The old man, still puzzled, responded, "Beyond Perfection? Such a realm exists?"
Azrael simply smiled, not providing a direct answer. "Now, my question for you: What led you to hide in this Secret Mystic Realm, and why did you adopt such an isolated lifestyle?"
"10 million years ago, a great war happened that threw the whole cosmos into chaos—a war on a scale where even a Saint could perish. I was one of the leading figures in that war, rallying forces to extinguish the enemy. The fight between Saint and above realms could lead to the destruction of a Great Plane, as in that scale of war, Saints wouldn't have any leisure to hold or contain the impact of their powers. The battles between Saints, Saint Monarchs, and Saint Lords spilled outside the Great Planes," the old man paused. "The war was brutal, and we could only end it after successfully sealing the leader of our enemy. After the fight, we dispersed. As I traveled towards the Great Planes, I saw a floating relic—a sect board, Heaven Defying Sect," the old man uttered.
Hearing this, Azrael narrowed his eyes, but they returned to normal in the next moment. However, that was enough for the old man to notice; he was a Saint Lord, after all, with hundreds of Great Daos. Plus, Azrael didn't actively hide or conceal his emotions at the moment.
With that in mind, the old man concluded that Azrael had a relationship with Heaven Defying Sect, solidifying his belief and theory about Azrael.
"I have also seen a mural, but it is incomplete. I witnessed cultivators fighting over something, but the depictions were broken. These relics are definitely hidden outside the Great Planes, only to be exposed due to the destruction caused by Saints in several dimensions during the fight. Aside from these murals and a sect board with the name 'Heaven Defying Sect,' I didn't find anything. With these relics, I went into seclusion, studying for years. Even with the use of fate, it seems I am unable to trace back its roots, as if something is blocking me. So, I had no choice but to study it more and look for any openings for me to use my Fate Great Dao, allowing me to trace back its roots. I know that these relics are extraordinary and have an extraordinary history."
"I spent millions of years studying those relics. At times, I traveled to different places within the 10 Great Planes, and I even ventured outside the 10 Great Planes, but to no avail—I didn't find anything that would help me. However, I didn't give up. One hundred thousand years ago, I finally managed to glimpse the roots of it. With my perseverance and study, I was able to replay the events depicted in the murals, even though it was only for a split second. But that was enough for me."
"What I saw was a terrifying yet hope-inducing scene—an heroic figure leading cultivators in a fight against heaven. It was not a rebellious war, but a defensive one. Realizing the truth about heaven, the entity that was supposed to put everything in its place, I couldn't help but shudder. Now everything makes sense—the tribulations that every Ascension Realm cultivator has to face each time they break through, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Tribulation for every Divine Cultivator, even the Million-Year Tribulation that Saints and above have to endure. These tribulations have claimed the lives of many cultivators throughout history. It all makes sense because the real face of heaven is a..." The old man coughed blood, his frail body becoming even more fragile.
"Don't force yourself, old man. I know what you're trying to say." Azrael said.
The old man looked at Azrael, calming himself. "After witnessing things I shouldn't have seen, I felt Heaven making a move on me. That's why I ventured outside the Great Plane, facing the onslaught of Heaven—a force countless times stronger than the tribulations I had endured. I barely survived, sustaining everlasting injuries that even my great daos can't heal, resulting in my current state. Despite these injuries, I tried to find a possible solution, a means to defy Heaven in the future. A hundred years ago, I sensed a fluctuation from a mortal realm. I looked and was shocked by what I saw—a providence surpassing anything I had witnessed on a mortal planet. Although it was only a fleeting moment, and it disappeared. I knew it wasn't an illusion born from desperation. So, I searched this planet, hoping to find the source, thinking it might be where I can lay my hopes. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything. But I firmly believe that my hope can be found here, especially when I divine the future of this planet. All I see is a blurred future—a definite anomaly. That's why I created this secret mystic realm, hoping the source of that providence would enter. A person I could place my hope in, someone to inherit my legacy. However," the old man paused before continuing, "it seems that was not necessary, giving my inheritance, I mean." The old man chuckled a little.
The old man was more convinced now. He hadn't been able to think clearly earlier due to the shock of someone capable of discovering this place. But now, as he thought more carefully, he realized that the Saint Lord beside him was someone unknown to him. Although he couldn't determine her true age due to the man beside her preventing it, he sensed that she was much younger. Now, out of meditation, he felt the presence of two more Saint Lords within this mortal planet, and he was sure that they were related to the man in front of him.
Even the usage of the Death Great Dao he had felt a few months ago, and the voice that had been heard by powerful beings throughout the cosmos, could be tied to this man. His hope was rekindled.
"The relics that you mentioned, can I see them?"
The old man nodded, and then a mural and a sect board appeared, floating towards Azrael.
Azrael grabbed those relics, "Heaven Defying Sect, seems like him." Azrael chuckled; however, there was a hint of sadness and melancholy. In the end, he wasn't able to do anything for his master. All he could do was perfect his cultivation and repay him by overcoming the calamity, but that would be far off in the future.
Sensing his emotions, Cecilia caressed his face. Azrael then looked at Cecilia and smiled sweetly at her effort to comfort him. He then looked at the murals, where cultivators were depicted fighting against something, but the enemy was not properly depicted because it was broken.
"He was definitely a heroic figure; well, he should be. He is my master after all, although he is nothing but a creepy old man at first look."
Azrael then blatantly kept it, and the old man in front of him couldn't help but twitch.
"What?" noticing his reaction, Azrael questioned, "Consider it as a payment. I bet you are thinking that I am the one you were looking for."
The old man twitched again hearing that.
"Now that you have answered my question, it's only fair for me to answer your question about the curse. Like what I said earlier, I have seen a curse such as yours, and that's from my master, who is none other than the man you saw when you divined these relics."
'As expected.'
"For the record, although my Master was an ancient fossil, I am physically a thousand years old. I wouldn't allow you to think of me as older than anyone in this cosmos. So stop what you are trying to say about me being your 'senior.' Just thinking about an old fossil calling me a senior, I couldn't help but shudder."
**Cough! Cough!**
The old man choked and coughed as he heard those words. Yes, he was really planning to call Azrael his Senior. However, he couldn't help but be amazed: a 1000-year-old young man being stronger than him. What a concept!
Although he was not aware that Azrael has billions of years of experience. And things are better left unspoken. Azrael would not allow anyone who was older than him physically to call him senior.
Cecilia giggled, seeing this interaction. She knew Azrael was only trying to lighten the mood.