The ancestor sighed deeply, his gaze heavy with both regret and admiration as he watched Feng Liang. The weight of centuries seemed to rest on his shoulders as he spoke, his voice calm but tinged with sadness.
"To think," the ancestor murmured, shaking his head slightly,
"that someone would be able to cultivate in this era. A time when cultivation has all but vanished, when the world has forgotten the very essence of what once defined it." He paused, studying Feng Liang more closely.
"You must have encountered a truly rare, even fated, opportunity. Not many could have broken through to the path of cultivation in a world where the heavens themselves have been sealed."
Feng Liang remained silent, absorbing the ancestor's words. The revelation hit him hard. Cultivation... extinct? And yet, here he was, cultivating in secret. The enormity of the situation weighed heavily on his mind. He had always known there was something different about his journey, but to think he was reviving a forgotten art in a world that no longer embraced it... it was almost too much to process.
The ancestor chuckled softly, though there was a bittersweet quality to the sound.
"It was our choice, you know. Our decision to isolate this world, to lock it away from the true path of the heavens. We believed it was necessary, to protect the realm from forces beyond its control. But looking at you now... perhaps it is time. Time to lift the seal and let the world rediscover the power it has long forgotten."
Feng Liang's heart skipped a beat. Lift the seal? The sheer magnitude of that possibility left him breathless. What would it mean for the world? What kind of forces would be unleashed if the seal was truly lifted? And more importantly, why had it been put in place to begin with?
"But why?" Feng Liang finally asked, his voice low but filled with urgency.
"Why was the world sealed in the first place? What were you trying to protect it from?"
The question hung in the air like a dense fog, and Feng Liang could feel the weight of his inquiry pressing down on him. His heart raced, eager for the answer, the explanation that might unlock the mysteries of his past and the world's lost history.
The ancestor's expression darkened slightly, and for a moment, it seemed like he was about to answer. But before a word could escape his lips, something strange began to happen. A soft, golden glow spread across the ancestor's body, starting from his core and radiating outward like a gentle, warm light.
Feng Liang's eyes widened in alarm as he watched the glow intensify. The ancestor glanced down at himself, and to Feng Liang's horror, he saw the elder's form beginning to fracture... small cracks spreading across his hands, his arms, his entire body, as though he were made of fragile glass.
The golden light grew brighter, shimmering with an ethereal beauty, but it was clear what was happening. The ancestor was beginning to disintegrate, his form crumbling away bit by bit into the light.
The ancestor smiled faintly, though there was sadness in his eyes.
"It seems... I don't have much time left," he said quietly, watching as more of his form began to dissolve into golden dust. His voice was calm, accepting, but there was an undeniable sense of finality in it.
Feng Liang felt panic rising in his chest.
"No! Ancestor, wait! I have so many questions... what about the seal? What about cultivation? How will I—"
The ancestor raised a crumbling hand, stopping him mid-sentence. His gesture was gentle but firm, and his eyes softened with a warmth that seemed to transcend the moment.
"I know, child. I know there is much you want to understand. And believe me, I wish I had the time to tell you everything. But... my time is running out."
Feng Liang's heart raced, his desperation growing. This was slipping away far too quickly. He had finally found someone who could help him, guide him, explain the mysteries he had been trying to unravel for so long. And now, just like that, he was being taken away.
"But I can't just—" Feng Liang started, his voice catching in his throat.
"I... I don't know enough. I'm not ready."
The ancestor's smile widened, a touch of affection in his gaze.
"No one is ever truly ready, boy. But you've come this far. You've already stepped onto the path, and that's more than most can say." His voice grew softer, filled with a kind of paternal care that Feng Liang hadn't felt in years.
"Sit down. Assume the meditative stance. I may not be able to stay with you, but I can pass on what knowledge I can. That will guide you in the days to come."
Without hesitating further, Feng Liang lowered himself to the ground, crossing his legs and assuming the meditative position. His hands rested gently on his knees, and he closed his eyes, trying to steady his breath.
His mind was a storm of emotions... fear, anticipation, confusion... but he forced himself to calm. He needed to focus. This was his only chance.
The ancestor, now little more than a glowing silhouette, knelt beside him. His form was flickering like a candle in the wind, growing fainter by the second. But he managed to place his hand gently on top of Feng Liang's head, a soft, almost affectionate gesture. It was as though he were passing on more than just knowledge... he was passing on a legacy.
"From this point forward," the ancestor whispered, his voice barely more than a breath,
"I want you to live for yourself. Don't worry about the world's expectations, or the burdens others try to place on your shoulders. Focus on your cultivation. Walk your own path, boy." The warmth of his words seemed to seep into Feng Liang's very soul, a deep sense of peace filling him.
"Make your grandfather proud."
Feng Liang felt something stir deep within him... a connection to something greater, something vast and ancient. As the ancestor's hand rested on his head, a flood of knowledge began to pour into him.
Memories that weren't his, emotions that spanned lifetimes, and wisdom forged in the fires of countless battles... all of it flowed from the ancestor into Feng Liang's mind. It was overwhelming, but at the same time, it felt right. Like he was finally connecting to a part of himself he hadn't known was missing.
The light around them grew brighter, the golden glow now illuminating the entire cave. The ancestor's form was almost completely gone, his body dissolving into particles of light, but his presence lingered in the air, strong and reassuring.
"Remember," the ancestor whispered, his voice growing fainter.
"No matter what happens, no matter how difficult the path may become... you are not alone."
And with that, the ancestor's hand vanished, his form completely dissipating into the light. The golden particles floated upward, swirling through the air like dust caught in a gentle breeze, before disappearing into the darkness of the cave.
Feng Liang's vision blurred, the warmth of the knowledge and memories now coursing through his veins overwhelming his senses. His body felt heavy, his mind flooded with the sheer weight of the information he had just received.
He tried to hold on, tried to stay conscious, but it was too much. The warmth enveloped him, pulling him deeper into the void.
As his mind slipped into unconsciousness, the last thing Feng Liang felt was the lingering warmth of the ancestor's parting gift... the memories, the power, the knowledge. And in his fading thoughts, one final whisper echoed in his mind.
"Live."
And with that, Feng Liang fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, the cave now silent once more.