Chapter 500 (1/2)

Chapter 500: We Had Seen the Darkness at the End of the Road (I

Ning Que looked down at the sheer cliff and its beautiful waterfall, illuminated under the starlight . He felt a chill, as he imagined countless nights becoming completely dark— without any stars .

He looked towards the Headmaster and said, ”If the Underworld Invasion happened many times in history, and mankind still hasn't gone extinct because— as you have said— only the strongest have survived through those dark, long nights, then these people were supposed to be the most powerful cultivators . However I don't understand why neither the West-Hill cla.s.sics nor the Buddhist tales have recorded their stories . ”

Headmaster said, ”You should have seen those stone statues of the Venerated in the Wanyan Tower . The Venerated in Buddhism Sect enjoys a state as high as Sages in the cla.s.sics of the Haotian Taoism . It is said that they can live almost forever and their minds are unbendable . That is also why they could survive the Forever Night period and witness the victory of Haotian . ”

Ning Que didn't know about these powerhouses until tonight . He was shocked by their experience and asked, ”These cultivators must have been the most powerful human beings, but why did they not survive?”

Headmaster went on to say, ”Their life is long, but it can't last forever . Even though they could overcome the nights, they could not overcome time . Also, I think they are far from being the most powerful human beings . ”

Ning Que didn't completely agree with Headmaster's words . He thought that if they could survive such a cruel period, then they should have been the most powerful ones .

At this moment, Headmaster suddenly looked at him and asked, ”Do you consider cultivation as a gift, that Haotian has given to humanity?”

This question was very strange, as it seemed to have no relation to the present discussion at all . Ning Que was confused and didn't know what to say . But after he thought for a while, he remembered the story he heard at the Front Gate of the Devil's Doctrine of how his Youngest Brother had joined the Devil and shook his head, ”Not for all the cultivators . ”

Headmaster looked into Ning Que's eyes and spoke slowly, ”Real cultivators focus on their heart and their cultivation leads to a pure ego, which definitely worthy of pride . Like the Buddhism Sect's Venerated and the Sages of the Haotian Taoism, they could hide around volcanos, living on a tiny amount of moss and water . But they were too proud to accept the fact that they would have to live the life of a rat . The stronger they were, the more unwilling they were . So, when Forever Night fell upon them, instead of hiding, they chose to fight . They drew their swords and struck them out towards Yama, and then . . . they died . ”

Ning Que knew that what Headmaster said was true . People like his Youngest Uncle would never choose to kneel down in front of Yama or hide in a rat's hole . If, in the future, Forever Night did come, Second Brother would be the first to stand up and fight against Yama, and his destiny would be the same as what Headmaster had described: he would die .

It reminded Ning Que of the dark night in his dream . He felt chilled at the thought that he might be the Son of Yama . The wind on the cliff was so cold that he even wanted to jump off the cliff . But he still had Headmaster sitting next to him, the beef and liquor to taste and Sangsang was still ill . His life was so bright that he didn't want to die yet .

He looked at the floating clouds and asked, ”The Hot Sea is freezing and night time in the Far North is becoming longer . Those are all signs of the Invasion of the Underworld . . . Master, what should we do?”

Headmaster carried the bottle and sighed, ”I have been searching for more than ten years, but still couldn't find the location of the Underworld . How could I know what to do? Cultivators need time . It is a shame that I was born too late to see the last Forever night . ”

He drank a gla.s.s of liquor after saying those words . His white long brows were dancing in the wind and his casual expression changed to a worried look, which, for him, was very rare .

”People of West-Hill Divine Palace are believers of Haotian . They should know more about this fight between light and dark . Are they not at all prepared?” Asked Ning Que .

”Everyone can see the darkness at the end of the road, let alone the believers of Haotian . ”

Headmaster said, ”I don't know what happened last time, but I would like to believe that the believers of Haotian will fight with Yama at the risk of their lives . And I will hide somewhere, waiting for the victory of Haotian and then start over . ”

Ning Que exclaimed, ”It sounds like you are a weak person . ”

Headmaster replied, ”We are weak . ”

Ning Que suddenly remembered Liansheng 32's comments on the West-Hill Divine Palace and Zhishou Abbey . He once said, ”People in the Divine Hall are dogs raised by Zhishou Abbey . And people in Zhishou Abbey are dogs raised by Haotian . Ha . . . they are all dogs . ”

Headmaster mused, ”The Devil's Doctrine appeared a thousand years ago, and the Great Divine Priest who founded it never witnessed Forever night, so there is no solution in their cla.s.sics either . ”

”I heard that the Devil's Doctrine also believes in Yama . ” Said Ning Que .

Headmaster corrected, ”It is fear rather than belief . The Devil' Doctrine just needs an idol to stand against Haotian . It is just a comfort for them . ”

Ning Que remembered another comment made by Lotus and he decided to convey it to Headmaster after hesitating for a while .

”Someone said that the Devil's Doctrine is like a stone that hides at night to avoid the Haotian Divine Light . They claim that they don't respect Haotian, but actually they are very scared of him . That is why Haotian allows them to exist . ”

This was only a part of what was spoken, but Ning Que stopped here .

Lotus also said that if Ning Que picked up the sword left by his Youngest Uncle, then he would lose all of the respect and fear . Then he would become a real devil, and Haotian would not allow such people to exist .

Headmaster asked, ”Who said it?”

”Liansheng 32 . ” Answered Ning Que .

Headmaster said, ”Although he is willful and a bit mentally ill, he is also wise . It was very dangerous for you to meet him, but it was also a Lucky Chance . ”

Although he is a bit mentally ill, he is wise .