KREEEE!!!
BOOOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!!!
BOOSH! KREEEEE! SUUUUUUUUBOOOOOSH!!!
"BINATAK KUTUK!" Raungan keras, penuh kebencian, tak terbayangkan kehebatan bergema melintasi dunia, mengguncang struktur yang melayang di Void Gelap di fondasinya. Dari luar, setelah formasi penyembunyian diguncang api murka dan ledakan tiba-tiba, garis besar struktur terlihat jelas di tengah kekacauan.
Itu sebuah kastil berbentuk konsentrik, dengan dinding luar dan dinding dalam, empat menara di keempat arah, namun area dalamnya berisi bola besar berwarna hitam. Seluruh bola tersebut kira-kira seukuran planet kecil, cukup luas untuk menampung puluhan juta nyawa.
Bercerai-berai di permukaan bola hitam itu lubang ventilasi berbentuk persegi, dan mereka tampak menyerap esensi yang dipancarkan Bintang Solar. Secara berkala, bola itu sedikit mengembang lalu menyusut paksa dengan suara mendesis. Seolah dia bernapas. Saat tekanan terlihat dilepaskan, permukaan bola bersinar dengan rune ungu yang berwarna merah darah.
HISS! BLURG! DUUSH!
Suara aneh keluar dari bola itu, apalagi saat mencoba mengembang. Ratusan ribu ventilasi, cukup besar untuk orang dewasa rata-rata, memuntahkan api emas-merah. Penyusutan terhenti karena itu, esensi dibakar untuk memakan Api Nirvana!
Bagian dalam bola rumit, dihuni banyak kultivator, hidup, bekerja, dan berkembang di dalamnya, lingkungannya bervariasi. Bahkan hutan dan danau hadir. Namun saat ini, area yang didesain meniru lingkungan nyata terbakar Api Nirvana. Pohon terbakar, danau kering, dan tak terhitung kultivator bermasker, dari Kondensasi Qi hingga Alam Inti Astral, menemui kematian.
Hanya mereka yang ditekan, dibelenggu formasi pembatasan, dan dianggap bukan ancaman yang mendapat belas kasihan. Bahkan, Bai Lin memberkati mereka dengan hadiah. Energi kehidupannya sangat kuat, sehingga tahanan yang hampir mati, menderita sakit tak tertahankan dari luka penyiksaan, ekstraksi, atau praktik jahat lainnya, sembuh. Dengan infusi energi kehidupan, kemampuan pemulihan alami tubuh mereka meningkat drastis.
Bagi yang sudah di ujung tanduk, ini berkah dari kekuatan ilahi dari luar.
Sambil dilahapi api, tahanan yang dibatasi di ruangan menatap penjarah, penanya, penjaga, dan penyiksa mereka terbakar di hadapan mata mereka—pertama terkejut, lalu bersorak. Tak diketahui siapa memulai, atau kebetulan, tapi mereka semua bersorak gembira. Rasa balas dendam terpenuhi begitu euforik.
Saat suara pertarungan bergema di seluruh bola, sorak gembira bercampur kutukan bahagia bergema setara keras. Saat dimulai, simfoni bermula. Simfoni indah, gembira, yang menyanyikan kebebasan dan harapan.
"DIAM LAH, SETAN!" Raungan guruh menyapu seluruh bola, menyebabkan runenya menyala dengan cahaya jahat. Suara itu membuat banyak orang yang menjeritkan harapan dan mimpinya menemui jeritan terakhir yang memutus nyawa. Mereka mati dengan senyuman cerah dan satu jeritan terakhir. Bukan jeritan kematian, tapi jeritan kebebasan.
Mereka takkan menderita lagi. Bagi mereka, itu cukup.
Seorang kultivator pria punya basis kultivasi tinggi dan fisik khusus, Fisik Pembaruan Yang. Itu lawan sempurna Fisik Pembaruan Yin, memungkinkan Yang Primalnya pulih setelah habis, menjadikannya pasangan kultivasi terbaik untuk wanita. Tapi karena itu, dia disedot lebih dari lima ratus tahun di sini.
Dipaksa jadi kantong energi yang terbarukan, kultivasinya naik terus lewat cara khusus. Dia bahkan tak bisa mati saat tribulasi, Ascended bisa campur tangan dengan harta dan cara mereka. Nilainya… tak ternilai.
Saat sorak dimulai, dia paling keras.
Tenggelam dalam api emas-merah, dia hancur berantakan. Tak punya anggota tubuh, diputus ratusan tahun lalu, bahalu alat kelaminnya dicabut, memaksa energi yang-nya tersegel di tubuh tanpa keluar dan dipaksa naik lewat metode khusus.
Selama ini, dia seperti makhluk tak mati, dipaksa hidup meski tak mau. Matanya mencerminkan itu. Hanya tahu orang luar mati berderai, ke neraka… itu cukup.
Dia berbisik lembut, berusaha bicara ke api. "Aku… aku tak tahu siapa kau… atau kau bisa dengar, tapi terima kasih. Tapi… aku punya permintaan. Kecil, sepele, tak berarti buat orang sepertimu." Terbelenggu leher dan dada tanpa anggota, digantung tiga puluh meter di udara, dia menelan ludah.
Api menggelegar tapi tak kelihat mendengar. Dia berharap spiritual sense pelaku kekacauan ini mendengar. Dia berharap.
"Kalau kau bisa, aku beri Kuintesensi Sumber Yang-ku… Kau harus tahu artinya…" Pria itu menawarkan. Siapa pun mendengar akan kaget hebat. Kuintesensi Sumber Yang adalah komponen paling vital kultivator, mencabutnya sama dengan mengutuk ke penderitaan tak berujung. Itu melekat erat dengan jiwa, dan meski bukan bagian langsung, terbentuk setelah lahir.
Api tetap diam.
"Dengar ini… dengarkan aku…" Pria itu memohon. Air mata mengalir seperti sungai. Dia memohon, merindukan permintaannya terpenuhi. Tapi kalau dia coba mati, mereka selalu hentikan. Bahkan kalau dia coba tarik Kuintesensi Sumber Yang, mereka hentikan instan.
Api bergerak.
Merasakan perubahan halus, mata pria bersinar. "Lepas belengguku. Aku berikan! Aku janji!" Dia memohon lagi, dibangkitkan harapan. Api kelihat mendengar, panasnya naik perlahan. Pria kaget belenggu dan rantainya terbakar habis. Dia jatuh tiga puluh meter, menumbuk tanah dengan gedeg.
Pria tak ragu. Iris dan pupilnya pudar, matanya jadi lautan emas. Dengan raungan hebat, dari glabella-nya, bola emas sempurna seukuran kelereng anak keluar. Tubuhnya tak lama lagi kehilangan kemaskulinan, bahkan kewanitaan yang menyeimbangkan diri pun hilang.
Kepalanya jungkir saat bola emas pergi.
"Bunuh aku…" Dia meminta serak. Kerusakan dari pengambilan sendiri akan mengutuknya penderitaan tak berujung dan komplikasi fisik mental. Kalau dulu, bajingan itu untung, tapi dia… dia akan dijaga begini sampai umurnya habis. Dia tak mau keduanya.
Dia pilih menderita daripada mereka untung.
Tapi sekarang, dia punya harapan.
"Tolong…" suaranya serak, androgin, terdengar lagi, "…tolong bunuh aku…"
KREE!!!
Bai Lin mengeluarkan tangisan marah penuh emosi tak terbayangkan. Hatinya, saat menghadapi musuh, digeruni adegan tragis ini. Dan bukan hanya satu. Sedikit yang pikir dia bisa selamatkan, jadi mereka memohon api ambil mereka juga. Mereka berteriak keras. Mereka menawarkan segalanya. Mereka lakukan apa saja berharap pengendali api mendengar.
Tapi dia ragu apa yang harus dilakukan. Wei Wuyin bilang jangan bunuh. Dia harus menahan diri supaya struktur tak runtuh, terpaksa berperang di ruang sempit.
Namun, suara meledak tepat waktu. "Aku temukan dia!"
Mata Bai Lin bersinar. Dia mengeluarkan tangisan phoenix ledakan yang membuat api gila. Dia bertindak pada yang menginginkan akhir. Karena dia tahu menyelamatkan mereka tak terlalu mungkin. Ada puluhan juta tahanan, dan hampir lima persen meminta bantuan dia mengakhiri semuanya.
Dengan kilatan air mata di matanya, dia ubah kualitas Api Nirvana di sekitar mereka. Dia coba naikkan panas ke level tertinggi agar kematian mereka instan.
Ahli tanpa anggota, tanpa gender, merasakan pergeseran. Dia tersenyum lebar. "Terima ka-" Tubuhnya terbakar habis.
Bola hitam bergetar dan dari sebagian, tonjolan terbentuk yang cepat berubah warna. Materialnya jadi superpanas dan dalam ledakan dahsyat, tonjolan jadi lubang.
Kree!
Sungai api emas-merah memancar hebat, dan rune ungu berwarna merah darah hilang satu-satu, seluruh array destabil. Dari geyser api, burung terbuat sepenuhnya api emas-merah, tingginya dua puluh dua ribu meter, muncul dengan kecepatan menakjubkan.
Dia melesat ke Void Gelap dan belok tajam, matanya emas bersinar seperti dua Bintang Solar yang terbakar.
Transformasi Phoenix Api!
"Aku bunuh kalian semua sampai habis!" Bai Lin kirim getaran mental luas, penuh niat bunuh murni, tak bercampur. Sebelumnya, dia cuma mau berperang dan buktikan dirinya berguna.
Sekarang?
DIA MAU MEMBELLAH HABIS!
KREE!!!!!
KREEEE!!!
BOOOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!!!
BOOSH! KREEEEE! SUUUUUUUUBOOOOOSH!!!
"ACCURSED BEAST!" A harsh, vehement roar of unfathomable might rippled through the world, shaking the structure floating in the Dark Void at its foundation. From outside, after the concealment formations were rocked by the raging flames and abrupt explosions, outlines of the structure became visible during the chaos.
It was a concentrically designed castle, with an outer wall and an inner wall, four towers positioned in the four directions, however the inner area contained a large, black-colored sphere. The entire sphere was roughly the size of a tiny-sized planet, being large enough to house tens of millions of lives.
Littered across the surface of this black sphere were square-shaped vents, and they seemed to absorb the essence being emitted by the Solar Stars. Periodically, the sphere would briefly expand and then contract forcefully with a hissing sound. It was as if it was breathing. When the pressure seemingly released, the sphere's surface lit with violet-colored runes tinted with a sanguine glow.
HISS! BLURG! DUUSH!
Strange sounds emanated from the sphere, especially as it tried to expand. The vents that numbered the hundreds of thousands, large enough to fit an average-sized man, were spewing out scarlet-golden flames. The contraction was halted due to this, the essence being burned to fuel the Nirvanic Flames!
The inside of the sphere was complex, fitted with numerous cultivators, living, working, and thriving within, and its environment was varied. Even forests and lakes were present. Yet at this moment, those areas etched out to emulate real life environments were set ablaze by nirvanic flames. The trees burned, the lakes dried, and countless cultivators that wore masks, from Qi Condensation to Astral Core Realm were met with their deaths.
Only those suppressed, shackled by restriction formations and considered non-threats were met with mercy. In fact, Bai Lin bestowed them with gifts. Her life energy was extremely potent, so those prisoners who were near-death, in constant and unbearable pain from their injuries brought about by torture, extractions, or other evil practices done upon them was healed. With the infusion of life energies, their body's natural recovery abilities were elevated to wild levels.
To those on their last legs, this was a blessing from the divinities from beyond.
While engulfed by flames, those restricted in rooms watched their captors, interrogators, wardens, and torturers burn in the flames before their eyes were first shocked, and then they cheered. It was unknown who started it, or if it was just a coincidence, but they all cheered in joy. The feeling of obtaining one's revenge was euphoric.
While the sounds of fighting continued to rumble through the sphere, the sounds of jubilant shouts mixed with happy cursing rampaged just as loud. When they started, a symphony began. A beautiful, joyful symphony that sung of freedom and hope.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" A thunderous shout swept the entire sphere, causing its runes to alit with a sinister radiance. The sound caused numerous individuals shouting out their heartfelt hope and dreams to be met with the last straw that broke their lives. They died with brilliant smiles and one last screaming shout. It wasn't their death throes, but their freedom throes.
They would no longer suffer. To them, that was enough.
A particular male cultivator had a high cultivation base and a special physique, the Yang Renewal Physique. It was the exact opposite of the Yin Renewal Physique, allowing his Primal Yang to recover after being exhausted or expended, making him the best form of cultivation partner for women. Yet due to this, he was siphoned for more than five hundred years in this location.
Forced to act as an renewable bag of yang energy, his cultivation continuously raised through special means. He wasn't even able to die during the tribulations, the Ascended could interfere with their treasures and means. His value was…invaluable.
When the cheers began, he was the absolute loudest.
Immersed in scarlet-golden flames, he was a tattered mess. He had no limbs, severed hundreds of years ago, and even his manhood had been removed, forcefully keeping his yang energies sealed within his body with no outlet or medium and forcefully elevating it through special methods.
For so long, he was like an undead existence, forced to live despite his desire. Enlivened by the cheers, he coughed out violently. The life energies were healing him, and while he was happy, he wasn't willing to continue living. His eyes reflected as much. Just knowing that those outside were dying in droves, going to hell…that was enough.
He spoke out in a soft whisper, trying to communicate with the flames. "I don't…I don't know who you are…or if you can even hear me, but thank you. But…I have a request. A small, little, insignificant request to someone like you." Bound by the neck and torso without limbs, hung over thirty meters in the air, he swallowed.
The flames were surging but it didn't seem to hear him. He hoped the spiritual sense of the expert causing this chaos was listening. He was hopeful.
"If you can do this, I'll give you my Yang Source Quintessence…You should know what that means…" The man offered. If anyone heard this, they would be sent into a startling shock. The Yang Source Quintessence was the most crucial component of a cultivator, and ripping it out was the same as damning one to endless suffering. It was adhered closely with one's soul, and while not directly a part of it, it formed after one's birth.
The flames still remained silent.
"Please hear this…hear me…" The man begged. Tears left his eyes like a flowing river. He begged, longed for his request to be fulfilled. But if he tried to die, they would always stop him. Even if he tried to extract his Yang Source Quintessence, they would halt him instantly.
The flames stirred.
Feeling the slight change, the man's eyes lit. "Release my shackles. I'll give it to you! I promise!" He begged again, emboldened by hope. The flames seemed to hear, slowly growing hotter. The man was startled when his shackles and chains were burnt away. He fell thirty meters, smashing against the ground in a thud.
The man didn't hesitate. His iris and pupils faded, his eyes became a sea of gold. With a fierce roar, from his glabella, a perfectly spherical globe of gold the size of a children's marble emerged. His body soon lost its masculinity, even its femininity that brought balance to himself had vanished.
His head sagged as the gold sphere left.
"Kill me…" He hoarsely asked. The damage from his self-extraction would destine him to endless suffering and health complications, both physical and mental. If he had done this before, those bastards would benefit, but he…he would be kept like this until his lifespan ran out. He didn't wish for either outcome.
He rather suffer than to let them benefit.
But now, he had hope.
"Please…" his hoarse, androgynous voice sounded again, "…please kill me…"
KREE!!!
Bai Lin released an enraged cry filled with unfathomable emotions. Her heart, while facing her enemies, was beset by this tragic scene. And it wasn't the only one. Few thought she could save them, so they begged that the flames take them too. They cried out loud. They made offerings. They did everything they could in the hopes that the expert in control of the flames was listening.
But she wasn't sure what to do. Wei Wuyin said not to kill. She had to even hold back to ensure the structure didn't collapse, forced to fight in these narrow spaces.
However, a voice exploded in a timely manner. "I've found him!"
Bai Lin's eyes brightened. She released an explosive phoenix cry that sent the flames in a frenzy. She acted to those who wished for it to end. Because she knew that saving them wasn't all too likely. There were tens of millions of prisoners, and almost five percent were asking for her help to end it all.
With a faint glimmer of tears in her eyes, she changed the qualities of the nirvanic flames around them. She tried to up the heat to the highest level so their deaths were instant.
The limbless, genderless expert felt the shift. He smiled brilliantly. "Thank y-" His body was incinerated.
The black sphere trembled and from a portion of it, a protrusion formed that started to rapidly change color. The material it was constructed from became superheated and in a raging explosion, the protrusion became a hole.
Kree!
A river of scarlet-golden flames geysered out in a violent manner, and the violet runes with a sanguine tint were vanishing one by one, the entire array was being destabilized. From the greyser of flames, a bird made of entirely scarlet-golden fire, at the height of twenty-two thousand meters, emerged at startling speeds.
It shot into the Dark Void and sharply turned, its golden eyes were radiant as two burning solar stars.
Fire Phoenix Transformation!
"I'll kill every last one of you!" Bai Lin sent out a vast mental tremor, filled with pure, unadulterated killing intent. Before, she just wanted to fight and prove herself as useful.
Now?
SHE WANTED TO EVISCERATE!
KREE!!!!!
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