Four Fragraments!

Ning Gufan's voice, though fading, carried a fierce blaze in his eyes. "Avenge my death. Annihilate the Evil Empress. Let her pay dearly for the torment she has inflicted upon me."

"Huh?"

Su Xiaobai stood aghast, his eyes widening in shock.

The gears of his mind began to turn: whoever had brought this expert to such a pitiable state must wield a ruthlessness that touched the celestial bounds.

Why, then, should he consent?

And if he did, was there nothing to stop him from later forsaking this vow of vengeance?

His thoughts churned like a violent storm in the deepest ocean.

"Cough—good! Good! You little fool, doubting even a dying man's plea!" Observing Su Xiaobai's furrowed brow and the storm of contemplation in his gaze, Ning Gufan's astonishment morphed into laughter mixed with spurts of blood. "Take this, you ungrateful wretch, and never approach me again! Also, seize that accursed ring and bind it with your blood!"

With a flickering strength, he ripped the Spirit Flame Pendant from around his neck and flung it towards Su Xiaobai, while his own form began to emit a radiant glow.

Su Xiaobai, his heart drumming with unease and no desire to meet death's cold embrace once more, instinctively recoiled.

Taking a cautious step back, he watched as Ning Gufan's corpse began to emit a fiery glow that swiftly escalated into a spectacular display.

Whoosh!

A mighty pillar of Infernal Flame, deep crimson and searing, shot skyward, bathing the darkened forest in a sinister, blood-red light.

"Damn... does he intend to take me with him even in death?" Su Xiaobai muttered under his breath, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear as he reached for the 'Spirit Flame Pendant' lying near his feet.

The small, circular pendant, pulsating with a captive drop of the Infernal Flame, was encased in a complex array of ancient runes that shimmered like a starry night.

With a wary hand, he quickly picked up the golden spatial ring, noting its exceptional craftsmanship and the rich aura of power that seemed to pulse from within.

Turning around, he observed the inferno beginning to subside, the flames drawing back as if inhaling, preparing for something yet unseen.

"What new devilry is this?" he whispered, his curiosity piqued despite the danger.

His relief at seeing Ning Gufan's remains vaporize into the ether.

"At least the old ghost's wrath has burnt out with his bones," he sighed, hoping his enemy was nearing its end.

But as the last of the fire died down, a small wisp of flame, vibrant and almost sentient, emerged from the ashes.

It moved with intent, darting towards him like a living thing.

"Wha—" Before Su Xiaobai could further articulate his surprise, the fiery essence slipped seamlessly into the gap between his brows, melding into him with a strange, tingling sensation that quickly spread through his entire being.

There were shards of memories within the soul fragment left behind by Ning Gufan, 'four' distinct fragments of memories in total.

The 'first' fragment harbored profound knowledge of the cosmos and the art of cultivation.

The visions of knowledge that flooded Su Xiaobai were not limited to the spectral arts and the cosmic secrets; they encompassed the foundational truths of cultivation, the principles that underpin the universe itself—Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the interplay of the celestial and the terrestrial.

The knowledge of Yin and Yang revealed itself as the primal dance of creation, where all life and existence found balance.

Su Xiaobai saw how these opposing yet complementary forces governed the flow of Qi in the body, with Yin representing the cool, passive, and nurturing essence, and Yang the hot, active, and aggressive force.

Together, they formed the basis of life, the dynamic equilibrium from which all cultivation sprang.

He learned of the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—each a fundamental aspect of the cosmos that influenced both the physical and the spiritual realms.

These elements interacted in cycles of creation and destruction: Wood fed Fire, Fire created Earth (ash), Earth bore Metal, Metal enriched Water, and Water nourished Wood.

Understanding and manipulating these relationships was crucial for a cultivator to harmonize their inner Qi and influence the world around them.

Beyond these elemental concepts, the visions delved deeper into the arcane structures of the universe.

He perceived the Dao—the ineffable path that all cultivators sought to walk.

It was both a journey towards spiritual enlightenment and a method to harness the subtle energies that weave through existence.

The Dao transcended the physical, reaching into the very essence of being, guiding the cultivator through the myriad complexities of life and beyond.

As Su Xiaobai absorbed these information, he was also introduced to the concept of Dantian—the core of inner energy within every cultivator.

There were three primary Dantians: the Lower Dantian, located below the navel, where the 'Jing' (essence) was stored; the Middle Dantian, at the heart, the seat of 'Qi' (vital energy); and the Upper Dantian, in the head, home of the 'Shen' (spirit).

Mastery over these energy centers was vital, for they were the wellsprings of power within every cultivator.

Moreover, the pathways known as Meridians and Veins, channels through which Qi coursed like rivers through a landscape, were shown to him.

These Meridians connected the Dantians and linked them with the rest of the body, allowing for the cultivation of energy to enhance strength, health, and spiritual power.

Veins, particularly important in higher-level cultivation, are deeper and more potent channels, often specific to individual traits or inherited abilities, such as the Celestial veins crucial for his own existence.

This intricate tapestry of cosmic and elemental knowledge laid the groundwork for all the specialized teachings of Ning Gufan that Su Xiaobai had inherited.

Each piece of ancient wisdom, each secret of the craft, was rooted in these universal principles—Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the Dantians, the Meridians and Veins, and the ineffable Dao.

Standing at this crossroads of cosmic truth and inherited destiny, Su Xiaobai felt both dwarfed and empowered by the vastness of the path that lay before him.

As the next fragment began, a fiery wisp merged with Su Xiaobai's brow, unleashing a glow.

Within him, a storm of memories surged, each a sacred scroll unfurling with the wisdom and tribulations of Ning Gufan, the fallen Emperor of the Infernal Realm.

This confluence of past lives into his present soul was not merely an inheritance but an initiation into mysteries profound and arcane.

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Note: Qi (vital energy) in the middle Dantian is also referred to as Chi and Ki in various other novels. 'Chi' is specifically associated with martial arts themes, while 'Ki' is often used in the context of Japanese traditions and practices.