against the gods
Prologue
On Divine Secret Mountain, Cloud’s End Cliff was the most harmful of the four deadliest places on Azure Cloud Continent. Cloud’s End Cliff was often called the Grim Reaper’s cemetery. During the countless years, people that fall off this cliff were far too many to count; none survived, including three God-tier overlords whose power could lead them into the sky.
At this moment, on the edge of this cliff, a black haired black eyed youth leaned on the side of a rock that measured two people in height. There was blood everywhere on top of his black clothing with many open wounds on his person. He was on the rock for just a few breaths worth of time yet under his feet was already a pool of blood.
His chest heaved and it could be said that the pace at which he breathed was heavy enough to cause fear in a person. On his entire body, every one of his muscles trembled slightly indicating his exhaust and loss of strength. If it weren’t for this giant rock, he probably would not even be able to stand on his own. However, both of his eyes were cold and calm like two cold blades, shining with the ferocity of wolves. The edge of his mouth sneered with extreme disdain.
In front of him stood a dark crowd of people that have blocked all his escape routes.
“Yun Che, You’re cornered! If you obey us and hand over the Sky Poison Pearl, perhaps we may allow you to live!”
“Today we’re going to enforce justice on behalf of heaven to get rid of this scourge! If you hurry up and quickly surrender the Sky Poison Pearl we can let you die a happy death or you will taste the pain of a thousand blades in your heart.”
“Yun Che! Stop being so stubborn, your only way out is to hand over the Sky Poison Pearl! You’re unworthy of such holy object.”
Waves of roar came from the crowd, with everyone there shouting words like justice and righteousness. If anyone from the Azure Cloud Continent passed by, they would be stunned by this scene. This dark crowd of people consisted of the strongest clans of the Azure Cloud Continent. The leaders of the clans were all present, and even some of the forgotten old members were there as well. It is not too far-fetched to say that if you pick anyone out from this crowd, he would be someone that can shake any region.
Now, they were all gathered for this youth who has been pushed to the edge of this cliff. Specifically, for the Sky Poison Pearl in his hand — the number one holy object of Azure Cloud Continent.
While slowly approaching, the crowd shouted with threatening menace. When the Sky Poison Pearl finally showed up again, they were faced with this irresistible treasure once more. After hunting for three full days, they could not wait to harvest the fruits of their labor.
“You guys… want this… Sky Poison Pearl?”
Yun Che laughed coldly. As he slowly raised his right hand, a jade green ball with a dim radiance appeared in his hand. The moment this pearl glowed, everyone stopped in their tracks. Staring tightly at the green pearl, their eyes shone with greed.
To Yun Che, these people who are strong enough to scare the world looked filthy and sly. He slowly raised his eyes. Although cornered, his pupils shone with arrogance and mockery. There is clear hatred deep in his eyes: “ My master spent his life trying to save the world; he saved countless people seeking neither benefit nor fame but because of this Sky Poison Pearl, you guys from the so-called Justice Sect killed my teacher seven years ago.”
“I hate… Hate myself for being so useless. That I didn’t finish all of you dog shit Justice Sects off in these seven years!”
Every word of his contained deep-seated hatred. Although it has been seven years, just thinking about the death of his teacher still made bloody tears stream down the edge of his eyes.
Yun Che did not know who his parents were for when his teacher found him, it seemed like he was only a few days old. It was deep in the spring time when his teacher picked up Yun Che. The clouds were scattered, the wind was light, the mountain spiritual, and the water crystal clear. He named the child Yun Che, in hope his heart would be as pure as clouds and as clear as water; so that when he grows up, he will inherit his craft as a healer to rescue the dying and cure the injured with a heart void of corruption.
No matter how serious the disease or trauma, Teacher could clear them all. This was due to the Sky Poison Pearl hidden in his body. The two words “Sky Poison” meant that this pearl was highly toxic, but medicine and poison are of the same origin. Teacher never used it’s poison; he only used alchemy to extract, melt and in the end produce holy medicines to save millions of lives. He taught all his medical skills to Yun Che thoroughly but seven years ago, word of his Sky Poison Pearl was spread. He gave it to Yun Che and told him to escape. Shortly afterwards, he died at the hands of the major sects.
When news of his teacher’s death reached Yun Che he cried for three days and three nights. The root of hatred was firmly planted inside his heart and he no longer practiced in the medical but instead he absorbed poison from the pearl. Revenge became his only belief. After seven years he mastered the poison and bared the fangs of revenge. In less than ten days the poison spread not only thousands of miles, killing countless people, but also panic and horror throughout the Azure Cloud Continent. It attracted the strong and mighty for they were fascinated by this treasure. This started the hunt of Yun Che in order to obtain the Sky Poison Pearl, to the situation right now.
He glared at everyone in his field of vision with hatred in his eyes and laughed coldly. As soon as his laughter reached the level of ice, he roared: “You son of a b*tches, you want my Sky Poison Pearl… You. Are. All. Daydreaming!!”
After making this deep proclamation, Yun Che suddenly raised his hand and threw the Sky Poison Pearl in his mouth. He then pushed the pearl down his throat and it instantly rushed straight into his stomach.
“What…. What are you doing!”
“He actually… swallowed the Sky Poison Pearl!”
“Yun Che! Do you want to die that badly!”
“It’s fine, no big deal, we will kill him and take the pearl!”
The Sky Poison Pearl entered his body, but the poison didn’t spread out in his body and kill him like they thought it would. A faint green light emitted from the surface of his body.
“Kill him now! Otherwise the Sky Poison Pearl may change inside his body. That would be a huge problem!”
Roaring, a dozen people in the front row went for Yun Che at the same time. Looking at the bodies of people that he wanted to destroy, Yun Che began to laugh. His laughter was weak and dry but still very arrogant: “I don’t have the ability to kill you guys, but don’t think that you can kill me! You pieces of trash are not worthy of this Sky Poison Pearl, but even more unworthy of killing me. If I die, I would die by my own hands! Ha ha ha ha…”
After laughing Yun Che used every bit of his last strength to jump backwards.
“Stop him!!!”
Several hands reached out to Yun Che after realizing his intent but could not even grasp half his shadow. They could only watch as his body free falled down into the valley.
Cloud’s End Cliff, it is very suitable for I, Yun Che’s grave…… (TL: Yun = Cloud)
There is nothing to hold me back for I no longer have ties in this world. Unfortunately… I could not avenge my teacher… nor find my biological parents.
Yun Che gently held the silver pendant in front of his chest. It was the only thing he had on him when his teacher found him. The wind screamed past his ears as he slowly closed his eyes and let his body plunge deep into the seemingly endless dark abyss.