Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System

Chapter 571: Chapter 24: Manifesting Divinity, Heavenly Tribulation, Karma

Over time, it will gradually tear apart the consciousness of an Extraordinary Being.

Even if an Extraordinary Being possesses Dark Matter as a gravitational source to reassemble the dissipating fragments of consciousness.

But the more Dark Matter one has, the more Dark Energy one attracts.

The more Dark Energy, the more violently it tears at the consciousness.

So, you are forced to gather more Dark Matter to fight it.

And so, you attract even more Dark Energy.

It is an unsolvable, vicious cycle.

Like drinking poison to quench thirst.

In the system of Cultivators, they call Dark Energy the clear Qi of the heavens.

The clear ascends, becoming the heavens, yang, and the divine.

It is the driving force behind the universe’s expansion, the root of evolution and change, the Manifestation of the Dao’s operation.

It is light and pure, like the clouds in the azure firmament.

It pushes all that is whole toward separation, all that is still toward motion, and all that is eternal toward demise.

And they call Dark Matter the murky Qi of the earth.

The murky descends, becoming the earth, yin, and form.

It is the source of gravity and aggregation, the foundation upon which structure is maintained, the anchor by which the "self" coalesces.

It is heavy and stagnant, like the bedrock of mountains that supports all things.

It acts as an anchor for the self, resisting the tearing force of the clear Qi.

However, the heavier the murky Qi, the more clear Qi it attracts.

Just as the thicker the earth, the higher the heavens.

The tearing grows ever more violent.

This is the heavenly tribulation that every Cultivator above the Golden Core realm must face.

Wizards describe this process as being lost in the Source Sea.

So-called "delving into the depths of the Source Sea" is the process of the ratio of one’s own Dark Energy and Dark Matter constantly changing.

The tearing caused by Dark Energy makes an Extraordinary Being’s thoughts turn incredibly slowly.

Every time they wish to accelerate their thoughts, reactions, or perception and intervention in the world, they must channel more Dark Matter to cohere.

And every time Dark Matter coheres, it attracts more Dark Energy.

Thus, the next tearing will be even more severe.

And so, accelerating the next time requires even more Dark Matter.

It’s a self-defeating loop, like trying to climb by stepping on your own feet.

This means that for existences at or above the Golden Core level, every action they take reduces their lifespan.

But do not for a moment think they are cowards who shy away from battle.

Their personalities, their minds, their very selves, were already solidified the moment they reached the Golden Core realm.

The course of that great ship was set the instant it sailed for the Source Sea.

So, they fight when they must fight, kill when they must kill, protect what they must protect with their lives, and destroy what they must destroy with their great power.

A shorter lifespan?

So be it.

What of it?

In the myths, when a great calamity is about to descend,

practitioners are supposed to withdraw from the world and wait for the storm to pass.

Yet they insist on plunging into the heart of the calamity, using their bodies as kindling and throwing themselves into the karmic flames that consume all.

This cannot be explained away by something like "the calamity’s aura has clouded their minds."

Although, judging by the outcome, that is indeed what seems to happen.

But that is merely a surface appearance. The true reason is that their dao hearts, their will, their very selves, compel them to do so.

Just like the Guardian who anchored himself to protecting his nation; at the moment his nation is about to fall, it is impossible for him to stand by and do nothing.

It’s not because he is unaware that this battle will hasten his demise.

It’s not because he is naive enough to believe he can reverse an inevitable end.

It is because the existence that would stand idly by would no longer be him.

In the realm of long life, a lost self is equivalent to death.

This is karma.

Karma is not some esoteric, unfathomable rule of the heavens.

Karma only becomes karma when the person involved acknowledges it as such.

You take a random breath of air, and according to the holographic principle, you have just formed a connection with everything in the entire universe.

Countless photons have brushed past your body, countless particles have briefly intersected with you, and the breaths of countless lives have, at some moment, in some place, overlapped with your own with a certain probability.

A connection linking the entire universe has been made.

But that is not karma.

That is just a connection.

Only when you decide that this connection has meaning to you, form an emotional attachment, and are willing to act upon it...

...does the connection transform into karma.

So, when Cheris said, "You’re my toy," she was tying a thread of karma to Murphy.

"Are you moved?"

Cheris carefully put away the faintly glowing, pale-gold crystal.

Murphy looked at her. "Not at all."

Cheris tilted her head, her long, flaxen hair slipping from her shoulder.

Then, she took a step forward.

With lightning speed, she rose onto her tiptoes.

SMACK.

The second time.

Murphy’s pupils dilated for a fraction of a second.

Cheris maintained the distance, watching Murphy with a mischievous glint in her eyes, studying his unchanging face.

After an unknown amount of time, she finally blinked, then took half a step back, her hands behind her back, a contented smile spreading across her face.

"Nope. I insist on moving you."

She paused. "Besides, you clearly..."

She didn’t finish her sentence.

Because Cheris suddenly burst out laughing, her crisp laughter echoing like a Silver Bell in this furnace-like world that was about to fall completely silent.

"Alright, it’s time for us to go back."

She held out her hand—a small, fair, and slender hand with black nail polish—and opened her palm in front of Murphy.

"Give me your hand."

Murphy looked at her, but before he could react, she forcibly grabbed his hand. Her touch was delicate, smooth, and seemed as soft as if boneless.

Cheris nodded in satisfaction, then pulled Murphy along as she leaped into the air.

The rift, which had been slowly closing, was torn open again by an invisible force the moment she approached, revealing an opening through which silvery light flowed.

Just like that, she pulled Murphy through the rift.

Behind the crack was not the office they had come from, but the forest where they had first arrived in the Nightmare World.

And then, Murphy saw a little girl.

She was standing on a small path in the forest.

A small floral dress, tender white bare feet, meticulously combed flaxen twin braids with bows tied at the ends.

And those large, clear, emerald-green eyes.

She gazed at the appearing Murphy and Cheris.

Then she smiled.

Her smile was sweet and pure, like the clearest spring water in the forest.

She raised a small hand and waved at them.

"Brother!"

"Sister!"

Cheris smiled as she looked at the little girl standing on the stone-paved path.

"So, have you made up a name for yourself?"

The little girl blinked, thought seriously for a moment, and then said:

"Lissette."

She paused, then added:

"Lissette Dumasong."

Cheris nodded, a hint of satisfaction in her tone.

"Mm, that’s a good name."

"How have you been lately?"

Lissette’s eyes crinkled into crescents as she stuck out the tip of her little tongue and licked her lips.

After her tongue passed over them, her lips looked exceptionally rosy, as if she had just finished a delicious feast.

"Very well."

"Brother helped me lure a Divine Spirit’s nightmare here."

"I ate very well."

She tilted her little face up and gave Murphy a radiant, heartfelt, and sweet smile.

"Thank you for your help, Brother."

Murphy watched her.

He watched the little girl who had asked him "Are my flowers pretty?" in the forest.

He watched the little girl who had taken his hand and led him to that tall wooden door.

He watched the unnatural rosiness of her lips.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke.

"You’re welcome."

Lissette nodded happily.

She seemed extremely pleased with his answer, lightly tapping her bare, tender feet on the grass, her skirt swaying slightly with the movement.

But Cheris suddenly said, "We’re leaving."

Lissette’s smile faltered for an instant.

The pause was so brief that if Murphy’s entire focus hadn’t been fixed on her at that moment, he would have never noticed it.

Then, the smile returned.

Even more radiant than before.

"Oh, I see..."

"In that case, goodbye, Brother!"

Her voice was crisp and clear, echoing through the tranquil woods.

"Goodbye, Sister!"

"Come play again next time!"

Cheris didn’t reply.

Before her, the void suddenly split open. She once again pulled Murphy along and stepped inside.

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