Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

"Your cultivation?" Yan Zaizen's eyes flashed with realization and acceptance as he faced Tao. Tao hadn't changed much outwardly but his cultivation was far from what he was before.

Tao was originally at the mid-True Essence Realm, but now...he had stepped solidly into the Heavenly Path. "You've built your second-floor?" Yan Zaizen was both happy and conflicted.

Tao could sense his conflict. After all, he had essentially experienced a coma, stagnating while others progressed. He was just as conflicted and happy as Yan Zaizen kept increasing in strength while his cultivation was slower than a crawl.

"Mm, I've built my second-floor using the Law of the Sword." With a smile, he walked up to Yan Zaizen and spread out his hands.

With a chuckle, Yan Zaizen hugged Tao. To him, it may have been an instant, but to Tao who didn't know about his life or death, he likely felt indescribable emotions. When they came into contact, Yan Zaizen sensed a familiar aura on Tao.

"You?" Shocked, he looked disbelievingly at Tao.

Laughing with vigor, Tao nodded, "I married Lang Xue. Who would've known?" When he said those words, he had a little pride in his eyes.

"..." Processing this information, Yan Zaizen felt like he fell into a new world. Tao had Lang Xue aura deeply entrenched into his own, this was an indication of constant dual cultivation of the body and soul. Not to mention, Lang Xue's primal yin was far more special than normal, linked to divine beasts and the gigantus race.

"Thanks to Xiuhei Sovereign, I was capable of shattering her binds and restriction, giving her and her race freedom. I've also become an Inner Disciple of the Violet Source Palace. Palace Lord Yan has been generous and accepted me." He explained.

After all, during the previous altercation, the Yun Clan's Patriarch tried to kill Yan Zaizen and was thusly killed by Zhou Xiuhei. They no longer had as much power as before.

"You've comprehended a spatial law on your own, exhibited incredible insight into space, and thus are a natural fit for the Violet Source Palace." Shi Yan calmly stated, giving credit where credit's due.

"It's because of my Brother's support and notes in cultivation that I could reach this step," humbly replying, he felt untold gratitude in his eyes.

Yan Zaizen was blank for a moment but then joyously laughed. "Good! Good!" He turned to Bai Lufeng and felt he was far different than before. His aura was nearly unfathomable.

"My life and my fate belongs to you Young Lord, I don't dare to join any force unless you agreed." Bai Lufeng had calm eyes radiating a dense sense of loyalty. Towards Yan Zaizen, he owed much. Too much.

Tao pat Bai Lufeng on the shoulder, "he's an absolute genius in cultivating the Soul Source Path. He's already reached the Advanced Astral Soul Realm."

"What?!" Truly startled, he swept his sense over Bai Lufeng and found it to be true. His soul energy and astral star formed were dense and powerful. Were they always this talented?

"You've all truly progressed while I napped. Already caught up and exceeded me." Despite saying those words, he was truly happy. His smile said it all and his eyes radiated his truest of feelings.

"How's your current state?" Zhou Xiuhei stepped forward and asked.

"I'm fine as far as I can tell." He wasn't truly certain and he was unsure why he slept for three thousand years, but he felt that, albeit on the surface he may not have changed, something at the very core of his existence has. He felt more like himself, no longer influenced by other things inducing a very conflicting feeling.

It could be explained that he no longer felt like an independent existence was pressing on his own. He couldn't explain it clearly, but that's how he felt.

"Good, the Earthly Beginning and Heavenly End Trials will start." Zhou Xiuhei may have said this calmly, but everyone could see the urgency in his eyes. It was faint but who here wasn't perceptive?

Shi Yan agreed, "Yes. We'll start it now." Waving his sleeves, a rift appeared. "We don't have much time to waste. If you feel odd, then inform us immediately." He directed to Yan Zaizen before entering the rift.

"Let's go." Zhou Xiuhei entered. Tao and Bai Lufeng waited for Yan Zaizen's orders. To them, he was still their Young Lord, their leader. Yan Zaizen felt a warmth permeate his heart.

"Go."

They entered the rift quickly.

Yan Zaizen stood in the hall alone. His emotions were complex. He missed so much. Tao's wedding, Bai Lufeng advancements, and who know how much more? What about his home? How was Lin Feilin? Shin Xuanji? The Yan Clan? Yao Wuhen? Ya...Qinqan?

Three thousand years. Three thousand whole years!

"What happened…?" Pinaka softly asked. Everyone glossed over Yan Zaizen's feelings. After all, what's three thousand years to a Heavenly cultivator minimum one hundred and fifty thousand years of life? It was a blip as one continued getting stronger. To some, it truly was a blink.

But to Yan Zaizen, it felt far more substantial. This was a portion of his life that he couldn't get back or experience. Life that he missed and choices snatched from him.

"I can barely remember much...but...I have the feeling that we're wrong." Yan Zaizen slowly said.

"Wrong? How?" Pinaka was slightly startled. She understood there were a few things she was ignorant of or misunderstood, so she was open to her mistakes. Just a while ago, she was ignorant of the True Spirit Path despite being born from it.

"I don't think my soul is artificial. I think...it's real, and...I don't think the black hole is a part of my soul." When he said those words, Pinaka was shocked. Continuing, "It may be a part of who I am at the core, my very existence. I...just don't know how that's the case."

"...soul reincarnation?" She offered after some pondering. In soul reincarnation, a person typically retains their soul shell and their core life, but the memories are repressed, not erased. This is done manually by powerful people interfering with the Samsara Cycle. Many, many Heavenly cultivators who reach an extraordinary prowess could do it.

Therefore, people could experience their past lives. Only when they undergo true Samsara, entering hell and being washed thoroughly does it begin anew.

"No." Shaking his head, he closed his eyes. "It's more than that. I just...don't know how." After saying those words, he felt a heavy weight on his heart. He recalled the voice at the end...the voice that said: "you must," but was interrupted.

It was soft but powerful.

Then his memories of 'himself' experiencing all those events and doing all those things. Slaughtering an army, ripping out one's own heart, and calmly enjoying the lake view with another 'him'.

When he explained all this to Pinaka, she was silent. Especially when he explained how he no longer felt that internal conflict affecting his mental state. It was like a slight tug had disappeared at the edge of his mind.

"The world is full of mysteries, and we strive to seek them. For now, we just need to continue down our path and search for answers. However, we must still live our own lives, don't lose sight of that." Pinaka warned. This was something her previous master lived by.

"Time...I will find out what I am! I swear it." Calmly swearing an oath, he strode through the spatial rift.