Chapter 68 – The False Heaven’s Call
Rin had long learned that the world was not what it seemed—that the truths most beings held dear were mere illusions, crafted to serve the wills of those in power. But as he stepped through the shimmering gates of the so-called Heaven, his certainty wavered for the first time in a long while. The realm before him seemed perfect, pristine, bathed in a celestial glow that felt both foreign and... familiar. It was a divine realm, or so it appeared—an ethereal paradise with towering structures made of opalescent stone, where the air hummed with an almost imperceptible resonance, and the skies above were painted in the softest hues of gold and violet. It was beautiful, unnervingly so, but beneath the serenity, Rin felt the subtle hum of something darker, something false.
This place was too perfect, too still—too far removed from the chaotic reality he had come to know.
His footsteps echoed as he walked deeper into the realm. His Death Core thrummed softly in his chest, its power aligning with the distorted energy of this place, almost as though it were resonating with something buried deep within. But Rin's mind remained sharp, every instinct alert. This was no ordinary divine realm, no haven of peace and transcendence. It was something else, something orchestrated—artificial.
The summons had come like a whisper on the wind, a call too potent to ignore, though Rin knew the nature of the voice that had beckoned him. The so-called gods of this place had promised him immortality, the very thing he had already forsaken in his pursuit of true freedom. They promised him eternal life, an existence beyond the limits of death itself. To most, such an offer would be irresistible, but to Rin, it was a trap.
He had felt the pull of death ever since he had begun his cultivation—death as an ally, death as a tool, death as a path. Immortality? It was a farce. The chains of eternal life were just that—chains. He had no interest in living forever in a world that was nothing more than a shadow of what life could be.
As Rin approached the heart of the realm, the false gods revealed themselves to him. The leaders of this supposed heaven stood upon a grand, floating platform that defied the natural laws of physics, their forms adorned in dazzling robes that shimmered like the very light of stars. Their faces were unearthly beautiful, their eyes glowing with a radiant light that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality. There was no denying the power they radiated—but Rin had seen enough to know that power, no matter how awe-inspiring, was not always what it appeared to be.
"You have come, Rin Xie," one of them spoke, a voice that was smooth and melodic, a sound like silk brushing against the skin. The god was tall, with long silver hair that cascaded around their shoulders, their features delicate yet sharp. "We knew you would, eventually. You have rejected the chains of mortal life, and we offer you freedom—true freedom. The immortality we offer is not a curse, as you may believe. It is the gift of transcendence. Join us, and we shall ensure your legacy echoes through the ages."
The others nodded, their gazes all focused upon him. They exuded an air of supreme confidence, but there was something cold in their eyes, something calculating. Rin could feel it—the faintest tremor in the air, the pressure building beneath the surface. These beings were not what they appeared to be. They were not gods.
"I have no need for immortality," Rin said, his voice a calm contrast to the celestial beauty surrounding him. "And I care little for legacies or promises of transcendence. What you offer is not freedom—it is another form of bondage, a leash that tethers the soul. I do not need your gift."