Chapter 15 The Path to Immprtality or the Road to Emptiness?

Deep into the Night

The night had grown late, cloaking the city in an illusion of tranquility after the chaos of the auction and the fierce battle that had unfolded beyond most people's knowledge. While blood had barely dried in the forest at the city's outskirts, life elsewhere continued as if nothing had happened.

In a grand residence with a carefully tended courtyard, Shen Yuxian sat alone in a small pavilion within the garden. The moonlight reflected on the surface of a small pond, making the water shimmer like scattered silver fragments. Flowers bloomed around him, creating a serene atmosphere that starkly contrasted with the ruthless world he knew.

Yet, beneath that tranquility, Yuxian sat with his eyes closed, his breathing calm yet deep, as if listening to voices unheard by others.

"All laws…," he whispered softly, his voice merging with the night wind, "…hold no meaning in this cruel world."

Though his eyes remained shut, his thoughts wandered far, piercing the veils of the visible world. Greed ran rampant, corrupting the hearts of both mortals and cultivators alike. Massacres were commonplace—no matter how high one climbed the cultivation ladder, life remained a cheap commodity to those with greater power.

"After treading such a bloody path…," Yuxian recalled every step he had taken, every foe he had faced, and every friend he had left behind. "…I have begun to understand the meaning of death."

Cultivation: The Path to Immortality or the Road to Emptiness?

"Every step in cultivation is a gamble…," Yuxian murmured, his gaze fixed on his reflection in the still water. "…a wager between life and death."

Cultivation had been a part of his life for as long as he could remember. Every technique, every pill, every battle—all driven by a single goal: to reach the pinnacle of power. But at the summit, what truly awaited? Immortality? Happiness? Or merely an endless void?

Many believed eternal life was the ultimate reward—a state of being free from the chains of mortality. But Yuxian had begun to see something deeper—immortality might not be liberation but rather an unseen prison. When time ceased to flow for you, what remained except watching everyone you knew be born and perish, over and over again?

"The higher I climb, the more I feel… empty."

The Meaning of Death and Reincarnation

For most, death was the end of everything. But to Yuxian, death was merely a transition. He had seen enough lives slip away before him to understand that death was not what should be feared. What should be feared was a life without purpose—trapped in an endless cycle of power that never truly satisfied.

"When one dies, the soul returns to the cycle of reincarnation…," he mused, recalling ancient teachings he had studied for years. "…but not all souls are reborn with a blank slate."

There were souls too powerful—too resilient—to be erased so easily. They carried scars from past lives, bitter memories that lingered even when they were reborn into new bodies. Yuxian knew this because he felt connected to something older, something deeper than just this lifetime.

"Am I… one of them?"

That question echoed in his mind. Was the power he wielded truly the result of his own efforts? Or was there a trace of a past life guiding him unknowingly?

In a world where strength dictated everything, Yuxian was beginning to realize that the truth was not always found at the peak of cultivation. More often, it lay hidden behind the simplest of questions: Why do we seek power? What are we truly searching for?

Other cultivators pursued honor, revenge, or immortality. But for Yuxian, this journey was increasingly resembling a search for identity—not just about becoming the strongest, but about understanding who he truly was and what his place was in this vast universe.

He knew the answer wouldn't come easily. But he also knew that every battle, every encounter, and every death he witnessed would bring him closer to that truth.

The moonlight still shone brightly in the sky, yet Shen Yuxian no longer looked at it with the same eyes. Tonight was not just the passing of time—it was a turning point in his journey.

This world was cruel, filled with blood and betrayal. But beneath it all, a deeper meaning awaited discovery. And Yuxian was ready to seek that meaning, even if it meant walking the bloody path once more.

Because in the end, cultivation was not just about fighting the world outside—it was about confronting oneself.

Forging His Own Dao

This long journey would hold meaning only if it was guided by the pursuit of truth and deep philosophy. Still with his eyes closed, Shen Yuxian sat motionless in the courtyard of his new home. A calm aura surrounded him, yet within his heart, waves of thought continued to stir.

In a soft whisper, heard only by the night wind, he murmured, "To walk upon blood is the Demonic Dao. But I will not take that path."

"I will stand on my own Dao."

His words carried firm resolve, as though planting an unshakable pillar within his soul. "No sect, no kingdom, no power shall dictate my steps."

"To walk upon one's own feet is the greatest challenge of all," he continued, his voice now steady. He understood that true freedom came at a steep price—solitude, endless battles, and the necessity of facing challenges without any safety net.

Yet, for Yuxian, that was the essence of this journey. Not just the pursuit of power, but the understanding of life itself. Every drop of blood, every wound, and every victory was merely a fragment of the grand mosaic that formed his Dao.

The night deepened, but within him, a new light of understanding began to glow. "There is no path stronger than the one I forge myself. If this world rejects me, I will create my own world."

With that thought, Shen Yuxian opened his eyes. A sharp glint reflected within them, revealing that he had made his decision. There was no turning back. His Dao was set.

And with steady steps, he prepared to face the storm ahead, knowing that every challenge would only solidify his path to true enlightenment.