Chapter 00095: Awakening From a Dream
# Awakening From a Dream
Chapter 95
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 95: Awakening From a Dream
An endless light surged towards him, as if he had suddenly found himself on a broken bridge, standing at the edge of a deep chasm.
The past and the future lined up on either side of the present, both falling into the same darkness.
In the moment the brilliant essence of light erupted from the staff, Ji Jue's consciousness was swallowed by a torrent of events.
It felt like falling towards the true essence of all things or rising towards the core of heaven and earth.
His soul and perception expanded beyond his body, enveloping everything, turning the entire fractured realm into a part of himself.
When the prophet unraveled the last seal, the age-old mechanical descent of the gods finally reached its peak, fully covering the workshop and allowing Ji Jue to truly become the master of it all.
He was the rightful ruler of this fractured realm.
But there was no joy or happiness to be felt, only the endless cries of despair and screams.
From the past, from the present.
Amidst the ruins reflecting one another, under the shadow of the broken Celestial Tower, he gazed at the weeping figures continuously walking towards the abyss.
Turning back, he saw countless creations on the earth struggling futilely through the cycle of existence and death.
The same pain and despair lay to his left and right, like the two sides of a scale, yet they were intertwined at the same point, endlessly cycling in a hell that never ceased.
He needed to make a choice.
But why should he make a choice? Why did he have to seek value on one side amidst all this pain?
He wanted to question the prophet; what right did he have to show compassion? Was his essence, those hidden selfish desires, truly more noble than mercury?
Why did he believe he wouldn’t create hell?
But hell was right before his eyes.
The blood-red ocean churned, an endless tide of bitterness engulfing him.
His soul fell from the void, or perhaps rose, plunging into darkness.
In that darkness, he once again heard the rhythmic sound of a train striking the rails, as if it never stopped.
So familiar.
Ji Jue stood in front of the familiar carriage door, hearing the laughter from within.
He stood frozen.
It felt like someone was conversing cheerfully.
Abandoning the past, a mother held her child and set off on a journey back home, hoping to restart from the seaside under the sun.
During the monotonous journey, she regaled her child with ancient fairy tales.
Princes and princesses, dragons and thieves, witches and fairies, kings and knights…
Such a colorful world ignited light in the child's dim eyes, even the barren wilderness outside gleamed.
The sunset was radiant, the world felt gentle.
So beautiful, like a dream.
He was reluctant to break it.
Ji Jue quietly listened to the ripples stirred in distant memories, for a long time, until there were no more sounds behind the door.
On the carriage door, the dust fell away, silent and faded, cracking, collapsing.
Behind the door, in the shattered, twisted carriage, unextinguished flames rose from the wreckage, spreading, leaving only thick smoke.
He thought he saw that familiar figure, but her song seemed so distant.
It felt as if they were worlds apart.
No matter how Ji Jue ran, it seemed impossible to reach.
Again and again he ran, again and again he failed, even if he was being reckless.
He was utterly exhausted, lost in the ruins of flames and smoke, yet still stubbornly lingering.
He let the unquenchable flames ignite his body and soul, the ocean of pain and despair completely consuming everything.
Amidst the oppressive heat and rain of fire, he fell into the endless darkness of a deeper abyss.
But he remained fixated on the source of the song, unwilling to give up.
Until a tender little hand grasped his wrist.
“I’ve got you.”
A gentle voice rang out, so cheerful.
The darkness and the fall came to an abrupt end.
A soft breeze swept through the town square, and the distant sound of bells echoed.
Ji Jue looked around in confusion.
He seemed to awaken from his nightmare, yet he yearned to return to that torturous dream.
Even if he could just get a little closer, if he could see her eyes once more, if he could tell her… I miss you—he would be willing to pay any price!
Even if it meant creating hell…
But hell was right before him.
It was born from countless regrets and memories, its name was 'Unreachable.'
“You look so sad, big brother.”
On the square’s steps, a lonely girl, waiting, turned to look at him and extended her hand, generously offering him a bouquet of flowers: “Here, for you.”
The pure white flowers were still adorned with dew, which fell into Ji Jue’s hands.
So tender.
She stood amidst everything on the brink of destruction, like a phantom forgotten by time, gazing at all the reshaping and destruction, continuing through countless cycles of rebirth.
Looking at Ji Jue in front of her, she gently wiped the dust from his face, solemn and careful.
“So, you’re still here.” Ji Jue murmured softly.
“Of course,” the girl nodded as if it were a given, “Otherwise, it would be so lonely for her here.”
Among those past phantoms, the memories of old gleamed from time, surrounding her, dissipating, then reappearing, seemingly endless.
She lingered in those broken moments, stubbornly wandering but unwilling to leave.
“Won’t you be lonely?”
“Maybe.”
The girl shrugged, looking at everything before her, at the time that felt like an abyss. “At least I can remember her. Just like she remembers me.”
Day and night, never stopping.
Even if time and death separate us…
As long as this longing exists, parting doesn’t seem so fearful anymore, nor does death.
Even if it means falling into an abyss or wandering to the end of the world, one wouldn’t be alone or frightened.
What spanned four hundred years wasn’t just regret and pain.
Even if darkness seemed so empty, it too could be imprinted in the abyss, shining forth like stars.
“So, make your decision, big brother.”
She finally reached out her hand and embraced the boy before her, so lightly: “Some pains have already been too much; there is no need to continue, nor should there be more tragedy. It’s time to say goodbye.”
With that, she lifted the pendant in her arms and placed it around Ji Jue’s neck.
Inside the opened pendant was a tattered photograph, depicting a family happily huddled together, all smiling blissfully.
Even if it was worn and faded by the passage of time.
“The stories of the past have come to an end; let them remain in the past. There’s no need for more tragedy, nor for new hells.”
From the fading past, the girl smiled, bidding farewell one last time, “There’s no need to hesitate for someone else’s story; please continue moving forward, towards your own future.”
“No matter what that future or result holds… I believe the person you miss still thinks of you as well.”
Ji Jue stood shocked in place.
From the gradually blurring past, it felt as if songs once again echoed forth, from the distant sound of the train.
So tender.
So familiar.
When Ji Jue suddenly turned back, everything before him dissolved like a phantom.
The girl and the town vanished without a trace, and the flames and ruins slowly receded.
Only her song still lingered in his soul.
So clear.
It felt as if it always accompanied him, never far away.
In that moment, Ji Jue finally opened his eyes, returning to the mortal realm, gazing at the fractured realm ahead, the crumbling earth, the swirling sea of blood, the pain, despair, and hell.
“What an unrealistic dream…”
Though it was merely a brief moment, it felt like eons apart.
When the distant dream reached its end, the sound from the workshop and the tremors of the fractured realm once again filled Ji Jue’s soul, reflecting all that had transpired, as if wanting to imprint every change within him.
But this time, Ji Jue no longer felt lost or confused.
He raised his head to gaze at the heavens, surrounded by chains and shackles, still immersed in the desperate high song of the remnants of the sage.
And when he turned back, he saw the collapse and overturning of the fractured realm.
Within countless cycles, the cries and wails of shattered souls flowed from the sea.
To persist or to give up.
Both led to tragedy, both sides to hell.
But at the very least, he could choose whether hell would continue…
Perhaps, creating hell could mean he might see them once more, but they shouldn’t fall into such a hell.
Thus, he must make a choice—
“Leave it to me.”
He whispered softly, affirming to all, reaching out, gripping the staff presented by the prophet.
No longer hesitating, willing to ignite all his essence, he poured himself entirely into this resonance and connection, once again becoming one with it all.
—Mechanical Descent of the Gods!
There was no resistance, no hesitation.
At the moment Ji Jue entangled his spirit with it, the workshop enveloping the fractured realm welcomed a new master and echoed with joyous vibrations.
Endless spiritual circuits swirled, fluidly transforming, unfathomable runes and seals, even blessings as vast as the sea of stars.
This workshop, built entirely by the sage who had devoted a lifetime to it, now welcomed a new dominion!
From his right hand, a wristwatch that had long been silent burst forth with dazzling light, illuminating everything like the blazing sun.
Under the watch’s influence, the attack matrix over Ji Jue’s hands seemed to be imbued with life, once again growing and enveloping his entire form in an instant.
Internally, it covered his soul; externally, it controlled everything.
Countless invisible hands manifested from the void, looking down from above, encompassing all, commanding everything.
And deep beneath the earth, in the darkest depths of the vast workshop, a light, long sealed for over four centuries, suddenly emerged, as if responding to a long-forgotten call.
Thus, through a haze of illusions, Ji Jue saw that rusted blade, lying silent in the dust inside the seals constructed around the entire workshop…
With tremors and a clang, that shattered sword soared, finally shedding a bloodstained rust spot from its cracked surface.
Beneath the falling dust, there emerged a glimmer so bright that it shook the entire fractured realm and brought the heavens and earth to a halt.
Just a moment, enough to pierce through everything.
Endless brilliant light erupted from the seals, rushing out towards the heavens, heading toward the central region, majestic and unstoppable, eventually resting in the hands of the prophet.
It crazily extracted the essence from the workshop like a bottomless pit, as if to consume everything, to burn everything down.
In an instant, the prophet’s body shattered, dissolved.
It nearly evaporated entirely.
Yet from that anguish that tore at her spirit, a weary face revealed a smile.
“Everything must come to an end,” she said, cradling that sun-like brilliance in her hands, whispering softly: “Otherwise, new things cannot be born…”
“Thank you. This unrealistic dream has lasted too long.”
“Now, the dream has awakened.”
She said, “Everything must conclude.”
When the blazing light faded, having consumed endless spiritual essence, the outline of brilliance finally reemerged, transformed into a crown woven from thorns.
Thus, it crowned Ji Jue’s head.
As if he was being crowned.
Infinite majesty revealed itself, covering the heavens and earth, reflecting all changes, isolating all prying eyes.
“I can’t believe…”
In the corner beneath the central area, the white owl peering into the distance seemed struck by lightning, even instinctively removing her mask, frantically rubbing her eyes, unable to comprehend: “Is that… the Blade of Change?!”
The supreme artifact, long silent for so many years, was unexpectedly awakened?!
Are you kidding me?!
“Hey! Old Deng? Old Deng! Say something!”
She urged in confusion, but in her hands, that map only revealed cracks, unable to maintain its form beneath that vast, tyrannical pressure.
No response.
When the supreme artifact that once severed the Celestial Tower manifested from the fractured realm, all remnants of creation halted, stilled in their wailing.
Even the blessings of the supreme fell silent, no longer shining.
Only the world’s solitary torch burned unwaveringly from the heavens above.
Enveloping everything.
Including Ji Jue’s consciousness and thoughts, all utterly ceased.
An overwhelming will, via that crown, took control of his body and granted boundless strength, brutally transforming into a torrent, pushing him forward.
No longer under his own control.
When he raised his head, he beheld the emblem of the supreme above the eternally dim sky.
Stars blazed within the flames, the heavenly furnace here toppled, myriad changes and essences converged, rushing down to the mortal realm, transforming into an endless stream of embers of light…
[This world will change; all that was shall return to dust.]
The declaration echoed from deep within his soul, resounding, guiding him to receive that line of light descending to the mortal realm, letting this endless essence crash into his soul and explode, shattering the final remnants of thought.
A torrent of illusions surged forth, countless changes manifested from his soul.
There was no retreat, no evasion allowed.
So violently, it imprinted the infinite transformation of the world into Ji Jue's eyes and perception, nearly forcing him to feel the true essence of the supreme.
All new life will eventually become old, but only change never ceases.
Thus, the fire is no longer in the furnace; all that remains is the embers.
—This is the essence of the embers!
In that moment, the flame known as Ji Jue ignited from the furnace of change—so tiny, like a candle in the wind, yet under the push of the Blade of Change, it expanded into a sun that enveloped everything.
So dazzling it was, it was impossible to look directly at!
All past creations, every sacrifice and soul in the flames reappeared at this moment, converging into firewood, endlessly burning in a gathering at Ji Jue’s side, penetrating all.
[The sage Mercury, today I judge your creations as chaotic and stale.]
Those loud or low, clear or hoarse voices echoed, emerging from Ji Jue's mouth, delivering the true essence of the supreme to the mortal realm:
[Therefore, I condemn you as a curse!]
A deafening crack echoed between heaven and earth.
For within Ji Jue’s hand, a streak of brilliant light appeared, rising from the center, splitting heaven and earth, just like a ruler measuring everything, illuminating all.
Amidst the endless chains, the rain of blood ceased, the lament of sorrow interrupted.
Like an invisible storm, it roared, covering everything, peeling away all unhuman constructs and monstrous forms, severing countless palms.
At the same time, it lifted the veil that encompassed all.
Following the remnants of the sage, an eerie shadow emerged, seeming as distant as an eternal separation…
TWISTING reality itself, transforming into a gigantic whirlpool, entwining truth and principle, showcasing the architectures of all that is distorted in this world.
In that immense darkness, which seemed to consume everything and capable of enveloping the supreme, vague outlines vaguely emerged, as if watching over its prey, daring to obstruct its very existence.
Just by gazing, Ji Jue felt his soul teetering on the brink of collapse, yet before that could happen, the radiant light of change had already incinerated all corrosion, severing all obstacles.
Allowing Ji Jue to finally glimpse its true appearance and form.
It resembled a massive furnace, eternally burning with the flames of pain, spilling forth a myriad of bizarre constructs, constantly creating new distortions…
In the infinite scarlet flames, the furnace appeared as a horrifying eye, coldly gazing down at everything.
From this prolonged time, it disdainfully witnessed all despair and pain, waiting for the continuation of cycles and tragedies, yearning for the final outcome.
Awaiting the sage, burdened with endless curses, to fall into its flames and forge a wretched rebirth!
In the darkness that twelve sages could not illuminate, that whirlpool eternally remained in the shadows of the world.
Corresponding to the essence of the embers, this pointed to the shadow of all chaotic creatures in the world.
—Nine Cursed, Stagnant Hearth!
The radiance of the Blade of Change rose from Ji Jue's hand, revealing all connections hidden behind the curtain after the cycles.
Those myriad connections had long entangled within the sage’s obsession and soul, yet in this extended period, they had been obstructed by the workshop, shackled and entangled, preventing her from falling into that swirling abyss.
Now, it was time for everything to conclude.
The endless cycle, unseeable to the end, faced collapse, the long dream shattered from the radiant dawn.
The world had become so ethereal.
Compared to the shining beacon of all creation, it seemed but a bubble, trembling in the rise of the radiant light, cracking, quietly and silently facing dissolution and extinction.
The day of renewal had arrived.
All that was old should fall to dust and perish!
When the song and the cries abruptly ceased, the ancient melody welcomed its end and hell turned to nothingness… Pure and clear brilliance rose from Ji Jue’s hands.
Slay!
Ah, please give a monthly ticket~
(End of this chapter)