The weight of the past.

Among the Nine Heavens, and eighteen hells, exists a thousand realms. The world is full of Gods, demons, ghosts and Immortals, they all fight for supremacy. A hundred battles, a thousand years, and a million lives lost, that is how many describe the delicate situation balancing on the thin lip of the great Dao.

There have been countless heros, who achieved heavenly feats, conquering unstoppable gods. Within this great story, told through a thousand torn mouths, was the legend of the greatest hero. The one who stopped the great Dao war.

A shadow that hid the sun, a wind that swept the earth.

A dragon who opposed all that surmounted the world in tragedy, and prevailed as a Celestial who commanded the legions of Heaven.

His name sung by the fairest maidens, the banquet's of reverence carried out by countless immortals in his honor, the title of King of Kings.

Yet even this great figure was all but forgotten, for it was Heavens Will...

...

Wu Long asked, "How far away is this place. We've been flying for 9 hours."

Erus said, "As I said he likes to be alone, you'd be hard pressed to find him if it was any other dragon. He keeps moving, and if not for my Infinite wisdom sutra I wouldn't be able to find him."

Wu Long nodded.

Erus asked once again, "Let me remind you of the dangers again-."

Wu Long shook his head, "No. Thank you Erus, but the things I need to do go against fate, and to have any chance I need to plunder anything that can help me."

Erus shook her head, "To what I know, even if through some miracle you gain his bloodline. You won't be able to use it until Divinity crossing. From what you've told me most of your issues lie in the mortal realm, when you ascend later you can get more things. To risk your life here, I can't help but call you foolish."

Wu Long explained, "My enemy is someone who can't be suppressed with ordinary powers. I need something that cannot be broken. An absolute power."

Erus looked at Wu Long before continuing forward.

...

A body that coiled a thousand words, two suns rotated in it's face. With broken scales fitted like a worn armor, atop it's heavy body Two great goat horns, broke past it's ash colored body.

From it's mouth escaped mist that hid a thousand words, and it's four pronged claw rose and the void shattered.

Wu Long's mouth dried as he gazed at this absolute being swim, leaving ten thousand stars in it's wake. The cosmic sentience of genesis broke free from it's every action.

Wu Long asked, "Is that still only a Paragon?"

His question was asked, not expecting any answer.

Erus explained, "Among mortals Paragons are a loose term. In truth, a Paragon is divided into three versions. A Paragon of balance like me, A paragon of Destruction, and a Paragon of Creation. A Paragon of Balance is the weakest of the three, with a Paragon of Destruction then surpassing that, and a Paragon of Creation overwhelming both. Even I do not understand the true notions behind the Paragon stage, considering I had only stepped into it a few breaths before my death."

Wu Long nodded.

Yet as he gazed at that fierce figure dancing across the Heavens, he felt his heart beat like at a thousand beats. His desire exploded.

Erus bowed and introduced herself, "Junior White Dragon, Erus, seeks the presence of the Great God."

The coiling grey dragon stopped, and it's head swept slowly towards the two.

"It has been a thousand years, why have you come to find me?"

Erus looked at Wu Long and said, "My Lord, this human who has come for his ancestral gathering seeks to ask your generous appreciation."

Paya Ras Ghul looked at Wu Long and nodded, "Hm. A youth with Jixiao's bloodline. Although the bloodline is weak, that doesn't mean there are no options. In the end the Golden Dragon bloodline you have child isn't bad."

Wu Long was surprised, he himself knew he had the golden dragon bloodline, but it was completely insignificant. Even in the future he only managed to get it to 20% purity. Yet this being had discovered his completely impure, and thin bloodline with just one look.

Wu Long bowed slightly, "I humbly ask the great gods consideration. I wish to obtain your bloodline."

Paya Ras Ghul looked at Wu Long, before turning away, "Human child, you should forget that previous request. Live your life, do not desire something that should never be yours."

Wu Long knelt down, "I beg you. Give me your bloodline, the power to overcome the Heavens."

Paya laughed softly, "You misunderstand, it is not that I am doing this to be shrewd or cruel, my bloodline is cursed. It is a likeness that when carried becomes a heresy."

Paya slowly looked up, "I myself believed I was special, I was unique, but in the end it was all a pathetic game by the Heavens. Even with all my strength I couldn't deny the Heavens will. It is not that I wish to deny you, but I cannot bare see another life scrapped by my hands. It would be too cruel to this old fool."

Wu Long said, "I myself am fated to die, Heaven will never allow me to exist. Without your power I am anyway dead! This isn't a cruelty, this isn't a slander or murder, instead it is a golden thread in the darkness! I have to kill them all, I have to destroy the Heavens. Else how am I supposed to contain this rage?!"

Paya slowly said, "It is not anger that drives you, but any excuse to evade the truth. You are broken, you just need something to excuse the pain you feel. You need something to accuse, and destroy, so you feel a bit more comfortable. Child, do not seek hatred. It is a lonely, and horrid path. I would know."

Wu Long's fists tightened, he said softly, "How could you know?"

Paya slowly turned his head away, "Do you think you are the only one who's suffered, do you think that is a good excuse. Aren't the countless demons, once those with good hearts. Malformed by the harshness of the world. Cultivation is a practice to ascend, and also to remove oneself from the world. A state of nothingness is sought, not for any kindness to the self, but to endure the cruelties of life. I know you've suffered, you've seen too much taken from you, and you probably can't even remember any dreams. Yet don't get so lost, that you lose yourself..."

Wu Long turned around, and walked away.

Paya sighed, and stared at Wu Long's retreating back.

Erus asked, "Great lord..."

Paya answered, "You must be asking why? Considering my hatred for the Heavens, why I didn't manipulate the boy into my schemes."

Paya laughed bitterly, "It's been far too long. When I died, I was full of anger and hatred, I wished to do anything to achieve my revenge. However now looking back at all the innocent souls I poisoned in my justice. I've been too cruel, far too cruel, I have been trying to get over it, but it's so far impossible. Instead, all I can do is actively control my madness. That child, you can sense it too... He is too broken. He doesn't even look alive, his energy has decayed to such a state that even us with our astral projections can observe the chaos that ruins his soul. He's too pitiful."

...

Wu Long sat upon the peak of a mountain, the wind swept his hair, and spread his tears.

"Master. Tell me what to do."

And for the wind whispered back.

'Wu Long, do you know the story of the spring night, and Autumn princess?'

'No, master! Please teach me!'

'When the world was new, and the flowers bloomed in plentifuls. When the peach blossom kissed by the lady Immortal, was fed in a thousand banquets. When the rivers still roamed the naive and native plains, and the celestial lights could be seen by every devout mortal. In a powerful dynasty, ruled by a powerful king, and a beautiful queen. There was born on the first new moon, of the season of red. The birds flew a thousand li to gather and watch her birth, a thousand beasts crossed the ten thousand mountains to reach and sing the song of majesty, and the seven seas flooded the world in anticipation. With ink black hair, and two pearly eyes. This princess was considered the incarnation of an Immortal fairy. A hundred kings came, and a thousand princess proposed. Countless summers passed, and on the 18th, she was soon found to be cursed. Her hair fell like leaves in autumn, and her skin paled like a dead tree, graying and slowly wearing away. Slowly growing weaker and weaker, the king sought the aid of traveling man, who was full of strange mystery. Eyes that could possess, and could see past the Heavens. The Traveller said that the princess could be saved. Yet only if the Autumn could be spared, and the winter passed. The King believed that through the power of Immortals could his daughter be saved, and so he begged a thousand times to the Spring Immortal, and so the Autumn and the winter passed, without a breath, and summer turned to spring. Yet still the Autumn princess died. The king fell into a great depression, and ignored his state. Before he could know, a thousand beasts had crossed and slaughtered through his lands. Finally on the spring night, that acknowledged his passing, the traveller appeared once again before the king. The king in his rage asked, "Why have you lied to me! My daughter has died, and my country has been robbed!" The Traveller merely gazed at the king, and said, "If the autumn could be spared, and the winter passed, never did I say stolen. You only had to feed your people, and ensure too few died. Yet you were so absorbed in your pain, you stole the time of a thousand beings, the winter creatures that serve the winter deities. Now the beasts who without the fear and consequence of winter, now run amok in great number. You forget your own duty, in place of your suffering, and for that you have suffered. All things have a place, and to disregard them is too bring tragedy. For without the winter, how is the spring to become beautiful. Without death, how is life to grow. The princess was to be the most beautiful mortal, the wisest queen, and the human empress to grant the ten thousand kingdom hope. Now, but all is lost. For without consideration, and consequence, all is but gone."'

'Oh! Master what does the traveller mean in the end? I don't really get it.'

'He means, that everything is together. A tree that dies, is made into nutrients for sprouting seeds. Just as I teach you martial arts, and you grow up to succeed me. Without these things, the seeds would not grow, and the world will be without those to conserve and protect the innocent, and just. Wu Long, as a martial artist I cannot say that you will never kill. Sometimes for the greater good you must, or your heart must, but remember every life no matter whether the smallest blade of grass, to the greatest god, every life is precious. You must be willing to wield the blade, and to use it you must be of sober mind. You must ask yourself whether you can bare the sin.'

'I still don't understand master. Why should I kill someone? Will they want to kill me?'

'You will someday. I just hope you seek the truth, and not a personal lie. I hope you are not blinded from the darkness, but can bare to travel to the light. It will hurt, but you can do it, as long as you hold your heart steady. I know you can do it, because you are my child.'

Wu Long laughed, as the wind caressed his cheek, brushed his hair, and swept his robe clean.

His eyes, glowing a bitter color, yet a more solemn and determined one.

He stood at the edge, he bowed, his fist tucked in his palm, "Disciple greets master. Disciple thanks master. Disciple shall forever... be grateful."

Wu Long removed the white robe he was wearing, and it went flying in the wind.

His eyes narrowed, as he tied his hair using a headpiece, and wore a black robe with a gold band tightened around his waist.

He looked quite elegant, like a scholar detached from the world. While he still gathered the looks of a sharp face devil, he was much more cool. You could feel yourself growing close to him, compared to his distant coldness from before.

It wasn't the change in clothing, but the temperament that it carried across.

Clothes made the man, but the man still needed to be there.

Wu Long stepped forward, flying off the edge.

The wind scrapped his face, and with a heavy explosion. He landed down.

...

Paya asked, "You've returned, no, you've changed... What is it that you want?"

Wu Long said, "I need your bloodline, I need power. To defeat my enemies."

Paya sighed, "I rescind what I said, you remain the same. Mindless slaughter, is not the way can you not understand?!"

Wu Long nodded, "It isn't the way. It is a fools errand, a naive mans folly. Yet I still need that power, I'll kill who I must kill, and do as I must do, and at the end, I will kill myself. I will accept the sins that I wash upon the lands, I will acknowledge the weight of my past, and pay the price. Anyway, I've been living as a dead man indulging on my fantasies for too long, I've died once, and I say again, that life had only to offer me revenge. Blood that can satisfy my boiling hatred, only through this can I rest. Rest in an eternal null, never compelled forth. I don't need eternal life, or to destroy the Heavens. I just want to rid myself of my karma, and reach Nirvana. In my last life, I studied under Reverend Sakya, and he said I was to never reach the six paths. In this life, I wish to. So I ask you humbly, grant me this power such that I may live!"