Chaos

*I would like to take a moment to say 'Thank You' to 'acasualreader.' After being away from Webnovel for so long, down and out and dispirited, I came back to see several notifications alerting me to power stones that you had sent. Although I don't understand what those are for, I will always be grateful for your continued support, and, of course, the support of all of you that decide to read my paltry writing. Anything I write from now on will be thanks, in large part, to you all♡

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Aether's presence withdrew itself from the courtyard, and Bi Xue was left alone. She looked around for a bit, not even realizing that there was now a stone tablet standing upright at the center of the courtyard.

It was half as tall as she was, and wide enough for her to hide behind without being seen from the other side. From where she was, she did not see anything on its face, meaning that the inscriptions would likely be on the other side.

As she neared it, she could feel a terrifying aura spilling out of the tablet, reminding her that she was not dealing with any ordinary object. It was something on which the 'Way of Chaos' had been recorded, whatever that was.

Bi Xue felt like Aether had turned it around purposefully, so she could prepare before looking at the inscription. She was secretly thankful to him in her heart, and took the time to ready herself, almost forgetting about the continuously revolving law within her. Her body, wherever the energy was being stored, was yet to be saturated, and so she was constantly filling up with that dao-energy.

It was a bizarre occurrence that she could not explain.

Thinking herself ready, she circled the tablet to see what was recorded on it but, once her eyes landed on the inscription, she began to understand why her 'Ruling Water, Murderous Frost' law had been revolving on its own.

It had been a defense mechanism occurring in reaction to Aether's presence and, by extension, the presence of Chaos itself. Aether represented Chaos, and so it was only natural for its presence to be about him.

After sensing it, the will of 'Ruling Water, Murderous Frost' began to build up energy for the eventual exposure to Chaos, which would utterly destroy Bi Xue's soul. That exposure came the minute she looked upon the tablet.

There was a single word written on it, which she could not even look at for too long before her consciousness was whisked away. She could only assume that the word had been 'Chaos,' but she no longer had time to waste on such thoughts.

That was because, in her mind, she was now standing in yet another dark and empty void. Only, this time, it was not Aether's presence she felt before her. A strong will unlike anything Bi Xue had ever felt before had gripped her, body and soul, and was refusing to let go.

In a panic, she tried to move her actual body away from the tablet, but was unable to. Control of her body was taken by this will, and Bi Xue was now nothing but a bystander. She quickly came to realize that her struggle was pointless, and was prepared to breathe a sigh of surrender. Sensing her compliance, the will began to invade her mind and peer into her.

As it did so, Bi Xue was made spectator to its actions. It was perusing her memories, adamant on finding whatever it was looking for.

Before long, that foreign consciousness withdrew from her mind and returned to the void, but Bi Xue's control was not returned. She could not move, and a freezing cold enraptured her metaphysical form.

This was a cold so severe that, even though it existed only in her mind, her physical body was showing signs of suffering frostbite, and not even 'Ruling Water, Murderous Frost' was able to help her.

Bi Xue could not speak, but her thoughts were in complete disarray and she began to panic yet again. Sensing her worry, the will that existed in the void retracted the freezing cold temperature, allowing her to regain a semblance of safety.

"So this era's 'Wuji' has taken students?"

"Amusing."

There was no understandable way to describe this voice. It seemed empty and frosty, but full of dormant power and authority. No matter how Bi Xue looked at it, she could only feel inferior before this unknown being.

Freedom returned to her mouth just as she processed the being's words, and she finally spoke.

"What is this? Who are you?"

"That is not something you are capable of understanding. However, as you are a student of this era's 'Wuji,' I will try to find a way to explain it."

Space shifted in the darkness, and Bi Xue could tell that this 'reality' was being affected. The being was stirring, and its movement was enough to affect the entirety of Bi Xue's mind, bringing it dangerously close to collapse.

She would not feel it now, but once Bi Xue returned to consciousness, she would suffer the worst headache of her life.

"I am the precondition of existence, perpetuating existence. Nothing created was created without me, and nothing formed was not formed of me. My foundations were laid by The First Era's 'Wuji,' and my task was given me by the same."

Bi Xue couldn't yet process the deepest meanings of such words, but she was not at all lost- at least not entirely. "What task was that?"

"To allow the existence of all things. I am the framework of Creation and the bedrock of Existence. I alone sustain Time's continuation, and I alone am the Origin of Balance."

"I am Chaos, one of The Principles of the Omniverse."

Bi Xue was taken aback, unable to recall ever hearing mention of any principles. Chaos continued explaining itself, but she was slowly getting more and more lost.

Before long, once it was finished, it began to question Bi Xue instead.

"Tell me about this era's 'Wuji.' From where does he hail? What is his surname?"

"He is the Young Master of the L-"

At the exact moment that Bi Xue was about to say the words, a singular dao-seal appeared in the void. The instant it appeared, infinite energy emanated from it and threatened to destroy this space that existed within her mind.

Chaos gasped and hurriedly said, "Forget I asked, child! It seems us Principles are prohibited from learning this information."

After explaining this, the dao-seal vanished and the energy with it. Bi Xue was instantly relieved, but her physical body was left with a nosebleed.

Space stirred, and a formless apparition appeared to wipe her nose. It was Logean Wuji, who had manifested here after seeing that Bi Xue was under some stress.

However, he was too late to catch a whiff of the dao-seal or the energy inherent to it.

After peering into her mind, he found that her mind was shielded by pure primal chaos energy. He injected his consciousness deeper, easily bypassing it, and saw the situation within.

"Chaos? Interesting."

He said nothing else, and instead returned to a void-space.

Bi Xue was now learning of the Way of Chaos, which was immensely confusing to listen to.

"In a prenatal universe, foundations must be lain. To lay them, understanding of concepts and laws is not enough. One must grasp the underlying functions and, in doing so, the source of those concepts and laws. One must reach into the void and find meaning; one must tread upon the path that is not, in order to find the path that is."

"Chaos is not an energy, but it creates and exudes energy. Chaos is not a material thing, but is not immaterial. As such, one must look beyond both the corporeal and the ethereal. A soul is not a thing that can be touched by physical hands, yet chaos touches all things- even souls. Even so, it is not a physical thing."

Bi Xue was suffering a variety of mental issues at this point, the cause of which was the fact that everything Chaos said sounded like utter nonsense.

It might be one of the governing principles, unmatched and amazing, but it was definitely not meant to be a teacher!

Bi Xue was not, by any means, slow-minded. She would even dare to call herself quick-witted. Even so, she had to admit defeat in the face of this confusing instruction.

For as long as she listened, she felt like she was falling deeper and deeper into the pit of ignorance. How was such a thing possible? How could Chaos' explanation only leave her more lost than she was in the beginning?

It had to be because Chaos didn't even understand itself!

Bi Xue realized this and begun asking an entirely new vein of questions. It was a bit tough at first, but once she was able to grasp a vital piece of information, she tightened her grasp and did not let go, milking every ounce of knowledge she could regarding that topic.

It was a slow process, and she would definitely have to go through all the information at a later date just to understand anything, but it worked. That was all that mattered to her in that moment. With her continued efforts, Bi Xue was slowly on her way to grasping the foundational knowledge regarding the 'Way of Chaos.'

The most ridiculous thing, though, was the manner by which she did so.

"What are your favorite foods?"

"I love the pure light of stars! I just can't get enough of it. It's so spicy and savory, but there are also very special kinds of stars that are sweet and cold- they're like ice cream! In all the void, I love extracting that kind of light the most, and allowing it to flow throughout my entire body. Sadly, I am incapable of digestion, and so I have to release the light after I am through enjoying it."

Bi Xue could not grasp the hidden meanings, but Chaos had actually explained how it was possible for light to travel the way it did within the void of space.

It was simply because it was one of Chaos' favorites things to eat.

As she continued her interview, Logean Wuji chuckled from within the void-space he was in. This was an astral projection of himself, but being an omnipresent being, it was not much different than him being there physically.

'Personal dao truly is mysterious. Not even I could have guessed that Bi Xue's dao-discovery would lead her to Chaos itself.'

As he thought this, a familiar sounding voice echoed within his void-space. "So you are her master? You are the 'Wuji' of this era?"

Despite the fact that this was a nigh-impossible feat, Logean Wuji was not at all surprised. "Perhaps I am. What is it to you?"

There was silence for a short space of time, then Chaos spoke out once more. Even though its voice was the exact same, there was something about the tone that made it seem ...hesitant. It appeared worried- for whatever reason- and did not seem keen on asking what it was about to ask.

"Your.... Your given name is Wuji ...not so?"

"What is it to you?"

Logean Wuji could not be sure, but he felt as though Chaos heaved a relieved sigh after their last exchange. He felt like Chaos had been expecting something terrible to happen, but it didn't. With renewed vigor, Chaos then posed another question.

"So you are this era's 'Wuji.' Tell me then, what is your given name?"

Logean Wuji frowned, unsure of why this was what Chaos wanted to know. Despite that, he sighed and manifested in physical form while simultaneously exiting the void-space and entering the courtyard. He straightened himself up and looked to the sky, then spoke.

"I am Lo-"

Once again, a single dao-seal appeared before Logean Wuji, exuding almighty power and glowing brightly. The instant it arrived, both Logean Wuji and Chaos fell into a temporary state of panic. They both focused on that dao-seal, and also on the endless aura it possessed.

It stunned them both to silence for five whole seconds.

"The Omni-Law..." Logean Wuji started, but Chaos cut him off.

"... is here in physical form? Again!?"

He looked to the sky, an incredulous expression on his face. "What do you mean again?"

"The same thing happened when I enquired the same question of your student. The Omni-Law does not permit me to know your name!"

Logean Wuji was shocked, and it showed in his expression. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead and lingered on his brow, then he wiped it away and swallowed hard.

"That cannot be... Why would the Omni-Law itself have such a function?"

Chaos huffed, and the skies above darkened. Clearly, it was manifesting itself more stably within the United Realm in order to properly converse with Logean Wuji. Space and time were instantly no more, so only a being like Logean Wuji could remain unperturbed. As for Bi Xue, who was still conversing with Chaos in her mind, she would not even be able to comprehend the fact that time had halted.

To her, it would feel like not even a split second had gone by.

"What kind of 'Wuji' are you? The Omni-Law exists for one reason and one reason only: to guard the Omniverse and all those bound to it by karma. For it to refuse to let me learn your true identity can only mean that certain doom would befall us all if I did. I fear that this entire new reality you have created would crumble."

Logean Wuji frowned, but was not about to give up. He knew that this matter would definitely have something to do with the man that had appeared on his parents wedding day. That man was also called Wuji, and he had also made it impossible for Logean Wuji to revisit that moment in time.

In other words, he did not want Logean Wuji to know what he had said to his parents. He did not want anyone to know, except Logean Zi and Xuyue Zailiang.

Adamant, Logean Wuji centered himself and formed a hand seal. Invisible energy instantly overcame the entirety of the United Realm and the dimension it existed in, then it went even further than that to encapsulate the entirety of the Qin Realm, and then all of Akna-Logea.

"This way, if catastrophe comes, I alone shall perish. My students shall be spared, and they will live on to face the trials I have prepared for them in the future."

Chaos gasped a gasp that shook the land, "Madness! A 'Wuji' would sacrifice itself for the sake of others? What a defective product you are!"

Logean Wuji ignored Chaos' words and continued with his plan.

"Chaos, listen well!"

"Right!"

"My name- cough!" A mouthful of blood was forcible ejected from Logean Wuji's mouth, and he was hindered from speaking.

The dao-seal that, till this time, had been levitating harmlessly and soundlessly, emitted a wave of dangerous and violent dao-force that pummeled him. This was nothing like qi energy, laws, concepts or even metaphysical attacks. It was a power that could rend laws and erase concepts. It was the precondition of the Grand Dao, and the source of all qi!

This was pure dao, the origin energy of the Omniverse!

Logean Wuji was battered by this energy and had instantly suffered injuries, but he was not swayed. If anything, the fact that he was injured only bolstered his resolve. This meant that his spell was working, and that Akna-Logea would not suffer the backlash of his foolish decision.

"My name is..."

Once again, the dao-seal pulsed. It's vigor was multiplied this time, and the power it released was thousands of times greater. Logean Wuji's arms were twisted dozens of time, causing the bones to be ground into dust and a bloody pulp to drip from them. His core was squeezed into a thin line, and his legs were blasted to bits.

Even so, he remained resolute. What kind of being was Logean Wuji? He did not need such useless things to carry on living!

"... Logean Wuji!"

Much to his and Chaos' surprise, the dao-seal did not release another attack. Instead, it dinged three times and vanished, just like that. With a thought, Logean Wuji expelled the lingering dao-force from his ruined body and then healed his wounds. Since the dao-seal was gone, there was no will in command of the dao-force; this was the only reason he could undo the damage this easily.

Chaos appeared in a mist of swirling black clouds glittered with strands of light like cosmic star chains, looking on curiously. Logean Wuji also looked around, expecting the worst. He had already prepared himself to die, so he was already perplexed as to the overall situation.

Then, they both vanished. They were both whisked away by a superior consciousness, taken to wherever it wanted them to go. Time and space returned to the United Realm, and Bi Xue's words finally fell from her tongue.

"Would you say you're a morning person or a night person?"

There was no response. Bi Xue's delightful expression suddenly dissolved, and confusion took its place.

"Chaos?"