Chen Tian’s figure gradually vanished into the void. This was an unscientific phenomenon, but Xie Yuan didn’t pay it any mind and left the void directly. Beneath the void, a radiant portal slowly opened, and Chen Tian’s corpse entered it, disappearing into nothingness. From within the portal, a pair of small hands reached out from the light, gently caressing Chen Tian’s receding form. Whispers could be heard: “It’s you, it’s definitely you, but why have you become like this?”
The light faded, and everything vanished. Chen Tian’s consciousness sank into a deep slumber. At this moment, a voice echoed in his mind: ‘Wake up, you cannot die here. You have a reason to live. Wake up!’
The voice persisted, and finally, Chen Tian’s consciousness slowly stirred. He spoke faintly, “Who are you?”
“Why have you become like this? You’ve reincarnated into a being of another universe. Has your reincarnation failed?”
“Reincarnation? What are you talking about? And who are you?”
“I am the consciousness of the universe. Of course, not the consciousness of this particular universe. This is a trace of my original essence within me. I came to find you. It seems you’ve lost all your memories, but don’t worry, you will eventually recall them.”
“You are currently suffering fatal injuries. I am using the power of the universe to help you recover little by little. It will take time to fully heal, so stay in this space for now.”
The voice vanished. Chen Tian’s consciousness surveyed his body. The severe injuries were slowly healing, and even the flesh at his core was regenerating. Helpless, Chen Tian could only wait. Every second wasted here meant who knew what would happen to Huaxia. Chen Tian felt a deep sense of urgency.
Elsewhere, two figures sat at a table, calmly sipping tea. One of them spoke, “Once this matter is resolved, leave immediately. Your arrival has already caused the world to react. Remaining here will disrupt the cosmic order.”
“Alright, alright, I understand. After all, we are both beings who govern the universe. However, it appears a bit difficult to make him come with me. If reincarnation fails, he should have been utterly annihilated. Yet, why has he retained his reincarnated state and become a being of another universe? I don’t understand this. Do you have any information?”
“No, I haven’t heard of such a thing.”
As the cosmic consciousness finished speaking, an image of Chen Tian appeared in its mind. Yes, Chen Tian was also a reincarnator, and he should be very clear about this situation. The cosmic will directly sought out Chen Tian’s main body’s location and began a dialogue within his mind.
“Chen Tian, Chen Tian, are you there?”
“What do you need from me?”
At this moment, Chen Tian’s expression was grim. The fact that Chen Tian’s individual self had been killed meant that the wager had gone halfway to the other party’s favor. If the world were to be destroyed, this universe would become a prize for another. This was something Chen Tian did not want to see.
“I want to ask, is it possible for a reincarnator to fail and not be annihilated, but instead become a being in another universe?”
“What are you talking about? When I underwent reincarnation, it was explicitly stated that if a reincarnator failed, they would cease to exist. Even their foundational essence and all related aspects would be forgotten by the cycle. Such a situation is impossible. What happened? Did you encounter another reincarnator?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
After speaking, the cosmic consciousness abruptly ended the communication. Chen Tian was left bewildered. He had anxiously sought Chen Tian for answers, only to be left more confused. This cosmic consciousness was becoming increasingly… capricious.
Chen Tian paid close attention to the cosmic consciousness’s words about other reincarnators. A failed reincarnator?
Reincarnation was a ritual that beings at the apex of each world aspired to undertake. When one stood at the pinnacle, it signified that their potential had reached its zenith. Standing above the entire universe, they could no longer advance further. Reincarnation was the best means to break through this plateau. By experiencing reincarnation, one could continuously seek memories, recover strength, and accumulate potential, even far exceeding their pre-reincarnation levels. This was the secret of reincarnation; the path of reincarnation was not something one could simply embark upon.
The path of reincarnation could only be opened with the support of the cosmic will. Cultivators were then eligible to step onto it. Reincarnation carried certain risks; failed reincarnators would be utterly annihilated, and even all information about the reincarnator would be erased. No living being would remember that reincarnator.
However, the cosmic consciousness had just mentioned that a failed reincarnator could still successfully reincarnate as a being in another world. Chen Tian was unaware of this possibility.
Currently, Chen Tian had undergone eight cycles of reincarnation, recovering memories from only three of them. There were still six more to uncover. The maximum number of reincarnations was nine.
Nine cycles of reincarnation were standard, with the permission of the Heavenly Dao. Anything beyond that, ten cycles, represented perfection, and only universes acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao could undertake it.
Initially, Chen Tian believed reincarnation only went up to ten cycles. However, during his first reincarnation, he discovered an ancient ruin that did not belong to this universe. Only then did Chen Tian realize that there were even vaster realms above the universe.
There, all the prodigies who achieved eleven cycles of reincarnation resided. It was then that Chen Tian first learned of eleven-cycle reincarnation. Eleven cycles meant transcendence.
From then on, Chen Tian had been striving towards that goal. The ruins contained the correct method for fusing the eleventh reincarnation. The path of reincarnation was sealed after the tenth cycle, preventing cultivators from reaching the eleventh. The method Chen Tian learned from the ruins allowed him to forcibly open the eleventh cycle, but it would be detected by the cosmic will, leading to a direct confrontation.
Chen Tian could only undertake this secretly, as he had not yet reached that stage. His reincarnated body had not been recovered, making further progress impossible, not to mention having not yet undergone the tenth cycle.
“Chen Tian, it looks like you’ve lost.”
Tian looked smug, seeing Chen Tian’s distressed expression. His thought was that Chen Tian had finally lost to him.
He relished Chen Tian’s troubled look, knowing he must be anxious but trapped, forced to watch his world be destroyed. He yearned to see Chen Tian weep.
This was Tian’s mindset. It could be considered childish, but having been suppressed by Chen Tian for so long, Tian finally had a chance to retaliate and couldn’t resist taunting him.
Chen Tian’s mind was calm, contemplating the words of the cosmic consciousness. He barely heard what Tian was saying.
“System, what’s going on? Is this your fault?”
Chen Tian communicated internally with the system, finding the current situation incredibly bizarre and implausible.
“My clone is my reincarnated self? Then why didn’t you tell me sooner, System?”
“Ding! This system is not to blame. In fact, the consciousness of that clone is the host’s reincarnated self, the seventh reincarnation. However, the reincarnation failed, and the memories were lost. Originally, this was just a clone, but with the blessing of the Heavenly Dao of that world, the foundational essence of reincarnation began to stir again. Currently, the one controlling the clone’s body is the foundational essence of reincarnation.”
“One could say that body is the reincarnated self, while the host’s seventh reincarnation is the clone’s foundational essence.”
“You and the clone are inseparable. Once the foundational essence is fully recovered, he will realize his true identity. The host need not worry, the reincarnated self will not escape.”
“This system actually knows what I’m thinking. Since you’ve put it that way, I’ll wait a little longer.”
Chen Tian finally heard some good news.