Above Destiny

Chapter 551 A Guest in a Dream, An Outsider in a Dream

Desolate ruins.

Ji Jue's jaw dropped to the ground.

Stunned, shocked, bewildered, unable to comprehend...

Why is it a desolate wasteland?

Moreover, the Desolate Ruins shattered the Ascension Creation right in front of him?

Why would I have such a bizarre dream?

But when she looked back at Hua Xu, Hua Xu became even more disgusted: "Don't fucking pin all the blame on me, okay? Even if I'm outrageous, do you think I can drive away the transformation and replace it with a stone?"

"This……"

Ji Jue hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped, and asked, "How can this be changed?"

That's outrageous.

It's like the pity system has already popped halfway out of the gacha pool, only to be suddenly kicked aside, revealing a strange face grinning at you.

—Hey little thief, you didn't expect it to be me, did you?!

Moreover, while his actions in this dreamlike state were indeed closely related to the ascension, they had absolutely nothing to do with the desolate ruins... though not entirely.

"Is there some mistake?" Ji Jue was bewildered.

Why not ask yourself that question?

The cat was so angry it laughed: "When you were hugging and kissing that little girl from the desolate ruins like her own daughter, why didn't you think of this?"

Ji Jue and Sheng Bian already had a high level of resonance and compatibility. They thought that as long as they worked hard, Tian Xingjian was almost certain to succeed. However, they did not expect that the only place they would encounter was the desolate ruins, which they had never thought of before.

Moreover, they came from behind and overtook others to take the lead!
The only reason is that when this bastard was taking advantage of someone else's soul, he was kissing it so hard that he wasn't satisfied with just a mouthful of saliva. Then, he transformed into a spirit and participated in the entire process of dragon transformation, making various applications and attempts without ever stopping.

Not to mention the close spiritual communication between the two, their experiences and feelings were almost like sharing their souls, and everything they knew and felt was synchronized.

In this process, all the erosion and corruption of the vortex were swallowed up by Ji Jue, who then used the authority of the Paradise of Myriad Transformations to pay off all the debts, leaving behind a mess!
In the end, it was actually Hua Xu Jun who paid the price, even though he hadn't uttered a word from beginning to end... All I can say is, the more carefree he was when he signed and swiped his card, the more his stomach ached when the cat paid!

Seeing that Ji Jue, that bastard, had taken advantage of the situation and was still acting like a green tea b*tch, Hua Xujun's fur was about to stand on end.

I just want to breathe on it.

The colossal pillar piercing through the dreamlike vision shone with light, as if resonating, flashing for a fleeting moment. Then, a stream of light descended from the sky, falling towards…

The hand that Hua Xu Jun extended.

It was intercepted!

Like receiving a new toy, the cat pressed the fist-sized amber shimmering light under its paw, patting it casually to the left and right...

Feeling Ji Jue's gaze fixed on it, it suddenly grinned, its claws shot out, and scratched twice, making a sharp scraping sound.

Ji Jue's heart had stopped beating...

Hey, don't catch it!

Only after he had played with Ji Jue's blood pressure enough did he let out a cold snort and release the violently struggling Blessing from under his claws. A ray of dazzling light immediately flew straight towards Ji Jue and entered his soul!
When the Lord of Huangliang released the restraints imposed on the visitor, the Non-Aggression Matrix reappeared, and the Blessing of the Desolate Ruins flowed freely within the soul, returning to the void, perfectly fitting and inseparable.

As if they had always been one!
—[The land bears the burden of tolerance]!
"Great!"

Ji Jue couldn't help but cheer excitedly: He had originally thought that the blessing of the rebirth rank would be the most troublesome to find and the least likely to be obtained, but he actually got it first!

With the blessing integrated, within the matrix of non-aggression, the aura and spiritual essence once again showed new changes, deeply feeling the grandeur and inclusiveness of the desolate ruins, and the stability and vastness of matter.

Unfortunately, it's still in a soul state at this point, without a physical body or materials, otherwise I would definitely want to try it out to my heart's content first!
Being able to disregard the limits of matter itself and enhance its physical properties without limit by injecting spiritual energy, whether it be strength, hardness, toughness, rigidity, or even the conductivity of spiritual energy and the special properties of the material itself... This blessing is a qualitative change for both the Wasteland and the Chosen Ones of the Embers.

From then on, there was no more waste material in my hands.

Even without any skill or proportions, if you stubbornly wield a spirit-type sword and charge head-on, a broken iron sword can be upgraded to +18 or +19 in your hands and still be able to go head-to-head with the Nine-Type!
But... um... something feels... oh... not quite right?!

"..."

Ji Jue hesitated once again, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

In the simulation of the Paradise of Myriad Transformations, he tried to find a stone and enhanced it with spiritual energy. Instantly, a faint glow appeared in the originally ordinary gravel, and its hardness and strength increased to an exaggerated degree.

At the same time, the eerie aura became more and more obvious, and it felt as if the stone was alive, showing a strange pulse and attraction.

The stronger it is, the more astonishing the gravity becomes.

After Ji Jue infused the stone with a massive amount of spiritual energy, it turned completely black. At the same time, its essence was completely distorted. The entire stone was like a black hole, continuously plundering other matter. The surrounding rubble was rapidly turning to dust, as if it were being swallowed up.

Not just matter, but also... spiritual matter and even life!

The vegetation withered, the earth dried up, and the stone, strengthened by the earth's weight and the sea's embrace, was actually subtly drawing away the life and spiritual energy of the surroundings. Ji Jue even suspected that if he could find the earth's veins, he would definitely want to climb up and take a bite out of this stone.

It can be self-sufficient by taking from all things.

This is definitely an evil thing now!

If weapons are forged, then the creations will naturally be bloodthirsty and ravenous evil weapons that can devour other life and matter to strengthen themselves. In fact, once they become too big, they may even turn around and corrupt the user!
Admittedly, it saves time, effort, fuel, and electricity, with outstanding efficiency. The only problem is that it's not very environmentally friendly…

If the earth's embrace and the sea's tolerance symbolize the grandeur of the desolate ruins and the inclusiveness of material things, then the blessing in Ji Jue's hand at this moment has completely transformed into the tyranny of the desolate ruins and the cruelty of material things.

Okay, that's confirmed.

Ji Jue was about to lose his temper: "This thing is a pure, monstrous version!!!"

"Nonsense, you don't even look at what you're sucking on!"

Hua Xujun rolled his eyes so hard they almost reached the sky: "Although I don't understand your so-called 'Supreme Goodness' philosophy, think about what you've actually done. From the beginning until now, can your actions really be associated with Supreme Goodness?"

You've sucked up all the evil from the vortex, and you still have the nerve to complain that it's not the real thing? Even if the genuine product fell into your hands, it would probably turn into this kind of monstrous mess!

They've already given you everything you need in one go, what more could you want?

Did you say thank you?
You should thank Brother Huangxu!
"Ah this..."

Ji Jue stammered for a long time, then looked up and saw the magnificent pillar still standing there. After hesitating for a moment, he tentatively said, "Thank you?"

The pillars of the desolate ruins seemed to glow, flashing for a moment.

Then, it vanished without a sound.

So they were really waiting for me to say thank you?
Ji Jue was completely stunned and increasingly confused. Also, what exactly did that last flash of light mean?
He subconsciously looked up at the 'translator' Hua Xujun, who rolled her eyes again. Meeting a guy like this was like finding a ghost.

"How could such a grand spectacle be understood by human wisdom and speech?"

The cat said, "The system composed of all things has its own rules of operation. To put it in human terms... it's telling you to keep up the good work, kid."

【? 】

A question mark reappeared on Ji Jue's forehead.

What more can I possibly do?!
"...But I think you should go stir things up somewhere else, instead of getting in my way."

Hua Xu Jun flicked his tail and pointed behind Ji Jue: "The door is over there, the road is under your feet. I'm packing up now, kid, hurry up and get lost."

Leaving now?

Ji Jue looked around blankly and saw the dazzling doorway. He couldn't believe it—they wouldn't even give him a meal? This was a bit too... cough cough, too frugal, wasn't it?

The black cat glanced at him sideways.

I couldn't even be bothered to see what this bastard was thinking. It was nothing more than the same old trick of freeloading. Who invented this kind of scoundrel, the craftsman?

Oh, that fire-stealer brat, tsk, I should have taken him with me back then...

"Also, don't treat this place like a dumping ground."

The black cat clapped its paws and scooped up a pile of grayish-black stuff from the sea of ​​souls below. With a look of disgust, it practically pinched its nose as it tossed the ball of stuff over, saying, "Take your own stuff back. Don't pollute everywhere!"

Ji Jue subconsciously reached out and caught the small ball, only to discover that it contained countless tiny spirits of creation, dense yet fragile like an anthill, as if a gentle breeze could extinguish them completely, yet they seemed to possess infinite possibilities.

That was after countless iterations in the sea of ​​suffering... [Lord of the Flies]!
Wasn't it burned away by the winds of change?
He was taken aback for a moment, then sighed softly, put away the spirit body formed by countless subtle intelligences, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude: "Thank you."

But as I turned back and walked toward the door, I couldn't help but look back at the black cat once again.

Seeking permission. "...Speak your mind, or shut up!" Hua Xujun yawned. "I really owe you Mohists something, you're all so troublesome!"

"No, I'm just a little curious."

Ji Jue asked, "After so many years, the Land of Myriad Transformations has reappeared. As the King of Chaos, do you have any new thoughts or plans?"

They're still subtly hinting at it.

The black cat sneered and shook its head. "You dog."

"Don't waste your brains, Ji Jue. People in dreams aren't interested in things outside of dreams." He paused, then countered, "Besides, would a normal person actively seek out shit to eat?"

"..."

Ji Jue was taken aback, never expecting such a metaphor.

"I have already abandoned this world, so naturally I will not go back on my word. If it weren't for the contract and the limitations of the paradise itself, I wouldn't bother with you pathetic worms who are sitting in a fire pit without even realizing it."

Ji Jue pondered for a long time, unable to understand:

Please clarify.

"The world of supreme goodness is indeed stable, dividing events and laying the foundation for the past and future. This foundation is indeed much more stable than the world of the past, but what is the price, Ji Jue?"

Hua Xujun asked mockingly, "If everyone pursues the highest good, then why is the world still so cruel beneath the veneer of sublimation, stability, order, freedom, competition, change, dreams, and illusions?"
Why is it that the evil you, who are supposed to be the most virtuous, have committed is far greater than the great calamities that occur under the whirlpool? What then is the highest virtue, and what then is the greatest calamity?
Wherein lies the distinction between good and evil?

Ji Jue remained silent, racking his brains for an answer, but could not find one, until he heard Hua Xu Jun's soft sigh:
"Have you ever considered that if the fruits you achieve are ultimately good, where will the evil you create go?"

Ji Jue felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

"Hey, do you finally understand?"

The Lord of Huangliang laughed: "A good deed can lead to ten times the evil, and a thousand times the consequences... Behind every achievement and accomplishment, how many ruins and future troubles remain?"

When the situation becomes too deeply entrenched to be resolved, it's like an ostrich burying its head in the sand—a futile attempt to quench its thirst with poison, dividing the world in two and indefinitely postponing the arrival of hell.

"..."

In the silence, Ji Jue remained silent, drenched in sweat. He tried to speak several times, but no sound came out. Finally, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Is this the lock?"

"A lock? Hmm, I see. To separate the highest good from the greatest evil, to sever the influence and backlash between the two, calling it a lock is indeed appropriate."

Hua Xujun nodded calmly: "However, didn't you experience it yourself? When you sealed the Blissful Realm with the Border Prison, the natural changes that occurred were able to separate Wen Sheng from the Holy God and imprison the god in the Heavenly Kingdom."

"Hey, that incredibly solid isolation—is it due to your unparalleled skill, or is it simply the inherent form and function of supreme good and great evil?"

By utilizing the repulsion between supreme good and great evil, the world is divided, and the consequences of evil are isolated. At the same time, the common origin of the two is utilized to enhance the overall stability of the system.

This would allow for an unlimited increase in the stability of the world itself, but what are the consequences and the costs?
"It's almost as if they're creating their own destruction."

Hua Xujun finally asked, "If one day your locks are no longer able to suppress the great evil beneath the vortex... then what will your world become?"

Ji Jue was speechless and unable to answer.

"Well then, kid."

Hua Xujun slowly licked the soft pads of his paws and asked calmly, "Now, let me ask you one more time—the gate to paradise is still before you; turn back and you will find the shore."

Are you planning to change your mind?

Ji Jue remained silent.

Staring at the door so close at hand, he sighed softly and shook his head slowly after a long while.

"The whole world has tried countless methods, but none have been able to break this cycle. What can you do with just one more person?"

Hua Xu scoffed: "In the end, I'm afraid he'll end up like that little girl, Mercury, who gambled everything but lost everything. A sage, yet he fell into the hell he created, unable to extricate himself, unable to find liberation."

"Will it be too late to regret it then?"

"...If you regret it, there's probably nothing you can do about it, right?"

Ji Jue thought for a moment, then shrugged regretfully: "It's nothing more than reaping what you sow, so what's there to regret?"

Compared to standing idly by, even if I end up in hell, at least it's a hell I chose, right?

"Hey……"

Hua Xu was amused. "This appearance is less about being compassionate and more about being arrogant and conceited. Your shamelessness is exactly the same as that of those former leaders."

Even now, you still say you're not a Mohist?

"Whether I am a Mohist or not, let's talk about that when I'm truly in control of everything."

Ji Jue stood in front of the gate and turned back one last time: "But, Hua Xu Jun, since you've asked me so many questions, would you mind if I asked one last one?"

The black cat flicked its tail: "Since I'm in a rare good mood, feel free to speak."

"Everyone says that the desires of the heart are never satisfied... Even in your time, when the highest good has not yet emerged, I think the principle should be universal, right?"

Ji Jue asked solemnly, "The Land of Myriad Transformations has everything, and in the dream of wealth and glory, everything is abundant. But even today, do you still have any desires left in this world?"

"Of course."

Without hesitation, Hua Xu Jun replied, "Even the Land of Myriad Transformations cannot satisfy this yearning. Even I have desires that I cannot fulfill. What's so strange about that?"

The black cat's lips curled slightly as it admired Ji Jue's confused expression.

"I want to know if there is still desire at the end of desire, and if there is still longing at the end of longing."

I want to know what will be the ending of this endless dream... Even if I see more, even if I witness more, it will still not be enough. I want to know what your desires and thirsts will ultimately become.
When reality is devastated and everything we desire has turned to ruins, I want to see how many people can still hold onto hope in their hearts.

At that time, will the beautiful dreams in your hearts still remain?

Those amber eyes, reflecting the brilliant light of all dreams and desires, gazed at the departing guests with anticipation:

"Having given up on your dreams, after recognizing reality and yourself, can you still hold onto illusions about the future?"

"I'd love to know too."

Ji Jue smiled with relief, "Please let me know if there are any results by then."

Before leaving, he bowed to the generous King of Chaos to express his final gratitude.

I pushed open the last door and stepped inside without hesitation.

Say goodbye to illusions and return to reality.

Never again.

Only in dreams can the world change in the blink of an eye.

The black cat stood silently lost in its endless fantasies, and finally turned its head to look in the direction where Ji Jue had left.

"Ha, and you even talked about giving up your beautiful dreams..."

The Lord of Huaxu shook his head and sighed knowingly, "Isn't this just being completely immersed in one's own dream and unwilling to wake up?"

No one responded.

It slowly straightened its body and walked into the deepest part of the dream.

Its tail swayed slightly.

Thus, in the world beyond the dream, countless dazzling phenomena gradually dissipated.

Countless souls poured into the gradually closing doors, and as the doors closed once more, the paradise of myriad transformations collapsed, evaporated, and vanished without a trace.

And so, we returned to nothingness.

The only trace left in the world is a wisp of ethereal light, like a dream, at the end of the horizon, which can never be reached, in the gap between the sea, the earth, and the sky.

In absolute nothingness, the dream of wealth and glory still stands at the end of all beautiful dreams and nightmares, witnessing everything.

Waiting patiently for all those who chase after illusions to arrive.
.
Above the heavens, Wen Zheng silently surveyed the scene.

A sigh.

(End of this chapter)