The Sorrow of the Lost Paradise

The butterfly drifted away like ripples, receding into the distance. No one dared to comment on that butterfly. All knew that it was a Half-Ancestor whose spiritual realm approached that of an Ancestral God, as if it had unlocked some mystery of heaven and earth.

The Lost Paradise—within its bounds, the immortal blossoms still glittered with dewdrops; the divine trees were lush and verdant, radiating boundless vitality.

Yet, for all that vibrant life, in the area near the Heavenly Stele—a space a hundred zhang in radius—the scene was utterly different. In this forbidden divine garden that could strip even gods of their smiles, blood had dyed the fragrant meadow red. Severed limbs and broken bodies lay everywhere.

Blood mist drifted. The great figures who had once shaken the continent and dominated an era, one after another, fell here. A hundred-zhang patch of grass had become their graveyard. Broken corpses, a chilling sight.

Even those who had once held heaven and earth in their hands and looked down upon all living things—what came of it in the end? They too returned to a handful of yellow earth.

The glory of the past could not conceal the loneliness and desolation of this moment. The Half-Ancestors met this same end, evoking an infinite sigh.

The Lost Paradise, drenched in the blood of Half-Ancestors, was now filled with a solemn, killing atmosphere and mournful sorrow.

Xiao Chen moved slowly, his body stained with the blood of Half-Ancestors. He carried a war-sword and walked past the corpses, gazing at the fallen supreme beings. His face revealed no expression; outsiders could not guess what he was thinking.

The Lost Paradise fell silent to an extreme. Only the sharp war-sword in Xiao Chen's hand kept dripping divine blood, each drop making a grievous ringing sound as it fell into the flowers and grass, like nails hammered into the hearts of the onlookers.

"Ah..."

Outside the Lost Paradise, someone screamed hysterically.

The disciples and followers of the great figures wailed, mourned, and roared.

A day of bloodshed! A dusk of gods!

The former patriarchs had vanished thus, the once-mighty Half-Ancestors were nearly annihilated.

"Xiao Chen, you are a sinner! A sinner through the ages!"

"Your crime merits ten thousand deaths! Drawing sinews and stripping bones, sealed forever in purgatory could not atone for even a fraction of your sin!"

The disciples and followers of the great figures wept and condemned Xiao Chen, wishing they could execute him on the spot.

Facing all this, Xiao Chen stood silently in the Lost Paradise, looking coldly at the crowd without speaking a word.

But aside from the disciples and followers, there were many other cultivators present. Many whispered in the shadows: "Killed, so what? Why can't they be killed?"

"Who said that? Come out!" the believers of the great figures roared angrily.

"You say come out? Why should we?" a number of voices answered from the shadows.

"Xiao Chen killed Half-Ancestors! He is a rebel against the ancestors, the greatest villain in the history of cultivation!"

"Get as far away as your thoughts allow! Why can't Half-Ancestors be killed? Do you really think your patriarchs were the ancestors of all humanity?"

"Who is blaspheming our sect's patriarch?"

"Your patriarch, not ours." Outside the Lost Paradise, swords were drawn and tension was extreme; it seemed a great battle might erupt. But those who were unhappy with the Original and the Sun Holy God did not truly show themselves. Everyone knew that such great sects could not be provoked. For now, divine abilities were sealed, so there was no fear of detection.

Blood mist swirled, and the Lost Paradise was filled with a chilling killing aura.

Beside the broken corpse of Lord Tongtian, the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords gleamed brightly, lying quietly on the fragrant grass. Beside them was the legendary Immortal-Slaying Formation Diagram—treasures that any cultivator would dream of possessing.

Also, a war-sword lay atop the four swords. Though not particularly brilliant, it exuded an ancient air, seeming even sharper than the Immortal-Slaying Swords—one of the Twenty-Four War Swords that the great figures had fought over.

Beside the Buddha's ten-foot golden corpse, a Twelve-Product Lotus Platform shone with radiant light, emitting a lotus fragrance from among the plants. On that crystal-clear lotus platform, a war-sword also lay quietly.

Beside Zhunti's corpse, the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree shimmered like flowing water, but the energy within could not spill out. Next to it lay another war-sword, ancient and stained with Zhunti's blood—a startling sight.

At this moment, the crowd outside had stopped their uproar. Even the disciples sobbing and cursing Xiao Chen turned their attention to the Lost Paradise.

So many great figures had fallen; not to mention the treasures they carried, just the war-swords alone were enough to drive people mad.

That was over a dozen war-swords!

All lying quietly in the flowers and grass—so eye-catching now.

Twenty-Four War Swords—here were over ten of them. Maddening.

Counting carefully, including the three war-swords on Xiao Chen's body, there were sixteen ancient swords in the Lost Paradise. Two-thirds of the Twenty-Four War Swords were here, some stuck in the ground, some embedded in tree trunks, some soaked in blood.

Some were already swallowing saliva. War-swords that Half-Ancestors fought over—how could they be ordinary?

Moreover, there were the Twelve-Product Lotus Platform, the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords, the Sun Holy Stone, Satan's Magic Staff—every one of these treasures was a sacred object.

Xiao Chen, with the Seven-Colored Sacred Tree above his head, moved slowly through the graveyard of Half-Ancestors. He did not pick up any treasures but was contemplating the path ahead. Little did he know that his actions had already driven many outside the Lost Paradise to frenzy. Any one of the treasures at his feet, if taken out, would spark a great war.

"You are remarkable. You exceeded my expectations, killing all the Half-Ancestors who entered the Lost Paradise. Some spirit." An aged voice echoed in Xiao Chen's ear—that was the spiritual fluctuation of the Martial Imprint.

"I killed them to survive and to prevent the little beast from being threatened. It has nothing to do with you."

"Do you not wish to receive the inheritance of the Martial Imprint?"

"Teach me or not, as you please." Xiao Chen replied indifferently amidst the corpses.

"Your bone structure is far from my requirements, but I like your decisiveness. You have the spirit of a true martial artist. Let me think whether you are truly suitable for the inheritance."

The Martial Imprint on the Heavenly Stele fell silent. Moments later, the dozen or so war-swords on the ground simultaneously trembled, responding in resonance with the three on Xiao Chen's body.

This was no ordinary matter—they could vibrate even in the Lost Paradise.

Not far away, the Heavenly Stele shook violently, and waves like a surging sea spread across the entire space. The Lost Paradise itself swayed.

Shua, shua, shua—

Light flashed as the dozen war-swords all flew up, along with the three in Xiao Chen's hands. They soared across the sky of the Lost Paradise like a meteor shower, a stunning sight.

One could not help but marvel—in this mysterious space, they could actually break through the air!

But on second thought, everyone understood. These Twenty-Four War Swords, together with the Heavenly Stele, suppressed the Lost Paradise. If they were completely sealed by the Lost Paradise, how could they participate in the suppression?

The sixteen war-swords circled the Heavenly Stele once, then turned into streaks of eternal rainbow light, shooting straight toward Xiao Chen.

"Ya ya ya..." The Seven-Colored Sacred Tree above Xiao Chen swayed, and the little beast's childish cry rang out, showing urgency. It swept out beams of seven-colored light to block the sixteen war-swords.

Chi, chi—

The sound of tearing air was unending. The sixteen war-swords, like sixteen rainbows, pierced through the seven-colored light curtains Keke had swept out and drove straight into Xiao Chen's body.

Blood splattered, and a crimson fountain rose to the sky.

In that moment, Xiao Chen felt as if his soul had been shattered. The pain was so excruciating that he could not help but cry out.

"Ya ya ya..."

The little beast's soul within the Seven-Colored Sacred Tree constantly emitted spiritual fluctuations, struggling to sweep out sacred rays to shake off the dreadful war-swords.

But at this moment, the seven-colored light could not move the sixteen war-swords at all. They had completely pierced through Xiao Chen's body. Sixteen bloody holes gushed blood continuously.

Outside the Lost Paradise, the crowd was stunned. The disciples of the great figures clapped in delight, while others looked on in confusion.

"The villain finally gets his comeuppance!"

"Good! Killed well! A thousand swords through the heart!"

"Haha... The Lord cannot be killed! Retribution has come!"

Everyone watched in astonishment.

Only the three surviving great figures understood what was about to happen.

The Supreme Assassin stood alone in a shadow, silently watching all this. The Martial Sage Sun Wu rode his Dragon-Horse in the distance, gazing at the Lost Paradise. A butterfly gently fluttered its wings and drifted over the flowers.

The Heavenly Stele shook, and vast clouds and mist descended, blocking the view of those outside the Lost Paradise.

Inside the Lost Paradise, the sixteen war-swords that had pierced Xiao Chen suddenly seemed to melt, slowly sinking into his body and disappearing.

No one saw this. Xiao Chen felt that his seemingly shattered soul had healed. The sixteen war-swords had truly merged into his body; he could clearly sense them.

The voice of the Martial Imprint came from the Heavenly Stele: "To be honest, your bone structure can only be considered a talent seen once every twenty years. In the eyes of ordinary people, you are already a genius and a precious body for cultivation. But compared with the great talents over the millennia, you are truly too ordinary. I really did not want to pass on my power to you. However, since I promised you, I will not let you suffer a loss. Therefore, I forcibly merged the sixteen war-swords in the Lost Paradise with you. The essence of the sword-heart has also returned; now they belong to you. The other eight war-swords have already found hosts; if fate permits, you can win them yourself. Sixteen war-swords—their power is truly unfathomable, but to this day no one knows how to control them. I only know that Lord Tongtian's four swords were discarded materials when refining the Twenty-Four War-Swords."

Xiao Chen said nothing. He knew that the Martial Imprint would not lie. How could something that even Half-Ancestors so desperately desired be ordinary? Superior to the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords—unimaginable!

"I will pass on the Martial Imprint to you, but I will not give you my power. I will choose another suitable inheritor."

With that, the aged voice ceased. The Heavenly Stele shook violently. The intricate, incomprehensible carvings on its back rippled outward like waves, as if a painting scroll had flown out. An ethereal, elusive imprint rushed into Xiao Chen's heart-mind in an instant.

Xiao Chen stood quietly for a long time before gradually coming to himself. What he had received into his mind was utterly shocking to him.

A door had been opened. So this was how "martial arts" could be cultivated, reaching a realm beyond his original imagination.

Xiao Chen had many questions to ask, but in the end he said nothing. He merely gazed at the Heavenly Stele for a long while.

"Some questions, even if you ask, I will not answer." As if knowing his thoughts, the aged voice of the Martial Imprint came again: "The Twenty-Four War-Swords have flown away. The Lost Paradise will break its seal. The Heavenly Stele will continue to suppress what lies beneath it. You... should go. I have given you all that I should. I, the last Martial Imprint, will vanish completely once I have chosen a true inheritor."

Xiao Chen said nothing. He bowed three times to the Heavenly Stele, then turned and walked away without looking back, heading deep into the Lost Paradise.

Lord Tongtian, the Original, Laozi, the Buddha, and the Sun Holy God—they had come to seize the war-swords as a primary goal. Entering the Lost Paradise was probably another reason. There should be important secrets here, something they wanted to obtain.

The Heavenly Stele shook, and vast clouds and mist spread, hiding what happened inside from those outside.

"Ya ya ya..." The snow-white little beast murmured, its spiritual fluctuations showing great unease, as if overwhelmed by helpless sorrow.

"Keke, what's wrong?" Xiao Chen asked.

"Ya ya... want to cry... heart hurts..." The little beast itself did not know why it felt this way. Its heart was filled with sorrow, as if it had lost the person closest to it.

The scenery in the Lost Paradise was magnificent. Divine trees swayed, their jade-green branches and leaves glittering, laden with multicolored spirit fruits, their fragrance penetrating the heart. On any ordinary day, even as a soul, the little beast would have rushed over long ago.

But now, the lively little beast remained docile within the Seven-Colored Sacred Tree, murmuring to itself, showing no interest in those strange fruits.

After walking another ten li, they came to a grassy garden where a small stream like a jade belt wound through it. Three thatched huts sat amidst the picturesque scenery.

"Ya ya ya... Mother... Father..."

When they reached this place, Keke suddenly burst into loud sobs. Its soul flew out of the Seven-Colored Sacred Tree, trembling. The little beast, agitated, rushed toward the huts.

Inside the simple hut, two human skeletons emitted a soft light. They lay with their necks entwined, as if they had passed away in peaceful, caring tranquility.

The little beast rushed before the skeletons and cried out loud. Its spiritual fluctuations were intense, filling the entire Lost Paradise with sorrow.

Ten thousand flowers wilted; green trees shed their leaves. Even those outside the Lost Paradise could feel a wave of grief.

"Mother... wu wu... Father..."

Keke recognized its parents purely by instinct—parents it had never seen. They had long since turned to bones, dead for unknown ages.

Xiao Chen's heart shook. He suddenly understood. The Lost Paradise... belonged to Keke's parents. No wonder it could move freely here, its divine power completely in harmony with the place. No wonder Lord Tongtian and the others wanted to use it and then kill it.

Who were Keke's parents? The Lost Paradise they left behind was already so heaven-defying... Truly unimaginable.

"Haha..."

Outside the Lost Paradise, a loud laugh rang out. The owner of the Embroidered Sword showed himself, laughing wildly to the sky: "Original, Tongtian, Buddha, Laozi—you die like this! The World of Immortality is finished! The Twenty-Four War Swords... how many have died for you throughout the ages? In the end, they are destined to return to our world!"

"Go back to where you came from." In a flash, Sun Wu appeared behind the Embroidered Sword's master on his Dragon-Horse.

"Hmph. So many Half-Ancestors lost; the World of Immortality is finished. Are you not afraid that our world's great army will invade?" The Embroidered Sword's master spoke coldly, staring at Sun Wu without fear.

"Ah... Father... Mother..." The snow-white little beast lay between the two skeletons, sobbing loudly. Though its soul had no tears, the sorrow was so deep that even Xiao Chen felt a sourness in his heart.

It was just a child of three or four years old, yet it had to face such pain.

"Keke is an orphan... wu wu... has no mother... has no father... wu wu..."

It was so grief-stricken that it seemed about to faint.

A piece of seven-colored jade leaf slowly emerged from between the two skeletons, floating lightly before the little beast's eyes. Seven-colored light flickered continuously.

A gentle spiritual fluctuation came: "My child, have you come? Death is not an end, merely a new beginning..."

Ripples of light spread out. The seven-colored jade leaf shattered with a crack, dissolving into specks of light that entered Keke's soul. The gentle fluctuation slowly faded.

"My child... the Lost Paradise belongs to you..."

At that moment, the Lost Paradise shook violently.

Those outside were terrified. They discovered that the Lost Paradise was slowly disappearing.

Then, beneath this divine garden, several huge caves appeared, bottomless and dark, as if connected to the edge of the universe.