Chapter 1715 - 2017: Zhu Yuzhi
Although the other ancient book is not a secret manual, it contains Zhu Yuzhi’s handwritten records, which are undoubtedly more precious than a martial arts scripture.
At this moment, Ling Chen sat on the ground, seriously reading Zhu Yuzhi’s notes. From the opening lines, it could be seen that Zhu Yuzhi started writing these notes when he was in his thirties. At the beginning, it recorded Zhu Yuzhi’s fame in the Martial Arts world and his battles with various martial arts masters. These events were all recorded in the Dangyang Sect’s annals; the only difference was one was recorded by others, the other by himself. Although the perspective of the narration was different, the stories told were similar.
What most attracted Ling Chen’s attention was not these, but the content afterward. By the time Zhu Yuzhi was in his forties, he had already reached the pinnacle among the top masters in the Martial Arts world, leading the Dangyang Sect to become a major sect in martial arts. At that time, not only was Zhu Yuzhi’s reputation at its peak, but his strength was also continuously improving. By the time he was nearly fifty, Zhu Yuzhi’s martial arts had entered a completely new realm.
If it were someone else, the increasing strength would only bring joy. However, Zhu Yuzhi felt somewhat terrified. The reason for his fear was that he had reached an unknown realm where everything exceeded his understanding. Every day, he could acutely feel the changes in his body.
With the elevation of this realm, even the masters on the Heavenly List who could fight him in those years were like three-year-old children in front of him, completely powerless. However, this increase in strength came with great side effects. Zhu Yuzhi discovered that his mind was gradually becoming confused, sometimes entering a state of prolonged stupor, completely ignoring everything external, as if his thoughts had stopped.
This side effect was just the initial manifestation. As time passed, the abnormalities exhibited by his body became increasingly numerous. The most noticeable change was a bloodthirsty state, as if he had gone mad, feeling like he was trapped in insanity, with all reason swallowed.
Zhu Yuzhi mentioned in this note that when he first experienced this state, he killed two Dangyang Sect disciples who were serving him. It was only after regaining consciousness that he realized he had killed them. He had no recollection of the killing process in his mind. Moreover, this state was very unstable, unpredictable when it would appear. The stronger his power became, the longer this state would last, causing greater harm.
To prevent himself from harming his own people, Zhu Yuzhi found a secluded place to isolate himself in the mountains and forests, avoiding contact with outsiders. However, he underestimated the horror brought by that state. In his notes, there was a description of horrific slaughter. The targets of the massacre were citizens of a small village, all dozens of them were killed. And the one who did it was none other than himself.
He mentioned in his notes that he was resting in his self-built wooden hut, but when he regained consciousness, he found himself lying in a small village, surrounded by corpses, blood everywhere, too horrific to look at.
It wasn’t until he saw the blood staining his body that he realized all those people were killed by him. From the wooden hut to the small village, it was a journey of over twenty kilometers. Yet, he ran this far without any memory of it. From that moment, he realized the sheer terror of that state. Once in that state, it was like the beast inside him was unleashed, seeking blood to satisfy itself. Otherwise, it would continue searching until it found its target.
Later, Zhu Yuzhi simply moved to a mountainous area where a hundred miles around was desolate. Although there were no further human casualties, the beasts living in the mountains suffered instead.
Zhu Yuzhi mentioned in his notes that this state continued for three years before it ended. During those three years, he couldn’t remember how much blood stained his hands. After this frenzy, what followed was body stiffening, as if all his limbs were paralyzed, unable to move, only able to stand still or lie down quietly.
However, what puzzled him was that if it were an ordinary person, staying still for a long time would surely lead to starvation. Yet, he lay in bed for several months without any issues, not feeling hungry at all.
Such changes increasingly frightened Zhu Yuzhi, making him feel he was no longer a normal person. After experiencing several months of stiffness, his body gradually regained sensation. At this point, his power elevated once more. In addition, he was surprised to find his body growing younger, all the wrinkles on his face disappeared.
After some time, Zhu Yuzhi felt his body changing again. This change was not from the surface, but internal. Unable to cut open his own body for understanding, he could only describe it as pain, suffering non-human pain daily. Moreover, this pain lasted a very long time, enduring for over half a year without cessation.
Reading to this point, the records in the notes neared the end. Ling Chen’s gaze moved downward, finding Zhu Yuzhi’s will at the very bottom of the notes. Due to fear of this unknown change, to atone for his sins, and to prevent further harm to innocent people, he decided to end his own life, putting an end to everything.
It was for this reason that Zhu Yuzhi’s body was found in the secret chamber of the Dangyang Sect.
No one expected Zhu Yuzhi to have gone through so much. Ling Chen closed the notes with a sigh. In these notes, Zhu Yuzhi mentioned three stages he experienced: a state of frenzy, a state of stiffness, and non-human pain.
Because of people like Ling Gengqiu and He Zhishen, Ling Chen was already aware of these aspects. If he guessed correctly, Zhu Yuzhi’s transformation should be similar to theirs. If he endured these stages, presumably, he would be like Ling Gengqiu, possessing immortality. However, Zhu Yuzhi ended his life prematurely. If this transformation were viewed as evolution, Zhu Yuzhi stopped all by choosing death just as he was about to complete the evolution. Thus, he never attained immortality and died like an ordinary person.
To be honest, Ling Chen was conflicted about Zhu Yuzhi’s decision, unsure if it was fortunate or unfortunate. One was the immortality countless people coveted, the other was endless years of solitude. Just like He Zhishen, who in his eyes, couldn’t discern if his immortality was a gift from the heavens or a curse.
In contemplation, Ling Chen suddenly looked up as if realizing something, his eyes flashing with complex light.