Celestial Peak

The family of the past, was the family he had previously failed to protect. He already saw his family die once, killed in front of him and despite it not being his entirely his fault, he still regret it to the point he carried it to his second life.

The second chance he got in life was spent trying to reach an apex of power in order to get some form of redemption. 

However, what he got when he neared that peak, when walked that path to the apex was another mistake that will to the death of who knows how many. 

The world, no, the universe will be filled with blood and it will be his fault. He did not care about those people, but the start of the ma.s.sacre will be at this realm, the realm where peace was supposed to be built on.

w.a.n.g Ling"s body was already destroyed, his ligaments, muscles, and even soul is on the verge of collapsing. Yet his foundation is standing tall and proud. The implosion was not enough to destroy it, not even shake the foundation that the cosmos had laid down.

w.a.n.g Ling wished for one thing and one thing alone, it is to kill. So, the voice in his body, in his own being answered the only wish he had ever made in this life. 

Strength flowed into his foundation and then into his veins and meridians. Slowly, he got up, chaos filled his body, but it was a silent flow, not a chaotic rus.h.i.+ng of a river. His hands began to tremble and it became a sword. 

A burst of strength appeared from his soul, the black obsidian mark began to show and the golden mark began to glow. And before the Gray Figure could even notice what is happening, his body jerked and the hand which turned into a sword blended with his serene chaos qi and plunged it to the still regenerating heart of the Gray Figure.

The Gray Figure, whose name had yet to be uttered had its eyes widen as he saw the hand of w.a.n.g Ling pierce his body. The body that had yet to reach its peak in terms of regeneration and power was pierced by the hand of chaos. 

He turned around, slowly, trying to see the eyes of the ones who slew him. He turned around, and saw w.a.n.g Ling. He looked into his eyes and stared at his broken soul, he smiled for he could see the light of the previous Emperor glaring back at him.

It was a surprise, he smiled, thinking he too had used the same trick as he did.

Surviving in the stream of qi, trying to find a way in order to see the light of life once more. But unlike the Gray Figure, he was hiding in the depths of the blood as to not become another variable in the world that no longer needs his presence.

"So, he chose to disappear, it is the right thing that one should do, sadly, that is not the path I wish to take." 

The chaos qi which he gathered in his body began to tremble. He was not strong enough to contain his form after having been hit by a strike with chaos.

The Gray Figure showed a smile.

"Sadly, you still failed."

w.a.n.g Ling exchanged gazes with the nameless Gray Figure. The body of the Gray Figure began to bloat up, it began to swell, the tissue that had been forming changed and became like a balloon. 

The qi of h.e.l.l, Heaven, and Chaos began to mix and refused to harmonize. It will soon explode and disappear. 

w.a.n.g Ling frowned. The body of the Gray Figure continued to swell as the barrier of chaos surrounding the Red Lands began to disappear. 

He frowned deeper, the qi that had been bestowed upon him by the voice was fading, he only has one more move in order end it all. He called upon the Blood Seeking Sword from his storage ring and channeling his qi to his Human Blood Essence, he plunged the sword to the dirt and a golden wall circling him and the Gray Figure"s swelling body.

"So, you found the Gate of Heaven? I didn"t think it would survive the test of time. I supposed you are ready to end your life? I scanned through your mind once, I saw your end, you destroyed your Blood Essence and turned to dust, are not afraid of death?"

w.a.n.g Ling nodded his head at the comment of the voice in his head. He began to think, he looked at the swelling Gray Figure, and after contemplating over his decisions, w.a.n.g Ling smiled.

"I do not, but I still wish to live longer. At least, I wished to say my goodbyes to my family, the ones who took care of "w.a.n.g Ling" in this life. And I wish to say, thank you for granting me the chance to forgive myself."

w.a.n.g Ling"s Blood Essence began to deplete, it was burning off quiver than an oil lamp. He looked at the skies and heard footsteps coming his way. He turned around and saw Bai Xue coming his way.

He was weak, but he smiled, he looked at her tear-stained face and reminisced of the past.

Bai Xue saw his state, she could feel his life essence to be poor. It was depleting a very fast rate, she wished to break the Golden Light, but w.a.n.g Ling raised his hands, saying.

"Do not try, it will not break. Also, even if I undo it, I will die shortly after."

"What the h.e.l.l are you saying? LING!"

"I am sorry, but it seems like this is my end. As I meet my end, can I please ask "you" to show me the real "you"? If I am wrong, I know that you are not the one who had been with me in my travels, please, let me meet her one more time."

Enclosed by the Golden Light, w.a.n.g Ling"s voice was still clear to the ear and his request got through to "Bai Xue" and for the first time in years, the familiar aura and the familiar tone of voice emerged from the mouth of Bai Xue.

"So, you are going to die?"

She sat down, stared at w.a.n.g Ling and asked the question as if it was not something that concerned her all the while her heart began to tighten.

w.a.n.g Ling heard her cold response and he smiled thinking that this was truly her.

"I supposed I was correct. Well, to answer your question, I should have already died, but luckily, I am still here. Sooner or later, I will die, it is only a matter of time. Xue...I am sorry...but, can I asks you a favour?"

"What are you apologizing for? You have done nothing wrong, I need no apology from you...just say your favour, one last time, I will do complete that favour."

"Thank you..." 

w.a.n.g Ling looked at Bai Xue and opened his mouth. Tears fell from his eyes and Bai Xue let her tears gush. She listened to his words and as his words ended, Bai Xue watched w.a.n.g Ling get devoured by the explosion brought upon the by the Gray Figure.

His Human Blood Essence continued to burn, burning away at his life as it tried to preserve the barrier in order to keep the world intact. By the time the golden light dissipated was the time w.a.n.g Ling"s death was confirmed.

As her tears fell, she watched w.a.n.g Ling die. No matter what her feelings towards him was, whether it be companions.h.i.+p, or love he will remember him as the one who stand by her side. 

She watched his end, she cried. The two Kings stood by her side for some time, observing the area where w.a.n.g Ling died, they looked at the burnt ground and tried sensing the lingering qi.

They spoke only one line.

"He still lives." 

They spoke not of w.a.n.g Ling, but the one who was with him inside the Golden Light.

Bai Xue said no words, the five beings who called her mother watched back, unable to approach her or comfort her.

Three hours later, the people of the w.a.n.g Family appeared. From w.a.n.g Ling"s Mother to his nephews he barely got to know.

Xiao Fei"er stood before Bai Xue, asking where her son was. The promised he had spoken about returning had been left unfulfilled.

Bai Xue can see her eyes, turning red. In Xiao Fei"er"s heart she was already aware of the answer, but she waited for Bai Xue"s confirmation as she tried to cling to a single thread of hope that she was wrong.

But as Bai Xue opened her mouth and say, "He died." 

Tears fell, not only Xiao Fei"er"s and the members of the w.a.n.g family but also Bai Xue"s. They cried and sobbed, cultivators they may be but they found it painful trying to catch their breath as the truth settled in.

Bai Xue began to choke up, her strong front that sent w.a.n.g Ling off was broken down in front of the mother who had just lost her son. Bai Xue cried, she cried and cried without trying to stop the flow of her tears.

She cried, she cried without stopping. Her wails echoed throughout the forest, and once all settled down, Bai Xue recited the final words of w.a.n.g Ling...

"In this world, nothing is constant and nothing will remain stagnant. My life will end but do not be saddened for it is my choice. The time I spent with my family is something of a blessing I cannot thank enough. My world that only had red from the blood of my enemies blossomed as a sapling of happiness finally sprouted a leaf.

"The meaning of death I know too much, but the meaning of a joyful life I know none. But spending it with my family, companions, and friends I grew to understand what they are. This life is a blessing, it may have not lasted over hundreds of years, but it had already surpa.s.sed 70,000 years.

"A life spent with smiles I found it already. But, I was blinded by the idea of strength, that I lost track of what I am searching for, the apex of power I have been trying to reach had long been reached, and in my last moments did I understand that the thing I am searching for is no longer the apex but people who will join me on that peak.

"I have reached the peak of Celestial and should have stopped when I could. 

"Alas, I have found myself dying, in this life.

" Will never tread upon this land nor will I ever see you again, but know that wherever I may be, I wish for your prosperity and health to never meet its end.

"Father, Mother, Yue"er, Hong"er, Xue, Renhuo, and everyone who stood by my side—thank you."

The flow of time will not end, the cycle of life and death will continue without fail. As life had been taken, another chance will blossom in the next.

And as wars waged in every corner of the universe a voice in the deep void echoed.

"I shall now grant you your wish."

A broken light flickered in the void, the light was dissipating but a hand ever so gently caressed it and placed it near its chest. Trying to give it the warmth it wished to have.

The dissipating light gained its l.u.s.ter and once again, it disappeared with the man.

The path of the man who wished to conquer the apex had already been fulfilled, the path he took has ended yet it is not yet complete. He wished for power yet the truth echoed in his heart, a chance, he wish for a chance to right the mistakes and be with them once more.

Thus, in one corner of the universe, he opened his eyes once more. .A third life, to finally start the second life he had wasted.

"I shall return."

END