《Shared System》8. If being heartless is what it takes to be an immortal, I don't wish to be an immortal at all.
Advertisement
"Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Zheng Jie: Despicable devil. You live. For now."
"Fairy Yijun: ??? What is this guy suddenly on about?"
However, no matter how much Yan Yu prods into the Sect Master, there was only complete silence from Zheng Jie. As someone who was victim of one of the Heaven Path cultivator before, he knows how could it be that easy. The stronger the cultivator, the greater their will. When they have extend their great will on anything, they either achieve it, or fail and leave a mark on their cultivation forever.
This Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, there is no way he is any lesser than a Sky River cultivator. And that means his will is tremendous. How could he let evil goes out of his sight?
And yet, no matter how much he tries to get a rise out of him, there was only silence.
For now, Yan Yu could have tried and prods into this Fairy Yijun on the screen, however after interacting with her, he found it is not worth it. From the start it is clear that she is nothing more than a frog inside a well, it is not worth it. Yan Yu has found her not amusing.
Zheng Jie on the other hand...
Right now he has one big reason to continue and associate himself with the guy.
"System Notice: Mission: Escape from the Hell dimension
Hints: Defeat the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Zheng Jie.
Hints: Try and survive as long as possible."
What does this mean? Yan Yu wants to find out. Being imprisoned within the Hell dimension was the greatest grudge in his entire life. However, now that he thinks about it, he does not remember why the resentment and hatred was engraved within his soul. The cause is forgotten, however something tell him...
'You ...must not forget.'
'You ...must not forget-'
How could he sit still when this system is telling him his entire life goal is within his grasp? However, how could he fight this Zheng Jie when he is still stuck in the Hell dimension? This is a paradoxical clause. But the System did not give anymore hint, it was as silent as ever.
Through out my entire life I was a painter. When I was young, I saw an exquisite artist performed his art on the street. Not many even gave him a glance, but I was fascinated with the craftsmanship. It was like he puts his entire life upon the painting. Not many appreciate true art. And that is why what I wanted when I grew up was to be a honest artist.
However, no matter how many paintings I had drawn, it does not satisfy me. Even though I became a renowned artist, my fame resonate within the entire continent, I could not complete "that" painting. The painting that is the culmination of my entire life. The painting that will satisfy me.
And so I left the fame and fortune behind. Instead of the city, it was only mountain and rivers that stretch as far as the eyes can see. The goodwill of people runs out, no matter how famous one is, being too eccentric to not even draw a painting for 30 years is too much. I became poor, no people know about me.
Advertisement
Even so, everyday I try to finish my last painting.
On the paper, a woman not of this world was gradually formed. It was not based on any woman I have met, not of any beauty. How could human match the standard of beauty that I wanted? It was a beauty that was completely borned from my mind. The shape of her lip... the teary eyes... her jade like skin...
No matter how long I try, I could not complete the painting. It took me 20 years to finish the eyes that I was satisfied with.
I'm in my 80. The food inside the house has run out. I took the painting into the market, trying to dazzle people with my drawing skill for money. However, not even one person give me a glance. The beauty of my painting did not matter to the people who can only care about what they are going to eat tomorrow. A child runs over and gives the poor old man 5 coins. He does not have more to give, that was his allowance for candies.
I remember myself when I was young and realize I have wasted 70 years of my life on an unfinished painting.
Today suddenly a young man arrives at my house. Every step of his was filled with grace and elegance. He was like a character straight out of a painting, like the standard of beauty I have strived for my entire life.
I asked why the young man has come to my lonely house. He pointed toward the painting, my heart skips a beat.
"Is young master interested in this lowly painting? This is just any drawing you can find on the market, and it is not finished yet."
However, the young man's face was stilt as he looks at me.
"Of course it is not finished. Creating a life is difficult, even for a cultivator on the highest realm."
Cultivators?! Immortal?
Shakily, I ask him
"What business does immortal have with me?"
"Not you, but this painting." He murmurs. A cold chilly wind was blowing at that moment.
"It was your obsession that created this soul, this life. From the teardrop eyes, to the shape of her lips. It was your inability to let go that have strayed this soul into the wrong path of Devil cultivation."
I did not know what he was saying at that moment, the visage of the young man was too bright for mortal eyes.
"Desire, love, obsession, the more you fall, the more miserable you become. Even for this painting, it has good intention for the artist who created it. However, the more you continue on this path, the more miserable you will become, and even moreso for it, the moment you pass from this world, leaving it alone, the more it strays down the path of the Devil, the more miserable it will become in its remembrance and its love, becoming a great evil in the future."
The immortal raises his sword, I could not move, even as my beloved painting was about to be torn to shred by cold blade. However, at that moment, the immortal stops.
Advertisement
"Do you want to finish the painting?"
He asks me.
With the cheap brush made from duck feathers, and the ink made from soot and glue, not at all suitable for painting, I try one last time. However, even with such instruments, the painting still manage to progress. I have made more progress than I ever could in the last 10 years. Her flowing hair, her red dress... The red that is just like a bride's wedding dress. I use my blood for the red, and the ink for the black. A red dot in the middle of her forehead...
Just like that in no time, the painting was almost finished. Just one final touch...
However, I could not finish it. I try to stall for time so that the immortal wouldn't destroy the painting. However he took my hand, moving it to the paper.
"Finish it."
I shakily finish the beauty mark. At that moment, the painting was finished. A picture of a beautiful bride on her wedding day.
"No matter how good your intentions are, Devil Path cultivator has bad karma. The desire, obsession... It will not just hurt you, but the people around you."
The immortal finishes. At that moment, a woman steps out from the painting and bows down to him, her eyes was teary but on her lip, there was a smile. She bows respectfully and turns toward me. In her eyes, there was tears, but she was smiling at me.
She was my entire life's work. She was my dream.
A woman in her wedding dress.
She brought up her hand, suddenly surrounding us was decoration like a wedding. The immortal was just watching us, unmoving.
The children in the neighborhood hearing the commotion, suddenly run around and shout
"Old man Chun is getting married."
"And the bride is a beauty."
"An 80 years old man marrying a beauty!"
I shakily bow and let the ceremony proceed. In my eyes, there was tears.
At the end of the ceremony, the immortal raises his sword and cut down the bride. On her face, there was only gratefulness as she looks at me. The immortal also turns to look at me at moment.
"Have the burden on your heart been lifted?"
He was right. I have finished my painting, however immediately after there was only a great sorrow.
"The burden on my heart has been lifted, however how could I be happy now." I told him.
"It is to be expected." He told me. "Meeting and parting are part of every human's karma. However, after you finish her painting, she was a complete soul, an actual living breathing being and not just a painting. It was a miracle even I cannot complete, be proud of that. Because you complete her painting, her complete soul could now enter the after life and enter the cycle of reincarnation instead of just dissipating into nothingness."
I listen to his heart, and it seems another burden has been lifted. Entering the cycle of reincarnation, could I see her again?
However at that moment there was still a lot of sorrow.
The immortal looks at me.
"You still continue to cling onto karma. But that is fine, that is human's nature. Live good now."
A cold wind blows, and the figure was not there anymore. I laugh, I cry, however, at that moment I feel my burdens have truly been lifted, but it leaves behind a lot of sorrow.
I remember the immortal in my memory. If being heartless is what it takes to be an immortal, than perhaps in this life and the next, I don't wish to be an immortal at all.
The phenomenons continue throughout the 3000 worlds, and on that day, a legend was born. It was a legend about a young man who appears with the cold wave, holding a sword to slay all devils.
Yan Yu was right about one thing, his karma with the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect is not quite done, however he was also wrong about one thing. Zheng Jie's great will was not about slaying just Yan Yu, the sect master was a mad man whose Great Will is to destroy all Devils. The thought was that, only after he has become one with the Heaven Dao could it be completed, however at his stage, it was only one step from ascension. Zheng Jie was always going to do this before his final ascension no matter how much it will cost him, however what Yan Yu gave him was an excuse.
The moment his Divine Sense cover the heaven and earth, he saw all devil cultivators on heaven and earth, even though that did not include the Devil cultivators trapped within the Hell dimension. How could Zheng Jie left them alone?
"Zheng Jie is heartless." The Heavenly Queen who was hosting the Royal Banquet with her husband suddenly says while gritting her teeth, causing the party goers to exclaims in surprise.
"There are really no cure for him anymore." She says. "Even going that far."
At that moment, there was a knock on the door of the Heavenly Palace.
At that moment Yan Yu jumps up in surprise at the flashing red screen that suddenly appears in front of him.
"System Notice: Mission: Escape from the Hell dimension
Hints: Defeat the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Zheng Jie.
Hints: Try and survive as long as possible.
Stop the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Zheng Jie."
Advertisement
- In Serial102 Chapters
Congratulations, You're Dead!
*Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding* *Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding* *Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding* "Uh, whatcha doing there System-chan?" *Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding* "You know they can't understand you right?" *Ding* "No need to get rude. Fine, I'll leave you alone to do the synopis." *Ding**Ding* *Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding* *Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding* *Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding**Ding* *Ding*. "Well, you heard the lady, go read it."
8 191 - In Serial69 Chapters
To Build An Empire
***Will soon be published on Amazon through [email protected]***Falling prey to the machinations of his younger brother, Jonas IV Helen Hadin III was quickly disowned by his father, Duke Hadin, then shipped away into exile in less than a week to a colony of the Motherland. Worse, it was in the Orcish Continent. Now, war is on the horizon with the orcish tribes and clans. Jonas hopes to prepare a stalwart defense to survive with those he cares about and he would if he didn't have to face a million other issues. From crazy pirates, power-hungry mercenaries, entitled nobles, famine, ancient cities filled with unspeakable horrors and much much more. How he is supposed to deal with this all...? Well, we will find out together. Oh, did we mention he has been having weird nightmares about an America and a Corporate life? *** Discord ! Join for updates and announcements! Patreon ! Help your favorite author!
8 154 - In Serial315 Chapters
Dauntless: Origins
Snow white hair, blue eyes, pale. Devil, monster, mutt, failure.This story follows one Tyr Faeron, crown prince, heir primus and mass murderer. A wrathful, angry, and lost young man that has made it his goal to hunt down the men that killed his mother - and he is on the cusp of finishing the promise he'd made before her cairn stones so many years ago. On the surface he is duplicitous, whimsical, and base of cunning - but within the depths beyond the many masks he wears, something is waiting. Waiting for an end, the end he'd come to long for, whether it be to himself or any possible threats in his vicinity. After that long labor of vengeance is completed... Nobody knows, not even him - an arrogant and otherwise solitary individual with nothing in the way of friends - only the brothers of the blackguard who follow him through life as he pursues this mission. He was born a prince, but he'd be called a disappointment - failing to manifest the great power that he was born to before being summarily discarded by his father, a 250 year old 'primus'. That word again... Men who can shatter mountains and level cities, that's what he was supposed to be. Some call them demi-gods, all Tyr sees is a poor excuse for a parent. Time had made him bitter, cruel, and arguably psychotic - seeing only enemies wherever he looks. They'd come for him, too, one day - to wipe the slate clean and make room for another - and it's his conviction to ensure that he dies while taking as many of those rats with him. This is a story about finding acceptance, growth, and understanding - from the point of view of a cold and brutal individual who wears many masks. Of someone who was born to be the greatest emperor the eastern continent has ever seen - but he failed in that. Strong, yes, but only in the context of a man - Tyr's magic is weak. His convictions are weak. He has been made a beast of instinct by loss and a constant confronting of his own impotency in the face of his father. A mythos that stretches across planes, of magic, a pantheon of cruel gods. Of someone who's dedicated his entire mind to the art of killing a man, and none to living a normal childhood or coming to understand friendship, empathy, or compassion. The first five years of his life a mystery, a hole none have ever been willing to fill, leaving him warped and twisted. His formative years gone and what must've been most of his humanity along with it. Now 17, he is on the cusp of leaving the city he'd never been permitted to leave for what might be the first time in his life. Always searching, though he won't know what for, for some time. An episodic that follows experience and symbolism rather than a never ending series of battles - where the conflict lay in constantly searching for wholeness in lieu of great villains or heroes. This is where it all started, the origin, the tale told a million times - and yet it hadn't been, 'reality' is tricky like that. The greatest lie ever told by the tongue that speaks is that any of this was real at all.
8 248 - In Serial32 Chapters
Hand of the Goddess
If you had the choice to escape your life, would you? That was what Nicole was offered one night when a mysterious woman named Lillian appears in her room. Lillian gives her a deal: kill a demon and she would cure her cat's cancer and make her life better in return. Seduced by Lillian's beauty and wanting to save her cat, she accepts the agreement. But little did she know that entering a parallel dimension to kill a demon would lead her to meet the mysterious Lord Phillips. As she begins to develop feelings for the stern lord, she begins to wonder if she ever wants to leave the dimension. The clock is ticking and there's demon blood to spill. Can she put her personal desires aside and complete her task?
8 233 - In Serial33 Chapters
Tale of the mage hero [Completed]
so I've been into rising of the shield hero for a while now... a lot of things about it ALWAYS bugged me starting with the fact that the world functions like a game and the heroes are supposed to fight together in a party.... BUT WHERE'S THE ARCHMAGE?! THE BLATANT DISRESPECT TO THE MAGE CLASS IS REAL AND ANGERING! so I decided as a gamer who rather enjoys being a mage and healer, I'd rectify that. and other things. for all intents and purposes this is a self insert but I will be using my proxy OC that I use in my nutty fangirl daydreams. DON'T WORRY! I'M NERFING MY PROXY! this will follow the plot of the anime because..... I want to. and I'm..... LAZY~! and using the manga is too much trouble and the light novel is 800+ chapters long. So FUCK THAT! anyways if you read this and think it's lackluster then I want to see you try your hand at writing tate no yuusha fics! no that's not a challenge or insult it's just a desperate plea for more tate fics... we need some more variety! Alright I'm gonna be honest here. This story is laughably bad. So read at your own risk. The only reason I'm not revising it is because 1 I'm Lazy as fuck and 2 to serve as a lesson on what NOT to do for new writers. So like I said, read at your own risk.
8 134 - In Serial44 Chapters
Abducted by an Alien
Gavin Smith is 22 years old and a senior in college studying accounting. He is shy and doesn't have many friends. He is bisexual, but has never really been in a serious relationship. He lives a pretty boring life, but that is soon about to change. Anders Blithe is a 28 year old alien from the planet Zion. He is a prince and the next heir to the throne of Zoro. He is gay and has had many boyfriends, but none of them were ever the one. Therefore he is forced to venture out into the universe to find his soul mate before he turns 30. His first stop is the little blue planet known as Earth.
8 199