A Resolute Heart

A Resolute Heart...

At this moment, with Qin Wentian's other self fully recovered, he grasped the truth that his alternate incarnation, Di Tian, trapped in the third dimension, was ensnared within a nightmarish dreamscape forged by the demons lurking within his heart. In that dreamscape, years passed, yet in reality, only the time it took for a single thought to form had transpired. It was a dream, yet it spanned a lifetime, an unimaginably potent technique.

"I've once entered a dreamscape crafted by a senior, but the one my true self entered wasn't constructed by the hands of another," Qin Wentian explained. Despite his understanding of the Mandate of Dreams, he realized that the illusions within were fueled by the fears hidden deep within his heart, and he remained powerless to free himself.

Qin Wentian frowned, grasping the immense challenge before him. Even with two true selves, he lacked the means to awaken his other incarnation. Di Tian's only hope lay within himself as he endured the nightmare. This trial carried the chilling possibility of eternal entrapment for those who couldn't rouse themselves from its grip.

"You and he share an innate connection. Can't he sense your presence?" Qing`er inquired softly. Qin Wentian nodded slightly. "That's precisely what makes this so terrifying. Although he's my other true self, the dimension of the dreamscape has sealed off all thoughts and senses between us. I wonder if it's a dream-creation technique or an illusion technique."

Qing`er's long lashes fluttered as she turned her gaze to Qin Wentian. Puzzled, he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Does it have anything to do with you hugging me?" Qinger asked innocently, causing Qin Wentian to blush deeply. He'd hoped to divert the conversation, but Qinger's intelligence was beyond his expectations.

Confronting those innocent eyes, Qin Wentian could only smile sheepishly. "In Di Tian's nightmare, something... something terrible happened, so..."

"Oh..." Qing`er replied, her body turning away from him as she didn't want him to see the emotions flitting across her face.

Surprisingly, it didn't appear that Qing`er was angry.

Turning his gaze toward the bamboo forest, Qin Wentian took a deep breath. Thinking of Di Tian's anguish and despair, he made a resolute vow in his heart. "I will never allow that to happen, ever."

As he pondered, Qin Wentian's thoughts shifted. He no longer felt the urge to confront the various transcendent powers like the Pill Emperor Hall. He could endanger himself, but he had to consider the safety of his loved ones and friends. He didn't want any harm to befall them.

"Let everything, every bit of misfortune, fall entirely on me," Qin Wentian sighed. Jun Yu's strength might not be overwhelming, but Fairy Qingmei had provided him with an overview of the Royal Sacred Sect's might and the power structure of the three reigning Grand Empires. If his nightmares bore any resemblance to reality and Jun Yu led foreign forces to hunt down his companions, what would it matter if he executed the Immortal Vanquishing Swordplay to defeat Jun Yu? He was simply not powerful enough to endure the storm of rage that would inevitably follow.

He was determined to seek revenge for Qingcheng, but he couldn't allow misfortune to befall those around him.

"Qing`er, I plan to continue cultivating for a while longer. After that, I will leave Grand Xia," Qin Wentian declared. Di Tian's nightmare had shifted his perspective and presented him with new insights.

He needed to venture out, to become even stronger. Only when he possessed enough power to stand unmatched in Grand Xia would he genuinely have the means to protect those he held dear.

"Okay," Qing`er responded calmly, her reaction not particularly strong. Qin Wentian was accustomed to her reserved demeanor.

"I will go with you as well," Qinger added, eliciting a smile from Qin Wentian. Although Qinger was a woman of few words, she had long held a place in his heart as one of his closest companions. Whenever he faced danger, she was always there, standing protectively in front of him.

He vividly recalled the time when he had assumed the form of the primordial great roc, and Qing`er had been by his side. She had expressed her desire for him not to remain in a demonic state.

In pursuit of that simple wish, Qin Wentian couldn't help but wonder about the price she had paid to obtain the Great Nirvana Immortal Art. He had asked her multiple times, but she consistently refused to reveal it. Nonetheless, Qin Wentian was unrelenting in his quest for the truth. Such an incredible, world-defying art as the Great Nirvana Art couldn't be easy to obtain.

Creating a second body with the same talent, bloodline, power, and even soul – if this art fell into the hands of an exceptionally powerful yet malevolent cultivator, allowing them to double their strength instantly, the consequences would be unimaginable. If news of this art were to leak, Grand Xia would descend into chaos, and even the Royal Sacred Sect in Grand Shang would spare no effort, causing rivers of blood to flow in their quest to obtain it. That's why Qing`er had forbidden him from revealing it, and in keeping with his promise, he hadn't shared this secret with Fan Le and the others.

With that, Qin Wentian turned his attention back to his cultivation. Di Tian's experiences had been transmitted to him, and his original body had also achieved a breakthrough in the Mandate of Swords. Qin Wentian needed time to solidify his foundation in his original body and continue mastering the Seven Annihilation Swordplay.

As for Di Tian, he remained trapped in a dimension where he couldn't sense Qin Wentian's presence, still enduring endless agony and torment.

In this dimension, Qin Wentian was still running madly through the Dark Forest of Chu, consumed by a frenzy to escape. He was in a deranged state, desperately trying to flee from the harsh reality.

They were all dead. Even in the face of death, Qing`er had sent him away with a smile. That image of her before her death was forever etched in his mind, haunting him every time he closed his eyes. His heart felt as though it was about to shatter.

He couldn't bear to face it, didn't want to think about it, and loathed himself.

Why? Why was this happening?

Qin Wentian raised his head and let out a heart-wrenching howl as he continued running aimlessly. It was impossible to tell how long he had been running until he finally collapsed from exhaustion. When he awoke, he was disoriented and disheveled, resembling a madman.

He had no awareness that he was ensnared in a nightmare; to him, this was reality. It felt like an endless cycle of suffering, an entire lifetime of torment. He couldn't even fathom that what he was experiencing was still part of a trial, that he remained in the third dimension.

To him, this was undeniably real!

Self-reproach, hatred, and regret churned ceaselessly in his heart.

Qin Wentian kept running, and after an unknown period, he stumbled upon a quaint village in Chu.

The villagers here practiced the most basic forms of cultivation, far from being considered Stellar Martial Cultivators. They absorbed the Yuan Qi of the heavens and earth, focusing on traditional martial techniques. While they might be regarded as the lowest echelon among cultivators, their lives were tranquil and serene.

Involuntarily, Qin Wentian found himself envious of the villagers' way of life. He couldn't help but imagine how wonderful it would be if he and Qing`er could live the rest of their days here, away from the turmoil of the outside world, free from all worries.

Suddenly, exhaustion overcame him. His heart had grown weary. He longed for a respite.

While living in the village, he encountered a young woman. At a single glance, she stole his breath away. She bore an uncanny resemblance to Mo Qingcheng, radiating a pure and flawless beauty that captivated everyone. She was like the most beautiful flower in the world, spreading light and warmth to those around her.

Seeing that he was injured, the young woman rushed to his aid, helping him recover. Over time, they became acquainted and started spending time together, chatting and engaging in simple activities. Gradually, Qin Wentian found himself falling in love with the village's way of life. He hesitated to leave, preferring this new, idyllic existence, which felt like a lifetime away from his previous struggles.

It was as though he were running from something.

He dreaded revisiting that nightmare, the mere thought of Qing`er's face haunting him like an eternal specter. The pain and regret he experienced were beyond description, worse than the torment of a thousand arrows piercing his heart.

Slowly, he chose to forget everything. It seemed that this way, he could escape his past for good.

Time flowed on, and Qin Wentian built a new life for himself. An ordinary man, living peacefully and quietly. He yearned to maintain this existence indefinitely.

But his newfound tranquility was soon shattered. Jun Yu and the others discovered his location and attacked while he was away from the village. From a nearby mountain peak, Qin Wentian watched helplessly as they razed the village to the ground. He witnessed the Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants bring utter devastation, sparing neither children nor women. Self-hatred consumed him; he despised his own weakness and his desire to run away.

"NO!" he screamed hoarsely. His eyes, once clouded, now blazed with determination as he gazed at the sky.

"Qing`er didn't die, my foster father Qin Chuan and my elder sister Qin Yao are alive too. THIS REALITY IS FALSE! EVERYTHING IS FALSE!" Qin Wentian shouted like a madman, rejecting the scene before him. At long last, he sensed a mysterious energy permeating this reality. This energy had meticulously constructed a series of events, leading him deeper into this illusion, driving him to madness, breaking his will, and condemning him to eternal torment.

"I will never run again." Qin Wentian sat on the mountain peak, his gaze filled with unwavering resolve.

As his words echoed, a sword appeared before him.

Qin Wentian gripped the sword without hesitation and plunged it into his chest. Excruciating pain surged through him, but he simply stared at his wound, watching his own blood flow. This was real. This was life. This was his reality.

"If this is life, if I am this cowardly, what right do I have to exist in this world?" Qin Wentian laughed, a carefree expression finally gracing his face after so long. He felt liberated, having seen through the cycle of life and death.

"Whether this reality is true or false, even if I must endure the pain of a thousand knives piercing my heart, I want this life to end, whether it's real or not."

With those words, he withdrew the sword from his chest and thrust it in again, this time directly into his heart. The pain threatened to overwhelm him, but Qin Wentian was smiling. He bellowed to the heavens, "If I do this, can you stop me from ending it? Who are you? How can you wield such formidable power to ensnare people in self-made lifetimes for eternity?"

As he spoke, countless sharp swords floated in the air. Qin Wentian closed his eyes and defied the illusion. In an instant, the multitude of swords converged on him, piercing his body. The pain of millions upon millions of blades slicing through his heart surpassed anything he had ever endured. Yet he had no regrets. This was his resolve – to end this life, this illusion. How could Qin Wentian, a man with even a shred of dignity, live this cowardly existence?

If this life were real, he chose death.

As countless swords pierced his body, Qin Wentian's eyes gradually closed.

In that very moment, everything in this space vanished in an instant, leaving behind nothing but silence.

A figure lay still suspended in mid-air. It was none other than Qin Wentian. His eyelashes fluttered as he opened his eyes, which gleamed with unyielding determination and an iron will.

"This unworthy life, even if it's just a dream, I still want it to end," Qin Wentian murmured as he sat up. He found himself surrounded by emptiness, realizing that the third trial had emerged from the depths of his own heart.

"Was this the trial of the third dimension?" Qin Wentian wondered aloud, his emotions a turbulent mix of frustration and disappointment. He couldn't muster any sense of triumph for having overcome it. It was a dream, yes, but it felt like a life etched deeply into his soul. Even though he knew it wasn't real, it was a challenge to forget.

It had felt too real, so real that, in some hidden recess of his heart, he had come to believe it was his true life. It was so convincing that even the searing pain of a sword piercing his heart couldn't rouse him from that reality.

That was the trial of the highest difficulty.

The first trial was about combat, relatively straightforward.

The second trial's difficulty soared, testing his comprehension skills.

But the third trial delved into the depths of one's conviction. It was terrifying, so terrifying that even after awakening, Qin Wentian's blood ran cold, and his hair stood on end. Fortunately, it was all over now.