An eerie aura, accompanied by waves of heat, reverberated through the vast space. The fire dragon, with its fangs bared and its visage fierce, did not expand further; it seemed to have reached its limit. Even so, the intense flames began to crack the hard earth beneath. In contrast, the seemingly ancient and worn-out brazier remained unscathed.
The blazing fire reflected in the eyes of the Beast God, as if his very gaze was on fire.
On the other side of the flames, a woman’s voice chuckled softly, “Is your magic truly failing, or are you just trying to deceive me? Although this array lacks the power of the Mystic Fire Mirror and was damaged when you were resurrected, its power should not be this weak.”
The Beast God’s handsome face showed no emotion, and he calmly replied, “If you are so wary of me, I am confused as to why you came to rescue me.”
The woman snorted, “Didn’t I tell you before? First, I wanted to see the mystical array passed down by the Ancient Witch Clan, and second, I cannot stand that pretentious old Cloud Elder of the Incense Valley.”
The Beast God smiled slightly, seemingly unconcerned with her words, “Though Yun Yiluan broke our agreement, I never truly trusted him. If I had won the battle at Azure Ethereal Conclave, he would not have dared to do this. Is it not common for people to kick someone when they are down?”
The woman said, “It’s a pity he does not know that you and I are different—we are immortal.”
The Beast God’s gaze deepened as he stared into the darkness behind the flames, which, despite their intensity, could not penetrate the shadowy abyss.
“How do you know I am immortal? What if I told you now that I can be killed? What would you think then?” he asked, his eyes fixed on the dark, his lips curving in a slight, challenging smile.
The woman fell silent, and the only sound in the cave was the crackling of the fire. Yet, it felt even more deathly still than before.
After a long while, the Beast God spoke, “How many years have we known each other?”
A long pause followed, and the woman finally replied, “I cannot remember. Shortly after I attained enlightenment, I stumbled upon this place. But why did you look at me differently back then?”
The Beast God smiled, lowering his head, weariness evident on his face, “Even though I was not human, I could not bear loneliness.”
The woman was silent, apparently surprised, “You seem different today. You never used to speak like this.”
The Beast God’s shoulders trembled, and he coughed violently, but his smile remained, as if nothing mattered to him, “Have you ever seen a dying person act normally?”
The woman immediately responded, “But you are not human!”
“How do you know I am not human?”
…
Suddenly, the flames in the brazier rose, like a silent roar from the fire dragon, then slowly subsided. The eight mysterious, ominous patterns around it dimmed and faded into the darkness. The fire dragon merged into the flames, becoming ordinary firelight. The surroundings grew dim, with only a faint glow around the brazier.
“What have you done to yourself?” the woman asked softly after a long silence.
The Beast God did not answer. He looked increasingly weary, slowly raising his hand. In the firelight, his right wrist appeared gray and lifeless, with a faint, dark red vein hidden beneath the skin.
He stared at the vein for a moment, shook his head, and gently drew a line across his wrist. Slowly, a cut appeared, and a drop of blood oozed out.
Blood!
Red blood!
“How is this possible…?” The woman in the darkness was too shocked to continue. After a long moment, she recovered and exclaimed, “You… you have become human!”
The Beast God did not speak, only smiled, a silent, inscrutable smile that revealed neither bitterness nor joy.
“No wonder, I have always been puzzled. You, born of the world’s malevolent energy, should be undying and indestructible. How could you be severely injured by the Demon-Extinguishing Sword on Azure Ethereal Conclave? It turns out you, without my knowledge, became what you despise most. Hahaha, hahahaha…”
The woman, whether because of the absurdity or lack of control, laughed aloud.
The Beast God’s gaze, fixed on the drop of red blood on his wrist, betrayed a complex mix of emotions, both joy and sorrow.
“I never hated humans…” he said with a weary smile, “Isn’t it human to have a clear mind and consciousness?”
The woman was taken aback, “What do you mean?”
The Beast God slowly raised his head, looking into the flames, his voice echoing in the alternating darkness and light, as if returning to the distant past.
“The first time I became conscious, I saw her. I didn’t even have a body then, just a vague presence. She seemed to be watching me. As time passed, I gradually took form and learned that she was a human, a witch named Linglong from the Witch Clan.”
Tāotie, beside the Beast God, growled softly.
The Beast God stroked Tāotie’s head, and it quieted. The woman remained silent, as if anticipating the unveiling of a secret long buried in the past.
Gentleness filled the Beast God’s eyes as he gazed into the distant darkness, perhaps listening to a soul that once lived there.
“Linglong used her witchcraft to gather and refine the malevolent energy of the Southern Region, creating me.”
He spoke casually, revealing the secret that had puzzled many for millennia, “Those so-called heroes of the Witch Clan, following Linglong, wanted to kill me. If they knew I was created by the woman they revered, I wonder how they would feel!”
He smiled, the past killings and malevolence seeming to have never existed. Now, he held only memories.
“I asked Linglong many times why she created me, but she never answered. I eventually understood—it was for two reasons.”
The woman, unable to contain her curiosity, asked, “What?”
The Beast God simply replied, “Immortality!”
“Immortality?” the woman echoed, surprised.
The Beast God nodded, “Indeed. You find it amusing, don’t you? But that was her goal. At the time, Linglong’s witchcraft surpassed that of the ancients, and she had no equal. The Witch Clan revered her as a deity. In her boredom, she sought a new challenge. It is similar to the pursuits of those in the Middle Earth, but the mystery of immortality is a divine truth. Though she was extraordinarily wise, she could not solve it. Finally, she resorted to non-human methods.”
“Non-human…”
“Humans have a limited lifespan, even those who achieve cultivation can only live a few centuries longer. But non-human entities often have longer lifespans, and the primordial energy and malevolent forces of the universe are eternal. Realizing this, she diligently researched and, from that lifeless void, created me.”
“She was truly remarkable…” the woman murmured.
The Beast God chuckled, “Yes, she was. From the moment I opened my eyes, I saw her. For countless years, she was the only person in my world. As I took form, being born of malevolent energy, I naturally absorbed the surrounding energy, growing stronger.”
“But she seemed uneasy, her gaze less affectionate. When my power finally matched hers, she never smiled at me again.”
“I was confused, not knowing why. I didn’t understand why my power grew so quickly, but it meant nothing to me. I only wanted to be with her.”
“You could have told her,” the woman interjected.
“I did, many times. It was like a child pleading with a mother. But she never believed me!” he said, a faint smile fading from his lips.
The woman fell silent, and the Beast God, lost in memory, also remained quiet.
The flames continued to burn in the brazier, flickering in the air, as if breathing.
Time seemed to pause in the darkness, listening.
The past was frozen in memory, slowly melting away, vanishing.
Who could reclaim it?
Was it you, or me? Or were we all merely runners in the passage of time, chasing shadows, growing old, and disappearing into the darkness…
“Finally, one day, I no longer wanted to stay in that room with only her. I wanted to go outside. That day, she left and did not return. I broke her seal, opened the door, and stepped out.”
“There were many, many, many people… but everyone screamed in fear and ran away. I panicked, then grew angry. A surge of malevolence rose within me. At that moment, a dozen warriors attacked me. I defended myself, retreating, not wanting to fight, regretting my actions. I only wanted to be with Linglong, to see the world outside…”
“I pleaded, I explained, but no one listened. Until I accidentally killed the first man…”
Silence reigned for a long time.
“That young warrior hung from my hands, his head drooping, blood flowing from his body. I was stunned, and so were the others. Then they attacked more fiercely, and in their shouts, I heard cries in the distance—his family mourning. I didn’t know, but when I saw the blood, something changed in me. The desire to kill enveloped me. I didn’t want to kill, but I couldn’t control it, so I did, I killed them.”
“I killed many, many people…” the Beast God lowered his head, but his voice continued.
“I stood in the pool of blood, not knowing how long, slowly regaining clarity. Then, I saw Linglong returning, surrounded by a crowd. She stared at me, her face pale, and I was afraid. I felt I had made a mistake, but I didn’t know what I had done wrong…”
“Then, Linglong attacked me. I refused to fight back, hoping to explain, to promise never to leave the room again, to be with her forever. I said this over and over, but she never listened.”
“Her witchcraft was far superior to the ordinary warriors. Soon, my body was riddled with wounds, but each injury healed by absorbing the surrounding malevolence. With each blow, my power grew. Finally, Linglong realized this, her face turning ashen, despair in her eyes.”
The Beast God still smiled, recalling, but with a hint of pain: “I began to feel her hatred. She used all her witchcraft against me, and though my body was indestructible, my heart hurt. So, I ran. Everyone I encountered was terrified. I later learned that, to them, I was a monstrous sight.”
He patted Tāotie, “I was even more hideous than this beast.”
“Fleeing Linglong, I hid in the Ten Thousand Mountains. I found this cave and stayed, but I wanted to return to her. When I did, I was met with this array.”
The flames in the brazier crackled, as if responding to the Beast God’s story.
“I never imagined such terrifying power. Linglong used the Mystic Fire Mirror to create the Eight Fiendish Mystic Fire Array, summoning the Infernal Fire Dragons. Under their searing flames, even my undying body was severely wounded, my form destroyed.”
“I pleaded with Linglong, telling her I only wanted to be with her, but she wouldn’t listen, intent on burning me. I fled, returning to this cave. I didn’t understand why she did this, but I was determined to be with her.”
“Recovering quickly with the malevolent energy of the Ten Thousand Mountains, I planned to seek her again, but she found me. She brought seven warriors, and she personally entered the cave to find me.”
“I wasn’t surprised. I was her creation. Who else could understand and defeat me? But I didn’t understand her. I said so much, but she wouldn’t listen. This time, she answered: it was her fault for creating such a monster. My nature, born of malevolent energy, would bring destruction if I lived. She didn’t want that for the world.”
“I tried to explain, that I only wanted to be with her, but she only smiled sadly, saying she believed me, but wondered what would happen if she died.”
In the ancient cave, a distant, dark sigh echoed, for the tragedy of a million years ago, but did anyone still remember the tears shed then?
“I was stunned, my mind blank. I knew I was undying, but I never thought Linglong could die. I still remember her pale smile, with tears falling. She activated the array again, destroying my form, but she couldn’t destroy the malevolent essence.”
“After the array, she was severely weakened, but I asked her, ‘Why did you do this?'”
“This time, she said nothing.”
“She set up the array in the cave, binding me, constantly burning. Whenever the malevolent energy returned, the flames would consume it. In the end, she looked at me, asking if I had any final wishes.”
The Beast God chuckled, “Wishes? My only wish was to be with her. So, I asked, ‘Why can’t I be with you?’ Linglong, looking down, said, ‘Because you are not human, not a living being. We cannot be together.'”
“In the flames, I shouted, ‘Then, let me be human!'”
His voice rose, shouting to the cave ceiling, “Let me be human!…”
A thunderous rumble echoed, the walls trembling, stones falling, the sound deafening.
Amid the dust, the Beast God lowered his head.
“What happened next?” the woman in the darkness asked.
“…She seemed stunned, motionless for a long time. I endured the flames, my spirit broken. But she suddenly stood, stopped the array, and approached me. I watched, not knowing what she intended.”
“She whispered, ‘I’m sorry.’ Then, she… began chanting a long, arcane spell, drew a knife, and… cut herself…”
“What?” the woman exclaimed in shock.
“I was stunned, no, terrified, not understanding. Slowly, Linglong used her flesh and bones to build a human skeleton, placing me on it. As her spell intensified, I merged with the skeleton, my consciousness fading.”
“I heard her voice, growing fainter, saying this was the last thing she could do. If someone found five holy relics and placed them in the skeleton, I would be reborn, but as a human, no longer undying.”
“She said her pursuit of immortality, defying the natural order, led to her creating a monster, and then loving it. Her actions caused countless deaths and brought calamity to the world. By harming me, she added to her sins. She said, ‘I will always be with you…’
I never understood this.
Until, after a million years, I was reborn, standing at the entrance of the ancient cave.
The statue, weathered by the elements, still gazing into the depths of the cave.
I held her.
And I understood.
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