4逆天者之悲曲
Chapter Four - Punishment
At this point of time, Wu Ya was kneeling to the right of Han. As one of the hundred odd men, he had successfully ascended Mount KunLun to try for immortality. Han, was still a stranger to him, and this was the first time he had met this legendary pugilist.
This man, Han of the North, second to none for his swordsmanship was a pugilist master who had recently arisen in the past year. And he was only sixteen years of age.
Of all the hundred men gathered in the hall today, Han was the youngest. Most of the hundred odd were middle-aged while a selected few were past seventy years of age. But to have ascended to the top of the pugilistic realm, Jiang Hu, all of them knew that one's age … is not a gauge for one's abilities.
You can be old, but unwise, immature … and incompetent in martial arts.
On the other hand, one can be absolutely young, underage, but supreme in one's arena of combat. Han was the perfect example for this.
Within a year, Han had arisen from non-existence in the pugilist world to one of the most feared blades-wielder of his time. Even for Wu Ya, that is, Wu Ya of the West, famous for his way of the Dao ( a Chinese weapon with similar looks to that of the scimitar ), he wasn't sure if he could pit himself against Han.
Just by the first looks of Han, Wu Ya could spot no loopholes in his defense. That's right. Even when kneeling, Wu Ya could tell that Han's every muscle was tensed – ready to spring up into combat at any moment.
"My dear friends," the old man, whom Wu Ya referred to as Reverend, addressed the hundred odd men once more. "should we begin the test now? I shall repeat the rules once more."
With a swift wave of the Reverend's arm, a jade pendant appeared before each of the men's chest. Each jade pendant was glowing a bright but soft blue.
"This test, is a test of one's Jing, Shen and Qi. You are to keep awake for as long as possible. To pass this test, keep awake for a month – that is, thirty one days without sleep. You are free to do whatever pleases you or keeps you awake during this period. However, once you fall asleep, the jade pendant on your chest will stop glowing and shatter."
A month … Wu Ya wasn't sure if he could last without sleep for that long. Most pugilistic masters could easily combat the temptation of sleep via their mastery of Qi. They had sufficient Qi to keep themselves awake for at least two weeks before the Qi in their Dan Tian begins to dwindle in amounts.
Wu Ya was pretty sure that he could stay awake for twenty days, if he pressed on … But perhaps, that was his limit.
"Your time begins now." The Reverend announced.
On the seventeenth day, the first jade pendant shattered. The soft yet clear breaking of the jade pendant alarmed the men and reminded them of their task at hand once more.
On the eighteenth night, the light of seven jade pendants dimmed and dwindled away into the darkness of the hall.
And on the twentieth day, less than half of the initial hundred odd men remained.
Wu Ya was currently sitting cross-legged, in the Lotus position, desperately clinging onto his last bits of consciousness while hurriedly trying to cultivate Qi in order to fill in his already empty Dan Tian. His forehead was moist with perspiration.
Already, for half a dozen times, he had caught himself drifting off into sleep. The blue glow from his jade pendant had by now, dimmed to half its initial intensity. So did the jade pendants of forty other men in the hall.
The only exception was Han.
Never once did his jade pendant dimmed, and not a single bit of frustration plastered his intense face. His eyes were closed, yet all could tell that he was focused. In fact, his eyes were the only pair that was closed in the hall.
Closing one's eyes … meant that one was giving way to sleep.
Of course, that was not the case for Han. The sixteen year old blades-master sat cross-legged, calmly meditating away. There was an aura of superiority about the child – as if, he was on a totally different level, compared to the rest in the hall.
Wu Ya could not comprehend how Han had managed to avoid any struggle against the sleep demon. Sleep was akin to an incubus, seductive and tempting. Yet, Han …
On the twentieth day, the familiar shattering of the jade pendant was not heard. It was the first time, for several days, and this spurred the men in the hall further on.
This strange phenomenon carried on for four days, but on the twenty-fifth night, one jade pendant finally cracked. The man collapsed to the floor and awoke to his senses a mere few seconds thereafter. But it was too late.
He cursed … cried …. threw a tantrum in the midst of the hall. His route to immortality … his gateway to living the countless cycle of reincarnations … was shut off … in his face. But like the fifty other men who had left Mount Kunlun in the past twenty five days, he had finally gave in to his fate and left the hall solemnly.
That night, nineteen jade pendants shattered simultaneously.
And on the twenty-seventh night, only six men were left in the hall - Wu Ya and Han, being two of the six. Finally, Wu Ya had understood the reason why the Reverend had placed that much emphasis on the factor of luck. If Wu Ya was not wrong, the path of immortal cultivation was much tougher than this very challenge the hundred odd men faced today.
Regardless of how capable one is … the factor of luck, was the final key which determined one's success or failure. If one was unlucky, like the ninety odd men who have by now, descended Mount KunLun, one would have gave way to the temptation of sleep.
On the thirtieth night, only four men remained conscious. It was eleven and only one more hour to the thirty-first day. Wu Ya was drifting in and out of semi-consciousness by now, the jade pendant on his chest flickering a nervous blue. His pale face, was drained of blood, his lips blue, his breath shallow and his eyes were only half-open – almost drooping shut. About his eyes were dark black rings – results of his sleepless days. So were the other men in the hall. All, but Han.
In the past thirty days, an unseen, unspoken friendship was forged between the four men. A friendship, that surpassed age, backgrounds, character. Regardless of who the other was, they were friends. Perhaps … "brothers" … was a more proper word to use.
After all, they had toiled through this hardship together. Those who have successfully paved their way till this moment, were absolutely of the same caliber ( apart from Han, whom they thought a monster ). Yet, just a minute from midnight …
Another jade pendant broke apart.
Right thereafter, was a painful heart-shattering cry.
"Congratulations …" The Reverend sat once more on his throne in the hall. It was a week after the test had ended. "I trust that the two of you have had a pleasant rest."
Two. Apart from Wu Ya, there was another – a Tian Hao. After the test, the two immediately became close friends and hanged out together on the summit of Mount KunLun while waiting.
Waiting for Han. The teenager was still sitting cross-legged in the Lotus position in the middle of the Hall. He was in a trance of some sort, drifting in the midst of semi-consciousness ( this was what the Reverend had told the two ). After the test had ended, Wu Ya and Tian Hao had wanted to approach Han, but the Reverend had stopped both of them.
"As the two of you know," The Reverend continued addressing the two. "Han has not a single sleep for a month and a week, yet I expect this trend to continue for at least half a year."
The two of them swallowed dryly. Half a year more? A mortal can refrain from sleep for half a year? Wu Ya was pretty sure that this was a first in mankind's history.
Yet, as if reading Wu Ya's mind, the Reverend laughed lightly. "Your friend, Han, is no longer a mortal. In fact, the two of you aren't mortals either. The fact that you have endured a sleepless month is proof that you have crossed the thin border between the realm of mortal and our realm – the immortal's world."
"Once again, I congratulate the two of you for stepping into the first level of cultivation – Zhu Ji. This test, was meant as a task for you to unintentionally, without any will on your part, to convert your mortal Qi into that of the immortal's. Normally, one would require utter drainage of his Qi to begin the absorption of immortal Qi."
Wu Ya and Tian Hao frowned. Naturally, the two were confused. The Reverend noted this and smiled.
"Imagine that your Dan Tian is a bowl. Now, when the two of you first entered the hall and undertook my test, your bowl is filled to the brim with mortal Qi. To enter the realm of the immortal and attain the first level of cultivation – Zhu Ji, I would expect you to empty this bowl of mortal Qi and begin gathering the universal energies about you into your bowl to form immortal Qi."
"Expect?" Tian Hao repeated to himself.
"Yes, this way of attaining Zhu Ji is the easiest though challenging. The past month of sleepless days was to dispose of your mortal Qi and the emptying of your Dan Tian. If you fell asleep, the Dan Tian would immediately cease the disposure of your Qi. And then, there is the factor of luck. Here on Mount Kunlun, the heavenly energies are abundant. And the chance that you might incidentally gather heavenly energies into your Dan Tian is pretty high. But to do so, one must first empty his Dan Tian of any mortal Qi."
"Pretty high?" Wu Ya asked.
"A probability of one in a thousand." The Reverend replied coolly. "If one does not absorb even a strand of Heavenly energy by the twenty-fifth day, he would have reached the limit of the mortal's body, regardless of how strong he was. A mortal, regardless of how near perfect he is, is still, a mortal and hence, imperfect. A normal mortal would be able to not sleep for three days at most. The hundred mortals I have gathered in my hall, however, are the cream of their crop, and twenty five days would be their limit."
"But, Reverend, one in a thousand …"
"Do not call me Reverend anymore … I am now … your teacher. Address me as Shifu."
"Yes … yes … Shifu."
The Reverend nodded. He was pleased. "The three of you are now my disciples, the last three that I will accept into my wing – Tian Shi Zong ( 天使宗 ). Now, back to your question. Yes, one in a thousand is a rather high probability. If not on Mount KunLun, the chance of one absorbing heavenly energies on the earth is one in ten million. That is, for pugilistic masters of your caliber who are open and sensitive to the energies about them. For a mere mortal, the probability is one in a billion."
He was entertained. The awe on the faces of the two was interesting. He continued. "On the nineteenth day, Wu Ya, you were the second to take in your first immortal Qi. And you, Tian Hao, were the third to convert your first immortal Qi on the twenty-first day."
"Then … Han .. is …"
"Yes, he is the first. And on the first day … he has already attained the cultivation of Zhu Ji. I, myself, am amazed of this fact. What is more shocking, is that on the first night, your friend liquefied his first strand of immortal Qi. In short, he had attained the cultivation of Xuan Zhao by the first night."
Wu Ya could not believe what he was hearing. And so did Tian Hao. In their hearts, Han was no longer a monster … but a demon …
"Perhaps, that was insufficient for him. Heaven has decreed him to break through the barrier of Xuan Zhao and achieve the third level of cultivation – Kai Guang on the tenth day."
The jaw of Wu Ya was threw agape, that it almost touched the floor beneath him.
"What would have taken an immortal decades to achieve … he completed in ten days. Han is one of a kind … a talent blessed with unrivalled potential and more importantly – luck." Even the Reverend was cast breathless by this notion.
"Then till now … Han is …" Wu Ya prodded on.
The Reverend nodded. "He is still in the midst of cultivation. I trust that you will not disturb him. Luck … sheer luck … has allowed your friend to immerse himself in a trance of semi-consciousness, one that cannot be forcefully or willfully achieved. In this trance, Han will be in touch with his soul, the heaven and the earth."
Tian Hao frowned. "But Shifu, how are you so sure of it? He could possibly be in danger, or facing his Xin Mo ( inner demon ). In addition, he has not broke through the cultivation of Kai Guang yet … at his crazy rate, he should have had …"
The Reverend laughed. "Do not underestimate the difficulty of rising from one stage to the other. From Kai Guang to Rong He, requires the advancement of one's cultivation from the first stage of Zhu Ji Lian Ji to the second stage, Lian Jing Hua Qi. For mere immortals, this would demand centuries of cultivation."
It was half a year later.
For immortals, this "half of a year" was nothing to their enhanced lifespans. Time, in their eyes, was no longer of any importance. One must not hurry his cultivation, but see it to the utmost perfection one can make. After all, they had all the time they wanted to cultivate. But a single flaw in their cultivation could mean … death.
That was the challenge of cultivation. And this is where the key factor of luck is required. Regardless of how careful one is in his cultivation, a sheer moment of bad luck would cast him on his path to a slow and painful death.
Half a year has passed … yet Han still has not stirred from his trance of semi-consciousness.
The Reverend summoned Wu Ya and Tian Hao to his chambers and ordered them to carry Han out to an unsheltered field.
"Be careful." He cautioned.
"Yes, Shifu." The two replied respectfully and lifted Han above the ground into their arms. The teenager remained in his cross-legged position.
Out in the fields, dark clouds were congregating in the sky. Crackles of lightning sizzled across the sky and low booms of thunder could be heard in the vicinity.
A crowd of Tian He Zong disciples, at least two dozens, have by now, gathered about the perimeters of the field. Their faces were plastered with an extremely solemn expression.
Wu Ya looked curiously to his Shifu for an answer.
The Reverend was serious as well, and thought for a moment before explaining. "Wu Ya, Tian Hao, you are in luck. After a mere half a year of entering the realm of cultivation, you are now about to witness the universal phenomenon of Tian Jie ( 天劫 )."
"Tian … Tian Jie?"
The Reverend nodded. "If you have not heard of it, I shall explain to you now." He cleared his throat. "When the universe was created, the world was split into two realms – the mortal and the heavenly realm. There lived two races – man and the deities. The deities were assigned with the task of the babysitting of us mankind until – until we finally have the ability to look after ourselves."
"The deities descended to the mortal realm and had rid the earth of its havoc and chaos which were wrought evilly by the demons. They then issued various orders, which held the mortal realm in peace and prosperity, before they returned to the heavenly realms once more. And for centuries, there was peace, until the first immortal appeared among the ranks of mankind."
"He was curious. Curious about the world, about himself, about man and our part in this universe. More importantly, he was furious. Furious of the short lifespan that man had to be contented with. Of the pain, diseases and hardship that we have to toil through. And alas, he entered the path of cultivation, setting foot onto the way of the universe – that is, Tao."
"Xiu Zhen is a path that prepares mankind for their maturing. And Tian Jie is a phenomenon. Look it through this way – that the universe prepares Tian Jie as a set of tests. If you successfully pull through the four sets of Tian Jie, congratulations, you have passed the test and can now ascend to the ranks of heaven and rise to the guardian of mankind."
"Xiu Zhen Zhe, however, are regarded by the heavenly-born deities as Ni Tian Zhe ( he who opposes heaven ), for the immortals challenge their role in the universe. Think of it this way. If you are the universe and mankind has finally the capability to look after themselves … and the deities you have created are no longer of any use … what would you do?"
"I would dispose of the deities." Tian Hao blurted out.
"Not necessarily. But there is a possibility." The Reverend explained. "But as long as there is this possibility, what would you as deities do? You wouldn't allow that to happen. Your position as ruler of this universe is challenged … That is the reason why deities look down upon us immortals. For we immortals, in their eyes, do not deserve this power that we wield."
He sighed before continuing. "There are four sets of Tian Jie. The first occurs after one ascends from the first stage of cultivation, Zhu Ji Liang Ji, to the second. The second set occurs after one ascends from Lian Jing Hua Qi to the third stage. The third set occurs when one achieves the fourth stage, Lian Qi Hua Shen. And finally the fourth set occurs when one finally attains Da Cheng, the final level of cultivation."
"That means …" Wu Ya slowly mumbled. "Han has finally attained the cultivation of Rong He and has proceeded to the second stage of cultivation?"
The Reverend nodded.
"The bearer of Tian Jie would be issued a Decree from the Heavenly realms informing him of his impending test. The first Tian Jie has seven strokes of heavenly lightning as your punishment for opposing heaven. The second Tian Jie strikes you with nine bolts of heavenly lightning. The third Tian Jie consists of seven times seven – forty nine bolts of lightning. Lastly, the fourth Tian Jie consists of nine times nine, eighty-one strokes of lightning."
"Light – lightning?"
The Reverend nodded. "Heavenly lightning, more lethal than that of earth's. In addition, there are other elements of attacks, mainly XinMo, your inner demon that breeds on one's inner negative desires."
The field suddenly grew quiet. All the murmurings of the disciples were suddenly hushed into silence by the awaking of Han. He stood up in the middle of the field.
The Reverend approached him and asked. "My child, I believe you have received Heaven's Decree via your Shen Shi?"
Han nodded. "It contains information regarding the first set of Tian Jie. Seven strokes of lightning …"
"And no external help must be involved." The Reverend finished for him. "My dear disciple, you are the proud of my Tian He Zong. I trust that you will live through this." His eyes dazzled with excitement as he looked upon Han and saw his vast potential in the path of cultivation.
Alas, the dark clouds of Tian Jie had congregated densely above Han. The Reverend and his disciples had retreated to the perimeters of the field, leaving Han to fend solely for himself.
Silence.
And expectations.
And then … the first stroke of lightning flashed – swifter than one's eye could catch.
Yet, Han was long prepared for this. Casting out both hands above his head, he channeled a small portion of his Qi into his palms to shield himself from the Tian Jie. He knew that there was no way he could run from the Tian Jie. Even if one were hiding indoors, the roof would merely be torn apart and punishment be wrought onto him by the heavenly lightning.
This would explain why he was carried out into the unsheltered fields. Unnecessary damage to Tian He Zong's buildings was in this way, avoided.
However prepared Han was, he had underestimated the strength of the Tian Jie. The Qi that he had prepared to shield himself was quickly diminished by the lightning which quickly surged past his defenses into his body.
The lightning-struck Han collapsed to his knees, his small frame shivering from spasm.
"Cch …" Han attempted to resist the blood which quickly welled and ascended through his throat, but to no avail. A spurt of blood-spray exited his mouth and stained the grass by his feet.
The remnants of the first bolt of heavenly lightning was swiftly nullified by the Qi he hurriedly withdrew from his golden elixir to counter the attack.
"Six more …" he muttered via crimson red teeth stained by his blood.
Already, his frame was smoking, his skin burning red – almost cooked, and the internal damage to his organs was severely dealt.
Han frowned. The Decree from Heaven had stated that with each consecutive lightning, the intensity of the punishment would increase tremendously. If the first was already so strong …
Han hurriedly stood up and this time, he pumped out an even greater portion of his Qi to his palms.
The second stroke of Tian Jie descended.
And Han was surprised. It was of the same intensity as the first. Perhaps, even weaker. Han's frame exuded a heavenly aura and shimmered a bright golden as he withstood the second lightning.
"Five more."
Regardless of the intensity of the second stroke of Tian Jie, Han did not let his guard down. He wouldn't dare to underestimate the Tian Jie. A careless mistake could be fatal. He had learnt that from the first stroke.
Han was confused.
The third, fourth, and fifth strokes of the Tian Jie were of similar intensities. He looked to the Reverend as he prepared himself for the sixth stroke.
Even the Reverend was frowning.
"Han." The Reverend advised via Shen Shi. "The last stroke … is … dangerous."
Han nodded solemnly and easily shielded himself from the sixth stroke of Tian Jie, which was still of similar intensity to the previous five. He had similar thoughts to what the Reverend had in mind. If that was the case …
Han shuddered coldly.
If that was the case … he doubted if he could live through this.
The dark clouds above sizzled once more in preparation for the last stroke. Han quickly seized the opportunity to meditate and heal his wounds. Wu Ya handed him an elixir from the Reverend, which Han obediently swallowed.
Upon ingesting the elixir, Han's Qi was almost instantly restored to its brim. He looked thankfully to the Reverend. If he could live through this Tian Jie, it was this elixir he should thank for.
It was an hour later, when the last stroke of Tian Jie descended.
As expected, it was at least a hundred times stronger in intensity. The previous six strokes were all of similar and weaker intensity … because the excess energy had all been channeled and directed to the last stroke.
It was cunning. And lethal.
A deep growl emerged from the depth of Han's throat as he whipped out every strand of Qi that was available in his Dan Tian. He even had to liquefy parts of his Golden Core to generate even greater amounts of Qi.
Whatever he had done to prepare, Han realized as he came into clashes with the last stroke, was definitely insufficient.
The huge pillar of golden aura that Han had channeled about his frame, was, within a blink of an eye, swiftly dissolved and nullified by the unbelievably gigantic current of heavenly energy.
"Shit." Han grunted in a moment of desperation.
He instinctively raised an arm to shield his vital organs but bone, flesh and blood weres instantly vapourized before his eyes.
Qi! He needed even more Qi!
Han had abruptly realized that using mere Qi alone to combat the Tian Jie was a stupid, stupid and even stupid idea. He silently cursed as he hurriedly executed what he had just figured out.
Using his Shen Shi to shield his vital organs, he then channeled Qi from his Golden Core to power his Shen Shi.
( Dark Jelly pops in and explains. "Think of this as a force field that is run by electricity generators. )
Han silently executed a series of mechanic movements. Withdraw, power, defend … withdraw even more Qi, channel to his Shen Shi, and defend his vital organs …
After a few hundred repeats of this series of execution, the last bits of the final stroke of Tian Jie eventually sizzled into non-existence. Han sighed as he disabled his Shen Shi.
He did not feel any bit relieved. In fact, he was pretty sure that his life would end right here. For one, he had merely shielded his vital organs from the Tian Jie, and not the other parts of his frame. In addition, this was his first utilization of Shen Shi and he was bound to make mistakes.
Mistakes … meant severe dealing of damage to his vital organs.
He did not think he could survive that much widespread destruction throughout his body. Yet, he did not want to die … not yet …. not now …
He wanted to be with her. What was wrong with that? Yet, just for that, he had cruelly trained himself till he could master the blade and secure just enough fame to have received Tian He Zong's invitation to Mount KunLun.
For her, he had shed whatever earthly desires he had for Hong Chen, and cast himself onto the sole path of cultivation that could bring him to the heavenly realm.
To her.
He has only reached the second stage of five … He has not seen her …
"I cannot die yet …" Han whispered with a voice that grew increasingly louder. "I cannot die yet! I must not die! I don't want to die!"
In the midst of the field – one that was stained with blood, and soot burnt from flesh and bones … a bloody frame howled maniacally.
Author's Notes:
This whole chapter is a flashback. From next chapter on, we go back to the present.
Tian Jie - heavenly disaster
Boo. In my opinion, this was badly written. Anyway, here's another short explanation of the immortal world.
Those who have cultivated to a rather high level would wish to pass on their knowledge, and hence, they set up clans. And each clan will have a Clan Master above who would recruit disciples under his wing. Their Clan will have a base ( something like headquarters ). This base can be situated at any place, but most would claim a mountain under their rule. Some choose a valley, and others a small building. It doesn't matter.
Anyway, Tian He Zong which means Clan Angel, or Clan Heavenly Messenger, is a clan that rules over Mount KunLun. Mount KunLun is this mystical mountain in China which has hell lots of fantasy and mystical tales about it. Anyway, the Reverend in this chapter, is the Clan Master.
More info about him. He has attained the eleventh level of cultivation - He Ti and is approaching the last level - Da Cheng. Between these two levels, is a final advancement in the stage of cultivation and as explained in this chapter, would summon the fourth and strongest Tian Jie, comprising of eighty-one bolts of lightning.
The first Tian Jie's strength has been brought to you in this chapter. It does not contain the element of Xin Mo ( inner demon ) yet and is rather weak compared to the fourth Tian Jie.
No one can be confident of surviving it. And of course, the Reverend isn't either.
That's why he's suddenly so kin on taking in one last batch of disciples - Wu Ya, Han and Tian Hao, before gambling his life on the final Tian Jie. The probability is one in a dozen.
He's a lucky man anyway, to have survived three.
As to how Han can freaking "level up" so fast. I will explain in future chapters.
Hope you had fun reading. But i won't be updating that soon. I'm reading maths right now.