing each new step. The fog reached well above his knees and tendrils snaked up his body before fading. Even a few meters out, the ground below the fog remained level.

“How ssstrange.” drawled a voice.

Felix’s head snapped to the left and searched for the source of the voice. All he saw was the endless fog.

“Quite right brother, quite right.” said another voice.

Felix’s head whipped to the right but again found nothing.

That sounded like the same person… is someone messing with me? A high end cultivator running around and concealing himself?

He took a step backward towards the island, head frantically turning back and forth.

“Oh, he’ss scared, sshame on us for frightening a mortal.” said a voice from a third direction.

“Think for a moment, he is clearly a cultivator.”

“Regardlessss, how did he get in… Oh, now that is sstrange.”

More and more of the voices started talking, eventually overlapping over one another.

Where are they? Where are they!?

Felix tried to summon a Ragnarök strike, desperately pulling at his depleted dantian. Finding not enough, he tried to gather more qi from the surroundings and a torrent responded. Closing himself off, the small bit he had gathered went haywire and he felt pain in his pathway. His shaking legs nearly gave out as he coughed up a bit of blood, the specks disappearing into the mist. The voices paused for a moment as he continued to cough.

“Failing at such a ssimple technique. Pathetic.” said a voice.

Felix felt a breath on his ears as a musty scent filled his nose.

He spun and saw a serpentine head larger than his own mere centimeters away. With a scream, he punched the head and winced as it didn’t even move. Before he could even think, he brought both hands back up and grabbed the serpent’s head. He used [Crushing Fruit].

The golden slitted orbs stare back at him between his fingers unflinching. Then the snakelike creature opened its mouth.

“Impudent!” said the serpent.

The mouth moving broke Felix’s grip and he fell back on his ass, the fog now up to his shoulders. He stared at the snake mouth that morphed into an open grin, revealing rows of serrated teeth.

Holy shit, holy shit! It looks awesome but holy shit.

Its face was more angular than a snake, covered with red scales that seemed to glow with an inner fire. A gold pattern was threaded through the scales and gave it a regal bearing.

“You know, you might be the weakesst being to ever strike me and live.” Said the snake, tongue, and lips squirming to pronounce the words. “I can at least respect the will to survive, no matter how misguided it is.”

“What are you? How can you pronounce human words with that mouth?” said Felix.

The serpent blinked.

“That is what you focus on? Oh yes, shock… more mortal failings.”

“I am not in shock!” said Felix. Wait he can talk… he is at least at the core rank! Thought Felix and bowed. “Senior, could you please take pity on this junior?”

“Stop playing with the boy.” Said the same voice but from the large square shadow.

“We clearly have lost my ssense of humor after being alone for so long,” said the red serpent. The snake eyes flicked between the shadow and Felix. “Oh, he can’t see. Let there be light.”

As the words were spoken, time seemed to freeze. Then the stars above flickered before they blazed to life.

Under the powerful light, the looming square shadow turned into a pitch-black obsidian throne. Unadorned, it towered four stories high. The lack of decoration was more than made up for by the man sitting on it. Felix barely noticed the other colored serpents revealed by the light, his eyes for the man alone.

Oh my god, it’s a giant. But why is he so hot!? Is this even possible? I mean Elder Jackie was jacked but this is like an artist went to work. With only that vest on, it’s just emphasizing it. That doesn’t even address his face. Maybe I need to reevaluate my interests. I mean…

Felix’s eyes went lower, and he took a step back.

“Why aren’t you wearing any clothes?” said Felix.

That thing is bigger than my arm.

The man watched him through slitted eyes before pushing himself up from his seat. Then he strode over and seemed to shrink as he got closer until he was only a meter taller than Felix.

Get some clothes on man. Stop bringing that thing closer to me.

“Mortal, sit, meditate. Take your time.” said the man.

Felix blinked and found himself sitting down. The words echoed in his mind like commands of the highest order.

No! I am my own master.

The man’s eyebrows raised as Felix struggled to keep his eyes open.

“I am helping you.” Said the man. “So do it. Now mortal!”

This time he could not deny the words and his eyes closed. Felix found his awareness sinking inward. A refreshing feeling radiated through his body, and he became aware of every minute change. A guiding hand seemed to reveal what he should do and he opened himself up to the qi in the surroundings.

There’s too much!

Everywhere there was qi. The air was so dense with it that even a small bit seemed like it would destroy him.

That’s more than I can even hold. Does even a nascent soul have that much?

Despite his panic, the qi came in anyway. It entered him not in a torrent, but orderly people in a parade. The Qi rushed into his body then, and all the aches and pains began to fade.

Slowly he lost hold of that incredible feeling and came back to awareness.

Damn, not only do I feel amazing, but my cultivation seems to have increased… I think I broke through to the peak of essence gatherings! This is awesome.

He opened his eyes and saw the man’s penis dangling in front of me.

“Now, do you feel better?” said the man.

“Yes,” said Felix, scooting back. “Um, can you put on some clothes? Please?”

The man stared down at him in confusion. Then a chorus of guffaws came from the surroundings. Felix looked over to see three of the serpents, one brown, one blue, and one green coiling through the air as they shook from laughter. The man stared at him and frowned.

“Why shouldn’t I be naked? You are the one who barged into my house. To me, it seems you are a pervert. Are you saying that one shouldn’t be allowed to be naked in their own domain? Then what’s the point of power?”

“Could you still cover up anyways?” Said Felix, pointedly staring away into the distance. “So I can face you? Please senior?”

“Fine…” said the giant. Felix looked back to see that the man was already clothed. “But my patience grows thin.”

“Oh, thank you.” Said Felix and turned back.

The man seemed to stand as a testament to perfection. Silver hair cascaded down his back and flashed a rainbow of colors under the starlight.

How can he be this handsome! Wait, does he have a scaled tail? I caught sight of something.

“Get over it mortal. Don’t blame your attraction on anything but seeing something greater. You would feel such things when facing most beings around my power, regardless of who they are. With some experience, it should fade.”

Felix felt himself blush. Come on, you can face Elder Zhenzhen. This is just somehow worse.

“um, so what’s going on?” said Felix, forcing himself to look into the man’s eyes.

“There is a more important question we need to answer mortal. Why shouldn’t I destroy you?”

“Because, because!... Because the real question isn’t why you shouldn’t destroy me, but what I can do for you.”

“What could a mortal do for me?”

“Well, I- I am sorry, how powerful are you?”

“I could rip this planet apart.”

…Alright, panicking. I’m panicking!

“Well then… Is there anything you can think of that I can do to make up for my mistake?”

“While you did enter this secret realm and disturb my slumber, you also showed me a flaw in my array,” said the man. “I suppose you already did something for me in a way.”

“How?” said Felix slowly. Then wilted under a glare. “If you don’t mind me asking great one?”

“Simple, the array was designed to only allow those whose soul was keyed in to pass through. When it was made though, it didn’t account for an individual with such a messed-up soul. I didn’t even know it was possible for one to be this bad.” Said the man.

He knows!

“I’m not sure I know what you are talking about. Is there something wrong with my soul,” said Felix

“Do not lie or attempt to deceive me!” said the man.

In Felix’s eyes, the man grew larger than when he was sitting on the throne. Behind his back the serpents rose, their connection to his back now obvious, and the combined silhouette seemed to fill up the sky.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Said Felix, twisting to his knees and performing a small bow.

The man was suddenly the same height as he was before, the serpents once more slithering through the mist.

“I shall forgive your impudence for now mortal. Do not continue to test me.”

“Thank you… so what can you tell me about this soul issue?”

“One such as I only need to glance at you to see you are a wretched creature. Despite this, your state was so absurd that I had assumed I was wrong. Quite frankly you are revolting. An anomaly that shouldn’t exist. One that most would destroy out of mercy.”

“How dare you… How dare you!” said Felix. He got up and point his finger at the giant man’s chest. “I deserve to live just as much as anyone else! You are just like that system! No one can decide that for me.”

“Fantastic. Inspiring.” Said the man. Eyes cold and lips were upturned in ridicule. “Then do you want to know why you are something to be pitied and put down?”

“No,” said Felix. “I’d rather not... great one.”

“Really?” said the blue serpent, slithering into view to watch Felix from beside the man. “Ignorance may be comforting but it is the solace of the weak.”

“Why would I want to know when you plan to kill me out of some misguided reasoning of mercy?” said Felix.

The man and blue serpent rolled their eyes in concert.

“Do you really think giving mercy to a worthless mortal is worth my time?” Said the man. “Please.”

“Well then. I suppose I would like to hear it. If it really is real.” Said Felix.

“Do not doubt my word, mortal! If you continue to test me, I will subject you to a fate worse than your current one. I will show you what your fate is. Do you know what occurs when one reaches nascent soul?”

“I mean, I’ve seen one and heard a few things about it. The first dramatic transformation that occurs to the soul on the road of cultivation.” Said Felix. “It is in the name.”

“Correct in the most superficial of ways. It is the first true step on the road to immortality. Everything before that is laying the foundation for this moment. A mortal soul is trapped. Its nature and condition ensures its safety from all but the vilest of beings, safe to reincarnate for eternity. An immortal in a way. Especially if they never cultivate. Yet to cultivate to become immortal, one must cultivate the soul. So, they must shed this cage. Does this make sense?”

“I guess? I have heard a more vague but similar explanation from an elder of mine,” said Felix. “Wait, does that mean souls can be destroyed?”

“Yes.” Said the man.

“Okay, terrifying. That’s really and truly terrifying. So, what does that mean to me?”

“Well, little soul abomination,” said the man and he smiled. Felix flinched as he saw he had the same teeth as the serpents. “A soul is the fundamental aspect of being. All else is extraneous attachments. Even thought and love turns hollow without it. One of the costs of it is that one’s soul, at its most foundational level, must be pure. Distinct. Individual.”

“Then… how could I have reached my current state?” Said Felix.

“With great effort, it has been shown that these persons CAN be mashed together, though the results are normally poor creatures of agony that only deserve our pity.” Said the man.

“Then why aren’t I in pain?” Said Felix. More serpents had come over during the speech and were smiling down at him as well. Felix couldn’t help but wilt under the perfect whiteness of their jagged teeth. “Since I am an abomination.”

“That’s what is so curious. Rare, rare beings can combine with one another to be something more and only by a confluence of fate. Even then, they must utilize principles of reality to stabilize their state. This is also why there is no hive mind like beings of hundreds or more. Their existence fights itself with every bit of cultivation it gains. You on the other hand are the combined product of many people’s souls. Yet for how badly it is all mashed together, there is an equilibrium there. In this equilibrium, your soul has remained ‘trapped’ like most mortals and you can’t feel the horror of what you are.”

“Then… there isn’t a problem?”

“Oh, but there is, mortal. When one cultivates, the soul of an individual grows as well. If you are lucky, you will be fine until you become a nascent soul. Then terrible things will happen.”

“But, but I’ve been cultivating a soul manual to fix it!” said Felix. He frantically searched his bag and pulled out [Dew of the Last Gasp]. “See? I have this manual.”

A few of the serpents looked at the manual in disgust and the man snorted out a laugh.

“I could tell you had cultivated a soul technique and what it entailed without the manual mortal. That thing will only hasten your demise.” said the man.

“But it will nurture the soul!” said Felix, his breath coming faster and faster. “That is its entire purpose!”

“Ha, but if a bone is a shattered wreck and misshapen, then forced to heal, what will happen?” said the man.

“Shouldn’t the soul correct itself as the body can? Or if it is like a bone, can I ‘break it’ so it heals correctly?” said Felix.

“Oh, that won’t work for you. Not when there are multiple souls all with their own ‘correct way to heal themselves. You did say you have seen someone’s nascent soul before?”

“I, I have. My elder showed me hers hoping to help me.” Said Felix.

“Oh, how intimate. Then you have an idea of what it should look like. Their appearance represents the health of your soul. What they look like may vary but their health is self evident even to a casual observer. A kindness to the ignorant and unintelligent. For one such as you, upon reaching nascent soul, the sickness would be plain for all to see. I did say I would show you.”

Felix found his head encased in the man’s massive hand. Then the man let go and opened his hand in front of Felix.

“I can only imitate it, but you won’t be able to spot the difference.” Said the man. “Now pay attention. This is what your nascent soul would look like Felix.”

A grey glow came from the palm of the man’s hand. A feeling that reminded Felix of when Zhenzhen’s nascent soul first emerged washed over him.

This… feels wrong. I feel sick.

The face and hand of an emaciated baby hand emerged from the Giant’s palm. It was twisted in pain but its eyes were closed. The baby hand’s only three fingers clawed ineffectually at the air.

“The construct doesn’t even have the power to emerge.” Said the man. “This feels so disgusting to emulate. Get out of there.”

With a pop, the rest of the nascent soul projection popped out.

No… no no no.

It was not a healthy baby. The hand with the missing fingers was attached to a face with no eyes, sticking out of a mouth with no tongue and next to the emaciated face that first came out. From there, it only grew worse. There was little order to how the body parts were arranged. More faces were scattered over the being, each with distinct facial features, their order seemingly random. Blue glowing stitches marked the boundary between one part and the next like a Frankensteinian work of art.

That’s… my face?

Near the bottom was a baby that had similar eyes to his own. They were half opened and seemed barely aware of the situation. All the other eyes were closed except for one bloodshot eye that searched the surroundings frantically and another half-lidded face that gave Felix a familiar feeling.

“…Can you put it away?” said Felix.

“Do not hide away from what you are. Face it.”

“To what end?!” said Felix. “Why show me this? Is this some sick game to you? What else can I get out of this?”

“Silence, it isn’t awake yet. The lesson you need to learn is what happens when you reach nascent soul, and your soul is no longer ‘trapped’. It’s this.

Then all the eyes on the illusion snapped open. They stared into space and on the more complete faces, a light confusion could be seen. Then the mouths opened as well and the screaming began. The eyes all began searching frantically as the bloodshot one. Muscles began to contract and twitch. The poorly designed transition between one stitched portion and another started to tear. Felix could hear it. He could feel it.

“And that is what is going to happen when you become a nascent soul.” said one of the serpents in Felix’s ear, so close he could once more feel the wind tickle his skin. He didn’t even react and just watched the poor thing writhe before him. “You would become a being of agony and pain. Eventually, your soul, and I am being generous with the term here, will tear itself apart.”

“Why?” said Felix.

“I would have assumed that to be self-evident by the demonstration and my explanation. I am showing you what is your future. Has it started affecting your mind already?”

“I mean why show this to me? Do you take pleasure in showing this to me?”

“In a way.” Said the man. “I do not make a habit of playing with mortals, but I can see the attraction… No, not in this though. I just can’t stand ignorant bravery.”

I will not give up.

“Then thank you for telling me.” Said Felix. He went to his knees and kowtowed. “Then great one. I implore you to help me. To give me the tools to fight this fate.”

“You know what makes this extra funny?” said the man. “There was a chance that this problem would have worked itself out. Infinitesimal but there”

“Wait! Really?” said Felix, “Please enlighten this supplicant.”

“Well, there was a minute chance the portion of your soul most responsible for the current you would have excised the rest. You would be crippled but… rising from failure is the eternal task of cultivation. Perhaps you would have overcome your weakness with fortune. I doubt it, not in this low world but I have been impressed before.”

“Great one, is this still the case?” Said Felix. “I- I am unsure if shedding parts of myself is the right decision but if it is the only way to fix this then I will do it.”

“No, pfft. Sorry, this is the reason I wasn’t sure if I found you pitiful or not. I mean, you drank the poison to cure your disease.”

“…the soul cultivation method,” said Felix.

“Exactly.” said the man.

I am going to murder Elder Zhenzhen. I am going to find her, and do horrible things to her.

“So, I was going to be fine.” Said Felix, trying to keep the rage from his face. “And then I shot myself in the foot.”

“Oh no, you were screwed. I just said it was possible. I mean, I wouldn’t have bet on it but it was possible I suppose. To make matters worse, you drank spiritual wine which acts as a stimulant to the soul through the Dao of Alcohol. Honestly, it is even likely you will die before reaching Nascent Soul.”

“Okay… okay. So, what did the soul method do then?” said Felix.

“It nurtured all your soul. Even those parts that are far from making a full portion. Now, none of it will shed off by itself. Think of it like a plant that naturally sheds limbs that die. Now however, those branches that will only harm the rest are still alive, and will not fall off but continue to cause issues.”

“Would dying heal it? You said that mortals have immortality of their own, right? I should just allow myself in my next life a chance at immortality. If I am doomed to fail, then I might as well help my future self and work to aid those I care about in this life.”

“I am afraid that is not an abomination. Your soul will not survive the reincarnation process nor will its components be used to create the former individuals. That flower has long wilted.”

“Then what should I do?” said Felix.

“You could die? End it?”

“No.”

“It would be a mercy. I can even help. It will be more peaceful than passing in your sleep.

“No.”

“That's it? Just ‘no’?”

“I do not have the wherewithal to reason with you right now. I can barely control my emotions. However, to that idea, no is my only answer. I will not give up and I will overcome this. Will you help me?” said Felix.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t need you to achieve my goals and I don’t really care about your fate. Now good luck with your horrible fate. As a gift, I’ll send you away from your problem outside.”

Felix signed and bowed.

Fuck you too.

“Then I thank you for all your help. May I know your name, great one,” said Felix.

“Of course," said the man, once more seeming to fill the sky. "I am Tai Wei, the Hydra God.”