Chapter 3123 - Resurrection
One of Su Yi’s goals for this trip to the Abyss of Endless Tribulations was to learn the secrets of the Book of Destiny.
After all, the Book of Destiny was far too mystical and taboo. If he could learn its origins, he might well uncover more of its profundities.
Su Yi didn’t notice it, but when he brought up the Book of Destiny, the Prisoner’s gaze shifted strangely.
After a while, the Prisoner said, “The Book of Destiny isn’t from the Sea of Chaos Tribulations.”
Su Yi wasn’t sure what to make of that, but there was no need for him to ask any further questions. The Prisoner continued unprompted, “You might not believe me when I say this, but when Xiao Jian visited, he too reached the Destiny Tribulation Lake. It was Xiao Jian who discovered the spacetime portal between the Sea of Chaos Tribulations and the Destiny Tribulation Lake.
“It was only then that I learned that such a portal existed in my place of captivity...”
He spoke in a roundabout, confusing way, but Su Yi instantly understood. When Xiao Jian arrived and found this place, the Destiny Tribulation Lake, he discovered the spacetime portal in the lakebed—and the Sea of Chaos Tribulations on the other side.
By complete coincidence, the Prisoner was confined on the other side, and not even he had known of the portal’s existence.
“The Book of Destiny is even stranger than that,” said the Prisoner. “I’m confined in the most taboo, forbidden stretch of the Sea of Chaos Tribulations. This place is full of countless, terrifying calamities. It can confine even Dao Ancestors with ease.
“During all my years confined here, I never once laid eyes on the Book of Destiny, yet the moment Xiao Jian showed up, the Book of Destiny revealed itself. It turned out that it was there with me the entire time.”
There was no hiding the ruefulness in the Prisoner’s voice. “I can’t even imagine why the Book of Destiny appeared for him, but it was as if it had been summoned. It barged through the spacetime portal and tried to fly to Xiao Jian, all of its own accord!”
Su Yi was unwittingly stunned. He couldn’t help but find the situation absurd.
“I once sought to suppress the Book of Destiny and make it my own, but... I failed,” the Prisoner said with a hint of frustration. “The Book of Destiny is too strange. No one can control it without first earning its acknowledgment.
“In the end, I followed Xiao Jian’s suggestion. I even sacrificed some of my Grand Dao source energy to tear a rift in the spacetime portal.
“The rift vanished in an instant, but it was open just long enough for the Book of Destiny to escape the Sea of Chaos Tribulations and fly into Xiao Jian’s hands.”
The Prisoner peered at Su Yi through the spacetime portal. “It sounds absurd, doesn’t it? Do you suspect I’m lying?”
“It does sound absurd,” said Su Yi. “But I can’t say for sure whether it’s true or not.”
The Prisoner didn’t linger on his question. He continued, “Xiao Jian flipped through the Book of Destiny, then explained some of its secrets. It was only then that I realized just how mystical and taboo the Book of Destiny really was, but neither Xiao Jian nor I had any way of learning its true origins.
“The only thing we could say for sure was that it came from the Source of the River of Destiny.
“I’d helped Xiao Jian, so he agreed to one day use the Book of Destiny’s Nirvanic Power to help me escape confinement. Unfortunately...” The Prisoner sighed, suddenly despondent. “Xiao Jian... is no longer with us...”
Su Yi rubbed his forehead, but just as he was about to say something, the Prisoner’s interest visibly waned. He waved dismissively. “The power of destiny sustaining the barrier has almost run dry. You should leave. Come back once you’ve grasped Nirvanic Power. If you do, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, the spacetime portal in the whirlpool’s depths vanished.
The whirlpool vanished shortly after. All was just as it had been before.
Standing there, Su Yi could clearly sense that the destiny source power had vanished from the lake. The Prisoner had obviously exhausted it when he opened the spacetime portal.
Su Yi didn’t particularly lament this fact. He’d already tempered his vital source energy and powers of the Grand Dao. Both had reached perfection within their current level.
If he wanted to make further progress, he’d have to break through.
“I didn’t make this trip in vain.” Su Yi sighed. He’d learned several secrets during his conversation with the Prisoner.
First, even though the Abyss of Endless Tribulations was known as the source of all calamities, that was only due to its connection to the Sea of Chaos Tribulations in the Source of the River of Destiny.
Second, the Book of Destiny was from the Source of the River of Destiny.
Third, the Nirvanic Power on the third page of the Book of Destiny was of the utmost importance. If he mastered it, he might well be able to open the portal to the Sea of Chaos Tribulations!
These revelations aside, over the course of the two weeks he’d spent immersed in a state of enlightenment in the Destiny Tribulation Lake, he’d undergone a shocking transformation.
Even the Book of Destiny, Contented Heart Scepter, and Cauldron of Fate had benefited considerably from all the destiny source energy they’d absorbed!
Su Yi examined the treasures, then found that their auras were far, far stronger and more mystical than before!
The Contented Heart Scepter in particular had benefited immensely. According to its treasure spirit, its source energies had achieved the treasure’s equivalent of a cultivator breaking into a new major realm!
The Book of Destiny and Cauldron of Fate had benefited considerably, too.
As he pondered, Su Yi turned and left the Daoless Domain.
...
The black palace on the peak of the Mountain of Tribulations was where the Monarch of Endless Tribulations had once cultivated, but it was now ownerless.
Su Yi appeared outside, seemingly out of nowhere, then walked into the hall and casually found a place to sit. He took out a jug of wine and drank as he surveyed the wreckage.
A shocking battle had taken place here just half a month prior. The Monarch of Endless Tribulations, the Buddha of Non-Existence, the Threelives Buddha, Hong Ling, and the Harbingers of Tribulations had all been there.
But now, the place was utterly abandoned.
Su Yi drank in silence and thought back to all the bloodshed and danger he’d experienced during this trip into the Abyss of Endless Tribulations.
In the end, he just sighed and made a decision.
He flipped his palm, and the Book of Destiny floated into the air. He drew his fingertip over the first page.
A rain of light filled the air, then gradually condensed into an ethereal figure. Its features were still somewhat indistinct, but those familiar with him would have recognized him with ease. This was the Monarch of Endless Tribulations!
This was Lamplit Replenishment. So long as an imprint of someone’s aura existed within the Book of Destiny, Su Yi could bring them back to life even if they’d been killed in the outside world.
That was how he’d brought back the Buddha of Non-Existence.
Of course, this resurrection was only possible on the precondition that the target had left a trace of themselves within the Book of Destiny, like a true name, a vestige of the Grand Dao, or a soul imprint.
This was also why Su Yi had been confident enough to refuse the Threelives Buddha’s deal even when River Ancestor Lu Shu and the others’ lives were on the line. Su Yi’s old friends from the River of Destiny had all left vestiges of their true names in the Book of Destiny. Even if they were killed, Su Yi could bring them all back, one by one!
Of course, he couldn’t restore their powers of the Grand Dao or their true bodies. Even if he brought them back, they’d be disembodied, powerless spirits, just like the Buddha of Non-Existence.
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations had been confined within the Destiny Prison on the first page of the Book of Destiny long enough to have left traces of himself behind. This was what Su Yi used to bring him back.
Soon, his spirit appeared within the palace’s main hall.
“This...” The Monarch of Endless Tribulations’ eyes were wide with bewilderment. “Fellow Daoist, what...?”
His resurrected spirit only had what memories he’d had during his time in the Book of Destiny. He knew nothing of what had happened in the Abyss of Endless Tribulations.
Su Yi rose, a rare hint of sorrow in his gaze. “Several bad things happened. I have no desire to lie to you, but... I also don’t want you to know about it.”
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations fell silent. He could tell that all that remained of him was a wisp of his spirit, and he could just about figure out the implications. His expression filled with uncertainty.
After a while, he took a deep breath. “Does that mean my clone and my true body... are no longer around?”
Su Yi nodded. “I used the Book of Destiny to bring you back, but this is the limit of what I can do for you. I can’t make you what you once were.”
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations looked at his surroundings in a daze. “If I can’t know what happened, I’m afraid... my life will be worse than death.”
Su Yi’s heart sank. This was what he was least willing to see. He took a sip of wine, but it seemed oddly flavorless. In the end, he couldn’t help but sigh. “If you find out, your life will be worse than death anyway.”
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations’ expression shifted erratically. He could just about guess what Su Yi was getting at, and he stood there in a dazed silence for a long time. Finally, he said, “If my life will be worse than death either way... please, let me die!”
He looked at Su Yi with staunch determination as he waited to hear his answer.
Su Yi instantly understood. Bringing the Monarch of Endless Tribulations back without telling him why was futile.
He threw back his head, drained his jug of wine, and waved his sleeve through the air. “Have a look around. I’ll wait for you outside.”
A curtain of light appeared, reflecting everything that had happened in the Abyss of Endless Tribulations.
Su Yi turned and left the hall. He sat alone on the stone steps, his back to the palace, a hint of melancholy on his face.
The further one advanced in their pursuit of the Grand Dao, the lonelier they became. Thus, Su Yi attached extraordinary importance to those few friends he made along the way. He cared deeply about those who faced life and death alongside him.
He’d brought the Monarch of Endless Tribulations back in part because he couldn’t bear to lose him. He hoped that by hiding the truth of what had happened, the Monarch of Endless Tribulations might get a second chance at life.
Alas, he failed to realize his goal. His intentions were good, but the Monarch of Endless Tribulations had his own thoughts, opinions, and desires.
Sometimes, acts of kindness didn’t go as planned.
As time slipped by, more and more empty jugs of wine accumulated on the steps.
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations’ hoarse voice suddenly emanated from the palace interior, breaking the stifled silence. “Fellow Daoist Su, I... understand what you’re trying to do...”
Su Yi silently rose and turned to look at him.