Above Destiny

Chapter 827 One Step (Thanks to folia_aurea for being the patron)

The instrument of the saintly fool shattered and crumbled; the tragic worker was finally dead...

It seems so!

Master Zong was hardly a respectable person in life; he committed countless sins while alive and continued to cause trouble even after death.

When you pass by, you can spit on it as a memento before you go. Friends with diabetes, please stay far away and don't let them taste the sweetness.

Unfortunately, expecting such things to die completely is a bit of a pipe dream, especially when there's a stinking idiot around; the consequences are always hard to come by.

Long before the vessel of the Foolish Saint was on the verge of collapse, the Anvil Elder withdrew his hand and instead intensified the reaction within the vessel.

Add oil to the fire.

The sinking of the four seas, the stagnant essence of decay, the creation of tragic works, and even the projection of the end times... everything within the sacred fool artifact that could not be completed at this moment erupted and spread out with a roar.

A raging tide surged into the sky.

A black spot exploded from the earth and spread wildly.

Just like the old man's style, there is always a plan and preparation. Even if the situation deteriorates to the end, there is always a solution. He directly abandoned the impossible holy fool artifact. Everything on the verge of collapse became a bomb, which is now gushing out and raging in the transformation between great evil and supreme good.

But before that, Tianlu had already decisively reached out, as if it had been anticipated!

Just kidding, everyone knows what kind of person you are.

There's no such thing as accepting the consequences of a bet!

When the instrument of sagacity fails to be perfected, destroying it becomes the optimal solution for the old man. Using this as a constraint, the profound can react calmly, and even open up new avenues for breakthrough.

However, the Heavenly Furnace cannot be left unattended. If it is not handled properly, it will directly explode in the mortal world, creating a huge fountain that leads directly to the vortex below, like a volcanic eruption, directly shaking the foundation of the mortal world.

A series of ear-piercing friction sounds and buzzing noises erupted, and right before the eyes of the Heavenly Furnace, everything that was erupting suddenly stopped, as if time had slowed down a million times, so slowly.

Meanwhile, between the sea and the sky, a pale thread danced and shimmered, rising from the plow maker's hand, rushing forward and extending endlessly, encompassing a radius of a thousand miles in an instant, its beginning and end connected, intertwined and extending.

Heavenly Craftsmanship: Boundary!

The fine lines of entanglement and division act like an impenetrable fortress, completely separating the inner and outer areas, building a brand-new dike and defense line, and preventing the worst consequences of pollution spreading throughout the entire territory.

At the very center of the explosion, the furnace's hand slowly clenched, contracting inch by inch. A piercing shriek erupted once more, and the gushing torrent actually stopped in mid-air. In fact, it seemed as if time had reversed, slowly contracting back.

A series of loud explosions erupted from the wreckage of the Sacred Fool's Vessel.

As if this had been prepared all along, and even with a backup plan, the self-destruct system, which had been pre-installed from the beginning, was suddenly activated.

A crack appeared on the five fingers of the Heavenly Furnace.

His expression gradually became serious, but soon he relaxed, as if the terrifying pressure had been diverted and borne.

Another hand reached out from the shadow of Tian Shu, relieving him of more than half of the burden and bringing the situation completely under control.

Scavengers!
"Thank you for your trouble, ma'am."

"How can something as easy as this compare to what you do?"

The old lady's voice rang out: "This matter was extremely difficult to handle, thank you for your hard work."

"It's nothing more than taking it one step at a time, and trying to remedy the situation in vain."

Tianlu sighed regretfully, "What a pity."

In the end, they were unable to catch anything.

The old man remained hidden, never showing himself from the beginning until now, giving the furnace no chance to make a move, and not even revealing a single flaw.

Even until the very end...

Until the collapse of the Sacred Fool's Artifact, he had countless opportunities to turn the tide against the Heavenly Furnace, but he remained unmoved.

They watched helplessly as the doomsday theory was burned to ashes, and faced with the Heavenly Furnace, which had no natural enemies and was weaker than ever before, they still showed no intention of making a move.

Whether he was truly overwhelmed or still putting on an act, remaining indifferent, he didn't hesitate, let alone have such a thought or wishful thinking.

To stand idly by and watch the fire from across the river.

It doesn't bite at all!
"A smooth landing is enough; why ask for more?"

The scavenger remained unfazed, saying, "His ease lies in his lack of scruples, which destabilizes the overall situation, causing everyone to be wary. In contrast, your passivity lies in your inability to act, trapped in a cage, unable to do anything."

The more you do, the more mistakes you make. If you want to make no mistakes, you either don't do it at all, or you have to put in a hundred or a thousand times more effort and energy.

Human greed is insatiable; you and your teacher are the same.

"..."

In the brief silence, Tianlu gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Back when I was a student, I was hoping that Old Deng, who was about to be kicked over the top of my head, would come and make something of himself."

After finally settling into Old Deng's seat, he discovered that by constantly looking before and after everything, he ended up being unable to do anything at all.

He lowered his gaze, surveying the chaos between the sea and the sky, and sighed softly:
"How ridiculous."

"What's so ridiculous about it?"

The old lady persisted relentlessly, seemingly pressing him step by step, causing him to pause slightly, only to hear a sigh from behind him.

"Don't spout such gloomy nonsense in front of an old woman," the carrion eater said slowly. "You just like to overthink things. Sometimes you should just make a clean break. Why make things so complicated?"

In a moment of surprise, she had already stepped past the furnace and was walking forward. She just smiled softly at him and said, "In this life, one should always do something. It's never too late, no matter how late it is."

The world seemed to freeze the moment she appeared.

His white hair reflected the sunlight, and his smile revealed the wrinkles of time.

In that instant of deathly silence, she took over the Heavenly Furnace, taking control of everything and bringing everything back under her control from the brink of explosion.

It was not about blocking or suppressing, but about sorting out and guiding, separating the tangled mess of supreme good and great evil in an equal manner. It was neither biased nor biased, nor did it favor or suppress anyone; it calmly and normally embraced everything.

Open your arms and embrace everyone.

Right above her head, stars appeared from the heavens, revolving and casting brilliant orbits that covered the earth, witnessing everything, just as the heavens are eternal and destiny is far-reaching.

Good and bad karma alternate, and the cycle begins anew!
Even better than before!

Even the tragic principles of work, which had completely fallen apart, were included in the scope of transformation...

To eliminate future troubles to the greatest extent possible, while simultaneously increasing the embers and stabilizing the present world!
Such a massive transformation, such a heavy burden, how dire the consequences and how terrifying the price must be borne by one person alone?!
"It doesn't have to be that bad, I have another way!"

Tianlu's hand twitched for a moment. He stood up, trying to stop her: "Leave it to me, old lady, I can handle it!"

"That's your problem, Tianlu. The biggest flaw in your lineage is your arrogance—always being self-righteous and looking down on everyone else."

The scavenger turned around and asked, "Why do I always have to make you find the solution?"

Why can't others have a solution?
Why can't we expect others to take action?

In this world, are you the only one allowed to achieve something?
At this moment, the Heavenly Furnace Hand was only a hair's breadth away from her, but in that gaze, that hair's breadth seemed like an insurmountable abyss.

Are you suggesting I do nothing?
He remained silent, frozen in place.

He allowed the carrion eater to gently take the last bit of weight from his hand.

He turned and walked towards the eruption of depravity.

One step, another step.

By drawing in the stars, turning the earth, igniting the furnace fire, and resuming the work of creation!

The final refinement, unique to the Grandmaster Carrion Eater, begins here!
In the end, only the illusions of the past stood in the way.

Anvil-maker.

The image of an elderly craftsman, a silent sigh.

"Long time no see, teacher," he said. "You've aged a lot."

"Yes, they're all the same."

The scavenger nodded regretfully, "You've grown old too, reduced to this state. It's truly something I, as your teacher, can't do anything about."

"What's wrong with using scavenged food to promote new food?"

The old man retorted, "Isn't this the principle you taught me?"

"Yes, for so many years I've been worried that I haven't taught you well, but seeing you again now, I feel relieved."

The old lady smiled slightly, seemingly pleased with herself: "You've learned well; it seems I've taught you really well."

"..."

The old man's eyes flickered slightly, unable to comprehend: "Now that things have come to this, do you still expect me to achieve anything?"

"How could a teacher not hope that their students will achieve something?"

The carrion eater looked at him as if he were a student who was getting stuck on a rut, "But what you're seeking, is decay or novelty?"
Your greatest strength is patience, and your greatest joy is waiting, to the point that you've become insatiable and sunk to this state...

How long must we endure this, and how much longer must we wait?

To what extent must one be patient to be considered absolutely certain of victory, and how much certainty is required to be considered to have victory in hand?

Not enough, not good enough, we can wait a little longer, we can take another look... Just a little more, just a little more, just a little more...

Until unknowingly, one stagnates while waiting and gets lost while wandering.

If he truly possessed the spirit of fighting with his back to the wall and going all out, how could he have suffered such a single misstep and lost everything? But without this tenacity and patience, he would have long since vanished without a trace. The so-called "Old Man of the Anvil" rose to power because of this, and he also fell because of it.

It is precisely because he sees things too clearly that he is unwilling to admit them; it is precisely because he understands things too well that he is so stubborn… Perhaps, when he places all his judgment on success or failure, all of this was already destined.

"Over the years, I've been thinking about this: we keep talking about innovation, but what if we keep chasing something that has no end in sight? What do we do when we can't keep going anymore?"

"Isn't the cruelty of embers, their tendency to crave the new and tire of the old, and their stagnation and decay all a result of this?"

The carrion eater moved forward again, stepping over the phantoms beside it, strolling through the depravity, reaching out and planting ray after ray of light.

Amidst the countless lights, wisps of light surged, sometimes appearing, sometimes disappearing, sometimes rising into the sky, and sometimes vanishing into the darkness.

"Everyone puts in their best efforts and endures a lifetime of hardship to finally achieve a breakthrough, but in the end, the new will become the old. Nothing in the world is unchanging. We are all just a wisp of change, like embers flying in the furnace."

There are too many of these kinds of people and too many of these outcomes.

One after another, they came in an endless stream.

Some people get tired and stop where they are; some people slip and fall into the abyss; and some people strive their whole lives, forging ahead with high spirits, but in the end they still can't see the end.

It's tragic, lamentable, and pitiful.

"But none of that matters..."

I didn't embark on this path to pursue those things, and I've never regretted it.

In the deepest darkness, she smiled and sighed with pleasure:
"It just feels so good to be able to take another step."

I saw new scenery and experienced something completely new.

They not only enjoyed scenery that no one had ever witnessed before, but also had the privilege of being the sole recipient of such a magnificent creation.

So beautiful.

Just moments ago, I was criticizing my students for being greedy and insatiable, but now, isn't it me, the teacher, the most greedy one?

Not only did he take advantage of this rare opportunity to satisfy his own greedy desires, but he also gained fame, seemingly becoming a moral benchmark and a sacred embodiment.

He pretended to be nonchalant his whole life, but in the end, he couldn't help but feel proud and secretly pleased with his magnificent crown and robes.

Such a pleasant surprise before I die of old age.

Thank you all for making this possible.

I also thank this world for allowing me to achieve something.

"Finally, for all of you, no, for myself, let's take another step forward!"

She smiled brightly and looked up at the sky to say goodbye.

The path that the craftsman known as the carrion eater can take has come to an end.

From now on, everything is in your hands.

A crisp sound rang out from between her hands.

click -

Crystallization and proliferation, growth, and countless interwoven streams of light replaced the Pillar of Desolation, filling the sky once more, reflecting in the vast ocean, and illuminating all things so vividly and beautifully.
The principle of tragic work is completely reversed here!

As she lifted herself up with both hands, the ascension began once more...

Like endless embers reignited, rising from the earth, emitting a faint light, ascending towards the ever-shifting stars.

Bridges rise from the ground, responding to the radiant light descending from the sky. They intertwine and collide, spreading out like tangible ripples.

Like the wind blowing in all directions.

A wisp of light crossed the barrier of the boundary, easily heading to the distant present world and disappearing. Then, another wisp rose up again, stretching endlessly.

An invisible hand caresses every inch of the earth, sweeping across mountains and seas, traversing storms and turmoil, gently embracing everything.

It washes away the dust of the old and makes all things in heaven and earth shine with new light.

It is neither biased because of high mountains nor alienated because of ditches; all things are equally endowed with new value in that ray of light.

Even the ashes and decay were not separated; this gift was integrated into the essence of alchemy and entrusted to everyone.

It's like the candy placed in the hands of every student at a graduation ceremony.

It seems that the practice has become a little smoother, as if the arduous training has become a bit easier.

There were no immediate improvements or earth-shattering changes, but rather subtle, pervasive changes that subtly and gradually influenced others.

From this day forward, may the world be blessed with even greater fortune!
This is the final offering she made to the world.

When the depravity dissipates and darkness vanishes,

And that figure standing on the vast sea is no longer seen.

But at the very very end, she seemed to turn back, smile at them, and then take a step forward…

The wind blowing from afar seemed to carry farewell laughter, filled with joy and best wishes.

From now on, just keep moving forward.

The farther you go, the better.

Leave everything I've created in the past; there's no need to look back.

The Grandmaster, the Carrion Eater, has now returned to the highest good.

As the collapse occurred, the eerie shadows gradually dimmed.

The old man stretched out his hand to catch the last rays of sunlight falling towards him from the sky.

Silent, hands clenched tightly.

Over the years, he has boasted of being ruthless and unscrupulous, willing to turn against his former teacher for the path he has chosen.

But she never saw herself as an enemy.

They even left a final gift for this rebellious student.

"You should get out."

Tianlu looked down at him expressionlessly and said, "This is the last bit of dignity your teacher left you."

"Now that the outcome is decided, Lord Tianlu, you may speak freely of any humiliation or unpleasant words. Why bother with any decorum?"

The old man asked expressionlessly, "On the contrary, I would like to ask you—in order to win, you have sacrificed so much... Even if you survive today, how long can you continue to eke out a living?"
At that time, how many people will still be able to sew and mend like her, and selflessly pave the way for you?
What future can a world, so embellished with lies and sacrifices, possibly have?

Tianlu remained indifferent, not uttering a word, his gaze no longer concealing its coldness and malice.

Countless craftsmen looked up, their eyes bloodshot, filled with uncontrollable rage.

boom!!!
In that instant, cracks reappeared from the shattered sea and sky, and after the broken apocalyptic entanglements, flames returning from beneath the vortex burst forth, shooting straight into the sky.

"...A skeleton in the tomb, a mortal dog guarding the corpse!"

A burning flame opened the crack and stepped out, raising its eyes to stare at his arrogant appearance: "You've achieved nothing in your decline and your efforts have yielded no results. Besides putting on airs, what else do you have to shame people with? What face do you have to stand here and keep spouting nonsense?"

In Ji Jue's hands, the Sword of Nemesis blazed with intense light, its surging brilliance piercing through the crumbling, dark shadows and dispelling all gloom and pollution.

Finally, the voice pointed to that hypocritical face, and echoed through the heavens and earth:
"What the present and the future hold, do you think it's any of your despicable self's business!"

The old man stood indifferently, looking down with his eyes lowered.

Like a gentle breeze, it remained unmoved.

He simply stared at the sword blade pointed at his face, at the chess piece that had leaped off the board. Indeed, as Kengen said, this undisguised sharpness had transcended the boundaries between poison and medicine, becoming indefinable and indistinguishable, and could no longer be taken lightly.

It's a pity, but it's fine this way too.

very good.

After so many years of fighting and retreating, struggling and losing, when such an opponent appeared before him, he actually began to look forward to the future.

In the boiling, deep shadows, he took one last look at the Heavenly Furnace.

It was as if they were saying goodbye.

The darkness contracted, gathered, and dissipated into the eerie blue flames, never to be seen again.

All that remains is a vast, silent sea, turbulent and devastated.

In the empty sky after the countless stars had dispersed, a last wisp of lingering light slowly descended, drifting and swaying.

Like dancing fireflies, they illuminated his eyes.

"...Even I have it?"

Ji Jue was stunned, and for a moment, he was at a loss for what to do.

But when he carefully reached out to catch it, he seemed to hear a warm laugh again, as always, so pleasant.

Just like a teacher remembers every student.

How could I forget you in this last glimmer of light?
Keep up the good work in the future!

(End of this chapter)