Ji Tian

For days, maybe weeks, Ji Tian was unwilling to wake up, perhaps out of a subconscious rejection of his sudden identity.

"I am merely a wisp of that person's divine sense imprint, an Artifact Spirit that slowly gained sentience. I am the soul of this 'Heaven Devouring Halberd.' My divine sense was shattered, and along with the residual bones of that person's right arm, I was sealed away. Must I remain in this sunless place forever?"

A voice, seemingly from ancient times, echoed in his mind, slow and deep.

"You're awake. It's been tens of thousands of years; the world must have changed a great deal."

"Who are you? Why are you in my divine sense?"

"You and I, you could say we are one. You could say we are both just wisps of remnant souls now. I am a wisp of remnant soul left in this bone arm when it was sealed. You are also a wisp of remnant soul left by that person in the weapon, who later developed consciousness."

"No, I am not that person. I am myself. I am the life born from this halberd. Why should I continue that person's pain and helplessness? I want to be myself, even if I am just an Artifact Spirit."

"What's the point? What can we change?" A black bone arm materialized before Ji Tian's eyes, radiating a power that could seemingly destroy the world, causing his newly formed soul to tremble precariously.

The divine sense of the bone arm sighed again, "Even if we can break this seal, this might only be the first layer. The seal is indeed a bit weak. I always feel that we are not simply sealed within a forbidden zone and formations. I can still sense a terrifying presence."

"Rather than a muddled existence, I'd rather fight for something brilliant. As long as I try my best, I'll have no regrets even if I die."

"Fine. Perhaps I think too much, worry too much. The Heavenly Dao is too powerful. Even its complete form couldn't... It disheartened me, leaving me to muddle along until now. Since you have such spirit, why should I begrudge this condensed soul power? I will help you. At worst, my soul will be scattered. I will first impart the 'Mysterious Ghost Yin Yang Art' to help you solidify your divine sense and cultivate the Spiritual Ghost Body."

Ji Tian repeatedly practiced the Mysterious Ghost Yin Yang Art, continuously absorbing energy and spiritual power from within the formation, constantly solidifying his body. It was a body condensed from spiritual power, existing between the ethereal and the real, capable of forming and dispersing at will.

The Mysterious Ghost Yin Yang Art was actually a cultivation method for ghosts born from heaven and earth. Later, some powerful beings modified this technique to nurture ghosts, then forcibly infused them into magical treasures to forge treasures with Artifact Spirits.

The first step was to cultivate the Spiritual Ghost Body, refining essence into energy, absorbing all obtainable energy in the world, elemental forces, the power of the five elements, or even negative energy, Yin energy, and resentment. This was called "Qi Induction." Only after Qi Induction and body formation could the soul be protected, preventing its scattering.

Next, one could condense the primordial core, refining the self-generated energy that protected the soul, making it substantial and forming a core that could continuously provide energy. This was called "Core Condensation." Once the primordial core grew and a nascent soul formed, one would enter the second step, "Qi Refinement into Spirit." At the Core Condensation stage, one would already possess means and abilities for attack.

Ji Tian had just entered this stage, still relying on a wisp of soul power refined from the black residual bones. He stood up and bowed to the Daoist manifested from the bone arm, saying, "Thank you!" He then transformed into a ball of light mist and merged into the Heaven Devouring Halberd.

The Daoist reverted to his true form, a broken black bone arm. With his five fingers spread, he grabbed the Heaven Devouring Halberd, raised it, and slashed towards a point in the surroundings. This slash was not a single strike but nine strikes in an instant!

Nine beams of light merged into one, forming an unimaginably blood-red radiance. It struck directly at a weak point formed over tens of thousands of years. Instantly, a dazzling light screen appeared, dispersing the attacking power. However, the connection point already had a crack.

Even with a crack, it remained intact. At this moment, the Daoist roared, mobilizing all his soul power, and uttered strange syllables, as if communicating with the power within the Heaven Devouring Halberd. Instantly, a dragon within the Heaven Devouring Halberd raised its head, poised to fly. As the halberd swung, nine consecutive forces surged out from it, like nine red giant dragons. Under the powerful force of these nine red beams, the light screen paused. It was immediately torn open at the crack, and after severing the crack, it directly entered within. With a bang, it struck the light screen. Large ripples immediately appeared, spreading along the light screen. In an instant, everything within became distorted. The nine giant dragons swam wildly in all directions. In almost an instant, the previously connected circular crack was forcefully opened into a gap.

A world-shattering sound, which caused the surrounding smaller cracks to collapse, suddenly echoed in the narrow space.

Ji Tian looked around at the world in a daze. The outside world was red, filled with boundless malevolence and churning blood. This only deepened his loneliness and coldness. To break through this layer of restriction, the black bone arm fell into a deep slumber again. Only he remained in this world, alone. He was determined to fight against the heavens, unwilling to be sealed, but what could he do? How could he change things?

How powerful was the Heavenly Dao? How could he resist it?

Ji Tian knew that cultivating the path of a ghost immortal was extremely perilous, completely defying the heavens. It was even more so than the path of a demon. The Heavenly Dao maintained balance, often bringing forth numerous tribulations. A single misstep could lead to eternal damnation.

Ji Tian stared blankly at the blood-red sky, muttering to himself, a wave of sadness rising in his heart. Should he beg the heavens to spare him, or plead for the Heavenly Dao's mercy? He had escaped one cage only to enter a larger one.

The Heavenly Dao had actually used a sea of blood to suppress him. He tried to float upwards, but some force always pulled him down, dragging him towards the bottom of the blood sea.

Was he destined to be sealed quietly, or to be refined by a destined person, continuing his mission as a weapon? His main body remained within that restriction, waiting for a destined person? Was fate truly making him deviate from his original path to walk another? Yet, why did he feel like something was missing?

What was to become of this black residual arm, now shrunk to the size of a pendant after losing its soul power? Ji Tian walked on, lost, questioning his inner self. Perhaps it was due to memory loss that he felt less chaotic and confused.

Blood light shone, accompanied by endless tranquility and indifference. At the bottom of this blood sea lay a peculiar space. Was it a comfort to him, a gift from heaven?

Ji Tian transformed into a mass of energy, carried by the wind. Everything around him seemed unrelated to him.

These were the spirits of deceased beings in the world, all weak ghosts. They were drawn by the blood sea and drifted here, barely surviving in this space.

These ghosts were not entirely peaceful. Where there were living beings, there was the law of the jungle. Everywhere there was murder and arson, robbery and looting. There were also fox spirits causing trouble and evil spirits harming people.

What did all this have to do with him? What could he change? He was, after all, just a ghost. Abandoned by the Heavenly Dao, unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation. But who knew if there was even a cycle of reincarnation now?

"Heh heh... Heh heh, a ghost without thoughts. Good luck! Devour him, and my strength will surely grow again. Then I can expand my territory, haha..." A black shadow suddenly lunged at the dazed Ji Tian.

At this moment, a section of black bone arm floated out from Ji Tian's embrace and instantly shot towards the black mist, devouring it madly. The black mist immediately struggled, yelping repeatedly, trying to escape. The black bone arm, like a whale sucking water, swept away the black mist completely. A voice appeared out of thin air: "Although the soul power is a bit mixed, it's far better than having none. Using soul power forcefully this time means I'll be asleep for a while longer."

Ji Tian continued to drift forward blankly, not even noticing the black bone arm flying out and returning. The black bone arm knew that sometimes, one had to overcome their own inner demons themselves, otherwise, it might be counterproductive. At this moment, Ji Tian was even more deeply mired in avoidance than when he was lost before. If he could figure it out himself, he would possess the character of a strong person, and only then would he have value. Otherwise, it was better not to wake him up at all.

The surrounding ghosts who were still lingering were terrified. What was that thing? How could it be so terrifying? Escape! The ghosts that had instinctively wanted to devour Ji Tian fled in all directions.

Ji Tian had suffered a calamity for no reason and narrowly escaped another in a daze. He continued his ceaseless drifting, oblivious to day or night.

Fate would always follow its normal course; even if it deviated, there was a correcting force.

In a daze, Ji Tian saw the familiar red light from tens of thousands of years ago again, the light that had accompanied him through countless years. However, the pressure it exerted on him remained the same. His divine sense involuntarily began to impact and condense again.

This was a gray space, slightly different from the pitch-black space he was in before, but the unsettling, oppressive aura was the same.

Ji Tian cried out in his heart: "I want to get out..."

Ji Tian's divine sense repeatedly impacted the space he had constructed, his inner roar growing stronger. What was he afraid of? Why was he staying here? This oppressive place seemed safe.

Why was his heart not at peace? What was he searching for?

Freedom. He had already gained freedom, so why was he trapping himself?

What was he confused about?

Failure. He hadn't even tried, so how could he fail?

I want to control my own destiny, even if it defies the heavens and is not tolerated by heavenly principles. Aren't all cultivators defying the heavens? Why should I be so hesitant? Even if I perish in defiance, what is there to fear? Haha.

If the heart has no place to rest, one is a wanderer everywhere. My heart wants to control my own destiny, cultivate myself, regardless of heaven or earth.