The Choice

Ji Tian quickly gathered the Soul Flames scattered on the ground, praying it wouldn't be burned to ashes by that strange fire, as it was the source of its cultivation. Then, it scanned its surroundings. Seeing no threats, it hid deep within the stone forest and began to refine the Soul Flames.

After some time, a brilliant purple light suddenly erupted from the stone forest. Ji Tian discovered that only by absorbing Soul Flames of the purple level or higher could it have a significant effect. Its Core Elixir underwent a change, collapsing as if imploding. The gaseous Spiritual Power within rapidly compressed, and its Core Elixir itself shrank.

However, the Spiritual Power within completed its transformation from gaseous to liquid, becoming like an ocean of Spiritual Power. But its black color made Ji Tian feel uncomfortable; it wasn't entirely dead, with occasional black ripples appearing. Strange patterns appeared above the Core Elixir, like mysterious runes, shimmering with a purple glow.

It hadn't noticed them before because they were too faint. The flames Ji Tian burned with its Spiritual Power had been influenced by these patterns, turning purple.

Ji Tian felt these patterns were of great origin and beyond its comprehension. Perhaps it should hide them.

And its Core Elixir, too, must not be exposed. This was a peculiar phenomenon within this sealed space.

It could simulate the state of Soul Flames. Its Spiritual Power was fully capable of supporting this, which could also confuse opponents.

Through the Soul Flames of the Flying Demonic Tiger, Ji Tian learned the growth method of the Undead: devouring. There was no other way.

Purple Soul Flames were a threshold in cultivation. Once broken through, one could refine the Malevolent Qi and Killing Qi within the space, forming Nether Mist. This served as a form of protection and also an offensive method.

This Nether Mist could incorporate various negative emotions such as oppression, death, coldness, chilling dread, and decay, based on the refiner's emotions, affecting opponents and even directly refining them into puppets.

The Flying Demonic Tiger was once a subordinate of a Black Flame level Skeleton King. However, that Skeleton King was annihilated by a Golden Flame Level Skeleton Emperor, who finished it off with a single palm strike. The other skeletons were either killed or fled.

Unable to withstand the oppressive aura of the Golden Flame Skeleton Emperor, it fell into a dark abyss and trembled, but it managed to escape.

Afterward, it fled and began to act as a tyrant in this area.

Scattered skeletons, mostly broken, could be seen everywhere on the vast black land.

The entrance to the Flying Demonic Tiger's cave was almost piled high with crushed bones, which were the remains of the prey they hunted.

The dark cave had stone walls filled with the marks of time, covered in cracks, its age unknown. Faint green light spots drifted within.

The cave was empty, with nothing special except for some broken bones.

In a corner of the cave, some items were piled haphazardly: a few black stones, the most ordinary kind; a withered branch; and half a skull.

Ji Tian glanced at them and lost interest; they were too common.

Wait, among them were things the Flying Demonic Tiger had brought from the deep mountains, things the Flying Demonic Tiger considered ordinary.

Right, that withered branch.

In the Flying Demonic Tiger's memory, it had discovered a cave in the deep abyss containing a peculiar plant: a black bamboo. However, the bamboo was already dead and was easily severed by the Flying Demonic Tiger's Wind Blades.

It also remembered there seemed to be an invisible barrier, and it found itself unable to enter.

Although it felt there were treasures inside, perhaps even treasures that attracted the Skeleton Emperor.

Ji Tian murmured, "I must visit this place. I have a feeling that what's there will make this trip worthwhile."

Ji Tian picked up the withered bamboo and examined it closely. There was nothing special about it.

But Ji Tian was unwilling to give up. Any plant that could grow in the Withered Bone Mountain Range should not be underestimated; even a withered one would be a treasure.

At this moment, the Black Remnant Bone, which had been dormant within its body, stirred slightly.

It was as if the bamboo also sensed the presence of the Remnant Bone. It instantly shattered, scattering the bone fragments it encased, which then surged towards the Black Remnant Bone.

The Black Remnant Bone transmitted intermittent Spiritual Sense.

"To actually form a Bamboo Spirit and condense bone fragments... unfortunately, the seal was too strong, and it eventually fell into slumber."

Ji Tian now knew what was sealed in the deep abyss.

"Alas, it's tough for you. The path to growth is incredibly arduous. Although cultivation is not easy, there is still hope."

"But your cultivation is too slow. I can help you advance one level, but you must help me find the Remnant Bone."

Ji Tian remained silent. It had said it wouldn't live for others, that it would be itself. It feared no hardship or exhaustion.

"I know what you're thinking. You can be yourself; no one is forcing you. But the path of cultivation is exceedingly difficult. I truly don't want you to perish midway, as we are one."

"You don't want to borrow the might of predecessors, but have you considered it? Do you only know the outside world? Ten thousand years have passed. The powerhouses of the Primordial Era have been gestating for ten thousand years. They are about to emerge. You don't even have the ability to protect yourself, yet you talk about survival."

Ji Tian murmured, "I don't want to be that person again, I don't want to..."

"Are you willing to be mediocre, to be devoured by others like this? Do you remember that wisp of remnant soul that made you conscious?"

Ji Tian said sullenly, "I don't want to be mediocre, I want to be strong!"

"But with your current abilities, how can you establish yourself in the Primordial Era? Detached from your original body, you are just a pathetic ghost. Without innate powerful Soul Power, you can't accomplish anything. Even survival is a problem."

Ji Tian roared, "Why don't you continue his will yourselves? Why are you looking for me? I want to be myself!"

"We are not beings of this world and are not recognized by the Heavenly Dao. This is our predicament, so we need your help."

"What if I refuse?"

"No one is forcing you. I am confident you will make the right choice."

Ji Tian roared, "Never!"

"You will, you will." This voice continued to echo in Ji Tian's mind like a curse, driving it to the brink of madness.

"But how am I supposed to survive in this world? I am just a tiny Artifact Spirit. There is a legend circulating in this space."

Legend has it that the most powerful being in this space is not the Skeleton Emperor, but an Innate Deity. Although still gestating, the mere divine sense it released was unbearable for all Skeleton Emperors. The Skeleton Emperors submitted to it.

Its mission was also to guard the place where the Demon was sealed.

"Demon, haha, isn't this world just born of demons?" the Black Remnant Bone started rambling again.

"Heavenly Dao, don't you know that malevolent thoughts have already merged into this world? This world is cruel, filled with slaughter everywhere. Yes, eternal slaughter."

"This is originally a world of demons, a world of devils. Slaughter is the most correct path."

Ji Tian roared, "Why slaughter?"

"Haven't you already begun on the Way of Slaughter? Why ask me? You want to survive, you want to become strong. This is the reason for your slaughter. Aren't those skeletons killed by you?"

"Am I wrong?"

I have been cultivating this Way of Slaughter, am I wrong?

Ji Tian seemed to scare himself. He realized he had been slaughtering all along, yet he had always thought it was necessary.

If I don't kill others, I will be killed. If I don't kill others, I can only struggle miserably at the lowest level, perhaps without even a chance to struggle. Others won't give me that chance; I can only become their nourishment.

"Haha, you only need to cultivate the Way of Slaughter with me. Why bother with anything else? All living beings in this world are your targets for slaughter, the nourishment for your pursuit of the Great Dao. Even those born as gods cannot stop your path."

But is this my own path? A path of slaughter without any emotion, a heartless path of slaughter.

This world is all about killing and being killed. Does this world still have a reason to exist?

I don't know, I don't know.

What should I do, what should I do?

"In this world, there is no right or wrong. There is only eternal survival, or better survival. To survive, you must eliminate factors that hinder your survival. This is the essence of the Way of Slaughter. There is nothing to hesitate about. This world is inherently unfair; slaughter has always existed. Otherwise, why would this world have so much resentment, malevolent qi, and so many unwilling souls turning into ghosts, into the Skeleton Race?"

"They also wanted to survive. In their struggle for survival, they were killed by other beings who also wanted to survive. But they were unwilling, so they became ghosts after death."

"Why become ghosts? They simply wanted to continue existing in another form, but they still had to face the pressure of survival. So, they had to slaughter, otherwise, they could only wait to be devoured by others, to become their nourishment. It's all for survival."

Ji Tian's soul began to become unbalanced. He truly just wanted to survive, only to survive.

I also want to survive, so I chose slaughter. This is not my fault. I am surviving according to the will of the Heavenly Dao.

The Heavenly Dao nurtured me, so I must survive. I am not wrong.

Even learning the Way of Slaughter is not wrong; it is the will of heaven and earth.

Yes, I am following the will of the Heavenly Dao.