Yan Zaizen tapped his finger. Despite his heavenly cultivation base being depleted, he still contained his true-essence. With his true-essence, he opened a portal into chaotic space. With a step, he entered.
Returning to the place he often regarded as home, his hidden emotions surged to the surface. He clenched his fist and felt like half of his soul had been taken. In truth, Yan Zaizen didn't regret his choices, but he hated his own weakness. Would Pinaka have been taken if he could call upon the winds and the rain within the omniverse?
If he was a Heavenly God or someone that rivaled the heavens, would he be subjected to such humiliation where his soul cultivation base was taken, his heavenly cultivation base was taken, and his woman was taken!
NO!
This was what he believed, even if it may not be exactly correct, this is what he believed.
"There is still so much I don't know. My cultivation base has just increased far too much, too quickly! I'm learning as I go, which is horrible and irresponsible." As he self-reflected, he understood his weakness: ignorance.
If he knew that tampering with the chains would've called upon a figure of hell, he could've appropriately weighed his choices. Not only that, he truly was ignorant of many things.
It was only a short while ago that he learned about the omniverse, heavenly clusters, and even other things which he had only glimpsed at, suh as that Celestial Relocation Order. What did that mean?
The Origin Path! Why did the Crimson Devil Heavenly Monarch, Dracula, feel the need to stop it? After all, could it have stopped such a powerful ritual? Even his devouring, consuming, exceeding black hole soul bloodline was unable to prevent that creature from finishing the ritual.
The Origin Path felt like a mystery, so did the Dao Path. He felt ignorant of his own paths! The only thing he had was an exceptionally untainted mind for the heavenly laws, being a Non-Entity. That and the black hole is the only reason he could stand where he was.
It wasn't enough.
He inspected his soul form thoroughly. It truly had dropped to the Nascent Soul Realm, even his aurora had vanished and his astral stars. The only thing that remained was a strand of crimson red that was swimming in his soul; it was the Asura Soul.
"Asura Soul…" As he thought about this soul, he furrowed his brows. He had a feeling that the law of soul in the heavens was profoundly flawed. No, it was undoubtedly flawed.
When he had stepped on the path of cultivation, Han Genji had informed him that the conventional soul path had five levels: Nascent, Aurora, Astral, Divine, and Immortal. However, he felt that divine and immortal was impossible!
It was nothing but a feeling, so he couldn't be certain. However, it felt as if this was because of a flaw in the heavenly laws. The true law of the soul, the essence of spirituality, was in hell. This was his belief.
When he comprehended the law of Samsara, he no longer felt like he was drawing power or seeing the heavens, but the universe that was collapsed. Perhaps this universe was the true hell?
Pondering this, he just felt helpless. All he had was instinctual feelings and they were too vague to draw any concrete conclusions. He could only place this question aside and revisit another day.
He continued inspecting himself, discovering that his Fiendgod cultivation, his vital energy, was untouched. However, it was still only at the level of a rank two Fiendgod, equivalent to a second-floor Heavenly Genesis expert. As for his physical body, he was still extraordinarily powerful.
"That's a relief...haaa…" At least he wasn't powerless. As for his heavenly cultivation base, it was truly drained. There was only the pyramid foundation and nothing else. Luckily, the black hole still swirled at its base, so no damage was done.
"I spent so many resources…" He felt depressed. The amount of wealth he lost was extraordinary. Because his heavenly shrine converted any heavenly material into mimicry heavenly source, it required far more to create a single strand. Therefore, if the losses could be calculated, even the entire Lycan Race would weep, let alone Yan Zaizen.
"My False Grand Dao is stable, and my law avatars are untouched. Good." After seeing his current condition, it could've been worse. He had his soul bloodline, so all he needed was soul materials to re-cultivate.
Unfortunately, he used it all earlier to ascend…
"It's not that bad." He exited chaotic space, his eyes brilliant as he could see the two comets and sword domain still traveling. He didn't cultivate in Chaotic Space. If he did, he could forget about the time and waste it unknowingly. Therefore, he sat in the lotus position and comprehended the essence of the heavenly laws.
It only took a few minutes before Ezekiel returned. In his hands were an unconscious beauty, her cultivation thoroughly sealed and her soul unconscious. He had a calm look in his eye, a hint of relief and a profound sense of achievement.
Yan Zaizen looked at him, his eyes calm as well. From the story earlier, this Ariel had caused Ezekiel to be pushed to the brink, with the intent to wipe out his existence. It was truly cruel. If she didn't like Ezekiel, couldn't she have just told him?
However, he felt the situation was a little more complicated, and indeed it was. Yan Zaizen couldn't see the full picture, so his entire perception would naturally be skewed to Ezekiel's story, but he wasn't too naive. There were many sides to every story.
For example, him and Ya Qinqan. If he had told an outsider his plight, how she accepted his resources, let him live in his delusion of them together, and married another, many would lean towards him. However, in truth, it was his own stupidity that led to the situation.
Even Ya Qinqan wasn't willing to marry another, her path decided by her clan and his clan, who was stronger at the time. Her actions weren't wrong. Anyone will accept charity, but why must they give their everything back?
Just because Yan Zaizen gave his disciples resources willingly, it didn't mean they owed him their lives. Therefore, she didn't owe him anything but gratitude, nor did he expect her to. Perhaps if he had been talented, his acts would've been worthy enough to win her heart, but he wasn't.
Looking at Bai Lufeng, he felt emotional. He was someone who outlived his wife and son, even his other descendants. If he had married Ya Qinqan and maintained his talent, wouldn't he die way before her? How sad would that be.
This fact is why people desired others who were as talented or more talented than them.
This situation and that situation may not be exactly similar, but they were two stories that had multiple points of view with many moving pieces. Yan Zaizen wouldn't foolishly believe in Ezekiel's side.
Ezekiel didn't care about Yan Zaizen's thoughts or judgments. "The Fortune Cemetery is fraught with perils and death, it is at the Heavenly Origin Grounds, thus...it will be difficult for you." Stating this, he looked towards Yan Zaizen deeply.
Yan Zaizen didn't understand all this nor did he care, but he shook his head. "Does it matter? You can get it. I'll wait."
"..." Ezekiel looked at Yan Zaizen, but his brows furrowed. "Impossible," he spat.
"...?" Yan Zaizen was taken aback. Was Ezekiel scared? Why did he say impossible?
Seeing Yan Zaizen still not understand, Ezekiel explained, "If I had my compass, entering the grounds would be possible. However, one can only enter the Heavenly Origin Grounds once in their existence. I've entered with my race before. Only with the compass can I bypass this restriction." After explaining, Ezekiel took off towards one of the mobile realms. Behind him, Dai'Ya and Bai'Ya were behind him, following like loyal servants.
Yan Zaizen immediately stepped forward and followed, arriving beside Ezekiel with a tinge of anger in his eyes. "So, send one of them to enter!" Yan Zaizen felt his tone turn murderous, if it were during other times, Yan Zaizen wouldn't have cared, but this time Pinaka's life was on the line.
"Impossible." Ezekiel calmly responded, ignoring Yan Zaizen's reaction. "They've already entered. Everyone I trust to obtain the compass has already gone. It's either you or no one." Ezekiel seemed to care nothing of his lost body, which made sense, but what about his armament?
"You're saying that you'll leave your body and things there?" Yan Zaizen questioned angrily.
"No. My sword is here." Ezekiel swiped his hand and a sword that seemed to contain chaos within appeared. "That's all that matters." Ezekiel blandly said. This armament was connected to his soul, it and his soul was one and the same. Regardless of where it was, it would exist as part of his soul. When Yan Zaizen had devoured him, this sword still existed because his soul existed.
"..." Feeling beyond frustrated, Yan Zaizen felt the desire to send Ezekiel flying, but his intent was read and the lights of his two bodyguards' eyes shined. They looked at Yan Zaizen. If he acted, they would respond immediately.
Coldly snorting at their gazes, Yan Zaizen intensely stared at Ezekiel. "Fine. How do I find the compass?" If this is how it's going to be, then so be it. He would find the compass alone.
Ezekiel smiled, "Here." He tossed a silver coin towards Yan Zaizen. This coin had two sides, both of which were directional arrows of the east and the west. "If you can obtain it, then it's yours. Think of it as a gift for saving my life."
Yan Zaizen felt that this coin held the missing arrows to the compass...it was probably how one controls it. "Was this how he found me?"
Ezekiel flicked his finger and released a beam of spiritual sense. In this beam was the method of how to locate the compass and use it once obtained. Yan Zaizen received the spiritual sense and pondered. Without this coin, using the compass was near certain death. Yan Zaizen felt somewhat relieved for trusting his instincts during the sub-realm collapse.
"...how do I get to the Fortune Cemetery?" He didn't even want to talk to Ezekiel any longer, wanting to find the compass quickly and navigate to hell.
"Dai'Ya, take him," Ezekiel ordered.
Dai'Ya quietly nodded, pushing his palm outwards to the right and constructed a spatial vortex. Yan Zaizen looked at the vortex and realized it led to the spatial void. Dai'Ya entered.
He looked towards Ezekiel, his eyes flickering. It seems he had his own path now, no longer weighed down by his revenge. However, while Ezekiel's revenge had concluded, his had JUST begun!
"I wonder if we'll meet again." Whispering this with complex emotions, he entered the spatial vortex after Dai'Ya.