Li Qingshan shuddered inside. As the possession inched towards success, he gradually devoured “his” memories.
The memories were very shallow, not a raging torrent, just fragments of broken ice. Every single fragment shared the same deep, dark background, reflecting the same image.
The Mountain-moving Great Sage that loomed like a mountain in Ruin’s End, the well-like sky within the Xuanwming dwelling, as well as her, crying away like a homeless child.
The sight stabbed deeply in his heart too, even more painful than the tortures of hell.
So… “I” forgot everything.
So… “I’m” not a coward!
They had both gone through terrifying hardships, only breaking out after all of their effort, and they were both still scarred.
Even when he had not lost any memories, the torment of hell and the unforgivable betrayal made him burn with fury and hatred, as well as deep suspicion.
If even the Great Sages would betray each other, then exactly what awaited him at the end of the path to the Nine Heavens?
He too was filled with doubt.
That was, until this moment!
“He” sank into the endless sea of consciousness calmly and quietly, unable to think again, Who exactly am I?
Even when “he” possessed the complete bloodline of the spirit turtle, able to forbode the heavenly secrets and peer into fate, this was the only question that never received an answer.
Sigh, he just did not understand in the end!
However, that no longer mattered. Li Qingshan had already returned.
Suddenly, a voice answered firmly, “You are Li Qingshan!”
A great hand reached over, hoisting “him” out of the deep ocean.
On the surface of the ocean, the two Li Qingshans faced one another, like they were facing a mirror. They possessed the same appearance, but vastly different auras.
The world spun. The frenzy and silence, the passion and coldness conflicted endlessly, clashing and shining!
So “I” had already completed the Spirit Turtle Transformation, naturally suppressing all demonic thoughts. If “I” did not proactively give up, it would have almost been impossible to possess “me”. If it came down to a direct confrontation, I who possess all of the memories might even understand better just how terrifying those three mountains are! Heh, have I been spared by “myself”?
Yeah, thinking about it, “he” was the main body, while he was only an Origin Soul.
With the body of the demonic and divine, “he” possessed unrivalled potential. If he wanted to turn the tables, perhaps this was the only chance.
However, he smiled easily. In the next moment, “he” sensed the fierce torrent of memories. The past that she had narrated to him were all presented before “his” eyes.
The childhood spent with an ox, the youth spent running around through the world…
The first meeting with her, the farewell with brother ox…
Everything became extremely clear, no longer just a fascinating story, but a vivid life. The emotions hidden inside were so intense that they easily broke down the gate to his heart sealed in ice, turning into an oceanic flow.
The transformations of the demonic and divine that were forcibly suppressed awakened one by one. The small world frozen inside his body began to revolve again. The world rumbled.
“He” finally found his own name again, furrowing his brows and gazing at him with mixed emotions.
“Why?”
They now possessed the same memories, closing much of the difference between the two of them.
However, because the body of the demonic and divine was still intrinsically different from his Origin Soul, a great divergence still existed. It was impossible for them to just merge together so simply.
That was obviously tremendously beneficial to “him”, but to him, not only did he give up on the victory within arm’s reach, but he even strengthened his opponent. Recovering his memories meant recovering his fighting spirit and unruliness.
“You’re willing to die for her, yet I’m not willing to live because of this.”
“Heh, aren’t you afraid that once I undergo the sixth heavenly tribulation, I’ll suppress you immediately and then refine a new Origin Soul?”
The delicate balance only existed because the Origin Soul was a major realm higher than the body. Once their cultivations were the same, “he” would possess a crushing advantage. By then, destroying the troublesome Origin Soul was the optimal decision.
“Your thoughts cannot escape my control.” He pointed at his own head.
“You controlling yourself? We’re fucked in the head!” “He” mocked himself and gazed into his eyes. “People change!”
“Yeah, people do change, but in Avīci, six-eared bro told me that I had to believe that they’re different from those guys up in the heavens.”
Even upon betrayal, he persisted with his beliefs.
If he did not even have the courage to believe in himself, then what was the point of the so-called beyond the Nine Heavens?
He gave back all of his memories without holding back at all, turning around and disappearing from the endless sea of consciousness, returning to the small world.
He left “him” standing alone, recalling everything that happened in hell. “His” expression gradually became determined. “I have to believe!”
“He” had to believe that there would be a day when “he” would reach an agreement with himself again. He believed this day would not be too far away. When he faced dire straits again, matched with an undefeatable opponent, these small divergences would be nothing. Survival and killing the enemy would always be most important.
They were both aware of this. Compared to destroying one another, this was the only way to erupt with the greatest strength.
And the last thing that Li Qingshan lacked in his life were dire straits and powerful opponents.
“Heh, who can help the fact that ‘we’ chose the same path?”
He shut his eyes and digested his memories.
The Divine Fire of World Destruction vanished. The terrifying aura to destroy everything dispersed. The direct disciples gazed at one another fearfully, with some still uncertain about what had happened.
Only Chao Tianjiao was stunned as if she had seen something extremely unbelievable.
Normally, once a clone lost control, they would either go their own ways or engage in a struggle to the death, even perishing together. She had never heard of them coexisting peacefully in the end.
This was Li Qingshan’s greatest difference from regular cultivators.
If they prioritised longevity, then only by diversifying and splitting up could they best avoid the danger of death.
If they prioritised their own interests, then only by eliminating one another at all costs could they have everything to themselves.
People were vulnerable to change. Faced with this situation, just how many people were willing to sacrifice themselves, to help themselves, to believe in themselves?
She sighed with a smile. “This bastard sure is a freak!”
Li Qingshan digested all of his memories and opened his eyes slowly, leaving the state of the Spirit Turtle Transformation.
He had not taken his Origin Soul back, but all of the transformations of the demonic and divine awakened again. As long as he made a breakthrough in any of them, he would undergo the sixth heavenly tribulation.
And everything that his Origin Soul had faced in hell, all of its thoughts and comprehensions, would become new resources to him. In particular, the information in the letter of wind from the Wind-coursing Great Sage was so precious that it was no less than the three mountains. All the transformations of the demonic and divine benefitted from it.
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With the journey to the Demon domain already in sight, it was time to take another step for progress!
But before this, he had to visit Xiao An first and tell her…
The Hungry Ghost realm, Unadorned city.
The lone city stood tall. The chilly winds shrieked as the dark clouds refused to let up.
Xiao An sat with her brows furrowed in worry, too restless to cultivate. He had returned, but he had forgotten who he was. The city continued to stand tall, but its foundations had already been shaken, currently collapsing and declining with each passing day. However, she did not care about any of this. What was the point of cultivating anymore?
At this moment, a figure descended from above, smiling with his arms spread. “I’ve returned!”
She was taken aback. She wanted to smile, but she could not help the tears that swelled forth. She threw herself into his arms, embracing him firmly.
Everything lost had returned. It could not be wrong. That was her Li Qingshan!
