Unable to cope, Yong Sheng screamed out mourning over the dead, he collapsed and into a deep sleep he fell.
Around him the world new, a world immense, a world greater than all before, a world green, a world of life boundless unrestricted by time. Above Yong Sheng's sleeping body, a tree grander than life itself, stood tall rooted to the ground, smiling over him.
In another world, through the forest, a boy ran, with grace, and with prestige. With his head held high, this boy, Yufang a man above all, although fleeing, although sweating bullets, and although tears flooded his eyes running down his face from fear, he ran while remaining above all things.
Yufang although fast, although moving as if gliding across the ground, they were gaining on him, these predators with each moment grew nearer and nearer. These predators, unlike Yufang, had spent their whole life living within this forest, they had spent their whole life running, exploring the terrain of the forest, and training their movement techniques, here they were king. In comparison, Yufang's movement technique which he had mimicked was lacking greatly an incomparable barrier of skill stood between them.
Nevertheless, Yufang's path was short having never strayed far from that log. All he had to do was reach it, all he had to do was keep the distance between them over this short period if he could just accomplish this, he'd make it, he'd survive, and he wouldn't be trampled by a stampede of beasts as they fight amongst each other over his body.
His life on the line, Yufang ran, he ran the fastest he ever had since his past life, wishing to avert this impending danger he ran without looking back.
Upon the trees, the birds watching this event chirped a song of ridicule, cursed Yufang grew empowered by rage, running faster and faster, in a rage Yufang cursed the birds and the beasts, screaming out, "You dare?! Mere beast, fucking step down from your pedestal and bow before this grandfather this very instant and if you do not surely only death shall await you for being unfilial to this grandfather!"
Although his journey short Yufang enraged had grown tired, his movements no longer smooth and now no longer carrying the grace he had before. His movements slowed and those around grew hungered, this child before them now worn out, slowing down, they lusted, lusted for the immense power of the eternal void that called them, hungered they rushed forth ready to devour their prey.
Lots of things don't always go as planned. And life is like that. But if you give up at that point, you will never rise above, you will never exceed yourself, you will remain a mere mortal following a play set by God never once straying from fate, a mortal you will remain always destined to give in to fate and never living the life you yearn.
Never giving up even when low, for if you never give up at that point, if you never give up even though odds are against you, an opportunity will surely reveal itself. Yufang lived his life like this, living for an opportunity, living the life of a man greater than all, although Yufang a man cursed walked the path of self-destruction refusing to take the easy way out entering the path of cultivation, the way of Gods. For those on this path they walk reliant on pure luck, it was the way of those cursed to walk the path of self-destruction.
A smile infinitely demonic had arisen once more, twice, not once, but twice he had tricked these foolish predators. His speed, none of this mattered any longer, for he had reached it, he had reached that log, surrounding the trap laid, these beasts great in number surely could not discern the small path of survival and reach Yufang.
Rushing forth, countless beasts fell victim to Yufang's elaborate schemes. To the bottom of the pit, they fell and above Yufang stood tall, screaming out, "Good my grandsons, finally admitting your wrongs and prostrating yourself before this grandfather, truly you are all humble. For your good behavior, I'll reward you by making sure to put all of you to good use."
Although weak, although below all, Yufang rose devouring those above his own, however, this was no opportunity he had gained, against fate, against luck this was not an opportunity he had acquired through luck.
This was an opportunity Yufang had fought for, an opportunity he had created through his own whit, Yufang against luck, against fate had paved the way for his own success, this is how he rose, this is how he defeated those above his own, this was Yufang's path, the path of destruction.
These predators falling to their death came back as ghosts cursing Yufang's remark, however, ghosts had no power in this world, disappear they soon would, their curses merely empty words.
Cursed with poor vision, cursed with a small intellect, and cursed to have been fated to meet Yufang today, countless beasts victim, those that had come late, fled in fear having seen the countless fall dead before them.
There the forest, a man sits having devoured a beast. Below him, the bodies of countless, these beings deceased, this man smiling demonically, mutters, "My side of the plan is done, Yong Sheng I'll be awaiting your arrival."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Yong Sheng asleep dreams of the past, tears running down his face, he mourns the loss of an old friend. His past put to rest, the Yong Sheng of old now dead, now wishing to move on he forgets, his tears cease and his eyes opening Yong Sheng looks out to a world green, a world immense, a world of divine beauty.
Around him, a new world filled here all life boundless, a world of everlasting beauty. Over him, a tree grander than life itself stood tall rooted to the ground it smiled.
Tears now begin to pour down, as he wept in remembrance, for above him, was his past self, a tree grander than life itself, a tree overlooking all life. Sighing deeply and laughing wryly Yong Sheng mutters, "I'm still dreaming aren't I?"
Closing his eyes once more he drifts into sleep, as he does so a burst of laughter slowly fading out rings out in a world distant.
A burst of grand laughter rang out, drifting off to sleep Yong Sheng had heard this laughter amazed he thought "Above him was it truly this tree? Was it truly him of the past?"
Bewildered Yong Sheng exclaimed, "Not a dream!" Opening his eyes to confirm this he looked out, however, what he saw was nothing but the same old image he had seen his whole life, a forest of trees withered by time. Dejected Yong Sheng muttered, "Merely an illusion."
However, around him, something strange, an oddity within this forest, looking out what he had seen was something of divine beauty. Never before had Yong Sheng met such a spectacle, even having lived countless years this thing before him, there was nothing that could compare.
Before him something that stretched thousands of meters, something that seemed to have been made from the most glamorous gems in the world, before him this thing was surely an ancient relic left by some godly individual, a divine relic of the past.
Moving closer to get a closer look, observing this ancient relic before him, he smiled brightly as he researched with a great passion for interest, however as he moved closer observing this relic, his smile dimmed, for before him this thing, a divine relic it was not, surely this thing before him was made of grand materials, however, this object before him was, in fact, a pot. Yes this object seemingly made from the most glamorous gems in the world, was merely a pot.
Thinking back Yong Sheng fell into hysterics laughing crazily, as he spoke, "Yufang, is this it? Is this the pot you sought? Truly just what exactly are you doing here? What are you planning here inside my forest? Just what will you be using such a pot for?" Saying this, a grand smile rose across his face as he muttered, "Truly I was right that day, truly I have chosen the right disciple."
However, muttering once more being confused he said, "But just how exactly did I end up back here, in the forest and just how did this pot get here?"
Sitting upon countless, Yufang waited bored, as he looked around at the predators below him on Yufang's face although hidden upon his face a bright smile sat. His duties were now done Yufang could finally rest and wait, wait for Yong Sheng to locate him, and wait for Yong Sheng to comply with their deal bringing that pot here.
Bored, he grinned at the bodies of the dead awaiting Yong Sheng's return, so he could finally begin the ceremony, his body shaking, and his blood boiling, Yufang's lust grew, just awaiting the final product of the ceremony, just awaiting the strength he could finally gain, the days of him being bullied would be no longer, and that divine tortoise the god of the jungle, shall finally feel fear and his mouth shall finally devour upon that divine taste once more.
Thinking his mouth watered, but his thoughts short-lived, as next to him an old man had appeared, seeing him Yufang smiled and said, "So you're here?"
Grinning largely wishing to see the true outcome of Yufang's plan, however, as he was about to speak, he looked down and below Yufang, thousands, no, millions laid dead. His smile growing crazed as he replied, "I have indeed arrived." Seeing through the trap, Yong Sheng spoke once more, "To trap those above your own power, truly this time you've outdone yourself."
Grinning back, Yufang asked, "Come on, come on bring out the pot, we don't have time to wait, we must begin the ceremony at once."
Both of them grinning like lunatics, Yong Sheng reached into his sleeve, pulling out a pot.
Amazing Yufang muttered, "I thought you said no one knew space-time techniques..."
Laughing lightly a saddened look crossed Yong Sheng's face as he replied, "This divine treasure created by an estranged God, truly it cannot compare to the real thing."
Laughing lightly, Yufang said, "Such a thing can be classified as a divine treasure? Truly this world has fallen, how pitiful it has become."
Yong Sheng laughing wryly in response said, "Okay come on start the show for me, let me see just what exactly your planning and uncover this so-called age-long secret."
This pot of wood before Yufang, made of the Olms for most desired sustenance, timeless wood. Along with the bodies of the beasts, a true honey pot was made, that could even lure Gods.
The plan finally beginning Yufang smiled demonically, as he asked Yong Sheng to move the bodies into the pot.
Loading them into the pot, 3,469,234 beasts had entered. Over 3 times the original amount Yufang had set. Surely here today with such a grand honey pot, with a pot so full of life his gain shall be immense.
All they had to do now was set the pot alight and the ceremony would begin.
Looking to Yong Sheng, Yufang screamed, "Light the fire!"
Suddenly screamed at Yong Sheng stumbled and glared at Yufang expressing his anger, before setting the pot alight.
Just like this, the ceremony had begun, the millions of beasts began to be refined, being compacted into a single soul.
This method, a simple yet effective technique to lure out those non-existent.
From this pot, millions of beasts majority under the age of 1,000 but some here are above reaching as far as 2,000 years of age. Emitted from this pot, the bodies of all these beasts refined into one single soul. Released from this pot, an incomparably attractive life energy that attracted all, even the dead. The life force released, was thousands, no, millions of times greater than Yufang's eternal void.
The ceremony beginning, the incomparable life force began to spread, letting out. The ceremony beginning now all they could do was wait, wait for these non-existent beings to rise, awaiting the time these beings leave their ethereal form to feast.
Waiting joyously sends passed and their smiles grew brilliant as they awaited the great fortune to come, minutes had now passed but their smile remained, staying infinitely dominant, and with time passing soon hours had gone by but nothing.
Nothing had appeared, their once ever so brilliant smiles now began dimming with each passing moment.
Dejected they both stood opposite each other staring, multiple hours had passed since the beginning, sighing Yong Sheng believing there was nothing here and that Yufang was wrong about this matter, in this forest, there was no secret, there was no treasure, there was nothing once more Yong Sheng sighed deeply, before saying to Yufang, "How about we just go back to the sect? We truly haven't wasted that much time here."
Yufang, however, did not give up hope, shaking his head side to side relentless he waited.
Smiling at Yufang's answer, Yong Sheng said in response, "Very well but we shall wait only 2 hours longer no more, no less.
To Yufang, dejected he became for with each passing moment felt an eternity. This trap, this honey pot, he had bet on it, he had bet on the very existence of the Olm's, although he knew in a forest dead, no Olm would exist, but regardless to this fact he remained hopeful, truly if Yufang's bet did not pay off here, he had wasted his precious time, for he a mortal each second mattered, no time could be wasted with half-assed plans.
However resilient he was, waiting seconds passed once more, these seconds soon, however, turning to minutes, and finally 2 hours had gone by, but nothing, nothing was to be seen, the pot still untouched, over 8 hours of waiting and nothing had surfaced.
The time passing, Yong Sheng looked to Yufang, upon Yufang's face a look of misery, sighing deeply Yong Sheng said, "It's time," not responding Yufang dejected just nodded his head lightly agreeing. His time was wasted, all his thoughts were proven correct, this place was, in fact, dead, here no life existed, including the olms all to have died, this bet, this ceremony all of it was without prevail, and most importantly Yufang had now wasted his ever so precious time.
He had done everything he could, there was nothing more and nothing less, and with his time up now all Yufang could do was leave, deserting this forest.
Moving away, having decided to leave, however just as they began to move, something happened, a miracle! Looking back Yong Sheng and Yufang turned to each other with a look of glee, as Yufang screamed, "They are here prepare for the harvest!"
Rising Olms had begun to enter the pot, leaving their ethereal form. Upon seeing them, Yufang's mouth drooled awaiting his grand dish, the boiled Olm. And Yong Sheng upon seeing them, exclaimed, "This, this! The great God!"
Yong Sheng's reaction strange, calling his dish a God, Yufang sneered, "You know of them?"
Replying Yong Sheng said, "It is not that I know them It is that I know someone of this species."
Amazed Yufang asked, "Who?"
Replying Yong Sheng said, "Well, I knew someone of this species, the strongest God of old he was, however with the rise of the human race, he too was cursed to perish."
Thinking to himself Yufang smile, "An Olm that could move having left its nonresponsive state truly this Olm must have been something special, an oddity among oddities." Smiling demonically Yunfang continued, "It seems this life shall be infinitely interesting after all."