Acceptance

After an unknown amount of time had passed Itachi's consciousness stirred. He stood up immediately while inspecting deep inside his sea of soul.

Itachi could feel that it had become vast and powerful to the extent. The moment he arrived in this world, his soul strength had already been powerful for someone who couldn't cultivate. But now, the soul strength he could derive from it, had become incomparably more powerful.

He had been having another odd sensation that came from his eyes which was all but confirmed when Jasmine said before he lost consciousness that the pattern in his Sharingan seemed somewhat different. He quickly used a water jutsu to see the reflection of his Mangekyo Sharingan which was somewhat different from the usual. Instead of three tomoe joined together to form a pin wheel. There seemed to be four instead, more like Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, shocking him greatly. Although, he had expected it after hearing Jasmine's observation. However, it was still difficult for him to expect. There was only one viable explanation for this. His Sharingan will probably simultaneously keep mutating along with the development of his soul. The reason it hadn't happened before when he broke through the earlier realms could only be due to the fact that his soul had already been somewhat powerful prior to his arrival in this world. Deciding to test it later, Itachi instead focused on his physique and discovered that the marrows that flowed within actually all turned golden. His originally fragile marrow, became as tough as an impregnable fortress; his initially incomparably hard bones refined under the Great Way of the Buddha and Dragon Blood, now even more so became several times stronger.

"You're awake. You appear astonished as well."

The voice of the Primordial Azure Dragon resounded.

Itachi's surprise was due to the mutation of the Sharingan contrary to what the Primordial Azure Dragon thought. He still replied with a calm voice. "I was successful."

Itachi had long since been aware of the fact that the Phoenix remnant had bestowed an incomparable gift upon him along with it's soul strength.

"It seems like, the Phoenix Spirit had secretly bestowed you with a huge gift."

Itachi said solemnly: "It is indeed a precious gift."

"Haha…" The Primordial Azure Dragon laughed very faintly. " I see. It seems you are aware of it. Even though you haven't leapt up in profound strength, still being at the Spirit Profound level five, under the Dragon God's Marrow and Dragon God's Soul, both your body and soul have leaped considerably...….."

The Primordial Azure Dragon proceeded to explain about the effects of Dragon God's marrow as well as Soul before recasting Dragon Fault into an Emperor Profound Sword using the Flame Dragon's core that Itachi had. Hence, consuming his last embers of strength.

Itachi held onto the new Dragon Fault, feeling it's power for himself.

"It's time to leave…..Don't ever forget the promise you made…Itachi…."

The azure colored eyes vanished, and the Primordial Azure Dragon's voice had also completely died down at this moment.

The two fairies had already been done with their cultivation by the time the sword was being recasted as they simply and reverently awaited the Dragon God's final words to pass.

Right now, Chu Yuechan emitted the aura at the Third Level of the Emperor Profound, while Chu Yueli too had reached at the peak of the First Level of the Emperor Profound.

At this time, the two of them walked towards Itachi with graceful steps.

Chu Yueli was the first to speak, her voice seemed laced with a superior charm than before: "Congratulations! Junior Itachi, you have once again defied all expectations to reach this level so quickly. "

Chu Yuechan stayed silent, hiding her thoughts behind her veil. However, her glistening eyes still reflected her thoughts of praise.

Itachi, however, didn't have any thoughts of such accomplishments on his mind right now. His face had a solemn expression on it. His gaze turned to Chu Yuechan, saying in a grave tone: "Fairy Chu, there is something you must know before we walk out of the entrance."

Noticing the abrupt graveness in Itachi's voice, Chu Yuechan frowned as her pearl eyes showed a confused twinkle: "What's wrong?"

Chu Yuechan had almost spent an half a year with Itachi, yet this was the first time she had ever seen him this serious about something. An uneasiness started creeping into her thoughts. She had always felt that Itachi's gaze towards her had always seem to contain a sense of sadness for whatever reason that she couldn't comprehend. She had been always been curious about the reason. Since she knew Itachi was a medical genius, she even believed that he her inflicted with some kind of rare disease. Yet, the indifferent attitude that have been instilled into her along with her pride had never allowed her to ask a junior, that she owed multiple favors, to ask the reason for his strange attitude towards herself.

However, contrary to Chu Yuechan's belief, it was just she that had noticed Itachi's strange words as well as attitude towards the First Fairy of the Frozen Cloud Asgard. Chu Yueli too had often turned strange glances hearing Itachi's vague words and expressions. If it was any other man, Chu Yueli would have immediately termed it as their reaction towards her sisters beauty. However, she was sure Itachi wasn't like any of the men they had met in their lifetime.

Turning around, Itachi slowly started walking towards the entrance while dragging Dragon Fault on the ground. His voice laced with the same graveness echoed throughout the cave: "The Dragon that was sent after you two that day wasn't a pure coincidence. Someone directed that dragon towards you so that your path will once again intersect with my own. It is impossible for you to imagine the strength that he possessess. And, right now, he must be awaiting outside, waiting for you and I to fulfill his will. "

Chu Yueli was the first to speak: "What will? And, who is he?"

Chu Yuechan too had the same questions, creeping up in her mind. However, she asked instead: "Why you and me? What could we possibly give him if is as powerful as you claim to be?"

Itachi turned back before answering: "What he wants from you would be considered blasphemous in the Frozen Cloud Asgard. As for who he is, I can only say that he is a remnant of a soul. As for the reason why is after you and me. It is because only you can give him what he desires. Strength had nothing to do with it. Even if you were a mortal woman, even then, only you could possibly grant him that desire."

Chu Yueli had a terrible suspicion the moment Itachi mentioned blasphemous to the Frozen Cloud Asgard. However, she still asked quietly: "What exactly does he want?"

Itachi stared at them both for a second before replying: "It is better if you don't know. I told you all of this so that you understand whether in terms of profound strength, soul strength or spirit strength. None of us stand any chance against him, the only thing both of us can do to go past this ordeal is to forge our will. And, remember Fairy Chu, I would rather die than be forced to do anything against my will. That is my way of the profound, and my will. "

Itachi's words seemed to be laced with a burning will of fire, igniting away the helplessness that Chu Yuechan felt, steeling her heart with the indifference that she had cultivated since a lifetime she walked forward: "I am not sure what lies ahead. But, there is one thing that I have learned from you that I can acknowledge: to not be afraid of death. "

At this time, Jasmine said in Itachi's mind: "I will help if I can although the chances seem low. You are right, his power is indeed terrifying even for someone like me."

Itachi replied back: "It's fine. He doesn't wish to kill any of us. Of that, I am certain"

"Let's go, then." Retracting his consciousness outside, he said to the two fairies resolutely, completely walking out of the cave, shortly followed by the two sisters.

The moment Itachi exited the cave, he noticed that the scenery around the cave entrance had become completely unrecognisable, instead of the valleys, forests, rivers, all his eyes could see was a barren wasteland. At the centre of this wasteland was the cave entrance, the only place that had seemed to escape the destruction. Just in front of the entrance, at a distance of around hundred metre, a human shaped figure seemed to be seated on a throne on elevated ground, his face hidden due to a darkness serving as a pseudo veil while his chilly gaze seemed to land on the three of them, and tightly encircling them with an insurmountable perception, tightly locking them down.

Although she had already been warned beforehand, still being locked down by the profound energy of this being, whoever he was, Chu Yueli had become entirely stiff and had trouble breathing. Her mind failed to comprehend just how could such a character exist in this Kingdom where Emperor Profound Realm was the peak of strength which she herself had reached. Her heart turned cold as the man's gaze passed over her for an instant before focusing on Itachi instead.

Chu Yuechan wasn't faring any better, feeling the dreadful gaze of the man upon her. She even felt a bit repulsed by it, subconsciously moving herself closer to Itachi.

Itachi tried to talk to jasmine, yet he couldn't, meaning Yun Che had probably already restricted her.

Eventually, the man sitting atop his seemingly throne spoke in a weird voice tone of emotionless voice: "Itachi, it seems fitting. Doesn't it? Didn't you once welcome him in a somewhat similar manner, then proceeding to fulfill the purpose of your life, embracing death and subsequently, forging your brother's destiny and your own forever. Let me ask you what you asked him then?…..Tell me, Itachi, just how much can you see with that Sharingan of yours? "

Instead of replying, Itachi simply gazed back at Yun Che, a stoic expression on his face.

Observing Itachi's silence to the man's question, Chu Yuechan tried to move forward. However, before she had even taken a step forward, an insurmountable pressure froze her.

Chu Yueli tried to help her sister but she too suffered the same fate as her, freezing in front of the might of that pressure, unable to move or even speak.

The man sitting atop his throne finally stood up, the darkness surrounding him submitted to him, parting away from him, revealing his face to the world for the first time.

Itachi's stoic mask of indifference slipped for a moment, gazing upon a deformed looking version of Sasuke, black markings of Zetsu spread all over his body along with the blood red Sharingan pattern in his eyes.

Chu Yuechan's eyes widened, observing the man, who looked quiet similar to Itachi, with a similar pair of eyes as well.

Itachi finally spoke after a while: "I don't need my Sharingan to see your sorrow. You once said to me, that I was not just me any longer, I was something more…... And if that's true, I can see all that I need to with or without my Sharingan. However, let me tell you this: you didn't need the Sharingan to read my thoughts. You could have done that without it. You seem to have unnecessarily taken a lot of things from that 'place' "

Yun Che chuckled: "I had nothing but time in that 'place', of course, I collected a lot of things, in fascination, of course. Although, my Sharingan is not for reading your thoughts or my fascination, this is just a means to an end. I am already aware of your thoughts regarding everything. However, it is of no consequence. So, I will give you this once chance: take her and go back to that cave. Accomplish what you were supposed to. Once you do it, I will be gone forever. Now that you have the virgin dragon seed, it is certain to happen."

Itachi resolutely shook his head: "Never, it is not something that can be forced. No child should be born in such a despicable manner….."

Before Chu Yueli could even comprehend the meaning behind Itachi's words, she felt a strange sensation course through her entire body as she was encased by a dark tendrils of energy rapidly wrapping throughout her body before focusing on her heart. She tried to call her ice profound energy but to no avail. She eventually lost consciousness.

Chu Yuechan immediately tried to move forward but all she managed to do was scream: "Yueli!!"

Seeing how she couldn't move, Chu Yuechan had no choice as she turned towards that man: "Let her go, please. Whatever it is you want, I will do it…."

Itachi stopped her mid-sentence, saying with a somewhat helpless voice: "Fairy Chu, I already told you what he wants from us: he wants you to give birth to a child….more specifically....my child."

Hearing Itachi's words Chu Yuechan shuddered, turning towards the man: "Why?? Wh-y would you ever want such a thing?"

Yun Che walked steadily, directing his gaze upon Chu Yuechan, the darkness around him dimmed a bit. His expression seemed to turn a bit complicated for a bit before he said: "Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand. The love that you have for your sister. The distress and helplessness that you are feeling right now. I have also felt the same for the people that I loved. I tried to completely give up and I have given up my feelings towards everyone…..all except one. All I want now, is for her to be born, live a life that I couldn't give her. That I took from her. I know Itachi will eventually have the strength to provide that for her. Of that, I am certain. However, Itachi is also the only one who can ever bring her to this world…along with you. But, I understand him, the way he is now, he won't even consider it...….Even if by the time that he does consider such a thing, her birth will not be as certain as it is now…. "

Chu Yuechan became increasingly disturbed with Yun Che's words. However, she could still sense the incomparable love that the man in front of her seemed to possess for this child. She tried to calm her mind while glancing behind at her sister who seemed to just be unconscious at the moment. She hesitated before asking: "Who is she to you?"

Yun Che replied in a self-depreciated tone of voice: "She is Everything…..Now, she is all that remains. Her memory is all that is important to me."

Yun Che continued in a longing tone of voice: "If you truly knew who she is to you…You might be even more desperate than me to bring her to this world. Such is the love of a mother. Unfortunately, you couldn't know her, not right now."

Chu Yuechan had nothing to say to that. The man hadn't answered her question about who this child was to him. She could only ask : "How do you know for sure, that this seemingly child that you care for will be born…..from me."

Yun Che chuckled: "The way Itachi had known about the Phoenix Trial grounds and then the Dragon God's trial. You can call it clairvoyance….Of course, it is not completely invincible. Just like, how he didn't know about the Flame Dragon. "

Itachi interrupted Yun Che before he could go on further: "Don't twist the truth to suit your purposes."

Yun Che said indifferently: "Twist? Am I really twisting the truth?"

Chu Yuechan turned towards Itachi who seemed to have a conflicted expression on his face: "So, it is the truth. Is it?"

Itachi could only say: "Yes, I do know somethings about a possible future. That is all I can say. "

Chu Yuechan said after a moment of thought: "And, does this future that you seemed to know, have this child, born of you and me?"

Itachi stared at Chu Yuechan's visage: "Yes, and No. It is your child, that is true for sure."

Yun Che clapped abruptly, saying: "Now, Itachi, don't tell everything. So, Chu Yuechan, will you do it with Itachi or….."

Chu Yuechan shuddered. The very thought was blasphemous. She had no intention of even thinking about it. Yet, she had a feeling if she said no, her sister might be the one to suffer. For a few moments, she was caught in a dilemma, unable to say anything.

Observing Chu Yuechan's confusion, Itachi grabbed her soft hands that had never been held by any man in her entire life. At first, she thought Itachi had decided for her as her distress reached the peak, multiple tears starting dropping from her eyes. Was she going to be defiled by a man and lose her dignity…..However, as if reading through her thoughts, she felt another hand radiating a comforting warmth clearing away her tears. As She glanced beside herself, she could see Itachi who had a serene smile on his normal indifferent face before it turned into a resolute expression that she had only ever seen once on his face. The time he had told her of the plan to deal with the Flame Dragon.

Itachi stared straight at Yun Che: "Her choice hardly matters, if I have already chosen. And, my answer is: No. I know I cannot defeat you in terms of strength of any form. I can still die. Death does not scare me. Whether in life or in death, I will always remain as I am. That is my way of the profound."

Yun Che incredulously stared at Itachi: "You are not serious. You would rather die than be with a beautiful woman. What kind of madness is this?"

Itachi kept holding Chu Yuechan's hand stating calmly: "You are over exaggerating it. I never said I won't ever be with a beautiful woman. All I said, is that it won't happen in the way you want...I will do it my way and not your lecherous way. Do you understand? "

Yun Che stayed silent for a while staring at Chu Yuechan's hand held by Itachi. As if finally sensing something, he stared at Chu Yuechan who immediately became alert, before refocusing his attention on Itachi: "You will never be able to succeed your way."

Itachi replied : "Just because you couldn't, doesn't mean that I can't. You know me. Look into my eyes, and see for yourself: I mean it. I am indeed unfamiliar with these things but I will learn on my own. The reason why you showed me Sasuke's family was to ignite hope within me. You did succeed in a way. So, please, let me walk upon my path and promise you when she is born, the primal chaos itself will bow before her…. You know even if she is born now, she will forever be in danger. The time is not right yet."

Yun Che' face seemed to be full of hesitation, he was sure Itachi wasn't lying yet waiting too much would lower the chance of her being born. Hence...

After a while, Yun Che spoke up before focusing his Sharingan upon Chu Yuechan: "Very well. However, she must see for herself…"

Before Chu Yuechan could react she found herself in a hut, watching her another self spend time with a girl along with another man, just living her life peacefully. The man's silhouette appeared blurred as if he wasn't one meant to be seen. It didn't take her long to realize that it was just an illusion. Yet, the more she saw that girl, an unseen yearning ignited inside her ice-cold heart, melting away her indifference. Even though it was just a few short moments comprising an entirety of a single day, she still felt like she spent a lifetime with her before the scenery around her reverted back to the same.

Itachi's voice brought her back to the present: "What did he show you?"

Chu Yuechan's body trembled, she tightened her hold on Itachi's hand: "I don't know….."

Yun Che smiled while gazing back at Itachi : "Now, it seems more hopeful. Even if you fail, Itachi. Her yearning will ensure that I succeed...."

Itachi confusedly glance at Chu Yuechan upon Yun Che's words before saying: "What do you mean by that?"

Yun Che merely smiled before the entire wasteland of death started shuddering.

"You can ask her. Anyways, I wish that you keep the promise that you made….even if you don't though...Hahaha.....You were wrong, Itachi. This was never supposed to be a trial for you since I have always been on your side. It was her trial instead. The last remnants of my power will stay within the Mirror of Samsara along with my final gift, Itachi. From this day on, you are truly free..... "

Yun Che's body became translucent before abruptly disappearing, leaving behind the desolate wasteland.

His final words echoing directly in Itachi's mind before silence reigned.

Chu Yuechan took a deep breath as she felt the pressure around her slowly dissipate, allowing her to reach Yueli who had fallen on the ground after being freed from the abrupt disappearance of the pressure. Observing her state, she heaved a sigh of relief, she merely appeared unconscious.

Turning around she saw Itachi absentmindly staring at the place that frightening being had disappeared from. She gently placed Chu Yueli on the ground before rising up back towards Itachi before asking: "Is he gone, really?"

Itachi appeared to break out from his thinking upon her questioning yet his reply was filled with complete certainty: "Yes, I believe he is gone now, forever."

Chu Yuechan's gaze turned complicated. In fear or helplessness, whatever reason it may have been, the indifference that she had always been taught to culivate had developed a crack. What she had seen in that illusion or who she had seen. It would probably never leave her mind….

As if sensing the storms going on around in her consciousness, she once again felt Itachi's hand upon her, just for a moment. If it was any other time, she would have reacted coldly. However, just for this moment, after dealing with such an expected, that momentary contact brought a sense of relief in her turbulent heart, calming her mind.

Itachi gently squeezed her hand for a moment, before pulling away, stating calmly: "It is alright now. I was right about you, even though your strength is not that strong, your will power is extraordinary. You handled this well enough. And, I am sorry…..that you had to face this."

Chu Yuechan couldn't help herself from asking: "I never imagined such a day would come…..someone like that person....he was too terrifying…..how could such power exist in this world…..What I don't understand is how is he related to you. He looked like you. He had the same eyes as you….And most of all, he seemed to know you…..what is his relation to you?"

Itachi stayed silent for a while before speaking: "I can't tell you. Not yet anyways. Even if told you right now, it won't change much. It is true that he is kind of related to me and we know each other. Yet, the truth will not help you…..atleast not in the way you want it to ….it will only set in stone what you already know….."

Chu Yuechan's eyes became cold: "So, what should I do? Not ask anything and continue on as if nothing happened."

Itachi took a moment to reply before he stood up, speaking in a calm tone: "I once told you that the reason I choose cooperation with your sect was because any of the people of your sect that I had met weren't as indifferent as outsiders portrayed them to be. In fact, I think that they could feel even more strongly than others. If you suppress your emotions, you will only end up feeling them even more until something strong enough happens can break that ice. I am the same. Those who possess these of mine feel more strongly than others, whether it be love or hatred. It acts as a curse that binds you. The rules of your sect, and most of all, the rules that that you have imposed upon yourself are no different from this curse. You can try to suppress them...cultivate indifference ....but one day, a strong enough trigger will still end up breaking that ice…..Just like what you saw in that illusion became a trigger, raising these doubts in your mind...."

Chu Yuechan's eyes widened as she listened to Itachi's words. By the end of it, her expression had turned sad: "I hate the fact that everything you said is right. You can see through me completely…But, even thinking like that is against the rul-"

Itachi chuckled at this time. This is what he had wanted her to accept. Gazing at her confused expression, he continued: "About that, I will tell you what I told Qingyue. It is the world of the strong. Rules only apply to the weak. There are no rules for the strong. Steel your heart with ice and cultivate yourself until it is sharp and hard enough to rewrite the rules."

Chu Yuechan seemed to understand the meaning behind Itachi's words. Still, she didn't even know what it was that she had wanted to fix and also, how she go about gaining more strength than she already had.

As if sensing her last remaining doubts, Itachi said quietly: "Can't you feel it? Do you think a person that strong would leave behind hollow plans? Reach deep within your consciousness and try to sense it."

Although confused Chu Yuechan still concentrated deep inside her mind. After a few moments of finding nothing unusual, the darkness in her mind was lit up with a faint translucent bluish white light, blinking lightly. Upon sensing it, she immediately retracted her mind before asking: "What's that?"

Itachi immediately reassured her: "It's not anything bad. It is the soul of the ice phoenix along with it's bloodline. That is what he left for you. Once you are back at your sect, reach towards it using your mind. It must contain everything that you need to know, absorbing the bloodline would probably be enough for you to reach the overlord realm. Although, soul awakening may take some time,even years…."

Chu Yuechan was speechless. She really wanted to know who that was now, that he could so casually bestow such gifts upon her. More importantly, she seemed to become even more curious about the man in front of her who seemed to know everything. Subconsciously, she had already started to treat him as an equal instead of a junior.

Itachi had immediately sensed it when all Yun Che's essence had went towards the Mirror of Samsara. However, he had also seen some small part of it leaving towards Chu Yuechan instead. Hence, he had taken a guess which turned out to be correct. Although, it would have been good to have the ice phoenix bloodline for himself yet he could still easily manage to get it in the divine realm. This was a much better outcome considering everything.

Chu Yuechan said after a moment of thought changing the topic: "So, what are you going to do now? We are still supposed to protect you for around two years as per the agreement…."

Itachi replied simply: "You should leave for now. I will probably stay in seclusion for a while, to consolidate my realm. I won't need that protection for now at least. You can arrange that meeting with the Palace Mistress for now. Just let me know when I can meet her using a profound transmission stone."

Chu Yuechan then remembered something before asking: "The calamity that you spoke of. Did you get to know about it using that clairvoyance or whatever he spoke of..."

Itachi hesitated before he said: "Yes, it is because of what he meant by that."

Chu Yuechan reassured him as if he misunderstood her: "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about it. I will tell Yuelli to do the same."

Itachi told her: "You won't have to. She probably won't remember anything about that encounter. I saw him focus his eyes at her for an instant. It must be to make her forget the entire encounter"

Chu Yuechan knew it was wrong yet she still felt relieved to know that. Her feet lifted in the air, blowing away her robes slightly exposing her enchanting legs. By using her profound energy manipulation Chu Yueli, still unconscious, too lifted into the air, turning towards Itachi, she tried to say as indifferently as she could manage to: "So..This is farewell then, junior Itachi."

Listening to her attempt at indifference, Itachi only found it melodious. The setting sun along the horizon slightly highlighted her veiled divine figure, gazing upon it he really could understand why Yun Wuxin had been born. Chuckling at his own thoughts, he stared straight into her pearl eyes before saying: "Farewell it is. 'Senior' Fairy Chu'."

Chu Yuechan's eyes twitched upon the emphasis on the word: senior before her feet moved, in a manner of a few seconds, the two of them had crossed hundreds of metres, disappearing beyond the horizon.

Here, standing in this wasteland gazing at the setting sun, Itachi finally felt that he had grown accustomed to this world. Yet, he knew it was just the beginning. With a slight smile on his face, he started walking towards his future.

"Thank you Yun Che for trusting in my path of cultivation...and....Farewell to you as well….."

Before he could even walk a few more steps, he heard abrupt shouting in his mind.

Jasmine had finally woken up from that hateful man's restrictions. This time he hadn't just restricted her to the Sky Poison Pearl. He had even made her unconscious as if restricting her to the Pearl wasn't enough.

"That hateful man! Or soul !! Whatever, he dared to make me sleep in such a way! Curse him to hell! When I get my power back I will kill him a thousand times...…"

Listening to her unrelenting screaming, Itachi tried to explain to her that the man was already gone. Yet, she didn't seem to listen him at all.

After a while Itachi gave up before proceeding to walk instead, calmly thinking about his next course of action.....moving towards his redefined future...on the path of cultivation.