Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 95: Eating One’s Own Heart to Search for the True Self

Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Eating One’s Own Heart to Search for the True Self

Wukong and Yuan Hong felt a sense of weightlessness as if they were as light as feathers, enveloped in a red light.

In an instant, their feet touched the ground, and as the red light dissipated, they could finally see the surrounding landscape clearly.

The place was desolate beyond compare, similar to the Ancient Battlefield, with a gloomy sky and bloodstained earth. Not a single blade of grass grew, and beneath their feet were only dirt and broken stones. Not far away, they could see scattered tombstones, which were enough to make one’s hair stand on end at the sight.

How could this be seen? There’s a poem as proof: "When Heaven and Earth first split, a great calamity struck; the Profound Yellow wept blood to mend the azure sky. Loyal bones buried in nine layers deep; alas, a million valiant souls in eternal sleep."

The two exchanged looks, each sensing a bleakness in their hearts.

A poem passed down from ancient times goes: "Gloom shrouds all the fields, the chill forces back the warmth of life. Where loyal souls and bones are buried, those who enter shorten their life."

Yuan Hong said, "This is the Ancient Tomb indeed."

Wukong said, "It truly is brimming with yin energy, piercing to the bone!"

Yuan Hong said, "We best be cautious. These people once fought and died for the Earth Immortal Realm, but after turning into spirits, they have lost their true selves over the years."

Wukong said, "I’ll be careful. Which way should we go?"

Yuan Hong said, "There shouldn’t be any dangers on this first layer. The formidable beings of the past are all buried in the ninth layer. Let’s look around first, and after a while, I’ll perform the Divination of Repose to calculate where exactly the Vermilion Bird Fruit is."

Wukong nodded and conjured the Heaven-Defying Taoist, knowing that an extra person meant extra strength.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist, with the Sun-Shooting Bow in tow and holding the Great Revolution Seal, said, "This scene does bear a striking resemblance to the Ancient Battlefield."

Yuan Hong smiled and said, "In the early days of Heaven and Earth’s creation, desolation stretched as far as the eye could see; where would you find the scenic mountains and clear waters of today? Not to mention a great war that shattered the newly evolved mountains and rivers. Having not lived in the ancient times, you naturally wouldn’t understand the hardships of that era."

The Heaven-Defying Taoist only chuckled strangely, without further comment.

Although it was a prosperous era, ancient times were equally heart-wrenching, with blood and tears intertwined.

The three of them walked through the desolate Ancient Tomb, passing by one tombstone after another.

"The tomb of the Golden Immortal of the Mysterious Gate, Ye Liang."

"The tomb of the Golden Immortal of the Mysterious Gate, Wu Di."

...

One after another, tombstones lay scattered across the Ancient Tomb, the earth over their graves raised in lonely mounds, marking the resting place of the cultivators who had perished in the wars of the ancient past. Back then, the Taoist Sect was known as the Mysterious Gate until Hong Jun enlightened the Three Pure Ones and handed over the Mysterious Gate to them. Only then did it gradually come to be known as the Taoist Sect.

Suddenly, a ghostly spirit erupted from one of the burial mounds, sensing blood and yang energy, and lunged at the three intruders.

Wukong lifted his Buddha Beating Staff, brought it down with force, and with a flash of golden light, completely dispersed the spirit to oblivion.

Wukong sighed and said, "Rather than existing in such a state, they would prefer to be liberated, I think."

No sooner had he spoken than a susurrus of a sigh wafted through the air, "In bygone days, I fought for the Earth Immortal Realm... my spirit entered this tomb, lost in confusion for countless years, forgetting my true heart, knowing only the taste of blood and flesh. Today I am finally freed, and for that, I thank you."

Hearing this, Yuan Hong also couldn’t help but sigh, "Since it’s liberation they seek, if we encounter any more of these ghosts, we should just put them to rest."

Wukong and the Heaven-Defying Taoist both nodded in agreement.

The group continued deeper into the first layer of the tomb, but Wukong had a nagging sense that something was not right—an inexplicable feeling as if on a whim! However, he hadn’t reached that level yet, unable to comprehend or calculate it.

After traveling a few thousand li, they eventually found the teleportation formation to the second layer, and all three stepped inside, instantly enveloped by swirling red light.

When they opened their eyes again, they were firmly on the ground, having arrived at the second layer of the tomb.

This second layer was no different from the first, except there were slightly more wandering spirits and more tombs.

No sooner had they entered the second layer than dozens of spirits attacked, mouths gaping to bite.

Wukong uttered a soft shout, and as the golden light surged on the Buddha Beating Staff, he swung down fervently, sweeping aside and cleanly slaying the dozen spirits, which dissipated into wisps of blue smoke into the void.

Yuan Hong picked up a few stones the size of fingernails from the ground, placed them in his palm, then retracted his hand into his sleeve to perform the "Universe within the Sleeve" spell. He used these stones to divine the location of the Vermilion Bird Fruit.

After a moment, he opened his eyes and said, "The fruit has fallen on the fifth layer, let’s go."

Wukong wondered, "There’s nothing too dangerous about this second layer... If we continue at this rate, even the fifth layer shouldn’t pose much of a challenge. Logically speaking, a Daluo Golden Immortal from the Vermilion Bird Clan shouldn’t have ended up here!"

Yuan Hong laughed and said, "Never mind that. Let’s find the formation to the third layer first."

On this journey, Yuan Hong did indeed see some familiar names, and there were still some impressions left in his heart about these people.

Around a hundred ghosts rushed to attack, but they were all killed by Wukong. Even though the cultivation of these ghosts included Taiyi Golden Immortals and Daluo Golden Immortals, their mana was too weak. Moreover, they did not understand combat techniques; they had lost their true nature, knowing only how to kill and drink blood. Thus, with two strikes from his staff, there was not a single ghost that could withstand it.

The Teleportation Formation to the third layer was right in front of them. The group entered, activated their mana, and in an instant, they had reached the inside of the third layer.

This third layer had an even heavier yin energy than the previous two layers, along with a sense of intimidation. Winds blew as if they could penetrate to the marrow of one’s bones.

The three of them activated their "Heavenly Energy" for protection, and a faint golden glow appeared on the surface of their bodies, blocking the chilling winds from the outside.

They saw a ghost sitting in front of a grave. This ghost sang a lament; the song went, "There’s a wandering soul, turned into a long snake, with poisonous fangs in its mouth. It does not bite people, but bites itself instead, ultimately leading to its downfall... It gouges out its own heart to taste its true flavor. Amidst intense pain, how can the true flavor be known? When the pain subsides, it eats slowly. However, the heart is already aged, how can its true flavor be recognized?"

Her voice was melodious and touching, but the song she sang was filled with such sorrow that it shattered the heart.

This ghost had more substance than other ghosts; her body was only slightly transparent and she did not just madly howl like ordinary ghosts.

Yuan Hong’s steps involuntarily paused, and he stared blankly at the ghost sitting on the tombstone and singing.

Wukong asked, "Brother Yuan, do you recognize this ghost?"

Tears sparkled in Yuan Hong’s eyes as he said, "She is a remnant soul of Goddess Nuwa..."

Wukong couldn’t help but be shocked. A remnant soul of Nuwa? She is the Holy Mother of the Human Race and the Supreme Goddess revered by the Demon Tribe. When the sky collapsed, she melted the Five-Colored Stone and repaired the heavens with her tears of blood, dying in the process. She was great, unlike the contemporary Saints who regard all beings as lesser than stray dogs, high above all.

"There’s a wandering soul, turned into a long snake, with poisonous fangs in its mouth. It does not bite people, but bites itself instead, ultimately leading to its downfall... It gouges out its own heart to taste its true flavor. Amidst intense pain, how can the true flavor be known? When the pain subsides, it eats slowly. However, the heart is already aged, how can its true flavor be recognized?" Nuwa’s remnant soul repeated the song over and over, her voice filled with extreme sorrow.

Yuan Hong sighed, "She has lost her true nature. Listen carefully to the lyrics of her song."

Wukong listened intently and indeed felt an overwhelming sadness well up within him. How melancholic must a person who doesn’t even know themselves be? Unlike ordinary ghosts, she still had consciousness. Perhaps the Saints were too powerful; after one hundred and twenty thousand years, a remnant soul could still retain some sense of reason.

To kill a Saint, one would need to shatter his physical body and disperse the Primordial Spirit he entrusts to the Heavenly Dao.

The means of Saints had reached inconceivable levels.

Yuan Hong said, "Let’s not disturb her, let us pass by quietly."

But the ghost had already noticed the three of them. She jumped down from the tombstone and slowly walked towards them.

"Who are you? You are beings with souls, so why have you come to this soulless world?" Nuwa asked.

Her saying this world "has no soul" was because the ghosts here had no consciousness. They wandered aimlessly, attacking the living on sight, less significant than ants.

Yuan Hong gave a respectful bow and said, "Goddess."

Nuwa asked, "You recognize me? Who am I?"

Yuan Hong said, "You are Nuwa, the Holy Mother of the Human Race, the Supreme Goddess worshipped by the Demon Tribe."

Nuwa said, "I am Nuwa? Who is Nuwa? And who is the Supreme Goddess?"

Seeing her confused state of mind, Yuan Hong couldn’t help but sigh heavily.

Nuwa’s remnant soul, after asking a couple of questions, was already confused and sat back on the tombstone to start singing again: "There’s a wandering soul, turned into a long snake, with poisonous fangs in its mouth. It does not bite people, but bites itself instead, ultimately leading to its downfall... It gouges out its own heart to taste its true flavor. Amidst intense pain, how can the true flavor be known? When the pain subsides, it eats slowly. However, the heart is already aged, how can its true flavor be recognized?"

Her eyes were vacant, and she sang with a sorrowful voice. She had done so much for the world, and now, she wretchedly did not even know who she was.

Wukong then suggested, "Why not imbue her with memories using the Empowerment Technique?"

But Yuan Hong shook his head and said, "Her Primordial Spirit was once entrusted to the Heavenly Dao and contaminated with the karma of the heavenly law. If you dare to do so, you might attract the Heavenly Retribution, and in an instant, you would die under the thunder and lightning, turned into ash. Moreover, it’s likely that even doing this would harm her. Alas... I hope that one day, her remnant soul can find its true nature again."

At this moment, Nuwa was like someone in the Six Paths of Reincarnation, having lost their true nature, mistaking the Reincarnation World for their original world, living within the Reincarnation World, unaware they were already dead, lost in this illusory world.

Yuan Hong hurriedly walked on, unwilling to look back, for he feared he might let down tears, such was the utmost sadness.

Wukong and the Heaven-Defying Taoist followed quickly, feeling an immense sorrow in their hearts.

A poem lamented: "Melted stones and wept blood to repair the azure sky, her revered name resounds across the ages and the Four Seas. Do not say digging out the heart seeks the true self, only to lament that even the name is not entirely remembered."

The group trudged on for a long while before they could again compose themselves.

Yuan Hong said, "Just now, hearing her song made me feel an illusion over my true nature... If we see her again next time, do not dwell on it too much. We must hold onto our true nature, lest our own true nature gets lost in it as well."

Wukong, however, felt nothing. He had already slain the wicked corpse and found his true nature in the cycle of reincarnation, penetrating his great wisdom; what was there to make him lose his way? He turned to Yuan Hong and smiled slightly, saying, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Yuan. Let us quickly seek the Formation to enter the next layer."