Feng Liang's vision was consumed by an overwhelming white void that stretched endlessly in all directions, making him feel lost in an infinite sea of nothingness.
It was as if time and space had ceased to exist, leaving him suspended in a place that was both everywhere and nowhere. As he struggled to make sense of the emptiness, Cheon Dan's figure materialized before him, appearing like a phantom from the depths of memory.
He stood tall and imposing, his presence commanding yet tinged with a heaviness that seemed to weigh down his every movement. The legendary conqueror, feared and revered across realms, now stood before Feng Liang, not as an untouchable warlord, but as a man burdened by the weight of his own history.
Cheon Dan's eyes, though still fierce, carried a trace of weariness that was hard to miss.
"So, how does my life look to you?" he asked, his voice a blend of curiosity and fatigue. The question was not just an inquiry... it was a window into his soul, a soul that had been scarred by battles, betrayal, and the unrelenting pursuit of power.
Feng Liang hesitated, his mind racing as he recalled the scenes of bloodshed and conquest he had just witnessed. Despite the horrors, he saw something deeper within Cheon Dan, something profoundly human.
"Your life... it's a painful one," Feng Liang began, his voice steady but tinged with empathy.
"You've endured more suffering than anyone should have to bear. But that suffering... those endless battles and losses... they've shaped you into someone truly remarkable. You're not just a conqueror; you're someone who embodies the very essence of the path of cultivation. You represent the struggle, the defiance, and the unyielding will to rise above all odds."
Cheon Dan listened quietly, his eyes softening as he took in Feng Liang's words. A faint, melancholic smile touched his lips.
"That's the kind of answer I've been waiting for," he said, his voice warm with a hint of gratitude.
"Not many can see beyond the surface of power and bloodshed. Fewer still can understand the weight that comes with every victory."
They stood there, surrounded by the blank whiteness, the silence heavy with the unspoken truths that lingered between them. Feng Liang's mind was filled with questions... questions about the seal on the world, the mysteries of cultivation, and the hidden history of Cheon Dan's era. But he knew there were things he wasn't meant to know, at least not yet.
Cheon Dan seemed to sense Feng Liang's turmoil.
"I know you have questions," he said, his voice breaking the silence.
"There's so much you want to understand, and there's so much I wish I could tell you. But our time here is limited, and some secrets are not mine to share. The seal on the world, the suppression of cultivation, the reasons behind it all... these are burdens you are not yet ready to bear."
Feng Liang nodded, acknowledging the gravity of Cheon Dan's words. The seal on the world, the suppression of cultivation, and the ancient decisions that had shaped the current state of things were matters that carried unimaginable weight. But there was one question that lingered, refusing to be ignored.
"There's something I must know," Feng Liang said, his voice edged with urgency.
"The man I saw... the one with long white hair and cerulean eyes... who was he? Why did he seem so familiar to me?"
Cheon Dan's expression shifted, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. He burst into laughter, the sound rich and full, echoing in the emptiness like a thunderclap.
"That guy? Did you just refer to him as 'that guy'?" he asked, chuckling as though he had heard the most ridiculous statement in all the realms.
Feng Liang stared, bewildered by the reaction.
"I... did I say something wrong?"
Cheon Dan's laughter gradually faded, replaced by a knowing smile tinged with a mix of respect and reverence.
"The 'guy' you're talking about is not just anyone," he said, his tone turning serious.
"He was the most powerful being in the history of the cosmos. Or rather, one of the countless manifestations of him. That man was no ordinary figure; he was a legend, a god among gods."
Feng Liang's heart began to race, his chest tightening as Cheon Dan's words sank in. A strange sensation gripped him... an inexplicable fear intertwined with a sense of profound recognition. His heartbeat, once steady, now pounded erratically, each thud echoing like a drumbeat in his ears.
Ba-thump.
The sound of his heartbeat grew louder, drowning out everything else. His breathing became ragged, and his vision blurred as if he were looking through water. He clutched his chest, feeling the rhythmic thudding intensify, threatening to overwhelm him.
Cheon Dan, oblivious to Feng Liang's internal struggle, continued to speak, his voice filled with admiration.
"That being... the one you saw... was my master. The one who granted me everything I possess today. My demonic sword, forged from the body and soul of an Imoogi, was his creation. The power I wielded, the techniques I mastered, all were gifts bestowed upon me by his grace."
Ba-thump. Ba-thump.
Feng Liang's heartbeat quickened, each beat resonating like a hammer striking an anvil. The pressure in his chest grew unbearable, and a faint cerulean glow began to flicker in his eyes, lighting up the void around him.
His aura shifted, and the energy swirling within him became more chaotic, more potent, as if something ancient and powerful were trying to break free.
"He was the most revered being in the entire cosmos," Cheon Dan continued, his eyes closed as he lost himself in the memories of his master.
"The one who oversees all, the only one to reach realms in cultivation that no one knew even existed. He was the strongest and the kindest, a ruler of creation itself."
Feng Liang's vision wavered, and for a moment, he saw fleeting images... flashes of a grand palace above the clouds, a throne surrounded by divine beings, and a figure standing at the center of it all, radiant with an otherworldly light that could shatter the heavens. The overwhelming presence felt both alien and familiar, like a distant echo of a past he could not fully grasp.
Ba-thump. Ba-thump. Ba-thump.
The cerulean light around Feng Liang grew brighter, and the particles of energy began to coalesce, swirling around him like a vortex.
Ancient symbols appeared in the air, glowing with a celestial aura as they spun around him, forming a figure tall and majestic... a figure with long white hair, piercing cerulean eyes, and an aura that held the weight of countless worlds.
It was an image of Feng Liang as he once was... the Eternal Sage, the Supreme Creator of the cosmos.
Cheon Dan's eyes snapped open, his expression turning from calm to shock. He stumbled back, unable to believe what he was witnessing.
"Master... is it really you?" he whispered, his voice breaking with a mix of joy and disbelief. Tears welled up in his eyes as he fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the realization that his master had returned, reborn as his own descendant.
Feng Liang's eyes glowed with an ancient power, his aura radiating authority and compassion. The transformation was brief, but the presence was undeniable. He looked down at Cheon Dan, his expression softening into a serene smile.
"Stand up, little Dan," Feng Liang spoke, his voice no longer that of a mere cultivator but of a being who had commanded the cosmos. His tone was gentle yet carried the weight of eons, a voice that had shaped the very fabric of reality.
Cheon Dan's heart swelled with emotion, and he bowed deeply, his forehead touching the ground.
"Cheon Dan greets his master," he said, his voice trembling with reverence. Tears streamed down his face, and he dared not look up, overcome by the presence of the one he had worshipped for centuries.
Feng Liang nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips as he looked upon his loyal disciple.
"You've done well, Dan," he said softly, his voice filled with pride and affection.
"You've walked a path filled with trials and tribulations, and you have made me proud. But your journey does not end here. There is still much for you to achieve. The Immortal Realm awaits you... ascend and fulfill your destiny."
Cheon Dan's eyes shone with determination and gratitude.
"I will, Master. I will honor your will, and I will not disappoint you."
Feng Liang's aura began to fade, the manifestation of his true self slowly dissolving back into the void.
"Remember, Dan," he said, his tone growing stern.
"You must speak of my existence to no one. Not a soul must know that I live again. This secret must remain buried, for the sake of the world and for what is to come."
Cheon Dan nodded solemnly, his expression turning serious.
"I swear it upon my soul, Master. I will keep this secret, no matter the cost."
With a final nod of approval, Feng Liang's divine presence vanished, leaving behind only the echoes of his power. The blank realm around them began to dissolve, and Cheon Dan felt the pull of the Immortal Realm calling him. With one last grateful glance at Feng Liang, he rose to his feet, his aura flaring as he prepared to ascend.
Feng Liang watched as his disciple vanished into the Immortal Realm, his figure becoming a distant glow before disappearing entirely. The void around Feng Liang slowly dissolved, returning him to the familiar surroundings of the cave.
The ancient energy that had shielded and empowered him dissipated, leaving behind a profound stillness that felt both comforting and melancholic.
As the last traces of Cheon Dan's presence faded, Feng Liang stood alone in the quiet of the cave, the weight of everything he had just experienced settling heavily on his shoulders. The cave's walls were dimly illuminated by the faint light of his lingering aura, and the silence that enveloped him was thick with unspoken thoughts.