Yong Heng in his blob form scooted back slightly as the golden figure stood before him.
"And you are?" Although he was sure that it was Xue Chang who he had brought into this space, it was obvious that this being was not him.
The figure had risen from its laying posture and Yong Heng had assumed that Xue Chang had awakened much quicker than predicted, but he was wrong.
The aura currently surrounding Xue Chang was completely different. It was like he was a completely different person.
Staring at his new guest with a confused expression, Yong Heng circled the mysterious entity warily.
"What? Cat got your tongue? You think you're too good to speak to me?"
The entity just happily smiled at Yong Heng while gazing silently at his surroundings.
After a couple of seconds, he opened his mouth and spoke to Yong Heng cheekily, "You should really decorate your home."
"You don't usually give a prisoner the option to decorate their cell now do you?"
The entity's smile widened as he answered, "No, but that's only for prisoners. You're a little different from that-"
As soon as that sentence left the being's mouth, Yong Heng's blobby body shot forward as he pushed his head directly into Xue Chang's face.
"Who are you!?"
The mysterious being placed his hand upon Yong Heng and pushed him back slowly.
"Forgotten me already?"
His words rung wildly within Yong Heng's brain as his mind raced to an impossible thought.
"But you should've-"
"So even the great Yong Heng doesn't know? It seems you took our skills but not our memories nor understanding. Don't worry, it's not like I'll be here long. This will be my first and last time appearing in this span."
The mysterious person chuckled silently as he released Yong Heng from his grasp, "It seems that you got my little junior to practice his aura sensing a lot. No wonder why I'm his first, what a special event."
The figure gave off a slight blush as he covered his mouth lightly, but these expressions on Xue Chang's body just looked wrong and unnatural.
Yong Heng just stayed silent, allowing the being to continue its rant.
And while he didn't have any expression nor posture in his current form, Yong Heng seemed almost like he was afraid.
"Don't be so frightened old friend, it's not like we blame you for what happened."
"We?"
This time the entity didn't answer his question and just ignored him instead, "My gift to you is simple, I shall leave here within this space my domain. When the time is right let him experience it a little before he makes his own domain okay? Don't let him make the same mistake we made."
Suddenly, the empty space that was purgatory began to rumble and shake as far off in the distance an explosion sounded out.
And within that endless space, a single ball of light could be seen leagues away.
Holding up a single finger lightly, the being said, "That is my first gift, my second shall be a bit more useful in this moment. He already learned how to fight with his current body a little, so might as well start to teach him some proper abilities. I'll give him 'thousand armed asura', make sure he practices this diligently you hear? I don't want my legacy dying out just yet."
Again, another ball of light bursted out within the space. But this time, it was much closer and smaller than the first one.
The ball of light began to reshape and morph itself into what appeared to be a green millipede.
And with a single puff of breath, the millipede flew out of his hands and burrowed deep into Xue Chang's skull.
"And of course there is the rule of three! My final gift!"
The entity held out his hand as if preparing to reveal something incredible, but his words said otherwise, "Ummm I didn't really think of a third gift to prepare. To be honest, I only planned for two but in the heat of the moment I promised three since it seemed kind of cool... well this is awkward."
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, the mysterious being laughed as his eye lit up brightly. "I know! I'll go ahead and save that friend of his, yes! That's my third gift! Hahaha, it's perfect. Okay Yong Heng, see you never again."
And with that, the figure of Xue Chang collapsed again and just remained floating there in the air casually.
Peace returned to purgatory as the solitude Yong Heng was celebrating within earlier returned to its former self.
Yet no matter what he did, the joy he held moments prior had died and wasn't returning anytime soon.
For the first time in a long time, Yong Heng was afraid.
________
He wasn't the Xue Chang Tian Hai knew. This one was more cheeky and confident.
He faced Tian Hai casually, not even minding the dragon roaring behind him.
Although there was nothing physically different from this Xue Chang, he was sure that it was a different person.
"Who are you?" Although his situation was extremely precarious, he somehow gathered the courage to voice out his question.
The Xue Chang in front of him placed a single finger upon his lips as he whispered out, "A friend."
And to the surprise of Tian Hai, he used the back of his hand to slap the air behind him suddenly. And right where he swung, the purple body of the lightning dragon materialized.
As if facing its nemesis, the dragon was flung away. Forcibly crashing into the nearby stream.
Purple lightning ran ran across the water as Xue Chang casually walked over and stared into the dragon's eyes.
"Keep acting impudently and I swear the aeon will lose a Heavenly will today."
As if reacting to his words, the dragon growled lightly as it felt its own body go through a shocking sensation.
As an entity made from tribulation lightning, this shouldn't have been possible, yet it felt electrocuted due to Xue Chang's gaze.
Whimpering quietly, it looked up to Xue Chang with an expression of realization. Getting up out of the stream, it lowered its head in a sort of bow as it attempted to return back to the sky from whence it came.
But before it could completely escape the scene, it felt something grab on to its tail.
"You come here and make a mess of everything and just expect to leave unscathed? Yin Line, NOW!"
Squeezing on its tail with a tremendous amount of force, fractures and cracks formed across the beast's body.
It released a pitiful wail as it spat out a white stick from its mouth. The stick flew down and stabbed directly into the ground next to Tian Hai with a soft thud.
Nodding his head in satisfaction, Xue Chang finally released his grip on the dragon's tail as it disappeared from sight.
Tian Hai stayed on the ground, not moving a muscle as he watched these events unfold before him. He felt his breathing become rough and ragged as the dragon spat out the stick. And he was only able to calm down once the beast left.
and once again, a strange power floated down from the sky and encompassed his body lightly.
As he felt himself strengthen even further, he looked over at Xue Chang with a worried expression.
"Oh don't be such a worry wart, Xue Chang is going to be fine. I've just borrowed his body for a bit, that's all. I'll leave soon but before that why don't we use this time to make good use of that little stick!"
Without another word, he approached Tian Hai and picked up the stick right beside him. Suddenly, without warning, he plunged the sharp point of the white stick into his own arm.
Tian Hai gave a start as he saw blood trickle down from Xue Chang's arm.
But this wasn't the normal red blood, but a golden ichor instead. With the stick covered in the golden liquid, it began to bend and shape itself into a completely different form. And by the end, what was within Xue Chang's grip was a glorious white sword.
This scene was something Tian Hai's mind could not understand whatsoever. Looking at the blade within Xue Chang's hands, he couldn't help but ask again.
"Who are you?"
"I am... beyond your comprehension."